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Therapeutic Recommendations: Herbal
Stinging Nettle-(Urtica Dioica) Four hundred years ago, the British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper claimed that nettle roots and leaves, used in juice or tea, were “safe and sure medicines to open the pipes and passages of the lungs.” For many years, Australians have viewed nettle as a good treatment for asthma. They drink the juice of the roots and leaves mixed with honey or sugar, and they firmly believe that it relieves bronchial troubles. Americans, on the other hand, did not catch on until a little more than five years ago, when a scientific study was published showing that nettle is a potent antihistamine. Now nettle is increasingly recommended for hay fever and asthma.
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Dosage: 300-500 mg three times per day with a meal. Special tip: When buying nettle supplements, make sure to differentiate nettle leaf from nettle root because they are used differently. Try to purchase either in a freeze-dried form or as an extract.
Recommendation: Gaia Herbs Concentrated Nettle Leaf Extract
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Yamoa Powder- It is produced from the bark of a gum tree called Funtumia elastica. The bark is soaked in clean water, thoroughly dried, and turned into powder. Clinical trials are in the process; the first double-blind study using 78 participants was a resounding success, with 90 percent of the participants reporting that they were free from their long-term respiratory problems and with no adverse side effects. While Yamoa doesn’t stop asthma symptoms immediately, most people experience an improvement in breathing and symptoms within seven to ten days, and most see definite improvement within 30 days. Yamoa powder has also helped with bronchitis and hay fever.
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Dosage: The powder comes in a 30-gram container, and the best way to take it is to mix the 30-gram container with a one-pound jar of honey. Be sure and stir the mixture before each use. Take one teaspoon of the mixture in the morning with breakfast and a second teaspoon at dinnertime. (For children ages two through 12, use only one-half teaspoon/twice a day.)
Recommendation: You can order high quality Yamoa powder at www.yamoapowder.com
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Schisandra Berry- (Schisandra Chinensis) is exceptional for asthma. Traditional Russian and Chinese medicines have long used schisandra for a wide variety of conditions, including coughs and other respiratory ailments, insomnia and kidney problems. Chinese medicine practitioners consider it specific for asthma. The seeds contain lignans, which are believed to be active constituents. Modern Chinese research suggests that these lignans stimulate the immune system, protect the liver, increase adaptation to stress, and may generate a mild sedative effect. Used largely for the lungs to initiate mucous discharges, this quality also marks schisandra for postnasal drip. It is especially effective for excess respiratory phlegm.
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Dosage: Dried schisandra berries actually taste pretty good, so they can be taken as a tea. It is quite mild, so feel free to use as much as you wish. Schisandra is also very effective in liquid extract form.
Recommendation (bulk form): Mountain Rose Herbs bulk Schisandra
Recommendation (capsule form): Paradise Herbs Schisandra v-caps
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Sinus Tea- For sinus congestion, you can try using a tea that is made up of:
- 1 teaspoon of yarrow flowers (Achillea Millefolium)
- 1 teaspoon of elder flowers (Sambucus Nigra)
- 1 tablespoon peppermint leaves (Mentha Xpiperita)
- 1 tablespoon elecampane root (Inula Helenium).
Place all the herbs in a covered container with 1 quart of boiling water. Steep for 20 minutes, strain and drink 1 cup three times daily. You can drink more if you are severely congested. In addition, it is very helpful to make use of a neti pot in conjunction with the tea.
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