COLDS, FLU & CATARRHS
Common cold is a viral infection characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the upper respiratory passages and usually accompanied by malaise, fever, chills, coughing, and sneezing.
COLDS, FLU - Treatment & Homeopathic Medicines
Aconite
When the attack comes on suddenly after an exposure to a cold, dry wind, with chilliness, followed by fever, Aconite will be the remedy. It should be administered just as soon as the patient realizes that he is taking cold. There is as yet no discharge, but from the congestion the nose is swollen, hot, dry and stopped up, and this stoppage is apt to change from side to side; there is tingling and burning in the nose and a throbbing frontal headache; there may be sneezing also. These symptoms are all better in the open air.
Dose- Potency 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day and doses can be repeated in acute cases.
Nux vomica
It has colds caused by cold weather, with a dry, stuffed up nose and rough, scrapy throat. In Belladonna, there is more cerebral excitement and swelling in the throat is a prominent symptom. China has headache with pains, worse in open air, not better, as in Aconite.
Dose- Potency 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.It is found more effective if given in the evening.
Ferrum phosphoricum
It is very similar to Aconite and may be used when the onset is less sudden and violent and when there is no anxiety and restlessness. It is also, like Nux and Calcarea carbonica, excellent for predisposition to take cold.
Dose- Potency-3x;12x : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day for 2-3 weeks.

Arsenicum
It is especially useful in winter colds, where there is a thin, watery discharge from the nostrils ,which excoriates the upper lip, yet in spite of this fluent discharge the nose feels stopped up. There is a dull, throbbing frontal headache and sneezing, photophobia,and contrary to what one would expect, the sneezing does not relieve in the slightest and the irritation continues as before and is worse on going into air. It corresponds well to patients who are rarely without a cold. The Arsenic patient is chilly and wants to be near the fire all the time; the nose burns both externally and internally.
These symptoms of watery discharge and sneezing place Arsenic in the front rank in the treatment of hay fever. Arsenic iodide may be found indicated when burning in nose and throat is marked.
Dose- Potency- 30;200;1M;C.M. : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day .However very hightest potencies often yield brilliant results.
Sinapis nigra
It resembles Arsenicum in the heat in the nose, but with Sinapis there is dryness and no discharge. The discharge of Mercurius, though excoriating and acrid, is thicker. The cold of Arsenic always settles in the nose, that of Phosphorus in the chest.
Dose- Potency-3x : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed.
Allium cepa
One of our best remedies for cold in the head . The discharge is profuse, thin and acrid, with great smarting in the nose and eyes, and the distinguishing feature between this remedy and Euphrasia is the profuse lachrymation, which here is bland, and under Euphrasia is excoriating, while the opposite condition obtains in the nose. Under Allium the edges of the eyelids burn and the eyes are red and sensitive to light. The nasal discharge is thin and flows constantly, excoriates the upper lip, and there is prolonged sneezing. A peculiarity of Allium is that the discharge ceases when the patient goes into the open air, but returns when entering a warm room again. It is a drug which should be given early, and if there be a splitting laryngeal cough, causing the patient to wince and crouch with pain, it is all the more indicated. Farrington, however, claims that Allium is apt to drive the trouble to the chest, and adds that when it reaches the chest; Phosphorus is the remedy. Arsenic, too, is similar, but Arsenic has sneezing in the cool air after leaving a warm room, and it lacks the laryngeal symptoms so common in Allium. The Mercurius discharge is acrid, and not as thin as that of Allium.
Dose- Potency-3x : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice weekly.
Euphrasia
Here the upper part only of the respiratory mucous membrane is affected. Like Allium cepa, it has a copious, fluent discharge from nose, and copious lachrymation, the latter being most acrid, excoriating the cheeks, and being so profuse, as to keep them wet all the time. It differs from Allium, as we have seen, in the character of the discharge, from the eyes excoriating, from the nose bland. Euphrasia is often well indicated in the coryzas which precede measles, when there is a cough which sounds decidedly measly. Eruptions on the wings of the nose.
Dose- Potency-3x;6x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed.
Arum triphyllum
Under Arum, all of the secretions are acrid, and there is a discharge if ichorous fluid from the nose; the nostrils and lips are sore. There may be a discharge from both nose and eyes which is yellow and acrid. There is thirst, but drinking causes pain. The nostrils are sore, and there is constant desire to bore the finger into the nose. The nose may be completely stopped up, and at the same time there is a fluent acrid discharge. Drowsiness and an inclination to sneeze accompanies.
Dose- Potency- 3x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily for 2 weeks.
Lycopodium
It has complete stoppage of the nose during night and day, with some discharge, which may be excoriating. Dryness posteriorly and discharge anteriorly is also characteristic of Lycopodium.
Dose- Potency- Tincture;6x; 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day for one week.Tincture can be given thrice daily.

Gelsemium
This remedy is often underestimated in the early stages of cold in the head. It will break up a cold at the beginning quicker than any other remedy with these indication: Fullness of the head, hot fever and chilliness, as if a cold were coming on. The patient is dull and weak, chills run up and down the back, with a watery, excoriating, or bland discharge form the nose and sneezing. There is also a marked inclination in the patient to hug the fire. Colds brought on by warm relaxing weather especially indicate Gelsemium, hence it seems to be most useful in spring and summer weather, and corresponds well to some epidemic colds. There is a predisposition to take cold on any change of the weather. It has been found specially useful in influenzas with fever. It is a remedy that must be used early in the cold. The 1x dilution will often suffice.
Dose- Potency- 1x;3x;30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day daily .First to third potency most often used.
Lachesis
It is often suitable for spring colds and catarrhs, with sensitiveness of throat. Quillaya. In the incipiency of a cold, with very sore throat, this remedy has been found to be of signal use. Sepia. Colds at onset of menstruation.
Dose- Potency 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day .Doses ought not to be repeated too frequently.If well indicated,a single dose should be allowed to exhaust its action.
Nux vomica
The first stage of ordinary cold in the head may be met by Nux vomica, when it is brought on by damp, cold weather, or from sitting on damp, cold steps; associated with sneezing and stuffed up feeling in the nose. The nose is dry, there is very little discharge, the eyes water, and there is scraping in the throat, and dullness and oppression about the front sinuses; it should be given as soon as dryness and tickling in the nose begins; the nasal passages are alternately free and obstructed. These symptoms are worse in a warm room and better in the open air. It is of little use after the cold is established. Mercurius is similar, having rawness and soreness in the nose, but it is especially aggravated in damp weather. Pulsatilla is more for a ripe cold, and Arsenicum also has heat and burning in the nose, but the coryza is relieved by warmth and aggravated by cold, which is opposite of Nux. Another symptom indicating Nux is a fluent coryza during the day and a stuffed up sensation at night.
Dose- Potency 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.It is found more effective if given in the evening.
Mercurius
There is a profuse coryza ,which extends to the frontal sinuses, burning in eyes and nose, acrid discharge, violent sneezing, and tendency to perspiration which aggravates. When a cold begins with coryza, Mercurius is a valuable remedy.Mercurius is especially aggravated in damp weather and the coryza is worse by heat of stove room; nose is sore; wiping nose is painful. Kali iodatum has great distress in frontal region, worse at 3 A.M.
Dose- Potency-6x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day .
Pulsatilla
Pulsatilla is more indicated in an advanced stage of cold in the head, what is known as a ripe-cold, hence it should not be given at the beginning of a cold, for it is never indicated. There is no sneezing or excoriating discharge with Pulsatilla. The discharge is thick, yellow, muco-purulent, and, above all bland.
Dose- Potency 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.
Penthorum sedoides.
Coryza with raw nose and throat; later it has the thick, yellow discharge of Pulsatilla, but the keynote of this remedy is a sensation of wetness in the nose.
Dose- Potency-1x : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed.
Hydrastis
It is also similar to Pulsatilla, but there is no burning and rawness and tenacity to the discharge; sensation of a hair in the nostrils; constant desire to blow the nose, which feels raw and excoriated; the cold has settled in the back of the nose and throat. This remedy alone will cure more sinusites than any remedy, because it is more often indicated. Thick, yellow, tenacious mucus in posterior nares, more distinctly yellow than Kali bichromicum and profuse. If you have a Pulsatilla cold, and in addition to it you have sneezing, give Cyclamen, also for attacks of sneezing without a cold. Chromico-kali-sulphuricum in the 2X or 3X is highly recommended in chronic rhinitis. With the pulsatilla cold, there is usually loss of smell and taste, and there is relief in the open air, even though the patient be chilly. Magnesia muriatica. Loss of taste and smell after catarrh. Drosera suits the last of colds with a cough coming on by fits.
Dose- Potency-Mother Tincture; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.
Camphora
First stage of cold in the head, when nose is stopped up and is dry, and the inspired air feels cooler than usual. It will often check an incipient cold ,when the chill is first felt, and is a useful remedy in chronic or rather paroxysmal coryzas, which occur upon every change of weather; it may be used by olfaction. The patient feels chilly, frontal sinuses involved, dull headache. Increased secretion of watery mucus from nose, with and without sneezing. It really comes in along with or even before Aconite, but it has not the wide range of application that Aconite has.
Dose- Potency –Tincture;30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice weekly till condition improves.
Kali iodatum
Thin, excoriating and very profuse, scalding discharges from the nose and coryzas, which involve the frontal sinuses and antra ;more in scrofulous or mercurialized individuals, with profuse, watery discharges, call for this remedy. The eyes smart, lachrymate and become puffed. The throat is irritated and the nose is apt to be red.
Dose- Potency-1x;3x; 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day .
Kali bichromicum.
Discharge tough and stringy, sometimes extending to throat, causing choking. It often follows Aconite well, catarrhs involving whole respiratory tract. It is a frequently indicated remedy in chronic nasal catarrh, hypertrophic rhinitis, first fluent acrid coryza relieved by warmth, then tough, stringy, discharge; wants to blow nose; no discharge; feeling of dryness in nose. Lemna minor. Putrid smell, putrid taste. Nasal polypi, atrophic rhinitis, glairy mucus, post-nasal discharge.
Dose- Potency-3x; 30 ;200. : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day.The lower potencies of this salt should not be kept too long.
Natrum muriaticum
Colds with watery, transparent discharges, causing vesicular eruptions about mouth and nose, with watery, clear frothy discharge, worse on going into colds air and on exertion; great dryness of posterior nares. There is entire loss of taste. This is the Schuessler remedy for coryzas, the watery exudations being the biochemic indication for coryzas. Dropping of mucus from naso-pharynx in the morning. It also removes the tendency to take cold. Clarke considers Natrum muriaticum one of the most valuable remedies we possess for colds.
Dose- Potency- 6x;30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day .The very high potency often yield most brilliant results in infrequent doses.
Sticta.
Constant desire to blow the nose, though nothing escapes; stuffed feeling at root of nose. The leading and most annoying symptom is dryness of the mucous membrane of the nose ( Senega), secretion dries rapidly, forming scabs difficult to dislodge.
Dose- Potency – Tincture;6x : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice a day.
Dulcamara
Dry coryza renewed by slightest exposure, worse after getting wet, in the open air and at night. It suits especially torpid phlegmatic constitutions, those who take cold when the weather changes to a lower temperature, and so it becomes of great use in nasal catarrhs and influenzas of autumn. The Nux coryza is worse in the house and better in the open air, which will easily distinguish. Colds which come on from change of weather and gradually involve the whole respiratory tract may indicate Dulcamara. "Cold sores" may accompany the colds. Colds which come on suddenly, with a discharge dropping at times like clear water from the nose, should call for Calcarea and it will be found of great service.
Dose- Potency-2x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed.


Sanguinaria nitrate.
Acute colds with sneezing, profuse discharge, burning and rawness in posterior nares. Chronic catarrh, thick, yellow discharge, with much burning and irritation, husky voice must clear throat before speaking.
Dose- Potency – 3x : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed.
Common Cold
If you are finding that you are having more than two colds a year, it would be advised to seek help from a professional homeopath to strengthen your immune system. Homeopathy emphasises treating the underlying imbalance in the immune system rather than simply fighting the infection--although in the moment, fighting the infection may be the priority.
The following remedies may offer symptomatic relief so long as the remedy you choose is well indicated for your individual symptom picture.
REMEDY
KEYNOTE SYMPTOMS
OTHER SYMPTOMS
MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER
MAKES YOU FEEL WORSE





Aconite
Comes on suddenly.
Fearful, restless, cheeks hot and red.
First stage of cold. Caused by exposure to cold dry winds
Sudden dry painful cough/croup watery mucous, sweats on uncovered parts. High fever with sensitivity to light. Thirsty, watery runny nose, possible bright red nose bleed.
Fresh open air, sleep
Warm stuffy room
In the evening and at night
Lying on affected side. Irritated by music, dry,
cold winds.
Allium cepa
Profuse, bland, watery discharge from eyes. Nasal discharge is profuse and burning. Warm rooms aggravate, better in open air.
Eyes run but the discharge is usually bland
Violent sneezing.
Mucous burns/corrodes top lip. Tickle in larynx, hoarseness, hacking cough worse breathing in cold air
desires onions
Fresh air
Evening.
Cold air.
Stuffy room.
Getting feet wet.

Arsenicum album
Complaints are usually right-sided. Watery, burning nasal discharge. Restlessness, weakness, anxiety, thirsty for sips at frequent intervals, chilly, desires company.
Right nostril burns/corrodes top lip watery thin discharge, but nose feels blocked. Excessive sneezing, Irritation, tickling of the nose. Cold might move to chest.
Heat, elevated head,
Warm drinks, company
Wet, windy weather.
Midnight to 2am. Sight or smell of food.
Belladona
First stage of cold, sudden onset,
high fever, red face, cold extremeties, throbbing pains, patient radiates heat.
Skin hot, dry with high temperatureThrobbing headache, very thirsty or not thirsty at all
sore throat on right side
Tickly throat, light hurts eyesEyes glassyEyes dilated
delirious in high feverdry barking coughdesires lemons or lemonade
Sitting upright or standing.
In warm room
Jarring, movement,
Noise, drafts.
From lying down.
After 12noon,
3PM
Bryonia alba
A Cold slow to develop, painful coughs--patient holds chest when he coughs; worse from slightest movement, dry mucus membranes and very thirsty, worse for company, worse for having to answer questions, very irritable, wants to be alone.
Better for being still and quiet.
cold moves into chest. A painful, dry, spasmodic cough. Left-sided headache, otherwise, right-sided complaints.
From applying firm, cool pressure to head and chest.
In cool surroundings
For movement.
Bright lights.
Eating, noise
and touch
9pm and 3pm.
Dulcamara
Worse from damp and cold/damp weather, worse from change of weather, worse from drafts.
Thick saliva and hoarse voice
Possible cold sores
Thirst for cold drinks
Post-nasal drip, lumbago or an Earache, watery diarrhea
warm, dry air.
Movement
For rest.
At night.
Cold, damp weather
Euphrasia
The opposite of Allium Cepa: Nasal discharge is bland; discharge from the eyes is burning. Cough only in the daytime.
Copious fluid from nose
Bursting sensation as sinuses fill. At night little pains all over body. Heat/fever descends the body, sweats only on front.
Later symptoms, chilliness, loose violent cough, pressing pain under sternum.
Lying down in darkened room but may feel more blocked up.
For coffee
From warm, windy weather. Being indoors.

In the evening.
Bright light.
Ferrum phos.
A cold that comes on slowly. Beginning of colds when symptoms are vague. Right-sided complaints.
Mild fever may be present
Mouth feels hot.
Throat is red and swollen.
Possible nose bleeds.
Gentle exercise.
Applying a cold compress to the forehead.
For fresh air.
In the Sun.
For jarring or touch. Lying on right side. Between
4am& 6pm
Gelsemium
Cold comes on gradually. Patient's appearance: dopey, drowsy, droopy and dull. You could also add dizzy! Inclination to sleep. Apathetic. Weakness, chills run up and down back, headache starts in back of head or neck and spreads forward, heavy head, thirstless.
Tiredness, heavy body sensation. Headache above nape of neck. Tickling in nose gets worse. Later running nose, watery and irritating

Fresh air.
movement,
After urinating.
Bending forward, sweating.
Drinking alcohol.
Before thunderstorm.
Early in the morning and last thing at night.
Humidity.
Tobacco smoke.
Hepar sulph
Over-sensitive to pain; anxiety, irritable, angry outbursts, chilly and worse from cold, intolerant of drafts, worse uncovering a hand or a foot, swollen glands, bad odor of discharges, splinter-like pains.
Cold starts with watery runny nose. Later, excessive yellow mucous with offensive-smelling discharge and sneezing. Irritability and chilliness.
For wrapping
head firmly.
Warm, moist environment.
In cold air, draughts.
Getting cold from undressing.
If touched.
Kali bichrom
Second stage of cold.
Thick, yellow, ropy, stringy nasal discharge. Sinusitis.
Thick post-nasal drip.
Thick mucous may block nose.
yellow or green discharge with postnasal drip. Sinus headaches, pressure pain at root of nose.
From warmth
In the morning.
Hot weather
Getting cold from undressing.
Natrum mur
Beginning stages of a cold with sneezing. "Egg-white" nasal discharge. Runny eyes worse in open air or wind. Sun and light aggravate. Warm, worse heat. Cold sores on lips, vesicles in mouth, cracked lips, ailments from grief.
Wants to be left alone.
A dislike for sympathy.
Cold starts with fits of sneezing and a thin catarrhal discharge consistency of the white of a raw egg. Nose maybe blocked with tendency towards developing cold sores.
Applying cold compresses to the sinuses.
Fasting.
Fresh open air
In sea air or wet weather. Mental, physical exertion. Around 10am. Bright light or hot sun. Noise, talking, music.
Nux vomica
Cold, chills, worse slightest draft of air, ailments from over-work, irritable and angry, impatient; runny nose in the morning, obstructed at night; stomach pains, better warm drinks, constipation with ineffectual urging.
Runny nose during the day
blocked at night.
Overcritical of others, impulsive,
chilliness, watery eyes,
sneezing, headache,
sore throat
Sleep,
warmth.
Firm pressure,
in the evening.
Washing and
warm compresses
Windy, Cold, dry weather. In public places. After over-indulgence of spicy foods
and stimulants such as coffee.
Between
3am & 4am.
Pulsatilla
Patient is weepy and wants to be consoled. Warm and worse heat, worse sun, better walking slowly in open air, worse warm stuffy rooms, dry mouth but no thirst, worse at twilight, worse from fatty foods; bland and often greenish nasal discharge

Possible nose bleeds
runny nose during the day,
blocked nose at night
thirstless, loss of smell
Headache above eyes
Crying and Sympathy.
Exercise and
fresh open air.
Cold drinks, cold compresses.
Raising hands above the head.
Rich, fatty foods.
Heat, In the sun.
In the evening and at night.
Rhus tox.
Second stage of cold
Congested nose and scratchy throat. Worse cold and cold wet weather. Better warmth and warm bathing. Stiffness and restlessness. Desires cold milk. Worse in cloudy, foggy, rainy weather; worse getting wet. Can't be still, must move.
Thick, yellow/green nasal discharge with a red scratchy throat, dry cough, tickling, hoarseness. Cough prevents sleep
From warmth, hot bathing.
>From motion.
For changing positions.
Cough worse in cold room.
Cold, wet, rainy weather.
During sleep.