Sunday, May 15, 2011

Natural Cures

Being home sick this weekend has been pretty miserable. Whatever I've got it's strong and came on hard. It started with a sore throat and made me pretty miserable for 3 days now :(  Dr says its a virus so in many cases you just have to let it run it's course but I've chosen to fight back...

I've been fascinated with natural healing for many years. It all started when I was in my early 20's and had chronic sinus infections.  I went to the dr 6 times in 1 year and each time he gave me a script for antibiotic.  Well I wasn't getting better and upon research I learned that much antibiotic is horrible for your body.  Our bodies have a careful balance of good bacteria.  Antibiotic can't tell the difference and kills off all bacteria leaving our bodies open to all kinds of unsavory side effects like yeast infections, stomach problems and just feeling "off" long after our original illness has passed.

Plus with the over use of antibiotics we are now battling "super bugs" that are resistant to meds, staph infections that are incurable, it is a problem that has lead me to research alternative remedies and in doing so I've sort of gone back to the basics.  What remedies were used prior to the invention of penicillin?

Now, please know I do believe in antibiotics and know they save lives when used properly!

I'd like to share a few alternative remedies for day to day illnesses:

Many illnesses/viruses enter our system through our sinuses...nose, mouth, eyes...picked through our hands, etc...

My first line of defense is of course hand washing. Next is a nasal cleanse. It's just a saline wash that's simple and uses salt which has natural healing and cleansing properties.

Vitamin C builds our immunity and is strongly recommended for daily use, I suggest 500-1000 mg a day.

Vitamin D is also essential, we get it naturally from the sun and some say that's why we get colds and flu in the winter because of lack of sun exposure. With today's busy lifestyle I know I don't get out in the sun as much as I'd like so I suggest additional supplements.

I use some of the more powerful antiviral / antibacterial remedies when I know I'm fighting something off. Whereas antibiotics only fight off bacteria, many of these fight off viruses and speed healing for even the common cold. I keep them on hand for flu, sinus or whatever I might come in contact with.

- Olive leaf is a great "all purpose" herb that has both antiviral and antibacterial properties. I take it morning and night when I'm feeling something coming on. This is the best cure I've found for sinus infections.
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-olive-leaf.html

- Colloidal silver is a super strong remedy that's almost unheard of anymore however it was one of the main cures used prior to the invention of antibiotic. It can't be patented so it's now a forgotten cure because big businesses can't make money off it, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work.
* I am careful to use this only when necessary, I probably use it 3 or 4 times a year when fighting off infection, I don't recommend this for daily use as it can build up in your blood.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/11772070/The-Benefits-of-Colloidal-Silver

1 comment:

  1. Sorry to see you were sick but glad to see you are on the mend.

    I agree that a steady diet of antibiotics just lead to a teady diet of antibiotics. Fortunately for me I have not taken one since I was in my early 30's and that's a looooooong time ago.

    I am amazed that the human body has the capacity to heal and almost 'asks' for what it needs to take care of itself. My input is a good night's sleep is the first step for short term and long term good health

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