Coughs & Colds: Prevention & Treatment by Jane Thurnell-Read

Many people dread the approaching winter knowing that they are likely to suffer from repeated coughs and colds, but there are simple things you can do now to minimise the chance of this happening. I know this not only from studies that have been done, but also from my own personal experience. 10 to 15 years ago I would have 4 or 5 colds every winter. Now I rarely get one. It's not for nothing that it's called the common cold, but you can make colds uncommon.

So what can you do? The most important thing is to maintain a healthy immune system.  You probably know that already, but you may not know some simple things you can do to support your immune system.

Drinking lots of water has been shown to support the immune system. An adequate supply of water means that the membranes that line the respiratory tract (nose and bronchial tubes) are kept moist and are better able to repel viral (and bacterial) attack. Remember that most people are not drinking enough water. The benefits of probiotics are becoming clearer and clearer. It may seem surprising that having the right bowel flora can influence the health of your immune system, but the scientific evidence for this is mounting all the time. Sp, if you get every cough and cold going, try an immune booster based on probiotics.

If you’re under stress you are more likely to get a cold. Research in the new field of psychoneuroimmunology is showing how closely the brain, the emotions and the immune system are linked.  Hormones and neuropeptides that allow communication between brain cells have now been shown to ‘speak’ to immune system cells as well.  The mind knows about stress, and tells the immune system. You can work to remove the causes of stress in the long term, but in the short-term try holding your frontal eminences or taking the Emergency Flower Essences or you could try using homeopathic first aid. These small simple measures may be enough to avoid adding a cold to all your other stresses.

Increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet will strengthen the immune system too. Smoking, over-eating and a poor diet also contribute to immune problems. Many people take a gram of vitamin C a day and report a marked decrease in infections and colds. The herbal remedy, Echinacea, has become very popular in recent years, both as a preventive and for when colds occur. Lobelia compound is paricularly good if you are congested.

If you get a cold, there are simple things you can do to speed your recovery. Resting and getting an adequate amount of sleep allows your immune system to maximise its effort to fight the cold. Make sure you keep up your fluid intake. Take vitamin C, both in the form of food (fruit, juices, vegetables) and as a supplement. Some authorities recommend 1 gram of vitamin C an hour when you have a cold. Zinc lozenges have been shown to be helpful, as well as being generally pleasant to take. Biochemic tissue salts work well for many people, and there is a specific combination for coughs and colds. These are safe for even very small children to take.

Finally, a positive mental attitude has been shown repeatedly to have a positive effect on the immune system, so think of all the good, positive things in your life and give your immune system the support it needs.