Do I Have the Flu or Do I Have a Cold? It Matters How You Treat It

A lot of people confuse colds and flus, which may not matter if you treat both with natural solutions that support your immune system. However, if you have the flu and you treat it like a bacteria-based cold with allopathic (or Western) medicine, you can expect to feel worse rather than better. Before we dive into the topic of why this occurs, just take a quick look at the difference between colds and flus:

There are several major symptoms that indicate you probably have the flu. These include:

• fever
• muscles aches and soreness
• rapid onset of symptoms
• severe symptoms
• overall fatigue that lasts for one to three weeks

Symptoms that are unique to colds include:

• often starts with a sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose without fever or fatigue
• milder symptoms
• slower onset of symptoms
• few lingering side effects once major symptoms have resolved

For more on the difference between colds and flus, check out this article.

Do I Have the Flu or Do I Have a Cold? Treat the Right Condition
Treating for the flu or cold gets complicated when it comes to Western medicine. Why? Because both colds and flus can come from viruses, while certain colds can be bacterial in nature. It just depends. The tricky part is if you think that you have a bacteria-based cold and treat it with antibiotics, you may think you will get better. However, if you have a virally-caused cold or flu, the antibiotics are only going to make you feel worse. Why? Because viruses do not respond to antibiotics. The antibiotics will not harm the virus causing your discomfort, but they will kill off most if not all of the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut, such as acidophilus and bifidus. This is bad news because 70% of our immunity comes from these beneficial bacteria (also known as probiotics). Kill these off, and the virus that is causing you to feel crummy has a free license to run rampant in your body.

The better solution may be to support your body's natural immune response with natural solutions. In addition to getting enough rest, hydration, and chicken soup, you can also add supplemental probiotics into your regimen. For more natural solutions on supporting your body's immune response to colds and flus, read this article.

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Help with Natural Health: Help for Bleeding Gums

Dear Alan,

I recently visited my dentist and discovered that my gums are in very bad shape. My dentist told me that my gingivitis is very advanced and I notice that every time I floss my gums bleed. My dentist wants to put me on antibiotics for several months, but I would like to try a more natural approach. Antibiotics make me sick to my stomach. Any suggestions?

-- Bleeding Badly, Lubbock, TX

Dear Bleeding Badly,

The poor condition of your gums is actually quite common and not something that you necessarily have to treat with antibiotics. Gums can bleed for two reasons:

1. Receding from teeth: if your gums are receding away from your teeth then they are easily irritated when you brush or floss. The extra space between the gum and the teeth also allows bacteria to collect, which causes further irritation and bleeding.

2. If you there is bacteria between your gum line and your teeth, your gums tend to become inflamed, which causes bleeding and further irritation.

In either case, it is possible to restore your gum health with some natural products rather than using antibiotics. In fact, some people who have pockets in their gums measuring 7 and 8 (a measurement used by dentists) have used these products to reduce those pockets to size 2. Here are some natural approaches that help with bleeding gums:

- CoQ10 (or Coenzyme Q10): this natural supplement helps rebuild both gum and heart tissue, as well as rejuvenate the metabolic function for every cell in the body. Our bodies need more CoQ10 as we get older, and especially if we suffer from gum or heart conditions.

- Acidophilus: this probiotic is a naturally-occurring bacteria in our intestines and has a similar action to antibiotics without the side-effects. Taking acidophilus with CoQ10 can help restore gum health and prevent bacterial growth between the gums and teeth.

- Ipsab: This Edgar Cayce product helps contract the gums, removes the bacteria and neutralizes the acids that erode enamel. Ingredients include salt, soda, prickly ash bark, and peppermint.

In addition to using these products, avoid brushing with toothbrushes that have stiff bristles, as this can further inflamed irritated gums. You might also try using a water pick appliance to remove particles of food between the gums and teeth after every meal. Finally, avoid brushing your teeth directly after eating anything acidic, as this tends to wear the enamel off your teeth. If you eat or drink something acidic, wait 30 minutes and then brush. Be patient with these natural approaches. It may take up to 3 months to notice a difference, but at least with a natural approach you are boosting rather than suppressing your body's natural immune response.

Photo Credit: Teeth