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I haven’t ping this list for a long time, but have had recent requests due to the virus stuff. So...Oookay... I have a bit of time right now. Freepmail to get on/off this ping list.

Here are some good things to do with cold, flu, or respiratory virus. Neti and steam inhalation, probably described on this thread some place. If not I will desribe, also hot foot baths.

I make an EO blend I call “Breathe Well”, everyone who has tried it likes it. Whatever size bottle you are filling:

1/2 of the bottle with Eucalyptus
Then fill with smaller amounts of these, in decreasing order of volume:
Fir
Spruce
Pine
Basil
Peppermint
Camphor
Wintergreen or Birch (almost the same)
Thyme
Tea Tree

Shake well and let sit overnight to blend. Use drops in hot water for steam inhalations, on clothing, etc.

If congested either in head/sinuses and/or bronchials or lungs, do NOT drink or eat anything cold. This causes the secretions to become more solid and harder to cough, hack or blow out, and increases them. HOT drinks, lots of liquids - broth, soup, etc. NO ORANGE JUICE. Contrary to cultural habit.

Much better is hot lemonade or limeade, with fresh juice if possible, honey, and black pepper or ginger. Very good to drink as much as possible. And if you have acces s to organic citrus fruit, grate the peel and simmer in the water for 10 minutes on very low heat, covered, and use that to make the hot drinks. Citrus peel is strongly anti-microbial (all kinds of critters). Tastes good if not too strong.

Use a lot of fresh ginger, make ginger tea (simmer on low heat, covered), and drink it strong.

Use as much turmeric as possible, I think I may have given directions for Golden Milk, if I didn’t I will post that. Making turmeric paste is simple and takes only a few minutes and can be used for drinks and cooking. Turmeric is a medicine cabinet in a jar. Use very freely, can take up to 1 teaspoon a day or more. It is also anti-cancer, as well as anti-inflammtory, and anti-bacterial and likely anti-viral as well. Add it to everything. To absorb and utilize turmeric take it with some black pepper mixed in, and a bit of fat. That is why it is good to make Golden Milk but not with skim milk.

Hot compressess on upper back and chest, alternating. I can’t remember if I gave directions or not. I think I did. If not I’ll post.

KEEP WARM. Use a humidifier. I have an old Prak-T-Kal from an auction and loved it so much I got another one on ebay, both green glass, probably from the 50s or 60s, still work great. Very helpful to breathe moister air, helps with getting out mucus and phlegm.

Gargle with warm water often, if sore throat, add salt and some turmeric powder.

Many of the herbs I use are Ayurvedic but as that science is becoming more and more popular, more outlets sell these herbs.

Here are some I have used for viral illnesses, herbs often have very broad spectrum potency and when combined can be very effective. I don’t have time to look up the Latin names but if anyone is interested they can search the names and find sellers, I like Banyan Botanicals and Vadik Herbs but there are probably other good sources.

Kalmegh - especially good for respiratory illness, stimulates immune system
Gotu Kola - for any chronic or long lasting illness, also helps immune system
Neem - very very bitter (so is Kalmegh) strongly anti-microbial, also for skin diseases. Use in small quantity
Turmeric - add to everything
Barberry - helpful for liver and blood, pretty much most infective illnesses
Barberry - for respirory illnesses
Yarrow - good for feverish conditions and infective illness
Peppermint - good with Yarrow, helps with fevers too
Cinnamon, Cardamom and cloves - can be mixed in equal amounts, put in a jar, and used in hot drinks, and add to herb blends for illness, use sparingly but really help with taste too
Trikatu - a traditional Ayurvedic blend - equal amounts of dried ginger, black pepper and pippali aka as Long Pepper. Trikatu is excellent for any infective illness and especially respiratory. Can be used as prevention as well, I take daily several times all winter. Add small amounts to everything. I make my own, but it is available online. Trikatu is anti-microbial, helps with metabolism, digestion, detoxification, and lung function.

These herbs are considered very useful but they are not herbs I have or have used much.

Olive Leaf
Echinacea
Golden seal - way too expensive (used to use it) and can be damaging if over-used. Turmeric is in the same family with similar effects, when used in larger quantities.

Other:

Prunella extract - available on Amazon, I make my own. Helpful for flu and other viral or bacterial conditions, I use a lot, also for cancer. Can be used externally for scratches, insect bites etc.
Lemon Balm - tea or extract, good anti-viral, drink freely or use extract. Easy to grow and tincture.

That’s all for right now but I have my herb formula note book right here and will add more for cancer, lymphatic and blood cleansing and more.