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Who has never had to deal with a cold, cough, sore throat or flu? These most common of ailments affect millions of people of all ages, and are especially prevalent during the fall and winter. Typical winter weather commonly affects the collective state of well-being, and tends to affect the throat and upper respiratory tract. The modern lifestyle we have become accustomed to includes artificial microclimates completely out of sync with seasonal changes,which increases our exposure to sudden and unnatural temperature changes and place significant stress on the body.
For those of us living in metropolitan areas, smog can negatively effect the welfare of the respiratory tract in addition to the stressful pace of life typical to the city; both can play a significant role in weakening the body's defense mechanisms and adaptations. In addition, time spent inside shopping malls, public transportion, kindergartens and schools increases one’s odds of getting sick. The poor air circulation typical to these places facilitates the proliferation of the very agents that cause the most common winter ailments. In the face of all of this, Nature always provides useful remedies that when used in synergy with good eating habits can help to better protect us against these common ailments.
The world of natural substances offers a wide range of solutions that exhibit preventive and protective action likely to help the body maintain physiological levels of welfare. They are very effective, especially at the beginning of a bout of sickness, thus helping to dissude it from evolving into more serious forms.
A plant traditionally used by Native Americans for its expectorant properties, Grindelia has been registered in the United States Pharmacopeia since 1882 and in the French Pharmacopoeia since 1908. Its use was then held, in addition to the balmy action, including the effective protective action against the main causative agents of diseases borne by winter upper airways.
Employed since ancient times, propolis is a resinous substance produced by bees that has important properties that support healthy function of the upper airways, which has been confirmed by numerous scientific studies. There are two basic types of propolis, but it is commonly accepted that the quality of European propolis is higher than its Chinese counterpart and contains a higher quantity of active ingredients.
Plant mucilages are amorphous substances which have the ability to incorporate a lot of water and form colloidal rather viscous solutions. These play a protective and emollient role while soothing the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. The plants richest in mucilage are plantain and mullein, both of which are widely used to reduce irritation of the oral cavity and pharynx in the winter.
Essential oils are used from plants that are balsamic or have other agents that exhibit specific action on the respiratory system. The essential oils contained in these plants are mixtures of volatile substances with soothing activities that prove effective for mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Among the most interesting plants for their content of beneficial essential oils include eucalyptus, pine, and especially grindelia.
Echinacea is distinguished as a stimulant of the body's natural defenses. It may be beneficial to use it as a supplement before the onset of winter to address the rigors of the season that can put a strain on our physiological levels of welfare.
Cat’s Claw is a plant similar to Echinacea and is indigenous to the rainforests of South America. Both in traditional practices and modern applications it has proven to have important activity as an adjunct to the body's natural defenses.
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