I am sure everybody is extremely familiar with the common cold especially in this city. All must have experienced sneezing, the scratchy feeling in the throat, runny nose atleast once in our life lifetime if not more. It is also one of the most common complaints that most patients come with. Most people dont even bother to treat it since the symptoms are mild usually lasting for not more than a week. So why then should we try to treat it some may ask? Because you never know when a common cold may become secondarily infected with bacteria or your immunity may be less resistant and make you vulnerable to any other infection. Even a common cold has the potential to turn dangerous and complicated. So if you feel that you are coming down with one visit your Homoeopath.

 WHAT IS THE COMMON COLD?

It is an infection of the Upper Respiratory Tract - nose, nasal passages and the throat. The common cold is said to be the most wide spread infection in the world. This viral infection is most prevalent in children as their immune system is still immature and they are constantly surrounded by other children suffering from the same. Another age group more prone to colds are women, especially aged between 20 - 30, could be because of their close proximity to children at this age.

WHAT CAUSES THE COMMON COLD?

There are more than 200 different types of viruses known to cause the symptoms of a cold. Rhinoviruses are the ones most often found to be the cause. Rhin in Greek means nose and thats exactly where these viruses are found. They multiply and survive best at a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius which happens to be the temperature inside the nose. There are 110 different types of this kind itself. These usually cause a mild illness and resolve in a few days but there are other viruses which can cause a more severe infection. The Respiratory Syncytial and Influenza Viruses are one of those that you need to watch out for.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF THE COMMON COLD

Sometimes a person may be a carrier of the cold virus and not suffer any symptoms. This is a sub-clinical state as the infection is not causing a disease. What happens in most cases though is that the symptoms appear a day or two after the patient has been affected with the cold virus. It starts with just a scratchy feeling within the nose or throat, sneezing, and eventually the nose and eyes starts to water.

There maybe a stuffy feeling in the nose, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, cough and headache. Sometimes the person may develop a mild fever and weakness. Children can also have high fever. All these symptoms will subside within a week but if they dont then see your physician.

Secondary bacterial infections are one of the main complications of the common cold. It mainly involves the ears, sinuses, or rarely the chest. Here there will be high fever, swollen glands, pain in the ear with maybe a discharge, pain and heaviness of the sinuses, a productive cough with foul expectoration.

Call your Doctor immediately if you or your child has any of the symptoms listed below-

HOW IS THE COMMON COLD PASSED ON AND SPREAD?

Colds are very easy to pass on but personal contact is required to become infected with the cold virus. The virus has to find its way to the mucus membrane of the nose. There are several ways by which that can happen.

DOES COLD WEATHER CAUSE COMMON COLDS?

No, contrary to what we all believe cold temperatures or weather is not the cause of the common cold. However it does make you more susceptible to suffer from a cold. This is because the humidity is low at this time of the year which allows the viruses to survive longer. It also dries the lining of the nasal passages making the person more prone to colds since there is no protective mucus which is the first line of defense against common colds. In the same manner sitting in an AC room which removes the moisture from the air and dries up your nasal passages can make you more prone to a cold. Also remember to clean your AC filters regularly.

HOW CAN COLDS BE PREVENTED?

Here are a few tips which will help you in preventing you and your family from getting repeated colds

Always try to eat a healthy and balanced diet, get sufficient sleep and exercise. All these things help to maintain our immune system which protects us from infections. Watch out for STRESS, emotional, mental and physical, it can lower your bodys resistance.

WHY IS HOMOEOPATHY THE BEST OPTION FOR TREATING THE COMMON COLD?

The common cold is a viral infection therefore antibiotics have no role to play here. There are several things available over the counter like nasal decongestants, cough suppressants, acetaminophen etc all these come with their set of side-effects and they may cause dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, or upset stomach. In fact they do not even aide the body in overcoming the cold. A few points that you can do to help recover faster and get some relief are bed rest, keep taking in fluids every hour, gargle with warm water if that makes you feel better, if your nose feels dry and raw apply a little Vaseline (petroleum jelly).

In Homoeopathy we treat the patient as a whole with his own set of peculiar and characteristic symptoms during the cold. Our remedies boosts the persons own immunity and defense mechanisms to overpower the virus and bring back his health. There are no adverse effects of our medicines while they cure a person of his cold. The Constitutional remedy is one that will protect the patient from developing a secondary infection and repeated cold attacks. But during an acute attack there are some wonderful drugs which will take care of the immediate symptoms and give prompt relief. Here are a few invaluable cold remedies.

ACONITE

The aconite patient complaints of bouts of sneezing with a sensitiveness to smell. They are always affected during this cold and dry season. As soon as the weather changes to cold and dry the Aconite patient comes down with a cold. There is marked dryness of the nose and he feels like the nose is blocked. The Aconite personality is a restless and fearful one. Even though it might just be a cold affecting him he feels anxious and is extremely worried about his health. These mental symptoms accompany all his ailments without which you cannot prescribe this remedy.

ALLIUM CEPA

This is one of the most prescribed remedy for colds. The Allium cepa patient will have watery discharge constantly dripping from his nose, they use a whole tissue box within a few hours. The nose and surrounding area looks raw and red and he complaints of burning and smarting pain. This is because the discharge though watery is very acrid and it corrodes the skin. He may even have watering of the eyes and looks like he has been weeping but this discharge is bland. This is exactly opposite of what is present in a EUPHRASIA patient. Here the nasal discharge is bland and the eyes are red, puffy with acrid watery discharge. The eyes burn and are sore. All this is worse in open air whereas Allium cepa person feels better in open air and worse when he enters a room.

ARSENIC ALB

An Arsenic patient will come and complaint of great weakness and low feeling even though he is just suffering from a cold. The discharge is watery, thin but acrid which burns. There is constant sneezing which does not give any relief. and the nose feels blocked and dry. Like in aconite even here there is tremendous restlessness and worry about his health. Even though he is suffering he cannot stand things being out of place which bothers him. All the symptoms are better in open air and warm weather.

GELSEMIUM

The gelsemium constitution is extremely sensitive to any changes of weather. Slightest change in weather and they come down with sneezing, watering of the nose, feeling of fullness in the nose, heaviness of the head and fever. The sneezing is usually worse in the morning. There is always a certain amount of drowsiness and dullness along with the symptoms. The gelsemiun patient does not want to speak or be spoken to when unwell. They get very nervous with their ailments and even when they have to appear in public.