Common cold
From Wiki4CAM
The common cold is a viral infection that affects the upper airways including the nose, voice box, throat, windpipes and the lungs. There are more than two hundred viruses that can cause colds and are commonly known as rhinoviruses or the nose viruses. These viruses cause inflammation or swelling of the mucous membrane lining the airways. [1]
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Causes
The cold virus is spread via air particles that are expelled while coughing or sneezing. It also spreads when someone with a cold rubs his eyes or nose and then touches an object such as a doorknob, towel, bed linen and other such commonly used articles. Colds are very contagious. The viruses are airborne and are transmitted when one sneezes or touches infected objects. Anyone can get a cold. Children are more likely to get a cold than adults because they are not immune to certain viruses that cause the cold.
Symptoms
The three most frequent symptoms of a cold are:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
Adults and older children with colds generally have minimal or no fever. Young children, however, often run a fever around 100-102°F. The symptoms usually begin in 2 or 3 days, though it may take a week. Typically, an irritated nose or scratchy throat is the first sign, followed within hours by sneezing and a watery nasal discharge.
Within one to three days, the nasal secretions usually become thicker and perhaps yellow or green. This is a normal part of the common cold.
Depending on which virus is the culprit, the virus might also produce:
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Postnasal drip
- Decreased appetite
Still, if it is indeed a cold, the main symptoms will be in the nose. For children with asthma, colds are the most common trigger of asthma symptoms. Colds are a common precursor of ear infections. However, children's eardrums are usually congested during a cold, and it's possible to have fluid buildup without a true bacterial infection.
The entire cold is usually over all by itself in about 7 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms (such as cough) for another week. If it lasts longer, it a concern to rule out another problem such as a sinus infection or allergies.
CAM therapies for common cold
Ayurveda
In Ayurveda it is known as PRATISHYAYA mainly due to vitiation of Kapha. According to Ayurveda Pratishyaya is classified in to VATAJ, PITTAJ, KAPHAJ and TRIDOSHAJ types. In Vataj type there is pain in sinus cavity with sneezing, pittaj type is with fever and in kaphaj type there are whitish secretion and dull headache.[2]
Remedies
Body should be kept warm especially feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is very helpful. The simplest way to do it is drink hot spice tea or some other hot drink and lie down on the bed. Taking some warm cover like blanket and letting the body sweat for 15 to 20 minutes may also be helpful. A glass of warm water mixed with one tea spoon of lemon juice and one tea spoon of honey can be taken 2-3 times a day. In case of dry cough especially if it troubles during the night, cardamom, dry ginger, black pepper and cinnamon in equal quantity, about 10 gms. each can be taken. The following preparation is often recommended as home remedy: White sugar or rock candy equal to the total weight that is 40 gms is ground and made a fine powder. Half a tea spoon ( about 3 gms.) twice a day with honey or warm water after meals can be taken.
In case of sore throat a clove or two cardamoms or rock candy or a few raisins can be chewed. Gargling with warm salty water is also beneficial. This can be done two to three times a day. For hacking cough and Laryngitis : Equal parts of honey and juice of baked lemon,( i.e. sour citrusfruit) or 10 -15 drops of betel leaf juice with honey three times a day.[3]
Homeopathy
Colds often respond well to homeopathic remedies which is a tremendous advantage over modern medicine which has no cure for the common cold. Homeopaths generally advise that a cold or two every year is not a bad thing, as it “cleans out” the system and hence, the adage: don’t cure a cold, let a cold cure you.[4] Usually the first prescription in acute upper respiratory viral infection (common cold) is from any of the following: Aconitum napellus, Allium cepa, Belladonna, Euphrasia, Hepar sulphur and Kalium iodatum. Though the symptoms of acute upper respiratory viral infection would be looking similar in all the patients in the view of conventional medicine, differentiation is needed and can be made for homoeopathic prescription.[5]
Remedies often used in the first phase
Mental restlessness, unknown fear and anxiety are predominant symptoms along with common symptoms in patients who need Aconitum napellus. Allium cepa, often-used example to explain the principle of similia to non-homoeopaths, is indicated for profuse, watery and acrid nasal discharge with profuse bland lachrymation which worse when entering into warm room. Throat symptoms like congestion, constriction and difficult deglutition are the chief indication (than nasal symptoms) of Belladonna. Acrid lachrymation and bland coryza are the symptoms of Euphrasia. Cold due to slightest exposure to cold air is the indication for Hepar sulphur. Hepar sulphur is a remedy for both acute and sub acute conditions unlike the previous remedies. If these symptoms accompany with the pain in maxillary and/or frontal bones, it calls for Kalium iodatum. Apart from these remedies, there are other remedies like Ammonium muriaticumm, Arsenicum iodatum and Arum triphyllum with similar indications. These remedies are primarily useful for managing acute episodes of allergic rhinitis.
Remedies often used in the second phase
Often used remedies in second phase symptoms are Antimonium tartaricum (rattling in the chest, but nothing comes up), Argentum nitricum (thick mucous in the throat with constricted feeling), Hepar sulphur (sneezing and watering start due to exposure to cold wind and later turn to thick, lump and offensive discharge), Ipecacuanha (cough and rattling mucous with clean tongue and constant nausea), Kalium bichromicum (tough stringy mucous), Pulsatilla (thick, bland and yellowish mucous), Spongia (dry cough like a saw driven through a board worse sweets, cool drinks, smoking, lying with head low) and Stannum metallicum (cough deep and hallow as if from empty chest with three paroxysms; sometimes with mucous like white of egg). Kalium bichromicum, Hepar sulphur and Pulsatilla cover majority of cases. Antimonium tartaricum and Ipecacuanha may come in the next place which are complementary each other and Ipecacuanha is antidote to Antimonium tartaricum. It may be given alternatively in a situation where patient cannot report for second prescription. Since Antimonium tartaricum, Kalium bichromicum and Hepar sulphur are not antidote or inimical each other, these are being put together and given to the patient as a home kit.
Sidha
Naturopathy
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References
- ↑ What is common cold
- ↑ Common Cough and Cold
- ↑ Common Cold and Cough - Remedies
- ↑ Common Cold by Lowanna Hugall
- ↑ R. Valavan, How to Select Second Prescription in Rapid Changing Symptoms of Acute Upper Respiratory Viral Infection?, Homoeopathy For All, Vol. 8 No. 8 (92) August 15 2007
