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Nature’s Common Scents
PO Box 2081
Front Royal, VA 22630
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WINTER 2009 Volume 5 Number 4
In this issue:
Focus on the Flu – this issue of the HealThy Skin Newsletter is coming out a month earlier than usual focusing on the flu and things you can do for yourself and your family to avoid it or make the illness shorter and easier. A short edition will come out in December or January to keep you updated on the seasonal flu viruses and other health related issues.
General Health
Flu Prevention “elementary level”
Flue Prevention “level two”
Flu Prevention “level three”
Flu in Progress
Strong Bones – Vitamin K Connection
Negative Thinking / Negative Health
Skin Health
Psoriasis and the Flu Shot
Bleach Baths for Eczema?
Cosmetic information
Herbal Tips
Flu Tonics
GENERAL HEALTH
FLU PREVENTION “elementary level”: Avoid sugar and high glycemic foods. Get plenty of sleep. Drink hot liquids frequently. The only portals of entry for the flu are the nostrils and the mouth/throat.
While you are healthy, the following simple steps not generally mentioned in all the media hullabaloo can help keep you that way: (1) Gargle twice a day with warm salt water. (1 teaspoon to one pint water) After initial infection of the throat/nasal cavity, H1N1 takes 2-3 days to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
Gargling prevents proliferation, in a way having the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one.
(2) Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. This brings down the viral population in your nose. Dip a cotton swab into a solution of salt water and cleaning the inside of your nostrils.
(3) Drink warm liquids (coffee, tea, etc.) regularly throughout the day. This has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse, washing viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
[Dr. Vinay Goyal, The Herbal Dispatch, October 2009, Mountain State University Medicinal Botanical Program.]
Note: Brushing once a day with baking soda can also keep the germs at bay. To build up the immune system, incorporate herbs like rosemary, sage and lemon balm into tea.
FLU PREVENTION “level two”: Boost your own immune system to avoid not only the H1N1 virus, but all diseases. Dietary changes, nutritional supplementation and herbal medicines can be effective in preventing influenza and are vitally important in cases where there is not enough vaccine and/or if there is an epidemic or pandemic.
Supplements: Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Cholecalciferol may prevent or moderate influenza infection. A dose of 4000 IU per day will restore near-normal serum levels in people who are deficient (most). [Medical Herbalism, Vol. 15, No. 4]
Studies indicate that any unused Vitamin D in the blood goes to tissues throughout the body and may therefore boost your immune system against many diseases. [Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, June 2009] Vitamin C that includes zinc to boost absorption. Astragalus (250 to 500 milligrams in the morning three times a week during the flu season. Do not take this herb if you have a fever or are already ill. [The Herbal Dispatch, October 2009, Mountain State University Medicinal Botanical Program].
Dietary methods: General immunity is highly dependent upon nutritional status of the individual. Many who are not overtly malnourished have micronutrient deficiencies that contribute to reduced resistance to infection.
Children are especially susceptible because of their appalling diets which include almost none of the “real” foods necessary to help their growing bodies throw off infection.
The most important micronutrients are zinc, Vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, iron and essential fatty acids. Because of their high ability to support and improve the immune system, these nutrients, combined with a whole foods diet, are part of the standard treatment for AIDS throughout many African nations (called the ZACES formula). Several intervention trials have found that cod liver oil (you can find in appealing flavors) can profoundly reduce the incidence of respiratory infections.
FLU PREVENTION “level three”: Herbal medicines include Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) which has been used continuously in North America since before first contact with Europeans to treat influenza and other viral respiratory infections. Echinacea, which appears to work by increasing anti-viral resistance. (Note: use on a temporary basis of no more than two weeks at a time after exposure); garlic, which increases general immunity; American ginseng, shown to be effective in preventing influenza and other respiratory infections among the elderly in a nursing home; astragalus, which increases host resistance, especially in cold weather. [Medical Herbalism, Vol. 15, No. 4]
FLU IN PROGRESS. If you are already showing symptoms of cold or flu, re-read “elementary level” and follow steps 1-3. Take elderberry syrup (as directed on the label) for coughs, and elderberry extract to hasten the end of symptoms. Purchase the syrup at www.centerfornaturalhealing.com and the extract at www.mountainroseherbs.com. While studies have not yet proven as to whether elderberry can increase resistance to flu, they do indicate it binds the virus once it is in the system, thus preventing it from reproducing.
Notes and commentary: Any person who is pregnant, nursing or in a compromised physical condition or under the regular care of a physician should always check before using any herbal products. The supplements and herbs mentioned in this newsletter are what I would deem fairly innocuous, meaning they are safe to take when used properly. There can be no magic bullet; if you don’t take care of yourself as a rule, you are more likely to get the flu or any illness. “Taking care of yourself” means rethinking your diet and lifestyle. No matter your weight or physical condition, the thing is to start. Begin eating more simply, focusing on the food rather than the container, making colorful vegetables and fruits the mainstay of your diet, along with a variety of whole grains. Food is medicine, if eaten properly.
Especially now when we have no idea the direction this country is going regarding health care we need to be good stewards of our own bodies; caretakers of our own immune systems. President Obama and the United States Congress cannot improve your life or your health. Only you can.
SPICES FOR FLAVOR AND HEALTH. Most diseases today are the result of inflammation, not just the kind you can feel, but the kind that strikes silently inside the body. The anti-inflammatory properties of rosemary are proving to be promising against colon cancer, but for general health can also be excellent. Add rosemary to chicken and soups. Turmeric has been shown to inhibit the development of cancers of the breast, cervix and uterus as well as colorectal cancer. It is a well-known anti-inflammatory, a teaspoon having the same prowess as an ibuprofen tablet. Cinnamon compounds may help prevent cell damage that increases cancer risk, it also regulates blood sugar. One teaspoon of cinnamon contains as many antioxidants as a half cup of blueberries! And Ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory. For a person like me who has a variety of aches and pains, including these spices and others in my daily diet works wonders. Taste a little of each spice by itself to determine how much of that flavor you want in your food. Think outside the box when cooking – it’s not easy to get enough of a spice to keep you pain free each day, but it is possible. You could simply make a tea with any spice, or try the savory ones in soups, carrot or vegetable juice. Put the sweeter ones -- cinnamon and ginger -- in fruit juice. They do NOT need added sugar, but if you are used to sweetening them, gradually reduce the ratio of sugar to the spice to adjust your palate.
STRONG BONES – VITAMIN K CONNECTION. Study results indicate that high doses of Vitamin K improve bone quality and reduce fracture risk in postmenopausal women. Taking high doses through supplements is not recommended for general purposes, but it is a good idea to get more Vitamin K through diet. Broccoli, spinach, kale and other leafy green vegetables will do it. Vitamin K can interfere with anticoagulant drugs, so talk to your doctor about how much you can take. [UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, October 2009]
NEGATIVE THINKING / NEGATIVE HEALTH. You have no doubt heard of the placebo effect, but perhaps you haven’t heard of the “nocebo” effect, which is just as powerful. Nocebo is a force that comes from negative expectation. This, plus fears and anxiety can make you feel ill as well as actually make you sick. This should be a great reminder to everyone of the power of mind over matter – Norman Vincent Peale had it right in his best selling book The Power of Positive Thinking. In so many ways, we choose our own health.
SKIN HEALTH
PSORIASIS AND THE FLU SHOT. People with psoriasis who are taking medications that suppress the immune system should only take inactivated vaccines for both seasonal and H1N1 (swine flu) influenzas. Attenuated vaccines can be live and therefore should not be taken by people who take immunosuppressants, including biologic (Amevive, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Simponi or Stelara) or non-biologic (cyclosporine-Neoral or methotrexate) drugs. [National Psoriasis Foundation]
BLEACH BATHS FOR ECZEMA?
Though I couldn’t believe when I first heard years ago that bleach baths were actually recommended by physicians, I have learned it is true. The May 2009 issue of Pediatrics reported that diluted bleach baths reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children, but only when there were clinical signs of a secondary bacterial skin infection. Usually that happens when the rash has been scratched. But Chlorine bleach can be very toxic.
Eczema can be caused by a number of triggers, including allergic reactions to dyes, perfumes, soaps and other environmental causes, as well as stress and anxiety. (Self Healing, Dr. Andrew Weil, July 2009). Though topical treatments of any kind can’t cure the cause of eczema, we know definitively that Big Jim’s Cream* and the Skin Comfort bar can heal the rash. (*On the face, use Comfort Cream, so as not to sting eyes.)
COSMETIC INFORMATION. Recent reading led me to Karma Organic Spa (www.karmaorganicspa.com) which claimed to be natural. I e-mailed and immediately received a response from the creator himself! Not only that, he sent me a sample of two of his nail polishes and the remover. The promotional sheet for Karma Organic Spa says the nail polish products are free from toluene, formaldehyde and DBP. The remover is derived from corn and soy. The company is environmentally conscious and the spa includes treatments with “essential oils, fruits, herbs and flowers, as well as homemade sea-salt and sugar scrubs and scented lotions.”
If you have knowledge of other companies that are dedicated to healthful products, let me know about them and I’ll check them out. Or, if you would like, you can check them out and do a review for this publication! Thanks! Sondra.
HERBAL TIPS
FLU TONICS. There was a time when the lady of the house not only cooked the meals but made many of the medicines her family used. She is still today most often the caregiver, and because of that it is becoming increasingly more important that she learn to apply a few simple rules of healing in making safe tonics at home for her family. Men who like to cook will be naturals at tonic making!
Syrup. Elderflower or Elderberry Syrup. All parts of the elder plant (S. nigra and S. Canadensis) have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Modern research supports the use of elder syrup as a treatment for coughs and colds. The USDA confirms that elderberries are exceptionally rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, thereby enhancing the immune system. The flowers contain flavonoids and rutin which are known to improve immune function and the berries have significant anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. In clinical trials, patients taking elderberry extract recovered from the flu earlier and had less severe symptoms than patients in a control group.
To make a simple syrup, to a quart jar add a cup of dried flowers or berries and slices of one well- washed lemon. In a stainless steel saucepan bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add 2 ¾ cups sugar. Boil several minutes, then remove pan from heat, let cool completely and stir in one tablespoon fruit pectin or citric acid.
Pour the syrup over the flowers and lemon slices. Close jar and let it sit in a sunny spot for two or three days.
Strain the mixture, squeezing the herbs and fruit to remove as much of the syrup as possible. Label as to contents, ingredients and date and store the strained syrup in the refrigerator.
Tonic. Astragalus. This is a common Chinese herb which is anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant. Add to soups and stews, or brewed as a tea to increase resistance to the flu, especially in cold weather. Use 1-2 sticks per quart of soup or tea. The sticks are a bit like a piece of bark, but the taste is not bad. I recommend drinking it hot. Do not use for more than 8 weeks without taking a break. Do not use during pregnancy, lactation or fever.
Gargle. For colds and sore throat steep 1 teaspoon dried sage or one ounce fresh with ¾ ounce fennel seeds in a quart of just-boiled water. Sage is astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Fennel is an expectorant.
Tea. Teas are an excellent way to ingest immune-boosting herbs and spices. At your local natural mercantile store you will probably be able to find already-made tea bags of some of the wonderful healing herbs mentioned here. If not, purchase the herbs dried and make a tea with one-to-two teaspoons per cup of just-boiled water, steep covered five minutes, strain and drink. For dried roots or berries, add up to a tablespoon to boiling water. Remove the pan immediately from heat, cover and let steep fifteen to thirty minutes. Add honey if you want your tea sweetened.
To locate these products online, purchase elderberry syrup through Gaia Herbs at http://www.centerfornaturalhealing.com
or the extract at Mountain Rose Herbs http://www.mountainroseherbs.com
You can purchase elderberries, elderflowers, astragalus, sage and other herbs at Frontier Foods Coop
A pleasant way to get elderberry/elderflower protection is through wine. Contact Wyldewood Cellars
The elderflower wine is quite sweet, while the elderberry wine is on the dry side. They also have elderberry juice and other elderberry products.
Your next HealThySkin Newsletter will come in March. Have a healthy and productive Autumn. If you have questions concerning your skin, if you would like to visit my soap-making studio and shop, place an order, or add a friend to the mailing list, contact me by phone or e-mail. Until the next newsletter, remember – almost everything you put on the outside of your body goes inside and what you put inside will ultimately affect the outside!
Many blessings, Sondra Johnson
Nature’s Common Scents / We make in our home kitchen old fashioned, easy-to-understand therapeutic skin care products to heal troubled skin, believing you should be able to understand and pronounce everything you put in and on your body.
Sondra Johnson is not a doctor; recipes and facts in this newsletter are researched from many areas and passed on for informational purposes. People with any health problems should consult qualified medical personnel. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends. To discontinue this newsletter, e-mail me at SondraBJ@shentel.net
putting the word “discontinue” in the subject line.
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 Product Brochure Publication Date Winter 2009
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Nature's Common Scents
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