Archive for the 'Pau d'arco' Category
My daughter recently got through a rough time with the H1N1 influenza virus. She had intense and painful muscle cramps. She said it felt like sharp needles digging into her bones. She said “Mom, I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.” I am so thankful that she is almost well now.
The truth is that antibiotics are useless against the flu because influenza is a virus. The best way to get rid of the flu or any other infectious illness is to attack it head-on by strengthening the immune system. The thymus and the adrenal glands are the powerhouses of the immune system. When the body is getting sick, or is already sick, it is under stress, and stress taxes the immune system. Researchers have linked vulnerability to colds and flu to psychological stress.
Astragalus, black cherry, echinacea, ginger, goldenseal, pau d’arco, slippery elm, and yarrow tea are good for influenza. Combining peppermint tea with any of these herbal teas is effective for helping to open up the nasal passages. Echinacea is good for children. Be careful not to take goldenseal internally on a daily basis for more than one week at a time, do not use it during pregnancy, and use it with caution if you are allergic to ragweed.