How is this possible?

[menancy]

Hi folks.
With the first cold of the season that's going around the office, I was wondering what your thoughts are with "natural remedies". We have one lady that people refer to as an "herbal nut", their words, not mine. She is constantly taking or spraying something into her system to prevent catching whatever it is going around. And if you are wondering, she has been sick.
Last night I started getting a headache and figured I was coming down with it but this morning I seemed fine and thought I'd start preparing myself just in case. I began doing some research on different herbs and home remedies. I found that some of the stuff they sell is just flat out scary. One of the items I was looking for was called bitter orange, which is supposed to help with nasal congestion. It was also listed under a consumer's website as a suppliment to avoid due to possible dangers: Fainting, heart-rhythm disorders, heart attack, stroke and death. Another, which I know this "herb nut" has sworn by, is called colloidal silver. It is also on this list with dangers of bluish skin, mucous membrane discoloration, neurological problems and kidney damage. I don't see these serious warnings on over the counter medications. How is it these can be so easily sold? I have heard that there are less deaths with herbs but do they tell us how many serious injuries are caused by them? How many people have permanent kidney damage? Some of the warnings on the herbs said they could CANCER! I'd post the list, I just wasn't sure if it was legal here.
I'll be out for the night and will read your thoughts tomorrow. Thanks in advance.

[gooddecisions]

I don't have allergies, I don't get headaches and I rarely get sick so I don't have much need for OTCs or herbal remedies. That said, the minute I feel a cold symptom, I'll start a cycle of OTC cold medicine as directed and it seems to keep the cold from taking over my body. It doesn't matter if it's zicam, tylenol cold, contact, etc- they all work well if you take them as soon as you feel the first symptom. I figure if I can avoid the symptoms, then I'm not really sick and I'm not sneezing and snotting all over stuff spreading gerrms. My PSA is that if you must go to work while sick, at least take some symptom relievers and take them as directed! As for the herbal stuff, I don't bother.

[chiver78]

as my sis says, I'm allergic to everything up to and including the sun. seasonal, foods, material, etc. I have tried pretty much everything on the market and in the herbal shops, and tend to stick with what works for me for as long as it will work.

that said, I've only heard of the two things you mentioned. I'm leery of most metals out of the gate, and with those warnings I'm even more so. the bitter orange, I've seen it mixed into tea sachets although I haven't tried it myself. most of the people I know who use it blend it with black and/or orange tea, which doesn't play well with my own tummy.

hopefully this helps some - what has been working for me lately is a daily dose of vitamins D and B12 plus zinc. I also, when I'm feeling a little blah, will add a daily cup of echinacea tea - the one by Celestial Seasonings is pretty easy to find. and then for nasal congestion, I swear by the "extra moisturizing" Afrin 12-hour spray. if I need extra between doses, I've got saline spray on my desk at work and a travel size bottle in my purse.

hope you feel better!

[menancy]

Thank you Gooddecisions and Chiver. You helped a lot and will be heading to the drug store here soon.
Thanks again.

[mizbear]

Check at your local library for the latest book from a reputable publisher such as Rodale Press (Prevention Magazine) on herbs and natural remedies.

I agree a good unmedicated saline spray or neti pot is awesome for colds and allergies. I love my neti pot!

I have certain things I look for when shopping for herbs and supplements- such as a USP marking. Drug store and grocery store brands are often okay- but brands like Nature Made are tried, true, tested.

Many of your major books will give you a list of herbs/ supplements to stay away from- or what forms to stay away from.

Sources by Dr. Andrew Weil are always good- he pioneered a lot of integrative medicine here in the States.

[menancy]

Thanks Mizbear. Great info. I will look into that.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

One thing to consider.....if you have ANY medical problems where you are under a doctor's care, PLEASE talk to both him and your pharmacist before popping any natural supplement.

There are some medical conditions that these things can throw into a loop. If you are titrated on blood thinning meds for various heart problems, these natural supplements can enhance or block their activity. If you are on BP meds, it may jack around with those again.

Be aware that *most* pharmaceutical drugs in the US have not been tested with the various natural supplements that are available.

[Artemis Windsong]

I agree to take a cold medication at the first sniffle to slow the progress. The herbal I take is echinachea (sp?) and golden seal in a liquid. 3 drops in a glass of water about every 4 hours. I have used this when I cannot get over the weak/tired feeling with no concrete symptoms, also.

Recently for allergies I have been taking a decongestant and a 24-hour allergy pill. I goofed up and didn't get the 24-hour decongestant. For nearly a week I had to double up and add a 12-hour nasal spray. The dr. said everyone is experiencing allergies this year even those who don't normally have them.

I don't have the patience to try different herbal remedies for allergies as the allergies are too persistant.

www.earthclinic.com has a lot of information and people post what has worked or not worked for their issue and why. GNC has a book of conditions/remedies you can look through to reduce your research time and keep you from buying something not intended for your symptoms.

I started using Mexican Wild Yam as a female support and to help with age related insomnia. I found it does work when I had to reduce the amount I was taking because I couldn't find a supply in town. I had a gel for backup but it did not work as well and was expensive.

[Artemis Windsong]

Herbal remedies are not regulated and tracked for serious side effects whereas OTCs and prescriptions are.

Everything can be blamed on aspartame side effects. If you do a search, about 3 pages will come up.

[dancinmama]

Sept 28, 2011 7:30:20 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

One thing to consider.....if you have ANY medical problems where you are under a doctor's care, PLEASE talk to both him and your pharmacist before popping any natural supplement.

There are some medical conditions that these things can throw into a loop. If you are titrated on blood thinning meds for various heart problems, these natural supplements can enhance or block their activity. If you are on BP meds, it may jack around with those again.

Be aware that *most* pharmaceutical drugs in the US have not been tested with the various natural supplements that are available.

mich: This is exactly what I was going to post. Some of the herbal supplements do not "mix well" with prescription meds and can cause serious and permanent problems.

OTC cold meds make me high as a kite, so I do not take them. When I feel the slightest cold symptoms, I take zinc and that seems to ward off most colds. If I don't catch it early enough (with zinc) and I do get a full-blown cold, I continue to take the zinc with lots of fluids (still no OTC meds) and ride it out, but usually the symptoms are mild and the duration of the cold is decreased.

[Wizard of Id]

More so during cold and flu season, washing your hands frequently and not touching your face can help prevent catching something. Fatigue can make you more susceptible to getting sick. I rarely get sick other than headaches, and if I feel like a cold or flu is coming on I bundle up at night and try and sleep it off.

[ysi]

Seriously, the last flu season our obituary columns were twice as long as normal-the elderly dropped like flies. Stay home when you are ragingly contagious and you know who you are...

My coworker is never sick, says she gargles with Listerine every day. Personally, I believe the zinc works if you start it before your symptoms start. It also helps make the symptoms less strong.

We have two employees recovering now. The season has begun.

Encourage all elderly relatives to schedule their yearly checkups in the summer inbetween flu seasons-drs offices and hospitals are the worst places to be during flu season.

[mizbear]

I take supplements but all of my doctors are aware of what I take and we know that they do not interfere with my regular meds, unlike some OTCs or even other Rxs. Good point there.

My Dr's office actually has 2 rooms now (they decided to use one office for all 3 drs) where they can use one for notably contagious patients- and one for people like my mom who take chemo, etc if they have to come in during cold and flu season. If we go into the office during cold and flu season- even if DMs appt if after mine, they take her ack first and put her in a room away from the sick people. Last year, some woman sat down next to her and kept coughing on her. I got up and switched her seats. The woman looks at me and says "But I sat next to her because she has a mask on- she's sick." I gave her the dirtiest look I could find, explained to her (publicly) the meaning of assume and then told her my DM was wearing a mask because she was taking chemo. She proceeded to apologize and go sit on the other side of the waiting room.
You know what makes me sick- when the schools have attendance contests and parents send their kids to school sick.

[Artemis Windsong]

Thanks for the reminder on gargling which catches the germs before they can lodge in the body.

[weltschmerz]

From 1921 until the mid-1970s, Listerine was also marketed as preventive and remedy for colds and sore throats. In 1976, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that these claims were misleading, and that Listerine had "no efficacy" at either preventing or alleviating the symptoms of sore throats and colds. Warner-Lambert was ordered to stop making the claims, and to include in the next 10.2 million dollars' worth of Listerine ads specific mention that "contrary to prior advertising, Listerine will not help prevent colds or sore throats or lessen their severity."[8]
-wiki

[weltschmerz]

Sept 30, 2011 9:58:05 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

Thanks for the reminder on gargling which catches the germs before they can lodge in the body.

Most cold and flu germs enter your system by your placing your infected hands near your nose and eyes. Hand-washing is the best preventative. Listerine will do nothing.

[weltschmerz]

I get sick, go to doc, get antibiotic shot, vitamin B, and a decongestant if I've got it bad.
-------------------------
An antibiotic shot? Why? Does your doctor do bloodwork or culture and sensitivity tests first? Does he determine if your illness is caused by a virus or bacteria? Getting an antibiotoic shot right out of the gate is a terrible idea. Our negligent overuse of antibiotics is the reason we have superbugs now.

[menancy]

Toughtimes: It's funny that you say how the health nuts are often the sickest of all. My cold ran it's course in a couple days with no aid and it wasn't all that bad. Our office lady, with all her so called natural remedies, was down for over a week. I think you hit the nail on the head when you stated they interfere with the normal workings of the body. We are teaching our bodies they don't have to work for themselves by always having something work for them.

[Epiphany]

agreed - natural herbal remedies can be just as potent as regular pharm. drugs with a whole host of side effects. Now I'm the first one to try a natural remedy first and will avoid antibiotics at all cost. (too many doses of such early in life makes me react poorly with them now). BUT I look up everything before trying it make sure it is 1. fairly legit 2. doesn't have crazy side effects and 3. won't interact with my birth control because several herbs do.