Conventional Approaches
Sneeze, cough and catch drips, but do your best to steer clear from over-the-counter (OTC) nose sprays, cough medicines, and decongestants. Although these drugs provide short-term relief, they will actually prolong the duration of infection. Blocking these pathways of elimination can have an overall negative effect as your body's attempts to clear itself of infection are compromised.
The most effective way to deal with a cold is to provide your immune system with the nutrients it needs to perform its job. There is a large variety of remedies available to facilitate this goal, as outlined below.
Amino Acids
Glutamine fortifies the immune system and can help reduce the severity and duration of infection. Take 1 rounded teaspoon (5 grams) three times daily while you have a cold.
Bach Flower Remedies
Bach Flower Remedies can be used to gently ease emotional distress and each remedy relates to a specific emotional state. Before you use Bach flower remedies, please read Bach Flower Remedies, Introduction -- Preparing A Treatment for general dosage information.
Crab Apple: Useful after a cold. Person has feelings of despair, uncleanliness, and disgust, especially when one has had to touch contaminated objects and has general feelings of being polluted.
Food Supplements
Acidophilus and Bifidus supplementation will restore beneficial bacteria counts in the digestive tract and help keep harmful bacteria at bay. It is essential that these bacteria be restored to the body, particularly after the use of antibiotics. Look for a dairy-free formulation with at least 2.5 billion viable cultures per capsule and keep refrigerated. Take 2 or 3 capsules daily before meals, preferably in the morning. Supplements with Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) provide a beneficial "bed" and initial food source for the bacteria. If dairy allergies have been ruled out, you may also eat yogurt that has had either bacterial culture added.
Herbs
Astragalus is a famous Chinese herb and early Chinese writings refer to it as "The Superior Tonic". It is used to treat a wide variety of conditions and is considered a major Chinese qi (pronounced "Chi") tonic. When treating the common cold, astragalus can be used to stimulate your immune system and provide relief to your respiratory system. It is safe to take for the duration of your cold and can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms in acute common cold treatments. The herb can also be safely used as a preventative, as required. To prepare a decoction, add 3 teaspoons to 3 cups water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Strain and divide into 3 doses for the day. If supplementing, take 6g three times daily. If using in tincture form, take 20 to 30 drops three times daily.
Echinacea can also be used to stimulate the immune system and increase white blood cell (WBC) counts. In addition, the herb has been found to directly kill bacteria and viruses. Due to its specific immune system stimulating properties, do not use echinacea for more than one month. This will only confuse your immune system into action and thus weaken its ability to fight an actual infection. It is best to take this herb at the first sign of a cold or as a preventative against a known cold source, such as your place of work. If using a tincture, take 20 to 40 drops in a glass of water three times daily. If supplementing, take 300mg powdered extract three times daily. If preparing a decoction, bring 2 teaspoons echinacea root and 1 cup water to a boil. Simmer 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day. The taste may be initially sweet, then bitter. Do not give to children under 2 years of age. Older children and those over 65 should start with a low strength preparation and increase as required.
Elder promotes sweating, which helps eliminate toxins from the body and lowers fevers. To prepare an infusion, add 1 teaspoon dried flowers to 1 cup boiling water. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Take three times daily.
Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties as a result of its incredibly complex molecular structure. Allicin is considered the active ingredient in garlic. You can increase the content of allicin in garlic by crushing the buds and leaving them out for five minutes or more. The oxygen in the air facilitates the conversion of alliin to allicin. Take at least two cloves daily. If supplementing, take 400 to 500mg up to three times daily. If using a tincture, take 2 to 4mL three times daily.
Goldenseal has antibacterial properties that can help fight off a bacterial infection. Note that as with prescription antibiotics, goldenseal is useless against a viral infection -- the most common form of the common cold. NOTE: This delicate, wild herb is becoming increasingly rare as its popularity grows. Use only after you have exhausted other possible courses of antibacterial treatment. To prepare a tea, use 1/2 to 1 tsp. powdered root per cup of boiling water. Let steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups daily. Add honey or lemon to reduce the bitter flavour. If using a tincture, take 10 to 40 drops two times daily. If using capsules, take 250 to 500mg of powdered extract. Do not take internally for more than week and avoid completely if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure.
Licorice is often used to treat respiratory conditions. To prepare a decoction, gently boil 1/2 tsp. powdered root in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups daily. Licorice tea is rather sweet tasting. If supplementing, take 4,000 to 5,000mg daily. If using in tincture form, take 20 to 40 drops up to 2 times daily.
Peppermint is appropriate for fevers, colds, and influenza and helps relieve nasal and sinus congestion. Add 2 to 3 drops essential oil to warm water and inhale vapour. To prepare an infusion, add 1 to 2 teaspoons dried herb to one cup boiling water. Take up to 3 times daily. If using in tincture form, take 20 to 40 drops 2 times daily.
Yarrow is very effective in bringing down a fever. It helps bring blood back to the extremities after being shunted to increase your core temperature. It also inhibits the growth of bacteria and viruses. To prepare an infusion, add 1 to 2 teaspoons dried herb to one cup boiling water. Drink twice daily, as hot as possible.
Homeopathy
Certain remedies can be used in acute situations if your symptoms fit the symptom picture of the remedy. For dosages, see the dedicated section on Homeopathy. Consult your homeopath or naturopath to determine your constitutional remedy: the remedy that best fits you as a whole person. Your homeopath or naturopath will take a complete case history considering all of your mental and physical ailments and match these symptoms with the symptom picture of the remedy.
Aconite: For early stages of a cold. Comes suddenly after exposure to cold weather. Sudden fever alternates with chills. Face is red, person is thirsty for cold drinks, has great anxiety, and is restless.
Allium Cepa: For a cold that is accompanied by irritating, watery nasal discharge that burns the nose and upper lip. Person feels better in the open air.
Belladonna: For early stages of a cold. Symptoms come very sudden and start with a high fever. Face is red and hot and extremities are cold. Person feels chilly and "prickly", is irritable, restless, and delirious,
Euphrasia: Cold is accompanied by watery discharge that does not irritate nasal passages. Intensive and very irritating tearing. Eyes are swollen and red.
Metallum Album (Arsenicum): For later stages of cold. Person feels chilly and cannot get warm enough. Feels better near heat. Tickling sensation in the nose that results in violent sneezing. Watery discharge from the nose that irritates the upper lip. All symptoms are relieved by heat.
Pulsatilla: Yellow, greenish, slimy nasal discharge that improves at night and recurs when the person wakes up. Cough may be present at night that prevents sleeping. All symptoms are made better with open air.
Lifestyle
Get plenty of rest. This will allow your immune system to function most efficiently and direct energy towards elimination, healing, and restoration. You will likely get better in less time by taking a few days off than dealing with your ailment and countless other daily demands. The external obligations will wait. Your health must come first.
Along with rest comes sleep. While asleep, your body enters a parasympathetic state where immune system function is significantly more enhanced than in a waking state, speeding recovery. Rest, relaxation, mediation, and visualization all promote a parasympathetic state.
Drink plenty of liquids. Aside from being a "universal cure-all", your grandmother's chicken (or vegetable) soup provides you with essential fluids necessary to flush the lymphatic system and provides the proteins needed by your immune system to make more immune cells. The liver and kidneys also require water to carry concentrated toxins. In addition, runny noses and sweating all drain water from the body. This water must be replenished. Drink at least 8 glasses equivalent water daily, which includes soups and teas.
Wash your hands often, to remove bacteria and viruses. You come into contact with countless germ-laden objects every day: door knobs, elevator buttons, counter-tops, water faucets, hand shaking, and more.
Germs enter your body through a variety of pathways including the nose, mouth, ears, eyes, skin, and cuts and scrapes. Keep these areas clean. The skin under your fingernails, in particular, has a number of blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. This provides an easy pathway for germs to invade the bloodstream. Removing these germs from your body takes an extra load off your already weakened immune system.
Reduce stress and anxiety. As your body attempts to deal with the demands imposed on it by a high-strung, tense lifestyle, your overall bodily systems become weakened. When a cold or flu virus is introduced, a borderline healthy system becomes further compromised.
Avoid refined sugars and processed foods containing these ingredients. White sugar is not a natural substance and is seen as an invader by your immune system. As a result, your body wastes energy "fighting off" the invader and can become weakened or ill-prepared to deal with a true infectious agent. White sugar also decreases immune function and WBC mobility within 30 minutes of consumption, with the effect lasting for up to five hours. The ability of WBCs to engulf microorganisms can be reduced by up to 50% within two hours of sugar consumption. In addition, a 1973 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (vol. 26) found that consuming 100g of sugar can significantly reduce the ability of WBCs to fight an infection by decreasing B-cell antibody production and subsequent germ killing ability. Sugar will also interfere with vitamin C transport and absorption, as the two compete for cell membrane transport mechanisms, in this case, insulin.
Avoid alcohol, which impairs WBC mobilization and hinders its ability to travel to infected sites.
If you are a high performance athlete, it is important to watch your amino acid levels. Studies have found that those who undergo an intense exercise period often have a higher incidence of infection and cold symptoms due to a weakened immune system.
A University of Oxford study found that post-marathon endurance athletes experience a decrease in plasma levels of glutamine, coupled with a drop in the number of immune system lymphocytes -- cells dependent on glutamine for optimal growth. This drop in lymphocyte count, along with other negative changes in the immune system, is considered the cause of a higher level of illness among athletes. Glutamine supplementation can alleviate this situation, particularly when the amino acid is taken intravenously. It is highly recommended to consult with your fitness consultant, naturopath, or other health practitioner before undertaking this approach.
Minerals
Selenium plays a key role in the functioning of glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme that directly supports the immune system. The mineral can also assist and/or restore various immune functions and stimulate WBCs and thymus function. Vegetarian sources of selenium include grains, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, Brazil nuts, brewer's yeast, brown rice and garlic. Selenium can also be found in chicken, salmon, seafood, liver, beef and dairy products. One Brazil nut contains enough selenium to satisfy your daily requirement. However, you may wish to have a few more. If supplementing, take 100 to 200mcg twice daily.
Zinc helps alleviate symptoms and may also shorten the duration of a cold by supporting immune system and WBC function. Zinc and vitamin A (see Vitamins, below) work synergistically, resulting in a greater effect than if the two were taken separately. Take 13 to 25mg elemental zinc from zinc gluconate in lozenge form every few hours for no more than 7 days. Be sure to fully dissolve the lozenge in your mouth. Supplementation for more than one week can suppress the immune system. Avoid lozenges that contain sorbitol, mannitol, and citric acid. Some studies indicate that a high zinc dosage at the beginning of a cold (90mg daily) more effective shortens its duration. Discuss this option with your nutritionist, naturopath, or other health practitioner.
Miscellaneous
Glandular therapy centres on the concept that a certain animal gland can strengthen the same gland in a human body. Thymus gland extract can improve glandular function and may help prevent recurrent respiratory tract infections. NOTE: This remedy is obtained from an animal source and may not be appropriate for vegetarians or vegans.
Spleen extracts are used to treat infectious conditions and also have immune-stimulating properties, particularly the WBCs that help eliminate foreign invaders from the body. It has been found that removal of the spleen results in decreased immune system function and increased susceptibility to bacterial and other forms of infection. NOTE: This remedy is obtained from an animal source and may not be appropriate for vegetarians or vegans.
Therapies, Healing Aids, and More
Have yourself tested for food allergies, which can strain your digestive, nervous, and immune systems. Common food allergies include: corn, dairy, nightshade vegetables (eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, et cetera), soy, and wheat. VEGA (electrodermal) testing, skin tests, or positive IgE RAST testing can help isolate specific allergens.
A healthy diet will provide your body with the nutrients needed to support proper function. Organic food will further complement this approach. Nutrient deficiencies of even one vitamin or mineral can depress immune function. Protein deficiencies have the same effect.
Steam inhalation, chest compress, and other hydrotherapy applications often prove quite beneficial when dealing with a cold. Consult with your hydrotherapist, naturopath, or other health practitioner.
Vitamins
Vitamin A has a significant influence on your immune system. The vitamin stimulates and enhances various immune processes, increases WBC function, increases antibody response, and even induces anti-tumour activity. Vitamin A protects against infection in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and other body tissues and their secretions. These various surfaces act as a barrier to germs and vitamin A enhances this defense mechanism. Take 10,000 IU daily. Vitamin A and zinc (see Minerals, above) work synergistically, resulting in a greater effect than if the two were taken separately. NOTE: Avoid Vitamin A supplementation if pregnant. Beta-carotene supplementation may be suitable. Discuss this issue with your naturopath or other health practitioner.
Vitamin C has natural antibacterial properties and also strengthens the immune system. Take 2,000 to 3,000mg daily. Dosage can be further increased up to bowel tolerance. Supplements with mixed bioflavonoids will help facilitate absorption.
Vitamin E supports proper immune system function and deficiencies have been found to significantly impair immune function. In addition, vitamin E supplementation is often effective in enhancing immunity in elderly persons. Take 400 to 600 IU daily.
