Winter Health
Winter is getting closer, the nights are colder, and acute illnesses are becoming more prevalent. With the fluctuations in temperature from warm days to cold nights, dry indoor heating, and kids back in school spreading germs, it is easy to catch a cold or worse this time of year. That does not mean that you have to suffer this winter, however. There are many natural methods to keep you healthy or help you recover faster if you do catch your coworker’s cold. As an herbalist I see hundreds of illnesses respond favorably to herbal medicine every winter and hope to share my experiences with you so that you can experience the same relief.
Prevention is the best way to stay well this winter. Echinacea’s popularity is not unfounded as it is one of the best immune enhancing herbs if you feel your stress level elevated and your immunity down. Even after you’ve received the first blow of illness Echinacea is useful, but other herbs should also be used if you want a speedy recovery. Astragalus is another more pleasant tasting immune enhancer, which makes it great for taste conscious children. I recommend taking these herbs in a tincture, a liquid extract in an alcohol base, as the potency is preserved in alcohol and gets into the blood stream quicker, thus being more effective. For kids and others that are sensitive to alcohol try a glycerin based tincture instead.
If you have missed your opportunity to stave off a winter cold or flu altogether and are beginning to experience achiness, sore throat, stuffiness, etc. it is time for more drastic measures. Taking antibiotics when you have a virus is not useful as they are only effective on bacterial infections and can actually decrease your state of health by killing useful bacteria in your gut necessary for proper digestion. This is where herbal medicine shines with anti-viral herbs such as Osha, Lomatium, and Baptisia. All can help decrease the time you are sick and can be used in combination with other herbs for symptomatic relief. Osha, a local plant traditionally used by native people in this area, is particularly useful for upper respiratory infections due to its added ability to expectorate mucus out of the lungs and thus help resolve lung infections. For those that have a bacterial infection such as strep throat or a sinus infection, Usnea tincture, a lichen that grows off tree branches in the area, can be useful if used immediately and diligently. If you are not experiencing relief after several days be sure to see a doctor as the complications from an untreated Strep infection can be serious. Thyme, Yerba Santa, and Eyebright are useful for upper respiratory congestion and are good in combination with antiviral or antibacterial herbs in tincture. Herbs to try for a dry, unproductive or painful cough are Elecampane, Mullein, or Coltsfoot. Soothing herbs like Licorice, Marshmallow and Fenugreek are also useful if there is much irritation in the throat, lungs or sinuses and all can be made into a pleasant tea.
Another time honored way to recover from a winter illness is through sweating. At the beginning of an illness try taking a hot bath while drinking a cup of Peppermint tea. As soon as you get out of the bathtub bundle up in a warm robe and jump into a bed piled with blankets and stay there. Bringing up your body temperature stimulates your immune system, which is why we get feverish when sick. If you quickly produce a temperature over 101 when illness strikes you can be assured that your immune system is working effectively. Suppressing a fever with over the counter medication might make you feel better temporarily but it is actually suppressing your immune function and will keep you ill longer.
While Goldenseal is an herb that has been popular for years for winter ailments, particularly in combination with Echinacea, I do not recommend using it in my practice. Besides the fact that it is endangered or threatened in most of its habitat and is exorbitantly expensive, it is also in my opinion often the wrong herb to use. During the initial stages of an illness your body puts up defenses through secretion and inflammation to fight off foreign invaders. Goldenseal, an anti-inflammatory to mucus membranes, will only stop your body’s wise attempt at defense making it harder for your body to heal. If you have taken this combination before you have probably experienced some relief from the symptoms of your cold (stuffiness and runny nose) and thus thought that you were getting better. However it may actually draw out your illness in the same way over-the-counter cold medicines do. Goldenseal is indicated in chronic ailments, where continued inflammation could lead to a secondary infection such as a sinus infection, and with bacterial infections. If you want an affordable and ethical substitute for Goldenseal try Oregon Grape or Yerba Mansa, and use them appropriately as well.
Most importantly, when it comes to health, listen to what your body is wanting and give it the rest and caring it needs to make the healing process easy and successful.
Health and Blessings, Melanie Rose
Melanie Rose is the owner of Hummingbird Herbals, located at 230 E. College in Durango and offers classes and herbal consultations. She has been working with herbs for the past seventeen years.