Common Cold	<< Page 5 of 11 >>

Description:
The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract that is brought about by a contagious virus usually found in the nose, throat, and ears. Once inside the body, a virus multiplies causing the mucous membranes in the respiratory tract to swell. The air passages become narrow and mucus production increases and congests the sinuses. Symptoms can be seen 1-3 days after infection.

Common symptoms include:
• Runny nose
• Watery and burning eyes
• Sore throat
• Coughing and sneezing
• Slight fever
• Body aches
• Headache
• Loss of appetite

This initial phase of a common cold can last between two and five days, while a complete recovery can take up to 10 days. A cold lasting more than 10 days is indicative of several viral infections.

More than 200 different viral strains can cause an illness. Most of these affect the nose and throat, but some can cause bronchitis in the lungs. A viral infection can be followed by a more serious bacterial infection.

The common cold is contagious and can be spread by direct contact with infected secretions from the mouth or nose. Open coughing and sneezing also spreads the virus into the air. Breathing in the virus, or touching objects with viral secretions, can cause an infection.

The cold is most contagious when nasal secretions include watery mucus. These thin secretions contain millions of viruses. When the secretions become thick and colored, they contain dead viral and bacterial particles as well as dead white blood cells. This is the least contagious stage of the common cold and is usually a sign of healing.

Adults have, on average, about two colds a year. Older children can have an average of four to five colds a year, while young children under six years old can catch a cold on average seven times a year. Colds can come at any time, but most often occur in the winter.

Herbs Used:
Scutellaria baicalensis (Skullcap), Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng), Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea, Coneflower), Zingiber officinale (Ginger), and Aloe arborescens (Aloe).

HS Products:
Viracilin Tincture and Ofipetrin Tincture.

Recommendations:
We recommend using Viracilin in the morning and Ofipetrin in the evening. Viracilin fights the infection while Ofipetrin reduces the fever and boosts the body's energy levels. It is best to begin using these products as soon as the first signs of sickness appear (scratchy throat) and to continue using them for several days until all symptoms disappear. Our experiences have shown that a sickness can be completely avoided if these steps are taken.