I have included a wide range of possible ways to treat respiratory immune maladies. I would recommend trying several of the possible products to see what works best for you and your family. I have also included recommendations on brands as herbal and supplement quality is very important. The dosage recommendations are consistent with that on the supplement labels and it is critical that you take more at a greater frequency when you are sick! Chinese herbal products are readily available online and many products can also be purchased at the health food store. The faster you get on your supplements the quicker you will heal from your sickness. I always have my favorite immune products in my medicine cabinet. Here’s to good health and a speedy recovery. – rose
P.S. – The following information is not intended to prescribe or diagnose.
Foods for immunity
Steamed greens; kale, spinach, broccoli etc. (rich in immune boosters)
Oranges (fresh juice- not to exceed 6 ounces, high in vitamin C)
Sweet potatoes and carrots (high in beta carotene)
Garlic and onions (antioxidant rich and open sinus)
Soups; bone broth, miso, veggie (easy to digest and rich in nutrients)
Teas; Ginger, Peppermint
Foods to avoid; dairy, refined carbohydrates (whites) and sugar, limit cold raw foods to 25% or less of diet
Colds
Wellness Formula by Source Naturals (a combination of herbs and nutrients)- take the sickness dose according to the directions on the bottle
Gaia or Herb Pharm Echinacea Throat Spray- spray on back of throat a minimum of 5 times a day
Xclear nasal spray or saline nasal spray- spray a minimum of 3 times per day
Do a facial steam of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil (5 drops in a mug of hot water and cover head and breathe in for 5 minutes plus)- 1 to 2 times a day
Gargle with salt water and 1 drop of tea tree oil
Apply 5 drops of tea tree oil in a TBSP of oil of lotion and apply to the neck, throat, and feet at night before you go to bed
Wear a scarf and avoid drafts
Eat warming spicy foods
Massage the point between your thumb and index finger and massage the point below and on the outside of your knees
Wash your hands a lot and do not touch your face
Flu
See the above cold recommendations and add the following
Black elderberry- 5 times a day
Oscillococcinum (a homeopathic for the flu)- take 1 vial 3 times per day
Gan Mao Ling -4 tablets every 4 hours (this is also a great preventative formula at 4 tablets twice a day)
Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien- 8 pills up to 4 times per day (better choice than Gan Mao Ling if you are having lots of heat symptoms like heavy fever with raw sore throat)
Rest, relax and stay warm
Sinus
Netti pot twice a day
Plum Flower Coptis teapills- at least 4 pills 3 times per day or Huang Lian Su Pian (a more concentrated version of Coptis for a more intense presentation) to be used short term till acute sinus irritation is resolved
Plum Flower Pe Min Kan Wan- to dry the sinuses use 3 pills 3 times per day if this is too drying try Plum Flower Bi Yan Pian 4 pills 3 times per day
Solaray QBC (Quercetin, Bromelain, Vitamin C)- 2 capsules twice a day. It also can be used long term at 2 capsules once per day
Tea tree oil inhalations
Cough
Old Indian Cough Syrup by Planetary Herbs- 3 times a day
Plum flower Quiet Cough Teapills for spastic rattling cough with sparse mucus- 8 pills up to 5 times a day OR Plum Flower Clean Air Teapills for thick sticky phlegm and heavy oppressive feeling in the chest
Tea with lemon and honey- 3 times a day
Natural Beta Carotene 25000 IU daily
Kyolic Garlic Capsules 2 twice a day
Baked apples and pears with cinnamon and honey
When sleeping at night prop yourself up on a 30-degree angel
Follow sinus protocol
Lingering dry cough
Xclear nasal spray
Fish oil 2000mg
Plum Flower Autumn Rain Teapills take 8 pills twice a day
A spoonful of honey twice a day
Eat more moistening foods; soup, avocado, baked apples and pears, yams
Prevention/Recovery from a challenging respiratory event
Astragalus Extract (Herb Pharm or Gaia)- 30 drops twice a day
Plum Flower Jade Screen Pills- 8 twice a day
Shen Qi Wu Wei Zi Wan especially for more severe debility, weakness, lack of energy and easy sweating that causes one to be highly susceptible to frequent colds and flus- 8 pills twice a day
Medicinal mushroom formulas- reishi, maitake, shitake (there are many good formulas on the market)
Natural Beta Carotene 25000 IU
Oscillococcinum at 1 vial a week can help to prevent the flu.
Fish oil 2000mg
Probiotics
Bone Broth Soup
Kids
Black elderberry and Echinacea are great for immune support (once a day) and during illness (3 times per day)- Herb Pharm, Gaia & Herbs for Kids are all excellent brands. Add the drops into a small amount of pineapple juice.
Boericke & Tafel Childrens Cough and Bronchial Syrup- as needed for respiratory coughs
Kids Xclear nasal spray for sinus issues and dry coughs- use at least twice a day for prevention and during sickness
Astragalus Extract for deep immune support- dose at a quarter to half adult dose
Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien for flu with lots of heat and fever- dose at quarter to half the adult dose, easy for kids to swallow small sugar-coated tablets come in the Plum Flower brand
Oscillococcinum for kids- 1 vial a week for flu prevention. Follow the dosage recommendation for the flu.
Plum Flower Resilient Warrior Teapills- lingering white thick phlegmy cough and nasal congestion with weakness and a feeling of cold. This is a cold that lingers with lots of phlegm in a kid that has had a depleted immune system due to frequent colds that cause lots of phlegm. The dose is a quarter to half the adult dose and should be used till the phlegm in chest is resolved.
Herb Pharm Mullein and Garlic Ear Drops for ear aches and sinus congestion that backs up into the ear. If you have a kid that has a tendency towards earaches and they get sick use this before the symptoms start.
Use great caution with kids and dairy, gluten, white carbohydrates plus cold raw foods. These will further promote phlegm that cause the pathogens to stick in their little bodies.
Essential oil: inhalations- tea tree oil, eucalyptus, DoTerra Breathe. Topically these can be used in diluted form (1 TBSP oil or lotion drop 3-5 drops of oil) and used over the sinuses, neck, throat, upper back, chest and soles of the feet.
Dress your kids how you are dressed. Kids do not regulate their temperature the same as adults so dress them like you are dressed. Make sure hats and high collars are used to keep their necks and ears protected.
