Naturopathic View

From my bookshelf I pull a book dating back to 1985, written by a naturopath Ross Tattler. On the subject of colds and coughs, he notes the ‘bewildering arsenal of weapons to wipe out the enemy’ that is the common cold. Take a look in the supermarket or pharmacy and you will see that not much has changed 40 years on.

He then writes, ‘How strange it must sound to hear that this is the worst possible of all courses to follow!’

He goes on to tell us that the common cold is not a disease that ‘leaps out and attacks the innocent’. Indeed, he says, ‘it is not a disease…rather the cure of a disease’. In other words the body’s defence mechanisms are at work to detoxify the body and reestablish balance. Consequently, over-the-counter medications, which suppress symptoms, simply delay recovery.

The conventional view is that colds are caused by a virus, a reasonable proposition. Yet it’s not entirely clear how viruses come about, even what they are about (e.g. seasonality). Also not everyone ‘catches’ the cold at the same time, which is slightly strange as viral particles abound especially in urban settings. So, individual susceptibility must be factored-in. For the virus to ‘take’ there has to be susceptibility.

Interestingly, a research facility near Salisbury, studied the common cold for many years, closing in 1990. Much was learned, but no ‘cure’ found.

Discussion as to our nature, and that of a ‘cold’ continues. Meatime, to assume that a ‘cold’ has purpose (however inconvenient) is one reasonable hypotheses. That purpose is a cleansing effort to remove toxins from the body and maintain health. You need a clear out from time to time.

So much for hypotheses, what should you do practically?

Common Themes

If you can accept the above uncertainties, then practitioners of a naturopathic bent are generally well aligned on the approach. Coming up to date, Dr Sarah Myhill formerly a general practitioner now turned naturopath (with a special interest in ME) penned a book in 2020 titled Ecological Medicine. In the Appendix you will find the Groundhog Acute table of guidance.

Common approaches between her thinking and such as Tattler’s earlier work are:

• Take vitamin C to bowel tolerance. Vitamin C greatly reduces any viral or microbial load in the gut. Being water soluble it is very safe because any excess leaves in the urine. Saturation is marked by a loose bowel (at which point stop for 24h and restart at a lower dose). In Dr Myhill’s experience 3-4 doses of 10g should abolish symptoms (Obviously much less for a toddler – say 500mg and a young child 1000mg). It is a matter of experimentation and finding what works best for you.
• Drink plenty of fluids – fresh orange – which you can dilute etc. Hot or cold whichever you prefer.
• A good multivitamin (Dr Myhill sells Sunshine Salt), but I would say that for the common cold Zinc is the key mineral – a daily tablet is typically 10-15mg dose.
• Consider fasting or at least eat in moderation and nutritiously – home made soups are a good idea. Here is one: chicken soup and tlc!
• Rest and sleep – which is not something that comes easily to modern life styles. Discretion is often better than valour

Suppression

Another common theme is avoiding suppressive medications. Don’t suppress your symptoms with drugs (paracetamol etc). Symptoms are the body’s intelligent response; driving return to harmony. Drugs make you feel better but being suppressive, recovery takes longer.

Potentially, by depressing the immune system an infection can deepen, taking hold and risking health further.

As Myhill says – use your brain! She means assessing whether the situation is stable, getting better or worse.

Clearly if a respiratory infection is deepening with the potential of say pneumonia (lung infection) it is time to seek medical help.

War Chest

It is sensible to have some vitamin C (powder is good) and zinc in he medicine chest. There are plenty of options but here is one supplier I came across whilst writing this: https://www.biocare.co.uk/. Higher Nature and Health Plus are others

Homeopathy

Homeopaths like naturopaths understand that your symptom picture has meaning. Both perceive symptoms as the body’s effort to restore harmony.

Consequently, the purpose of the homeopathic remedy (medicine) is to complement the work of the immune system. Not suppress it.

As with vitamins and minerals above, having a simple remedy kit to hand is worthwhile. It will keep for years if looked after.

Classical homeopathic prescribing considers the following:

1. Causation (virus in this case)
2. Location (e.g. nose or throat)
3. Modalities (what makes the symptoms better or worse e.g. hot or cold drink)
4. Sensation (is there anything remarkable about the symptom)
5. Concomitants (anything else going on?)

Consider homeopathic treatment like finding the right key for a lock, if after a taking the remedy for a short while (see below for method) there is no response, then try another. The remedy has to resonate.

The task is to match the charateristics of a remedy (medicine) with the symptoms of the patient. As stated, symptoms reflect the body’s attempt to cure, which you want to encourage.

The homeopathic remedy echoes those symptoms and stimulates an immune response. This is the principle of ‘like curing like’ (which is what the word Homeo-pathy means). Properly applied you will get better quicker.

Some Typical Remedies

Here are some characteristics of remedies typically found in first aid kits.

• Aconite – sudden onset, hot, restless, apprehensive, fever. Remedy for inflammations during the first 24 hours. A good remedy to take at onset. (keynote: fever and apprehension)
• Belladonna – similar to Aconite but slightly slower onset. High fever, yet chilly. Wants to be covered. Red skin, glaring eyes – even delirium and rage (keynote: fever and anger – contrast Aconite).
• Gelsemium – classic ‘flu: chills up and down spine. Feeling tired, weak and shaky, not too thirsty, headache. (keynote: ‘dull’, ‘droopy’ and ‘drowsy’).
• Bryonia – hot, irritable, thirsty with cough and headache. Movement makes symptoms worse (keynote: ‘bear with a sore head’!)
• Rhus tox – aching in the bones, teasing cough at night. Restless so better with motion, possible septic state (keynote: muscles stiff but better once moving – contrast Bryonia).
• Arsenicum – chilly, restless. Thinks it useless to take medicine. Thirsty for sips of warm water. Eyes and nose stream and burn, great weakness (keynote: burning yet better with heat – hot drinks or hot applications)
• Ferrum Phos – sits between Aconite / Belladonna (less feverish) and Gelsemium (more active) (keynote: give if no other remedy strongly indicated)
• Nux Vomica – history of mental strain and excessive use of stimulants (coffee etc.). Chilly and irritable with fiery temperament. Must be covered. Cough with bursting headache, dry fever without thirst, gastric symptoms (keynote: crampy, hypersensitive, cold intolerant)
• Allium Cepa – Copious, watery discharge from nose. Eyes red and burning. Possible hacking cough (keynote: think of effects of chopping an onion – also a hay fever medicine)

Taking Homeopathic Medicines

Homeopathic medicines are absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth – not the gut. So you let the pill dissolve under the tongue. Note that there is no difference in dosage or approach for children.

A simple alternative approach is to put one or two pills into a bottle of water and shake (they may not dissolve straight away – that does not matter). Then sip on and off through the day (lightly shake each time). Hold in the mouth for a few seconds then swallow.

The active homeopathic remedy is typically absorbed onto a sugar pill. When you put the pill into water the pattern or resonance of the remedy transfers to the water. You can top up the water bottle without adding another pill.

If you see no improvement in 24-36 hours then you should retake your case and try another remedy. Once there is clear improvement then you can stop taking the remedy – the body will take over.

For guidance on the use of homeopathy please book a discovery call via my website or mail me at allan@allanpollock.co.uk.

I am happy to give short talks to groups on homeopathy in general and on the homeopathic approach to the treatment of minor ailments, please email me.

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