Cold & Flu Season - Treatment
Sadly there is no cure for a cold or flu - the good news is that there are lots of things you can do to shorten the duration and decrease the intensity of your illness. None of those things include the use of suppressive medications. Suppressive medications, e.g. decongestants, will allow you to ignore your cold for a short period of time, but in the long run you will likely only increase the duration and intensity of your cold! (Click here If you are interested in learning more about the effect suppressive medications have on your body.) The best thing to do once you are sick is to ensure your body has everything it needs to defend you against the attacking pathogens, if all goes well you will be better within a day or two.
If you are following the advice below and you are not feeling significantly better within 1-2 days, if your symptoms are getting worse, or if you think you have the flu contact me for some homeopathic support.
5 Ways to Recover Faster
1. Do the of the things suggested in Cold & Flu Season - Prevention.
2. Flush your sinuses
Gargling and using a netti pot kill and wash away the pathogens that are attacking your system while soothing your irritated mucus membranes.
3. Boost your immune system.
4. Drink herbal teas
Herbal teas are a great way to get your fluids while loading your system with antioxidants and vitamins. Sweeten them with buckwheat honey if you are coughing or have a sore throat - buckwheat honey will help fight infections, sooth your mucus membranes and relieve your cough.
Consider drinking the following teas:
5. Get homeopathic support ASAP
Often homeopathic support administered within the first 24 hours of symptom onset will radically reduce the severity or even eliminate the symptoms.
If you are following the advice above and not feeling significantly better within 1-2 days, or if your symptoms are getting worse get homeopathic support - contact me.
More Information and Links
The Claim: Gargling With Salt Water Can Ease Cold Symptoms
Non-drug Therapies May Soothe Cold Symptoms
Medicinal Uses of Honey
If you are following the advice below and you are not feeling significantly better within 1-2 days, if your symptoms are getting worse, or if you think you have the flu contact me for some homeopathic support.
5 Ways to Recover Faster
1. Do the of the things suggested in Cold & Flu Season - Prevention.
2. Flush your sinuses
Gargling and using a netti pot kill and wash away the pathogens that are attacking your system while soothing your irritated mucus membranes.
- Gargle deeply once every 3 hours for at least 60 seconds, continue to gargle for 1 day after you feel better. Gargle recipe: 250ml (1cup) warm water, 2-5ml (½-1 tsp) salt, 5-15ml (1 tsp-2 tbsp) real apple cider vinegar (optional)
- Follow your netti pot instructions.
3. Boost your immune system.
- I recommend that my patients take an extra of their prescribed homeopathic medicine - often this extra support is all that is required to stop a cold in its tracks. Check with your homeopath.
- Increase your intake of probiotics.
4. Drink herbal teas
Herbal teas are a great way to get your fluids while loading your system with antioxidants and vitamins. Sweeten them with buckwheat honey if you are coughing or have a sore throat - buckwheat honey will help fight infections, sooth your mucus membranes and relieve your cough.
Consider drinking the following teas:
- rosehips are rich in vitamin C, beta carotene and other antioxidants
- echinacea has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties
- ginseng is rich in B vitamins and antioxidants
- peppermint is an effective expectorant & decongestant as well as being soothing for sore throats;
- elderberry has bioflavonoids and other proteins that destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect cells
- licorice (glycyrrhiza) is a demulcent (coats & soothes) and an expectorant
- astragalus contains antioxidants and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
- lemon balm is an antiviral and an antihistamine
- lavender has antibacterial and antiviral properties
- ginger which is loaded with antioxidants, is an anti-inflammatory and helps nausea
5. Get homeopathic support ASAP
Often homeopathic support administered within the first 24 hours of symptom onset will radically reduce the severity or even eliminate the symptoms.
- For cold symptoms, especially if the onset was sudden or after exposure, try taking 2 pellets of Aconite 30c twice – allow 30 minutes between doses.
- For flu symptoms take Oscillococcinum (less widely known as Anas barbariae hepatis et cordis extractum) - follow the package directions.
If you are following the advice above and not feeling significantly better within 1-2 days, or if your symptoms are getting worse get homeopathic support - contact me.
More Information and Links
The Claim: Gargling With Salt Water Can Ease Cold Symptoms
Non-drug Therapies May Soothe Cold Symptoms
Medicinal Uses of Honey
