Got a cold? This will help you now

A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract, usually caused by viruses. It is often referred to as a common cold. Typical symptoms include: cough, runny nose, sore throat, or hoarseness. Cold-related headaches and body aches can also occur. Additionally, a cold can occur with or without fever. A cold is usually harmless and resolves on its own.

A cold typically lasts 7 to 10 days. The first symptoms, such as a sore throat and runny nose, usually appear suddenly, followed by a cough that can persist for several days. Generally, symptoms should improve after a week and be practically gone after about two weeks.

Taken at the first signs of a cold, Weleda medicines can mitigate or, at best, prevent the onset of a cold.

A cold or common cold typically progresses in three phases: Weakening, Confrontation, Recovery.

You often feel tired and exhausted, maybe have cold feet. Initial symptoms such as a scratchy throat, fatigue, and slight chills appear. Sometimes headaches are added. In this phase, the further course of the cold can be significantly influenced. Warmth is beneficial now and promotes blood circulation in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, thereby strengthening the immune defense there.

Home remedies such as a warm cherry pit pillow on the chest or a hot water bottle at the feet, hot sage tea with lemon and honey, or rising foot baths help now. Vitamin C also supports your immune system. Additionally, Weleda medicines alleviate the initial cold symptoms and support the body's warmth system from within.

Runny nose, cough, headache, and body aches are already present or clearly emerging. Mild fever may also occur. Your immune system is working at full speed. Weleda medicines actively support this phase, stimulate the body's natural self-healing powers, and effectively relieve cold symptoms.

The symptoms gradually subside, but the cough may persist longer. A light, vitamin-rich diet and fresh air strengthen the immune system. Drinking plenty of fluids supports the mucous membranes in healing. Rest and warmth help your body recover and prevent getting sick again.

A cold is a mild viral infection that usually comes with a runny nose, cough, and sore throat. It is less severe and typically lasts only a few days to a week. The term 'common cold' is used synonymously with a cold.

The real flu (influenza) is caused by influenza viruses and is significantly more severe than a cold.

Symptoms of the flu

The real flu manifests through:

• High fever (over 38.5 °C)
• Severe body aches
• Chills
• Headache
• Extreme fatigue and weakness
• Dry cough
• Sometimes nausea and diarrhea

The flu can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and should not be underestimated.

No, the so-called summer flu is not a real flu. It is actually a common cold caused by other viruses and can occur in the summer. The symptoms are similar to those of a cold and are not as severe as those of the real flu.

Rest and warmth
It is important to take it easy and not overexert yourself. During the phases of a cold, you can rub your body with a body oil in the evening before going to bed after a rising foot bath. This care feels good and warms you up. In the morning after getting up, make sure your feet are warm. If they are cold, take a warm foot bath. A warm drink for breakfast, enriched with many valuable vitamins, helps to strengthen you. After overcoming the acute illness: rub your body with a body oil in the evening before going to bed. During the day, maintain a rhythmic daily routine, regular vitamin-rich meals, and rest periods.

Sleep yourself healthy!
We spend a third of our lives sleeping, and for good reason: our body regenerates during sleep. On average, seven hours per night are needed for cells to renew and for the immune system to produce enough new defense cells. At the same time, we process what we experienced during the day through dreaming, which relieves our soul.

Breathe deeply!
The nose, throat, and bronchi do a lot to protect the body from colds. We breathe fresh air into the lungs and release the "used air" back outside. When inhaling, the air is filtered, warmed, and humidified. Additionally, the respiratory tract plays an important role in infection defense: The immune system monitors this exchange with the outside world, detects pathogens, and can respond with a defense reaction if necessary.

There are many proven home remedies that can help you alleviate symptoms:

• Drink plenty: Water, herbal teas, or hot lemon with honey help keep the mucous membranes moist.
• Inhalation: Steam baths with chamomile or salt can clear the airways.
• Chicken soup: It has anti-inflammatory properties and supports the immune system.
• Gargling: Saltwater or chamomile tea helps with a sore throat.
• Warm onion pouches: Can be helpful for earaches.

If you catch an infection, it is important to recover properly. An untreated cold can have serious consequences, such as sinusitis or even myocarditis. Therefore, it is important to rest sufficiently during a cold and not become active too early.

Contagiousness: You are usually contagious 1-2 days before symptoms appear and up to 7 days afterwards. With flu, the contagious period can be longer.

The incubation period refers to the time between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms.

It differs between colds and flu:

Incubation period for a cold
The incubation period for a cold is usually 1 to 3 days. This means that after coming into contact with cold viruses, you may notice the first symptoms, such as a sore throat or runny nose, within this period.

Incubation period for flu
The incubation period for real flu (influenza) is usually 1 to 2 days, but in some cases it can last up to 4 days. The symptoms often appear very suddenly and severely, such as high fever, aching limbs and severe exhaustion.

Important to know
During the incubation period, you can already be contagious, even if you do not yet have any symptoms yourself. This applies to both colds and flu. It is therefore important to pay attention to hygiene during the cold and flu season, such as washing your hands regularly and avoiding close contact with sick people.

• there is a severe underlying condition;
• the symptoms are particularly severe, and high fever and severe chills occur suddenly;
• the fever lasts longer than 3 days and/or exceeds 39°C;
• purulent or bloody discharge or sputum occurs;
• you experience breathing difficulties;
• you have pain or a strong feeling of pressure in the area of the forehead and/or cheekbones.

Pregnant and have a cold? Tried-and-tested home remedies that our grandparents knew can generally be a good help. Steam baths clear your head, onion bags help against earache and potato wraps help against sore throats. If you are unsure whether you can use home remedies, ask your midwife or doctor.

Drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest and minimise stress – this is especially important when you have a cold during pregnancy. However, if the cold persists or worsens, for example if you develop a fever, pregnant women should definitely consult their doctor.

As a general rule: do not take any medication without prior consultation with your doctor or midwife. It is best to try to prevent illness and naturally strengthen your immune system. This is more pleasant than curing. If you still catch a cold, the Infludoron globules* are an alcohol-free effective cold remedy available to you. The globules are well-tolerated and can be used from infancy. They support the body in recovery. Taken early, they can mitigate the onset of a cold or, at best, prevent it. Always discuss the use of medications with a professional.

^{*This is an approved medication. Please read the package leaflet. As a precaution, you should avoid medications as much as possible during pregnancy and breastfeeding or seek advice from your doctor, physician, or pharmacist.}