8 Reasons Your Cold May Not Be A Cold

Is every cold caused by a virus? The short answer is no. The long answer is that there are numerous viruses and bacteria that can cause cold symptoms, but there are other reasons for those symptoms as well.
   Cold symptoms usually include, but are not limited to, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, plugged or painful ears, headache, runny nose, or mucus in the throat. All of these symptoms appear from a thickening of mucus and/or lack of drainage in the head. Well, what causes thickening of mucus or lack of drainage? Virus, bacteria, and fungus can cause these symptoms, but sometimes it is a combination of other things causing the symptoms.
   I call this type of cold the perfect storm because it is not usually just one thing causing me to feel yucky. It is several of the items below all working in concert to make sure I take notice that something is not right.
   Can a non-viral cold be spread? Sure it can. Family members often have the same diets, emotions, activities, nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and habits so it may seem like a cold has spread through the family. This does not mean that it is always viral.

Here are 8 reasons your cold may not be a cold.
1) Lack of Sunshine
2) Cervical misalignment
3) Lack of selenium, zinc, or Vitamin C
4) Annual clearing reaction
5) Lack of hydration
6) Allergic reaction
7) Too much sugar
8) Emotions!!

These are all things that can appear in the body as a cold or contribute to that yucky cold feeling. Lets explore them each in more detail to see how they may contribute to the symptoms of a cold.

Lack of Sunshine
   During the winter months, especially in the north, it is impossible to get enough sun exposure on our bodies to maintain optimum health. The sun in the great purifier. When viewed through the naked eyes, it stimulates the cleaning and proper function of every organ and system of the body. When the body feels sunshine of bare skin if stimulates the production of Vitamin D.
   The solutions is to go on vacation to a sunny place. End of story. Ok, maybe we can’t all vacation to a sunny spot every time we have the sniffles. The alternate solution is a good quality liquid vitamin D3. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplementation.

Cervical misalignment
   Cervical alignment is critical in the proper function and drainage of the head. Specifically C2 can prevent the ears, nose and throat from draining properly causing a backup of mucus and phlegm. Contact your chiropractor if you have neck stiffness or pain.

Lack of selenium, zinc, or Vitamin C
   Each of these supplements is critical for maintaining healthy mucus membranes in the body. Too little of these nutrients and our mucus becomes too runny or too thick. This is why many immune supplements contain each of these nutrients. These nutrients are not stored in the body in large quantities and are used up quickly in the presence of high sugar consumption.

Annual Clearing reaction
   Bodies do go through annual cycles of cleaning and repair. Don’t stop this process by taking OTC cold products, encourage it by resting, taking hot baths, dry brushing, steam inhalations, essential oils, and other cleansing practices.

Lack of hydration
   A lack of hydration can cause our mucus and other lymphatic fluids to become thick. Attempt to drink half your body weight in ounces, not to exceed 80 oz, in pure water every day to ensure proper hydration. An electrolyte supplement may also support body hydration.

Allergic reaction
   Do you have an environmental or food sensitivity? High carbohydrate or dairy consumption increases mucus production. Other foods may cause inflammation such as tomato, potato, eggplant, cheese, and bread.
   Clean up your diet to include only whole foods with appropriate quantities of fruit, vegetables, meats and whole grains. Try juicing veggies and fruits for a few days to get a jump start on a clean diet.

Too much sugar
   During the winter months our consumption of sugar increases significantly. Especially during the holidays. This can also contribute to cold like symptoms. Sugar is detrimental to our bodies and uses up large quantities of nutrients just to process, leaving our bodies more depleted than before. It is also a contributor to inflammation.

Emotions!!
   When we have emotions that we are not processing or dealing with, they become stagnant energy in our bodies. Our body will talk to us if we are listening. Stagnant energy slows down our metabolic processes. This stuck energy will also cause us to slow down and get tired so that we take time to heal this stuck energy or emotion.
   Emotional clearing techniques can include EFT, Emotion Code, hypnotherapy, talking with a friend or loved one, having a good cry, back flowers.

Next time you think you have a cold, consider addressing some of these other factors to see if you can speed down your journey to health a little quicker

This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. If you have concerns about your health, please consult with your healthcare provider.