Colds and flu

Because the common cold and the flu are both respiratory infections, determining which you have may be difficult. Generally a cold comes on gradually, and the flu strikes suddenly-you can feel fine in the morning and lousy by afternoon. The classic cold symptoms-congestion, sore throat, and sneezing-are usually less severe than those of the flu, which often include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, and headaches.

The amount of time needed to recover is different too. In general, a cold lasts about a week, but symptoms may trouble you for only three or four days if your immune system is in good shape. You can be sick with the flu for up to 10 days, and fatigue can persist for two to three weeks afterward. A cold rarely produces serious complications, but the flu can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.

Both colds and flu are caused by viruses that attach themselves to the lining of the nose or throat and then spread throughout the upper respiratory system and occasionally to the lungs as well. In response, the immune system floods the area with infection-fighting white blood cells. The symptoms of a cold or the flu aren't produced by the viruses but are actually the result of the body trying to stave off the infection. Colds and flu are more common in winter, when indoor heating reduces the humidity in the air; this lack of moist air dries out the nasal passages and creates the perfect breeding ground for the viruses.

Supplements and herbs

The supplements listed below assist your body in combating cold and flu viruses, rather than suppressing symptoms. For this reason, you may not feel better immediately after taking them, but you'll probably recover faster. In some cases, prompt treatment may prevent a cold or the flu from fully developing. Start the supplements when symptoms first appear and, unless otherwise noted, continue until the illness passes.

At high doses, vitamin A has strong antiviral action, but take it for only seven days in these amounts. Contrary to popular belief, vitamin C won't prevent a cold, but it may shorten the duration or minimize the symptoms. The herb Echinacea stimulates the immune system to mount an attack against the virus. Zinc lozenges may also help halt a cold, possibly by destroying the virus itself.

If you often develop a bacterial infection, such as sinusitis or bronchitis, from a cold or the flu, add garlic when you first notice symptoms. It contains compounds that may prevent bacteria from invading tissues. To give the immune system an extra boost, combine goldenseal with Echinacea for the treatment (but not prevention) of colds and flu.

Homeopathy

Any of the remedies can be taken in the 6, 12 or 30th potency. Initially, take a dose hourly for severe symptoms. Within 3 hours there should be improvement. If not, or if symptoms change search for a new remedy. Reduce the frequency of the dose with improvement, but use it once daily for several days even after one feels well, to avoid relapse.

• Allium cepa
  Nose: profuse, dripping, watery, acrid discharge; irritating the upper lip.
  Violent sneezing fits. Dull head pains with discharge. Hot and thirsty.
  Eyes: burning, smarting, red, light-sensitive; watery, non-acrid discharge.
  Tickling, hacking cough in cold air, hurts the larynx. Constricted throat.
  Worse: damp, cold, evening, warm room, lying. Better: in the open air.
• Arsenicum
  Nose: watery, acidic, dripping discharge, burns the upper lip; yet nose feels stuffed up, feeling not relieved by sneezing. Burning, dry nostrils.
  Dull throbbing headache with light sensitivity. Restless, chilly, anxious and nervous. Frequent sips of cold water. Fear of serious illness, death.
  Worse: open air, cold, after midnight. Better: warm room, warm drinks.
• Euphrasia
  Eyes: constant, acrid discharge, scalding tears burn the skin, light sensitivity. Swollen lids. Headache. Pressure under sternum. Tickling larynx.
  Nose: non-irritating discharge, violent sneezing. Profuse running of nose in a.m., with hacking cough and much expectoration. Frequent waking.
  Worse: morning, indoors, evening, night. Better: outdoors, eating, dark.
• Nat mur
  Nose: watery discharge becomes thick, whitish. Sneezing fits in a.m.
  Nose alternately runs or blocked, sores inside. Hawks up salty mucus.
  Eyes: watering in the wind. Cold sores. Dry, cracked lips, much thirst.
  Sensitive, depressed. Desires solitude, avoids sympathy. Feels weepy.
  Worse: mid-morning, sun, warmth. Better: fresh air, sweating, cool bath.
• Nux vomica
  Nose: dry, stuffed up; runs by day, stuffed at night. Feels stuffed in open air, runs in a warm room. Snuffles in children. Sneezing, nose bleeds.
  Aching allover, chilliness, dull headache. Irritable, impatient, driven.
  Colds from chilling, loss of sleep, overwork, overindulgence, alcohol.
  Worse: open air, cold, drafts, noise, light. Better: rest, damp air, heat.
• Pulsatilla
  Nose: late stages of cold; thick, yellow-green, nonirritating mucus, bad smelling discharge, sneezing. Nosebleed. Loss of smell, taste, appetite.
  Loose cough a.m., dry cough night. Little thirst. Greasy taste in mouth.
  Changeable symptoms and moods. Weepy, craves sympathy. Snappish.
  Worse: morning, evening, heat (but chilly), stuffy room. Better: open air.

What else you can do

• Wash your hands often to reduce your chances of catching an infection.
• Use a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer in winter to keep indoor air moist.
• Consider getting a flu shot. It takes six to eight weeks to build up a viral immunity, so get vaccinated in late fall before the flu season begins. Different flu strains emerge each year, so you'll need to have an annual shot.

How much to take

Vitamin A

25,000 IU twice a day until symptoms improve; if needed beyond 7 days, reduce dose to 10,000 IU a day.
Women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should not exceed 5,000 IU a day.

Vitamin C

2,000 mg 3 times a day until symptoms improve; if needed beyond 5 days, reduce dose to 1,000 mg 3 times a day.
Reduce dose if diarrhea develops.

Echinacea

200 mg 5 times a day.
To alleviate symptoms, take 200 mg a day in 3-week rotations with the herb astragalus (400mg a day).

Zinc lozenges

1 lozenge every 3 or 4 hours as needed.
Do not exceed 150 mg zinc a day from all sources.

Garlic

400-600 mg 4 times a day with food.
Each pill should provide 4,000 mcg allicin potential.

Goldenseal

125 mg standardized extract 5 times a day for 5 days.
Don't use during pregnancy or with high blood pressure.

For kids

See age-appropriate dosages of herbal remedies

• Yin qiao is a Chinese botanical formula that can be taken at the very first sign of a cold. This remedy usually is not helpful after the third day of symptoms. Give your child one dose, every two hours, during the acute phase of the cold. After the symptoms start to ease, reduce the dosage to one dose, three times daily, for one week.
  Note: The liquid extract is the preferred form, because it contains no aspirin. The tablet form should not be given to a child under four years of age.
• To help your child rest and relax, give her one dose of chamomile tea, twice daily, as needed.
• To calm a restless, fussy child, prepare a soothing herbal bath with chamomile, calendula, rosemary, and/or lavender. Keep the water comfortably warm and encourage a long, lazy soak.
• Echinacea and goldenseal both stimulate the immune system. Echinacea is antibacterial and antiviral; goldenseal is an antibacterial noted for healing irritated mucous membranes. Give your child one dose of an Echinacea and goldenseal combination formula, three times a day, for five days to one week.
• Garlic has antibacterial properties and helps detoxify the body. Give your child one capsule, two to three times a day, for one week. You can substitute one clove of fresh garlic for each capsule, but most children are more willing to accept garlic in the odorless capsule form.
• Give your child ginger tea to increase perspiration. This helps to cleanse the body and reduce the intensity of a cold. Give one dose, every four hours, during the acute phase of a cold.
• Sage tea helps to break up congestion and bring down a fever. Give your child one dose of sage tea, up to three times daily, for three to five days.

Back To Top