Nature's Rx

To try: some simple tips to open up that stuffy winter head By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME Happy New Year to all. We have survived the holidays and now prepare to face the coming winter months. Here at the Herbarium, we have been getting a large volume of customers who are complaining of sinus congestion and respiratory difficulties but do not seem to have colds. If you are one of these people, I have a few suggestions on how to make your breathing easier. Improve the air you breathe First, make sure you do not have a cold. If you pass this first test, try looking at the obvious. The house is buttoned up, your heat is on and the humidity is very low. Essentially you are drying out your mucous membrane. There really is not much of a difference between dry chapped skin and hands and your sinus dryness. A humidifier can do wonders for you. Pick up a humidity gauge and try for about 45 percent humidity in the house. If you do not have a humidifier, try putting a large pot of water on the stove and set to simmer. The steam gently rising can help to moisturize the air. Adding an essential oil to the cup that accompanies the humidifier can be helpful. Peppermint, eucalyptus, or many other oils can be very soothing and make your breathing easier. Adding an essential oil to the humidifier can help to kill any germs in the water. Instead of using a bactericide in your water try an essential oil. We have a sheet at the Herbarium, prepared by Kathy Duffy CCAP/I on recommended methods and dosages for diffusing essential oils. Use the right scent Remember that you need pure essential oils, not the "aromatherapy" fragrance oils that are so widely marketed. Perfume and fragrance oils are not pure, have not been distilled completely and in many cases contain other chemicals and extenders. Some of these oils are completely created in a laboratory using petrochemicals as a base. Really now, how could anyone come up with essential oil of vanilla cookie? The stuff in candles and plug-in diffusers type are not therapeutic grade oils. The use of these fragrance oils can contribute to your breathing difficulties. The chemicals act as irritants to your sinus and lung tissue. So many people, especially children, have developed asthma and "environmental allergies." Take a look at your cleaning products, aerosol air fresheners, and the like. Good luck if you can translate the contents without a PhD in chemistry from M.I.T. Mother Nature has already produced great smelling air fresheners with actual health benefits that do not pollute the atmosphere, hurt the environment or your family. Plus, many are anti-viral, anti-bacterial and protect you from the germs. Candles and air quality Speaking of environmental pollutants, many people turn to the use of candies to "clean the air" during the winter months. This can be a problem right there. Many of your commercial candles and their fragrance are a petrochemical base. If you have someone in your house with allergies and you are still using these kinds of candles, you may want to rethink that idea. You are not cleaning anything. Covering a smell with another smell may be contributing more to the problem than the solution. We have candles at the Herbarium that are made using soy wax, essential oils and cotton wicks. These candles do not have the overpowering smell of your run of the mill types, but they can actually "clean" the air by virtue of their therapeutic action. Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com info@theherbarium.com , or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013.