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Blocked nose

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Frequent or continuous sneezing

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Nasal discharge. Initially, it is watery and clear, gradually it becomes thick and yellow-greenish in color

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Itching in the nasal passage

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Slight fever or feeling feverish or general malaise (feeling discomfort)

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Runny eyes

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Head congestion

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Sore throat (not always and usually the throat gets sore after a day or two)

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Touching or sharing the already infected objects and then rubbing your eyes or nose with these hands

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When an infected person coughs or sneezes near about you, especially in a confined space

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Winters – for reasons explained above

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Babies in their first year usually catch cold around six times

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Young boys till the age of three and girls after three are generally found to be more susceptible to colds

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Children attending day care

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Generally, young girls and childless women have more colds than their male counterparts

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Depression, exhaustion and chronic sickness, all bring down your immunity and therefore lower your resistance towards cold viruses

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Althea Officinalis (Marshmallow) has been used since ancient Greek and Roman times. It contains large sugar molecules called mucilage which exert a soothing effect on mucous membranes.

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Sambucus Nigra (Elder) - Flowers and berries of common elder together contain tannins, mucilage, flavonoids and vitamin A and C. Thus common elder has excellent expectorant properties and also relieves the body of toxins. It also promotes sweating, thereby reducing the temperature in fever.

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Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice Root) is a highly respected remedy with a variety of uses. Apart from strengthening the action of other herbs, licorice has long been known for it’s ability to soothe and calm irritable respiratory tracts. In addition Licorice root has powerful immune-boosting properties, helping the body to fight against infection.

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Kali. Mur. (6C) is a biochemic tissue salt that is very useful in keeping chests and throats clear of mucous. Kali. Mur. is also well known for its cleansing properties.

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Ferrum Phos. (6C) is another biochemic tissue salt which has many uses in the body. The most important benefits are in the ability of Ferrum Phos. to keep the body clear of infection and maintain respiratory health. Ferrum Phos. also helps to keep the walls of the blood vessels strong and healthy. These tissue salts improve the body's ability to distribute oxygen-rich blood and iron to all cells, thereby facilitating healing. An excellent Tissue Salt for the maintenance of respiratory health, Ferrum Phos. is often seen as one of the most important tissue salts to keep in the family medicine chest.

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Hypoxis Rooperi (extract of African Potato) - Hypoxis contains phytosterols and sterolins, which help to modulate the effect of the immune system. Research has shown the beneficial effect of plant sterols and sterolins on the immune system. Research done on a group of volunteers demonstrated a significant increase in the number of T-cells, which are involved in enhancing immunity.

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Agothosma betulina (Buchu) - This is a urinary antiseptic and possesses diuretic properties. Buchu has been used by the natives of the Western Cape of South Africa for many centuries and assists the body to rid itself of toxins by stimulating the secretion of retained water.

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Solidago virgaurea - This herb helps the body in its ability to routinely regulate mucus and has been used traditionally by herbalists for centuries as a tonic remedy to strengthen the natural protective ability of the body to fight infection.

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Echinacea – This pretty garden plant is native to North America and three species of this perennial herb are used for medicinal purposes. Echinacea’s root is the most important part, which contains a volatile oil, polysaccharides, resins and glucosides. Together, these constituents render this herb a whole lot of properties, such as antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral. Echinacea therefore is a tremendous help in stimulating and strengthening the immune system and building resistance to infections. Research has proved that it triggers a process by which our body’s immune cells engulf the foreign bodies attacking us. Echinacea is supposed to shorten the duration of the cold from 7-10 days to 2-3 days. Its effect is the best if taken on the very onset of your cold. It also cleans your blood and lymph glands which help circulate the infection fighting antibodies and remove toxic substances. It also alleviates the symptoms associated with cold, such as sore throat (pharyngitis), cough, and fever.

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Several studies have suggested that zinc shortens the duration of cold. Zinc is even included in many over-the-counter cold remedies but the most effective and easily digestible source of zinc is food in the form of liver (avoid in pregnancy), red meat, eggs, oysters, chicken, beef and dairy products.

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Vitamin C’s effect on cold has been quite controversial. A lot of studies and doctors too, suggest a high dose of vitamin C as this is not only supposed to shorten the duration of cold from 7 to 2-3 days but also cut back on coughing, sneezing and other symptoms. But high doses of vitamin C is not good for your kidneys (it may form kidney stones) and has other side effects such as headaches, sleep disturbances and stomach upsets. Pregnant women should anyway avoid high doses. Hence it is rather recommended, unless told by your doctor, to voluntary take dietary food rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits, blackcurrant, vegetables (broccoli, potatoes), red capsicums and chillies, strawberry, kiwifruit, rockmelon, orange juice and cranberry juice.

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Take chicken soup – This age old traditional Jewish remedy is very helpful in unclogging your nasal passages. It basically helps in increasing the flow of nasal mucus, which in turn helps in removing the germs out at the earliest. Chicken soup is also a good source of protein, calories and minerals and is easily digested too.

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Eat raw as well as cooked onion and garlic as much as you can have. Garlic has excellent antiviral and antibacterial properties and both are a great relief in fighting this illness and act as natural decongestants.

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Yoghurt contains lactobacillus, which is a probiotic, which means that it actually helps fight, rather than cause, infection. Certain probiotic yoghurts, i.e. the ones which have even more of such beneficial bacteria lactobacillus are available in the market which are supposed to enhance the immunity and prevent and fight against common cold.

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Increase intake of fluids – Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water, juices, tea and other clear liquids to replenish the important fluids lost in a cols and they also help in flushing out impurities from the body.

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Go for a hot toddy – A traditional hot toddy made with lemon or orange juice, a teaspoon of honey, a single measure of alcohol (whiskey or rum) and boiling water is extremely useful in clearing your stuffed nose and comforts and soothes you besides helping you in getting a good night’s sleep.

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Rest and relax – Taking time off at the very onset of the cold will help to shorten its duration. Carrying on normally with your work will hinder your body’s cold-fighting efforts and will also, unfortunately, spread the infection to other people. Extra rest enables you to put all your energy into getting well. Rest will also help avoid further complications like bronchitis and pneumonia.

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Take a walk – When you feel slightly OK, take a walk and get as much fresh air as possible. A brisk half-hour walk will improve the circulation, helping the immune system in circulating infection-fighting antibodies. Stay away from strenuous exercises though.

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Bundle up – Keep yourself warm as this helps your immune system in focusing on fighting out the infection rather than spending energy on protecting you from cold.

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Gargle – Take a pinch of salt and mix it in glass of warm water. Use this to gargle every now and then to get relief from your sore throat.

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Steam inhalation – Inhale steam to relieve a stuffed nose. Fill a bowl with hot water, put a towel over your head and tilt your head over the bowl in such a way that the steam is trapped. Inhale deeply for 10 minutes. You may add some eucalyptus oil (3 drops of essential oil) for making the steam an even better decongestant.

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Massage oils – Apply five drops of a mixture of eucalyptus with grapeseed or wheatgerm oil on the chest and rub. This aromatherapy oil is a very effective decongestant.

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Use a vaporizer or humidifier – Humidifiers increase and maintain the water vapor in the room and thus help prevent drying in the nasal passages and throat of the occupants, but humidifiers may cause humidifier fever, an ailment caused by bacteria that breed in the improperly cleaned reservoirs of such devices. Vaporizers are safer as infection-causing microorganisms can’t tolerate the steam heat it generates.

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Don’t take antibiotics – Antibiotics have no effect on colds (as most colds are due to a virus and not a bacteria), so don’t unnecessary jeopardize your immunity by taking ineffective antibiotics.

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Be careful with antihistamines – Antihistamines are for allergic cold and not common cold. They will not have any beneficial effect, hence do not generally carry on with them.

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Do not share glasses and other utensils with someone who has a cold. Be careful about shaking hands and sneezes and coughs. This holds true for others when they are on the receiving end, i.e. you are the one who has a cold.

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Take a steam bath – A steamy shower has the same effect on your cold as steam inhalation besides relaxing your body.

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De-stress – Try and be positive about your cold as this so called ‘common' cold brings all kind of ‘uncommon’ feelings like frustration and depression due to the utter restlessness it brings with itself. Your work and life in general suffers. But, remember, it is common cold. Everybody has it and that too, time and again, and you also have to learn to live with it. On a regular basis, some meditation will definitely be of great help. Yoga is one wonderful technique to stay fit, physically as well as mentally.