The person may be sensitive to light and either drowsy or delirious with the fever. A stopped-up nose and face pain are likely. A person who needs Dulcamara also tends to have allergies. Red, watery, irritated eyes, frequent sneezing, and a mild, clear nasal discharge suggests a need for this remedy. The person may cough from irritation and from phlegm collecting in the throat.
Symptoms can be worse at night, and the person tends to feel better from eating and lying down.
It is also helpful during colds that are more advanced, when the person feels very weary, with a moderate fever, rosy cheeks, sneezing, and a short hard cough. Lethargy and aching, with headache and droopy eyes, often indicate this remedy. Fever and chills run up and down the spine, and heat or pressure may be felt in the face and nose. A person who needs Gelsemium often trembles and is shaky, or feels extremely dull. This remedy is often helpful for colds that come on in hot weather.