To give the Merc. a fair shot, one dose may not be enough unless you've already improved. If not, three times a day for 3 days, stopping if you get worse, stopping if you improve, starting again if the improvement slows down, would be a fairer test of Mercury.

Do you have any concomitant symptoms; something that's happening along with the cold? For example, when Merc. is the remedy, there is often bad breath, drooling/excessive salivation; chills, sweating which doesn't alleviate the symptoms--any one or all of the above. If none of these apply, what sort of concomitant symptoms are you having, including mental symptoms as they depart from your usual state?

Another thing we can do is take the case of the cold before it was disrupted by the medicines--and possibly made worse by them. Can you describe the original cold? Which side the sore throat was on, what pain sensation you had, how it felt swallowing, did the pain extend to the ear, were there swollen glands, what color and consistency was the discharge, what may have caused this cold in terms of weather, emotions,
loss of sleep, and so on; was there a fever, sudden onset or slow; thirst or appetite affected,
chillier or warmer than usual, any modalities
(the things you find aggravating or soothing--could be a hot bath, company of friends, music,
warm rooms, blankets, cold compresses and so on)....I'll stop here as I've given you enough to think about.

Snoopy

Yes thankyou snoopy
Basically all my symptoms were quite common regarding the actual cold itself.
I felt the onset was over a week leading up to the full blown sore throat acute symptoms as I just felt that I wasn't well this prior week- had a slight sensation in my throat,thus did not do my usual exercise that week. But the night before I actually awoke with the major sore throat it was quite cold and the window was open and I was aware of being cold throughout the night.
The throat did seem to have a raw spot perhaps on the right side but the pain then generalized out from here.
I tend to be always better from very hot drinks if ever anyhthing is wrong with my throat.
Leading up to the onset I was taking ANDROC. 200 twice a week for 2 weeks (prescribed for my general state) I was meant to take it for 4 weeks but when all this throat stuff started I thought it may have been something to do with it so I stopped it at 2 weeks.
So yeah I think I will pursue with the MERC unless from the above you glean anything?
thanks again

Has anyone got any suggestions for me? Had an acute head cold begin 7 days ago which has totally just stayed in my head. Began with a very sore throat then proceeded into a copious clear running nose.. I took 'cold and flu' medication which dried some of this acute picture up and in the last 2 or so days I have been left with this terrible CONGESTION to the sinuses (maxillary).
I feel all this mucus cong. up there but it is just so hard to shift. Even if I do blow some out it doesn't even seem to be the typical solid green/yellow but more of a runnier clearer with a small amt of yellow mucus.
I notice my rigth head side feels heavy and there is an aching if I bend down and part of my right side aching is specifically involving my upper right teeth- these seem to constantly be mildly aching.
I have just this morning taken MERC 30
Does anyone have any other suggestions or tips.
THANKS

Without the sweating, bad breath, chills, pus, drooling, etc. it's hard to believe it could be Merc.

Rhust tox is indicated from exposure to cold/damp, plus it's better for hot drinks; so my inclination would be to move in that direction.
I believe that Merc. wants cold drinks, so, that's another reason Merc. might not work for you.

Snoopy

thanks again snoopy.
Woke today and have a totally new head- no continuous pressure and the mucus has been much more amenable to clearing from blowing my nose.And it is a clearing of the yellow thicker mucus now too.
I had 3 or 4 doses yesterday so perhaps I will just leave things for now and see if improvement continues? thanks again.

I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. Don't be afraid to repeat if things start to slide backwards.

Snoopy

[ 14. March 2003, 00:03: Message edited by: Snoopy ]

Did you never think that it might be the Androc working????? A cold has been produced to clear the toxins out and shouldn't be treated!! Anyway why haven't you consulted with ypour homeopath??

__________________
RSHom - Registered Homeopath

I don't believe it.

Are you crazy ?!

You take ( self-prescribed ? ) "Androc 200", i.e. what probably means J.Sherr's Scorpion remedy Androctonus amoreuxii in C 200 potency,
eight times over four weeks,

then you run into some trouble,

then you take mercury in C 30 potency ( why ? ),

then you are happily advised to take "Mercury three times a day" ( ?! ),
and that for three days, makes 9 doses of the potency which was something like Hahnemann's standart ( before the Qs ) to give ONCE for an ailment after careful casetaking...

- What sort of Game are you playing ?

Are you crazy ?!

[ 17. March 2003, 14:36: Message edited by: panthera-non-onca ]

Gee, lighten up guys!
I don't think everything has to do with Homeopathy in regards to 'clearing toxins'- how about that I merely picked up a bit of a cold that everyone else around me has?
Androc. was not self prescribed but advized by a fantastic homeopath.
Merc was only taken 3 times in the one day, not for 3 days. And what's wrong with a bit of experimentation on oneself anyway- I actually learnt a little, so to me this is a bonus, even if it does (?) interrupt my oh so important larger prescription of Androc.
I will get back to my homeopath and I will tell him of my little experimentations and he will more than likely consider this.
Thankyou for the interesting replys, perhaps I have explained where I am coming from?