Colds – The Young Victoria

Colds

Any one of more than 200 viruses can cause the common Cold.

Infection leads to inflammation of the membranes that line the nose, sinuses and throat, resulting in a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, sore throats, coughs, mild fever and headaches.

The virus is contracted by breathing in tiny droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person. Infection is most likely when the immune system is weakened by poor diet, overwork or stress.

In an otherwise healthy person a Cold will usually last about one week. If it persists, please seek advice from a health practitioner.

Tip: at the first sign of a cold take 1-2 grams of Vitamin C (to bowel tolerance) for the first few days every 4 hours, until the symptoms begin to subside, then cut back (see below)

Complementary Medicine

The average adult has 2-3 bouts of the common cold per year, so stock up on supplements and herbal medicine – prevention is always better than cure:

Supplements and Diet

Vitamin C and Zinc lozenges. Increase your Vitamin C intake to 500mg every 4 hours until symptoms subside.
Sambucol (Elderberry) tincture or lozenges. Elderberry extract has been shown to dismantle the flu virus and considerably shortens the duration of its course. Dosage: take in either tincture or lozenge form – lozenges: take x 6 a day until symptoms subside (3-4 days).
Antioxidants The Vitamins A, C, E, Selenium and Zinc are an important group of Antioxidants that help to maintain a strong immune system. You can find them naturally in many fresh fruit and vegetables. Whilst suffering from a cold: supplement with a good quality antioxidant daily.
Cut out all milky and mucus-forming foods such as cheese, yoghurt, red meat. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and freshly made vegetable soups.
Drink plenty of fluids – water, hot water with lemon, honey and ginger, and diluted fruit juices and drink continually throughout day, to flush the body of infection.

Herbal Treatments

Echinacea. This seems to be the no.1 immune boosting herb for keeping winter ailments such as colds and flu at bay. Dosage: 5 drops of tincture in water 2-3 times daily or up to 6 capsules daily while you feel unwell.
Garlic helps to strengthen the immune system and maintain healthy immune function. Take around 6mg daily of garlic oil in perles or odourless capsules or one clove of garlic per day.
Tea Tree Oil. This is good for sore throats and blocked noses. Use as a gargle. Dosage: put 11/2 tablespoons of tea tree oil in a cup of water and gargle when necessary. You can also put a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale as necessary to clear nose.
Mullein. Useful for coughs, chest congestion and catarrh. Dosage: take 5 drops of tincture in water every 4 hours.
Make an infusion (tea) of Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Camomile. Drink x 3 a day.

To this infusion may be added Cayenne to stimulate the circulation, or
Cinnamon which has a gentle warming effect, or
Ginger root grated into the infusion, which will induce sweating.

To buy any of the supplements mentioned go to the CHC Shop

Also See:

These treatments are excellent for use with Colds:

Acupressure, Ayurveda, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Aromatherapy, Nutritional Therapy, Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine,