Category: Immune System

Long COVID


Covid is Here to Stay

It’s pretty clear that COVID is here to stay. It continues to not only infect new cases but continues to wreak havoc in the already infected longer than the traditional medical model previously considered possible. Long COVID is a poorly understood constellation of symptoms (both mental and physical) that persist for more than 2 months after infection of COVID that significantly impacts a person’s life and isn’t explained by an alternative diagnosis (Mikkelsen & Abramoff, 2023).

Long Covid Symptoms

The most common symptoms in long COVID are fatigue, difficulty breathing, joint pain, chest pain, and cough (Sudre & Et.al, 2020), but we are often seeing brain fog, anxiety, dizziness, and difficulty in regulating heart rate and blood pressure. Symptoms can also change day to day. We don’t know what causes long COVID and its unclear who is at most risk of developing long COVID due to conflicting reports. What we do know is 87% of patients hospitalized with COVID will still experience symptoms after 2 months (Carfi, Bernabei, & Landi, 2020), so this is not an uncommon issue. Meanwhile, most patients do start to see improvement in their symptoms in 4-9 months (Mikkelsen & Abramoff, 2023) even without intervention.

Why Do Some People Get It?

So, what is causing long COVID? We aren’t sure. There are a few ideas, but it boils down to the following themes: reactivation/reemergence of COVID or other viral illnesses like Epstein Barr virus (Gold, Okyay, Licht, & Hurley, 2021).  Other contributing factors are immune system dysregulation, energy metabolism defects, and imbalances of pro and anti-inflammatory processes.  

Treatment Options

Fortunately, as naturopathic physicians, we are very used to treating many of these proposed causes of chronic viral infections naturally. Data shows glutathione/NAC, antioxidants, quercetin, curcumin, magnesium all have potential to balance inflammation and treat spike protein related pathologies (Halma & Plothe, 2023). We can also use Ozone IVs and rectal insufflations to modulate inflammation and help the immune system to kill COVID viral particles (Cenci, Macchia, & ET.al, 2022). We can also use antiviral herbs like cat’s claw, lemon balm, and licorice that have evidence of very robust antiviral properties. We can use nutrients like acetyl l carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C to help restore the energy metabolism defects.

Ultimately, treatment isn’t (and shouldn’t) be once size fits all.  Often we are supporting multiple body systems for overall improved health – helping the body to heal itself.   We customize our approach of testing and treatments to help address your long COVID symptoms and support your healing.

References

Carfi, A., Bernabei, R., & Landi, F. (2020, July 9). Persistent Symptoms in Patients After Acute COVID-19. Retrieved from JAMA Network: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2768351

Cenci, A., Macchia, I., & ET.al. (2022, April 21). Mechanisms of Action of Ozone Therapy in Emerging Viral Diseases: Immunomodulatory Effects and Therapeutic Advantages With Reference to SARS-CoV-2. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35531273/

Gold, J. E., Okyay, R. A., Licht, W. E., & Hurley, D. J. (2021, June 17). Investigation of Long COVID Prevalence and Its Relationship to Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8233978/

Halma, M. T., & Plothe, C. (2023, May 17). Strategies for the Management of Spike Protein-Related Pathology. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37317282/ Mikkelsen, M. E., & Abramoff, B. (2023, June 19). COVID-19: Evaluation and management of adults with persistent symptoms following acute illness (“Long COVID”). Retrieved from UpToDate: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/covid-19-evaluation-and-management-of-adults-with-persistent-symptoms-following-acute-illness-long-covid/print

Sudre, C. H., & Et.al. (2020, June 16). Symptom clusters in Covid19: A potential clinical prediction tool from the COVID Symptom study app. Retrieved from MedRxiv: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.12.20129056v1.full

Babesia – Another Common Tick Born Illness

Babesia is a little different from Lyme (borrelia) and Bartonella in that it is not a bacteria, but a parasite that is more similar to malaria than bacteria. Babesia has been found in all 50 states and likes to target the red blood cells. Babesia infection is often in addition to lyme infection as well and we often need to treat both.

Symptoms

  • Symptoms vary from person to person but we tend to see more pulmonary involvement in Babesia.
  • Most common symptoms are:
    • Shortness of breath with negative pulmonary tests, frequent sighing or air hunger, anxiety, night sweats and chills, flushing/hot flushes, the sensation of bugs crawling on your skin, pressure headaches on the top of your head.

Testing

  • Like all tick-borne infections, testing is difficult. You can get antibody testing at a general lab or Igenix. These tests are often not very sensitive and can come back falsely negative.
  • FISH testing: FISH testing is looking for unique RNA codes in Babesia. It has been the gold standard for testing Babesia and is available through Igenix.

Treatment

  • Treatment has more in common with treating malaria than Bartonella or Borrelia.
  • Prevention is the best cure! Here are some handy tips from Igenix on how to prevent Lyme disease. https://cdn.igenex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-Lyme-Disease-Awareness-Month-Tips.pdf
  • Herbal Treatment: The favorite herbs to treat babesia are Artemisia (wormwood), just like malaria. Other herbs that are effective are Japanese Knotweed, Cryptoleptis, Chinese Skullcap. Japanese Knotweed, Cryptoleptis, and Chinese Skullcap are luckily also effective at Lyme and Bartonella as well!
  • Antibiotics: Antibiotics of choice are Bactrim, Atovaquone, and Azithromycin.
  • Ozone therapy: ozone kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
  • Treat other supportive body systems: address the thyroid, adrenal glands, vitamin levels, and multiple other organ systems to ensure your body can fight the Babesia and other co-infections.

As with the other co-infections and Lyme, I find it is easiest to assess which infection is causing the most issues symptomatically and start treatment focused on that microorganism, eventually expanding treatment to cover all co-infections as tolerated.  

Dr. Falkner has attended ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) conferences as well as has years of experience treating Lyme both naturally and with antibiotics.

For more information – here are more Dr. Falkner articles: 

Bartonella – a Lyme Look-a-Like

Like Lyme disease, bartonella can also cause a host of symptoms that are migratory and spam multiple body systems. There are several species of the bacteria bartonella which can cause multiple diseases in patients, including Cat Scratch Fever (no, it wasn’t just a song in the 80s) and Trench Fever. Bartonellosis has been detected in 49 out of the 50 states. It often is referred to as a co-infection as these bacteria reside in many of the same ticks, mosquitos, spiders, etc as Lyme disease does.

Symptoms

  • Symptoms vary from person to person but tend to affect the gastrointestinal and neurological systems more significantly than Lyme and babesia.
  • Common symptoms:
    • Light/touch/sound sensitivity, plantar fasciitis or pain on heel/sole of foot, anxiety, migratory neuropathy/pins and needles/tingling/burning, “stretch marks” that stay purple/pink and don’t run in the correct position, brain fog, sudden and unprovoked nausea.

Testing

  • Testing is difficult with Bartonella because this bacteria hides INSIDE cells. We often rely on antibodies to bartonella to diagnose it. You can get antibody testing either at a general lab or thru Igenix.
  • FISH testing: FISH testing is looking for the unique RNA code in Bartonella. This is more specific and sensitive than antibody testing alone. This is available through Igenix. https://igenex.com/disease/bartonella/
  • RED Labs* – PCR or DNA testing for Bartonella. This is also available through general labs like Quest or LabCorp.

*Correction from Lyme article – RED Labs also has a unique way of testing lyme/Borellia called phage testing. This test is on the forefront of Lyme detection and can determine if lyme disease is active or if your immune system has just seen this infection in the past.

Treatment

  • Prevention is the best cure! Here are some handy tips from Igenix on how to prevent Lyme disease. https://cdn.igenex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-Lyme-Disease-Awareness-Month-Tips.pdf
  • Herbal Treatment – There are many herbal treatments for Bartonella, with considerable overlap with Lyme and other co-infections. Japanese Knotwood, Chinese Skullcap, Cryptolepis, and Black Walnut are some of the herbs that are specifically effective in treatment of Bartonella. Herbal formulations are nice in the treatment of tick borne illness because it is much easier to tailor the dose to the tolerance of the patient.
  • Antibiotics – Antibiotics of choice are rifampin, methylene blue, and ciprofloxacin.
  • Ozone therapy – ozone kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
  • Treat other supportive body systems: address the thyroid, adrenal glands, vitamin levels, and multiple other organ systems to ensure your body can fight the Lyme

Oftentimes Bartonella accompanies Lyme and other co-infections. I find it is easiest to assess, through history, which bacteria is causing the majority of issues and start with treatment focused on that specific microorganism and then, as tolerated, expand treatment to the other bacteria/organisms. Again, this doesn’t have to be a lifelong diagnosis, but one that can be treated and managed. Dr. Falkner has attended ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) conferences as well as has years of experience treating Lyme both naturally and with antibiotics.  Please call for a free phone consult with her if you want to know if she could help in your case. 

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi or Borrelia Miyamotoi (tick borne relapsing fever). This disease was first discovered in the 80s and is often categorized as acute disease vs chronic disease. Lyme disease has been documented in all 50 states, so even states with relatively low tick populations are not spared. Acute Lyme is fairly well recognized and treated in mainstream medicine, but there is contention over the existence of chronic Lyme disease and other tick-borne co-infections. This is because the symptoms are often migratory and span multiple body systems. Because of this lack of clear diagnostic tools and guidelines, it has been estimated that undiagnosed Lyme disease costs Americans $712 million to 1.3 billion dollars per year in treatment and medical visits (Aucott 2015). Lyme disease profoundly affects both patients and loved ones.

Symptoms

  • Symptoms vary depending on each person and how long the bacteria have been in the body. Most common symptoms are as follows:
    • Swollen, painful joints; neuropathies; migraines; POTS and changes in heart rhythms and rate; sudden new onset anxiety; brain fog; fatigue; mood changes, GI symptoms.
    • Many of the symptoms are often migratory in nature (if pain) or come and go with seemingly no reason.

Testing

  • Testing is notoriously difficult with Lyme because of its unique ability to change shape when exposed to antibiotics. CDC criteria is very exclusive and oftentimes does not recognize the changes in the immune system that Lyme can cause.
  • General labs:
    • CD57 – this is a particular white blood cell that is “spent” fighting Lyme and other diseases. If low, likely an infection is causing symptoms.
    • Western blot – Not very specific. Most often will only detect 84% of positive Lyme cases.
    • Antibodies to Borrelia – also not super specific and Borrelia is particularly good at avoiding the immune system and not “following the rules” of the immune system.
  • Specialized labs:
    • Igenix – We use Igenix laboratory as they are the gold standard of Lyme detection. Their testing is much more sensitive than the general labs. Average sensitivity is closer to 90-96%. This means that the test can catch up to 12% of Lyme cases missed by standard western blot testing. https://igenex.com/the-igenex-advantage/

Treatment

  • Prevention is the best cure! Here are some handy tips from Igenix on how to prevent Lyme disease. https://cdn.igenex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-Lyme-Disease-Awareness-Month-Tips.pdf
  • Herbal treatment – There are many herbs including Japanese Knotweed and Cat’s Claw that are effective in treating Lyme. Herbal treatments are often easier to adjust the dosing to tolerance as well as easier to take long term.
  • Antibiotics – doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice for Lyme.
  • Ozone therapy – ozone kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
  • Treat other supportive body systems: address the thyroid, adrenal glands, vitamin levels, and multiple other organ systems to ensure your body can fight the Lyme.

Lyme disease does not have to be forever. Treatment can take a long time, but there are many examples of patients improving their quality of life when diagnosed and treated appropriately.

Dr. Falkner has attended ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) conferences as well as has years of experience treating Lyme both naturally and with antibiotics.

Is Autoimmunity Created in the Gut? Studies are Pointing to Yes…

The field of microbiome research is exploding, from autism to autoimmune disease and even branching out into the new field of psychobiotics (probiotics for mood/mental health). Ultimately, we are finding we are much more than just what we eat; many of our health parameters and even our quality of mental health are tightly linked to the bacterial community that lives in our gut. The microbiome refers to the balance of good and bad bacteria populations that live in our large intestine. Many factors can change the microbiome including even how we were born! Other things that can influence the microbiome’s health is eating fermented foods, exercise, food and alcohol habits, smoking, stress, and use of certain medications and antibiotics. An altered microbiome has long been linked to abdominal pain, altered bowel movements, and IBS.

The truly interesting and new info is that we are finally linking the microbiome to autoimmune diseases and diseases that are not classically thought of as GI diseases. Autoimmune diseases are where the body no longer can differentiate between self and foreign invader and will attack particular tissues that have been misidentified as “not ourself”. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome have all been identified as possibly being started by disruptions in our microbiome. What might be more exciting is a Canadian research group was recently given a sizeable grant to study the potential treatment of ALS (Aka Lou Gehrig’s disease) with a specific strain of probiotics! This could be ground-breaking! Researchers are also calling for more research in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders with probiotics as well! I linked a few of the studies and articles below.

Naturopathic medicine always has believed that much of health is created in the gut and the basis of treatment in my practice for autoimmune diseases specifically has always been to begin with digestion. It’s nice to see science following suit and what we intrinsically knew many years ago is being shown to be correct.

Test your Gut Microbiome with a Simple Stool Sample
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29920643/
https://alsnewstoday.com/news-posts/2022/02/25/1-6-million-canada-grant-supports-trial-probiotic-slowing-als-progression/

Nasal Rinsing Reduces Severity of Covid and Other Respiratory Illness

nasal rinsing

SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious pathogens enter the nasopharynx (nose-throat) to replicate.  One way to reduce your risk of covid and other respiratory illness with with  nasal rinsing.  Not just an old-as-time natural treatment, the conclusion of one study of people who tested positive covid revealed “participants initiating nasal irrigation twice daily for 14 days were over 8 times less likely to be hospitalized than the national rate.”   Many people are intimidated but its easy and done correctly, is not uncomfortable. 

Nasal rinsing vs nasal sprays

To be effective, we need to use a volume of water of at least 1 oz (30 ml) to 2 oz (60 ml) or more.  This is NOT the same as nasal sprays which are good for moisturization but are not enough to wash out the nose and back of the throat.

To wash your nose out, 3 things are needed:

  1. Device to get the water up your nose.
    1. Positive pressure squeeze bottle system or machine
    2. Neti Pot which works with gravity
  2. Water. It needs to be distilled or boiled for 5 minutes. Heating it to body temperature makes it more comfortable.
  3. Saline solution.

The easiest way to get started:

NeilMed Sinus Rinse – available at most drug stores or online https://shop.neilmed.com/collections/sinus-rinse

NeilMed makes it super easy!  This company has everything you need including product options and instruction videos.  The saline packets are premeasured and inexpensive. 

If you want to make your own saline solution, here’s a basic recipe.  You can experiment with a little more salt and baking soda for comfort. 

  • 1 cup warm water.  (250 mL) Distilled, sterile or boiled for 5 minutes.
  • ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt and a pinch of baking soda.  No anti-caking agents or preservatives

For extra infection control you can add ½ tsp of 10% povidone-Iodine to the above saline solution (do not use if you have an allergy to shellfish or iodine).  Be careful as iodine stains. 

Another antimicrobial choice is to use 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts of saline solution.

Webmd has a slide show that walks you through how to do it:

https://www.webmd.com/allergies/ss/slideshow-nasal-irrigation

More information:

Another option is Nasal Sprays.  Xylitol & Grapefruitseed Extract products have been studied with covid.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7645297/

This nasal spray called Taffix has been studied with covid.  It works by creating an acidic environment that lasts for 5 hours. 

https://taffixprotect.com/

A literature review about hydrogen peroxide in nasal rinse for covid.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7262503/

Essential oils have been shown in studies to have antimicrobial as well as antiviral effects.  If you use essential oils in your nasal rinse, be careful as the oils can very easily irritate the delicate tissues.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6612361/

Here is a summary of studies on this topic.

https://health-desk.org/articles/what-do-we-know-about-mouth-and-nose-rinses-washes-sprays-or-creams-to-prevent-covid-19

This is an informative 13-minute video of Dr. Amy Baxter talking about lots of ins and out of covid and nasal irrigation. 
https://paincarelabs.com/health-wellness/the-ins-and-outs-of-nasal-irrigation/

Long COVID Connection to Chronic Infections Including Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) & Lyme

Now that COVID 19 has been rocketing around the globe for over 18 months, we are starting to be able to study a new phenomenon of the virus: Long COVID aka Post-Acute COVID Syndrome (PACS). Long COVID is a constellation of symptoms that remain for more than 30 days after testing positive, oftentimes taking 4-5 months (or longer) to start to improve. These symptoms are commonly fatigue, brain fog, sleep difficulties, joint and muscle pains, sore throat, headache, fever, GI issues, and skin rashes. So far, PACS doesn’t appear to correspond to the severity of the COVID infection with even asymptomatic COVID patients diagnosed.

Reactivation of Other Infections – Epstein-Barr (EBV)

Scientists have begun to wonder if long covid isn’t unique, but actually reactivated EBV. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the virus that causes mono and is estimated to have infected 95% of adults at least once in their life.

Epstein-Barr Virus has been long known to go dormant after initial infection and reactivate when the immune system is “distracted” with other stressors and illnesses. EBV has also been linked to Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, and even some cancers.  

Symptoms of reactivated EBV are just as vague, and almost identical to, long COVID:  fatigue, brain fog, sleep disturbances, joint and muscle pains, sore throat, headaches, fever, GI issues, and skin rashes.

Patients with EBV stay in ICU Longer

Various retrospective studies have shown that between 66-95% of COVID ICU patients (dependent on geographical location) tested positive for reactivated EBV as well with one French study showing that patients with reactivated EBV had an average 15-day ICU stay vs 8-day ICU stay without EBV co-infection.

COVID and Lyme

Symptoms of Long COVID and chronic Lyme can often overlap as well. The CDC reports a decrease in Lyme diagnoses; however, it may be artificially low due to telehealth appointments and missing tell-tale symptoms of Lyme such as the bullseye rash (though only 50% of patients get a rash), swelling of the joints, and heart rhythm abnormalities. There is concern that Lyme patients, since they are chronically inflamed, are at a higher risk of complications due to COVID as well as many Lyme patients also have reactivated EBV. The presence of the reactivated EBV and other immune system strain may translate into more Lyme patients developing Long COVID, though this has yet to be studied.

How Naturopathic Medicine Can Help

I have effectively helped patients with chronic infections such as EBV, Lyme, and even mold using natural and conventional therapies. Choices include antiviral, immune modulating, and anti-inflammatory herbs & medications, replacing various nutrients, and even using ozone therapies. Ozone historically is quite effective at treating viruses, and may have applications in long COVID as well, though this needs more study. Ultimately, recovering from chronic infections involves evaluating and balancing multiple body systems, including optimizing digestive, hormonal, and cellular health.

Resource:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8233978/

Catching Too Many Colds?

by Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Teachers, school-aged kids, frequent travelers, and those under chronic stress may be more susceptible to getting every cold that passes.  Here are some things to do to stop the trend.

First and foremost, it is important to maintain a Whole Foods Diet, which means to eat foods in their least-processed state.  Nutrient-rich foods include foods in their unrefined state, such as: apples instead of applesauce, eggs instead of Egg Beaters, oatmeal instead of a granola bar with oatmeal in it.

And let’s Review the Basics that you hopefully already know about and follow: get plenty of sleep, decrease or eliminate simple carbohydrates, drink plenty of fluids, and get your exercise.

Frequent illnesses can also be a sign of an underlying Food Intolerance.  We offer a variety of food intolerance testing at the office.  Here are some ways food negatively affects the immune system.  

  • The continuous intake of reactive substances causes local micro-inflammation in the intestinal tissue, which spreads insidiously and can manifest itself in other tissues, including reduced immune status against infections.
  • The gut contains an estimated 70-80% of the immune system.  With almost 400m ² (or 4,300sq feet – a very large house!) it is the largest contact area with the external world. There is extensive lymphoid tissue around the intestine and forms the largest immune organ in our body.

Here Are Some Therapies That May Be Helpful:

Oscillococcinum (Boiron) is a homeopathic, can be used for prevention and treatment.  I recommend one dose per week starting now, and going through the flu season, for prevention.

Probiotics are in the news a lot these days and for good reason.  Here’s the conclusion of one study; “Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.” 1

We carry a variety of formulas and can find the best fit for you.  

Colostrum is the first form of milk rich in antibodies and has been shown in a study to be 4 times more effective than the flu vaccine.  Colostrum was 3 times more effective than no vaccine. The vaccine + colostrum group did equally well as colostrum alone. In this prevention study they took 1 capsule a day containing 400 mg of colostrum away from food. 2

Wet Socks Treatment is a time-tested treatment that acts reflexively to increase the circulation and decrease congestion in the upper respiratory passages, head, and throat. It has a sedating action, and many patients report that they sleep much better during the treatment. The treatment is effective for pain relief and increases the healing response during acute infections. https://boisenaturalhealth.com/warming-sock-treatment/

There are many tools in our toolbox to help you and your immune system be in tip top shape.  To make an appointment, contact us at www.boisenaturalhealth.com.

1. Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children. Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, Reifer C, Ouwehand AC. Pediatrics. 2009 Aug; 124(2):e172-9. Epub 2009 Jul 27.

OBJECTIVE: Probiotic consumption effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration were evaluated in healthy children during the winter season. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 326 eligible children (3-5 years of age) CONCLUSION: Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.

2. Prevention of influenza episodes with colostrum compared with vaccination in healthy and high-risk cardiovascular subjects: the epidemiologic study in San Valentino.  Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Di Renzo A, Dugall M, Cacchio M, Ruffini I, Pellegrini L, Del Boccio G, Fano F, Ledda A, Bottari A, Ricci A, Stuard S, Vinciguerra G. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2007 Apr;13(2):130-6.

When the Immune System Overreacts: Naturopathic Treatment of Autoimmune Disease

by Joan Haynes, NMD

One in twelve people and one in nine women will be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in their lifetime.  Because of our whole-body approach, naturopathic physicians have a lot to offer patients with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.  

Reducing the “Total Load”

In order to return to better health, we need to identify and correct the different stress factors that started and are keeping the disease process going.  Here are 4 areas I often start with in the first appointment:

Digestion

The first order of business is a well-functioning digestive system.  Recent research points to intestinal inflammation as a primary trigger for the dysregulation of our immune system in autoimmune disease.  

Pathogens, Toxins, Heavy Metals

Evaluation for microbial and environmental exposures for that are thought to trigger autoimmune disease.

Hormones

Evaluation of thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones to identify imbalances that affect the quality of life and our healing capacity.  

Nutrition

Encourage overall anti-inflammatory effect with an organic, paleo, whole-food diet.  We also test for food sensitivities (a primary source of inflammation) and correct underlying nutritional deficiencies.  

Returning to good health takes time.  Naturopathic physicians offer our patients longer appointments and the integration of the best of medical science with a more natural approach to treatment.   Call for a free consult to see how we can help.

Homeopathic Acute Remedies for Coughs

By Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Homeopathy is a safe, gentle, and natural system of healing that works with your body to relieve symptoms, restore itself, and improve your overall health.  Homeopathic remedies are extremely safe to use, even with very small children and pets. They have none of the side effects of many traditional medications, are very affordable, are made from natural substances, and are FDA regulated.  Great for the home medicine kit! 

Generally speaking, coughing is perfectly normal. A cough can help to keep your throat clear from phlegm and other irritants. However, sustained coughing can also be symptomatic of a number of conditions, such as a viral or bacterial infection.  Homeopathic medicines are often effective in treating the acute symptoms of coughs, though professional care is usually necessary to achieve a deeper level of cure of chronic respiratory problems.  

Below are several remedy choices.  A person does not need to have all the symptoms in a remedy profile for it to be the right fit.  

Dosing:

Boise Natural Health Clinic and most health food stores carry 6c and 30c potencies.  If you have the option, start with 6c.  

Acutely ill patients need more frequent repetitions whether the remedy is high or low potency. Don’t be afraid to repeat or change remedies frequently in this situation.   “Frequently” means every few minutes in urgent situations and perhaps every 3 to 4 hours in less urgent situations. The frequency should taper off as the patient recovers.

Homeopathic remedies come in small pellets and can be taken in water as well as dry under the tongue. The most common way to take them in water is to simply put a dose into a drinking glass of water.  Acutely ill patients may sip or take a teaspoonful as frequently as needed, usually stirred before each dose.  The pellets do not need to be completely dissolved first. This is an effective way to give patients relief while also stretching the supply of the remedy.

ACONITUM: These patients wake from sleep with a dry, hoarse, croupy cough, which tends to be worse at night and after midnight. They are apt to develop a cold or cough during dry cold weather. Along with their dry cough, they will have a dry mouth and shortness of breath. They are usually very thirsty. The cough is worse from being cold, drinking cold water, from tobacco smoke, lying on either side, and at night, especially after midnight. This remedy is very commonly given for the initial stages of croup, bronchitis, pleurisy, and pneumonia. These patients are often restless and anxious.

BRYONIA: When a common cold starts with a nasal discharge and then moves down into the chest, Bryonia is often given, especially when the cough is dry and worse by motion or breathing in. It is painful to move and to inspire, so these patients tend to hold their chest as they breathe in order to limit the motion of the chest. The cough is also aggravated by warm rooms and during or after eating. These patients tend to be sensitive to drafts and are always catching cold. They may feel some tickling in the larynx which irritates the cough.

PHOSPHORUS: These patients have a dry hard cough, sometimes with a persistent tickle felt behind the sternum. The cough is aggravated by lying down, especially on the left side, and they are wakened at night and need to sit up to cough. They are also aggravated by talking, moving, going from a warm room to cold air, or from strong odors. To decrease pain from coughing, they usually hold their chest. The tightness in their chest is relieved by the warmth of a bed. They crave ice drinks. Their illness exhausts them, and they sometimes have an empty, all-gone feeling or burning in the chest. Their nasal discharge may have some blood streaked in it, and they may become hoarse. This medicine is commonly given in more serious respiratory conditions like pneumonia.

PULSATILLA: This remedy is related to some characteristic cough symptoms, but it is more commonly prescribed based on a patients’s general characteristics. The cough symptoms are aggravated in a warm room or warm weather, by lying down to sleep, and at night. Walking in the cool air provides some relief. Also, the patient must sit up in bed to breathe better. Typically, she has a dry cough during the day, and a productive cough with yellow or greenish expectoration at night and upon waking. The key general characteristics of Pulsatilla patients are that they are affectionate, moody, weepy, indecisive, and always seek to please others. They crave affection and sympathy and cannot get enough of it.

RUMEX: The most distinctive characteristic of patients who need this remedy is that their cough is extremely sensitive to cold air. They may even place a blanket or towel over their head to avoid breathing cold air. They experience a tickling in the throat and an irritation below the larynx that is aggravated by touching or pressing the pit of the throat. They have a dry cough and usually become hoarse. They are aggravated in the night and by motion and feel better in warmth.

SPONGIA: This remedy is one of the primary medicines for a dry, barking, croupy cough. The air passages are dry, the sputum is absent, and the voice is hoarse. The coughing can be exacerbated by cold air, warm rooms, tobacco smoke, talking, lying with the head low, drinking cold fluids, or eating sweets. Warm food or drinks, even in small doses, provide some relief, as does sitting up and leaning forward. This remedy is considered a second stage croup remedy, after Aconitum and before Hepar and Kali bic.

To get help with selecting the correct remedy for you and additional supportive therapies call Boise Natural Health Clinic to schedule an appointment at 208-338-0405.

Sources: