By Marybeth Buchele, HMC

COLD & FLU REMEDY LIST

For the best results, use the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms of your cold.  If you haven’t experienced relief after three doses of the remedy, stop it and reassess your cold symptoms as you are using the wrong remedy.

Take 2-3 doses separated by 1- 1 ½ hours and see if you notice any change in your symptoms.  If no change but the remedy is a VERY good match for your symptoms, take one more dose and if still no change, then re-analyze to find a better remedy.  Keep notes about what symptoms you have and what remedies you used plus what results you got.  You may notice over time that you are using the same several remedies for your ailments.  These remedies are good ones to consider for future ailments.

Keep in mind that the remedy that worked on last year’s runny nose and sneezing probably won’t work on this year’s cough.  We choose the remedies based on your symptoms:  different symptoms = different remedy.  Find the remedies that most closely match the symptoms you and your family experience, then purchase them and the vitamins and herbs listed… [in the previous part of this blog] to have on hand to treat your symptoms as soon as the illness starts.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEMDIES FOR COLDS

Cold symptoms often respond well to homeopathic remedies.  Wheatsfield Coop carries many remedies.

Aconite is often used for a barking cough, a burning sore throat, and a bitter taste that lingers in your mouth.

Allium cepa is often used when your runny nose feels as though it burns, your eyes water constantly, and you sneeze often.  It helps if your cold makes you feel even worse than you do when chopping a strong onion.

Arsenicum album is indicated if you feel chilly, restless and weak.  This remedy is for the individual who feels worse in a cold room but wants something cold to drink.  You probably have a red nose and runny nasal secretions that burn the nose and upper lip.  You generally want to be left alone, but like a bit of attention every once in awhile.

Belladonna is called for if there is high fever and a headache.

Bryonia:  For when the cold has moved to the chest and has become largely a cough and you don’t want to move.

Euphrasia:  Indicated if your eyes are the main focus of the cold, for symptoms that are the opposite of those calling for Allium cepa.  The nose runs a lot, especially in the morning, but without irritation.  Burning eyes and stinging tears, wink frequently and wipe and rub your eyes.  You also yawn a lot and prefer to be away from sunlight and bright light.

Gelsemium may help if you have chills, aching arms and legs, and fatigue, or if your throat hurts.  You have heavy, droopy eyes; feel weak and tired, with aches and chills up and down your back; and want to be alone.

Kali bichromium is given at the later stages of a cold.  It is also good for sinus headaches and blocked sinuses with nasal discharge.

Mercurius solubilis:  If the cold is accompanied by a sore throat that resists treatment.

Nux vomica is indicated if you feel irritable and have a runny nose that becomes congested at night.

Pulsatilla:  This remedy is often used if you have a stuffy nose and thick yellow discharge.  You feel worse at night, prefer to be outdoors and want comfort and attention.  You prefer to be cool rather than bundled up.

Spongia is often recommended for harsh, barky coughs.

Marybeth Buchele, HMC

Professional Homeopath

www.natural-wellness.us

515-233-6068

QualityOne Commercial Cleaning, Inc.

319 Sondrol Ave

Ames, Iowa 50010

 

By Marybeth Buchele, HMC

STEP TWO, TREATMENT:  (what to do if the… [previously given] treatments don’t work).  Use products according to label.

Vitamins:

Vitamin C:  take 1,000 mg per hour till you reach bowel tolerance (gassiness and diarrhea), then 500 mg every other hour with lots of water until the illness goes away.

Vitamin A:  if the Vitamin C doesn’t agree with your system of doesn’t seem to do much, try 5,000 of Vitamin A per hour for 6 hours.

Zinc lozenges:  for sore throats, be sure you have a tolerable one because zinc is horrible tasting.  Break it into four pieces and suck one piece every hour.  Too much zinc can cause nausea.

Herbs:

Astragalus:  for upper respiratory infections.

Echinacea & goldenseal:  for lower respiratory infections if you have A blood type.  Do not take goldenseal for more than one week.  If you have O blood type, use Yarrow.

Elderberry:  for mucus-type colds.

Homeopathics:

Boericke & Tafel Alpha CF or Boiron Coldcalm:  for colds and flus.

Boiron Oscillococcinum:  for cold symptoms, chills, fever, body aches (one healthy pinch is a good dose, rather than using the whole tube as the label indicates).

Short description of Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that was formulated over 200 years ago in Germany by a man named Samuel Hahnemann.  We choose homeopathic remedies based on the individual’s symptoms and the remedies help balance the body so it can heal itself.

For example, for a cold with a runny nose, sore watery eyes and sneezing, you would want a remedy that matches those symptoms.  The remedy Allium Cepa, made from the common red onion, is a good match for those specific cold symptoms and would likely completely get rid of the person’s ailment.

www.homeopathic.org  website of the National Center for Homeopath

www.abchomeopathy.com  has an online remedy finder to help sort out which remedy would help your ailment

www.a2zhomeopathy.com  has remedies, books and supplies

www.homeopathyworks.com  has remedies, books and supplies

Marybeth Buchele, HMC

Professional Homeopath

www.natural-wellness.us

515-233-6068

QualityOne Commercial Cleaning, Inc.

319 Sondrol Ave

Ames, Iowa 50010

 

By Marybeth Buchele, HMC

“HERBS, STICKS & TWIGS” TO BEAT WINTER COLDS & FLUS

Colds cause sneezing, runny nose, coughs, fevers and sore throats.  Symptoms come on gradually and you often are able to continue to function.

The flu usually comes on more suddenly, may feel more severe and includes a fever or fever with chills, body aches, and pains, headache and fatigue.  True influenza doesn’t include an upset stomach.

STEP ONE, PREVENTION:

•  Avoid People who are sick

•  Keep your hands away from your face and wash your hands often

•  Eat a good diet

•  Cut out sugar and other sweeteners

•  Drink plenty of water to flush out your body

•  Get 30 to 90 minutes of moderate exercise per day; exercise even if you have a head cold

•  Get enough sleep

•  Do a nasal rinse every day during cold (and allergy) season (Water Pik Pulsator, neti pot or Simply Saline) to clear bacteria (and pollen) out of your sinuses

•  End your shower by alternating hot and cold water.  Do this three times for 30-60 seconds, end with cold water

•  Take a good multivitamin (the ones at health food stores are more likely to be of better quality than drugstore or discount store vitamins)

•  Take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D (people with low levels of Vitamin D catch more colds and heal more slowly)

• Echinacea if you have A blood type; yarrow if you have O blood type (dosage as specified on the label).  Buy these herbs to have on hand, an unopened herbal tincture will maintain quality for 5 years (date your bottle).

Starting treating the illness sooner rather than later!

Warming Tea:

½ slice of fresh ginger

Juice of ¼ lemon

1 c. hot water

Grate the ginger into the hot water, add the lemon juice and drink slowly.

Warming Bath:

Grate 1-2 teaspoons of ginger into your hot bath water.  Soak for at least 10 minutes.  This increases your lymph flow, which cleans the “garbage” out of your system.

Marybeth Buchele, HMC

Professional Homeopath

www.natural-wellness.us

515-233-6068

QualityOne Commercial Cleaning, Inc.

319 Sondrol Ave

Ames, Iowa 50010