Common Cold: Ayurvedic Treatment, Herbal Remedies, Causes and Symptoms

Definition

It is a catarrh disorder of upper respiratory tract. It may be viral, mixed infection, or allergic. In Ayurveda it is known as “Pratishyaya.”

Causative Factors

When vitiated Kapha, disturbs upper respiratory tract, a cold is produced. Sometimes Vata and Pitta are also vitiated. Colds often result because of a breakdown in the immune system and so it acts as the first stage of other diseases. It is associated with other diseases such as flu, sinusitis, and cough.

Symptoms

Running of nose with sneezing is common complaint. It may be accompanied with fever, headache, lithargy and sneezing.

Vata type – associated with dry cough, little mucous, hoarseness of voice, and a running nose. Many times the discharge is watery. It is accompanied by severe headache.

Pitta type – usually there is fever, sore throat , and nasal discharge that are slightly yellowish. Sometimes the nose gets blocked due to inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose and the patient cannot breath properly.

Kapha type – the discharge from the nose is very thick and sticky. There is heaviness in the head with dull headache. It cold is not properly treated it often turns into chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, chronic cough, and even tuberculosis.

Treatment

The aim should be to use heating, diaphoretic, and anti cough herbs. Typical Ayurvedic herbs include ginger, cinnamon, long pepper, piper nigrum, basil, cloves, eucalyptus, camphor, and mint. Fresh ginger or herbal tea with spices like trikatu, and camphor is ideal. Bhringasava (AYSS) 15 ml. 3 times a day for 7 days is beneficial.

Plenty of warm water with honey or lemon juice should be given. Chinese herb ma-jung should be used in decoction form 15 ml 3 times a day for 15 days.

Diet

An anti-Kapha and anti – ama diet is advised. If possible, fasting should be done for one day. Afterwards, warm water, light vegetable soups, or steamed vegetables should be taken. All dairy products like cheese, yougurt, milk, all heavy, oily foods. And sweets should be avoided.