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Page 1 of 3 A Homeopathic Perspective on The Common Cold
(Excepted from Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants, Tarcher/Putnam)
The information provided here is not only applicable to children but to most people with the common cold.
REMEDIES LISTED IN CAPITAL LETTERS REPRESENT MORE FREQUENTLY INDICATED REMEDIES
Not every cold needs to be treated, since the body's natural reaction to the cold virus is a healthy response. Consider treating a cold if the symptoms are significantly disturbing the child, if the condition lingers, or if the child needs to attend a special event without having respiratory difficulties.
ACONITUM
This remedy is useful primarily during the first 24 hours after the onset of a cold. Typically, the child develops her cold or cough after being exposed to dry cold weather. She wakes from sleep with a dry, hoarse, croupy cough, especially worse at night and after midnight. She has a dry mouth, shortness of breath, and little expectoration. The cough is worse from being cold, drinking cold water, from tobacco smoke, lying on either side, and at night.
ALLIUM CEPA
This common remedy for colds is effective when the child has a profuse, fluent, burning nasal discharge which is worse in a warm room and better in open air. The nasal discharge will irritate the child's nostrils, causing pain from simply wiping his nose. He may also have profuse bland (non-burning) tearing from the eyes. He has reddened eyes and a tendency to rub them. He also tends to have a raw feeling in the nose with a tingling sensation as well as violent sneezing. Sometimes the discharge starts in the left nostril and moves to the right. The child may occasionally experience a congestive headache in the front part of the head.
Anas barbariae
Although this medicine (commonly marketed as "Oscillococcinum") is primarily effective in treating influenza, homeopaths have also found that it can also be helpful in treating the common cold. There are no known symptoms from which to individualize treatment, though it has been found to be very effective when used within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. Consider giving it if you don't know which other medicine to give.
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