While cold and flu season is typically considered to be from October to January-ish, the truth is viruses are circulating all year round with certain ones being more common in the warmer months of spring and summer. Unfortunately, our middle son came down with our first cold of the year this past weekend. It started with a fever and headache in the wee hours of the morning and gradually progressed to include body aches later that day as well. Thankfully, we had our arsenal of homeopathic and natural remedies to turn to, and he was completely over it within 24 hours. Naturally, this week’s remedy spotlight includes the two remedies we used to help his body heal fast!
Aconitum Napellus
Aconite is an amazing go-to remedy for general cold and flu symptoms especially within the first 24 hours of symptom onset. When my son came to me crying in the middle of the night burning up and complaining of a headache, without hesitation I grabbed the Aconite and immediately began administering it to him. Below you will find the general symptom profile and condition-specific symptoms for this powerful remedy from the booklet that accompanies our Acute Care Kit, written by Dr. Brown himself.
General Symptom Profile:
- Often the first remedy indicated for sudden onset general cold and flu symptoms. (See below for specific conditions.)
- Sudden onset of symptoms after exposure to cold, dry air
- Intense thirst for cold water
- Hot, dry skin, and red face
- Anxious and restless
- Feeling frightened
Better From: Open air, rest, and warm sweat
Worse From: Cold, dry wind, warm room, and at night
- Inflammation following injury or removal of foreign object
- Eyes feel dry and hot
- Eyes burn without tears
- Red, swollen eyelids
Cough/Croup:
- Hoarse, dry, croupy cough
- Burning in throat
- Shortness of breath
- Cough better lying on back
- Accompanied by fever
Earache:
- The ear is tender to the touch
- May have a burning pain
- Sensitive to noise
Fever:
- High fever of sudden, violent onset with extreme anxiety and restlessness
- Skin hot and dry or cold sweat with an icy-cold face
- Chilly if uncovered
- Most often used in early stages of fever
Sore Throat:
- Throat is hot, red, and dry
- Throat burns and stings
- Throat feels constricted
- Accompanied by fever
Gelsemium Sempervirens:
As soon as my son started complaining of his hips and legs hurting, I knew it was time to switch remedies. In this case, I decided to try gelsemium first as it’s awesome for body aches, and I always have it on hand. Plus I’ve used it multiple times with great success. Thankfully it worked quickly, and he hardly complained the rest of the day. Below you can find Dr. Brown’s brief symptom profile for this common cold and flu remedy.
General Symptom Profile:
- Limbs feel achy, tired, heavy, weak, and sore
- Feels dizzy and drowsy
- Apathetic and dull with muscular weakness and trembling
- Muscle tremors or twitchings
Better From: Sweating, urination, and open air
Worse From: Heat, excitement, damp, humid weather, or fright
Condition-Specific Symptoms:
Flu:
- Typical influenza case with gradual onset of symptoms over 6-8 hour period; may have felt “off” the day before
- Body aches all over
- Drowsy, intoxicated look with flushed face and drooping eyelids
- Thirstless
- Apathy over illness, wants to be alone
- Useful in finishing the treatment of most cases of influenza; no energy since having had the flu
Headache:
- Dull heavy headache often proceeded by dim or double vision or blindness
- Band around head
- Headache at base of skull
- Pain in the temple extending into ear
- Soreness in neck and shoulders
- Wants to prop head up
Sore Throat:
- Rough, burning sore throat with pain from throat to ear on swallowing
- Feels as if there is a lump in the throat that cannot be swallowed
- Tonsils red and swollen
These two remedies plus 20 others are included in Dr. Brown’s Acute Care Kit. If you don’t have one yet, you may want to order yours today as we have a very limited supply. More info on some of my other favorite remedies and this kit can be found here.
I can’t talk about cold and flu remedies without a shameless plug for NatureKits’ Immune Support System. The truth is I didn’t use only the two homeopathic remedies above. I actually used them alongside the four products of the kit. I truly believe it was the synergistic effect of all of these natural medicines that led to his mild symptoms and quick recovery! For more info on the kit, check out this vlog.
Til next time,
