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Articles and Features from - Issue Number - 253 - dated Thursday 21 February, 2008

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Here's Health! and Beauty

Nothing quite as common as the cold

WE HAVE all met them, those people who proudly announce: “I can’t remember when I last had a cold.”
Well, bully for them, if it is really true and they aren’t just suffering from a short memory.
The truth is, of course, that very few of us, such as hermits who never have any contact with another being, can expect to escape suffering from a cold for any length of time. And that point will have been rammed home to most of us during this winter.
The trouble is that the common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract – and there are so many of .

by NICOLA ROBERTS of Bellissima, Los Gigantes


these viruses, so contagious and easily transmitted, that they are almost impossible to escape. The virus is transmitted either by inhaling infected droplets in the air, for example after someone has sneezed or coughed, or by handling contaminated objects (such as towels) and then rubbing the nose or eyes. It attaches itself to the cells lining the nose and sinuses, causing the characteristic runny nose with mucus production. Someone with a cold is most infectious in the first few days, so avoid coming into contact with anyone in the early stages of their cold to avoid contracting it. Being over-tired and under stress can compromise people’s immune systems and make them much more vulnerable to catching a virus such as a cold. The good news is that each time you catch a cold you build up an immunity to that particular strain. The bad news is that there are more than 100 strains so there could always be a different lurking around the corner, requiring a different set of immunities to be produced. Symptoms of a cold include mild fever, running nose, headaches, sneezing, catarrh and a sore throat. The average cold lasts from five to 10 days, with or without treatment, and after the first few days the symptoms gradually reduce in severity. A visit to the doctor is not usually necessary. Colds are not dangerous, although in some cases complications may occur which can lead to sinusitis, pneumonia and bronchitis. However with babies, the very young or old and those with any type of chronic illness, partiuclar care should be taken, with a close watch kept for complications developing that might require medical assistance. This applies to people such as those with diabetes, heart disease or lung conditions, or those whose immune systems are already weakened by medical treatment such as chemotherapy. In terms of treating the cold itself, there is a little the doctor can do beyond prescribing rest, extra fluids and warmth to help alleviate the symptoms. Paracetamol may be suggested to help bring down a fever and relieve the discomfort of some of the symptoms. Taking more vitamin C may also be advised. Decongestants or nasal sprays may be prescribed, but their long term use is not recommended. As we all know, there are hundreds of thousands of over-the-counter products aimed at relieving cold symptoms but none of them can provide a cure. Most doctors actually dispute their value, believing them to contain little of any benefit other than aspirin, paracetamol and caffeine. Most people do not appreciate that the common cold is a virus and viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics. Only if secondary infections such as sinusitis or bronchitis develop might it be necessary to take a course of antibiotics. Given those facts, and the prevalence of the common cold, it is hardly surprising that a number of complementary treatments have been developed down the centuries. But these, like conventional medicine can only really offer relief of the symptoms. Still, it’s good to know what they are in order to administer them ourselves. A naturopath will recommend a dietetic treatment that will include fasting and a raw food diet which can promote a detoxification process and reduce mucus. A diet that cuts down on mucus-forming dairy products will be recommended. Many naturopaths know from experience that the odd bout of cold and flu is the body’s way of eliminating toxins and this seems to reduce the risk of bronchitis in later years. At the first sign of a cold a nutritionist will recommend a level teaspoon of vitamin C dissolved in water or juice every two or three hours until symptoms start to reduce. They also recommend vitamins A and E and also selenium and zinc, which is an antioxidant and the principal protector of the immune system. This can be found naturally in meat, mushrooms, oysters, eggs and wholegrain products. Hot drinks and ‘sweating’ are believed to help get rid of a cold. Herbal teas and infusions tend to be made up of peppermint, yarrow and elderflower. If taken as soon as the symptoms begin it will help through peppermint’s effect as a decongestant and elderflower’s as a nose and throat tonic. Herbalists believe it is better to treat the body locally rather than drench the body with unnecessary medicines, each of which will come with its own side-effects. Homeopaths will always need to know what type of cold it is before offering treatment advice, therefore they will need a full rundown on the symptoms. They would recommend perhaps nux vomica for colds with irritability and where there is chilliness, watery eyes, headaches and sore throat. Pulsatilla might be prescribed for a cold with yellow mucus and where there is a lack of thirst and a loss of smell. Many essential oils can be used to help fight the symptoms of a common cold. Lavender oil can be rubbed into the skin around the neck and skull area, or eucalyptus can be dropped onto pillows or handkerchief to help unblock the stuffiest of noses. A bath using lavender and marjoram helps reduce aches and feverishness.


Look on the positive side of life
A positive philosophy and good communication skills are invaluable ways of enriching our relationships with all the people around us. An improvement in the way we speak and act can determine lifelong changes that enable us to build a better rapport that results in a happier life and improved wellbeing all round. Neuro Linguistic Programming, or NLP as it is often known, is a taught skill that explores the relationship between how we think (neuro), how we communicate both verbally and non-verbally (linguistic), and our patterns of behaviour and emotions (programming). It could be called an instruction manual for the brain, a pro-active guide that encourages us to make our own positive changes, sharpening observation and listening abilities, improving public speaking and presentation techniques, and helping us to enjoy challenges. NLP was created in the 1970’s by two Americans, Richard Bandler and John Grinder with the aim of discovering what made three particular psychotherapistsso much more successful than their peers. They discovered that you need three things to be an excellent communicator. The first is to know what outcome you want, the second is that you need to be flexible in your behaviour, and the third is the ability to recognise when you get the responses you want. By knowing how to release ourselves from inhibiting negative patterns and replacing them with practical and effective methods for breaking down damaging, self-limiting habits, we can put ourselves in a position to set and achieve more goals in 12 months than perhaps we have in the last 12 years. The philosophy can be boiled down to a few simple phrases: Keep your THOUGHTS positive because your thoughts become your WORDS. Keep your WORDS positive because your these become your ACTIONS. Keep your ACTIONS positive because they become your HABITS. Keep your HABITS positive because they become your VALUES. Keep your VALUES positive because they shape your thoughts and create your FUTURE. Claire Nutt The Art of Life Day Spa

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Here's Health! and Beauty

Look on the positive side of life