Herbal Medicine for the Common Cold

Aims
To discuss what the common cold and what a virus is. To explore different ways of tackling the common cold. To introduce safe and effective remedies for the common cold including herbs and food.

Objectives
General To open up your minds to the possibility of natural medicines (herbs) and food as medicine Specific To identify the reasons people catch the common cold To list different ways that you can support your health when you experience a common cold

What is Herbal Medicine?

A natural, holistic and complimentary therapy. Uses many therapeutic principles including: the law of opposites to heal. Material doses of active ingredients If dry moisten, if wet astringe (dry) etc. Looks for the cause of an illness/imbalance and aims to resolve this.

Homeopathy
Herbal Medicine is not homeopathy (although does use several of the same herbs) Like for like or cause = cure: what can harm will also heal. Diluted to that there is no material dose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGIbOGu8q0

So what do you know of the common cold?

Why do people catch a cold?

Do you know of any methods to treat it?

The Common Cold: The Facts

Called Acute Rhinitis. Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose. Can be mild, acute or chronic. Mainly viral but can be complicated by bacterial infection.

What is a virus?
A virus is generally surrounded by a protein, lipid or glycoprotein coat, or some combination of the three. No virus can replicate without the help of a host cell, and though they can be spread, they cannot selfreproduction. Not always considered to be alive. The common human cold is caused by a virus, other viruses include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the herpes simplex virus which causes cold sores and the human papilloma virus which is deemed a leading cause of cervical cancer in adult women.

Health and our Bodies Defences

Worksheet on The Respiratory System

1. You will be given a worksheet of the lungs. 2. You have two minutes to name what parts of the respiratory system you can. 3. Dont worry if you do not know the answers, this is not a test. More of a recap

Our bodies defences

Our Immune System

Brainstorming
1. Get into small groups of three or four 2. Discuss what you can do to boost your defences. 3. You have 5 minutes

Nutritional advice for the Common Cold

Light diet, high in fruit and vegetables (where
possible organic)

Get protein from fish, seeds, nuts, quinoa, tofu If eating meat opt for chicken and turkey over beef Avoid foods containing sugars and/or yeast, which promote Candida infection (A significant proportion of
catarrh is caused by fungal infections in the nasal passages) Avoid mucus-producing foods (dairy products)

Carrot juice for carotenoids (antioxidant) Ginger and cinnamon tea

Food

Remedies for the Common Cold

Herbal
Plantain reduces secretion of mucus Chamomile antiseptic Rosemary warming effect Rose enhances immunity Marigold strengthens the immune system Yarrow famous healing herb of Achilles Thyme powerful antiseptic and anti-viral Lavender decongestant and expectorant Lemon balm antimicrobial Elder Medicine chest of the country people Meadowsweet infusion for colds and flu Eucalypus antiseptic and detoxifying On this side can add: Pepper Ginger Cardamon Garlic

Cinnamon warming and strengthening Ginger warming and restores vitality Lemon refreshing, wards off infections Salt osmotic action Pepper invigorates and enhances immunity Mustard stimulating Apple An apple a day keeps the doctor away Cabbage Poor mans medicine chest Carrot expectorant, expels mucus Tea tannins reduce catarrh Garlic drives away infections Leek warming and stimulating Onion fights infection Cardamon warming restorative to generate strength Turnip bactericidal effect

Aims
To discuss what the common cold and what a virus is. To explore different ways of tackling the common cold. To introduce safe and effective remedies for the common cold including herbs and food.

Objectives
General To open up your minds to the possibility of natural medicines (herbs) and food as medicine Specific To identify the reasons people catch the common cold To list different ways that you can support your health when you experience a common cold

References
Bishop, C (1979) The Book of Home Remedies and Herbal Cures. Old Fashioned Remedies and Cures for Common Complaints USA Octopus Books Limited. Chevallier, A (2001) Herbal Remedies Handbook. A Natural Approach to Healing Common and Chronic Ailments Great Britain. Dorling Kindersley Limited. Grieve, M (1992) A Modern Herbal London Tiger Books International. Kumar, A. Clark, M (2009) Clinical Medicine China Elsevier Churchill Livingstone McIntyre, A (2002) Simple Home Remedies for a Healthy Lifestyle China Gaia Books Limited. Mills, Bone, K (2005) The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety Edinburgh Elsevier Churchill Livingstone Moore, M (undated) Disease of the Respiratory System USA Southwest Botanical School for Herbal Medicine. Purves, D (2010) Materia Medica Restorative monographs. Lecture at University of Lincoln Stableford, A (2011) Therapeutic Principles of Herbal Medicine. The Respiratory System Lecture at University of Lincoln.

Thank you very much for your time