The Common Cold & Influenza (flu).

Symptoms can be caused by a viral infection spread by sneezing or coughing. Symptoms can include runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands, earache, fever, aches and pains, headache, cough, and general malaise. Uncomplicated symptoms rarely last more than a few days.

Nutrition & Lifestyle
- Bed rest. Generally, if your immune system is fairly strong, bed rest with a few simple nutrients should be all you need when the first symptoms come along as the common cold is a self-limiting illness and therefore will run its course. Rest allows time for the body to recover and for immune function to regain strength. However, with people working longer and harder hours, time off sometimes just isn’t an option. Ideally, a day or 2 at home in bed is just as healing as a bottle of herbs.
- Plenty of fluids, particularly and most importantly water. Herbal teas are a great way to keep your water intake optimal and to prevent dehydration. The warm water will heat the body, facilitating diaphoresis (sweating during a fever) and soothes the mucous membranes. A great decoction to brew when symptoms first appear is to add the juice of one lemon, an inch of ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, a dash of chilli, and 2 cups of water to a medium sized saucepan. Boil over moderate heat for 5 minutes. Sweeten with a teaspoon of honey. Drink this throughout the day. This brew will assist in the elimination of any infection, sooth the throat and respiratory tract, warm the body, and ease any aches and pains.
- Avoid sugar, fats, cigarettes, and alcohol during times of infection as these affect the immune system negatively and will prolong the duration of any symptoms.
- Avoid stress. Stress greatly reduces the strength of the immune system in fighting infections. If you are run down from the effects of stress, this should be addressed in order to prevent further illnesses from occurring.
- Steam inhalations with essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, pine, thyme, tea tree, rosemary, and basil. Steam inhalations may provide immediate relief from cold and flu symptoms such as congestion, coughs, respiratory catarrh.


Supplements
- Vitamin C. 500mg 4-6 times daily
- Zinc. 25mg 1-2 times daily.
- Cod Liver oil. Contains vitamin A and vitamin D, essential for mucous membrane health and proper immune system function. 1 capsule three times a day. *NB When taken in excess of 8000iu, Vitamin A can cause birth defects. If you are pregnant, consult a health care professional before taking vitamin A.
- Blackmores PCIP. 1 tablet every 15 minutes for one hour, 1 every 30 minutes for 2 hours, 1 every hour for 4 hours, then 1 every 2 hours until symptoms reduce.
- Bioceuticals Cold Fx. Day 1: 3 capsules 3 times daily; Day 2: 2 capsules 3 times daily; Day 3: 1 capsule 3 times daily; Day 4: 1-2 capsules per day until symptoms clear.
- Colloidal silver. Antiviral and antibacterial, anti septic, antifungal. Take at onset of cold for best results.


Herbs - Antiviral, antibacterial and immune stimulant herbs
- Echinacea: antimicrobial, antiviral, antiseptic, diaphoretic, immunomodulator
- Elder: anticatarrhal, diaphoretic
- Rosehips: high in vitamin C
- Yarrow: diaphoretic
- Ginger: diaphoretic, expectorant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory
- Marshmallow: soothing to mucous membranes
- Peppermint: antibacterial, antispasmodic, diaphoretic
- Licorice: antiviral, soothing to mucous membranes, expectoant, anti-inflammatory
- Andrographis: immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory
- Garlic: antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, mucolytic, antioxidant.

A herbal throat gargle or throat spray with myrrh, thyme, sage, licorice, wild indigo, and calendula, may help to relieve sore throats.

The Modern Apothecary Herbal teas
- Immunity (Echinacea, Elder, Peppermint, Licorice, Marshmallow, Rosehips, Yarrow, Ginger). Improves immunity and resistance to infections, aids fever management, reduces catarrh, and improves circulation.
- Soothe (Elder, Licorice, Marshmallow root, Thyme, Ginger). Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and soothing tea for respiratory irritations such as infections, coughs, and laryngitis.



Disclaimer: This information is to be used as an educational guide only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for the advice and treatment of a qualified natural health care practitioner and does not intend to diagnose any health condition. Please consult a practitioner if you wish to receive more information, or call The Modern Apothecary on (02) 9904 0084.