HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR COMMON COLD

The common cold is a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract — your nose and throat. A common cold is usually harmless, although it may not feel that way at the time. If it's not a runny nose, sore throat and cough, it's the watery eyes, sneezing and congestion — or maybe all of the above. In fact, because any one of more than 100 viruses can cause a common cold, signs and symptoms tend to vary greatly.

Preschool children are at greatest risk of frequent colds, but even healthy adults can expect to have a few colds each year.

Causes- Although more than 100 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, and it's highly contagious.

A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. But it also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by sharing contaminated objects, such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure, you're likely to catch a cold.

Symptoms-Symptoms of a common cold usually appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Signs and symptoms of a common cold may include:-Runny or stuffy nose,Itchy or sore throat,Cough,Congestion,Slight body aches or a mild headache,Sneezing, Watery eyes, Low-grade fever, Mild fatigue

The discharge from your nose may become thicker and yellow or green in color as a common cold runs its course. What makes a cold different from other viral infections is that you generally won't have a high fever. You're also unlikely to experience significant fatigue from a common cold.

Risk factors--These factors can increase your chances of getting a cold:

Age. Children younger than six are at greatest risk of colds, especially if they spend time in child-care settings.

Weakened immune system. Having a chronic illness or otherwise weakened immune system increases your risk.

Time of year. Both children and adults are more susceptible to colds in fall and winter, but you can get a cold any time.

Smoking. You're more likely to catch a cold and to have more severe colds if you smoke.

Exposure. If you're around many people, such as at school or on an airplane, you're likely to be exposed to viruses that cause colds.

Complications

Acute ear infection (otitis media). This occurs when bacteria or viruses enter the space behind the eardrum. Typical signs and symptoms include earaches and, in some cases, a green or yellow discharge from the nose or the return of a fever following a common cold.

Asthma. A cold can trigger an asthma attack.

Acute sinusitis. In adults or children, a common cold that doesn't resolve can lead to inflammation and infection of the sinuses (sinusitis).

Other secondary infections. These include strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis), pneumonia, and croup or bronchiolitis in children. These infections need to be treated by a doctor.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathic remedies are found to be very effective for common cold. Some of the important remedies are given below.

ARSENIC ALBUM 30-Arsenic album is one of the top remedies for common cold. Arsenic alb .is prescribed  when there is a thin watery discharge from the nose and  the discharge leads to a burning sensation and most of the times it is accompanied by sneezing. The person’s condition gets worse in cold air. Being in a warm room can provide some relief to the person.The patient is restless and there is a thirst for water in small quantities at short intervls.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS 30-Aconite should be given in the beginning of cold and this medicine is effective for cold aftera sudden exposure to cold air.It is prescribed when there are   scanty nasal discharge with a stuffy nose and sneezing.  The other accompanying symptoms are restlessness and anxiety. The person may also show an increased thirst for cold water.

GELSEMIUM 1X—Gelsemium is another effective remedy for common cold when cold is accompanied by headache.The patient feels dullness, drowsiness and debility.  The patient also feels feverish. The other symptoms are sneezing, watery nasal discharge. There is a complete absence of thirst for water in most of the cases.

NUX VOMICA 30--Nux Vomica is prescribed   when the nose feels blocked especially during night while during the day, there is a watery discharge from the nose. The cold can be accompanied by extreme chilliness. The patient wants to be warmly wrapped up.

BELLADONNA 30-Belladonna is prescribed for common  cold when pain in throat occurs along with cold. The pain in throat gets worse when you swallow anything. The throat is inflamed and dry. There may  also bouts of cough, along with a headache. Binding the head provides little relief from the headache.

ALLIUM CEPA 30- Allium Cepa is an effective  Homeopathic remedy for a running nose with excessive watery discharge, along with sneezing and headache. The nasal discharge is irritating and burning in character. The patient feels somewhat better in open air. There may be cough with hedache.

ARUM TRIPHYLLUM 30- Arum Triphyllumis  prescribed when the discharge from nose is mostly of an acrid and excoriating type, with a sharp unpleasant smell and feeling.Theptient feels the nose blocked. There is pain and irritation  in the nostrils .Must breathe through the mouth.  Discharge may be bloody

BRYONIA ALB. 30-Bryonia Alba is effective when there is cold and headache.   There is mostly an increased thirst for water.

HEPAR SULPH 30- Heparsulph is prescribed when the nose is blocked , which is worse in cold air. There is  profuse discharge in stuffy colds. Two or three doses are generally sufficient for the purpose. Sneezes every time he goes in the cold dry wind . Nostrils ulcerated. There is cough which is loose and rattling along with cold.

SABADILLA 30-Sabadilla is prescribed when  there is excessive sneezing with a constant running nose. Coryza with spasmodic sneezing. Severe frontal pains, redness and watering of eyes, sore throat beginning left side and tough mucus. Symptoms betterfrom  hot food and hot drinks. Worse cold and cold drinks. No thrist

EUPATORIUM PERFORLIATUM 30-Eupatorium per. Is effective when  have a cold with severe bodyache and muscle soreness of the entire body.

DULCAMARA 30- In Dulcamara the cold is profuse during rain or when the days are hot and nights are cold. There is total blockage of nose without any discharge after cold air exposure.Coryza in new born babies.

SAMBUCUS NIGRA 30-Sambucus is prescribed  when there is extreme dryness and stoppage or blockage of nose mainly during night. The person wakes up at night from sleep due to suffocation as a result of nasal blockage.Coryza and snuffles of infants.

AMMONIUM CARB.30--- Ammonium Carb is prescribed  when the nose is stuffed up completely with the inability to breathe through the nose. The person keeps the mouth open so as to breathe.Discharge of sharp burning  water. Stopage of nose at night.Coryza  of long standing

QUILLAYA SAP.  30—Quillaya is very effective for cold and if given early in the beginning of coryza , it stops the further development of cold, sore throat, dryness of throat  and cough with difficult

SAPONARIA  10M—Saponariabreaks up the cold, coryza and sore  throat . The patient behaves as if drunk.

SOLANUM NIGRUM  30- Solanumnigrum is prescribed for acute coryza , watery discharge from the right nostril, left stopped up, with a chilly sensation alternating with heat.

TRITICUM REP  30—It is an excellent remedy for coryza when the patient blows his nose constantly even when the discharge does not come on each occasion .

Common cold

In this congested world, people suffer commonly from common cold. Even though it is highly contagious and annoying, because of its self- limiting nature, it is often left untreated or treated with just home remedies or with over-the-counter drugs. In case of kids, it is the No.1 reason for visiting a doctor. In case of recurrent infection, it can make one run from doctors to doctors since most of the times, most of the medicines work only for time being. Medically, it is called as upper respiratory tract infection (URI). Incidences – Though kids suffer more often from cold than adults, no one is immune to common cold. It recurs often in people whose defence mechanism is very weak. Further, since there are more than 200 varieties of viruses which cause common cold, getting vaccination or gaining resistance against all the viruses will be very tough. Causes – Common cold is primarily caused by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses (of more than 200 varieties). Even though it is seasonal, it is not because of cold exposure or weather. Actually, in those climates, viruses have more virulence and the environment is more favourable for them. Common cold gets transmitted through the air (by coughs or sneezes as aerosols containing viruses) and through nasal secretions. Naturally, to clear infective viruses, nasal mucosa produce excessive secretions to wash away them but those virus-containing secretions infect others easily with the contamination of hand/towels/things. Main cause for spreading is sharing and close contact. Factors favouring repeated infection Damp weather Repeated cold exposure and cold drinks In close contact with sufferers Allergy (sensitive to pollen or dust or cold climate) Structural changes in the nose/sinuses/throat Tonsilitis and Adenoids Repeated infection is more common in premature babies or children who take cough syrups constantly or often. Symptoms – can occur in an overnight period after infection. The suffering period may be commonly between 3-5 days. Anyhow, sometimes, it can also last up to two weeks. In all those days of suffering, it is contagious. Most often, symptom of cold starts with running nose or sneezing or tickling in throat. Common symptoms are Running nose Stuffy nose or nasal block Sneezing Throat pain/sore throat/hoarseness – more in the mornings Cough Fatigue/Bodyache/headache Nausea and vomiting Occasionally fever Earache in case of severe or chronic infection Complications – Complications occur mostly in untreated cases, allergic patients and smokers. One should also be aware that repeated infection can provide the base for sinusitis, nasal polyp, post-nasal drips, adenoids, tonsilitis, bronchitis (lower respiratory tract infection), primary complex, asthma, pneumonia, middle ear infection (CSOM). Diagnosis is very important to cut short the course and spread of the underlying disease. Usually discharge/sputum give a clue for diagnosis with quantity, consistency, colour, odour and thickness. One needs to rush for treatment in case of purulent or blood-stained sputum. Yellow or green discharge with odour indicates added bacterial infection. Investigations - If cold and cough persist for more than a week, it is better to go for proper analysis and treatment with following tests. X-ray of para-nasal sinuses - to rule out sinusitis X-ray of chest - to rule out pneumonia or pleurisy or tuberculosis Microscopic examination of sputum - to reveal causative bacteria Complete blood count - to analyse complications Throat swab and culture - to find out infective bacteria Prevention - The most important measure to prevent common cold is frequent hand washing, as this can wash away bacteria and viruses that one have acquired from touching contaminated things. Also, one should avoid sharing things/towels/glasses if someone in the family has a cold. Do ü      Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing (with kerchiefs or towels and not with hands as it can contaminate further on touching other things). Avoid  Ø Contact with infected persons Ø Smoking and dust exposure Ø Working in areas of noxious fumes or polluted air Ø Cold/frozen food items  Clean ü      Hands often with soap, especially after blowing nose and before taking food ü      House with vacuum cleaner than by sweeping or dusting ü      A/C air filters periodically ü      Damp places to reduce moulds and dust mites ü      Bedspreads, pillows, blankets, mattress, rugs, every week ü      Carpets frequently with vacuum cleaner Management Take  Rest with good ventilation Plenty of warm fluids to dilute mucous for easy expulsion Frequent light and small meal to combat vomiting and weakness Steam inhalation to loosen the phlegm Salt water gargling in case of throat infection Proper treatment Treatment – In spite of medications, the cold would persist for 3-5 days. Also, as cold resolves on its own over a period of time, people commonly hesitate to go for treatment unless the condition gets complicated with violent cough or fever. As antibiotics can’t treat common cold (because of viral infections), people try to avoid drugs and go with home medicines (like curcuma, honey, lemon, etc.) and throat lozenges. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has also cautioned against the use of over-the-counter drugs and cough syrups for serious side-effects (especially in children). In Allopathy, using nasal decongestants and antihistamines can give temporary relief from nasal congestion, but one should aware that they can bring a rebound of complaints with much intensity in due course. In case of repeated infection, desensitisation or immune therapy will be provided to combat infection and allergic responses. Homeopathic approach – Some patients continuously use nasal decongestant sprays and cough syrups to control cold. They should be aware that it cannot eradicate cold and further arresting cough or running nose instantly is like adding disease to the complaint. Hence, there will be chances of complication or re-infection which may be felt as continuous or repeated attacks of cold.  In spite of a wide variety of viruses, to remain healthy, tolerance (i.e., raised immune mechanism) and good health are must. For that, Homeopathy can surely help, so if you feel “always sick with cold” try Homeopathy. In Homeopathy, we treat patients (symptoms of the patients) and not the disease or viruses. Homeopathy treats the constitution and improves immunity. For remarkable improvement and overall immunity, if one happens to take Homeopathy treatment, recurrence as well as the sufferings (cough, running nose, sneezing) can be reduced drastically. Homeopathy can help improve school/college/office attendance of the sufferer. Homeopathic medicines commonly used in complaints of common cold are Aconite, Ars Alb, Ars iod, Anti-tart, Bacillinum, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calc carb, Corallium, Gelsemium, Hepar sulph, Kali bich, Kali-mur, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Sabadilla, Senega, Silicea, Nat-sulph, Nux vom, etc. These medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a qualified Homeopath. for new hope Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo) Laxmi Homeo Clinic 24 E. New Mahalipatti Road Madurai, TN 625 001 India Tel:  +91-452-233-8833 | +91-984-319-1011 (Mob) Fax: +91-452-233-0196 E-mail:  drcheena@yahoo.com www.drcheena.com / www.drcheena.in (Disclaimer - The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for any health problem or medical condition.)