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Colds
& Flu
by Gillie Whitewolf
The
common cold - an infection of the upper respiratory
tract - is something that most folk suffer from
at least once in their lifetime (if not yearly!).
It can be spread from coughing and sneezing, or
by hand to hand contact - and seeing as the virus
can live for several hours on surfaces (such as
doorknobs) it is advisable to wash your hands often
during 'the cold season.'
By including certain herbs and foods in our diets
we can certainly reduce our risk of catching a cold.
Including plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and
Vitamin C rich foods (such as black cherries, citrus
fruits, elderberries, pineapple and cantaloupe melon)
would certainly help keep your immune system in
tip-top condition - and they're also the foods you
should have to hand when a cold threatens! Other
useful foods to stock up on include garlic (unless
you are taking blood-thinning medication), onions
and black peppercorns.
Garlic is one of Natures wonder-foods - it contains allicin
which is one
of the plant kingdom's most potent broad-sprectrum
antibiotics. Garlic is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and is
particularly effective at remedying bronchitis and
respiratory ailments as one of the ways it works
its way out of the body is via the lungs, treating
them as it does so. A fun experiment which illustrates
this action : rub raw garlic onto the soles of someone's
feet, wait a few minutes and then smell their breath!
Garlic makes a delicious addition to a number of
culinary dishes - as does Onion which also has valuable
antibacterial and antiviral properties. For a popular
folk remedy for colds, place a thick slice of fresh
onion in a cup or small bowl and pour on freshly
boiled water. You may like to include a teaspon
of cayenne pepper or ground black peppercorns. Leave
covered to infuse for at least 10 minutes, and drink
the liquid whilst it is still warm, you can also
eat the onion slice - this drink will help cleanse
the airways and reduce congestion. Onion soup is
a great food for cold patients - especially if you
add some fresh garlic and season well with ground
black peppercorns - delicious! Another popular folk
remedy is a poultice of roasted onion applied to
the chest every 2 or 3 hours to help remedy a persistent
cough. Again, raw garlic could be added to increase
the potency.
For
centuries the American Indians of the Great Plains
have used Echinacea to treat colds, flu and many
other ailments. Echinacea strengthens the immune
system by increasing levels of properdin, a chemical
in the body which activates the part of the immune
system responsible for increasing the defense mechanism.
Echinacea is generally considered best used as soon
as you feel a cold coming on, rather than relying
on it all year round. The root can be chewed or
made into a decoction, or the flowers made into
a tea.
Lemon and honey are traditional remedies for colds and
flu. Neat Lemon juice makes a wonderful sore throat
gargle, and you can be safely swallowed after gargling
to benefit you further. At the first sign of a cold
or sore throat I get a pan of lemons and oranges
on the stove :
Whitewolf's
'Hot Lemon, Orange & Honey Miracle Drink' -
Cold Buster!
1
or 2 Oranges
2 or 3 Lemons
1 Tsp Honey
2 or 3 Cloves
Cinnamon Stick
(Ginger)*
Water
Squeeze
the juice from the Oranges and Lemons and place
in a saucepan. Cut up the rinds and remaining fruit
flesh and add to the saucepan. Add up to half a
cup of water and bring to the boil. Turn the heat
down to simmer and add the Honey, stirring well.
Bruise the Cloves and add them to the mix, along
with the Cinnamon stick. Simmer for about 10 minutes,
stirring [and squishing the fruit remains/rinds]
occasionally. Remove the fruit rinds, cloves and
cinnamon stick and pour the liquid into a mug. Don't
strain out the small fleshy pulpy bits - leave these
in and drink them up too!
The best sore throat and cold-buster drink I know
- and very yummy!! [The number and ratio of Oranges
/ Lemons can be altered to suit your taste - as
can the quantity of water - I generally use less
than half a cup of water, I like my drink to be
quite strong].
*A little ginger root can be added at the same time
as the cinnamon stick - or sprinkle on a little
ground ginger to taste.
Ginger,
cinnamon and cloves all
have heating properties and stimulate sweating -
try adding to hot herbal or fruit drinks or fruit
crumbles and deserts during the winter seasons to
keep the cold out. Baked Apple stuffed with nuts, sultanas, raisins, honey and
spiced with ginger and cinnamon, a couple of cloves
(stuck into the outer skin of the apple) and drizzled
with more honey and a little brown sugar would make
a delicious, healing dessert.
Ginger contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds.
It is well known for reducing pain and fever, and
surpresses coughing. It also has a mildly sedative
effect. Stem ginger makes a delicious treat for
those under the weather, or the powdered spice can
be sprinkled onto fruit puddings and desserts, or
hot drinks. A ginger footbath (which works much
the same as a mustard footbath) will encourage the
body to perspire and sweat out toxins. A footbath
also helps draw heat away from the head and down
to the feet, helping relieve fevers and heat congestion
in the upper body.
Sage makes an extremely effective herbal gargle for sore
throats - make a strong infusion of dried sage leaves,
as if you were making a strong cup of herbal tea.
(A teaspoon of honey can be added if desired). Infuse
for about 5 minutes, strain and allow to cool to
a comfortable temperature. Gargle and then spit
or swallow - if you are pregnant, breastfeeding
or suffer from epilepsy or high blood pressure either
avoid using sage or be sure to spit, not swallow
after gargling.
White Horehound has been one of the most popular
country remedies for colds and coughs for centuries.
Herbalist Gerard stated that "Syrup made from
the greene fresh leaves of horehound and sugar is
a most singular remedie against the cough and wheezing
of the lungs."
White Horehound can be drunk as a herbal infusion
to help with lung weakness, bronchitis, sore throats
and irritating coughs.
Thyme has effective antiseptic, antimicrobial, bactericidal,
and fungicidal properties and it has long been believed
that thyme helps to revive and strengthen body and
mind, and is known to enhance the immune system
and help the body fight infection. An infusion of
thyme can be gargled to soothe a sore throat and
fight throat infections, or drunk as a warm herbal
tea to help relieve general cold symptoms, including
persistent coughs. A strong infusion can also be
added to bath water, not only will it help fight
the cold and boost your immune system, it will also
help soothe aches and pains associated with colds
and flu. For heavy chest infections add a handful
of dried thyme and nettle to a large bowl, pour
on freshly boiled water and draping a towel over
your head and around the edges of the bowl sit for
5 - 10 minutes breathing in the vapours. Do not
start with your face too close to the surface of
the water or the steam may burn you! (If you
have severe breathing or lung-related problems it
may be advisable to discuss this remedy with your
doctor / health-care professional before use).
Elderberries
lend themselves perfectly to syrups for coughs and
sore throats and have a long history of use in popular
folk remedies They also make a delicious addition
to fruit pies and desserts - try a combination of
elderberries, blackberries, black cherries, apples
and other seasonal fruits. Add some ginger, cinnamon
and cloves, and sweeten with warmed honey. The elderberry
has 2 compounds that are active against the flu
virus, and also helps prevent the virus from invading
the respiratory tract cells.
Elderflowers make a delicate and soothing cordial
or tea which will help reduce inflammations - try
blending elderflowers with rosehips and nettles.
Nettles are useful in ridding the lungs of excess
phlegm and cleansing the body of toxins and make
an ideal herbal cuppa. If you have access to fresh
young nettles you could also cook them up (much
the same way as you would spinach) and use in soups,
stews and pasta dishes, or just on it's own (garnished
with a little butter, a dash of fresh lemon juice
and freshly ground black peppercorns - delicious!).
Lavender is a valuable treatment for colds, throat, chest
and ear infections and is an effective antiviral
agent - try a steam inhalation with a few drops
of the essential oil or a handful of lavender flowers
to soothe a sore throat and ease chest infections.
To remedy sinus pains, earache, or sore throats
try massaging a little Lavender oil below and behind
the ear, or along sinus pains, or around the throat
/ neck roughly over the gland area. A strong infusion
of lavender flowers (or diluted essential oil) can
be added to bath water for a relaxing bath before
bedtime to ease aches and pains and ensure a sound
sleep.
A
chesty cough may benefit from a chest and upper
back massage using a a couple of drops of Eucalyptus or Benzoin diluted in
a suitable carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil).
These oils could also be added to an oil burner
and placed in the sick room. Other useful oils for
a sick-room oil burner or room-mister inlude Lavender (soothing and antibacterial); Rosemary (antibacterial); Tea-Tree (antiviral, antibacterial) and Marjoram or a citrus oil like Grapefruit or Bergamot will help lift the spirits. Any of these
could also be diluted in milk or a carrier oil and
added to warm bath water (up to a maximum of 6 drops
for an adult bath - less if using Eucalyptus). Eucalyptus
oil can also be added (2 - 3 drops) to hot water
and used as a steam inhalant to remedy catarrh and
sinus problems.
I
like to burn herbs in my home to help cleanse the
air and prevent infection, especially during the
cold and flu season or when school terms start. The Ancient Greeks used thyme
to fumigate against infectious illness, and it wasn't
that long ago that French hospitals were still burning
herbs such as rosemary and juniper to fumigate wards
and prevent infections spreading. Lavender,
thyme and sage also make ideal fumigating herbs
/ incense. Rosemary
is my personal favourite, quite often blended with
sage.
These
are but a few of the natural remedies you can use
to treat a cold or keep one at bay - and you should
also remember to wrap up warm and drink plenty of
fluids (herbal teas, fruit and vegetable juices
and water). If symptoms persist, worsen, or cause
you concern seek medical advice immediately. Remember
that cold and flu in the very young and old or weak,
if not treated, can result in pneumonia.
The
herbal remedies mentioned in this article are not
intended to replace professional advice. Any medication
you are on should also be taken into consideration
- always check with your healthcare professional
if you are on prescription drugs before taking herbal
remedies. In the case of serious wounds, or excessive
blood loss, professional medical attention should
be sought immediately. |
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