Colds and Flu

 

Symptoms

Colds cause a stuffed up, runny nose and sneezing, a sore throat, and often, a dry cough. Usually, the lymph glands along the neck will become tender and swollen as a result. Colds will cause a variation of symptoms in different people, even if infected with the same virus. If a head cold persists, the possibility of allergies should be considered. If there is a fever with a cold, it tends to be low and manageable.

Flus will usually exhibit similar symptoms. Flus are much more severe than colds and will cause high fevers and chills, and a feeling of total exhaustion. The whole body aches. The head hurts, the back aches and the muscles are sore. Flus tend to attack the upper respiratory tract with a combination of sore throat, dry cough and runny nose. In a stomach flu, nausea and vomiting are typical. Although the flu itself is usually gone within one week, the body's recuperating time is longer because of the great strain put on the bronchial tubes and circulatory system in particular. The elderly tend to need extended convalescence after a flu. During this period of recovery, there is
an increased chance of contracting other infections.

Colds and Flu Causes

Flu viruses tend to be stronger, more infectious and harmful than those of colds. Both tend to have short incubation periods, meaning that the symptoms begin only a few days after having been in contact with the virus. They are highly contagious and often caught by a sneeze, cough or kiss. A healthy immune system will usually resist the most virulent of colds and flus with ease. Stress and impoverished overall health will cause a person to be more susceptible to recurring flus and colds and the convalescence time will be longer. Getting cold and wet will also encourage infection. The immune system can become run-down from lack of fresh air or daily physical activity, and not eating enough wholesome and raw foods.

Colds and Flu Nutrition

Drink at least six to eight glasses of liquid daily, to prevent dehydration and constipation, and to thin secretions making them easier to clear. When there is fever, take liquids only. Liquids keep the mucus in the respiratory tract moist and help improve white-blood cell function by reducing the concentration of dissolved substances in the blood. Warm broth, vegetable juices and herb teas are best. Red beet juice makes the flu virus inactive. Condensed grape juice has an immediate effect in strengthening the heart muscles. Parsley, celery, watercress, garlic, lemon, carrot and coconut juices are nourishing and help to cleanse and promote healing. Fruit juices must be diluted. Undiluted orange juice, for instance, is too sweet; glucose and vitamin C compete for transport sites into white-blood cells. Limit the intake of sugars. Eat raw fruits and vegetables such as carrots and citrus fruits for vitamins A and C. Use unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil as a salad dressing. Flax seed oil is an excellent source of the omega-3 essential fatty acid and also contains the omega-6 essential fatty acid. These fats, which the body cannot produce itself, help strengthen cell membranes, thereby speeding healing and strengthening resistance to infection. In the body, essential fatty acids are converted to prostaglandins, which act as anti-inflammatory agents. Garlic can also help ward off a cold by inhibiting the growth of staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.

Colds and Flu Nutritional Supplements

Vitamin C is well-known for its success in treating and preventing colds. The earlier supplementation is started, the better, but even in the middle of a cold, this vitamin is most helpful. There are no adverse effects from taking high dosages of vitamin C, but if diarrhea occurs as a result, the dosage can be reduced. Bioflavonoids assist vitamin C and should be taken in conjunction.

Vitamin A is a nutrient vital to the mucous membranes throughout the respiratory system during a cold or flu. It can be taken in the form of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in higher dosages.

For further immune system support, zinc supplementation is recommended. Zinc lozenges soothe a sore throat and help fend off a cold before it takes hold.

Garlic is also beneficial, particularly at the beginning of a cold. It warms the body and acts as an antiviral and antibacterial.

Daily dosages:

Most Important

Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mg every few hours throughout the day, up to bowel

tolerance

Zinc lozenges, with 3 mg copper, every few hours, up to 70 mg daily during a cold and

30 mg daily as a preventive

Garlic, 2 capsules three times daily

Vitamin A, 25,000 IU daily

(avoid during pregnancy)

Colds and Flu Herbal Remedies

Although herbal remedies cannot cure a cold or flu, they can bring relief of symptoms, stimulate the immune system and speed recovery.

Add 10-15 drops of a combination of
echinacea and goldenseal to herbal teas at
the first sign of a sniffle to boost the immune system.

Use inhalations of camomile, eucalyptus or thyme to help loosen mucus and heals the throat, nasal passages and bronchial tubes. Horsetail inhalations reduce swelling of mucous membranes. Onion or nasturtium inhalations disinfect. Ginkgo biloba leaf inhalations kill bacteria and heal the cells of the damaged mucous membranes almost immediately. Inhale steam for fifteen minutes three times daily in acute stage; when the condition is improving, inhale steam in the evening before retiring for a week or so to help heal the bronchial passages.

To help alleviate and disinfect dry air passages, add 10 drops of tea tree oil to a bowl of hot water or vaporizer and leave in bedroom overnight. A small handkerchief sprinkled with a few drops of the oil and left under the pillow may help as well. Essential oils are very concentrated and should not be placed too near a baby's head, as prolonged inhalation can cause an enlarged liver.

At the onset of a flu, drink lindenflower tea with 2 drops of lemon balm oil, thyme tea with honey, rose hip tea or acerola juice. When you start to sweat, quickly go to bed and continue sweating for one hour. Change clothes, rub body dry and try to sleep. This therapy often stops the flu before it becomes full blown.

Gargle regularly with sage tea to disinfect mouth, and use sage inhalations to reduce inflammation.

Wash body with an infusion of thyme or juniper needles.

Colds and Flu Homeopathy

Choosing a homeopathic remedy for a cold can be tricky if the symptoms are vague, since there are many remedies. When symptoms are clear and strong, a well-chosen remedy can alleviate symptoms dramatically. If a sore throat, cough or sinus infection stands in the foreground, see those sections for additional remedies. Choose one of the below in a 6c strength, repeating hourly in the beginning stages, then three times daily as necessary. Allow 2 tablets to dissolve under the tongue.

Choose Aconite for an infection that starts with a sudden fever following exposure to cold. The person feels anxious or fearful and restless with the high fever. Typically, there is thirst for cold drinks.

Belladonna is helpful when the infection starts quickly and the fever is high, but the face is flushed and very hot, and there is little thirst.

If neither of the above seems appropriate, use Ferrum phosphoricum in the beginning stage.

In later stages, other remedies will be more
helpful.

In the case of a flu that begins slowly with complete exhaustion and aching muscles, use Gelsemium.

If the bones feel sore as if they were broken, Eupatorium perfoliatum is recommended. The head aches and even the eyeballs are sore.

Nux vomica is useful for a head cold, if the nose runs all day, but becomes plugged at night. There is a constant chill and a lot of sneezing. The mood is irritable and the person feels miserable. If a cough exists, it is dry and teasing. The throat is raw and sore.

Natrum muriaticum is helpful for head colds where the mucus is clear like jelly, and abundant. Frequent sneezing and a continually stuffed nose are typical. Cold sores and dry lips are very common.

Pulsatilla is recommended for sinus colds in the later stages when the mucus becomes yellowish green. There is little thirst. Children tend to become clingy, irritable and weepy when they become ill.

Colds and Flu Tissue Salts

Take 4 tablets every hour or two in the beginning stages, then four times daily until the condition has improved.

If chilled, and feeling as though a cold or flu might come on, use Ferr phos. This tissue salt will also help a developing sore throat and fever.

For a full-blown head cold, use Kali mur when the mucus or phlegm is white and there is a great deal of congestion.

If a runny nose is the problem and the mucus is watery, or the nose and throat feel dry, use the Nat mur tissue salt, which helps redistribute water in the tissues. Nat mur is also useful for fever blisters.

In later stages, when the mucus is thick and yellowish green, Kali sulph should be used.

Colds and Flu External/Physical Therapies

Promote sweating by taking hot baths,
hot foot-baths and other heat therapies. Keep the feet warm at all times during sickness and as a preventive measure. Low body temperature decreases resistance to viruses and bacteria, while heat burns up and destroys the virus.

To warm feet, soak them for five to ten minutes in a hot mustard bath. Dissolve 1 tbsp. mustard powder in 4 cups of hot water.

A five-minute hot mustard pack on the chest is excellent to bring down fever, eliminate toxins and speed healing. Apply once. If needed, repeat every other day for a week.

Steam inhalations help healing of the throat, nasal passages and bronchial tubes. Inhale steam for fifteen minutes three times daily in acute stage; when the condition is improving, steam inhalation before bed for a week or so will help heal the bronchial passages.

Personal hygiene during flu epidemics is important. Regular toothbrushing and mouth rinsing, dry shoes and plenty of fresh air will help to prevent infection.

Build a strong immune system in summer, before the cold, wet season starts. Daily swimming in cold water or short cold showers following a hot shower are excellent to build up resistance to bacteria and viruses.

Wash body with lukewarm water.

Gargle with liquid whey concentrate.

Air the sick room frequently—a cool room is better than a heated one, provided the patient is covered and kept warm in bed.

Mild walking every day in fresh air for twenty minutes can help shorten the duration of the cold by strengthening the body's resistance.

Exercise before going to a sedentary job, deep breathe in front of an open window, and employ dry brush massage. Exhaling vigorously rids the body of waste gases and deep inhalation saturates the lungs with oxygen.

Acupressure

For a runny nose, apply deep thumb pressure for one minute.

To relieve a cough, apply deep thumb pressure for one minute.

Colds and Flu Other Suggestions

Always hold a tissue in front of nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to avoid spreading the germs into the air.

Use disposable tissues only and flush away or take to garbage outside of the living quarters, to prevent spreading the virus.

Wash hands frequently and use separate dishes and utensils.

Dried-out mucous membranes are more susceptible to infection, so use a humidifier.

It is important to completely recuperate from a cold or flu. If the cure is not complete, there can be serious after-effects to the kidneys, pancreas and abdominal organs. It can cause pneumonia or the acute deterioration of a chronic liver condition.

Colds and Flu Available Brand Name Products

Nutritional Supplements

Chewable Vitamin C (Albi)

Molkosan (Bioforce)

Ascorbate/Non-acidic Vitamin C (Ester-C)

Flax Oil (Flora)

Flax-O-Mega 1000mg (Flora)

Udo's Choice Probiotics: Super Five Chewable Tablets (Flora)

Udo's Choice: Ultimate Oil Blend (Flora)

Udo's Choice: Ultimate Oil Blend Capsules (Flora)

Micel Vitamin A (Klaire Laboratories)

Multi Element Buffered C

(Klaire Laboratories)

Zinc Plus (Klaire Laboratories)

Acidophilus & Bifidus (Natural Factors)

Beta Carotene (Natural Factors)

Beta Green (Natural Factors)

C 500 mg Natural Fruit Chews

(Natural Factors)

C Extra (Natural Factors)

Coenzyme Q10 (Natural Factors)

E 400 IU Mixed Tocopherol 100% Natural (Natural Factors)

Ester-C—Caps, Tabs, Powder
(Natural Factors)

Flax Seed Oil 1000mg (Natural Factors)

Flax Seed Oil Liquid (Natural Factors)

Grape Seed Extract (Natural Factors)

Hi Potency Multi (Natural Factors)

Mega Acidophilus Powder (Natural Factors)

Super Multi Plus (Natural Factors)

Ultra Multi Plus (Natural Factors)

Vitamin A (Natural Factors)

Aloe Seltzer C (Nutraceutics Corp.)

Natural Ratio Vitamin E (Quest Vitamins)

Zinc Lozenges with Ester-C (Quest Vitamins)

Alkyrol Shark Liver Oil (Scandinavian Naturals)

E.V.C. Liquid (Sisu)

E.V.C. Tablets (Sisu)

Other Nutritional Supplements

Bee Health Propolis Capsules (Inno-Vite)

Bee Propolis (Natural Factors)

Royal Jelly (Natural Factors)

Herbal Remedies

Kama C.A.Z.E. (Albi)

Echinaforce (Bioforce)

Evergreen Wheatgrass Juice (Evergreen
Juices Inc.)

FloraGuard Echinacea Tincture (Flora)

Horsetail Leaves (Flora)

Medicinal Tea: Flugrip (Flora)

Medicinal Tea: Glandure (Flora)

Salus Alpenkraft Herbal Cough Syrup (Flora)

Salus Echinacea Tincture (Flora)

Schoenenberger Echinacea Cellular Plant Juice (Flora)

Traditional Yin-yang Herbals: Jade Immune Screen Capsules (Flora)

Traditional Yin-yang Herbals: Jade Immune Screen Liquid (Flora)

Green Magma (Green Foods)

Herbal Cough and Throat Drops

(Herbon Naturals)

Echinacea Tincture (Naka)

Aller-Ease (Natural Factors)

Cold and Cough (Natural Factors)

Echinacea Cough and Cold Formula

(Natural Factors)

Echinacea Fresh Juice Extract (Natural Factors)

Echinacea Throat Spray (Natural Factors)

Echinacea Tincture (Natural Factors)

Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer Extract

(Natural Factors)

Bronc-Ease (Nature's Herbs)

Chamomile Extract (Nature's Herbs)

Cold Control (Nature's Herbs)

CL-7 Formula (Nature's Herbs)

Echinacea-Power (Nature's Herbs)

Echinacea-Golden Seal Combination

(Nature's Herbs)

Garlic, Odorless (Nature's Herbs)

Ginkgo-Power (Nature's Herbs)

Green-Power (Nature's Herbs)

Maximum Allicin Garlic (Quintessence)

Organic Garlic (Quintessence)

Pure-Gar (Quintessence)

Echinacea Glycerites (Sisu)

Select Echinacea Plus (Sisu)

Respiractin (Sun Force)

Kyo-Echinacea (Wakunaga)

Insure Herbal (Zand)

Homeopathy

Aconite (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Belladonna (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Coldenza (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Ferr Phos (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Gelsimium (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Nat Mur (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Nux Vomica (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Phosphorus (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Pulsatilla (Nelsons Homeopathy)

Nu-Medicine Colds and Flu (Nu-Life)

External Therapies

Eucalyptus Spa Bath (Aubrey Organics)

Olbas Oil (Flora)

Bergamot Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Eucalyptus Oil (Karooch Essential Oil)

Grapefruit Oil (Karooch Essential Oil)

Peppermint Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Tea Tree Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)