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Colds Coughs, Colds and Flu
We tend to think of the winter being the season for colds and yet people can suffer with coughs and cold symptoms all year round. Much time has been spent on research into trying to discover the origins of the "common cold" with little success. Certainly some virus and bacteria are responsible for infections and some places (such as schools, colleges, hospitals and nursing homes - where many people gather) are likely to expose us to such possible infections. But not everyone succumbs to the infections. Our own constitution and our immune system are also vital considerations. If we are strong and healthy we are much more likely to resist or fight off infections quickly. So one of our priorities needs to be to look after ourselves, to eat healthily, get enough sleep and exercise and to monitor our stress levels. In this way we give our body the support it needs.
Our response to any infection is individual and depends on our health and stress at the time. For one person having a "cold" means runny eyes and nose, a fever and yet feeling chilly. For another person, even in the same family, having a "cold" means a sore throat, headache, blocked, stuffed nose and loss of the sense of taste and smell.
This is why homoeopathic remedies are chosen according to the picture of your symptoms rather than the label "cold" or "flu".
The following are common remedies for various types of coughs, colds or flu. Take the remedy that suits your symptoms, changing remedies as and when the symptoms may change, and stopping the treatment as soon as you are better.
Coughs
Bryonia - for dry, hard, painful coughs where the person holds the top of their chest and has to sit up when coughing. They are better for rest and keeping still, and are thirsty for cold water.
Drosera - for fits of deep barking or choking coughs which start with a tickle at the back of the throat and seem to come from the abdomen, take the breath away and are often followed by vomiting.
Hepar Sulph - the cough is aggravated by cold air. There is a rattling in the chest and it feels as if there is plenty of mucous to shift but you cannot bring it up.
Phosphorus - for a tickling, wheezing, dry, violent, hacking cough with a hoarse voice. The sputum comes up easily and may be tinged with blood.
Colds
Mercurius Solubilis - for enlarged lymph glands, sore throats, earache, headache and greeny yellow nasal catarrh.
Natrum Muriaticum - for watery colds when the nose is alternately blocked and then drips freely. The discharge is white or clear (like egg white). Eyes are sore and watery. Loss of taste or salty taste. Mouth is dry.
Pulsatilla - for profuse, bland, yellowy green mucous discharges which flow freely in the fresh air but dry up indoors in a warm room. The ears feel blocked and there may be a smelly yellow discharge.
Silica - for chronic colds that settle in the chest, painful, blocked sinuses, swollen glands, dry sore throat and inflamed tonsils. Always feels worse for getting cold.
Flu
Baptisia - for gastric flu with fever and painless diarrhoea, tiredness, weakness and aching muscles.
Ferrum Phos - for the initial stages of any fever.
Gelsemium - for overpowering aching and heaviness of muscles with sore eyes, inability to get warm and frequent urination which eases the symptoms for a while.
The dosage of the remedy depends on how acute the symptoms are. The more severe the symptoms, the more frequent the dosage (as often as every half hour if necessary). As the condition improves so reduce the frequency of doses and stop once completely well.
Many "simple" infections are now immune to conventional treatment with antibiotics and doctors are becoming more reluctant to automatically prescribe antibiotics for coughs and colds which may anyway be of viral origin, preferring the patient to use their own body's immune resources. Homoeopathic remedies offer a safe, gentle and effective way of treating these illnesses with the added benefit of no side effects.
To order remedies or if you have any queries about this Factsheet or Homoeopathy in general, feel free to contact Homoeopath Tessa Jordan at:-
48 Crabbe Street
Ipswich
IP4 5HS
Tel/Fax - 01473 728498
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