Colds and influenza (flu) are infections of the upper respiratory tract. Most colds and all influenza cases are caused by viruses; a few colds are caused by bacteria (such as strepto, coccus). These contagious infections are spread mostly by skin contact and touching, as well as through the air. Influenza symptoms are more pronounced than cold symptoms (in other words, you are much sicker), and its complications are more severe, Colds are usually self-limited. They last about three days, although cough and congestion can continue for a week or more. Influenza can last longer, and in people who are debilitated or have heart or lung diseases, it can cause pneumonia and death.

Common Symptoms: Colds

• Head and chest congestion
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Dry cough that may occur only at night
• Achiness
• Lethargy
• Chills
• Possible fever

Common Symptoms: Flu

• Higher fever
• Hacking cough
• Weakness
• Aching muscles
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Congestion

What You Need to Know

Because most colds and flu are caused by viruses, they do not require antibiotics unless resting clearly shows evidence of bacterial infection (the rapid antigen test is the most common test used to detect bacteria). If you take antibiotics for a virus, resistance to those antibiotics can eventually occur. Some people who always take antibiotics for a cold may think it is the antibiotic that gets rid of it, but in fact the cold usually goes away in the same period of time without antibiotics, as studies have documented again and again.

Everyone who’s debilitated, elderly, or suffering from lung or heart diseases (including asthma), should get flu shots every year because influenza can be deadly for people who are weakened by other health conditions.

General Recommendations

Diet: Avoid milk products, which increase mucus production. Avoid sugar, which competes with vitamin C and decreases immune function. Chicken soup has been proven to help relieve sore throats and runny nose, and I highly recommended it (homemade is best). Eating garlic is also helpful because it helps prevent viruses from invading and damaging your tissues.

Also, drink lots of water, which improves the function of the white blood cells and keeps the respiratory tract moist, thus repelling viruses. Fruit juices containing vitamin C are helpful, but they should be taken undiluted because processed juices contain sugars that retard your white blood cells ability to fight the infection. Making the juice in a juicer or eating the fruit itself is the best way to obtain the benefits.

Your Herbal Healing Action Plan for Colds and Flu - Home Remedies

• If you have been diagnosed with influenza, start with Steps 1 and 9. If it is severe, go to Step 10.
• Do not give aspirin to a child with a cold because it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a disease of the liver. Ibuprofen is the best analgesic to reduce fever and achiness. Avoid acetaminophen products (for example, Tylenol) because they can increase mucus. Do not treat low-grade fevers because this actually is a protective mechanism of the body to help fight the infection. For high-grade fevers, call your doctor.
• If you are elderly, avoid supplemental vitamin E because it might extend your recovery and increase symptoms.

Step 1: Rest and Drink Plenty of Fluids

Rest and fluids are the major treatments for both colds and flu. They allow your body to heal itself faster. I also recommend using a cool-air humidifier, which can help relieve congestion and loosen mucus. You can buy one in any drug store.

Step 2: Take Nonprescription Expectorants, Anise, or Bromelain to Reduce Mucus

In addition to Step 1, use an expectorant to break up and clear mucus. Many over-the­ counter remedies contain guiafenesin, the most commonly used expectorant, but if you want to use a natural expectorant, anise (as a tea, or 50ml to 200ml of the essential oil three times a day) is as effective. If these aren’t helpful, another herbal expectorant to try is bromelain (80mg to 320mg per day), an herb that also decreases bronchial secretions. You can take bromelain safely with the other expectorants.

Step 3: Take Slippery Elm Bark or Use Aromatherapy for Sore Throat Treatment

I recommend slippery elm bark (alcohol extract, 1:1 in 60 percent alcohol, 5ml three times a day), if you have a sore throat. The inhalation of aromatic vapors from herbs, such as sage or thyme (aromatherapy), can also reduce throat irritation and coughing and can be used with any of the previous or following steps.

Step 4: Take Appropriate Chinese Herbal Remedies

There are many Chinese herbal formulas that can be helpful, depending on your particular symptoms and how long you’ve had your cold. Yin Chao ]in is particularly effective in the early stages when you may have fever, headache, cough, or sore throat. Xiao Qing long Tang is useful for colds that produce thin, watery drainage. Gan Mao Ling is a common formula that is antiviral, and there are several others that contain additional antiviral Chinese herbs that are used for more prolonged colds/flu. You can take any of them along with the previous steps. Consult a practitioner qualified in Chinese herbal medicinine to determine which formulas are the best for your particular syndromes. You should begin to feel better within 12 to 36 hours.

Step 5: Take Echinacea to Speed Recovery

In addition to the previous steps, echinacea is an herb that can decrease the severity and duration of colds and flu through its antibacterial and antiviral properties. There is a combination of echinacea with two other herbs, wild indigo root and white cedar leaf (called Esberitox), which is even more potent than echinacea alone and has been used in Germany for several decades. Many of the Chinese herbal formulas in Step 4 may contain echinacea, so check the labels. Echinacea should not be used if you have systemic diseases, such as tuberculosis, collagen diseases (scleroderma, for example), or multiple sclerosis, and immune disorders, such as AIDS, HIV, and lupus, because it can make all of these conditions worse.

Step 6: Take Zinc to Speed Your Recovery

Although studies have been inconsistent, most show that zinc can reduce cold symptoms. Use the gluconate or acetate forms, containing 9mg to 24mg of elemental zinc, every two hours while awake. You must start within 48 hours of symptom onset for it to be effective. It can be taken with the previous steps.

Step 7: Take Appropriate Homeopathic Remedies to Reduce Symptoms and Speed Recovery

If your cold or flu persists, there are several homeopathic remedies that are effective, depending on the specific symptoms. These include Gelsemium for chills, aching, fatigue and sore throat. Allium cepa for burning, runny nose, sneezing, and eyes watering constantly; Nux vomica for a runny nose that becomes congested at night; and Aconite for a barking cough,burning sore throat, and a bitter taste in your mouth. Pulsatilla, Hepar sulphuris, Lycopodium, sulphur and Belladonna are other remedies commonly used for upper respiratory illnesses. These are all given as a 12c dosage, every two hours for a maximum of four doses. Consult a qualified homeopathist for guidance as to which remedies and dosages will be most beneficial. You should feel better in one to three days.

Step 8: Take High Doses of Vitamin C to Shorten Recovery Time

High dose vitamin C, 1g to 6g per day, can cut the length of a cold or flu by one day, and decrease the severity of symptoms, through its antioxidant effects. It is more effective if taken naturally through fruit and fruit juices, and can be taken along with the previous steps.

Step 9: Take N-acetylcysteine and Garlic for Flu Symptoms

If you have the flu (not a cold), I recommend taking N-acetylcysteine (600mg twice daily), which can reduce flu symptoms by breaking up mucus. Also take garlic (4g daily), which helps keep cold and flu viruses from invading and damaging your tissues, thus shortening the recovery period.

Step 10: Take Antiviral Medications If You Are at High Risk or to Prevent Flu from Spreading Among Household Members

For severe flu symptoms, or flu in high-risk patients-or to prevent flu from spreading among family members-your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications (such as Tamiflu). These medications are very effective in stopping the spread of the flu virus as as killing the virus, thus speeding up your recovery.

Step 11: Take Appropriate Nonprescription Medications to Relieve Severe Symptoms

There are many over-the-counter remedies for reducing symptoms of colds and flus, such as decongestants and cough suppressants. I recommend them only for severe symptoms, and they should be used sparingly because they can make mucus thicker and harder after several days of use. Most of these conventional remedies are designed to suppress symptoms, rather than help your body to heal. Even if they improve your symptoms, they can actually prolong the duration of the cold.

Step 12: Take an Appropriate Chinese Herbal Remedy for Persistent Cough

Most persistent coughs are due to continued drainage and/or irritation of the lung passage ways, a condition which can be helped by Chinese herbs. My first recommendation is an herbal formula called Er Chen Tang, but there are many other formulas; the choice depends on what’s causing your cough. Consult a practitioner qualified in Chinese herbal medicine to determine which formulas are the best for your particular syndromes. You should see improvement within three to seven days (sometimes sooner), but you may need to take the herbs longer, depending on your condition(s).

Step 13: Take Prescription Medications for Persistent Cough

If Chinese herbs don’t relieve your chronic cough, your doctor may prescribe beta-agonists (such as an albuterol inhaler), which are very effective in reducing chronic coughs caused by spasm in the lung passageways. You should experience almost immediate relief if your coughing is caused by spasm.

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