6.) Bed rest is also an important component in the treatment of a cold or flu, one which adults often ignore. Children are more likely to listen to what their body is trying to tell them by remaining quiet or sleeping more.

7.) A fever is a welcome ally to any disease process and should be encouraged, not suppressed. Often, at the first signs of a fever, the person is given aspirin or tylenol to "keep it under control". This only acts to prolong the illness. If a fever is left alone to complete its work, it will speed up the healing reaction and shorten the course of the illness. It is also natures way of strengthening the body against further illness. Prolonged temperatures and ones above 105*F should be monitored closely. An optimal fever is one of 101*F to 103*F and of short (several hours) duration.

The question as to whether or not we will ever find a cure to the common cold is probably not the correct question to be asking. If viewed as an elimination process of the body rather than something that is external to it and something we "catch", colds and flu's can be seen as the body's attempts to clear itself and as a useful process. Understanding the process of a cold or influenza and what your body is trying to accomplish makes it easier for one to combat them. By supporting the healing mechanism and following a few simple first steps, colds and flu's will become less of a burden as your over all health and vitality continues to flourish.