Cold & Flu
By Herb Mark, Thu Dec 8th

Cold & Flu Colds make the upper respiratory system lessresistant to bacterial infection. Secondary bacterial infectionmay lead to middle ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusinfection, or strep throat. People with chronic lung disease,asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system are more likely todevelop these complications. The symptoms of a cold and anallergy are similar and can be confused. Ordinarily, the commoncold will cause red, inflamed nasal membranes, with thick,yellow nasal secretions. If there's a cough, it will be looseand eventually productive. With an allergy, the nasal membraneswill be pale and boggy with thin, watery, colorless secretions.If there's a cough with an allergy, it will be dry andunproductive. There will not be any fever with an allergy, butwith a cold there may, of course, be fever. Children who areallergic sometimes exhibit a distinctive appearance. Theyfrequently have dark, puffy half-moons under their eyes and mayalso have the "allergic salute" from wiping the nose diagonallyacross the face. Colds may also be passed through directcontact. If a person with a cold touches his runny nose orwatery eyes, then shakes hands with another person some of thevirus is transferred to the uninfected person. If that personthen touches his mouth, nose, or eyes, the virus is transferredto an environment where it can reproduce and cause a cold. Thereare no medicines

that will cure the common cold. Given time, thebody's immune system will make antibodies to fight theinfection, and the cold will be resolved without anyintervention. Antibiotics are useless against a cold. However, agreat deal of money is spent by pharmaceutical companies in theUnited States promoting products designed to relieve coldsymptoms. These products usually contain antihistamines,decongestants, and/or pain relievers. Herbs won't replacepharmaceuticals, but the research shows that--for manyconditions--herbs work well, are cheaper than drugs and causefewer side effects, Herbs aren't quite mainstream, but they'removing in that direction. Patients are interested in them, anddoctors are increasingly familiar with herb research. researchhas shown that the active ingredients in some natural remediesmay actually boost the immune system, which may help stave offfuture infections. These ingredients can be found in medicinalteas, sprays, syrups, extracts, tablets and supplements.

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