| In the 21st century we smugly dismiss herbal remedies | | | | German chamomile. This especially fragrant plant is an |
| for asthma as "old wives tales" but this is a foolish | | | | annual, with lovely flowers, that is frequently used to |
| attitude. For 5,000 years of recorded history, and | | | | induce sleep. But the fact that it provides great relief |
| undoubtedly many centuries before, humans have | | | | for allergies and asthma is less well known. |
| been using plants and nature as cures for many | | | | To make chamomile tea, boil a pint of water, remove it |
| diseases and ailments. "Modern" medicine has only | | | | from the heat and add two teaspoons of dried |
| existed for a mere instant of time and it's arrogant to | | | | flowers. Allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes. For asthma |
| assume that thousands of years of herbal medicine is | | | | relief, drink 3-4 cups of warm tea each day. Children |
| of no value to us whatsoever. Here are four herbal | | | | can safely drink 1-2 cups. |
| remedies that are far older than our current medical | | | | For even more asthma relief, fill a pan with |
| practices. | | | | approximately four inches of boiling water and sprinkle |
| The Old Fashioned 'Mustard Plaster': | | | | in a handful of chamomile. When the water has cooled |
| The famous mustard plaster is indeed used on the | | | | so that it is still slightly steaming, but not boiling hot, |
| chest, but it doesn't involve opening a jar of Grey | | | | place your face over the pan and over your head with |
| Poupon and smearing it around. Instead, you must | | | | a heavy towel so that it acts as a tent. Breathe in |
| locate the leaves of the mustard plant which grow wild | | | | these wonderfully aromatic fumes until the water |
| and can also be cultivated in your garden. Once you | | | | cools. You can safely repeat this treatment as often |
| have the leaves and stems, mash them into a green | | | | as you like. |
| pulp. | | | | Garlic Salve Halts Chest Congestion: |
| Next, coat your chest with a protective barrier like | | | | Garlic is truly a wonderful plant. It kills infection, acts as |
| petroleum jelly or any oil that is solid at room | | | | a blood thinner, seasons food - and acts as a |
| temperature, in order to prevent any blistering. Cover | | | | wonderful chest congestant. To make a salve to |
| your chest with the mustard pulp and keep it in place | | | | relieve an asthmatically-constricted chest, peel and |
| with some gauze or a bandage. Lie down for a couple | | | | mince 6-8 garlic cloves and drop them into a jar that |
| of hours, or even overnight, and your chest should be | | | | can withstand high temperatures, such as a canning |
| much relieved. | | | | jar. |
| John Wesley's Fondness For Carrots: | | | | Next, cover the garlic with melted Crisco or other |
| Yes, carrots are a great asthma reliever. We | | | | shortening that will harden at room temperature. If |
| commonly think of carrots as long, orange vegetables, | | | | desired, you can also add a small amount of |
| but in truth they grow all over the world and there are | | | | eucalyptus oil to make the mixture more fragrant. |
| carrots that are red, purple, pale gold, pure white and a | | | | Put the oil and garlic into boiling water and let it sit, |
| canary yellow. The reverend John Wesley, (1703 - | | | | without a top, for about three hours. At the end of this |
| 1791), founder of the Methodist church, habitually ate | | | | time, stir it and pour it into smaller jars for storage. |
| boiled carrots and drank warm carrot broth to relieve | | | | When needed, simply rub into your chest until the oil is |
| his chronic asthma. Wesley claimed that carrots | | | | absorbed, cover for a time with a towel, and wait for |
| enabled him to keep a regular preaching schedule that | | | | the relief that is soon to come. |
| would have been impossible without the aid of his | | | | The beautiful thing about these natural four remedies is |
| beloved vegetable. | | | | that they cannot possibly harm you in any way. Can |
| Fragrant Chamomile For Drinking And Breathing: | | | | you say the same thing about any asthma drugs you |
| Chamomile refers to several different species of plant | | | | are currently ingesting? |
| but the one westerners are most familiar with is the | | | | |