- Why you shouldn’t forget that the common cold is still out there
- Discover some powerful natural anti-virals
- Here’s a singers secret that can ease a sore throat
I’ve had a few emails of late asking why GP’s don’t ever talk about natural remedies.
Under the current restrictions imposed on medics due to the coronavirus, many people are struggling to get to see or even talk to their surgeries.
When they do get through the impression is that they will be given a prescription almost as a way of getting them off the phone so that the next patient can be handled.
Getting to ask the doctor about alternative remedies is proving to be an issue.
One lady told me that when she asked her GP about using honey and lemon juice to help ease her cold symptoms he laughed out loud and said she might as well commune with witches!
I do feel that our lives could be improved if there was a more positive response from the medical profession when it comes to the natural world.
Now don’t get me wrong… I think doctors are amongst the most selfless people on the planet.
Especially NHS doctors.
They work long hours, have a mountain of paperwork to fill in, have to put up with poor conditions, and yet they STILL manage to come through all that with a smile on their face.
But if we rely on our doctors to get it 100% right 100% of the time, we could be heading for trouble.
Of course, you should always go to your doctor when you have a medical problem, and you should always follow their advice.
But there’s no harm in discovering things for yourself, and listening to different viewpoints. Because as we know, it can take years for mainstream medicine to accept a natural remedy, when it could be doing you some good right now.
And it can take just as long (sometimes even longer) for mainstream medicine to accept something is bad for you…
Especially when it’s considered a hero of the medicine…
Something good gone bad…
People are scared about the COVID situation, and that is completely understandable.
But it seems that doctors still haven’t learned the lessons about over-prescribing antibiotics.
According to Irene Peterson and Andrew Hayward of University College London, many GPs are still handing out antibiotics when there’s no real need for them.
Why?
First, there’s a general belief that antibiotics will do some good no matter what the condition, and patients are putting extreme pressure on their medical professionals to give them what they think they need.
In some cases this means they are inventing symptoms that lead the GP into thinking there is a bacterial infection, and because they can’t see the patient they have to take their word for it.
And second, in some cases there seems to be the thought that it’s good to dish out antibiotics just in case there’s a bacterial problem that the doctor missed. Almost like a catch-all insurance.
This means that doctors are still prescribing antibiotics for a range of common winter conditions which was supposed to be stopped several years ago, because we know they just don’t have any effect.
Viruses are the most likely cause of conditions like chest infections, colds, sore throats and other respiratory conditions (of course COVID-19 is a very serious condition caused exclusively by a virus)
Now, this wouldn’t be so bad if the antibiotic simply acted as a placebo.
But it doesn’t.
In fact it could be causing a big problem…
Because these antibiotics are still in such wide usage, especially in cases where they really aren’t needed, they’re running the risk of creating new strains of bacteria that can stand up to anything.
We could be guilty of developing the next pandemic because of an over-reaction to common cold symptoms.
Which means when you DO need a course of antibiotics, they might not work.
So, if your doctor ever mentions ‘antibiotic’s and ‘viruses’ in the same sentence, question him about it.
And in the meantime, take a look at these all natural virus busters!
The Number One virus of all time…
First off, let’s start with something we all know and, er…love… the common cold.
Despite the commotion about coronavirus the other common viruses are still present and are causing infections.
There are over 150 viruses out there all trying their best to give us a cold, so there’s no avoiding it. But whereas most people rush out to the chemist and take things that merely mask symptoms, you can help beat the cold with simple these natural remedies…
– Echinacea and Elderberry extracts. Both of these herbal remedies help boost the immune system, which gives you a much better chance of fighting the virus. It won’t stop you from getting a cold, but it will help your body get rid of it quickly!
– Breath easily. Just put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in 2 cups of boiling water and breath in the steam to ease congestion. But don’t try to clear your mucus entirely. You need your runny nose to help flush the virus out of your body.
– Sore throat? Just gargle with a mix of water and pure tea tree oil.
Use this singer’s secret to get rid of a sore throat
– If your throat is your source of income, I guess you’d do your best to keep ailments like laryngitis and sore throats at bay. Well, I have it on good authority that many singers use oregano oil to keep their throats in tip-top condition, and keep problems away.
– Myrrh – this is an excellent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, and can help fight the sore throat – even when it feels like you’re swallowing razorblades.
– Hyssop – this shrub has a long history of medicinal use, and was used as a cure-all by Native Americans because it was so effective. This is meant to be brilliant for respiratory infections, but should be avoided by pregnant women.
– Wild indigo – the root of this plant is used to tackle infections, colds and flu.
– Why you should put garlic in your ear… if you’re suffering from earache, use a blender to crush a clove of garlic into three tablespoons of olive oil until it’s completely smooth. Lie down on your bed (or your sofa if there’s something vital on like a rugby match) and have your loving partner put three drops down your ear. Stay like this for half an hour, and repeat twice a day.
– Another use for garlic… if someone in your house picks up a stomach virus, eat two large garlic cloves and you the virus will run into a solid defence like Tom from Tom and Jerry running into a wall. Eat this much garlic every four or so hours for as long as the bug is in the house.
That’s it for today, I’ll be trying to keep warm, dodge the showers and avoid the myriad of viruses that are out to get me!
Yours, as always
The Good Life Letter
