The Best Natural Ways to Treat Cold Symptoms This Season

One should eat in small portions every 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours, to keep that metabolism going and to avoid spikes and troughs in insulin secretion. We should all try to spend a little time outdoors every day, at least for a lunch break - to be able to take in the sunlight, fresh air, and the beauty of the autumn foliage.

I recommend washing hands with liquid soap (and sponge plus getting the dirt from under the nails in case of our schoolchildren) I really prefer not use Purell sanitizer or any other alcohol based foam or gel sanitizer.  I think its use all around the country is totally mad and driven by million dollar profits, false claims and fear.  The use of these sanitizers make adults and kids forego extra hand washing- gives them a false sense of safety.

I come from a third world country where people used to survive and avoid getting infected by following simple cleaning rituals.  I do believe that cleaning up your apartment daily by wiping the surfaces with Bounty or any other paper towel dipped in warm water does as much of a preventive job as the novel expensive home cleaning gadgets like air-purifiers, air-filters, and sterilizing sprays.  

However, even if we have taken all the precautions, sometimes we feel that a cold is taking over us, here are some simple home remedies to fight it.  Please note, that I strongly discourage the use of the over the counter decongestants which contain pseudophed. Also, I do not advertize any particular brand of homeopathic or herbal manufacturer, so consult with your holistic doctor about which one is best for you.

For the symptoms of stuffed sinuses, runny nose, and nasal congestion, provided there is no fever, I recommend:

1) Mustard foot bath: fill up a foot bath with hot water.  Dissolve powdered mustard, or mustard patches in the water.  Sit with your legs dipped into the hot water for about 20 minutes. You may repeat daily until your feeling better.

2) Using vaporizing chest rub containing camphor, eucalyptus and menthol - sold over the counter

3) Chinese  herbal tea pills for sinusitis.  

4) Natural nasal sprays with camphor, eucalyptic and menthol

5) Nasal saline irrigations

6) Inhalations of boiled herbal infusions ( thyme, sage, eucalyptus to mention a few)

For cough symptoms, I recommend:

1) Homeopathic or Herbal cough syrups

2) Homeopathic or Herbal cough lozenges

3) Mustard Patches on the front and back.  Dip them in the warm water and place on the chest, one under each clavicle bone and on the back, as a mirror image of the front, mustard side up (to avoid the burn)

Cover with warm sheets, sit or lie down for 5-10 minutes, until burning sensation becomes pronounced, and remove patches by wiping the residual mustard off the skin with the wet paper towel.  You may repeat every other day, until feeling better.

4) Cupping on your back (done by any eastern European friend or by an acupuncturist if you don't know any eastern Europeans)

5) Herbal teas 

6) Inhalations of boiled herbal infusions (thyme, sage, eucalyptus, etc)

As far as the flu vaccines go, I strongly advocate a yearly regular inactivated influenza shot done as an injection in your doctor's office.  Avoid going to the pharmacy or an urgi-clinic to have one.  Always ask to see the vial, the manufacturer, the expiration date, observe how they draw it up and how they administer it.  There should be no air in the syringe.  The injections should be performed by an MD or an RN, not by medical assistant.  The right way to administer is to introduce the needle, draw back slightly to rule out hitting the blood vessel, and then inject.

As of present, even though I am supporting the concept of a swine flu vaccine, I do not recommend getting this year's version of it.  It has not undergone enough trials, especially not with pregnant women and kids.  Also, most of it is planned as a live vaccine, and I am vehemently opposed to that.  The reason it was done, is because it's faster to make it that way.  But the live vaccines have a much higher rate of complications.

For any additional information please follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/DrSvetlanaKogan and check out our website www.dtpdoctors.com

Dr. Svetlana Kogan, MD. board certified in Internal Medicine, is a Cornell University graduate.  She is affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital and a member of both the American Medical Association and the American Anti-Aging Academy. Dr. Kogan founded Doctors at Trump Place (http://www.dtpdoctors.com/drkogan.html) in New York City. Doctors at Trump Place  was originally founded on the premise that allopathic (traditional) medicine can and should thrive in harmony with alternative medicine, a blend of Western and Eastern medicine to provide 360 optimal care to patients.