Herbs for Cough and Lung Problems
22 Feb 2011 1 Comment
in Allergies and Asthma, Baby & Child Health, Flu & Cold, God's Green Herbs, Preggo Mama, tea Tags: Albuterol, asthma, child cough herbs, cough, herbs for cough, HERBS FOR KIDS
My sister just stopped by in a panic because my 5-year-old niece was coughing non stop all day and she suffers from asthma. She has been working on changing their diet and determining her triggers but for today she wanted me to mix up something quick and effective to help my niece stop coughing.
My sister told me that my niece was doing breathing treatments with Albuterol and Pulmicort and her asthmatic coughing was as persistent as ever. Now, these meds have a place in our world when absolutely necessary and in an emergency but they are not a cure-all. The Albuterol is a bronchodilator while the Pulmicort is an inhaled steroid. Both Albuterol and Pulmicort are medications used to treat asthma, however Albuterol is short acting and reserved for acute symptoms management. Pulmicort is a medication taken daily in an attempt to suppress the symptoms of asthma and therefore reduce the need to use Albuterol. Both have serious side effects worth reading about, so research them if you use this medication.
When my first son was smaller he took many doses of both of these meds to no avail in addition to several other prescriptions. He got worse and ended up in the hospital or doctor’s office weekly. It was not until I started studying everything in detail and determining his triggers and also treating his stomach and food allergies that his condition started to get better.
But in my sister’s case she had done everything her pediatrician advised and my little niece was still coughing away.
So I whipped up a quick herbal goodie bag of La Chica Organica”s Cough Control Tea which has fennel. ginger, fenugreek and mullein. I also gave her 30 drops of organic cayenne extract, 15 drops of my lemon balm extract and 3 drops of super strong oil of oregano. The trick was getting this screaming coughing child to down less than an ounce of this spicy stuff that I mixed with juice. She kicked and screamed, we bribed her with candy and she gave in. The funny thing is that in our home everyone including out 17 month old has done some form of Cayenne shots and there is rarely a scream or kick from them although we sometimes jump up and down and make faces. But we have gotten use to it and I started them early so now its as common as drinking a glass of water, although my oldest son sometimes freaks out, we usually handle the heat quite well.
The cool thing is that my niece’s cough stopped immediately and I sent my sister home with enough herbs to make a few cups of tea and some herbal cough drops. I also advised her to add some raw crushed garlic to her tea.
But I must say that not all coughs are the same so its important that you pay attention and seek medical advise to determine the cause of the cough as a serious cough can be a sign of bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, post nasal drainage, allergies and more.
If you are wondering why I chose some of the herbs mentioned for my nieces cough; here is some helpful information about their medicinal properties:
Fenugreek – The seed part of fenugreek is a mucilaginous herb with affinity for the lymphatic and respiratory systems. It is an excellent herb to use for conditions involving excess mucus or phlegm such as asthma. It has bitter principles, saponins, which have a dissolving and loosening properties, which may explain why it has been used to dissolve thick or hardened mucus and aid in its expulsion from the body. It may help expel toxic waste from the lymphatic system as mucus secretions come from the lymphatic system. Mucilage is also helpful in the digestive process.
Garlic has been used for centuries for its antibiotic and its ability to help with dry coughs. One significant advantage of garlic is that the bacteria do not seem to build up a resistance to it as they do to many modern antibiotics; “garlic does not seem to produce such resistant strains”. This also makes it potentially effective against hospital superbugs. To make an effective garlic syrup just mince a clove of garlic and place in a small bowl; cover with honey and cover the bowl with plastic wrap; marinate overnight then strain off the garlic and place honey in a jar. Take one tablespoonful upon awakening, then throughout the day, as needed. This can also be done by using red onion and garlic for colds, flu and coughs.
Fennel is an aromatic herb, especially useful for stimulating the digestive process. It has a long history of use in helping to overcome colic, gas and other digestive disturbances. These oils appear to stimulate the lungs to eliminate phlegm. This is known as an expectorant action. Fennel also has diuretic properties. Historically, it has been used in cases of persistent coughs and bronchitis. It is also reported to have anti-convulsive properties.
Mullein is one of the major herbs used for lung problems. It appears to have the ability to loosen mucus and move it out of the body. It also appears to nourish and strengthen the lung tissue making it useful for all respiratory problems and pulmonary diseases. Mullein has been used to help reduce swelling in the lymph nodes as well.
Related articles:
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- Herbal Tinctures to help you during Flu Season
- How do I make a tea with organic loose herbs and what on earth is a Decoction?
- Cold and Flu Cocktails/Remedies – What you Should Have on Hand!
- Got Cayenne? Find Out why You Should Always Have it on Hand
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Immunity Boosting Secrets for Tea Making
30 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, organic food, recipes, tea Tags: cough, Coughs, echinacea tea, Elderberries, Herb, Honey, Immune system, immunity, Runny Noses, Sambucus, Sneezes, tea
Coughs, Sneezes, Runny Noses Anyone?
Our kids are back in school and stress seems to be creeping up on me not just because of homework and traffic but germy wormies!
My little girl came home Thursday with a fever, coughing, sneezing and saying “mommyyyyyy I don’t feel so good, can you make me some tea?”
So super Herbal Mama to the rescue. I made her a strong herbal bath Thursday night and again on Saturday night. I also had her drink organic herbal immunity boosting teas all weekend and doubled her op on super smoothies with whole oranges and lemons (peeled), zucchini, cucumber, wheat grass and greens from Amazing Grass and a spoon of raw organic honey.
Her fever was gone by Friday morning and she was on the road to recovery but then she had a cough which I immediately treated with homemade organic elderberry syrup (Sambucus berries). I also gave her oil of oregano several times a day which is a phenomenal infection & inflammation fighter.
here’s what you need to make a great immunity boosting tea (I recommend all organic):
2 Tbls Elderberries
2 Tbls Rosehips
3 Tbls Lemon Balm ot 2 Tbls Thyme
1 Tsp shredded Ginger
1 Tsp dried Lemon peels
1 Tbls Echinacea
2 Tbls Olive Leaf
Optional A dash of Peppermint or Lemongrass for flavor
Boil two 10 ounce cups of water, once water is boiling add in everything except optional ingredients. Boil for 2 minutes and then add in optional ingredients, cover for 10 to 15 minutes strain off herbs (be sure to squeeze/crush juice out of elderberries then sweeten with honey.
If your throat hurts crush a garlic and add it in while steeping.
We enjoy this tea 1 to 3 times a day for up to a week when viruses and bacteria are roaming the airways.
For help finding loose organic herbs be sure to visit my herbal store.
Blessings!
La Chica Organica
Related Articles
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Herbal Remedies: Bathing with herbs for relief of cold and flu symptoms
18 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, God's Green Herbs Tags: baby cold bath, baby flu bath, bath, bath for flu, cold, congestion, cough, flu, herbal baby bath, herbs, oils, rosemary oil, skin
If you have recently had a bad cold or flu you know how awful your body aches and your nose gets stuffed up. How about headaches, back pain, cough and chest congestion due to the flu?
For a fantastic article on some easy herbal fixes check out our recent article entitled Cold and Flu Cocktails/Remedies – What you Should Have on Hand!
My husband came down with a bad flu and he was hurting. For two days I kept pestering him to take an herbal bath and he refused. Finally he gave in and I made him one because I know that when I am suffering with a cold or a flu virus the best thing I can do for my body is soak in a huge cup of tea.
Let me just say that hubby was miserable. His body ached and he had a badly stuffed up nose in addition to a hacking cough and terrible back pain and joint discomfort.
So I filled up a 4 quart pot with water then added 1 cup of eucalyptus, 1 Cup of Thyme, 1/4 cup of lavender, 3/4 cup of yarrow flowers and a few teaspoons of lemon peels. I let it boil for 3 minutes then steep for 15. Poured the strained mixture into a bathtub half full of water along with 4 ounces of Himalayan Pink Salt. I also added 5 drops of Organic Lemon and Rosemary Essential Oils.
After 45 minutes in the bath he said he could not believe how his nasal cavities had cleared up and his body aches were gone in addition to the throbbing headache. By the next day he did the bath again and most of his symptoms were gone. We continued the bath for several days.
I have been researching and have documented the effects of herbal baths for years and have concluded that the reason why herbals baths work is because our skin is the largest organ on our body. Everything we put on it be it toxic or non toxic is absorbed by our skin and it will affect our overall well-being positively or negatively.
Next time you’re feeling under the weather try an Herbal bath. Oh and you can also use the herbs you strained out again for a second bath.
I take herbal baths with our baby almost every day now that he is teething and gets congested on and off; it really helps him get rid of some of the nasal congestion and works to help his overall discomfort.
Be sure to check out our herbal/Green Store where we have a variety of herbal baths available including our newest one for babies called “I’m an Organic Baby Bath™”
For ordering information please email us at LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com
Treat Chest Congestion Naturally
22 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, God's Green Herbs, tea Tags: Chest, chest congestion poultice, cough, onion poultice, Treat chest congestion naturally, treat kids chest congestion
I wanted to share a great little poultice recipe that I use in addition to other natural remedies. I use it to help our little ones with congestion. Poultices are an age-old remedy for chest congestion, injuries, bone breaks, inflammation, stings, bites etc.
A ginger or onion compress on the chest is known to break up lung congestion and facilitates breathing. For several hundred years onions have also been used to help curb asthma and allergic reactions.
So how do you make a poultice? Its actually quite simple to do and you can pretty much make a poultice of anything.
For this chest congestion poultice I use:
1 red onion, chopped along with a large clove of garlic that has been pressed
¼ cup of grated fresh ginger or two teaspoons of dried ginger
4 ounces of water
3 teaspoons of dried thyme.
You can stop here if you want but I usually am feeling quite adventurous so I add in some rose petals, yarrow and rosemary.
Once you have everything ready you place them in a small saucepan and lightly cook together in the water until soft (5 minutes should be enough).
Cool slightly, then mash or blend and apply to the chest while still warm. You can add in a little of bit of cornstarch if you want to make the mixture like a paste.
I just use gauze or paper towel on the chest, then scoop in the poultice and cover with another clothe. I get an old towel and place it in the drier until it’s hot. Then I place it on top of the poultice and if it’s sunny out I have the kids sit on the couch where the sun can reach their chest area. If it’s hot out you could always have your kids sit out by the pool if you have one.
Depending on our schedule and the severity of the congestion I leave on the poultice for a minimum of 15 minutes to a max of 3 hours. When I leave it on for longer periods I always reheat the towel in the drier every 20 minutes or so.
Now for the fun part. I always notice that immediately after we are done the kids start coughing and hacking up all the nasty congestion. I encourage them to breathe all the way in and cough as they are breathing out. Several times of this really draws out the slimy monsters.
If you want to take something internally to break up and assist with congestion you can make tea with any of these herbs: mullein, comfrey root, fennel, hyssop or eucalyptus.
I hope you enjoyed this fun simple safe recipe.
Do you have Thyme?
30 Mar 2010 3 Comments
in Baby & Child Health, God's Green Herbs Tags: and expectoration of upper respiratory catarrh, asthma, boost immune system, bronchial spasms, bronchitis, cold, cough, diarrhea, fever, flatulence, flue, gargle for sore throat, thyme, tonsillitis and laryngitis and to relieve colic
Yes I said thyme as in the green herb that we often cook with.
Thyme unlike what many people are aware of makes a great tea to boost immunity rid the body of infectious bacteria, viruses and has great astringent properties.
Thyme is an aromatic herb. It’s antiseptic and used as a circulatory stimulant when taken hot. Its also a bronchial antispasmodic and expectorant.
Thyme is taken for fevers, colds and flu, coughs, bronchitis, asthma, bronchial spasms, and expectoration of upper respiratory catarrh. Its also used as As a gargle for sore throat, tonsillitis and laryngitis and to relieve colic, flatulence and diarrhea.
Its best to use Organic Thyme, you can purchase store bought fresh Thyme or the dried leaves. If you use the dried leaves make sure to store in a cool dry and dark place. To make the tea just boil some distilled water and pour it over about a teaspoon of dried Thyme. Let it steep for about 15 minutes strain off the herbs then add the juice of one lemon and sweeten with honey. If you want you can also add some dried ginger root or the juice of fresh ginger root.
La Chica Organica can get you Organic Dried Thyme and many other Organic Herbs at a great price- just send me your request to LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com if your interested.
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