Welcome to The Modern Apothecary E-News
Hi and Weclome to The Modern Apothecary E-News!
We all know that this Cold & Flu Season has been quiet severe. The staff at the apothecary have seen hundreds of people looking for alternative treatments for their symptoms with many walking out of the store with a herbal mix to combat the winter ills and to support immune system function. Unfortunately the cold days still aren’t totally over and the bugs still seem to be lingering. The good news is you can do a lot to prevent getting sick during the last days of this season. Ensure you get lots of rest, take Vitamin C and Echinacea daily, and always consume only fresh, unprocessed foods rich in nutrients and vitality. If you do happen to see the first signs of a cold coming on, there are many ways to reduce the duration of the illness and reduce the severity of the symptoms. The article below gives effective treatment measures for the common cold and influenza. And remember that although your symptoms have gone, your immune system will still be weakened and will be susceptible recurrent infections. Your immune system is fully capable of fighting many diseases if given the right nutrients and adequate rest.
We hope to see you in the store soon!
In health and Happiness,
The staff at The Modern Apothecary
The Common Cold & Influenza (flu).
Symptoms can be caused by a viral infection spread by sneezing or coughing. Symptoms can include runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands, earache, fever, aches and pains, headache, cough, and general malaise. Uncomplicated symptoms rarely last more than a few days.
Nutrition & Lifestyle Advice
- Bed rest. Generally, if your immune system is fairly strong, bed rest with a few simple nutrients should be all you need when the first symptoms come along as the common cold is a self-limiting illness and therefore will run its course. Rest allows time for the body to recover and for immune function to regain strength. However, with people working longer and harder hours, time off sometimes just isn’t an option. Ideally, a day or 2 at home in bed is just as healing as a bottle of herbs.
- Plenty of fluids, particularly and most importantly water. Herbal teas are a great way to keep your water intake optimal and to prevent dehydration. The warm water will heat the body, facilitating diaphoresis (sweating during a fever) and soothes the mucous membranes. A great decoction to brew when symptoms first appear is to add the juice of one lemon, an inch of ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, a dash of chilli, and 2 cups of water to a medium sized saucepan. Boil over moderate heat for 5 minutes. Sweeten with a teaspoon of honey. Drink this throughout the day. This brew will assist in the elimination of any infection, sooth the throat and respiratory tract, warm the body, and ease any aches and pains.
- Avoid sugar, fats, cigarettes, caffeine, and alcohol during times of infection as these affect the immune system negatively and will prolong the duration of any symptoms.
- Avoid stress. Stress greatly reduces the strength of the immune system in fighting infections. If you are run down from the effects of stress, this should be addressed in order to prevent further illnesses from occurring.
- Steam inhalations with essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, pine, thyme, tea tree, rosemary, and basil. Steam inhalations may provide immediate relief from cold and flu symptoms such as congestion, coughs, and respiratory catarrh.
Beneficial supplements
The following are in adult doses. Please contact The Modern Apothecary if you would like information on treating children.
- Vitamin C: 500mg 4-6 times daily
- Zinc: 25mg 1-2 times daily.
- Cod Liver oil: Contains vitamin A and vitamin D, essential for mucous membrane health and proper immune system function. 1 capsule three times a day. *NB When taken in excess of 8000iu, Vitamin A can cause birth defects. If you are pregnant, consult a health care professional before taking vitamin A.
- Blackmores PCIP: 1 tablet every 15 minutes for one hour, 1 every 30 minutes for 2 hours, 1 every hour for 4 hours, then 1 every 2 hours until symptoms reduce.
Beneficial Herbs - Antiviral, antibacterial and immune stimulant actions
- Echinacea: antimicrobial, antiviral, antiseptic, diaphoretic, immunomodulator
- Elder: anticatarrhal, diaphoretic
- Rosehips: high in vitamin C
- Yarrow: diaphoretic
- Ginger: diaphoretic, expectorant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory
- Marshmallow: soothing to mucous membranes
- Peppermint: antibacterial, antispasmodic, diaphoretic
- Licorice: antiviral, soothing to mucous membranes, expectoant, anti-inflammatory
- Andrographis: immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory
- Garlic: antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, mucolytic, antioxidant.
A herbal throat gargle or throat spray with myrrh, thyme, sage, licorice, wild indigo, and calendula, may help to relieve sore throats.
The Modern Apothecary Herbal teas
- Immunity (Echinacea, Elder, Peppermint, Licorice, Marshmallow, Rosehips, Yarrow, Ginger). Improves immunity and resistance to infections, aids fever management, reduces catarrh, and improves circulation.
- Soothe (Elder, Licorice, Marshmallow root, Thyme, Ginger). Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and soothing tea for respiratory irritations such as infections, coughs, and laryngitis.
WINTER EMAIL PROMOTION
Mention this email and receive a free pot of Immunity tea in the store and 2 free mini teas of your choice to sample and find your favourite herbal tea blend.
