Viral/Bacterial infection, Prevention acute onset

Viral/Bacterial infection

Prevention and acute onset

 This information is for education and informational purposes. Please consult your health care provider.

Antiviral Blend-as a preventative, 3 to 10 drops a day, acute conditions, 10 to 40 drops every hour.

Chinese skullcap, Houttuynia, Yerba Santa, Lomatium seed and root, Lemon Thyme, Pleurisy root, Yarrow, Poplar bud, Osha, Boneset, Licorice, Honey, alcohol. Caution with high blood pressure, not to be used in pregnancy.

This combination is taken mainly from Buhners (pg 43, 2013) work, the primary interventions are to help stop the virus from entering host cells, and prevent replication, reduce cytokine levels, to lessen the damage done to tissues. Thin the mucus and promote drainage from the lungs, repair tissue, and help normalize the immune response.

Lung Support Tincture-5 to 20 drops, up to 4 times a day as needed.

Lemon thyme, Passionflower, Marshmallow, Anise, Licorice extracted in Port and grain alcohol.

 used to help support the lungs, it helps with cough, spasm, thinning and moving mucus out of the lungs, reduces inflammation, helps relieve pain, is anti-bacterial and anti-Viral, these plants have been traditionally used for Asthma, Pneumonia and croup. Caution with high blood pressure, not to be used in pregnancy

Angellica/Redsage- used for acute conditions. 40 drops every hour. Reduces inflammation, and cytokine cascade to help support the lungs, and is neuroprotective. Specific for encephalitis, SARS, helps prevent sepsis. (I have not been using this with covid19)

Elderberry extract-broad spectrum gentle antiviral. Use as a tonic, 3 to 10 drops a day, or as needed.

Boneset- antiviral. Specific for H1N1.  Tonic dose, 3 to 10 drops a day. Acute as needed. ( this is my personal favorite as a preventative for flu season, although Mugwort and Lomatium ,I think, will be more in line with the strains this year)

Mugwort- antiviral, stomachic, used successfully in the 1918 flu epidemic in New Mexico. (Native Use) 3 to 10 drops tonic, or as needed.

Lomatium- Specific for Valley Fever. Upper Respiratory viral infections, all influenza strains, SARS, viral encephalitis, pneumonia. Combines well with redroot, licorice, pleurisy root. (Buhner235) I bought this root is Sedona, at the trading post. Best used with other herbals, in acute conditions. (antiviral blend)

Echinechea- I use this externally for mom, on swollen glands, to help support the Lymphatic system. (internally this herb stimulates the immune system, and is contraindicated in people with autoimmune issues) only when needed.

Poke Flower Essence- Supports the Lymphatic system and spleen, to get rid of waste products in the body.  As needed.

Red Root Infused Oil- topical use. Supports the Lymphatic system and spleen, to get rid of waste products in the body.  As needed.

Stomach Flu Blend- for acute phase of stomach flu/food poisoning. 10 to 40 drops as needed. Elderberry, orange thyme, yarrow, port and honey. Add Lemon Balm tea after acute phase.

Peach leaf- nausea, unable to hold food down. Drop dose herbal.  3 to 10 drops.  If it does not work, it is not the right remedy. (More will not help.)

Feel free to use these herbals.   Much of this comes from Stephen Harrod Buhner. His books Herbal Antivirals, and Herbal Antibiotics.

I have used some Pepto tablets and other things as well.  (Pepto, Ginger ale, and lemon balm) for norovirus, or stomach flu issues.

Easy things to have on hand for cold and flu

Easy things to have on hand for cold and Flu season

This information is for education and informational purposes. Please consult your health care provider.

These are the things I travel with, or have on hand at home, to use in the beginning stages of feeling unwell. They work best taken at early onset of symptoms.

Bronchial Tea Blend- Helps support the lungs, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, diaphoretic.

Raspberry leaf, Spearmint, Elderberry, Pearly Everlasting, Yarrow, Mullein, Stevia.

This is a tea I make myself. Gypsy Cold care, and Breathe Easy tea, are also good choices and easy to find.

Oscillococcinum- this is a Homeopathic Remedy. It works best if you take it as soon as you have the feeling you are going to get sick.   The box contains six small tubes.  Take one tube, every 6 hours, three per day, for 2 to 3 days in a row. This is often enough to stop the infection. (Buhner2013)

Things like Airborne are also a good choice.

Fresh Ginger Juice Tea- 3 to 4 oz fresh juice, ½ of a lime juiced, large tablespoon of honey, 1/8 tsp Cayenne,6 oz hot water. Drink 2 to 6 cups daily. This is used for a mild infection. If you do not have a juicer, you can chop or grate about two inch piece of ginger. Steep in 8 to 12oz hot water for 2 to 3 hours, covered.

Ginger is a synergist, it helps move other herbs more easily in the body increases their effectiveness.   (like Pepper and Licorice) it is a circulatory stimulant, calms nausea, reduces diarrhea, cramping, and fever. Reduces cold chills, and inflammation in the bronchial passageways, thins mucus and helps move it out of the system. Reduces coughing (as much as codeine cough syrup) ameliorates anxiety, and provides analgesic relief equal to or better than Ibuprofen.(Buhner2012)

TheraZinc- I like this for coughs and helping reduce viral replication in the throat. Any zinc lozenge will do.  I also take daily zinc for immune support.

My personal notes on Bird Flu

H5N1- Bird Flu

Avian influenza A(H5N1) or Bird Flu.

These are my personal notes, please consult your health care professional for use and contraindications. This is for teaching and information purposes only.

Generally transmitted by birds, but is a zoonotic disease, so can transmit to other animals and sometimes, humans. This is a list of specific plants for H5N1, in direct anti-viral effects known and also supporting the body systems specifically targeted by the virus.  Most all this info can be found in Buhner’s Herbal Antivirals.  There are a wide range of herbals that could also be added to this list for influenza, and without testing most of us won’t know what type of flu they may have.  General influenza protocols should be employed, and adding these other ideas, if you believe they could help your specific symptom profile. As herbalists, we do not diagnose or treat disease, we treat imbalances.

Bird Flu affects the cilia in the lungs especially the lower lungs along with the cilia of the lower respiratory tract. (Pine- traditionally used to help with guarding against infection settling in the lower lungs) It is important to watch that this in the lower lungs especially, so that it doesn’t turn into a secondary infection, like pneumonia.

We want to protect the spleen and lymph structures, along with cilia structures and mucus membranes in the body. The cilia brings up mucus from the lungs, and when they are damaged cannot do their job, so infection can easily settle in the lower lungs.

Fresh Ginger Juice (narrow antiviral, but a primary specific for respiratory infections)

Plants shown to be directly antiviral to H5N1

Echinacea angustifolia- needs to be in contact with the virus in order to be antiviral. Dribble down the throat.

Elderberry

Licorice- can cause high blood pressure in some people.

Licorice and Chinese skullcap in combination should be considered the main antivirals to use for any viral infection. (Buhner 218)

Cillia protective herbs

Cordyceps

Olive oil and leaf

The berberines- Oregon grape, Barberry etc.

Bidens Pilosa

Plants that help auto immune response

Rhodiola

Astragalus ( with Reishi in bone broth for influenza A, see David Whinstons immune Broth)

Cordyceps

Plants to help protect the spleen (some also lymph)

Red root

Poke Root (use flower essence, or under guidance of healthcare provider for internal use)

Chinese skullcap

Fry Bread Dreams

http://healingbasketherbs.blogspot.com/2016/08/fry-bread-dreams.html

Welcome to Healing Basket Herbs

Welcome to Healing Basket Herbs

My name is Ann,  I am a Herbalist, Chef, Baker, and mother of 6.  Food has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  My memories and life experience are anchored in me through the smells, sights and tastes of nature. My intent with this blog is to reconnect ones self to the food, plants, animals and people whom we walk this earth with.  I believe small changes make a greatdifference, and hey, we all have to start somewhere.............  I will share my successes, and my struggles.......like trying to post this blog!  

My heritage isNative American, I am Cupa, from Southern California, Karuk from Northern California, and Chetco from Southern Oregon; Scottish, and Hebrew.  Working with plants has helped me reconnect to these roots, to understand and appreciate my ancestors, their connection to plants,  and their support in the healing of my Family Line.

My first formal internship was in Burlington WA. with Herbalist Suzanne Jordan.  We spent a day in the woods every week, harvesting and learning.   I had the honor of meeting many beautiful people and plants there. I grewto love the coastal plants. Then I studied  at the School of Traditional Western Herbalism in Portland. Once a month I'd drive the 41/2 hours to Portland for a 3 day intensive.  Matt Wood was the main teacher then,  and I still journey to Portland when he comes to Teach.    I LOVE it.  I am humbled by the amount of knowledge my teachers have, and their willingness to sharewith us.  I work with plants daily.  I study, ponder, and learn from nature.  

I also Grow many Herbs in my yard.  It is an old house, so I have many beautiful old apple trees, wisteria, and roses.  My herb gardens are still being formed.  It is a work in progress,  but then, isn't everything.  I also enjoy Permaculture, so I am trying to implementsome of those principles in my landscape.  Heirloom vegetables are also a passion of mine, along with cooking, baking, and a little quilting.

So, that's a little about me, my interests and point of view. 

 Welcome to my Herbal Journey...................