Alternative Treatments, Part 1 Print E-mail



Infections

Garlicvery high on the shopping list heregoes right to your lungs. The fact that its volatile oilswhich are its therapeutic compounds make our breath smell illustrates why this member of the onion family is so helpful. The volatile oils are absorbed into our bloodstream, and from there are taken into the alveoli of our lungs. When we exhale, the oils are expelled on our breathhence, that telltale aroma. But before they are exhaled, these therapeutic volatile oils are washing our lungs. The critical aspect of taking garlic therapeutically is that it must be crushedmechanically or by eatingto release the enzyme that initiates the breakdown process that terminates in the presence of sulfur compounds which give garlic its characteristic odor and its medicinal effects. These volatile oils are extremely antiseptic, with potent action against bacteria, viruses, and fungal organisms.

Garlic can be taken raw, lightly steamed, or added to the last 5 minutes of cooking. Chop half a clove, put it in some olive oil, and toss that on your salad or a cooked vegetable. If you prefer taking garlic capsules, remember that quality varies widely.

Dosage: the equivalent of one clove a day.

Garlic also has a number of important fringe benefits for your health: it helps to control cholesterol levels, reduces the formation of fatty deposits in blood vessels, helps normalize blood pressure, and has a mild anticoagulation effect just as aspirin does. And if you like to combine your garlic with olive oil, remember that olive oil belongs to the group of healthy fats that actually improve cardiovascular healthin moderate amounts, of course!

In terms of edibles, horseradish is also highly antisepticeven more so than garlic. Garlic is a lot more versatile, both for use in food and in availability in capsules, but adding horseradish to your diet provides varietyand helps with your mucus as well.

Propolis is potent in warding off bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Propolis is a black, gummy, resin-like substance that bees take from trees and use in the hive as glue, and as an antiseptic. Propolis turns the hive into a virtually germ-free environment. Propolis is so resinous that it's not water-soluble, and only comes in extract form. It can be used as a preventiveduring the flu season, for example, or when you suspect something might be brewing and to assist your antibiotic if you actually contract an infection.

Dosage: As a preventive, take 10-25 drops, 2-3 times a day. For actual treatment, increase that amount to 56 times daily.

For help with an infection that is just beginning, echinaceataken in the right waycan make a dramatic difference, especially with a viral infection. The extract of echinacea root has a proven effect on stimulating the white blood cells that fight these microbes. There are two rules: start without delay, and take a lot of it. The moment you feel something brewingwhether it's a hint of a scratch in your throat, a runny nose, a feeling in your eyes and sinuses, or a general feeling of malaise that isn't typical for youreach for your echinacea. Take it frequently during the first 2 daysevery 2 hours is not too muchand then taper off for the next 3. Do the same if someone you live or work with comes down with a cold or the flu.

Dosage: 2-3 ml every 2-4 hours for the first 48 hours; then half that dose every 24 hours for another 3 days.

You will find value in combining propolis and echinacea, and perhaps adding wild indigo (also called baptesia) to the mixture. It increases echinacea's activity, and historically these two plants were typically used together. If using wild indigo, a large dosesuch as a cup of strong tea made from this herbcan cause nausea and vomiting. When it is combined with echinacea, the maximum dose for wild indigo should not exceed 1 ml every 4 hours.

Ifdespite your best efforts at clearing your lungs of mucus, using food and herbs that kill infectious microbes, and getting your flu and pneumonia shotsyou do get sick, let your doctor know immediately so that you can begin antibiotic therapy. And once you're finished with the antibiotics, remember to take an acidophilus supplement for the following 2 weeks to repopulate your gut with beneficial flora as quickly as possible.

Cough

A chronic uncontrollable cough is annoying and irritating. It needs to be controlledbut not overcontrolled. Because coughing is a healthy, protective mechanism when it functions appropriatelyto clear mucus and irritants from our lungsCOPD patients are especially in need of a responsive cough reflex. The cough you want to get rid of comes from an irritated mechanoreceptor in the throat. The cough you want to keep is governed by the cough center up in the brain. So you want an antitussive that leaves the cough center alone. Codeine, for example, is an excellent cough suppressant, but it works by damping down the brain's cough center.

Anything that coats your throat functions as an effective antitussive for COPD patients. Wild cherry bark has been used for a very long time. Mucilaginous plantswhich have to be prepared as a teawill coat your throat and your stomach, which can be an excellent choice if you are taking lobelia to bring your mucus up. Marshmallowboth root and leavesis extremely mucilaginous, and a very gentle plant. The root has the higher mucilage content, making it more effective but also making it gel up as the tea is prepared. Taken just 1 tbs at a time, it's like a thick syrup going down. But some people find the texture of a full cup of the tea too much like raw oyster. Because the leaf produces a nice sweet drink without the sliminess, many find it a lot easier to tolerate. The tea is made by steeping 1 tbs of root or leaf in 1 cup of boiling water for 5-10 minutes, then straining it. Slippery elm is another helpful herb in this context.


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