To a homoeopath there is nothing “common” about the cold; except for the fact that they tend to occur commonly in the colder months of the year.
Homoeopaths treat by symptoms rather than by disease name, therefore we want to know as much about each of the individual symptoms of the cold sufferer as possible. For example just the description that there is congestion, sneezing and a runny nose is not enough.
We want to know when is the congestion worse, morning, afternoon or night? What makes it better? What makes it worse? Do you have a headache with it, or a problem with your sinuses? Are you sneezing much? Have you got a sore throat? Are you feeling hot or cold? Are you thirsty or thirstless? And more.
The information we get then helps us to match the symptoms to the remedy. Although there are literally thousands of remedies to choose from, some of the following remedies can be useful when treating colds but only when matched to the presenting symptoms. A bit like being a detective, knowing the information helps deal with the culprit.
Some more often prescribed Homoeopathic remedies for colds are:
Aconite – This remedy is useful only at the very beginning of a cold, especially when the feeling of a cold coming on appears after having been exposed to a cold dry wind or a draft.
Allium Cepa – Here the person suffers with streaming eyes and nose and sneezing with the upper lip and nose becoming sore. They often find that they feel better outside in the fresh air.
Arsenicum Album – Here the person has a thin watery discharge, which makes the upper lip sore. The sufferer complains about feeling cold, although they want cold drinks. There is much sneezing and watering of the eyes, and unlike Allium they feel much better for being indoors.
Dulcamara – Here the cold tends to appear when the weather changes from hot to cold. There is lots of shivering and feeling chilly. Once again the eyes and nose have profuse discharge, although the nose tends to run more when in a warm room than in a cold room.
Gelsemium – The cold that starts slowly with a general feeling of malaise, chilliness, and a dull headache with a heavy feeling in the eyes and limbs. Colds that come in mild, damp weather. They just want to be left alone. There is much sneezing, with an irritating, watery discharge from the nose.
Nux Vomica - This is often useful during the early stages of a cold. There are plenty of sneezing spells, the nosed is alternately blocked or running, but usually blocked at night and running during the day. The throat feels sore and there is a tendency towards irritability. The person can complain of feeling cold and worse when exposed to cold.
Pulsatilla – The persistent cold where the discharge could be described as being thick, bland and yellow. Although the nose is blocked at night and indoors, it runs in the morning and when outdoors. The lips have a tendency to chap, peel and become sore.
These remedies are available from most health food shops or pharmacists, and a good rule of thumb is to try taking 3 a day, if there is no improvement stop taking the remedy and re-evaluate the symptoms, and definitely stop taking the remedy when you feel better!
Alternatively why not invest in one of our Homoeopathic First Aid kit, containing either 18, 36 or 42 remedies and be prepared for all kinds of ailments!

Ultimately, whilst it is useful to be able to try and treat your own ailments, assistance from a fully qualified Homoeopath can be invaluable for your health and that of your family.
Why not book an appointment with Linda Cooke RSHom or Katy Lethbridge RSHom

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