Definition

The common cold is difficult to cure because the virus changes size, shape, and resistance to treatment. It has hundreds of forms, making it almost impossible to develop a vaccine. A cold is always in the upper respiratory tract. If lung involvement, see the doctor. Lung or chest infections can be dangerous. Yellow or white spots appearing in the throat, enlarged lymph glands in the neck or under the jaw, and/or chills and shortness of breath occur, see the doctor without delay.
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Symptoms

Head congestion, coughing, headache, fever, difficulty breathing, sneezing, restlessness, watery eyes, aches and pains.
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Treatment

Bedrest, plenty of fluids, fever control, relieve symptoms as much as possible.

Echinacea, ginger, pau d'arco, slippery elm, and yarrow tea.

To reduce fever, take catnip tea enemas.

Also, 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. lobelia tincture every 3-4 hours until fever drops. A tincture of goldenseal and echinacea is recommended for children. 8-10 drops in liquid every 3 hours until flu symptoms are gone.

Mix equal parts of juniper berries, black elder flowers, coltsfoot, lance-leaf plantain, and sallow bark. Steep 1 tsp. in 1/2 cup boiling water. Take 1/2 to 1 cup a day, sweeten with honey.

Eucalyptus oil: Put 5 drops in a hot bath or 6 drops in boiling water, put a towel over your head and inhale vapors. One tbsp. slippery elm bark powder mixed with 1 part boiling water and 1/2 cup honey will relieve cough and sore throat. Store in a jar and give 1 tsp. every 3-4 hours.

Another remedy for colds: Anise seed (1 part), Coltsfoot leaves (2 parts) and Lungwort (2 parts); steep 2 tbsp. in 1/2 cup boiling water. Add this tea to 1 1/2 cups althea tea (prepared by soaking 1 tbsp. althea root, leaves and/or flowers in 1/2 cup cold water for 8 hrs. Take this mixture with honey, in mouthful doses.

Tincture of echinacea and goldenseal is best for children's dosages.
Herbal Medicine Formulas and Recipes
Chinese Formulas
Ayurvedic Formulas
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Nutrients

Vitamin C, 5,000-10,000 mg. per day in divided doses, helps clean and heal mucous membranes. Vitamin A, 15,000 IU daily, is a powerful antioxidant and helps immune system. Zinc Gluconate lozenges, every 2 hrs. dissolve lozenge under tongue. Use until symptoms stop, follow directions for children. Stimulant for immune system. Garlic capsules, 2 capsules 3 times per day, acts as an antibiotic and immune system stimulant. Multivitamins, taken as directed on label, gives aid to healing. Kelp, 5-10 tablets per day, has an antiviral action and helps in reduction of inflammation. Vitamin B complex, 100 mg. daily, a necessity in cellular enzyme function.
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Herbs

• Agrimony
• Angelica, European
• Anise
• Basil
• Bayberry
• Birch
• Blood root
• Boneset
• Borage
• Bryony, white
• Burdock, great
• Burnet
• Calendula
• Calla, wild (water-arum)
• Cannabis
• Capsicum
• Cardamom
• Catnip
• Cayenne
• Celery seeds
• Chamomile
• Chickweed
• Cinnamon branch
• Cloves
• Coltsfoot
• Costmary
• Cow-parsnip
• Cowslip
• Chrysanthemum flowers
• Crampbark
• Culver's root
• Dayflower, Asiatic
• Dropwort
• Duckweed
• Echinacea
• Elder, black, flowers
• Elecampane
• Elm, slippery
• Echinacea
• Ephedra (Ma huang)
• Eucalyptus
• Fenugreek
• Fern, male
• Fern, maidenhair
• Feverfew
• Feverweed
• Fireweed
• Flag, sweet
• Flaxseed
• Garlic
• Gelsemium
• Ginger, wild
• Ginseng, Siberian
• Golden rod
• Golden seal
• Gotu kola
• Holly, mountain
• Honeysuckle flowers
• Horehound
• Horsemint
• Horseradish
• Horsetail
• Hyssop
• Irish moss
• Juniper berries
• Kudzu root
• Labrador tea
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Lemon balm
• Licorice
• Linden
• Lobelia
• Lovage
• Lungwort
• Magnolia blossoms
• Mallow
• Marjoram
• Marshmallow
• Meadowsweet
• Mint
• Moss, Iceland
• Motherwort
• Mugwort
• Mulberry leaves
• Mullein
• Mustard, black
• Myrrh
• Nettle, hedge
• Oak
• Onion
• Oregano
• Osha
• Pansy
• Parsley
• Pennyroyal
• Peppermint
• Pine, white
• Pineapple juice
• Plantain, lance-leaf
• Pleurisy root
• Poplar
• Primrose
• Raspberry
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Sallow bark
• Sarsaparilla
• Sassafras
• Savory
• Saw palmetto
• Scallions
• Skullcap
• Spruce, Norway
• Sticklewort
• Tamarack
• Tansy
• Thyme, garden
• Vervain, blue
• Violet, garden
• Watercress
• Yarrow root
• Yamm, wild
• Yerba buena
• Yerba santa

Recommendations

Wash hands often, flush tissues after use, do not give aspirin to children with a fever. Check children with frequent colds and flu, for thyroid malfunctions and/or allergies.
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Suggestions

Drink potato peeling soup twice a day, made fresh daily. Potato peelings (the skins) should be peeled 1/2 inch thick. Discard center of potato. Boil peelings for about 20-30 minutes, strain, cool, and drink. Carrot or celery stick in the soup is optional.
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Bibliography

• Prescription for Medicinal Healing, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., pg., 144.
• The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, pgs., 80-81, 142.
• The Herb Book, by John Lust, pgs., 43, 44, 46, 63-64, 145, 286, 319, 392, 463-464.
• The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, pgs., 38-39, 43-55.
• Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss, pgs., 237, 302-305, 792-793, 806.
• The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, pgs., 134-135.
• Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., pgs., 58, 60, 85, 87, 92, 106, 119, 123, 128, 129, 139, 147-163, 198, 210-211, 246, 251, 256, 261, 280, 283, 296, 305, 337, 358, 378, 379, 382, 385, 386, 390.
• The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, pgs., 103-104, 115, 116, 138, 151.
• Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., pgs., 12, 16, 24-30, 34-38, 50-52, 60-68, 70-78, 84, 86, 94, 112-116, 120-126, 138-144, 150, 162-164, 172, 178, 180-292, 308.
• The Nature Doctor, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; pgs. 2, 3, 9, 37, 79, 81-85, 394, 408, 415, 488, 495.
• Earl Mindell's Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, pgs., 42, 50, 62, 84, 85, 88, 101, 110, 112, 114, 117, 127, 130, 132, 134, 139, 142, 146, 167, 179, 215-217.
• The Yoga of Herbs, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, pgs., 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 48, 55, 56-58, 59, 63, 64, 67, 87, 90, 103-106, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 120, 122, 127, 129, 134, 143, 152, 155, 158, 167, 180, 181.
• Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, pgs., 3, 14, 29, 38, 55, 59, 61, 68, 73, 80, 82, 88, 92, 100, 102, 115, 119, 122, 125, 127, 134-136, 139, 142, 144, 155, 161, 172, 182, 183, 185, 188, 191, 192, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 210, 211, 215, 222, 231, 241, 244, 250, 272, 280, 283, 287, 288, 294, 296, 302, 313, 314, 318.

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