Colds and Flu Remedies Checklist

Influenzinum is used as a prophylactic; low potencies recommended. Generally same strain used in current flu vaccine.

Oscillococcinum may be used in first 48 hours; knocks out 30-40% flus.

Arsenicum

This is the main remedy to think of for a flu with gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea. Typically high fever after prodome; with fever face feels hot and burning, body feels chilled, but patient desires fresh air. Arsenicum flus have a crisis point at 12 midnight to 1am. Restless, anxious, thirsty for sips

Worse: eating, motion

Belladonna

Currently this picture is seen mostly in children. Rapid onset and very high fever.3pm agg in Belladonna. Patient thirstless, face flushed red, pupils dilated, extremities cold, body hot. Craves lemonade. Throbbing sensations.

Eupatorium Perfoliatum

The Native Americans called this ‘ague-weed’ and was adopted by settlers into their pharmocopia. This remedy is indicated when severe aching bone pains are felt as the main striking symptom. Intense thirst and aches precedes chills and fever. Deep aching in bones in muscles ‘as if broken’; eyes ache. Low back pain. Restless but worse with motion. Some nausea in this picture, can be gastric flu. Chest is sore, must support it with hands. Thirsty for cold drinks. Worse: morning, cold air, motion.

 Bryonia

Bryonia has a characteristic slow onset. Dry mucous membranes; think of bryonia for dry infections. Intense thirst for large amounts; dry hacking cough. Bursting fronal or left sided heaches; worries about mundane affairs.

Pulsatilla

This is a main late stage cold and sinusitis remedy. Stuffed nose, loss of smell, dull heavy, fontal and maxillary sinuses. Fluent, bland discharge- from watery to thick yellow. Nose drains on lying down, stopped on getting up. Redness and lachrymation in eyes. Patient desires consolation: moody, clingy dependent.

Worse: overheated, sun, exposure to pollens in open air

Better: air conditioning, fresh air

Mercurius

Mined heavily in Spain and Italy in the form of cinnabar, mercury was a prized commodity of the ancient world; the word mercantile and its spinoffs derive from it. Although very dense, Mercury is the only common metal liquid at room temperature, therefore called ‘quicksilver.’ Mercury has been used since ancient Egypt as a medicine, its corrosive qualities employed in skin treatment. It gained fame as a specific treatment for the syphilis chancre. The term ‘mad as a hatter’ referred to madness induced by mercury use in the felt industry.

Since mercury has a corrosive effect on mucous membrances, it is homeopathic to URTI’s. Mercurius is a specific remedy for frontal sinusitis. Chronic or acute. Excessive salivation and offensive breath are keynotes. Tongue has whitish discoloration; coated. Offensive odors in nose. Worse at night. Aggravated by any weather or temperature extremes.

Frequent colds ending in sinusitis; no resistance to infection.

Ulceration or degeneration of the nasal bones from chronic sinusitis.

Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal)

Adapted from native culture, via the Eclectics, the Iroguois used goldenseal as an emetic, for earaches, dyspepsia, liver disease, cancer and as a general tonic. Severe frontal sinusitis, with headache, and post nasal drip. Acrid discharge, thick, offensive bloody. Free nasal discharge in open air; stuffs up in warm room.

Worse: left side, inhaling cold air, night

Better: warmth, pressure

Hepar Sulph

Thick yellow-green, offensive discharge. Nasal; post-nasal. Extreme pain and sensitivity to sinuses. Keynote: sensitive to small cold sensations- can feel cold coming from most minute sources.

Worse: touch, irritated patient, nerves feel raw and exposed. Aggravated from exposure to cold air.

Silica

Low immunity picture; recurrent sinus infections. Sinusitis can last for months after every cold. Chronic sequelae.

Kali Iodatum

Potassium iodide is the iodine supplement in table salt. This remedy is effective in severe viral head colds with sinusitis. ‘The profuse, watery, acrid coryza that the drug produces serves as a guiding symptom, especially with pain in the frontal sinuses.’

Rawness in the nose, nasal obstruction, keynote is burning with each inhalation for air. Burning in nose and eyes. Also intense pressure felt at the root of the nose from sinus infection.

Sinusitis that recurs; marked pain in face at maxillary sinuses, radiating from nose.

Worse: Jarring, change of weather, night

Better: motion, open air.

Kali Bichromicum

Typical of strong sinusitis remedies, kali-bi is corrosive and ulcerating on direct contact with human tissue, belonging to the syphilitic miasm. There is a particular affinity to the mucous membranes of the URT. This is the main or specific remedy for sinusitis; affects ethmoid and all sinuses. Keynote is complete nasal obstruction with nasal tone of voice.