The mornings and evenings are starting to be chillier, autumn is officially here in New Zealand, although summer vibes are still with us! Autumn time not only indicates the beginning of the cold season, but it can also mean more allergy symptoms. All that raking and trimming in the garden, combined with higher winds can stir up plant-based allergens. No matter what the cause of your watery eyes or runny nose, the effective use of homeopathy is based on your individual symptoms. That means it is also time to stock up on safe natural homeopathic remedies to help support acute colds and congestions.
The common flu-like symptoms are stuffy nose, runny nose, sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, hoarseness, cough, low-grade fever, headache, earache, body aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. The cold usually begins with a runny nose and sneezing with clear nasal discharge, which may later become yellowish or greenish in colour.
Sore throats are common in autumn and winter and are almost always caused by viral infections. The changes in temperature, such as going from a warm room to the icy outdoors, can also affect the throat.
Cold air is a major trigger of asthma symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath. People with asthma should take extra care in winter and try to stay indoors on very cold, windy days. If you have asthma symptoms please use inhalers, if you have any concerns please visit your local GP for assistance.
Flu is caused by the influenza virus, of which there are three types: influenza A, influenza B, and influenza C. Common colds and flu have similar symptoms, but infection with influenza often manifests with a high temperature, aching, and cold sweats or shivers.
The best way to protect from winter infections is by washing the hands with soap and water frequently, staying indoors, wearing protective clothing outdoors and staying away from people who are infected.
Homeopathic remedies are helpful in supporting the autumn and winter flu, coughs and colds. Remedies like Aconitum, Allium cepa, Antimonium tartaricum, Arsenicum album, Argentum nitricum, Drosera, Euphrasia, Hepar sulph, Kali bichromicum, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Rumex, Spongia, etc. are frequently used.
Indications of some of these remedies are given below:
Aconite: is an excellent remedy for the early stages of many inflammatory conditions, especially colds and allergy attacks. The cough is typically short and tickling, and may be painful. Things are worse in cold air, at night, and in the early morning. The person feels weary and often has a moderate fever and lightly flushed cheeks.
Allium cepa: clear, burning nasal discharge that burns the skin and upper lip; eyes red and burning with profuse bland tearing; tickling in larynx, painful dry cough; thirst.
Argentum nitricum: Almost like Allium cepa, this remedy has thin watery nasal discharge, but more acrid in nature.
Arsenicum: profuse watery nasal discharge that burns the skin, nose feels stopped up; irritation and tickling in the nose, frequent and violent sneezing; a nasal discharge may be thick and yellow; dull throbbing frontal headache; cough from a tickle in the larynx or from deep in the chest, maybe loose or dry; burning chest pain; chilly, anxious, restless, and fearful.
Drosera: This remedy supports dry cough, worse at night and from the warmth of the bed, triggered by speaking or laughing, with a feeling of tickling in the throat.
Euphrasia: bland watery discharge from the nose and copious burning tears, nasal discharge worse in the morning, in the open air, and lying down; loose shallow cough, worse during the day; may cough up large amounts of mucus formed in the upper airways.
Hepar sulph: This supports dry, hoarse cough worsened by cold air and cold drinks, occurring at the beginning and at the end of the night.
Ipecac: This remedy supports dry, fitful cough triggering nausea, and accompanied by increased salivation.
Kali bichromicum: used during later stages of cold; discharge thick, yellow or greenish, and stringy, difficult to remove from nose; thick post-nasal drip; sinus headache with pressure at root of nose; head or face pain that can be pointed to with one finger; hoarse voice; better from heat and lying down.
Kali muriaticum: to clear Eustachian tube following earache; snapping noises in the ear, impaired hearing following earache; worse from motion, rich foods, and fats.
Kali sulphuricum: This helps support wet cough and nasal congestion with yellow and irritating phlegm.
Phosphorus: This remedy is indicated when a person experiences hoarseness and a tickly cough that hurts the throat, or a cold that travels quickly to the chest. The cough can be aggravated by talking, laughing, and exposure to cold air.
Pulsatilla: This remedy supports wet cough with thick, yellowish-green phlegm and discharge, aggravated in bed.
Rumex Crispus: This remedy supports dry cough triggered by breathing cold air, with a feeling of a scratchy throat, and a tickling above the sternum, between the two collar bones.
Adapted from source:
Dr. P T Ponmani
Dr. Wilmar Schwabe India From Nature. For Health
