Colds can be left to cure on their own. In fact it’s an opportunity to “clean house” and as long as the loved-one experiences colds infrequently, it’s an opportunity to gain better health on many levels. My clients often report that their children have made physical, emotional and mental leaps after a completed cold. I have noted this in my own children. Unless there is a strong justification for treating colds I generally don’t treat them homeopathically. Instead, I resortto enforced rest, good bone stocks, plenty of water, raw garlic, raw milk and homeopathic cell salts.
Influenza is another concern. It, too, can be left to cure itself, however for many people the flu is a more trying illness and has the potential for greater discomfort and/or danger. Sometimes the flu can be cured with the use of one well-chosen remedy. Other times one following another is a better course. In any event, when there is an epidemic, the community at large begins to represent an entity as a whole and often a remedy that is useful to one member is the best suited for the whole. In other words, if one finds Gelsemium curative during a flu epidemic for one member of the family, it is likely it will be curative for the others. This includes neighbors and friends, too; watch for similar symptoms. In fact, the curative flu remedy can be used prophylactically for those not yet affected. Give a dose of the chosen remedy to those who might contract the flu 1x/week until the threat is eliminated.
Nine Leading Remedies for Colds and Influenza
1.) Aconitum
- Use when symptoms come on quickly, especially after exposure to cold weather
- Use for first 24 hours of illness
- Very ill within a few hours
- Anxiety
- Sensitivity to light
- Thirst
- Feverish but not delirious
- Watery, runny nose
- Strong headache
- Use when illness has suddenly appeared as cough in early stages, especially croup
- Cough with sensation of choking, causing panic
- Dry cough or with some watery mucous
2.) Oscillococcinum
- Quick onset of influenza or cold
- Best utilized during cold, damp weather
- Aches and chilled
3.) Gelsemium
- Symptoms come on gradually
- Low energy for several days while experiencing tickling in back of mouth
- Runny nose with watery and irritating discharge
- Lots of tiredness and heaviness
- Chills in back
- Headache above the neck
4.) Bryonia
- Common for coughs
Indicated by cold that has moved into the chest
- Cough is dry and with spasms
- Worse with deep breathing and after eating and drinking
- Open air is relieving, as is warm water
- Cough is painful, resulting in soreness throughout the body
- Pain from coughing can trigger the instinct to restrain head or chest during coughing
- Putting pressure on sore areas is relieving
- Desires to breathe deeply but pain prevents this – short, panting breaths
- Little mucous, but what there is, is yellow or with some blood
- Often thirsty and can’t find the right temperature
- Likely to look sick with dusky complexion
- Irritable and want to be alone
5.) Nux vomica
- Good for colds brought on by cold, dry weather
- Symptoms have slow onset (opposite of Aconite)
- Dry tickling sensation in nose
- Later, stuffy nose with watery discharge and sneezing
- Stuffy at night, runny in the day
- Eating aggravates symptoms
- Cough can be worse in morning
- Warm drinks help coughing
- Body is chilly and has hard time getting warm even with lots of covers and in warm room
- Personality is irritable and over-sensitive
6.) Rhus tox
- Stuffy nose with thick yellow or green mucous
- Red throat
- Dry cough
- Hoarseness
- Cold room aggravates
- Worse at night
- Cough prevents sleep or triggered by sleep, causing awakening
- Movement is relieving
7.) Eupatorium
- Coryza, with sneezing
- Hoarseness and cough with numbness in chest; must support it
- Soreness of muscles and bones
- Chronic loose cough
- Worse at night
8.) Arsenicum
- Used for head colds and coughs
- Lots of watery, nasal running that burns
- Nose is runny but feels stuffed
- Lots of sneezing that does not bring relief
- Mucous becomes thick and yellow over time
- Dull headache in forehead
- Good for all kinds of coughs: throat or chest, loose or dry
- Worse at night (midnight to 3 AM)
- Cold air aggravates
- Cough is better with warm drinks
- Sometimes has wheezing and burning chest pain
- Very chilled but can be relieved more easily than Nux Vomica patient
- Restless temperament with anxiety
- Even though ill, sensitive to messy areas
9.) Belladonna
- Symptoms come on suddenly
- Important to take early in illness
- High fever
- Red, dry face
- Hot skin
- Pounding head with visible pulse in head and neck
- In early stages, easily aggravated
- Sensitive to light
- Mentally dull from illness
- Delirious and anxious about imaginary things
- Differs from Aconite, in that patients are not as sharp mentally
- Dilated pupils and dry skin
- Thin, watery nasal discharge
- Dry, hot throat
- Raw, sore throat with bad earache
- Coughing in upper chest or throat
- Painful cough
- Croupy, barking cough that is worse at night
Do you think the homeopathic version of influenzium is effective? This is the diluted flu vaccine.
Yes, but not as effective as many other, more specific to the symptpoms remedies.
In order for it to be effective it ought to be the strain of influenza that prevails at the time.
Yes I do.
Thank you for this list. I have been hearing a lot about Gelsemium being used for this round of flu that seems to be hitting so many people, and was wondering if you could tell me what potency you’d recommend on these different remedies. I’m new to using homeopathy, so am not sure if I should go for a 200c, a 30c, a 6x, or something else.
30c is a good place to start.
So, if one is taking Aconitum and it’s helping should they keep taking it? Or would they switch to a different remedy after 24 hours?
When homeopathics are used for acutes, such as influenza, in general, they should be taken until there is noteworthy improvement. I say “in general” because there are exceptions, but in the case of what I present here, once wellness is established, the remedy ought to be halted. If new symptoms arise or if others persist we must look to the next remedy choice.
Ok. I wasn’t sure about Aconitum specifically. I started taking it the morning of the 27th when I suddenly developed a fever. I was feeling worse the next morning when I took my 3rd dose and then I started to feel better, so I wasn’t sure at that point if I should continue the Aconitum or if I should stop because it had been 24 hours… As a result I took nothing for several hours and I started to feel worse again. I decided to start taking Gelsemium and today I am feeling much improved so I’m guessing that was the right choice.
The 24 hour period is used to determine when to begin the use of Aconitum, not after having started its use. If the remedy is acting but you’re not 100%, continue its use. Having said this, if Gelsemium made the difference, its best to stay with its use.
I have been confused about taking Aconitum for a while now. Thank you so much for clearing that up. The Gelsemium is working amazingly well so I will definitely continue with it until I’m recovered.
‘Happy to help. Please pass on to friends.
Thank you so much for this information.
Is there a place on your website or within one of your courses that reviews how to know which potency of a remedy to choose?
Each weekly article I post, that is less than about 3-4 years old, offers the potency and frequency to use. This is because I began using specific protocols around that time to make it super easy for readers.
Hi Joette, my daughter has been congested, coughing (rattling now), has green mucus and phlegm and a raspy voice for over a month. I tried every single remedy, starting from the beginning of her illness, but nothing has changed.We have seen 2 doctors so far, and got multiple diagnoses.At the beginning she was diagnosed with sinus infection, so I read your post about it and gave her the Banerji protocol for that.She kept getting worse, with low fever every day, so we had to see another doctor. This time she was diagnosed with strep throat and influenza. The doctor said she won’t be able to overcome this naturally (she is an MD and a naturopath who always recommends natural before pharmaceuticals), so she prescribed antibiotics. My daughter never had anything pharmaceuticals, so I am scared about the side effects she might have, but she is not getting any better while taking the strep and flu homeopathic remedies.
I am really desperate right now as my daughter doesn’t show much improvement even with homeopathic remedies, healthy food, and herbal remedies.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.