Hello gang. My DH is sharing his cold with me (we do love to share everything, you know!) - and I think in my case it's turning into a sinus infection. I really don't want to have to take antibiotics again, because I tend to develop yeast infections... YUCK!!!! So, I want to try an herbal/natural remedy, but I'm painfully ignorant in that area. Can you suggest any herbal treatments that might help?

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 03, 2001

Answers

First of all, if it's really a cold, you need anti-virals, not antibiotics. But luckily most herbal cold-kickers are dual (or even triple - fungal) butt-kickers.

Powdered myrrh (as in frankensinse and...), either as a steam inhalant or in a nasal wash, would probably kick the crap out of it. Check your local natural food store. Also:

Ginger tea made from freshly grated ginger root (cheaper and easier to get at 3am !)

Garlic - take liberally in as raw a form as you can stand it. Best crushed and allowed to set for about 5-10 minutes before ingestion. Eat with other foods, or it will cause burpy garlic indigestion - eeewwww!

Onions - ditto for garlic, but not the crushing part. Not as good as garlic, but right up there. Plus, with these two no one else will get close enough to pass your cold onto!

Goldenseal will help to remove the germs from the body, but works better for "body" colds than just head colds.

Best way to fight cold is to just stay in bed and finish a few good books. A few good colds a year helps keep the immune system on good alert status, and helps maintain varied attack readiness, like wargames, in case of major boogey-germs.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

Read the lables and asked questions before taking herbals though. If you are taking other meds, herbals may increase or decrease the affects of those meds. If you have thyroid disease then you wouldn't want to take goldenseal (don't know why - it was on the package). Bottom line is be careful and understand what you are injesting/inhaling. Barnes and Noble does sell an Herbal PDR that might come in handy.

-- Mike (uyk7@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

Cheryl, This may not sound very appetizing, but it works good, especially for colds that settle in the lungs. Make a tea with crushed garlic, about a clove for cup is good, and add honey to taste. I first used this when my youngest was about a year old and woke up about 3AM with wheezing. We decided to take her to the emergency room since having asthma myself, I didn't want to take a chance of her getting worse. But I made up a bottle of the garlic tea which she was drinking in the car on the way to ER. Well, by the time we got there, she had stopped wheezing and seemed fine, so we saved ourselves a lot of money and probably her from being loaded with medications and went on home. So garlic tea has gotten to be a routine whenever she or myself too have a cold and she has never had any wheezing since. No one wants to get near you for a while, but it does work. Hope you are feeling better soon. Sherry

-- Sherry S, N.Fl (natmatters@mail.istal.com), October 03, 2001.

Hello Cheryl, What works really well for my family and me is homemade onion and garlic soup. Four every four onions I add one clove of garlic. I simmer it in chicken stock until the onions are translucent. Pour into a bowl and serve with croutons and cheese. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

The best all around remedy for viral AND bacterial infections of ALL types is astragalus root, it boosts your white cell counts so you fight off the infection naturally. And it works! I have used astragalus root capsules, two taken twice a day, for over two years now to bolster my failing immune system and help resist colds and flu better. I was catching a cold three or four times a year, now hardly ever, and I recover much faster from them. It is very safe to use, even for long term use. The Chinese have used it for over 2000 years. It is even available now at most Walmarts and nutrition stores everywhere.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), October 03, 2001.

I use colliodal silver, one tsp three times a day, when I feel something coming on. Kills bacteria and viruses on contact. Works every time for us.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), October 03, 2001.

Sherry, minus the garlic tea, you did exactly what cures asthma in children. Got them out of the house with carpeting, pets, a bedroom full of dust ruffels, stuffed animals and the pet sleeping in their bed. It is actually a very well known diagnosis of asthma, that you are better upon coming to the hospital. Both the fresh air of the drive, the adreniline your body has from being in an emergency, and the tiled clean inviornment of the hospital. Asthama kills, get your child to the doctor and at least have all those meds :) on hand. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

I have always used honey to prevent a cold as soon as the sore throat and sneezes show up and I never get the cold. I'm not sure if it would work once you are into the full blown symptoms but at least it would sooth your throat if that hurts.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), October 03, 2001.

Hi Cheryl, Not a remedy here, but some symptom relief. If you have it on hand, why not try 1000 mg of Vitamin C, three times a day. I've found it really helps with cold symptoms, and really gives a good energy boost. 3000 mg a day for colds isn't an unsafe dose, as Vitamin C is water soluable, and any amount over what your body can use will leave your body. (So my doctor says) Of course, lots of oranges, or other foods high in C would do just as well, I'd expect. I've also found using Tabasco sauce in more than my eggs helps with cold symptoms, as well. Don't forget to drink LOTS of water, too.

Just a bit of an aside for "mighty Vities", my two kids have had 2 different colds each in the last month. I usually end up with them, and suffer a lot more than anyone else. This time, however, I haven't caught either cold. For the last month and a half I've been taking certain vitamins for Peri-menopause symptoms (anxiety, palpitations, shortness of breath, irritability, confusion), and boy, are they kicking butt! Working for the symptoms, PMS symptoms, and keeping me from colds! And, wow, when I wake up, boy am I awake! Anyone wants to know what they are, and dosages, just email me.

-- Rheba (rhebabeall@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

What is astragalus root? Thanks

-- Mike (uyk7@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

Sorry don't know a cure, but THE best preventative is...drumroll please... washing your hands! sing happy b-day 2xs for perfectly clean, but even a rinse will help stop the spread of bacteria or virus.

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), October 03, 2001.

I've had great luck with an echinacea/goldenseal mixture in root tincture form. Tastes like *bleck* but good fer what ails ya. A coffee chaser works best to kill the taste. Skip the pill forms, I've found them to be mainly ineffective.

-- Susan (smtroxel@socket.net), October 03, 2001.

My mother has been doing quite a bit of research on just what you are asking. Evidently, current research in Israel shows promising results in arresting viral infections by using elderberry extract. For bacterial infections, my mother has learned that grapefruit seed extract is quite effective. She tried using it for a recent bladder infection, and it worked very well, with no side effects typical with prescription antibiotics. Both are available in Health Food Stores.

-- Liz Rhein (merhein@shentel.net), October 03, 2001.

Thanks so much to everyone! Once again, you Countrysiders have come through with great information!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 04, 2001.

just a thought, but usually i prefer to just be sick. i think that trying to cure it isn't always a good thing. maybe it means you both have been doing too much and need to take a break.

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), October 04, 2001.

Dear Cheryl:

I have suffered for years with chronic sinus infections. I also hate taking antibiotics -- yeast infections - YUCK!!! I have found a miraculous cure for myself. It is called a neti pot. It is a small ceramic pot that looks a little like Aladdins lamp. You mix up a little saltwater in it and use the pour spout to pour it in one nostril with your head tilted to the side. I know this sounds crazy but it works, works, works. It is not uncomfortable but it does feel a little weird.

The water runs through your sinus and out the other nostril. You can also pull the water through into your mouth by plugging the opposite nostril, closing your mouth and breathing in. Tipping your head at various angles brings the water into different places in your head washing out your ear canals as well. At first I had to use it three or four times a day until my sinus cavity began to get opened up - now just once a day and sometimes not even that. More when I get a cold. After a few days of using this at first my sinus' actually stung. I breathed in and felt air rushing into places that had been stuffed up for so long that the cold air hurt. I know it sounds crazy but this little pot has been a lifesaver. It is an age old cure used as part of the Yoga disipline. Look it up on the internet - I purchased mine online. I have even heard of some people using a drop or two of goldenseal tincture in the water as an antiseptic but have no experience with this nor do I know if it is safe.

Hope you get some antibiotic-free relief.

Sara

-- Sara Perry (JPerry1218@aol.com), October 04, 2001.

I have chronic bronchitis, asthma, and had frequent sinus infections. As soon as I start to feel stuffy I start to drink LOTS of water (maybe a gallon a day). I also eat garlic and onion soup. I usually feel well in about a day. I used to get pneumonia 2 or 3 times a year, but I have not had it in the 3 years I've used this method.

-- Gayle Smith (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), October 04, 2001.

I went to a holistic MD for the first time just recently and he introduced me to Pau d'Arco. I'm using it as an anti-fungal for a skin problem, but Bren looked it up in one of her many tomes and it turns out to be a whip-ass natural system enhancer. Also known as Lapacho it is an antibiotic, antifungal, immune stimulant, anti-inflammatory and an anti-tumor. (YES, TUMOR!!) It is the inner bark of a South American tree. [Info from Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants by Andrew Chevallier] It's done a good job for me and I haven't contracted the crud that's going around while I've been using it...anecdotal but what the hey? Good luck. gilly

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 04, 2001.

a word of caution on Lapacho,it comes from the rain forests in brazil, they are currently using agent orange to defoliate.unfortunatly the agent orange gets on all trees, including LAPACHO. be careful

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), November 29, 2001.

Ok, this will not clear up your current infection, but, the best preventative there is, is Echinacea. You will not get this sick again. It's best to grow your own too. I know from experience. I've been using it for 3 years now, and I used to get all the colds and flues that came around all winter long. Now, I rarely get sick, and if I do, it's not bad at all. Echinacea is easy to grow. At least E. Purpura. And, you don't have to use the roots. All you need is the areial parts. If you have any growing wild where you live, you can collect the seeds and use them to grow your own. If there are a lot growing wild, you can take a stem from several plants and it won't hurt them. But, it is on the endangered list in many places. Also, check out the stores where you live. Most places carry it. I make my own tincture with it, and make enough for the whole winter. At the first sign of a cold, you take 3 droppers full every 2 hours for a couple of days, then you cut back to 3 or 4 times a day for a week. Then you stop taking it until you need it again. I will never be without my echinacea again! If you want to learn how to make the tincture, e-mail me.

-- Diana (rock_hunter83@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

Cheryl-Have you heard of Kombucha? Someone recommended it to me for my chronic sinus infections, and I have not been to the doctor since last March when I started drinking the stuff. It is a fermented tea beverage, with a history that goes back a thousand years. It sounds kind of weird, but if you look it up on the internet, that'll probably explain it better than I can. If you happen to look it up and decide you want a starter, I could mail you one. It is also good for clearing up yeast infections, because it contains a yeast that is beneficial and works with your body. Good luck. Jennifer

-- Jennifer Lehman (djlehman@interl.net), January 07, 2002.

I recently did TONS of searching for an answer to this chronic sinusitis! I, too, am sick of all the medications and doctor's visits. The first thing I've found, and actually know people who this works for, is to cut out all dairy or try a "mucusless" diet. It may sound a little cruel if you love dairy like I do, but if it works, it'll be worth it (I'm currently "weaning" myself slowly!) Secondly, nasal irrigation is DEFINETELY helping... but don't waste your money on a "neti pot," a bulb syringe (like a baby's nasal aspirator) works perfectly. If you've been on antibiotics for an extended period of time, you should really replace the good bacterial that was killed off... something as simple as yogurt will do (you can get dairy free, just make sure it has the active cultures in it, or eat a bunch before you phase out the dairy.) I'm also intrigued by cleansing diets. They claim that we've got such a build-up of toxins in our body from medications, sugar and salt overindulgence, over processed foods, and pesticides and growth hormones that are in everything us "regular" folks buy at the grocery store, that our body need to get rid of them to function properly... there's a ton of info on the internet you can research. No testimonials on these yet (except nasal irrigation) as I've just begun, but I hope it works for SOMEONE!!

-- Suzanne Bidniuk (cj622@bellatlantic.net), January 26, 2002.

Bee propolis, tincture form, is also a powerful antibiotic. Stops a sore throat quickly!

Lotsa hot drinks and all the other herbs mentioned. Stay in bed with a hot water bottle.

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), January 26, 2002.