it is assumed that a diet low in mucus is followed.
Catarrh
As already pointed out, nasal catarrh may be the result of systemic factors and can also involve infections and allergies. To treat this sometimes intransigent problem effectively, we can use herbs that work on the mucous membranes in the nose, while we also treat the body in a wider context. Herbs like Golden Rod, Elder Flower and Eyebright bring specific relief, as they are anti-catarrhal and astringent, with Golden Rod normally being the most useful. Golden Seal is another specific remedy for nasal catarrh, but should be used with discretion as some people find that it has too much of a drying action on the mucous membranes. Catarrh is often accompanied by an infection, so antimicrobial remedies like Echinacea, Garlic (best taken raw or as oil in capsules) or Wild Indigo should be used.
Golden Seal
As the lymphatic system will be under stress, Poke Root should be included, which is a good tonic for the system and at the same time an anti-catarrhal.
Besides using a mixture of these herbs as a tea, we can also make an excellent balm of antiseptic, volatile oils to relieve nasal congestion. It may be applied in a very small amount to the nostril and so be inhaled, or it can be rubbed on the chest at night so that the vapours will be breathed in. Take
| Peppermint oil | 15 ml |
| Eucalyptus oil | 15 ml |
| Pine oil | 15 ml |
| Vaseline | 500 g |
Melt the vaseline, without over-heating it. When it just turns liquid, add the oils and stir them in. Pour the mixture into pots and seal them when the balm has reached room temperature.
Another way to inhale volatile oils is to use the method of steam inhalation. We can either use some of the balm, or an aromatic herb like Eucalyptus, Pine Needles or even Chamomile. For a steam inhalation of Eucalyptus, put three teaspoonfuls of leaves in a basin and pour 2 litres (4 pints) of boiling water on them. Put your head over the basin and cover with a towel, to prevent a loss of the volatile oils. For about ten minutes, inhale through the nose. Do not go out immediately afterwards, as the mucous membranes will be very sensitive for a while. Repeat the process two or three times a day.
Colds
The common cold is usually seen as an inconvenience that should be suppressed as soon as possible. It is a typical example of the way we perceive an ‘illness’; we see it as something that has to be combated, rather than taking it as an indicator that points to something being out of balance in the body. The aim should not be to suppress the indicator and to stay out of balance, but rather to find our way back to inner harmony and thus make the indicator unnecessary. We ‘catch’ a cold when the conditions in our body are right for a virus to thrive. If our inner environment were sound and in harmony, we would not ‘catch’ a cold, no matter how many viruses were ‘thrown’ at us.
The first step in the treatment of a cold is to work on the causes of mucus build-up (see under catarrh). In most cases it will mean cutting out all mucus-forming foods from the diet. If you normally ‘catch colds’ all through winter, a mucus-free diet is advisable all the time.
The next step is to treat the cold herbally. The herbs described for nasal catarrh may all be beneficial, but there are also many specific cold remedies. Every area has its own specifics, but all are useful. My favourite is a combination of Elder Flower, Peppermint and Yarrow in equal parts, a tea that combines the anti-catarrhal and mucous membrane-toning properties of Elder Flower with the stimulating, decongestant action of Peppermint and the diaphoretic and diuretic powers of Yarrow. The tea should be drunk at least three times daily as hot as possible. If the cold is accompanied by feverishness, use an additional diaphoretic such as Boneset.
Besides embarking on a mucus-free diet and using herbs, vitamin C should be considered. Its value cannot be overstressed, both in the treatment and in a long term prophylaxis of a cold. The exact dosage of vitamin C has been argued about a lot. I recommend taking 2 grams of the vitamin—divided over the day—at the first sign of a cold until a few days after it clears, then to lower the dosage to 500 mg. Ideally it should be taken in the form of Rosehips or Acerola Berries or as extracts from these, since both are also rich in bioflavonoids, necessary for the absorption and action of vitamin C.
Influenza
A herb that should be in every home in case of ’flu is Boneset, as it will relieve the aches and pains while also easing some of the malaise of this unpleasant infection. A useful mixture is
| Boneset | 2 parts |
| Elder Flower | 1 part |
| Peppermint |
1 part  |
Drink a cup as hot as can be taken every two hours. If the tea is found to be too bitter, especially for children, it may be sweetened with Liquorice.
The depression that sometimes accompanies the ‘flu or follows it may be eased by using Skullcap or Vervain. If antibiotics have been taken, it is good to take vitamin C and eat yoghurt afterwards. Vitamin C eases the stress caused to the body by the antibiotics and by the fever. The yoghurt is taken as the antibiotics tend to kill bacteria in our intestines which are necessary for a well-functioning digestion. By eating a live yoghurt (not one that has been pasteurised), we can help the new growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis, an infection of the sinus cavities, often turns from an acute state into a chronic one and can, with some people, develop into a very persistent and almost constant state. For a short term treatment, an effective mixture is
| Echinacea | 1 part |
| Golden Rod | 1 part |
| Golden Seal | 1 part |
| Marshmallow Leaf |
1 part  |
Drink a cup of this tea every two hours.
This mixture combines the anti-microbial properties of Echinacea, the anti-catarrhal actions of Golden Rod, the tonic and anti-catarrhal actions of Golden Seal, and the
