Posted by Pande Pire on December 03, 2006 at 09:50:23:
Many people scoff at herbal and natural treatments but for many it is the only alternative especially for the poor and in the developing world. Others believe it is superior to orthodox medicine, while still others use it in conjunction with orthodox medicine.
Aspiration pneumonia often occurs in the elderly or others who have trouble swallowing properly. To help prevent:
* Feed soft or mashed, puree foods, or soft, bite-size foods. Chin should be tucked, head turned with repeated swallowing.
'Aspiration, ie, the act of taking foreign material into the lungs, can cause a number of syndromes determined by the quantity and nature of the aspirated material, the frequency of aspiration, and the host factors that predispose the patient to aspiration and modify the response. Three types of material cause 3 different pneumonic syndromes. Aspiration of gastric acid causes chemical pneumonia (CP). Aspiration of bacteria from oral and pharyngeal areas causes bacterial pneumonia (BP). Aspiration of oil, eg, mineral oil or vegetable oil, causes exogenous lipoid pneumonia, a rare form of pneumonia. In addition, aspiration of a foreign body may cause an acute respiratory emergency and, in some cases, may predispose the patient to bacterial pneumonia.'
Patients should have plenty of fresh air and ventilation. Clear breathing passages.
Pande Pire's Full Spectrum Pneumonia Treatment
* Good rule for pet dosages, use human dosages adjusted by proportion to weight of pet. Consider average human weight as 150 pounds, so for a 50 pound pet reduce to one-third of human dosage.
Use alternating cocktails, once every one or two hours during day and at least two or three times during night.
* Garlic, echinacea, cinnamon
* Clove, grapefruit seed extract, bittermelon
Medium can be tea, tincture, etc. but make sure powders are in capsules so particules don't get in lungs.
Dosage for humans:
Garlic: 1 fresh clove every two to four hours
Echinacea: 3 capsules or equivalent every 2 to 4 hours (double amount if using tea)
Cinnamon: 2 level teaspoons per day
Clove: 1 or 2 fresh cloves ground with mortar and pestle per day
Grapefruit seed extract: About one drop per 10 lbs weight. Generally non-toxic unless allergic to citrus in which case replace with goldenseal, olive leaf or other herbal antibiotic.
Bittermelon: Juice one or two fresh fruits per day. Or use recommended dosage of powedered leaf adjusted for weight. You may need to sweeten cocktail with honey for pet to take. If this still doesn't work replace with pau d'arco and sage.
Some tips if patient is not fully conscious or able to take herbs normally:
* Swab mouth with tea or diluted tincture about every hour during day. In this case, use plenty of peppermint with teas made from ingredients above. You can also place a few drops under tongue but be careful as you don't want liquid getting in lungs.
* Garlic is very powerful and even the vapors can penetrate into the body. Place some crushed cloves between toes, wrap in gauze if you notice any irritation. Place slivers under body while resting.
* Deliver diluted antibiotic herbal essential oil like garlic, eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, ginger, etc. with patch. Dilute with coconut oil and use peppermint oil or menthol to aid in delivery through skin. Place in groin area where there is not much hair or shave area. Use first aid tape to tape gauze soaked with diluted oils. Don't use pure essential oil, always dilute with coconut or other food-quality oils (2 percent or less essential oil)!
* Use antibiotic aromatherapy.
* Vapor rubs can be used but be careful with wintergreen or other salicycates.
* You can deliver some herbs like garlic, chapparal, peppermint, etc. with low enema, but be careful if you don't know what you're doing. Consult professional books or get training. Use peppermint and a little cayenne to increase absorption and help prevent cramping, and a little oil for lubrication.
Quick antibiotic oil for patches or rubs: Heat some coconut oil and then add herbs like garlic, eucaplytus, chapparal, neem and lavender. Use plenty of peppermint leaves always. . Allow to sit for one hour, stirring occassionally. If cold, you might to keep warm to prevent coconut oil from hardening. Strain oil, and press out oil from herbs. Use enough oil to cover herbs. Soak patches in oil.
For congestion (careful slapping or thumping of chest or sides can help clear congestion):
Breathing Exercises
Pursed-Lip Breathing. A technique called pursed-lip breathing can help improve lung function before starting activities. It takes about 10 minutes. When first learning the technique, the patient should lie flat on a bed with his or her head on a pillow. Later, the technique can be performed while walking or enduring any activity requiring extra air.
* First, the patient inhales through the nose, moving the abdominal muscles outward so that the diaphragm lowers and the lungs fill with air.
* The patient then exhales through the mouth with the lips pursed, making a hissing sound.
* The exhalation should be twice as long as the inhalation, so that pressure is experienced in the windpipe, and chest and trapped air is forced out.
Breath Holding and Coughing. A simple technique is to inhale deeply and slowly, holding the breath for five to 10 seconds. Then the patient coughs on exhalation.
Controlling Secretions
Fluids and Humidity. Patients who experience congestion and heavy sputum can benefit from maintaining good fluid intake and keeping their homes humidified.
Expectorants. Although unproven, many patients report benefits from using over-the-counter expectorant drugs that thin mucus. These drugs should not be used during an acute acerbation of COLD, however.
Chest Therapy. Chest therapy involves rhythmic inhalation for three or four deep breaths followed by coughing to produce sputum. Tapping the chest may also help in loosening and raising sputum. This should be avoided during an acute exacerbation of COLD.
Postural Drainage. The patients should also practice postural drainage. This involves leaning over the side of the bed, head down with elbows on a pillow placed on the floor. A family member or caregiver thumps gently on the back while the patient coughs.
Mucus-Producing Coughs. When coughing to produce mucus, one effective method is to lean forward and 'huff' repeatedly, take relaxed breaths, and huff again. If possible, forceful coughing should be avoided.
Breathe Easy - fight pneumonia naturally
Frances F. FitzGerald (Taste for Life)
Feb 1, 2006
Vitamin E cut the risk of pneumonia in half among physically active individuals.
Make no mistake about it: Pneumonia kills. In 2002, almost 65,000 Americans died - of pneumonia, and combined with influenza, this respiratory infection is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.
Although anyone can get pneumonia, it appears to favor older people, children, and those with certain heart conditions, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and other chronic diseases.
Pneumonia is also more likely to prey on those whose immune systems have been compromised by AIDS, cancer treatments, organ transplants, or other causes. 'Pneumonia is an end-stage disease process.' says Herb Joiner-Bey, N.D. 'If people are elderly, or in a debilitated state, they're susceptible?'
Causes and Symptoms
Simply defined, pneumonia is an infection that leads to inflammation of the lungs. Some of the main causes of pneumonia are viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasmas (disease-causing agents with traits of both bacteria and viruses). However, more than 30 different causes have been identified, including fungi and inhalation of gases or dust. Aspiration pneumonia may occur when someone inhales a liquid or solid. People with swallowing problems are at risk for aspiration pneumonia.
It helps to recognize the symptoms of pneumonia.
Aspiration pneumonia: Unconsciousness or vomiting, followed by fever, coughing with phlegm, and depressed appetite and weight loss.
Bacterial pneumonia: A cough yielding thick, yellow-green phlegm that may be bloody, chest pain that's exacerbated by deep breathing, abdominal discomfort, extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Viral pneumonia: Coughing, chest pain, muscle pain, fever and chills, lack of energy, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
In addition, sudden fever, labored and rapid breathing, cough, and blue-tinged lips, fingertips, or skin characterize pneumonia in children.
Immune-Supportive Diet
Dr. Joiner-Bey recommends taking the same precautions against pneumonia as
you would against colds or flu. 'Protect your immune function by staying away from sugar, refined flour, and alcohol,' he advises. Mark Stengler, ND, concurs. Besides avoiding immunesuppressive foods like refined carbohydrates and soft drinks, he adds, 'Mucus-forming foods [dairy products, chocolate, and for some people, bananas] are a breeding ground for bacteria in the bronchial tubes, sinus, and lungs.'
Dr. Stengler recommends eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean organic poultry, and fish once or twice a week. If you already have pneumonia, drink a glass of clean water every two waking hours and eat hot barley soup to thin the mucus secretions. 'You can add an onion [to the soup],' Dr. Stengler advises. Onions are rich in quercetin, a flavonoid with antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity.
Pure cod liver oil, a rich source of vitamin A, also helps the body produce antibodies. However, since vitamins A and D are fat-soluble and can be toxic in high doses, it's important not to take too much.
Also Useful
Stay away from smoke, Dr. Joiner-Bey urges. He explains that 'the cilia (tiny hairs along the surface of the airways) need to move fluid up and out of the lungs, and smoking suppresses that process?'
Washing your hands frequently helps reduce your exposure to pneumonia bacteria or viruses, Dr. Stengler says. He also suggests getting plenty of fresh air, especially if you work in a wellinsulated building.
'Stress raises levels of cortisol, a hormone that suppresses immune function,' he adds. To reduce stress, enjoy exercise,
yoga, and listening to music.
Those who are sick require ample bed rest and fluids, which help you cough up phlegm so you can clear the infection out of the lungs.
Natural Pneumonia Fighters
Bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme found in fresh pineapple, reduces the production of phlegm in the bronchial passages. Vitamin A fortifies the body's defenses against respiratory infection and helps shorten the recovery time. Zinc accelerates healing in children hospitalized for severe pneumonia.
Vitamin C has been linked to a reduced incidence of pneumonia. Vitamin E cut the risk of pneumonia in half among physically active individuals. Essential fatty acids helped reduce pneumonia risk in a study of more than
38,000 men.
Dr. Stengler also recommends N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to thin mucus and raise the levels of the antioxidant glutathione. Dr. Joiner-Bey emphasizes the importance of the carotenes and flavonoids to 'promote the integrity of the mucus membranes.'
Herbal Remedies
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), an herbal expectorant, helps break up lung congestion. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) decrease inflammation and open up the bronchial airways.
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been found to exert antibacterial activity against pneumoniacausing bacteria. Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) works to combat the fungi that cause
pneumonia, as well as influenza viruses. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), an herbal antiinflammatory, offers antibacterial activity against pneumonia.
Echinacea (Echinacea, various species) helps the body defend itself from the bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can lead to pneumonia and other infections. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) contains hydrastine and berberine, two antimicrobial agents.
If you've already developed pneumonia, Dr. Joiner-Bey recommends elderberry (Sambucus nigra) for its antiviral activity. He cites herbal expectorants such as lobelia (Lobelia inflata) and horehound (Marrubium vulgare) to break up lung congestion. Dr. Stengler adds astragalus (Astragalus, various species) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) for reducing cough. Ban
'Biological Activity of Common Mullein, a Medicinal Plant' by A. U. Turker et al., J Ethnopharmacol, 10/02 � 'Explaining Trends in Hospitalizations for Pneumonia and Influenza in the Elderly' by Paul L. Hebert et al., Medical Care Research and Review, 2005 � 'Intake of Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Fish and Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in U.S. Men' by A. T. Merchant et al., Am.) J Clin Nutr, 9/05 � 'Investigation on the Antibacterial Properties of Garlic (Allium sativum) on Pneumonia Causing Bacteria' by D. Dikasso et al., Ethiop Med 1, 7/02 � Personal communication: Herb Joiner-Bey, ND, naturopath and author of Water and The Omega-3 Miracle, Mark Stengler, ND, author of The Natural Physician and Drink Your Greens, and editor of the Bottom Line: Natural Healing with Dr. Mark Stengier, 10/05 5 'Pneumonia,' National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, http://www,cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/pneumonia.htm � 'Vitamin C Supplementation and Respiratory Infections: A Systematic Review' by H. Hemila, Mil Med. 11/04 � 'Zinc for Severe Pneumonia in Very Young Children: Double-blind, Placebocontrolled Trial' by W. A. Brooks et al., Lancet, 5/22/04\\
Diet tips
1) Drink plenty of fluids, particularly while fever - adults is present. Water, dilute fruit juice, herbal tea and soup are good choices.
2) Eat a variety of citrus fruit, berries, green leafy vegetables and capsicum, which are high in vitamin C.
3) Eat plenty of yellow and orange vegetables (pumpkin, squash, carrots) which are high in vitamin A.
4) Acidophilus yoghurt is beneficial if you are on antibiotics, to maintain the balance of normal bacteria in the body.
Vits/mins/herbs
Herbal remedies for Pneumonia are recommended only in conjunction with conventional medicine. Supplements may only be beneficial if dietary intake is inadequate.
1) Vitamin C is used to fight infection and boost the immune system.
2) Vitamin A improves the health of the respiratory passages.
3) Echinacea is beneficial in resisting viral infections.
4) Eucalyptus oil as an inhalation or chest rub can help ease coughing and congestion.
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