With the nights drawing in and the leaves exploding in a riot of autumn colours, Halloween, Guy Falkes and Diwali, approach. When it’s cold and wet outside but warm and cosy inside we are all susceptible to coughs, colds and flu. Take extra care by wrapping up warm, keeping good hand hygiene, and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. If you are unwell, help minimise your symptoms with homeopathy.
Colds
When a cold comes on suddenly, especially when it’s brought on by cold weather, try Aconite 30c twice a day for a few days.
A streaming cold with sneezing, watering eyes and burning discharge from the nose can be helped by taking Allium Cepa 30c twice a day for up to one week. On the other hand, for burning and streaming eyes with a bland nasal discharge take Euphrasia 30c twice a day for up to one week. If both the eye and nose discharge burn then Ars. Alb 30c twice a day for up to one week is the most appropriate.
Later in the cold, when there is a thick nasal discharge which is yellow or green then Hepar Sulph 30c twice a day for up to one week can be useful.
Use Nat Mur 30c twice a day for up to one week when suffering from streaming eyes and lots of sneezing. If you have congestion but a dry nose, along with general irritability try Nux Vomica 30c twice a day for up to one week.
Coughs
Again, there are a huge range of coughs, from a rattling, chesty cough – try Antim Tart 30c twice a day for up to one week – to a dry, hacking and spasmodic one – for this try Ipecac 30c twice a day for up to one week, especially if it leads to gagging or chocking.
Belladonna 30c twice a day for up to one week can be useful if the cough is dry and tickly and worse at night, especially if there’s burning in the throat and a high temperature.
Bryonia 30c twice a day for up to one week can help with a hard and dry cough that includes soreness in the chest, which is exacerbated by movement. Symptoms include irritation and thirst.
Home remedies like honey and lemon can be great, but have you tried yet my personal winter hot drink favourite when you are feeling unwell?
Roll boil a cup or two of water, add a stick of cinnamon, a few thin slices of ginger and a few whole black pepper corns. When you have roll boiled for up to 10 minutes, sieve into a mug and add the juice of half a lemon and a good teaspoon of honey. It tastes amazing and will make you feel better sooner.
Disclaimer: Any views or advice in this article should not be taken as a substitute for medical advice or treatment, especially if you know you have a specific health complaint.
