Health Information

WHAT IS CATARRHAL INFECTIONS | Gentle Remedies for CATARRHAL INFECTIONS | Brutal Release for CATARRHAL INFECTIONS | Treatment for CATARRHAL INFECTION

Catarrhal infections seem to be more rife today than ever before. In the past when one had a snorting cold one convalesced until it ran its course. Nowadays we rely on ‘miracle cures’ to dry up or stop these maladies instantly. We continue to work or send our children to school with blocked-up noses, headaches and coughs, armed with a bottle of magic, and wonder why after a week or so the infection returns, twice as potent and with the added pain of searing sinuses, ear-ache, tummy trouble, sickness, lethargy and down right tearful misery.

Catarrhal can be the result of infection but it may also be a result of external irritations triggering an overproduction of mucus: dust, smoke, or an allergic reaction to certain foodstuffs, particularly milk and dairy produce, refined carbohydrates, fried food, nuts, grains and pulses and in some cases eggs, red meat and even oranges. If you or your family suffer consistently from catarrh try leaving out certain foodstuffs for several weeks at a time to check of they are the cause. A sluggish liver and constipation do not improve maters and nor does overeating, particularly of junk food.

Stress may also be a factor. As well as the misery of painful sinuses which may make you feel very woozy and temporarily deplete your vision and cause ear-ache, loss of the senses of smell and taste, sore throat, coughs, sneezes and a runny nose, other unpleasant side effects which may result from persistent catarrh are bad breath and body odour, chronic constipation and spots.

Most of the remedies suggested for coughs will help alleviate the misery of catarrhal infection and the dietary suggestions given for Arthritis, Rheumatism and Constipation will bring about a long-term improvement in the general state of health.

Inhalants and warm, pain-relieving oils rubbed on to the chest, throat and the areas surrounding the eyes and nose will help unblock nasal and respiratory passages. These are also to be found under coughs and colds but check first that they are suitable for use on the face.

Plenty of liquids, fresh fruits, green vegetables and keeping warm but not hot in a well ventilated room will all help to clear the infection completely and prevent it from escalating into something worse.

Most of these old-fashioned remedies suggested that steps to prevent and cure catarrhal infection could be more effective if started in warm weather. It would certainly do no harm to embark on a course of preventative action during the spring and summer months.

Gentle Remedies for CATARRHAL INFECTIONS

Red rose petal and rose hip tea: Buy the ready-prepared tea as it has been rid of all the tiny irritant hairs. A regular glass night and morning relieves catarrh and bronchitis.

Marjoram, marsh mallow, Melissa, vervain, borage or hyssop: These all make mildly antiseptic and delicious teas or infusions which will bring relief, promote gentle perspiration and delicious teas or infusion which will bring relief, promote gentle perspiration and soothe the throat. Add honey and a dash of lemon for enhanced benefit.

Yarrow tea: A tea which not only makes you feel a lot better but can also be used to wash and wipe itchy eyelids. This is very important when children’s eyes are ‘gummed up’. Use a separate piece of cotton wool for each eye and burn immediately after using.

Fenugreek tea: Drink it warm every morning throughout year – 1 level teaspoon to 1 breakfast cup of water – to prevent catarrh from occurring. Sniff it up the nose when foresight did not prevail and you are stricken.

Aspirin: This is the old-fashioned remedy for catarrh and only one which many practitioners believe actually works. Years ago the only satisfactory ‘medicine’ which would have been prescribed for this type of cold was the powdered bark of white willow or a tea or meadowsweet. Both of these herbs contain a high proportion of salicylic compound which is the basic constituent of aspirin.

Brutal Release for CATARRHAL INFECTIONS

Perhaps the least delicious of the ancient remedies is to take duckweed boiled in a pan and throw upon it as much blood and butter as it will take. Eat hot to relieve the body of foul poison,. Not pleasant but reputedly a cure for catarrh, constipation and cramps.

Lemon juice: As well as featuring in the soothing drinks and gargles which we have come to expect – warm lemon juice well laced with cinnamon is a particularly helpful gargle and honey and lemon the best night-time drink – lemon juice may be sniffed neat and brutally up the nose, although you may prefer to dilute it in the proportions of the juice of ½ lemon to 300ml(½ pint) warm water. Inhale the strong vapours of the peel and juice of lemon steeped in boiling water whilst crouched beneath an all enveloping towel to relieve catarrhal congestion and prevent it from developing into sinusitis or ear-ache.

Boracic powder: Sniffed neat up the nose this is a very old-fashioned remedy. Alternatively mix together 15g(½oz) each of fine sea salt, baking soda and boracic powder in 600ml(1 pint) of warm water. Use this 1 tablespoon at a time diluted in 3 tablespoons of warm water to sniff up the nose at bedtime.

 

A Refreshing and Healthy salad

1 crisp eating apple

3 dandelion leaves

1 fresh or dried fig

1 basil leaf

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoon olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Wash the apple well and chop it up without peeling. Make sure that the dandelions are clean and have been picked from and area and have been picked from an area free from contamination. Shred them and add them to the apple. Chop the fig. Mix together then add the lemon juice followed by the olive oil. Season well and eat immediately.