The common cold is hard to cure because it can be caused by a wide variety of viruses that are capable of infecting the upper respiratory tract. We are all constantly exposed to many of these viruses but only experience a cold once or twice a year. This implies that a decrease in resistance is the major factor in catching a cold. In fact, many of the symptoms of a cold are a result of our body’s defense mechanisms. For example, the potent immune-stimulating compound interferon released by our white blood cells is responsible for many flu-like symptoms.
Once a cold develops, there are several things that can be done to speed up recovery. A healthy functioning immune system should be able to fight off a cold in two or three days. Using natural substances to assist the body’s own healing mechanisms may temporarily worsen the symptoms of a cold, as opposed to chemically suppressing the symptoms. However, such compounds will generally shorten the course of illness, too.
Maintaining a healthy immune system is the primary means of preventing an excessive number of colds. If you’re catching more than one or two colds a year, your immune system may be weak. Nutrition is the most important factor in developing a healthy immune system. Another important factor is reducing stress, be it physical, emotional, or mental.
The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is true for the common cold as well as the majority of other conditions afflicting human health. So, if you’re suffering from symptoms of the common cold, or just want to prevent it from happening again, here are some simple suggestions for prevention and treatment.
Royal Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment
1. In an acute infection, give your body a chance to fight infection by conserving your energy and getting some bed rest. During the deepest levels of sleep, potent immune enhancing compounds are released and many immune functions are greatly increased. The value of sleep and rest during a cold cannot be overemphasized.
2. During a cold, you should eat less. This allows your body to conserve its energy for combating illness as opposed to digesting food. If you smoke, stop and give your body a better chance for quick recovery. (See “Smoking Addiction.”)
3. Increase your fluid intake to 6-8 glasses. This can be in the form of distilled, reverse osmosis, or spring water, vegetable juices, broth, and herb teas. Increased liquids improve the function of white blood cells by decreasing the concentration of solutes in the blood.
4. Avoid sugar consumption even if derived from “natural” sources like fruit juices and honey. This can impair immune functions by competing with vitamin C for transport into the white blood cells and thereby reducing vitamin C levels needed for white blood cell function.
5. If a headache is suspected, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Avoid giving children aspirin if flu or chicken pox is suspected. This can result in Reye’s syndrome, which symptoms include heavy vomiting, delirium, confusion, and coma. Should this occur, immediate medical attention must be sought. Intravenous infusions of sugar and salts can help to correct this problem. (See “Headache.”)
6. If your nose is stuffy, flush it out with a saline solution made by combining a teaspoonful of table or sea salt with two cups of warm water and a pinch of baking soda. This solution can be dropped, sniffed, or sprayed into the nostril. Blow your nose gently after each application. Repeat on the other side. If you must take a nasal spray, try not to use it more than two or three days at a time to prevent a “rebound response” with excessive stuffiness.
7. If you’re having chest congestion, humidity is the key to keeping the cilia in the lungs working, the mucus flowing, and the lungs draining. Inhale vapors from a pan full of steaming water with a towel draped over your head. For best effects, add eucalyptus oil to the water. (See “Bronchitis.”)
8. Symptoms of a sore throat can be improved by gargling with salt water (See “Sore Throat.”) Add one teaspoon of sea salt to a glass of warm water and gargle every hour or so. Saltwater gargles not only reduce swelling and pain but can kill bacteria. Equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and honey can be mixed and swallowed every two or three hours as a good remedy for sore throat.
9. For nourishment, drink a potato peeling broth twice daily. To make it, peel the potato so that the peelings are 2 inch thick, including the skin. Discard the center of the potato. Boil the peeling for about 20-30 minutes, strain, cool, and drink. Add carrot or celery if desired. Do this twice daily. Make it fresh each day. Hot chicken or turkey broth is another good soup choice. This is inexpensive and effective for the treatment of head colds.
10. Keep your body warm. This can be as simple as increasing the amount of clothing your wearing or using a blanket. Hot baths, steam baths, and saunas are also excellent ways of assisting the immune system by raising the body temperature.
11. Practice good hygiene by washing your hands often and throwing your used tissues away. Your hands and tissues can harbor viruses. Good hygiene can prevent the virus from being passed on to others or from re-infecting yourself.
12. If you have colds or flu frequently, get your thyroid checked. (See “Hypothyroidism.”) This can be as simple as measuring your basal body temperature. Do this by placing a thermometer under your arm for approximately 10 minutes before arising from bed on two consecutive days. For menstruating women, this is best done at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. The average basal body temperature should be greater than 97.8 degrees. If not, a trial of natural thyroid should be considered.
13. Get your allergies checked. (See “Allergy—Food.”) Allergies can also cause frequent cold or flu symptoms. The allergy evaluation should include screening for foods, molds, and pollens.
14. Increase your activity level. A brisk walk in which the heart rate is increased by approximately 10 beats will improve circulation to the body organs. Do this at least three times weekly. Exercise is a great way to bolster your immune and relax. It also stimulates the natural killer cells of your immune system to become more vigilant.
15. Reduce your stress level with meditation, stretching, auto-suggestion tapes, and breathing exercises. (See “Stress.”) This can help you to feel more relaxed and peaceful. You can stop and deep breathe anywhere. Do this by closing your eyes and slowly inhaling for 10 to 20 seconds. Use your diaphragm by allowing your stomach to expand outward with each inhalation. Hold your breath for 10 to 20 seconds. Then, exhale by forcing your stomach inward for 10 to 20 seconds. With each breath, allow your shoulder to droop, you jaw to drop and your body to relax. Repeat this three times or whenever you begin to feel stress building.
16. The antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C strengthen the immune system and help to reduce the stress of free radical damage to the thymus gland. Both vitamins A and C have potent viral killing activity. Vitamin A is particularly effective if there is mucus production from the respiratory tract. If you already have a cold, vitamin C can be taken up to 10,000 mg daily in divided doses. Garlic, known as “Russian penicillin,” is a natural antibiotic and immune stimulant. It can be obtained in odorless capsules and is especially effective if flu-like symptoms are present. Acidophilus aids in maintaining healthy intestinal friendly bacteria. B-complex promotes healing. The mineral zinc speeds healing and has antiviral activity. It can be taken in the form of a lozenge every 3-4 hours for one week if necessary. Thymus glandular can enhance the body’s production of immune cells.
17. Herbs known to beneficial include echinacea, ginger, goldenseal, licorice, and astragalus. If using licorice over a prolonged period then add potassium-rich foods or a potassium supplement to your diet.
18. Homeopathics to consider include: Aconite (for sudden onset of fever with dry skin), Bryonia (if pain is worse with movement), Baptisia (for flu-like symptoms), Belladonna (for high fever with moist skin), Dulcamara (if cold is the result in a change of weather), Eupatorium Perfoliatum (to relieve aches in muscles and bones), Gelsemium (if chills and weakness are present), Hepar Sulphuris (to prevent colds from becoming an infection), Kali Bichromicum (if sinus congestion with mucus discharge involved), Phytolaca (for swollen, painful lymph nodes), and Sabadilla (for convulsive-like sneezing).
To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to www.NewHopeMedical.org or call NEW HOPE MEDICAL CENTER at (702) 476-0000 (direct line) or toll free (866) HEAL-NOW!