What makes us sick?
Micro-organisms live in and around us all the time but do not harm us. However, any stress to our system, whether emotional, physical or mental, creates the ideal conditions for micro-organisms to flourish.
Stressors include toxicity, trauma, pathogens, mental and emotional factors (fear, anxiety, anger), electro and environmental pollution, poor nutrition, heredity factors, poor living conditions, lifestyle issues, lack of sleep, excess physical or mental labour, and extreme environmental changes (temperature, altitude, damp, dryness, deficiency syndrome, etc.) First comes the stressor which causes the conditions for dis-ease – later comes the illness. Only after an internal or external stressor has disturbed our vital force, will bacteria or viruses thrive.
For example, a sudden change in weather may bring on a bout of colds or flu within a family. They transferred amongst them certain micro-organisms, but none of these harmed them until a sudden change in weather conditions. Only then were the bacteria able to thrive and multiply. Therefore, to bring about an improvement in health, one should focus on boosting the vital force rather than killing the bacteria.
What are symptoms of illness?
Natural medicine recognises symptoms as the body’s healing mechanisms, which the genius self-healing system produces in response to an underlying cause such as a virus. These healing mechanisms should therefore not be suppressed but rather encouraged.
How does homeopathic medicine work?
By choosing a homeopathic remedy that encourages the individual’s particular healing mechanisms (symptoms), healing becomes rapid and effective.
What is the difference between the Common Cold and Flu?
| The Common Cold | Influenza |
|
This is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the mucus membranes lining the nose and throat, resulting in symptoms which are generally confined to the nose and throat. The common cold is also popularly known as a head cold and symptoms may include: Headache Watering eyes Stuffy or runny nose or post nasal drip with tickling cough Sneezing Sore throat; scratchy or tickling throat Hoarseness Listlessness Chills |
This is a viral infection of the respiratory tract (air passages) that leads to the body producing healing mechanisms (symptoms) such as: Sore throat Blocked or runny nose Sinus inflammation or congestion Headache Fever Chills Muscular aches, stiffness Bone pain Loss of appetite General weakness and fatigue Some influenza strains may also include gastric / digestion disorders such as: Nausea Dizziness Vomiting Diarrhoea |
Homeopathic treatment of the Common Cold or Flu
Encouraging and assisting the body’s healing mechanisms at the first sign of any symptoms with some well-selected remedies, will encourage healing and recovery. Remedies in our Winter Essentials Pack (290) include:
| Aconitum | First remedy for colds / flu. Start taking at first signs of cold / flu to nip it in the bud. Cough, croup, fever, loss of voice, runny nose, hayfever, eye inflammation, sore throat |
| Rhus Tox | For aching, stiffness; can’t get comfortable, restlessness, flu, fever, sore throat |
| Gelsemium | First remedy for flu; fever, hayfever, chills, headache, migraine; use for any viral infections |
| Ferrum Phos | First remedy for any kind of inflammation, chills, fights infection, colds, runny nose, hayfever, fever, eye inflammation, sore throat |
| Hepar Sulph | Sore throats, cough, croup, hayfever, sinusitis, cold sores, mouth ulcers |
| Dulcamara | Fever blisters, cold, runny nose, hayfever, mouth ulcers, chapped lips, coughs |
Choosing the best remedies
To choose the best remedy/ies to match your healing mechanisms (symptoms), always take note of any deviation from one’s norm, especially:
Big thirst or lack of thirst?
Appetite or lack of appetite?
Fever or chills?
Sweatiness or dryness of the skin?
Most initial symptoms of a cold and flu will clear up without treatment within a week to ten days. However, in some cases where the body struggles to overcome these common symptoms, infection may spread beyond the nose and throat areas, leading to secondary symptoms of:
Laryngitis or loss of voice
Chest infection; bronchitis
Sinusitis
Ear infection
Taking Note of your Symptoms
If symptoms change, then a new remedy/ies should be chosen according to the new symptoms. However, if symptoms persist or you are in any doubt whatsoever as to your state of health, you should always consult your healthcare provider. If you would like to self-treat with homeopathic medicine but don’t know where to start, you can begin with a visit to your health care provider; obtain a diagnosis, and if your symptoms fall within the area of ”common, everyday ailments” then make a decision as to which system of medicine you would prefer. If you are still in any doubt, always remember that homeopathic medicine is complementary to most other systems of medicine and you could use both initially for common, everyday ailments until you have gained sufficient confidence.
Practical Tips to Help You Get Over Colds and Flu
To maintain a strong health immune system, always reduce stressors to a minimum. To further boost the system, always “feed a cold and starve a fever”. Avoid extreme temperature change, damp, cold or harsh environmental conditions, take a good daily dose of vitamin c, zinc and fresh citrus fruit / drinks; drink plenty of water to assist the body’s detoxing mechanism, and get lots of rest. And if you are the caregiver, above all, give plenty of TLC (tender loving care)!
Prevention
All homeopathic remedies can be used as a prophylactic to prevent illness wherever the general symptoms of a dis-ease are known, such as in the Common Cold or Flu (Influenza). Remedies to consider:
| Aconitum & Ferrum Phos |
For prevention of the Common Cold Take twice a day for a week |
| Gelsemium & Rhus Tox |
For prevention of Flu Twice a day for a week |
| Gelsemium & Rhus Tox & Eupatorium |
For Gastric Flu prevention Take twice a day for a week. |
