Homeopathic Cold Remedies To The Rescue

By Daniel Howard


A cure for the common cold has been sought for centuries. There are many over the counter products that help people go to work without the sniffles or get a good night's sleep in spite of nasal congestion, sore throat, or coughing spells. Many consumers prefer to use one of the time-honored homeopathic cold remedies rather than a pharmaceutical chemical.

Homeopathy works on the belief that a substance that causes a symptom when taken in large amounts will subdue that symptom when only a tiny bit is taken. The substance itself is diluted, often in milk sugar, and processed in a way that makes it more potent even though there is almost none of it in the remedy. The protocol of homeopathy is fascinating, and its efficacy is evidenced by the millions of people around the world who use the remedies.

The basic tenets are easy to understand. Think of how your eyes water and your nose runs when you chop an onion. Onion is used to make the remedy Allium cepa, which is taken to relieve the symptoms of runny eyes and nose when you get a cold. It is usual to take the remedy in pellets of milk sugar; several of the tiny tablets are dissolved under the tongue to help the medicine enter the bloodstream quickly and efficiently.

Ferr phos is a homeopathic 'tissue salt'. There are twelve of these basic compounds, each based on one or more of the minerals - or salts - found in human tissue. Ferr phos will control a fever without suppressing it entirely. Fevers are part of the body's natural defense against infection and have an important function. It is only when they get too high that they are dangerous.

People have long known that the deadly nightshade plant is best avoided; its roots and berries are highly toxic. In homeopathic form, however, this plant is used to control fevers and ease inflammation of the respiratory tract. Developed to fight scarlet fever in the days before antibiotics, this remedy is widely used for the aches and pains of colds and flu. There is no toxicity in the homeopathic remedy, even though the base material is poisonous.

Coughs are one of the most unpleasant parts of catching cold. Congestion in the chest can linger long after other symptoms have gone. Spasmodic coughing can leave the sufferer weak and fearful of the next bout. Remedies are made from minerals, such as in the tissue salts, or herbs, or even a tiny bit of a disease organism itself. Aconite and Bryonia are two traditional remedies; there are others that are chosen according to the kind of cough that must be treated.

Many over-the-counter homeopathic products have more than one remedy in the formula. Many of them will have Belladonna, Kali bic, Hepar sulfuris, Pulsatilla (one of the broad remedies used for a number of disorders), and Calcarea Carbonica. There are many homeopathic companies, but all are regulated by the FDA. The potency is indicated by a number followed by a letter; 6X is diluted and processed 10 times, while 30X undergoes 30 steps. 30C, which is still considered suitable for self-treatment, undergoes hundreds of stages.

Since over-the-counter pharmaceuticals have documented side effects, many prefer to depend on homeopathy when they are sick. It's easy to do enough research online to understand the basics of this safe, alternative way to recovery.




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