Colds: be prepared for Winter viruses

A sore or gritty throat? Cough? Runny nose? Generally feeling tired and unwell? We all know these symptoms well, and unfortunately many of us will have started to experience some of them in the last few weeks as Winter comes onto the horizon and the common cold rears its ugly head. Whilst colds are only a mild, self-limiting, viral, upper respiratory tract infection, they can make you feel pretty rotten for a few days and interfere with your everyday life.

It’s always better to try and build up your immunity if you can, so as to limit the likelihood of getting a cold, but there are some things you can do to ease the symptoms and recover quicker if you do get one.

Make sure you get lots of rest and drink water to keep hydrated, and a hot honey and lemon is always a good way to ease a sore throat. You might also want to give homeopathy a try, which is widely used for many of the symptoms of the common cold. It’s a natural, gentle and sustainable form of medicine which supports the body to heal itself.

You can find a registered homeopath in your area right here at www.findahomeopath.org 

If you prefer to try something at home, then Arsen Alb is indicated for a streaming cold with burning discharge from the eyes and nose. If you feel you can’t keep warm, and symptoms are worse at night, then this might be the remedy for you. Aconite is for the early stages of a cold, brought on by exposure or being chilled. There are many remedies which can be used depending on your specific symptoms though. It's best to get expert advice.

It is pretty likely that you and your family will feel the effects of the common cold at some point between now and Spring, so you may even want to keep a homeopathic remedy kit at home just in case.