Aconite
Starts quickly from shock or fright, cold wind, or becoming cold. Fever or chills and shivering. Thirsty. Skin may be hot and dry. Blocked, dry nose. Feels restless and fearful, may fear dying.
Better: Fresh air
Worse: At midnight, from touch.
Arsenicum album
Frequent sneezing, watery nasal discharge that burns and can alternate with feeling blocked. Streaming nose and eyes. Chilly and shivery, may have burning pains. Feels anxious, tired, weak and restless. Wants company.
Better: for sitting up, heat and warm applications, hot drinks.
Worse: between 11-2am, from cold, damp or change in temperature.
Euphrasia
Streaming from the eyes and nose. Burning, stinging tears. Burning, sore throat and eyes sensitive to light. Eyes bloodshot and dry or have yellow crusts. Profuse bland nasal discharge and red eyes with burning tears and frequent sneezing.
Better: outside, during the day when up and about
Worse: indoors, light, in the evening
Ferrum phos
Starts slowly. A good remedy to take at the start of a cold/flu when there are no clear symptoms. Face may be flushed. Chest cold, may have cough or nose bleeds. Red burning, gritty eyes. Feels very tired.
Better: rest, cold applications.
Worse: moving quickly, cold air
Gelsemium
No 1 remedy for flu. Often comes on gradually. Body feels heavy. Feels tired, sluggish and restless. Chills, and a shivering sensation up and down spine. Sneezes with stuffy nose. Watery nasal discharge that feels hot. Burning throat. Headache which is usually at the back of the neck Forehead feels tight or like there’s a band around it. Aching muscles in limbs and back.
Better: drafts, being outside (if it’s not chilly, sweating, after urinating
Worse: cold, damp weather, anticipation of an event (even a nice one)
Hepar sulph
Later stage of cold. Thick green/yellow scented discharge. Body odour that smells like cheese. Very sensitive to drafts, even taking their hand from a blanket.
Better: add…
Worse: add…
Natrum Mur
Streaming nose that becomes stuffy and may turn into sinusitis, watery eyes. Blinding headaches with heaviness or bursting pain. Loss of smell or taste. Craves salty food. It can come on after grief, a disappointment or feeling let down.
Better: add
Worse: between 9-11am.
Nux vomica
Throat feels raw, teeth may ache. Violent sneezing. Blocked nose on one side, can alternate sides. Nose runs when inside or during the day. Feels stuffed up when outdoors and at night. Feels chilly, shivery and thirsty. Irritable, worried and hypersensitive.
Better: rest, warmth, lying down, sleep.
Worse: in early morning, eating, cold air.
Pulsatilla
Thick yellow-green mucus, one blocked nostril. Symptoms are often one-sided. Eyes crusty with yellow, thick discharge. Changeable symptoms or mood. Weepy and clingy. Craves affection, attention and sympathy.
Better: fresh air and from company.
Worse: in evenings, when alone.
Sources: Murphy, Clarke, Fernandez.