Winter asthma wisdom
A. Pharmacist Shabir Daya agrees that supporting the immune system is vital in hopefully reducing the severity of these attacks. Shabir recommends giving your granddaughter organic elderberry syrup, which also contains manuka honey and thyme to help breathing. It is safe to use through the winter. Organic Elderberry Syrup by Pukka, £11.65 for 120 ml, from Victoria Health (see label for recommended doses) - buy here.
Adults and children over 12 could try Daily Immunity. This contains astragalus, a safe and potent herb known to enhance white blood cells and interferon to help immunity. (I am taking it myself to ward off colds and flu.) Daily Immunity, £25 for 60 capsules: take two daily for prevention, double if you have a cold - buy here.
A saltpipe inhaler may help breathing. These hand-held ceramic containers contain natural salt crystals, which are purified as they pass over filters. Using it daily has been reported to help breathing by drawing excess fluid from the sinuses and cell lining, which cleanses the nasal passages and opens the airways. Saltpipe Inhaler, £29.95, suitable for adults and children over five - buy here
The Buteyko Method has helped many people with asthma. These breathing exercises, developed by a doctor, are said to help people breathe in a way that maintains the correct ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. www.buteyko.co.uk.
Eating fresh wholesome food, organic where possible, has helped some children. When one primary school in South London switched to freshly prepared meals, with plenty of vegetables, the need for inhalers at lunchtime diminished to nil, the headmistress told me.
Carrying a hand sanitiser may help keep infection at bay. Bugs lurk everywhere; when you can’t get to soap and water, try a non-drying product such as Organic Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer, by Bentley Organics, £3.10. NB : natural measures should be discussed with your doctor and should not replace conventional treatment.
SPICE UP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
As well as being a simple way to make food super-tasty, spices can help cure everything from the common cold to insomnia and are increasingly being investigated for more serious conditions. We Westerners are usually pretty clueless about what to use, so I shall be glued to More 4′s new series, Spice Trip, presented by award-winning young chef Stevie Parle and spice genius Emma Grazette. Their book of the same name would be a great Christmas present for keen cooks. To whet your appetite, here are a couple of quick recipes from Emma.
Cinnamon Tea for colds and flu
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken up
- A few cloves
- 2.5cm fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped
- juice of half a lemon
- honey to taste (preferably manuka)
Heat all the ingredients with one litre of filtered water until boiling, then cover and simmer for five minutes. Strain before drinking. Sleep ytime drink Small amounts of the compound myristicin, found in nutmeg, can help people who tend to wake in the small hours and can’t go back to sleep. Almonds contain relaxing magnesium, and tryptophan, an amino acid that helps sleep. Stir ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg into a mug of warmed almond milk and add a little honey (preferably manuka) to taste. Drink before bed.
Sleepy time drink Small amounts of the compound myristicin, found in nutmeg, can help people who tend to wake in the small hours and can’t go back to sleep. Almonds contain relaxing magnesium, and tryptophan, an amino acid that helps sleep. Stir ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg into a mug of warmed almond milk and add a little honey (preferably manuka) to taste. Drink before bed.