HERBS THROUGH THE AGES...

Barbara Eia (Brownless) · February 01, 2009, 04:26:33 PM

Hi Bertie

Have you any idea what one can take for larangitis(SP)...my sister has lost her voice and the doctor told her to stop talking.. I have told her to take lemon and hunny is there anything else she can do she runs a bed and breakfast and has to talk on the phone and to customers the doc told her it could last about 4 weeks any alternatives..

Bertie Horak · February 01, 2009, 05:02:26 PM

Hi Barbara,

Honey and lemon is good idea - to sip slowly during the day.
Other herb gargles for laryngitis is the following two combinations (if you know where to get it):

1. Sage (Salvia) and Chamomile (Matricaria) - draw like tea and cool a bit before gargling - repeat every 30-60 minutes.
2. Chilli pepper (Capsicum) and Myrrh (Commiphora) - better to make tinctures and add to teas. Difficult to get, but don't know if you have herbal shops around there?

Of course tincture and/or tea of Echinacea (Purple coneflower) will also be beneficial for inflammation and infection. Taken regularly.

THEN - unfortunately it's true what the doctor said - she has to rest her voice!

Barbara Eia (Brownless) · February 01, 2009, 05:14:07 PM

Thanks for that Bertie, she has a good herb shop where she lives will tell her to get them to make the teas.

I grow the Purple Cornflower in my garden in the summer didn't know it was beneficial,
She will just have to stop talking which can be quite difficult for her (chatter box)

Here in England we have a Farmers market down the road from me on a Sunday and they sell all the herbs and Tincture.
Thank you once again

SandyB · February 01, 2009, 07:30:48 PM

I have done the schwedenbitters diluted in warm water for gargle when throat bad and voice dispearing . .. best part is it can be swallowed to do good elswhere .. and it worked .. same as the olive leaf complex did wonders for the abcess ... never ever again even rasied its nasty head .. and of course theres good old mother natures bounty if nothing else is at hand .. warm salt water gargles ... nasturtium leaves slowly chewed and swallowed as well ...

Barbara Eia (Brownless) · February 01, 2009, 08:44:37 PM

Thanks Sandy will get Susan to try some of these remedies aswell, she does have a problem with gargles so maybe eating or drinking something might be better for her. Will let you know how it goes

Barbara Eia (Brownless) · February 05, 2009, 08:28:51 PM

Hi Bertie,
I have just heard from my sister (She has laryngitis)she went to the herb shop and they gave her they gave her Full Potency Herbs....Echinacea - golden seal caps *something* claw complex she had to take 3 a day for 3-4 days. Have you heard of them? Are they any good?

SandyB · February 05, 2009, 08:38:27 PM

In the absence of Bertie ,, echiniacae ,, very good immune booster .. devils claw also has microbial properties ... yes ... but topical gargling helps .. attack through the blood stream works but yes direct attack .. warm salt water gargles .. or yes the schwedenbitter diluted in warm water gargled and then swallowed .. warning .. it tastes awful but can be swallowed in fact a good systemic detoxifier .. next question .. why she taking so long with it .??? at the first sign of any bodily distress I take time out to think of best method of attack .. the answers come and I follow them ... give my love to Susan and yes get well soon ...

Barbara Eia (Brownless) · February 05, 2009, 08:44:14 PM

Hi Sandy thanks.....she went to the doctors when it first happened and he told her just to rest her voice and do no talking and it would take 4 weeks to go. She is just so fed up now that she was looking for a remedy to see if anything other than not talking will help. The problem with susan is that she cannot gargle it makes her sick.......just hope this herbal remedy works for her...very fustrating when you have to run a business..and are told not to talk.....will send her your love ....

SandyB · February 05, 2009, 08:49:33 PM

So typical of doctors .. just take time out .. rest .. there are also herbal lozenges available that would contain echinicae and other good stuff .. tell her to check that option out ...

Bertie Horak · February 06, 2009, 04:09:19 AM

Sorry guys, it's early to bed, early to rise for me! Thanks for Sandy - always there to assist, and definitely great and proven interest in the good stuff (natural alternatives) - well done!
Barbara, the complex is good, with:
Echinacea (known immune modulator and antibacterial),
Hydrastes (Golden seal - has definite antibacterial properties, mainly used for diarrhea),
Uncaria (Cat's claw - I think this is the third herb, and not Devil's claw Sandy - The first is more known for immune modulating, adaptogenic and anti-pathogenic, while Devil's claw is more of an anti-inflammatory herb with special affinity for the musculo-skeletal system).

The only reason I don't use Golden seal, is because it is being harvested wild - and almost extinct! There are other herbs which contain the same alkaloids (like berberine) which is the active ingredient and just as good.

Pity she can't gargle, because like Sandy suggested - that topical "rinse" would have been VERY beneficial. No harm in sipping something like the honey-lemon mix or Sandy's bitters regularly every few minutes, but like Sandy said - yeuch!

Has your sister shown any improvement yet? I'm afraid the capsules will take longer to have an effect than a tea mix or tincture. Good luck!

SandyB · February 06, 2009, 08:12:48 AM

Mmm devils claw .. cats claw .. me must have the devil on my mind ??

Bertie Horak · February 08, 2009, 05:27:30 AM

@ Barbara - My head lecturer, Dr Connie Meyer is originally from England. She says there's a shop called "Baldwins" in London which should be able to supply you with good quality herbs. Maybe you can check it out?
How's our patient doing?

Barbara Eia (Brownless) · February 08, 2009, 02:11:07 PM

Hi Bertie thanks for all the advice I know we do not pay you for your expertise but do wish to express that we are thankfull for all your help....Will ask my sister to try them they should have an online shop.....She is still the same and i think she should go back to the doctor...been 4 weeks now.....I last spoke to her or should i say tried to on friday...i had to get her to go on skype so she could type me her replies to what i was asking her. One way conversations are not good.... LOL
Sandy would like to thank you for your help too...Susan sends her love to all

Barbara Eia (Brownless) · February 08, 2009, 02:14:50 PM

Bertie just been on the site for Baldwins they do have online shopping so will lwet my sister know thanks

Bertie Horak · February 08, 2009, 05:36:22 PM

Yes, good idea to have her see the doctor again, or maybe a second opinion to check her out properly, even maybe an ENT specialist.
It's easy to give advice over the phone or online, but one can unfortunately only go on symptoms which is not the ideal way to go. Usually a consultation would be at least 30 minutes long, during which (for suspected laryngitis) a proper physical exam would be done, including testing the cranial nerves which supply the larynx, and also palpation to check the lymph nodes, thyroid, symmetry, etc.
Good luck!