For colds, the medicine can do nothing

There are no conventional medicines for cold viruses

20.02.2012

Against 300 cold viruses, conventional medicine is almost powerless. The viruses are so different that even for profit-oriented pharmaceutical companies, the development would be a hopeless task. The pathogens are too different in their nature and mutate due to the exchange of genetic information in a relatively short time. More and more is the realization that well-tried home remedies or natural remedies can effectively and effectively relieve colds and accelerate the healing process.

Seven days cold
In emergency medicine and serious illness, scientific medicine is inventing increasingly complex treatment methods to enable the patient to survive. Against influenza infections with symptoms such as runny nose, body aches, fever, cough and hoarseness, conventional medicine is powerless, although colds are one of the most common reasons why people visit a family doctor. This usually prescribes bed rest and writes the patient ill. If the symptoms are pronounced, the fever is very high, partly antipyretic drugs and cough syrup are prescribed for improved coughing up. An old saying of medicine is: „An untreated cold lasts one week, a treated but seven days.“ Another therapist statement also includes the time of dying out cold: „He will come for three days. He stands for three days. He goes three days.“

Many different cold viruses
The annoying cold infections can often not be smothered in the no, because usually the pathogens of colds and colds are viruses. Dr. med. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, virologist of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg, explained to the „Hamburger Abendblatt“, that, in the main, rhino or adenoviruses cause a cold. Alone with the rhino viruses far more than 100 known subspecies exist. There are more than 50 different adenoviruses. Because the viruses are structured very differently, research can not develop a vaccine that protects against all viruses. Many of the viruses are, according to the expert „very variable“ and can mutate in a short time by sharing hereditary information. „Even if you have a vaccine, there is always a virus that the vaccine does not protect against. And then people just as easily get a cold as before“, explains Schmidt-Chanasit.

There are no special medicines for colds
Unlike other viral diseases, there are no specific medicines to fight the pathogens of colds to stop the proliferation, as would be the case with hepatitis, for example. The problem: The active ingredients would have to be specialized exactly on the viruses. Due to the diversity, however, it would be a hopeless venture and not stand to the relationship of effect and effect. Although there is also „Ways to develop drugs against individual cold viruses“, says the virologist, „but it just does not help, because the variety is so great.“ Science would have to design 10 drugs, „which you might have available, would have to choose exactly the right one.“ In order to prescribe the right remedy, a very elaborate diagnosis by the physician would be necessary in advance. That would mean, however, that one „with guns on fun shoots“, so Schmidt-Chanasit. Even if there were medicines, the course of the disease would only be shortened by one to two days. If sufferers do not suffer from severe pre-existing conditions, a healthy organism also creates the defense on its own. As a rule, a cold takes a good week. At this time, immune system defends itself with its own means.

Beware of chronic diseases
But it can be bad for people who already suffer from chronic diseases. These can lead to complications, then you will have one „trivial infection a serious disease. Pneumonia, among other things, will cause when weakened patients additionally catch a bacterial infection to the viral infection. Then, first and foremost, the bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics. According to several health insurance examinations, many doctors unnecessarily prescribe antibiotic drugs. „Unnecessary prescriptions help to make more and more bacteria resistant to antibiotics.“ Antibacterial drugs do not help fight viral infections, doctors also know that and sometimes prescribe them because the patient is calmed.

Difference between cold and flu
In addition to simple colds common in medicine „flu infections“ There is also influenza, also known as „real flu“ referred to as. Pathogens are the influenza viruses. Patients then suffer from much more severe symptoms such as headache, fatigue, fever, body aches, runny nose and severe cough. Here are sometimes administered by the doctors so-called Neuraminidasehemmer. However, these only work if they are already taken at the beginning of the disease. As a rule, the medicines are prescribed by the doctor only if it is expected that the course of the flu is severe. Because similar to the antibiotic agents and resistances can form and then the drugs no longer work. These medicines have no effect on colds, explains the expert.

Most common are flu infections between autumn and spring. If it is cold outside, the organism needs more energy. It comes „to a local defensive weakness, for example in the nose, so that the viruses can penetrate more easily“, says the virologist to the newspaper.

The risks of infection lurk almost everywhere. If a person is ill, he coughs or sneezes out the viruses via the respiratory tract. Many rub their noses or snort into a handkerchief. If the hands are not washed carefully, they can be reached via the palms of the door handles or other objects. Studies have shown that the viruses can survive for hours on the surfaces and thus can also transfer.

After the contamination, the pathogens already reach the defense cells in the mucous membranes. These inform about a sophisticated system the immune defense system, which in turn begins immediately to form antibodies. The immune system now forms so-called scavenger cells, which ensure that the viruses are removed from the infected area of ​​the body. At the same time, the body uses symptoms that we also feel as discomfort, but which is a defense reaction of the body. Secretions are increasingly formed in the nose to flush out the viruses. The organism raises body temperature with a fever to kill the pathogens. Fatigue and exhaustion indicate that the body is concentrating all its efforts on defensive combat. If this is successful, the information about the intruder will be saved in order to be able to act more effectively the next time. In most cases, people are then immune, but this protection is not enough to ward off other cold viruses. For that reason it can too „come back to other colds“, explains the virologist.

For colds no sport and much protection
Whether complications occur or the cold takes only a simple course depends essentially on whether the patient offers the body sufficient protection and the disease sufficiently cured. Those who do not report illness, put unnecessary stress on the body and do not sleep enough, may risk a more difficult course. Because the body needs enough energy to be successful in case of an infectious disease. You should therefore also abstain from sports, as Schmidt-Chanasit advises. „When I do competitive sports, the body uses up energy and has fewer resources to fight the virus.“ Then the viruses will be easier to spread. Therefore, the body should not be charged additionally. A serious process is spreading to the heart, for example. In the so-called „heart flu“ The patients notice heart stumbling, palpitations, fever and dizziness. Then emergency notification to a clinic is required.

Old home remedies and medicinal herbs of natural medicine
Old home remedies have become resistant to colds. It is helpful to inhale with a saline solution right at the beginning. Vitamin-rich diet and a balanced diet strengthen the body's defenses. In addition to extensive rest and protection help ethereal cold tea, warm lemon with honey, chicken soup, elderberry juice and tea from the linden blossom. An old home remedy is also the garlic soup. Garlic is next to the onion as a natural antibiotic.

Naturopathy also has recognized procedures to relieve the symptoms of a cold. Currently, the research group Klostermedizin at the University of Würzburg has reported that hayflowers have proven to be adequate plants to minimize the symptoms of cold. With simultaneous sore throat, sage can be used. Also strengthened are essential oils such as spruce needle, lavender, peppermint and thyme. They have expectorant, antibacterial and antiviral properties. However, the oils should not be used in infants. Naturopath Andreas Harms advises his patients on homeopathic remedies such as Potassium iodatum (Kali-i.). „A self-treatment with iodine, however, requires a previous medical examination, says Harms. Because with a thyroid disease otherwise serious complications can occur“. Important is also, „to provide fresh air and sleep in the coldest possible rooms in winter.

Fever is a good defense against the body. At levels between 37.5 and 39 degrees Celsius, no antipyretic drugs should be used. „This can also lead to the body itself not being so effective against the infection.“ Only with higher values ​​and only in agreement with the attending physician should Fiebersenker be used. (Sb)

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