We live in a busy stress filled world always on the go, never giving our selves the time to breathe much less weather a cold. Only when it is dire indeed and an infection is riding through our bodies will we finally rest, but really because we feel we have no choice. We as the consumer have spoken and the market has responded. We are inundated with cartoon images of the Mucinex blob-man manically out to get us. We are fearful of fevers lest they get too high and they kill us! Our children even have a hint of a fever and we reach for children’s acetaminophen to get rid of it. Our care givers taught us this and society has grown around these misguided myths. In this class I show that in truth our bodies do know how to protect us.
Your runny nose may be a nuisance, but it is essential to tagging, fighting, and removing pathogens from our body. Stopping the flow causes drying out of the tissues and fissures where infection can get in and grow into sinus infections and deeper pathologies. Our mucous membranes and the mucus produced by them is our immune systems first line of defense against outside invaders. When your nose starts running your body is killing and removing pathogens, allergens, or foreign substances from your body before they have a chance to do more damage or as in the case of viruses multiply and invade.
Fever is the body’s way of killing pathogens, when we inhibit this process by reducing our fevers before they have had a chance to do their job naturally, we are encouraging pathogens to multiply, go deeper, and prolong our illness. The Influenza virus dies at 98°-99°. We can achieve 104° just from vigorous exercise and it is the upper range where most bodily functions are not altered. Lowering a fever artificially has proven to prolong duration and symptoms of infections.
Vitalist approaches like herbal therapeutics, diet, and lifestyle changes to incorporate rest can really make a significant difference to any cold or flu. Chronic slept debt increases cortisol and impairs immune function. Studies have shown that sugar intake can decrease the immune system by 40%. Herbal therapies like expectorants, demulcents, relaxants, and diaphoretics (opens the pores to promote sweating) are critical for supporting our body’s natural immune functions and processes. Reducing duration and the possibility of deeper infection.
In the mucus portion we will look at herbs of all categories, methods of delivery, and formulation for each person and situation. We will make an Elderberry Elixer known to kill pathogens and is a potent antioxidant which kills free radicles. In the fever portion we will be making an Oxymel which has been around since Hippocrates. Ours will be designed to heat up the body supporting the fever process opening the pores to encourage sweating it all out. Handouts, recipes, and notes will be provided.
1 Workshop/Classes: Managing Mucus
Location: Holistic Pathways 3521 S. Logan St. Englewood, CO. 80113
Date: April 7th 2020 Time: 6 pm - 8 pm
Contact: https://www.holistic-pathways.com or call 720-570-2454 to sign up!
Class cost is $40
2 Workshop/Classes: Managing Fever
Location: Holistic Pathways 3521 S. Logan St. Englewood, CO. 80113
Date: April 21st 2020 Time: 6 pm - 8 pm
Contact: https://www.holistic-pathways.com or call 720-570-2454 to sign up!
Class cost is $40
Resources: CSCH Acute Conditions Fever, Cold and Flu, Catarrh, Chronic Mucus; Integrative Herbalism Notes Respiratory and Mucous Membrane Materia Medica, Materia Medica Intensive Paul Bergner, Matthew Becker, Linda Whitedove (Respiratory MM)