In My Mind’s Zen Garden

Yesterday, I started feeling a cold coming on. And today is a very busy day. I have two gigs back-to-back (a double-header).

I’ve been busy all week, so when that happens the body’s immune system can wear down a bit and one can be susceptible to colds.

Theoretically, germs and viruses are everything and always going in and out of the body, so it’s our immune system or the way in which our body fights these germs and viruses that must be helped.

Some herbal remedies I’ve known about and should use more frequently, especially during this time of year are:

Echinacea

Echinacea is popularly believed to be an immunostimulator, stimulating the body’s immune system and warding off infections, particularly the common cold. However, its clinical efficacy has not been established.

Well, the medical establishment is always “skeptical” about herbal remedies. But, these herbal remedies have been around for possibly thousands of years. Synthetic and processed drugs have been around for a shorter amount of time. But that’s another debate for another time.

From personal experience, if these remedies work for you, then they… work. Simple as that.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal is often used as a multi-purpose remedy, having many different medicinal properties. In addition to working as a topical antimicrobial, it can also be taken internally as a digestion aid, and can remove canker sores when gargled with. Goldenseal may be purchased in salve, tablet, tincture form, or as a bulk powder. Goldenseal is often used to boost the medicinal effects of other herbs it is blended or formulated with.

Goldenseal is a sort of overall tonic that helps get rid of mucus in the system and helps when you’ve already gotten the cold. If you are congested this will really clear you up. The very first time I’d taken Goldenseal was in college, when I totally wore myself down from studying and other activities. I remember taking it as a tea and it really tasted bad, but the next day I was all cleared up of any congestion I had. So, I’m truly sold on Goldenseal’s affects.

I usually take herbal remedies in the form of tinctures, or extracts. You can buy these in bottle form at your local healthfood stores, like Whole Foods, for one. I will put a drop or two on my tongue, or mix a few drops with a glass of water or lemonade, if the taste is too bitter.

Anyway, I had the sniffles this morning. Took some Goldenseal, and now my sniffles are gone in 30 minutes.

I’ll have to bring the bottle with me.