Module Five
what kind of cold do you have?
It's important to become aware to the fact that you dont just “catch” things and “get them” from other people. Yes of course bacteria and viruses can spread but it’s important to take responsibility for your own health. Generally speaking before you get ill you may have been stressed, working too hard, not sleeping or eating very well. How was your mental state? - its usually a culmination of these things.
WHAT CAUSES VULNERABILITY OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?
Overwork under stressful conditions without proper sleep and nourishing food: Kidney thief
Emotional stress, sadness and grief: Lung thief
Worry about future and overthinking: Spleen thief
Excess of stimulants and sex: Kidney thief
Excess sugar: Kidney and Spleen thief
Prolonged exposure to Cold and Wind
what kind of cold
do you have?
EXPANSIVE COLDS
Symptoms: Runny nose, lots of mucus, coughing, sneezing, and wheezing.
Cause: May be due to sugars, sweets, refined starches, and similar acid forming foods; ice cream, milk, and other milk products; large quantities of liquids, juices and fruits
Treatment: If you can become aware of the situation early enough you can make a few adjustments to reverse the condition. For example, a little umeboshi plums will bring about a more contracting energy in the body. If the symptoms are very mild, a natural clean out process maybe taking place and we can allow the body to run its course.
The well-known line of "feed a cold and starve a fever" has been misunderstood for years. The original saying was "If you feed a cold, you'll have to start a fever" meaning you will get worse if you keep eating. With a cold, it is important to eat more contracting foods such as cooked vegetables, soups (including miso), baked food, and fluids only when desired, as large amounts of fluids will make the cold worse. Don't forget, only mild activity when you have a cold.
contractive colds
Symptoms: Tightness in the chest and head, headaches, fever, exhaustion, stuffiness in the sinuses, chills and aches. We call these symptoms flu.
Cause: May be due to tension, overwork, and fatigue; salty, fatty foods, excess protein and sugars
Treatment: For this type of flu, we must try to loosen and relax the body. Increase the intake of hot fluids (the best form is hot/warm apple or pear juice with cinnamon). This will help loosen the Lungs and assist if there is a dry cough. Other good drinks are chamomile, lemon tea, or hot water with lemon.
Note: Ginger is usually avoided at the beginning of colds/flus as it can make the disease process go deeper into the body. It is then used on the second or third day onwards. We must try to alkalize the body with slightly expansive foods such as fruits, salads, and unsalted vegetable soups. Rest is crucial.
The above remedies are not cure alls for all cold or flu, but they can help in relieving the discomfort for the symptoms.
MISO SCALLION DRINK
• Fresh scallions
• Miso
• Hot water (1 cup/1 tbsp of Miso)
Chop fresh scallions and add the same volume of miso to it. Add hot water and stir. This drink activates and produces sweating. Use it when a cold starts, when feeling chilly or shivering begins or headache and coughing). Drink mixture and go to bed.
Please note this information was taken from the Academy of Healing nutrition
RECIPE FOR COLD AND FLU
WHAT TO HAVE IN YOUR CUPBOARDS
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Calendular
Calendular is a wonderful flower thats brilliant for dry or soar skin. Having a calendar balm or lotion can be a great thing to have in the home for soothing the skin with rashes, cuts and scrapes
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Homeopathy
Whilst I can understand people being sceptical of homeopathy I have found it invaluable to have for young children. I have found Helios do wonderful travel and family sized boxes with everything you might need to get started and a booklet to explain how to use them. It was always what I used before reaching for conventional “medicine” and would instantly reassure both.
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Which Hazel
This is a wonderful liquid to have in your cupboard. Wonderful for cuts and bruises. It can also be used as a facial toner
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Eucalyptus oil
A wonderful essential oil to have at home to help open up the lungs and chest in times of coughs and colds
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chamomile
I love having these in tea bag form in the cupboard, not just to drink but also if anyone has a soar eye or bruise. I simply brew up the tea and use the tea bag on the eye or area to soothe it.
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On Guard
Do terra, does a wonderful oil called On Guard which is full of clove and spices to help protect you from bacteria and virus’s. It can be a wonderful oil to dab onto clothing before flying or burn in the house during the winter months
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Echinacea
Wonderful for plenty of things such as skin conditions, tonsillitis, bronchial infections and other respiratory infections and even good on bites, burns and wounds. A wonderful thing to build immunity and often advised to take a few days before a flight or a time when you know your demands might be high.
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Lavender
A wonderful oil to have to hand. Brilliant for cuts and grazes as well as aiding a restful nights sleep
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Tea Tree Oil
Whenever I travel I take tea tree oil with me as its a brilliant oil to pop onto spots, bites, grazes or anything that looks like it might be getting a bit infected as its antibacterial, anti inflammatory and brilliant to have to hand
COUGHS
MUCUS COUGH
If the body has a loose mucous producing cough, it is trying to expel an excess build up in the body. This should not be suppressed—allow the body to cleanse itself.
Treatment: Stay away from salty foods while the body is expelling mucus, as they will tighten the chest. The cough can be treated like chest tightness in a contractive cold: assistance is given with hot lemon drinks, perhaps with a little honey, and a hot chest compress. Another drink to consider is hot pear juice with a cinnamon stick.
If the cold is producing sticky mucus the following tonic may be prepared:
TONIC FOR STICKY MUCOUS
The energetics behind this drink are as follows: Stagnant mucous needs to be dispersed. The symptom is characterized by upward energy, but we must also give downward energy. The daikon root provides a downward dispersing effect. The ginger provides hot dispersing energy. Pepper also provides a dispersing effect. The tangerine provides Yin energy, and is used dried, which gives it Yang energy. Never underestimate the power of food!
5 cm piece of daikon root, grated
3 very small pieces of dried ginger
Small amount of pepper seeds
Dried tangerine skin
2 cups water
Boil ingredients together with water for ten to fifteen minutes. Drink juice.