A viral infection which leads to inflammation of the membranes lining the nose and throat, resulting in a stuffy, runny nose, sore throat and sometimes a headache. The virus is caught by breathing in infected droplets from someone else’s sneeze or cough, or touching an infected area.

Prevention.

The weaker your immune system, the less able you are to resist the many strains of cold infection. Complimentary treatment usually aims at strengthening the immune system in an attempt to prevent colds. Poor nutrition is one of the most frequent causes of a malfunctioning immune system. A low fat, high fibre diet, comprising plenty of wholegrain cereals, green, orange and yellow vegetables and fruit, moderate amounts of fish or poultry, and low fat dairy produce, should provide sufficient vitamins and minerals to nourish the immune system. A multivitamin and mineral supplement, and a vitamin C supplement (500 mg, 2 times daily) should be added when immunity is low, i.e. during and immediately after a cold.

Treatment - Dietary.

When you have a cold, drink plenty of mineral water, and juice to replace fluid loss through your streaming nose. Eat extra citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruit), or take vitamin C supplements (500 mg 3 times daily) to fight infection.

Aromatherapy

Tea tree and lemon essential oils combat infection: use a drop of each in steam inhalations. If the chest is congested, steam inhalation with essential oil of eucalyptus or peppermint is benefical (add 1-2 drops to a basin of steaming water, cover the head and basin with a towel and inhale deeply). If you suffer from asthma, avoid steam inhalations; instead, inhale from a few drops on a tissue.

Herbal

Ginger promotes perspiration and soothes the throat. Pour a cup of boiling water on to 1 teaspoon of peeled and shredded fresh root, let it infuse for 5 minutes, add honey if you like and drink whenever needed.

Homeopathy

To be taken every 2 hours for up to 4 doses:

Feeling tired, shivery, with aching limbs: Gelsemium 6c. Feeling irritable, nose runs during day, but congested at night: Nux vomica 6c. Thick, greenish mucus, stabbing pains in ears and throat, irritable, chilly: Hepar sulphuris 6c. Frequent sneezing with burning nasal discharge, streaming eyes, better in open air: Allium cepa 6c. Hot and cold, offensive sweats, metallic taste: Mercurius solubilis 6c.