Re: Alternative Remedies for the Cold War

[Guest guest]

This is a very interesting article. Thanks, Elaine.

----- Original Message -----

From: " Elaine " <elainer@...>

" RA " < egroups>

Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 4:53 PM

Subject: [ ] Alternative Remedies for the " Cold War "

> Alternative Remedies for the " Cold War "

> Shaw, Medical Writer

>

> The signs are everywhere: coughing, sniffling, sneezing, rasping.

> Office hallways are half-deserted and school playgrounds at recess

> aren't nearly as noisy. This winter may be relatively mild so far,

> but the cold and fever season has hit with a vengeance. Before you

> stock up on remedies in the cold and fever section of your local

> drugstore or supermarket, though, take a look a little closer to home.

> Some of the best treatments for the common cold and related ailments

> are also some of the oldest. Grandma knew what she was doing when

> she drowned you in chicken soup!

>

> " Many of the basic, common-sense therapies that mothers and

> grandmothers have depended on through the years are still valid, "

> says L. Hardy, MD, director of the Integrative Medicine Group

> at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an assistant clinical professor

> at the University of Southern California School of Medicine.

> " For example, chicken soup not only helps break up nasal congestion,

> but many recipes include garlic, which has antibiotic properties. "

> If you're in good general health, folk remedies like chicken soup can

> be very effective in treating a routine cold, Dr. Hardy notes.

> As cold season hits hard, she recommends that you fight back with

> this " baker's dozen " of traditional treatments. Folk remedies like

> chicken soup can be very effective in treating a routine cold.

>

> Water. It sounds ridiculously simple, but relief may be as close as

> your faucet. Remember when Mom told you to drink lots of fluids?

> There's a reason for that. " Your body doesn't work well if the

> mucous membranes aren't lubricated, " explains Dr. Hardy. Drink plenty

> of water, and either boil water or use a clean humidifier to create

> steam to provide internal and external hydration. (Remember, you lose

> a lot of fluids when you're sick.) If you have a fever, you can soak

> in cool water (not cold; avoid shocking your system) to keep it down.

>

> Chicken soup. Research has begun to document what Grandma always knew:

> Chicken soup may make you feel better when you're sick. Speaking

> scientifically, the heat, the liquid (remember the part about keeping

> hydrated?), and the antibiotic activity of garlic may help ease your

> symptoms and boost immune activity.

>

> Spice up your life. Ever noticed that your nose often runs when you

> eat spicy Mexican or Indian food? That's because spices help to clear

> the sinuses. If you're all plugged up, add horseradish, hot peppers

> like cayenne, curry and chilies, and other spices to your diet to help

> clear things up.

>

> Wild cherry bark tea. Have you ever wondered why so many cough syrups

> and lozenges are wild cherry flavored? At the turn of the century,

> most cough syrup was extracted from the bark of the wild cherry tree.

>

> The three Gs: garlic, ginger, and goldenseal. These herbs and spices

> have antiviral, antiseptic, or antibiotic properties. Your nearest and

> dearest may not care for your breath, but garlic is most effective when

> eaten raw: Cooking reduces its potency. You can try ginger and goldenseal

> in both capsule and tea form.

>

> Eucalyptus. If Mom ever slapped Vicks Vapo-Rub on your chest when you

> were a kid (and whose mom didn't?), you've had a eucalyptus treatment.

> But you can make your own eucalyptus inhaler: Just put a couple of drops

> of essential eucalyptus oil into the water when you're preparing for a

> steam treatment.

>

> Honey and lemon. There's a reason everyone tells you to drink tea

> with honey and lemon when you get a cold. " They're soothing, calming,

> vulnerary [healing] agents. They heal up inflammation, " explains Dr.

Hardy.

> Licorice also has vulnerary properties and may reduce inflammation.

> " A lot of coughs are not productive. They're just dry tickles. Honey

> and lemon can help lubricate the throat and produce saliva, reducing the

> dry tickle. "

>

> Fruit juice. You've drunk an ocean of OJ and an orchard of apple juice,

> right? Well, keep going. But you might want to dilute particularly

> sugary fruit juices with water to reduce the sugar content, since too

> much sugary foods believed by some to hinder your immune response.

> Other good sources of vitamin C are rose hip teas and " zinger " teas,

> says Dr. Hardy. So if you're overdosing on Minute Maid, try alternating

> with one of these.

>

> Osha root. This remedy comes to us from the Native Americans, who chewed

> osha root to fight a cold. Native American grandmas knew what they were

> talking about too, since osha and another common Native American

> alternative, wild indigo, have immune-stimulating properties. " Osha

> has numbing properties as well as antiseptic and immune properties.

> It's included in a lot of modern remedies, " says Dr. Hardy.

>

> Lemon balm. This herb garden standard has been found to have some

> antiviral properties. " It's also calming and helps to soothe the

> stomach as well, " notes Dr. Hardy.

>

> Elderflower. Teas and syrups made from elderflower, elderberry, and

> chamomile may help to reduce fever.

>

> Thyme. Antibacterial properties in this herb may help with upper

> respiratory symptoms.

>

> Fenugreek. A multipurpose legume used often in curries, chutneys,

> and soups, fenugreek has mucus-thinning action that may help unblock

> your nasal passages.

>

> Like over-the-counter medications, natural remedies may have some

> unwanted effects.

>

> But just like over-the-counter medications, natural remedies may have

> some unwanted effects, such as interfering with medications and your

> body's regular metabolism. If you have other medical conditions,

> or are pregnant or breast-feeding, Dr. Hardy warns that you should

> take extra care before using these treatments. Also, some products

> should not be given to children. Most important, get a good diagnosis.

> " If your cold is not acting like a normal cold, or if it has lasted

> more than a short amount of time, go see your doctor to be sure you

> don't have a more serious condition like pneumonia, " Dr. Hardy says.

> The elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and anyone with

> chronic health problems should be particularly alert to symptoms

> and be vaccinated against influenza.

>

> Feb.2000

> © 2000 by Medscape Inc. All rights reserved.

>

> Elaine