Health Gallery Nutrition Center

29820 Ellensburg Avenue
Box 283, Gold Beach, Or 97444
1-541-247-7077

Don't Let The Cold and Flu Season Rain On Your Holiday!
By Walt "dr health" Edwards

Due to the great number of spam, we changed the E-mail address. Please contact me using this number: 1-541-247-7077 Past issues available on my web site: getwel-newsletter.
Every year upper respiratory infections such as the common cold and sore throat send millions of people fleeing to their local pharmacy to stock up on over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The danger here is that most people don't consider the risks associated with these seemingly safe OTC medications.

It's important to remember that OTCs are still drugs that contain many powerful ingredients. For example, Bayer, maker of the popular Alka-Seltzer Plus cold medicine, was ordered to pay $400,000 to a consumer who claimed the ingredient, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), had caused a stroke. The well-known OTC cold medicine endured another fizzling blow after a state court jury in Texas found that the U.S. unit of Bayer produced a product considered defective and dangerous.

How did OTC sinus medications turn into a billion dollar industry? Daily exposure to TV commercials for sinus headache remedies has created a misconception among Americans that sinus problems cause headaches. These advertising ploys supported by the pharmaceutical companies have helped OTCs successfully reach their goal -- create a need for OTC medications by convincing the public they are suffering from sinus headaches. No consideration of allergies are made to the public. This direct-to-consumer advertising is not only driving people straight to their nearest pharmacy, but directly to mistreatment. Over 95 percent of the people experiencing sinus headaches are actually suffering from migraines that are very likely caused by allergies.

The Health Costs of Mistreatment... One of the major consequences of relying on OTC medications is exposing your body to unnecessary side effects such as: * Drowsiness * Nervousness * Agitation * Palpitations * Sleeplessness. This doesn't include the chronic users of certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Motrin), which has been linked to gastrointestinal and liver damage. Also, the highly marketed acetaminophen (Tylenol), if taken in excess, has been shown to be toxic to the liver.

OTC drugs do nothing to prevent a cold or flu, but solely mask the symptoms and fail to treat the underlying symptoms. It would seem to be the best option is taking a preventative approach. First, avoid food choices that will sabotage your health such as: sugars, sweets, pastries, cookies, cakes and candies if you want to avoid colds because these foods impair your immune system. Second, reduce stress as much as you can and getting enough sleep also effects your immune response. Many people struggle with getting a good night sleep. Improving your melatnon levels are key to getting a good night's sleep, as well as exposure to sunlight in the daytime and sleep in absolute darkness at night. Third, a practical prevention tool is proper hand washing. It is critical to keeping colds and other viruses at bay as well as flu viruses.

Non-Drug Approach... According to Dr. Mercola, treating your cold naturally can start with zinc lozenges. When using zinc lozenges, it is important to recognize that they need to be sucked on, NOT swallowed. Smaller doses more frequently seem to work better. A sign of zinc toxicity is a nauseous feeling.

Dr. Mercola also adds, one of the most simple and inexpensive natural options to treat a cold, once established, is to use hydrogen peroxide in your ear canals. It is amazingly effective especially if used at the first sign of a cold. Don't ask me how it works, but it seems to help more than 75 percent of those that use it, according to Dr. M.

The Alternative Medicine Journal lists vitamin A is more helpful than vitamin C. Olive Leaf which contains a chemical called oleuropein is shown to kill all sorts of bacteria and viruses. Olive Leaf also increases the supply of phagocytes, the ³pac man² cells that gobble up viruses and other nasty intruders. Glycerol monolaurate is a fatty acid derivative that is naturally found in breast milk. It works by destroying the fatty coatings that allow viruses to latch onto your healthy cells. Without those coatings, the viruses quickly die. Glycerol monolaurate is available under the trade name Monolaurin.

During the initial stage, The Healthy Healing Book suggests Yin Chiao tabs as well as vitamin C, Zinc Lozenges and Colloidal Silver. While in the process of dealing with a cold, consider a mixture of aloe vera juice, 1/4 teasp. vitamin C crystals, 2 tsp. SAMBUCOL elderberry syrup, 1/2 teasp. turmeric powder (or open a curcumin cap), 1 opened cap echincea and if available 1/2 teasp. propolis extract.

In the Nutritional Therapy Plan listed in the H.H. Book suggests: Go on a liquid diet during acute stage with green or potassium drink, vegetable juices, and Alacer EMERGEN-C DRINK MIX. Avoid dairy products of all kinds, red meats, caffeine, sugary, fried or fatty foods during a cold. Chicken soup with pinches of garlic and cayenne increases mucous release and reduce inflammation.

Thought For The Day: Where inner harmony and kindness are absent, anger and hatred are prolific and self-perpetuating. Where love and charity are absent, selfishness and self-centeredness seek only their pleasures. Elmore Giles, Jr.