Medicines and home remedies for colds

The nose is blocked, the throat is scratchy, and you feel weak and broken – these are clear signs that an infection is on the way. You are particularly vulnerable when your immune system is weak, for example, due to stress. A cold or flu is an infection of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat or bronchi. According to old folk wisdom, such an infection lasts “one week without treatment and seven days with treatment”, but with a few tips and tricks, you can get rid of your cold faster. We introduce you to some over-the-counter, herbal and homoeopathic medicines and various home remedies for colds.

Angocin® Anti-Infect N

Angocin® Anti-Infekt N is one of the herbal remedies for colds. The ingredients include nasturtium and horseradish. Both substances contain so-called mustard oils, which are responsible for the healing effect of Angocin®. In monastery medicine, mustard oils have been used for colds and sinus infections for centuries, but also for tonsillitis and urinary tract infections. In the meantime, their effect has also been scientifically proven: Mustard oils slow the growth of pathogens and kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and yeasts.

The mustard oils in Angocin® enter the blood via the intestine, then circulate through our body and finally accumulate in excretory organs such as the lungs or kidneys. In the event of an infection of the upper respiratory tract or the urinary tract, the mustard oils can thus kill the bacteria directly on site. This represents a significant difference between Angocin® and antibiotics, for example. Side effects of Angocin® Anti-Infekt N are unknown to date, and gastrointestinal complaints can occur in isolated cases. The drug should not be taken for ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract and acute kidney inflammation.

Depending on how severe the infection is, taking 4 to 5 film-coated tablets of Angocin® Anti Infekt N 3 to 5 times a day is advisable. The daily dose for children is about three times two film-coated tablets. In lower doses, Angocin® can also be taken over a more extended period to prevent an infection, especially influenza in winter. For the exact dosage of Angocin®, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.

 

Impuret®

Just like Angocin®, Imupret® is a purely herbal drug. It contains, among other things, chamomile blossoms, marshmallow root, yarrow, dandelion and horsetail. Imupret® is used for respiratory diseases such as tonsillitis, sinusitis and bronchitis. On the one hand, Imupret® has an immune-boosting effect; on the other hand, it is also anti-inflammatory. Due to its immune-boosting effect, taking Imupret® is recommended at the first sign of illness. Alternatively, Meditonsin® can also be taken at the beginning of a cold. Meditonsin® combats and alleviates the symptoms of inflammation in the throat, nose and throat.

Adults should take two coated tablets or 25 drops of Imupret® 5 to 6 times daily during an acute infection. In children, the dose is lower. Just like Angocin®, Imupret® can also be used preventively to protect against colds. See the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist for more detailed dosage information. As a possible side effect of Imupret®, it should be mentioned here that, in rare cases, it can lead to allergic skin reactions.

Metavirulent®

Metavirulent® is a homoeopathic drug used to treat and prevent acute flu infections. It is a complex remedy since it comprises different individual agents: It contains viral (Influencinum nosode) and active herbal and mineral ingredients. Nosodes promote the attack on the body’s defences and thereby activate the immune system of the respective organ. Therefore, as with other homoeopathic remedies, the symptoms can initially worsen after ingestion. However, other side effects of Metavirulent® are not known.

Unless otherwise prescribed by the doctor, adults should take 5 to 10 drops a maximum of twelve times a day during an acute infection. The drug is not suitable for children, as it contains 37% alcohol by volume. That is why alcoholics must not use Metavirulent®. If you have a high fever and your health does not improve after three days despite taking Metavirulent®, you should see a doctor. He can also give you more detailed information on the dosage of Metavirulent®.

 

Home remedies for a cold

When you catch a cold, you should first drink enough fluids. It is essential to drink a lot, especially if you have a fever. For influenza infections, exceptional cold and cough teas are well suited. In addition, you should treat yourself to a lot of rest and take it easy when you have a cold. It is also important to ventilate the living room regularly.

A cold bath or a warm foot bath can also alleviate the symptoms. However, if you have a high fever, you should avoid bathing and take better measures to treat the fever, such as calf wraps. If, on the other hand, the nose is closed, inhaling can help: The vapours of a saline solution are particularly suitable (one tablespoon of salt per litre of water ). However, due to the risk of scalding, children should always be supervised when inhaling.

In addition to these general tips, you can fight your cold with various home remedies from grandma’s time: A brew made from pieces of onion, brown candy sugar and dried blackberry leaves are prevalent for colds. The mixture is briefly boiled and then drunk hot. Chicken soup is also recommended for colds, as it is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

A quark wrap can help with a sore throat: Spread quark on a cloth and wrap it around your neck. Tie a woollen scarf over it and let the curd work for a quarter of an hour. Gargling with lemon juice, chamomile tea, or salt water is also helpful for a sore throat.