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Most of
us can easily treat our cold and flu at home without a
trip to the doctor. Read on for some great tips on
creating an emergency kit for the natural treatment of
your cold and flu as well as to when you really should
see a doctor.
The key to success is SPEED and
CONSISTENCY.
If you start treatment within the first 2-12
hours of symptoms (ex. Scratchy throat or feeling run
down) and take your remedies consistently each day, you
will either “nip the cold in the bud” or shorten its
duration significantly. For this reason you should keep
remedies at home. As a general rule continue to take
your remedies 1-2 days after your symptoms clear to
ensure they do not return.
At the first signs of an itchy throat take zinc
lozenges every 2-3 hours.
Use a
dose of 13-23 mg zinc gluconate, gluconate/glucine
and/or acetate. Dissolve very slowly in mouth. Take at
first sign of illness until symptoms totally disappear.
Avoid lozenges with citric acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin
C), tartaric acid, manitol and sorbitol, all of which
inhibit absorption. Fructose appears to be o.k.
Alternatively use a pure zinc tablet but don’t swallow
it (for example, Swiss has zinc gluconate tablets).
They don’t taste too bad. Some people experience local
irritation from zinc. Alternatively try chewing on a
tiny piece of raw garlic and repeat 3-4x daily. This is
my preference but not everyone can tolerate it.
(2) Get Plenty of Vitamin C.
Take 500 mg of vitamin C every hour. Decrease if you
get side effects such as loose stool or nausea.
Typically this entails 1-5 grams daily. Wean off over a
few days. Don’t take vitamin C when taking zinc. When
choosing a vitamin C look for one that contains at least
100 mg of bioflavonoids. Alternatively you can buy
vitamin C powder, add a few grams to water, and sip it
throughout the day. I prefer freshly squeezed lemon
juice (see recipe below) at about ½ a lemon every couple
of hours.
Also
important is that you get plenty of rest and drink lots
fluids. Avoid the mistake of exercising the minute you
feel a little better. Take a day off work and you will
be much more productive when you return.
Herbal Remedies to Take.
Obviously there are many types of herbs you can take, some
for coughs, some for phlegm, some for the immune system
and others for fever. Two of my favorites to boost
the immune system and fight infections are oregano oil
and Echinacea. The doses will vary depending on what
you buy so follow the instructions. The quality of
Echinacea can vary dramatically so you may want to
consult with an expert. If you stick with the tinctures
(herbs made in a liquid alcohol base) the quality is
generally more reliable. I typically use 1200 mg of
Echinacea root or 1 tsp Echinacea tincture every 2
hours. I also use much lower doses for prevention. A
good quality Echinacea will make your tongue tingle.
Oregano oil can be taken in 1-3 drop doses every 2-3
hours. Make sure to dilute both Echinacea tincture
and/or oregano oil in 1-2 ounces of water and take on an
empty stomach. I often combine both Echinacea and
oregano oil. For children ages 3 and up you can divide
½ drop of oregano diluted in olive oil, and rub this
into the soles of their feet.
Respiratory Congestion. If your sinuses and/or nasal passages are blocked purchase
a Nettie Pot. This can be used (follow instructions
that come with it) to naturally clear out all mucous
with no medications. It is wonderful, safe and 100%
natural. You may add a drop of oregano oil to the water
but this may sting the nasal passages if they are
sensitive. If your lungs are congested, fill a bathroom
sink with very hot water (using a plug) and trap in the
steam by covering the sink with a towel. Place 1 drop
of eucalyptus oil in the water. Place your head under
the towel and breathe deeply for up to 5 minutes.
Repeat 2-3 times daily if necessary. This will help
fight the infection as well as loosen phlegm in the
lungs. Be careful if you have asthma and avoid doing
this for very young children. You may also put 1-2
drops in a bathtub instead.
What Should You Eat? It is good to stay away from any foods that cause phlegm buildup. These
include all dairy (the worst offender), concentrated
juices (especially orange and tomato), bananas,
saturated fats, sugar, pork and rich meats, bread, wheat
yeast and roasted peanuts. If you have phlegm and
congestion some helpful foods are almonds, orange and
lemon peel (grated), licorice, celery, mustard seeds and
onions.
You may
have heard the expression ‘feed a cold and starve the
flu’. That is, drink only fluids during the flu because
your body needs to preserve all its energy to get better
rather than expending it on digestion. In general the
flu has an abrupt onset of weakness, muscle
aches, headache, high fever (+ 5-6 above normal), and a
dry cough that often persists. A simple cold comes on
more gradually with feelings of malaise, sneezing, runny
nose, scratchy throat and only a slight fever (+1).
Some
general guidelines for when you should call/visit your
naturopath or medical doctor follow. However, if unsure,
please call the Health Canada Hotline at
1-866-797-0000 at anytime day or night.
Seek
help if the following apply:
Throat:
tonsils
are beefy-red (not just pinkish-red), swollen & pus
covered, been exposed to strep throat, have a red rash
that feels like sandpaper.
Nose/head:
have severe facial pain or headache, nasal discharge is
yellow or green all day long.
Cough:
severe and/or produces thick, rusty, or greenish mucus,
chest pain on breathing or difficulty breathing through
your mouth.
Ears:
moderate to severe ear pain, discharge or still painful
after 10 days.
Fever:
103 degrees F or greater, lasts more than 4 days,
shaking, chills, soaking sweats, shortness of breath or
mental confusion.
Abdomen:
persistent pain or if pain is localized to one area,
black/bloody stools or vomit or coffee grounds
appearance to vomit, more than eight bowel movements per
day.
Persons:
Elderly, immune compromised diabetic or a child. (Source:
Common Cold Cure, Ray Sahelian, MD)
COLD AND
FLU TEA
Ingredients:
3”x1” strip of fresh
ginger, 1 freshly squeezed lemon, 1 tbsp unpasturized
honey (not for children under 5) and 2-3 leaves
of fresh oregano and/or sage.
Instructions:
Grate the
ginger. Steep all ingredients in a sealed glass
container of boiled water for 15 minutes. Sip
throughout the day or in 3 servings. You may repeat
this overnight by your bedside. You may add 1 tbsp
loose licorice root to this mixture for sore throats and
respiratory phlegm. It is also a great antiviral.
SORE THROAT SYRUP
Ingredients: 1/4 tsp
tumeric powder, 1/4 tsp ginger powder, 1/4 tsp cinnamon
powder, 1 tsp honey
Instructions:
Simply mix all the above ingredients together and eat it
off a spoon! Repeat as often as every hour.
** If all else
fails chew on 1/2 clove of raw garlic 2-3 times a day
and this will go a long way to fight any infection in
your throat! |