Common Cold and Its Homeopathic Management

        As monsoon is approaching, many will be frequently troubled by attacks of the common cold. Homeopathic treatment is highly effective in many acute and chronic diseases and lets us know about its effectiveness in treating the common cold.

        There are many medicines used by homeopathic physicians in the treatment of the common cold. Bryonia alba, Gelsemium sempervirens, Justicia adhatoda, Arsenicum album, Aconitum napellus, Belladonna, etc. are some of the most commonly used medicines. From these medicines, only one medicine is selected and given to the patient based on his peculiar signs and symptoms.

Keywords: Homeopathic medicines for common cold, common cold and homeopathy, common cold virus, cold symptoms, symptoms of common cold, complications of common cold.

What is the common cold?

        The common cold is a viral disease caused by various viruses like adenovirus, picornavirus, and its subgroups such as rhinovirus, coxsackie virus, etc. The medical term for the common cold is viral rhinitis. The infection is usually contracted through airborne droplets.

        Symptoms include coryza, nasal stuffiness and obstruction, sneezing, and a mild low-grade fever. Nasal discharge is initially watery and profuse but may become thick and mucopurulent due to secondary bacterial invasion.

        The disease is usually self-limiting and resolves spontaneously after two to three weeks, but occasionally, complications such as sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, otitis media, and even pneumonia can occur. The complications arise in people with low immunity.

How homeopathy is effective in treating the common cold?

        In the common cold, as in most diseases, the symptoms are due to the body’s immune system trying to fight the virus. There is dilatation of blood vessels in the nose which produces congestion, coryza, and stuffiness. Homeopathic medicine relieves the symptoms of cold by its secondary action. It also increases the immune response of the body, thus helping in killing and removing viruses by the immune cells.

    In addition, homeopathic medicines such as Gelsemium sempervirens has got an antiviral action too. All of these lead to rapid recovery in a safe manner from the common cold.

General Management of Common Cold:

• Bed rest is essential to cut down the course of illness

• Plenty of fluids are encouraged as the common cold makes you dehydrate

• Eat and drink warm. Soups are good

• Do steam inhalation

• Warm salt water gargles
  

• Don’t apply anything to the interior of the nose

• Maintain strict personal hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus to others.

Some homeopathic medicines used in the treatment of the common cold:

Aconitum napellus:

        Cold with sudden onset of symptoms after exposure to dry cold air call for this remedy. The patient will be anxious and restless which causes him to change his position often. Cough on expiration. The cough will be dry, hard, loud, and rough in character. Obstruction of the nose without any discharge. Associated with a throbbing headache in the frontal region. The patient feels better in the open air.

Allium cepa:

        There is excoriating coryza from the nose with bland lachrymation. There is also a dull headache which is worse in the evening and in a warm room and better in the open air. There is burning and smarting in the eyes and the patient rubs them to get relief. There is also prolonged sneezing.

Arsenicum album:

        There will be thin watery discharge from the nose. This discharge is so acrid and it excoriates the upper lip. There is also a dull throbbing headache in the frontal region with sneezing and photophobia. There will be sneezing without any relief. The complaints become worse in the open air.

Belladonna:

        There is a great tendency to take cold frequently. The patient is sensitive to cold drafts of air. Cold after a haircut. There is associated tonsillitis. There is a congestive, throbbing headache. The patient will be sensitive to touch, noise, jar, motion, and light. The face and eyes will be red and there is a sensation of fullness of the head.

Bryonia alba:

        Cold from cold drinks or ice in summer or from exposure to cold air. The patient will be tired and lies down in the bed. They feel better from absolute rest and worse from slight motion. There will be a dry cough with scanty expectoration and great thirst.

Gelsemium sempervirens:

        Used in epidemic attacks of cold. Great antiviral remedy. It will cure a cold in the initial stages rapidly. There is watery discharge from the nose which is either bland or acrid with the fullness of the head and chilliness. The patient will be weak and trembling.

Justicia adhatoda:

        Highly efficacious for acute catarrhal conditions of the respiratory tract. The patient will be irritable and sensitive to external impressions. Head will be hot with lachrymation and profuse fluent coryza. There may be loss of smell and taste. Dry cough with suffocative obstruction of respiration. The patient cannot endure a closed warm room.

        Although it is a self-limiting disease, homeopathic medicines cure the disease in a rapid, safe, and gentle manner. Almost all cases of the common cold can be cured within 2days.

        Homeopathic treatment also decreases the frequency of cold attacks by increasing the immunity of the individual. It is also highly effective in treating the complications of the common cold. Thus, homeopathy is the most efficient treatment for the common cold as in many other diseases.