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The Common Cold
Homeopathy treats the whole person by using tiny doses of natural substances
to stimulate the body to heal itself. Only one medicine is given at a time.
Homeopathic medicines are nontoxic, inexpensive, available in health food
stores and pharmacies, and highly effective when prescribed correctly.
The common cold is a viral infection associated with a large number of viruses
which infect the respiratory tract. The symptoms are well known to practically
everyone, with sore throat and stuffy nose, watery nasal discharge at first,
then becoming thicker and colored. Low-grade fever and headache are common.
A loose or dry, hacking cough occurs as the cold "goes into the chest"
and may persist for up to several weeks. Colds may be complicated by bacterial
infections leading to sinusitis and ear infections and may progress to bronchitis
or infrequently, pneumonia.
Homeopathy can effectively treat the common cold, shortening the severity
and duration of symptoms, unlike conventional medicine. Antibiotics are
not recommended for colds, only for severe bacterial infections that have
not responded to homeopathic treatment.
The best homeopathic medicines for colds are:
Ferrum phosphoricum: is useful in the very first stage of
the cold when you feel like you are coming down with something, and
there are few symptoms beside fever with flushed face, especially
with round red spots on the cheeks.
Aconitum napellus: is another medicine for the first stage
of a cold that comes on suddenly and violently after exposure
to a cold, dry wind or from fright or shock. There is high
fever, fear and anxiety, and restlessness. A croupy cough comes
on suddenly. There is a great thirst for cold drinks. One cheek may be
red, the other pale.
Belladonna: colds also come on suddenly and violently
with a bright red, flushed face, high fever, throbbing headache and extremely
red, very sore throat. The symptoms are often right sided. Belladonna
patients may become delirious with the high fever, and are very sensitive
to light, noise and jarring. Their pupils are dilated and their
skin hot and dry. They like to sit up in a quiet, dark room. They
have a short, croupy, dry, barking cough. They crave lemons or
lemonade and cold water or they may be thirstless.
Allium cepa: Made from the onion, this medicine has symptoms
similar to those you get from chopping fresh onions. A profuse
watery nasal discharge which drips like a faucet and which burns
and irritates the nose and upper lip is typical. The eyes
run too, but the discharge is non-irritating. There is rawness in
the throat and laryngitis. An incessant hacking, tickling cough
is worse from breathing in cold air. These patients are better
in the open air, and worse in a warm room. The colds may come
on in damp, cold weather. They may have a strong hunger and thirst
and a desire for onions.
Pulsatilla: is a medicine for a "ripe" cold with
thick, bland, yellow-green nasal discharge and sputum. These
children are weepy, whiny and clingy and want to be carried and
cuddled. They are better from slow walking in the open air,
feel warm and are worse in a warm, stuffy room. Pulsatilla
patients feel abandoned, have changeable emotions and cry
very easily. They crave butter, ice cream and creamy foods, but
are aggravated by too much rich food. They are thirstless.
Natrum muriaticum: is useful in colds with a thick nasal discharge
like egg-white and cold sores on the lips. The lips are dry
and cracked, with a crack in the middle of the lower lip. Frontal
headaches are common. These patients are depressed, weepy
and withdrawn and don't like to be consoled. They desire salt,
pasta and bread.
Kali bichromicum: patients have thick, stringy yellow-green nasal
discharge and pressure in the sinuses and at the root of the nose,
with thick post-nasal drip. This medicine is good for late stage
colds. They have wandering aches and pains in small spots. The
cough is productive with stringy green sputum. They are
chilly and desire sweets.
(See also Bronchitis and Coughs and Flu.)
If your symptoms clearly match one of these medicines: Take one dose (three
pills) of a 30C potency, dissolved in the mouth, at least five minutes away
from food or drink. If you do not notice a change, repeat the medicine after
four hours. If you have not noticed an improvement after two doses of the
medicine, it is not the correct medicine. If your symptoms improve then
get worse, take another dose. You should not need to take the correct homeopathic
medicine more than three times a day for three days. Do not use coffee (other
caffeinated products are okay), eucalyptus, camphor, menthol, acupuncture
or electric blankets while using homeopathic medicines.
This information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended
to replace the services of a qualified medical professional.
You need to consult a qualified homeopath or other physician:
1) If none of these medicines matches your symptoms.
2) If you have tried three homeopathic medicines for your condition without
success.
3) If your symptoms are severe or getting significantly worse.
4) For chronic conditions.
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Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, DHANP, MSW is a licensed naturopathic physician board certified in homeopathic medicine. She graduated with a degree in 
