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 |
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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 temperature
Throbbing headache, very thirsty or not thirsty at all sore throat on right side Tickly throat, light hurts eyes
Eyes glassy
Eyes dilated delirious in high fever
dry barking cough
desires 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. |
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CONSTIPATION
Constipation is passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week. People who are constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel movement. Other symptoms of constipation include feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.
Constipation - CAUSE
Common causes of constipation are
-Not enough fibre in the diet.
-Not enough liquids.
-Lack of exercise.
-Medications.
-Irritable bowl syndrome.
-Changes in life or routine such as pregnancy,older age and travel.
-Abuse of laxatives
-Ignoring the urge to have a bowl movement.
-Specific diseases such as stroke
-Problems with the colon and rectum
-Problems with intestinal function (chronic idiopathic constipation)
Constipation - Treatment & Homeopathic Medicines
Nux vomica
Nux vomica has peculiar and characteristic indications for constipation –“wants to but can’t.” is a phrase that brings Nux Vomica to mind.This remedy is often useful to people ,who are impatient,tense, and ambitious- who work too hard and exercise too little,indulge in stimulants or alcohol, and are partial to sweets and spicy food.In many cases of inveterate constipation, Nux prescribed in low potency will frequently relieve constipation, but to cure it, the drug must be given in a much higher potency.
The mental symptoms of Nux are important in treating constipation, for the effect that constipation has upon the minds of some people is well known. In cases indicating Nux vomica there will be a great crossness, irascibility and objection to all opposition. The Nux stool is also apt to be large, and haemorrhoids are a frequent accompaniment. We may sum up Nux vomica by calling again the attention to the mental characteristics, the sedentary temperament,the fitful intestinal action and its antidotal relation to purgative drugs. Dr. Cartier says: "Nux vomica should never be given in constipation according to the law of similars in the low attenuations, or in the mother tincture. An opposite effect will be produced thereby, an augmentation of the spasmodic state of the intestines; the higher the dilution the better the chance success. Nor should it be too often repeated."
Dose- Potency- 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.Its effect is best,if given in the evening.
Hydrastis
It is useful after the abuse of purgatives, laxatives, cathartics and their like. In all these cases, however, the symptoms calling for the respective drug should be present. Hughes claims it to be superior to Nux as usually prescribed. He recommends a drop or two of the tincture in water once daily before breakfast. Hydrastis has a symptom, however, which is quite characteristic, that is a sinking, gone feeling at the epigastrium, which Nux vomica does not have to any extent. Carbo vegetabilis has urging, but it is due to wind, while Opium and Bryonia have no urging at all. According to d'Espiney, the physical signs of this inharmonious intestinal action can be felt by palpating the abdominal walls. Anacardium resembles Nux vomica in many ways. It has a sensation of a plug in the rectum which cannot be expelled. There is a fitful intestinal activity, but withal a powerlessness of the rectum. Even soft stools are expelled with difficulty. Small quantities may be expelled with each attempt.
Dose- Potency-Mother Tincture; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.
Sulphur
Many of the older homoeopaths used to give Sulphur and Nux vomica in alteration for constipation. They complement each other, follow each other well, but better results will be obtained, if each be given singly when indicated; for, surely, both cannot be indicated at once. With Sulphur there is an ineffectual urging to stool, with a sensation of heat and discomfort in the rectum , and there is a general uneasy feeling all through the intestinal tract, due to abdominal plethora or passive portal congestion. It is very useful remedy with which to commence the treatment of constipation, though, unless the symptoms call for it, it should not be given. A bad constitution and frequent ill health are good indications to start with, a tendency to piles is another. The stools are hard, dark, dry, and expelled with great straining, the first effort to stool being extremely painful. There is apt to be much twitching and burning of the anus, the evacuation are often unsatisfactory, and, as in Nux, there is often a sensation, as if a part remained behind. Another characteristic symptom of Sulphur is constipation alternating with diarrhoea.People who need this remedy are often “Characters” with interesting mental notions,slouching postures ,and very little interest in tidiness.The general venous system is usually at fault in true Sulphur cases, and anything that stimulates this system into action, such as exercise and cold, always benefits the Sulphur patient. Sulphur needs to be given in high potency and not continued for any length of time .
Dose- Potency-12x; 30;200;1M;CM : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day .Acts in all potencies from lowest to highest.some of the best results are obtained from higher potencies and not from the frequent doses.Chronic cases be treated with higher potency.
Opium
While the constipation of Nux is due to irregularity of intestinal action, that of Opium is due to absolute inaction of the intestines, a regular paralysis of the peristaltic movement. There is an absence of desire, absolutely no urging to stool whatever, and so the faeces become impacted in the bowels; and when passed at all come in little, hard, dry, black balls, here resembling the stool of Plumbum , but with Plumbum there is some activity. Another drug which has no urging to stool is Bryonia, but here the lack of urging is rather due to dryness of the mucous membrane than to intestinal inactivity; with Opium there is a want of sensibility throughout the intestinal tract, and consequently the constipation is not apt to inconvenience the patient, hence it is apt to go on getting worse until the attention is called to it by the flatus accumulating in the upper part of the intestines. Where the faeces require artificial means for their removal, this remedy should be thought of, though Selenium, Alumina, Plumbum or Bryonia may be used in this condition. Diminished secretions are also characteristic of Opium , so that dryness intestinal inactivity, is one of the causes of constipation of old people; the patient is drowsy and dizzy.
Dose- Potency -3x;30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day .
Plumbum
So we have urging to stool, and accompanying this urging is a colic with a marked retraction of the abdominal walls. The stool is passed with the greatest difficulty and consists of little round balls, which are black, dry and hard, and there is accompanying, a marked spasm of the sphincter ani, which is apt to be painful. The anus feels ,as if drawn upward. With this drug, there is loss of muscular activity and diminished secretion of intestinal glands. Thus we see that the indications for Plumbum in constipation are concise and precise.
Dose- Potency-3x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.
Alumina
Chief among remedies for constipation due to dryness of the intestinal tract stands Alumina. There is diminished peristaltic movement and complete inertia of the rectum, so that we have the symptom, soft stool expelled with difficulty. There is little or no urging to stool. The stools may be hard and knotty like sheep dung, or may be soft. It is one of our most useful remedies in constipation of children where the rectum is dry, inflamed and bleeding about the orifice. Alumina differs from Bryonia chiefly in the state of rectal inactivity. A dry mouth and an irritated looking tongue may lead to the selection of Alumina. There is much straining with the remedy and the stool is passed in very small quantities , piecemeal, so to speak. If the characteristics of Alumina are prominent in a given case, they may be due to the use of aluminum ware in cooking.
Bryonia
The large-hard-dry-stool-as-if-burnt of Bryonia is familiar to all of our Medical School. The constipation of the drug is due to dryness and there is no urging. With Bryonia, the stools are passed with a great deal of difficulty, owing to an atony of the intestines similar to Veratrum album and Opium. Bryonia cures constipation ,where not only the intestinal secretions are diminished, but the muscular action as well.The person feel grouchy or out of sorts, and may be tense from business-related worries. Constipation in young children, according to Hughes, is frequently cured by Bryonia 30th. It is said to act better in rheumatic subjects and in summer. The mental condition of irritability and ill-humor will often be present as a concommitant of the Bryonia constipation. Older writers alternated Bryonia and Nux vomica with success in very obstinate cases.
Dose- Potency-6x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily till amelioration is noticed.
Natrum muriaticum
The characteristic constipated stool of Natrum muriaticum is a hard and crumbly one; the rectum is dry, the stool is hard to expel and causes bleeding, smarting and soreness in the rectum. There is ineffectual urging to stool,with stitches in the rectum. It sometimes comes in the most obstinate cases, which are accompanied by hypochondriasis. . In constipation of young people, who are subjected to acne and comedos, Natrum muriaticum should be thought of.
Dose- Potency 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily.The very highest potencies often yield most brilliant results.And in infrequent doses.
Magnesia muriatica
It has characteristically a constipation in which the stools are passed with great difficulty, being composed of hard lumps like sheep dung, which are so dry that they crumble as they pass the anus.
Dose- Potency-Tincture;3x; 200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed.
Ammonium muriaticum
It has this same symptom of dry and crumbly stools, they may also be coated externally with mucus.
Dose- Potency-3x;6x : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily for one week.
Lycopodium
Like Nux, Lycopodium has a sensation after stool, as if something remained behind. Constipation, due to constriction of the rectum, calls for this remedy, and here it reminds one of Silicea. The constipation , too, is apt to be associated with the stool. The stools are dry and hard, or the first part hard, the last soft. In the constipation of children and pregnant women, it often finds a place, and it is here praised by Hartmann. A great deal of rumbling in the abdomen following the stool is an additional indication. Nux and Lycopodium may be easily distinguished , though each has ineffectual urging to stool. In Nux, as ,we have seen, this is due to irregular peristaltic action, while with Lycopodium, it is due to a constriction of the rectum. The mental symptoms here, too, are of the utmost importance; the depression, the melancholy and the apprehension are characteristic.
Dose- Potency- Tincture;6x; 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day for one week.Tincture can be given thrice daily.
Graphites
Graphites is one of our best remedies in constipation, if Homoeopathy can be said to have "best remedies". With this drug there is no urging. The patient sometimes goes days without a stool, and when it does come it is composed of little round balls, knotted together with shreds of mucus and accompanied with great pain when passing, owing to the fissure. These fissures, as well as the haemorrhoids which accompany them, burn, smart and itch intolerably. Excessive soreness of the anus in making the post defecation toilet is an indication for its use. Aching of the anus after stool is also characteristic of Graphites, and sometimes we have with the drug ineffectual urging. The mucus-coated stool, the extreme soreness of the anus, the general Graphites temperament of sadness and obesity, will easily decide for the remedy. Graphites suits especially women who suffer from a neglect to attend promptly to nature's call.
Dose- Potency- 6x;30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day daily .Locally as a cerate,in sore nipples.
Platina
With Platina, there is torpor of the whole intestinal tract, unsuccessful urging to stool and great dryness of the rectum. The stools seem to adhere to the rectum like glue or putty. There is great weakness in the abdomen and a sensation, as if there were a load in the rectum ,which could not be expelled. It is considered a remedy for the constipation of emigrants and travelers, so it would seem to find an additional indication, where the trouble was brought on by change in manner of living. It is also a remedy for the constipation due to lead poisoning. There is frequent urging, scanty, dry stool and great abdominal weakness. As under Ignatia, there are sharp stitches in the rectum.
Dose- Potency- 6x; 30 : 8-10granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed
Silicea
When constipation is due to inefficient expulsive force of the rectum and a spasmodic condition of the sphincter then Silicea is our remedy. With this condition, we have a condition ,where the sphincter suddenly contracts and the partially expelled stool recedes. People who need this remedy are nervous and mentally acute,but also chilly,physically frail and easily fatigued.
Dose- Potency-6x; 30;200 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day twice daily for 2-3 weeks.The higher potency are of unquestioned activity.In malignant affections,the lowest potency is needed at times.
Causticum
It has constipation due to powerlessness of the rectum, so that the patient almost stands in order to enable him to get sufficient power to expel the stool, but the spasmodic condition of Silicea is absent. As with Graphites, Silicea has a great deal of soreness about the anus, also an oozing of moisture. There is urging to stool and a sensation, as if faeces remained in the rectum.When it finally emerges,the stool will be narrow and full of mucous.
Dose- Potency-3x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day till amelioration is noticed.In chronic ailments and specially in paralytic states,the higher potencies once or twice a week.
Veratrum album
One of our greatest diarrhoea remedies, it has a marked effect in the treatment of constipation. The symptoms calling for its use, are as follows: There is complete atony of the intestines, as under Bryonia and Opium. The faeces accumulate in large masses in into a sweat; but finally has to give it up, and the faeces have to be removed by artificial means. There are extreme cases ,where the patient is able to force a passage for himself; the stools are large, hard and black. As with the diarrhoea there may be faintness after the stool. Dunham speaks of the constipation of Veratrum as one characterized by a disposition to stool in the upper part of the intestinal canal and an indisposition to stool in the lower part. Dr. Bryce claims that it will bring stool quickest of any medicine I ever tried." He used 3x. It comes in very well after Nux vomica, especially in constipation of children. Podophyllum 12th has proved of use in constipation of children.Phosphorus has a constipation of long slender stools voided with much straining.
Dose- Potency-1x; 30 : 8-10 granules or 2 drops a day thrice daily till amelioration is noticed
