There are many ways to combat respiratory tract infections, you can discuss with your herbalist or naturopath the best options available to you.
The approaches you can do yourself start with a basic overhaul of your general lifestyle, see if your diet, your energy or your stress levels have slipped and work to counter each one, most is common sense e.g. reduce processed food, start with more purple berries such as elderberry's, blueberries in diet, increase your intake of the onion family especially garlic.
Get outside for a few brisk walks, take up yoga, look at ways to reduce stress levels.
These are the recommendations which should be followed for most good health anyway but a seasonal overhaul allows us to check we are still doing the right thing for ourselves.
To specifically reduce the incidence of respiratory infections, things you can do at home include-
Putting essential oils such as thyme, lavender, peppermint into your oil burner as they are anti infective and can help reduce the incidence of cross infection.
Chop up some garlic, put it into runny honey and leave for 2 days, have a teaspoon a day (can also be given to children over the age of 2).
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| achillea millefolium |
At the first sign of a cold or sore throat a lovely tea made from equal parts of peppermint (mentha piperita), elderflower (sambuccus nigra) and yarrow (achillea millefolium) is a very old and effective remedy, the peppermint soothes sore throats, the elderflower and yarrow help sweat out the burgeoning respiratory infection. 1 heaped teaspoon to a 200mL cup of water that has just boiled, taken and sipped 4-6 times daily.
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| sambuccus nigra in flower |
Astragalus membranaceus can be used to prevent or reduce the incidence of infections, Astragalus has many many uses which have been proven but for today- we are just concentrating on its immune properties. Traditionally it is allegedly said that to prevent infections, take astragalus but in the case of an infection, take Echinacea.
Echinacea angustifolia root is the prime form of Echinacea to take, it is worth a trip to you local herbalist or naturopath to get hold of the prescription level stuff, it works so well on all infections. If you have autoimmune issues then please do consult your local practitioner before taking any herbs until you become aware of what is appropriate for you.
Echinacea can be taken as a tea e.g. 1 heaped teaspoon to 1 cup of water, simmered gently for 2 minutes, strained and drunk preferably with honey or a sweetener. Good quality Echinacea will produce an amazing tongue tingling sensation due to the active chemicals, a liberal dose of something sweet such as honey seems to reduce the effect.
As a tincture Echinacea angustifolia or purpurea can be taken as a dose of 1 ml 3 times daily for an adult.
Echinacea tablets can be taken according to dose directions, please consult a herbalist for further details.
Steena Barnett, M.N.H.A.A., Cert Phyt (1990)
