Cold & Flu Remedies in Pregnancy

Being pregnant does not make you more likely to develop a cold or flu. It is more important to keep your immune system healthy, by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and getting enough rest.  Complementary medicine offers a wide range of safe remedies for colds and flu that can be taken safely during pregnancy. Pregnancy can throw up a host of conditions such as backache and heartburn, but having a cold or a bout of flu can really bring you.

The conventional painkillers and cold medicines are not safe during this time. Antibiotics are not effective and are also not recommended during pregnancy, and conventional decongestants should be avoided as they can harm the health of mother and baby.   

This is where complementary remedies can really help you recover faster and more importantly safely. Not all natural remedies are recommended as some of them have not been tested as yet. I would advise pregnant women to avoid herbal medicines, such as Echinacea and Propolis as their safety in pregnancy cannot be confirmed. Homeopathic remedies, biochemic tissue salts and certain nutritional supplements can be taken effectively and safely throughout pregnancy.

You can take several natural remedies to maintain your immune system throughout the winter months. This will help you to prevent catching a cold or flu. Vitamin C can help support your immune system. A dose of 500mg a day will be sufficient to supplement your diet. The homeopathic remedies Anas Barb 200c and Aconite 200c are very effective if taken at the first sign of a cold or flu. These remedies can be made up as a combination remedy at one of the specialist homeopathic pharmacies. It is a good idea to keep this remedy with you, especially during the winter months. This combination can help to shorten the length of a cold and flu and help you get back on your feet.

Probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are beneficial bacteria that are normally present in the digestive tract. Probiotics are naturally found in the body and they have a number of important functions in the body such as supporting the immune system.  An added benefit to taking these probiotics in pregnancy is that they have been shown to benefit the health of the unborn baby. These supplements can be taken safely throughout your pregnancy and can also help to prevent digestive symptoms such as heartburn.

One of the simplest ways of speeding up the recovery is to increase your fluid intake. The best fluids are warm water, ginger tea and fresh juices will all help to keep the mucous membranes moist and will help to fight the cold viruses.  Steam inhalations, with just water, are an excellent simple way to relieve nasal congestion. Saline nose drops or sprays are another safe way of clearing the nasal passages.

Biochemic tissue salts are mild homeopathic remedies that taken be taken for various ailments. They are usually available in combinations. The following tissue salts are effective at treating colds and flu:

Ferrum Phos, Kali Mur, Kali Sulph and Nat Mur 6X. These remedies are usually combined together in one tablet.  They should be taken three times a day until the symptoms subside.

A combination of Arsen Iod, Eupatorium and Gelsemium (AEG) 30c is very effective at treating the symptoms of a bad cold or flu. The remedies will help to alleviate the general aches and fever associated with flu. These remedies are very safe and can be taken at any stage of the pregnancy.  

Another effective combination is Pulsatilla, Hydrastis and Kali Bic (PHK) 30c. I have found this remedy to be highly effective at treating the symptoms of blocked sinuses and nasal congestion. This homeopathic remedy can also be taken throughout any stage of the pregnancy.

Incorporating certain foods into your diet can also help to speed up a bout of cold or flu. Garlic has natural anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties. This will help to boost your immune system to help you get back to normal health quicker.  Turmeric is a herb that is often used in Indian cooking. There are now certain vitamin companies that have made Turmeric capsules. These capsules are not recommended in pregnancy, although the herb can be added to foods and still be beneficial. You can also add half a teaspoon of Turmeric to a glass of warm milk and take this once or twice a day. This herb has been shown to speed up the recovery from a cold or mild flu.

Lastly and by no means least is Zinc. This nutrient has many important functions during pregnancy. It is also very important in helping to support the immune system.  Zinc can be taken throughout the winter months as a form of prophylaxis against the flu. You need to be careful with the amount of Zinc that you take, as high doses can actually be harmful. A dose of over 50mg a day, taken unsupervised, can affect the levels of other minerals in your body. The ideal safe dose is 10 to 15mg a day.  

With all of these options available, there is no need for you to suffer in silence. Whereas the conventional cold remedies are no safe in pregnancy, natural medicine offers many safe and effective choices for you.