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Common Cold

Colds are viral infections that take hold when the body’s resistance is low because of fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, or stress. Typical symptoms include: a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, moderate fever, achiness or lethargy, and often sore throat or coughing. Homeopathic remedies can help relieve these symptoms and encourage the body’s healing response.

For dosage information, please read the information at the end of this section. See also “Using Homeopathy With Professional Guidance” in What Is Homeopathy?

Aconitum napellus: This remedy can be indicated in the early stages of a cold, if symptoms are intense and come on suddenly. Exposure to cold and wind, or a stressful or traumatic experience may precipitate the illness. Symptoms include a dry stuffy nose with a hot thin discharge, tension in the chest, a scratchy throat, and choking cough. The person often feels thirsty, chilly, anxious, and agitated.

Allium cepa: This remedy is often indicated when a person has watery eyes that sting, a teasing cough, much sneezing, and a runny nose with clear discharge that irritates the nostrils and upper lip. The nose usually runs when the person is indoors and stops in open air.

Arsenicum album: A person who has frequent colds, sore throats, and chest problems—with burning pain and feelings of weakness, restlessness, and anxiety—may benefit from this remedy. The person’s head may feel hot while the rest of the body is cold, and problems can be worse near midnight. The nose often feels stopped up, and the person may sneeze repeatedly, without relief. White, think, burning mucus may be produced.

Baryta carbonica: This remedy is indicated for people who frequently catch colds from getting chilled. A runny nose and swollen upper lip, swollen lymph nodes, tonsils, and adenoids are typical symptoms. This remedy is often helpful to children who are bashful and slow to develop.

Belladonna: Sudden onset of a cold—with fever, flushed face, and restlessness—strongly indicates this remedy. Symptoms may include a hot dry feeling in the nose with watery discharge, and a nagging tickle in the throat. A hard or nagging cough, bright red sore throat, and throbbing pain in the head or ears are often seen. The person may be sensitive to light and either drowsy or delirious with the fever.

Dulcamara: When a person comes down with a cold after getting wet and chilled, or if colds come on when the weather changes, this remedy should come to mind. A stopped-up nose and face pain are likely. A person who needs Dulcamara also tends to have allergies.

Euphrasia: Red, watery, irritated eyes, frequent sneezing, and a mild, clear nasal discharge suggests a need for this remedy. The person may cough from irritation and from phlegm collecting in the throat. Symptoms can be worse at night, and the person tends to feel better from eating and lying down.

Ferrum phosphoricum: This remedy often stops a cold from developing if taken right away when symptoms start. It is also helpful during colds that are more advanced, when the person feels very weary, with a moderate fever, rosy cheeks, sneezing, and a short hard cough.

Gelsemium: Lethargy and aching, with headache and droopy eyes, often indicate this remedy. Fever and chills run up and down the spine, and heat or pressure may be felt in the face and nose. A person who needs Gelsemium often trembles and is shaky, or feels extremely dull. This remedy is often helpful for colds that come on in hot weather.

Kali bichromicum: This remedy is usually indicated for later stages of a cold with thick, stringy mucus that is difficult to clear from the nose and throat. The person may experience pain at the root of the nose or hoarse coughing with tenacious expectoration. The person often feels better from resting and keeping warm.

Mercurius solubilis: A person who needs this remedy is extremely sensitive to temperatures, and experiences night sweats and drooling during sleep. Swollen lymph nodes and bad breath are other indications. The person’s nose may feel raw, and the tonsils or ears often become infected.

Natrum muriaticum: Colds with clear nasal discharge like egg-white, sneezing (which is often worse in the morning), headache, and a diminished sense of smell or taste may respond to this remedy. The person may develop cold sores around the mouth, and the lips can be chapped and cracked.

Nux vomica: Colds with a stuffy head at night and runny nose in the daytime, rough throat, harsh cough, and chilliness suggest a need for this remedy. A person who needs Nux vomica is usually very irritable, impatient, and sensitive to odors, sounds, and light.

Phosphorus: A person whose colds go easily to the chest often responds to this remedy. One nostril may be blocked while the other runs. Hoarseness, laryngitis, and nosebleeds are other likely symptoms. The person often is thirsty for cold drinks and feels better from massage. People who need this remedy often feel weak, “spaced out,” and anxious or fearful when ill.

Pulsatilla: Colds producing thick, bland, yellow or greenish mucus suggest a need for this remedy. The nose feels stuffed indoors and runs in open air. The person feels worse in warm or stuffy rooms, with improvement from going outdoors. Congestion and fever often are worse in the evening. A person who needs Pulsatilla wants a lot of attention and comforting when ill, and children may be tearful.

Rhus toxicodendron: If a cold begins with stiffness and body aches, especially during cool damp weather or weather changes, and leads to nasal congestion or sore throat, this remedy should come to mind. The person feels extremely restless and often paces or fidget. Warmth and motion bring relief, both physically and mentally.

Homeopathy Dosage Directions Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should be used. In addition, instructions for use are usually printed on the label. Many homeopathic physicians suggest that remedies be used as follows: Take one dose and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait and let the remedy work. If improvement lags significantly or has clearly stopped, another dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the condition and the individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several times an hour; other times a dose may be indicated several times a day; and in some situations, one dose per day (or less) can be sufficient. If no response is seen within a reasonable amount of time, select a different remedy. For more information, including references, see What is Homeopathy? and Understanding Homeopathic Potencies. Copyright © 1999 Healthnotes, Inc. 1505 SE Gideon St., Suite 200, Portland, OR 97202 Authors of the best-selling book The Natural Pharmacy The information presented in Healthnotes Online is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your physician, nutritionally oriented healthcare practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. © 2001 The Vitamin Shoppe  The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by The Vitamin Shoppe or the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Please view our full Terms of Use Agreement for more information and the terms and conditions governing your use of this site.