Herbs and Nutrition for Preventing and Treating Colds and Flu

Herbalists all over the country are combining forces to educate the public about natural health practices that can be used during cold and flu season, and especially in this time of the H1N1 flu pandemic.

Contrary to common belief, the flu is both preventable and treatable with herbs and other methods derived from nature. And the common cold can be eased along with the assistance of herbs and other nutrients allowing our bodies to fully experience each stage of recovery necessary to healing.

Symptoms of cold include, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, ear infections, restlessness nausea and appetite disturbances. Flu symptoms include fever, achiness, loss of appetite, cough and sore throat and dizziness. Both are contagious viral infections which cannot be treated with antibiotics and over the counter pharmaceuticals do little but mask symptoms. Many herbs grown across the US and sold in bulk at herbal shops or health stores are far less expensive than OTC medicine and herbal remedies can easily be made at home.

The herbs in this category are anti-microbial, which fight illness and destroy harmful pathogens. Anti-inflammatory, which act to soothe inflamed tissue and remedy irritation through a soothing emollient or demulcent action. Tonic, which help the body assimilate essential nutrients into the body and strengthen the system overall. Expectorant, which helps the respiratory system expel excess mucous from the lungs. And Febrifuge, which helps the body reduce fever.

Building the Immune System

Building the immune system is the first step to creating sustained wellness and the ability to successfully fight common cold and dangerous flu viruses.

Elderberries and Elder Flowers have been clinically studied and are proven to show remarkable action for preventing and treating flu and cold viruses. Elderberry syrup can be taken prior to a virus as a preventative measure or during the course of illness, often resulting in a quicker recovery period. Everyone can take elderberry syrup, including infants, and will notice immediate results. A strong tea of the berries or flowers also has the same effect.

Echinacea has long been renowned for it’s immune boosting properties. As an anti-viral herb, its unique ability to act as a lymphatic decongestant is the primary reason it works so well to rid the system of harmful organisms and viruses to support the immune system as a whole.

An herb popularly used in Traditional Chinese medicine is Astragalus, fast becoming popular to Western Herbalists. Astragalus is a root and is used to support immunity. Fresh or dried chopped root can be added to vegetable or chicken broth for a powerful immune enhancing soup.

Nutritional Support During Healing

Garlic is one of nature’s finest anti-viral and anti-microbial agents can be taken at the onset of illness. Raw garlic cloves taken daily with pure water and lemon juice can be useful in clearing up congestion, expelling mucus from the respiratory system and nasal passages, acting as an expectorant and fighting infection. Use in tandem with any of the herb vegetables of the onion family, chives, scallions to fight viruses and tone the entire system.

Nutritionally Garlic, Onions and Carrots work well together as a support during cold and flu season. Russian herbalists recommend drinking carrot juice daily, the Vitamin C content and beta carotene are vital components for immune strength and health. A soup made with vegetable broth, onions, garlic, carrots and Astragalus makes an excellent tonic.

The old saying “Feed a cold, starve a fever” is taken to mean when we have a cold, we may be more inclined to eat, but when we have a fever, our bodies are less likely to consume regular quantities of food in order to conserve energy for healing. Therefore, it is important to feed our bodies the highest quality nutrients, reducing sugar intake, processed foods, red meat and dairy.
A diet of easily digestable food is preferable to heavy, starchy or fiberous substances. Brown or white rice and miso soup is a well balanced alternative to canned soups and Kitcheree, a Middle Eastern dish made with lentils, rice and carrots, coconut milk and lemongrass, ginger and cayenne can be a nutritionally packed meal supporting healing.

The use of Cayenne and Ginger have a warming affect on the body by increasing circulation and will induce sweating and promote the expelling of fever.

During the flu, when we are less inclined to eat, herbal teas can be nutritive and provide adequate fluid. An excellent Tonic is made from Chickweed, a little weedy flower that grows in grassy fields. Chickweed is a cooling, restorative herb that can help with any chest infection or feverous conditions. In addition to tea, a light meal of whole grain toast with elderberry jam can improve stamina in addition to boosting the immune system, and lemon/ lime juice in fresh water can provide the vitamin C and energy you need during an illness.

Symptom Relief

To relieve a scratchy, sore throat, mucilaginous herbs called Demulcents can aid in reducing inflammation and irritation. Marshmallow root, Licorice and Slippery Elm are all used for this purpose. At your local health food store, you can find Slippery Elm Lozengers and a great tea is made with these ingredients is from Traditional Medicine called Throat Coat. A milder tea for children can be made with Raspberry Leaf, Chamomile and Marshmallow Root.

Honey is another staple food item that is needed during cold and flu season. Honey makes an effective cough syrup and the addition of certain herbs can make honey a prize fighter on the road to recovery. Nettle leaf is a wonderful tonic herb that can help heal respiratory illnesses. It releases deep congestion without irritating sensitive lung tissue. Pine has always been a remarkable healer of all kinds of lung conditions. Throughout the centuries herbalists and doctors have known of Pine’s unique healing qualities and have often recommended that infirm patients walk in Pine Forests to soothe their respiratory ailments. I combine a mixture of Marshmallow Root, Red Clover and White Pine to local honey to make a wonderful cough syrup for adults and children alike.

Children tend to get upset easier when they are sick. Valerian root is an excellent calmative which can be given to babies and children to calm them and ease them to sleep. Glycerites are pleasant tasting herbal medicine for children and Valerian Root Glycerite is easy to administer to even the fussiest of children. Adults can also benefit from Valerian when they are ill, tea or tincture can be taken regularly until a state of calm is induced. The benefit of Valerian as a sleep aid is that it is non habit forming and after a peaceful night sleep there is no grogginess upon waking the next morning.

If ear infections become a worrisome factor during a viral illness, treatment at the onset of earache is often effective to relieve pain and discomfort. A few drops of warmed olive oil can do the trick, but the addition of anti-microbial herbs such as Mullein, Garlic and Lavender add power to the remedy. Do not use this treatment however, if the ear drum has ruptured.

Checking In with Our Bodies

Herbalists and Holistic practitioners believe that illness is often a call to action. When we are tired and over-stressed, our bodies become more susceptible to illness and invasive bacteria and viruses.

It has become standard practice in our culture to seek a quick fix to many ailments with over the counter pharmaceuticals, which merely mask symptoms and do not get to the root of the problem. As a society, we feel pressure from our employers and our families to be well and get back to our busy lives immediately without taking time to fully recover.

The body has a way of miraculously healing when given adequate rest, fresh air, light exercise, nutrition and herbal treatments, renewing the system, detoxifying the body and giving rise to a more vibrant energy.

If illness tells us anything, it is to take the time to look within, slow down and take stock of our lifestyles and make the necessary adjustments to live in a more balanced and nurturing way.

Treating Childhood Ear Infections Naturally

Middle Ear infections, called Otitis Media, are becoming more and more common amongst infants and children of the twentieth century. It has been reported that ear infections increased 150 Percent between 1975 and 1990. Childhood ear infections can be the result of a viral infection, bacteria, inflammation and even emotional stress. With the rise in antibiotic treatments, infant formula and use of cows milk, many holistic practitioners are citing these factors as some of the main reasons for the increase in ear infections in children.

Inner ear infections result in severe pain related to fluid retention, causing pressure on the ear drum. The risks are high if left untreated and can cause permanent hearing loss due to a ruptured or fractured ear drum. Outer ear infections result in inflammation and redness with a dull ache when the earlobe is pulled or pressure is exerted on the ear.

When an infant or child has a highly mucilaginous diet, full of heavily saturated fats from cheese, milk, refined sugar, red meat and other processed foods, frequent episodes of colds or runny nose can occur and may block the Eustachian tube of the inner ear, causing it to fill with mucus and become inflamed. Inflammatory fluid builds up, and over time bacteria can multiply causing painful chronic infection of the middle ear.

Another documented source of ear infection has been linked to pacifier and bottle use. A non-breastfed infant is at a greater risk of ear infection due to being placed on his/her back with a pacifier or bottle, which can cause nasal and throat bacteria to drip into the inner ear canal and cause under-developed Eustachian tubes to swell.

Children with frequent ear infections may be at risk for more serious illnesses as they age. Autism, ADHD hearing loss, language delay and certain neurological problems may either be the result of chronic ear infections or the antibiotics given to treat them.

One third of all ear infections are Viral. Now that we know that antibiotics do not kill viruses, why do doctors continue to prescribe antibiotics for many ear infections? It is simply because there is no way to tell if an ear infection is viral unless the inner ear drum is pierced and the fluid is drained for testing. Many studies have shown that short term antibiotic use has little effect and that no treatment is often better, minimizing the risk of harmful bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotics and the antibiotics killing off any remaining helpful bacteria in the ear.

Natural remedies have been successful in the treatment and cure of ear infections for centuries by addressing the root cause of the problem.

Before rushing your child at the last minute to the emergency room for drainage and drugs, know the signs and symptoms and treat naturally.

To avoid swimmer’s ear, drop a few drops of white vinegar into your child’s ear after swimming to kill bacteria.

Be conscious of your child’s emotional environment, children who “block” out what is being said to them may require a different approach to communication, sometimes emotional barriers manifest in the physical.

When your child has reddened or inflamed ears, try using a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to reduce swelling. Couple this with light, yet firm massage on pressure points along the jaw, backs of the ears, cheekbones and top of the head.

The first line of defense is to make sure the home environment is free of unnecessary pollutants and toxins, such as harsh chemical cleaners, sulphuric products and cigarette smoke which can be the cause of allergies and asthma.

Make sure their diets are well balanced and healthy and avoid dairy products which may cause a build up of mucus to form in infected areas, such as the upper respiratory system. Adjusting your child’s diet to include more raw fruits and vegetables and reducing dairy, red meat and processed foods will show an automatic immune response by improving energy, creating a more stable internal environment, strengthening liver function to fight toxins and balancing internal flora. When your child has an infection serve only foods that are seasonal and do not have extreme temperatures. Serve juice or tea lukewarm, do not let them eat ice cream or freezer pops. Warmer foods help to decrease the mucus in the system.

The immune system can be supported by enhancing your child’s diet with vital herbs such as garlic, a powerful anti-viral and anti-microbial; elderberry which has been clinically proven to fight cold and flu and strengthen the immune system overall; Echinacea acts as a lymphatic decongestant and its powerful antimicrobial functions make it the ideal herb for treating any viral, bacterial or fungal infection.

Mullein and Garlic Oil dropped directly into the ear acts as an analgesic and anti-bacterial, ridding the inner ear of infection and easing pain. Drop 3 drops into the infected ear and have your child rest on a pillow on their side for 5-10 minutes. Repeat on the opposite side. In the meantime, wrap the hot water bottle in a towel and place under the other ear. A substitute for this or additional to the oil can be Calendula Oil.

Above all, your child’s comfort in times of illness is important. Rest and relaxation aid in easing discomfort. Chamomile tea is an excellent and gentle sleep aid and Valerian Glycerite is a superior calmative for fussy infants and children of all ages.

If the infection persists more than 4-5 days seek medical advice. It is often the case that fluid from an inner ear infection can remain in the ear anywhere from 2-3 months. Fever may occur with infection, it is important to become comfortable with the notion of fever as a detoxification agent, cleaning out the system naturally and preparing for a new, healthier internal environment to be born. You can support this natural healing process with the use of herbs and natural health remedies. By following these measures you can reduce the chance of your child getting painful chronic ear infections and improve their long term health overall.