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| Jill Farris |
When Your Family is Sick; The Blessing of Herbal Tinctures
by Jill Campbell Farris
I was born with a hole in my heart back in 1960 when open
heart surgery was only slightly past the pioneering stage. After spending a
childhood gasping for breath as well as constantly fighting illness, at the age
of 11 surgery was performed and I instantly felt better. I am alive today and
the proud mother of eight children due to the expertise of the surgeons who
operated on me. I appreciate medical doctors!
Yet, years after my surgery, as the mother of two small
children I found myself chronically ill and constantly exhausted due to the
overuse of antibiotics in my childhood. I struggled with depression,
discouragement and low energy as I battled chronic sinus infections. No matter
how hard I tried to avoid using antibiotics, I would eventually find that the
only way to "cure" a sinus infection was to take another round. Each
treatment left me feeling worse. My doctor told me that I would have sinus
infections for the rest of my life.These were discouraging words.
I was fascinated with herbs and natural health during that
time and tried taking herbs in tea and capsule form but did not find them to be
particularly effective in my search for better health. Finally, a helpful home
birth midwife taught me how to use herbs as aggressively as I used antibiotics.
A little tea sipping and a few days of capsule popping was not an effective way
to use herbs but the use of a tincture might prove to be very beneficial.
Herbal tinctures can have a glycerin base, an alcohol base
or, even, a vinegar base. They come in small bottles with droppers so that the
concentrated herbal tincture can be measured precisely. Basically, the herb is
steeped in the base liquid until all the plant properties pass out of the plant
and into the liquid. After straining the liquid, the herb is ready to be taken
orally.
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| Echinacea aka Purple Coneflower |
Echinacea Purpurea or Purple Coneflower has a variety of
wonderful benefits which have been clinically proven. This wonderful herb
raises white blood cell counts in the body in order to more effectively fight
infection!
Aren't they pretty plants? They are also very popular for
their beauty.
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| Goldenseal |
Goldenseal is an incredibly effective natural antibiotic
that kills yeast and bacteria as well.
Combine these two herbs and you have a very effective
infection fighter. If you use Echinacea by itself try to start several days
early (ie., at the tiniest sign of infection or illness) because it takes 24 to
48 hours to raise the white blood cells and become effective.
My midwife friend blessed me by showing me how to
effectively use these tinctures. At the first sign of my sinus infection I
needed to take 10-14 drops of the tincture every hour for 24 hours or until I
could feel a difference (Goldenseal is very drying so I would feel it in my
nose). Then I was to continue for 4 times a day for a total of 14 days (just
like a round of antibiotics).
It proved to be very effective the first time I took it.
Unfortunately, my sinus infection returned a few weeks later causing me to
panic that it hadn't worked! My midwife calmly told me to apply the same round
of tinctures and take them for 14 days again. The herbs did not have the same
side effects as antibiotics and could be safely used over and over.
This time, the sinus infection did not reoccur for several
months. When I felt another infection coming on, I pulled out my trusty
tincture bottles and took another round. Three long sinus-infection free months
followed! The next time another infection hit I applied the same knowledge and
noticed that the length of the infection was much shorter.
This time, it was seven months before another infection
reared its ugly head-yippee! Although I was thrilled by the effectiveness of
the herbs, I was deeply thankful for the lack of exhaustion that accompanied
the herbs...there were no side effects at all.
A little over a year after I learned how to use
Echinacea/Goldenseal tincture in an aggressive way, my last sinus infection was
knocked out and I never got another one. That's
right! Through the births of all eight of my children, through the ups and
downs of the stresses of life....I never had another sinus infection!
Echinacea and Echinacea/Goldenseal became a standard go-to
herb for my family. I continued to use the combo for my children (cutting the
dose in half for a 10-12 year old and in half again for a 6 year old).
Herbal tinctures can also be rubbed into the skin to be
absorbed that way for a sick child. Except for our first two children (when we
didn't know any better) the rest of our eight children have never been on
antibiotics and have come through some bad illnesses with these tinctures.
I am so glad that I proved my family doctor wrong and didn't
have to live with chronic sinus infections for the rest of my life!
Naturally, there are some herbal tinctures that are stronger
than others. You can research and make your own (it's not hard, just plan ahead
so you are well prepared when illness visits) or you can buy tinctures at
health stores and co-ops. Dr. Schultz is a naturopath who sells concentrated herbal tinctures.
Although they are more costly than other sources, when I am sick I am glad I
have a supply!
I am convinced that God has richly blessed us with plants
which are beneficial to our health if we take the time to learn about them and
how to use them in as food and medicine. It's been said that "Knowledge is
power." I don't know if that always hold true but, for me, knowledge gave
me confidence in my ability to treat myself and my growing family and that has
given me great peace! I hope it does the same for you! Please do your research
before using any concentrated herb tincture. Goldenseal is such a powerful herb
it should not be used for more than three weeks without a break!
For a wonderful supply of herbs and books on using herbs
please visit The Bulk Herb Store at www.bulkherbstore.com.
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