Sharing information to keep in mind as we go through cold and flu season.
As it happens I’m getting through a cold. The worst symptom is a cough from phlegm.
Keeping me up at night.
1st Thought
Though I generally turn to natural remedies my first thought was to get Nyquil. You know – the “So you can rest medicine?” Sure enough the first night I slept deeply.
Sleep is healing.
2nd Thought
Natural remedies like drinking lots of water to help my immune system take care of the situation.
3rd Thought
A good friend who knows I prefer natural remedies sent me information on a few that can help in this situation. I chose 2
- Propolis throat spray
- Elderberry tincture
I’d never used either though I’m big on adding honey to a cup of chamomile for a bronchial cough.
This isn’t. Totally post-nasal drip – gets worse when I lie down.
Throat spray – inconclusive.
Elderberry?
Did I imagine that?
To put in context – I started taking Boiron Cold Calm. Have had excellent experience with it and after a dose I did feel better but….
After the Cold Calm I sipped some water into which I dropped Elderberry tincture. Next thing I know I was coughing worse than I had in days.
Didn’t put it together there may be causality.
Put a glass of water with Elderberry next to my bed thinking to sip in the night and first thing in the morning.
Coughing was horrendous and another shot of Nyquil didn’t help.
Neither did lying on my left side which had worked to slow the cough the night before.
As I lay on my back staring up in the dark using meditation techniques to deal with the situation a thought occurred to me.
No coincidence it occurred during meditation.
This seems more like an allergy than a virus.
As I went with the thought I acknowledged Nyquil – which had been working – suddenly wasn’t.
Which it wouldn’t if it was an allergy.
Next Round
I took a Cold Calm dose in the morning – felt significantly better with symptoms all but gone.
But Then…
I sipped water with Elderberry tincture late morning and within minutes was coughing like crazy.
But but but it’s NATURAL!
As I once told a hair stylist who insisted the shampoo they used was botanical
So is poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
Anyone can be allergic to anything, natural or pharmaceutical.
Case In Point
The best cough remedy I’ve ever had is codeine. Stops the worst bronchial cough cold. It also gives me a horrendous migraine that makes it so I’d rather sleep upright in a chair and hack the night away than take one dose of codeine – for anything.
Listen to the signals your body is sending and tune into your instincts.
Be well this holiday season.
Elizabeth Maxim 