How CAM and common cold are related?

CAM or Complementary and Alternative Medicine are any and all medical products and procedures that are not the normal procedure to deal with ailments. Standard procedures include those prescribed my doctors and other health professionals. Alternative medicines are those used in place of standard medications, and complementary medicines are those used alongside standard ones.

Common colds are viral infections that occur in the upper part of the respiratory system. Different types of viruses can attack this system and cause colds. As there is no preventive vaccine available for common colds, only alternative preventive measures, like washing hands can be taken. As it is, no antibiotics can fight colds and there is no cure. Medications available only lessen the symptoms of colds.

Many CAM therapies are used to treat the common cold. Among them the most focused on therapies are;

• Homeopathy
  This type of treatment is based on the maxim that ‘like cures like’. Medications of these sorts are usually small, highly diluted versions of substance that cause the illness.

• Hydrotherapy
  This treatment procedure stimulates the patient’s body with cold and warm water.

• Natural Health Products or NHPs
  NHPs generally used in treating common colds include herbal preparations, minerals, vitamins and probiotics.

• Psychological Intervention
  This type of treatment focuses mainly on stress and anxiety relief and imagery to alleviate symptoms of cold.