Natural ways to ease a head cold

It's winter in Perth and everyone in my family has been sick over the last few weeks. My daughter started with a cold, and one by one, the rest of us caught it. Luckily, we all recovered quickly, and none of us developed anything more serious.

So today I thought I'd take a few minutes to share my simple protocol for treating the common cold. Not flu, not sinusitis, nothing too major - just that horrible, sniffly, miserable cold that's so common this time of year.

Day 1

It all started when my daughter woke up a bit grumpy, saying she had a sore throat. No fever, nothing dramatic, just a scratchy throat, some fatigue, and not quite feeling herself.

So I started her on my go-to remedies for that early phase of a cold or flu before clear symptoms set in and we don't yet know what's coming.

• Anas Barbariae 200CH + Ferrum Phosphoricum 30CH. One dose every 2 hours for the first day.

If you start this combination before any real symptoms have developed then the cold does not develop too severely or last too long. It doesn't necessarily stop a person from getting a cold or flu, but it does help them get over it much more quickly and easily.

Day 2

My daughter got a good night's sleep that first night and then woke up with a few more symptoms. Her sore throat was worse, she was coughing a bit and was tired and grumpy.

Unfortunately, I still couldn't see a clear homoeopathic remedy and so I continued with the combination above and gave her the following herbs:

• Sage, Thyme and Echinacea.
• I gave her 10 drops of Echinacea tincture in water 3 times per day and made a tea from fresh Sage and Thyme - 3 cups per day. To make a tea, take a handful of fresh herbs, put them in a cup or teapot, pour hot water over them, cover, and let steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain out the herbs before drinking.

This is a great, simple herbal blend to help boost the immune system and fight off colds. Sage is probably my favourite herb for sore throats, thyme is a wonderful antimicrobial, and echinacea helps support the body's immune response. The earlier you start taking these herbs, the better.

She also drank fresh vegetable juices during the day, and avoided all dairy and sugar.

Days 3-5

Again, she slept really well. I always think that if a person can rest and sleep, they'll get better!

By day 3 her sore throat was gone and she wasn't so tired. However, she had developed a very runny nose which she had to keep blowing. I would normally think about Pulsatilla 30CH at this stage, but her nasal discharge was clear (not yellow or green, which is usually the colour indication for Pulsatilla). She also had a slight cough but with no clear, distinct symptoms.

So I moved on to this protocol:

• Kali mur 30CH - one dose 3 times per day.

Kali mur can be used either as a tissue salt/cell salt in a 6X or as a homoeopathic remedy. If you're using it as a 6X then it can be given 3-5 times daily until the discharge has cleared. If you're using it as a homoeopathic remedy in a 30CH give 3 doses split evenly over one day or give it in a 200CH, one dose only. Wait and see if there are any changes before giving more. Kali mur is indicated in stuffy head colds where there may be swollen glands, a build up of mucous in the nose or throat, noises in the ear and a sore throat. The nasal discharge will be thick and white. Sometimes the base of the tongue will have a white or gray coating.

• Thyme + Echinacea + Mullein herbal tincture. I mixed these together in equal proportions in a dropper bottle and give 15 drops of the blend 3 times per day.

Mullein is a lovely, gentle herb for the respiratory system. It is useful in most respiratory conditions because it helps clear mucous from the body and is anti-inflammatory. It's indicated for blocked noses, earaches, sore 'phlegmy' throats, coughs and snotty noses. Perfect for the common cold!

She did really well on the above blend and by day 5 had forgotten all about being sick!

Anyway, I hope this short blog will give you some ideas on how to work with a head cold the next time you, or someone in your family, gets a little under the weather.

Please note: The health and nutritional information provided by Ruth Hull and/or this blog is intended for general educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute or replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns regarding your health and before making any changes to your lifestyle or diet you should always consult your general medical practitioner or other health professional.

Photo by Melanie Stander