Treating the Common Cold with a Smile

Stress relief and emotional wellness can ward off illness

by Murray Grossan, M.D.

Dr Sheldon Cohen of the Carnegie Mellon University published a study in Psychosomatic Medicine that studies the reaction of persons with positive emotions versus those with negative emotions when exposed to the common cold virus.

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Titled, “Emotional Style and Susceptibility to the Common Cold”, his article details how otherwise healthy adults were graded as to cheerfulness, happy, relaxation. The cold virus was introduced via nasal spray. What he reported in the July/August issue of Psychosomatic Medicine was a correlation between resistance to the cold virus and the degree of relaxation, cheerfulness, and being just plain happy.

It has long been known that depression lowers one’s immune factor. A physician is much more likely to order chest x ray and other studies when a patient has a simple cough if the person is recently bereaved or otherwise depressed.

In "The Sinus Cure" by Debra Bruce and Murray Grossan, MD, one of the seven steps to prevent and cure sinusitis is devoted to the use of stress reduction methods for sinusitis and allergy.

The authors point out that you can’t wave a magic wand and make a person cheerful and happy. But the body can be helped by the easy methods detailed in step 6 of The Sinus Cure.

1. Exercise, especially Tai Chi, can balance the body’s stress hormones.
2. Music that is cheerful such as Sound of Music or An a Clear Day constantly on in the background helps.
3. Guided imagery. Take a mental trip to a happy time or follow some of the “trips” in the book. Recall with all five senses when you were happy.
4. Deep muscle relaxation will often restore the good balance between healing and stress chemicals.
5. Using a mirror to learn to keep frown muscles relaxed is recommended.
6. Correct breathing is another sure fire way recommended for 3,000 years.
7. Social support is most important too.
8. After reading Dr Cohen’s study, the conclusion must be that to prevent a common cold – Smile!

Hydromedonline.com

First Published: Late October 2003
Updated: February 2007

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