In my last blog I shared a few ideas on how to boost your immunity when you first notice you’re getting a cold or flu. Today we’re going to look at what to do when you have a “full-blown” head cold or flu. You know – when your head is aching, your nose is running, you can’t stop sneezing and all you really want to do is get into bed and shut the world outside.
Before trying to treat colds and flu naturally, please note that the following remedies are for mild respiratory infections only and DO NOT replace proper medical care. If the infection is severe then please see a qualified homoeopath or seek medical help.
Homeopathy to treat colds and flu naturally
Hopefully you would have already started on some of the remedies I recommended in my last blog. These should boost your immunity and help shorten the duration of your infection.
Once your cold is more established and there are clear symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and perhaps a cough, you can stop those remedies and move on to one of the following:
Allium cepa – If your cold leaves you feeling like you’ve been peeling an onion then this is the remedy for you. It’s actually made from onions! Take Allium cepa when you have what I like to call a ‘streaming cold’ – both your eyes and nose are watering and the discharge from your nose leaves your nose and upper lip feeling raw and sore. Just as when you’re chopping an onion and need to go outside for some fresh air to stop your eyes watering, if your head cold is always better when you’re outdoors in open air (and worse in a warm room), then Allium cepa is the remedy for you.
Euphrasia – This remedy is similar to Allium cepa in that you will have a streaming cold. However, instead of having burning, acrid discharge from your nose, you’ll have an acrid discharge from your eyes. So your streaming nose won’t bother you, but your watering eyes will feel like they’re burning. Your eyes may also be sensitive to the light and look red and swollen. You may also have a loose cough which seems worse during the day and better lying down.
Hepar Sulph – Hepar sulph is a great remedy if when you’re sick you become extra-sensitive to cold draughts and you feel irritable, quarrelsome and hypersensitive to everything. You’ll be craving warmth and hot drinks, have a very sore throat (as if you have a splinter in your throat), have blocked sinuses and be feeling sore and sensitive. You may also have a barking, rattling cough.
Nux vomica – If you’re feeling cold, grumpy and irritable, and your nose is blocked all night and runs all day, then Nux vom is probably the remedy for you. You may also sneeze a lot and your throat will feel raw. All you want to do is keep warm and covered and rest.
Pulsatilla – This remedy is a favourite for little children but can be used equally well with adults. If you’re needing Pulsatilla you’ll be weepy and tearful and you’ll want cuddles and attention. You’ll probably have quite a dry mouth yet strangely have absolutely zero thirst and, most importantly, you’ll have lots of thick, bland, yellowish-green mucous coming out your nose. This sounds a bit disgusting…but just think of those little kids who are weepy and miserable, want mum to carry them and have lots of greeny-yellow snot pouring out their nostrils…that’s Pulsatilla!
There are many other remedies that can be used when you have a head cold, but the above ones tend to come up most often. In terms of potency and frequency, I suggest you take a 30CH and follow the directions given by the manufacturer.
Tissue salts to treat colds and flu naturally
There is a lovely trio of tissue salts that are commonly used for colds and flu: Ferrum phos, Kali mur and Kali sulph.
In the initial stages of a cold start taking Ferrum Phos. As the cold develops and you become more inflamed then take either Kali Mur or Kali Sulph. The best way to differentiate between these two is to look at your nasal discharge: if you have a “snotty” nose with a clear or whitish discharge then use Kali Mur, if the discharge is yellowish or greenish then use Kali Sulph. Sometimes you’ll find you need Kali Mur first and after a few days you’ll need Kali Sulph.
Home and herbal remedies to treat colds and flu naturally
When my children were little I discovered Margaret Robert's sage cough mixture. It is quick and easy to make and works like a charm. I've used the recipe for years now and swear by it! I've put the recipe on my Subscribers-Only page. If you’re not a subscriber, subscribe now at the bottom of this page.
The other home remedy we all love in my household is a good old fashioned 'hot toddy'. Simply take a mug of hot water, add the juice of half a lemon, a slice or two of fresh ginger, a teaspoon of raw honey and enjoy! This simple, delicious drink not only warms you and soothes your sore throat, it has antimicrobial and immune-stimulant properties that will help your body fight infection.
As mentioned in my blog on how to treat the onset of a cold or flu, herbal teas made from rosemary, sage or thyme are particularly beneficial for the respiratory system. Take approximately ¼ cup of fresh herbs, fill the cup with hot water and steep for 15-20 minutes. Add honey, ginger or lemon to improve the flavour.
That’s all for today. Hopefully you’ve got some ammunition to help you fight your next cold! In my next blog we’ll look at remedies for fevers so make sure you’ve subscribed.
If you find you keep getting colds and flu or you’ve never been well since a bad flu, then book an appointment with me and we can look at ways to enhance your immunity at a much deeper level.
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