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Herbal Whirled
Blogged-down thoughts of a clinical herbalist

Flu-b-gone!

1/16/2019

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Usually, colds come on slowly, influenza tends to hit like a ton of bricks. Fever, muscle aches, cough, chills... you know the drill. Flattened and feeling like crud. What to do about the flu? Some folks will get a prescription to shorten the duration and severity. 
There are three hitches to that:
           A. Calling your doc in the middle of flu season may or may not get a speedy response. And the scrip works best at first symptoms.
           B. Cost: It can cost upwards of $200 - before a deductible! Yeowch!
           C. Availability: Prescriptions may not be good sitting on your shelf for a few months.

Great news for you: There is a solution that won't empty your pockets and is clinically proven to work as well as the prescription stuff! In Europe, there is a hot drink blend (or a regular syrup) of elderberry and echinacea. Several clinical trials have shown that it is equivalent to the prescription without the side effects some experience on the prescription (vomiting, diarrhea, neuropsychiatric).

More great news: Pre-made or DIY, We have you covered!
 
​A. Brand new from NH-based Megafood! Acute Defense has elderberry and echinacea, as well as vitamin C and zinc. Best part: it is under $20 for one bout of flu.
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​ B. Make your own elderberry syrup and take echinacea with it as needed. Here's a fantastic, easy recipe:
                                           ROSEMARY’S ELDERBERRY SYRUP
  • 2/3 cup dried elderberries
  • 3 1/2 cups of water
  • Optional spices: 2tbs fresh (1-2 tsp dry) ginger root; 1 tsp cinnamon powder; 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1/2 to 1 cup raw honey or maple syrup

1. Combine berries, spices, and water and bring to gentle boil.
2. Reduce heat and keep uncovered.
3. Simmer until liquid is reduced by about half., about 30 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, strain, and add honey.
Bottle and store in fridge. Adults: 1tsp – 1 tbs daily. Children: 1tsp daily.


Last, both the DIY elderberry syrup-echinacea combination as well as the Megafood Acute Defense is excellent for many viral nasties - flu or cold. Elderberry syrup by itself is an excellent daily immune support, safe for almost everyone.

Here are some excellent links to back up my claims:

American Botanical Council
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abc-says-echinacea-preparation-as-effective-as-tamiflu-in-early-flu-cases-in-large-clinical-trial-300100942.html 

NIH - PubMed

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4528044/

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​CBD Part 1: CB -What?

1/11/2019

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“What is this CBD, why is it so popular, and how do I sift the hype and hooie from reality?  Will it get me high?” Let’s start with the source: cannabis. – Marijuana is a close cousin of hemp – they aren’t the same plant. Marijuana naturally has high levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and lower levels of CBD; hemp has naturally low levels of THC  and higher levels of CBD. When the THC levels are below .3%, it is considered industrial hemp by Federal law and is allowed for sale almost anywhere. CBD (cannabidiol) is another chemical found that seems to have excellent uses in supporting anxiety, pain, sleeplessness, etc. Marijuana is bushier, lower growing, while hemp is tall and has sturdy stalks.
 
OK, so you have a pretty good idea where CBD comes from. Now let’s look at how it’s extracted. There are many, many ways CBD is extracted, depending on just what the company wants to sell. Labels can be confusing, so here are some of the more common ways it may be produced:
  • Full spectrum: squashed in water and extracted, often with a certain amount of heat and pressure. Produces a thick, greenish, oily liquid. Benefits: you get CBD, plus all of the supporting chemicals in the plant (all the flavinoids, terpenes, the other 100+ cannabinols, etc.). 
  • Supercitical extract: Plant, pressure, carbon dioxide. Some feel that this method produces a more complete chemical profile. It all depends on the actual methodology and the plants involved.
  • Solvent extraction: Most times, this will be an alcohol extraction. The alcohol vaporizes and leaves behind the CBD extract. Some folks don’t like the idea of even trace amounts of solvent. Herbalists have been using alcohol for millennia to extract plant material into medical formulas, so it isn’t all that evil. Be careful as some solvent extracts might use hexane – yuck!
 
Full spectrum vs. isolate? What the what? Full spectrum, as I described above, is the squashed-up plant extract. The isolate is just that: CBD completely extracted out of all the other chemicals. Generally, full spectrum provides better and longer lasting relief. The isolate, however, does work well enough. It is ideal for folks who cannot take any THC-containing products, even near-zero levels.
 
Last: Does it really, really work? Most of the time, yes. It all depends on many factors. What you are treating, the severity, your constitution and expectations (complete pain relief vs. down to manageable levels, for example). Next Up: CBD Part 2: What to Look for When Buying CBD & How Much is Best
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Welcome, TRAVELER!

1/10/2019

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You have stumbled into a rolling conversation - between you, the reader, and me, the writer; between me, myself, & I; between folks who visit my shop, Ravenswood Natural Health. Why linger? As a clinical herbalist with 40+ years of self-directed research, plus a 2-year certification, plus ongoing education, I offer science based commentary on and practical suggestions to survive the chaos of the herbal world.

I have no hidden agenda to sell brand x or promote the latest fad. You will find trusted links to studies both in the US & Europe on topics ranging from aromatherapy to CBD and anything in-between. Oftentimes a topic will suggest itself when multiple visitors ask the same question. 

Comment if you please. Ask a question. I'll do my best to answer.

​


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    Author

    Clinical herbalist, shop owner, wild haired Saxon Celt. Coffee fuelled herbal wild woman. Nuff said.

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Simsbury CT ~ 860-264-1587


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