Treating a Respiratory Infection WITHOUT Antibiotics
I am having a normal day and I begin to feel unwell. My body begins to ache and I feel extreme fatigue and tiredness. Adding onto my situation, I also had a stiff neck and a swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck and I was coughing up big green mucus from my nasal cavity. I researched that if a lymph node that is located on your neck is swollen, this can indicate an upper respiratory infection. You can imagine I was feeling miserable and I still had to keep up with my two boys ages 6 and 3 as well as cook meals for the day. Illnesses usually don't keep me from my duties! Such is life of as a parent! The following day, I have chest tightness, sore throat, and dull pain while breathing. Now I knew it was time to make a special tea!
Mullein for clearing mucus in the lungs
My go-to herb for the lungs is Mullein! To open up my lungs and get rid of chest tightness I avoid cold drinks and make a tea brew with Mullein. My brew measurement is 4 cups of water and a 1/4 cup of dried Mullein leaves, stems, and flowers. I can easily find it here in the grocery store in Merida Mexico where I currently live. Here in Mexico they call it Gordolobo, "Fat Wolf".
Avoid Inflammatory Foods
When sick I make sure to avoid sugar and dairy and any inflammatory foods because I know my immune system is already fighting a virus and any extra inflammation would make my body hurt more. For my aches and pains I added a few sprinkles of yarrow to my tea brew. Yarrow is usually a stronger herb and I do not need to add a lot for it to work.
Oregano, A Natural Anti-Microbial
And as for my natural antibiotic replacement, I took 3 drops of oregano oil 1-2 times a day. If you do not have on hand oregano oil, then you can make oregano tea with ground organo from the super market. Just add 1 tablespoon to your mullein tea blend! This was my natural antibiotic that helped me kill any microbes that my system was trying to get rid of. As a herb, oregano offers many health benefits and has been shown to be antiviral, antibacterial, and to include antioxidants!
Benefits of Oregano include:
- Antioxidants: Oregano contains antioxidants like carvacrol and thymol, which can help fight damage from free radicals that can lead to chronic diseases.
- Anti-inflammatory: Oregano can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
- Respiratory support: Oregano can help loosen phlegm and mucus in the respiratory tract, making it easier to breathe.
- Immune system booster: Oregano can help boost the immune system and protect the body against infections and diseases
In addition to making a tea a pain reliever and antimicrobial tea, I had to clean out my lymphatic system and get rid of the swollen lymph node. So I had made a smoothie with 1/2 of a cucumber, 5 pieces of cilantro, 1 celery stalk, and two pinches of sea salt and 4 cups of water with no sweetener and drank that for breakfast every morning for a week. This helped with hydration and gave my body fiber to help with my drainage in order to ease out the infection. My lymph node stopped swelling after two days of drinking 1 green smoothie a day!
Now I was ready to attack this infection from all sides! So, Vitamin C was must for me! I had to raise my defenses and so I ate mandarins, drank freshly squeezed orange juice, and I used 1000mg Vitamin C dissolvable tablets from the pharmacy.
Constant rest is a must! I took short naps when I could being a stay at home mom that also does homeschool. There were several times in the day when I had to ask for Mommy time a few times throughout the day while I gave the boys activities to do nearby in the house.
Onion as a Natural Cough Remedy
I found the use of a facemask very useful in not only with spreading of my infection to others but also with my cough. The air I would breath while wearing a mask was warm and the urge to cough with every breath went away. And to help solve my sore throat and nonstop cough, I made a natural cough syrup. Once I began to feel symptoms of the prodramial stage of my illness, I had prepared in my kitchen minced garlic cloves and chopped onion soaking overnight in honey in a Jar with a lid lightly fascined. I served myself a tablespoon of the honey concoction once in the morning and once at night.
Onions have natural compounds that can help with respiratory issues, including coughing:
- Anti-inflammatory properties: Onions contain sulfur compounds like quercetin, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This can help reduce irritation in the throat and airways, which may alleviate coughing.
- Expectorant qualities: Onions are believed to help loosen mucus in the airways, making it easier to expel. This is especially useful for productive (mucus-producing) coughs.
- Antibacterial and Antiviral Effects: Onions have natural antibacterial properties, which can help fight infections that might be causing the cough. This is particularly helpful for coughs caused by bacterial infections or colds.
- Soothing Effect: The juice from onions, when consumed, is believed to have a soothing effect on the throat, which can provide relief from the irritation that causes coughing.
.png)
1. Eucalyptus is well-known for its ability to clear mucus and promote easier breathing. Its main compound, eucalyptol, acts as a natural expectorant, helping to loosen mucus in the lungs and airways.
2. Peppermint contains menthol, which has a cooling and soothing effect on the respiratory system. It can help clear blocked sinuses, relieve congestion, and ease coughing.
3. Thyme is an excellent herb for treating respiratory conditions like bronchitis due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to break down mucus and supports the immune system.
4. Oregano has strong antimicrobial and antifungal properties, making it useful in clearing infections in the respiratory tract. It also helps to loosen mucus and reduce inflammation.
5. Lavender is soothing and helps to relax the respiratory muscles, which can ease coughing and breathing difficulties. It also has mild antiseptic properties, which can aid in clearing infections.
6. Chamomile is known for its calming properties, and it can help to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract. It's also gentle and safe, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive systems.
7. Lemon Balm has antimicrobial and antiviral properties that help fight respiratory infections. It also helps to relax the body and reduce inflammation.
8. Rosemary is another herb with expectorant properties that help clear mucus from the lungs and sinuses. It can also improve circulation, which helps oxygen flow more efficiently to the lungs.
9. Mullein is a great herb for lung health. It helps soothe irritated airways and has anti-inflammatory properties that can calm the coughing associated with bronchitis.
10. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can help improve circulation, which aids in relieving congestion and promoting better airflow to the lungs. It can also help to ease coughing.
Using These Remedies For Children
When trying new herbs and remedies with children, I always reccomend only using one herb at a time in order make sure there are no adverse reactions. And I always serve half of a recipe to my own children than the amount I would normally serve myself because their bodies are 1/2 or 1/3 the size of an adults. As for Babies I would do my research to see what is safe for babies younger that 1-2 years old and rule out honey for babies due to risks of contracting botulism. Serving oregano to babies would be best from tea rather than oil and best served with a medicine dropper rather than tea a full cup of tea.
Important Tip: Always taste and temperature test your rememdies before serving to your children to avoid burns and gag reflexes!
When to seek medical advice
In my opinion, it is more admirable to know your limits and ask for help when you need it than to put yourself at risk. If you ever feel that an illness is too much for your body and is keeping you from breathing, eating, and hydrating properly, it is time to seek medical attention because your body and immune system is unable to fight off the virus and/or infection naturally.
The total duration of the infection and symptoms for me lasted 14 days and now I feel perfectly normal. A respiratory infection can be 14-21 days in duration and symptoms should be decreasing in severity after day 5-7. If you do not begin to feel better or start to feel worse, this is also a sign to seek medical attention. If you feel as if you cannot breathe and are fainting and dizzy, it is reccommended that you seek medical attention because your body is unable to fight the infection.
A respiratory infection can turn into pneumonia and you must be watchful of these symptoms:
- Sharp pain in the chest
- High Fever, Chills, Dehydration, Loss of Apetite, Clammy Skin, Sweating
- Fast Breathing, Shallow Breathing, Shortness of Breath or Wheezing, Fast Heart Rate
- Fainting, Loss of Consciousness
Comments
Post a Comment