Colds & Flu
14/10/2005
Colds and ‘flu are more frequent in winter so here are some brief symptom pictures of remedies for home prescribing

Aconite for the early stages, with sudden onset, especially where the patient is very cold or has suffered a chill.
Allium cepa is for streaming eyes and nose and sneezing. If this doesn’t work and the eye symptoms predominate try Euphrasia.
Belladonna is for bright red sore throats and fevers with sudden onset, especially appropriate with patients who hallucinate when they have a high temperature.
Bryonia has a painful cough and wants to hold the chest when coughing to prevent movement. These patients are irritable and thirsty for large quantities at long intervals and they are worse for heat.
If the symptoms go to the chest try Phosporous for patients who drink lots of chilled drinks especially if they cough up blood streaked catarrh.
Gelsemium flu has a slow onset and the patient feels drowsy, droopy, dizzy and looks dull and stares blankly with flushed cheeks.
Eupatorium perfoliatum works when the patient feels their muscles and bones ache to breaking point.
Ferrum phos in tissue salts from the health shop is half way between Aconite and Belladonna and is useful in the early stages of colds and flu.

Herbal Echinacea tincture will act as a tonic in the suffering patient and as a preventive to the rest of the family. It should be taken daily throughout the winter as a preventive. It needs to be given to the patient 2-3 times daily when ill. Dosage is on the bottle.

To help you prescribe for yourself for minor ailments. You can buy remedies from your local health shop and some pharmacies.