Modern medicine tends to consider “catarrh” as a uniform problem; however, for the herbalist it can be either “hot” or “cold”. Cold catarrh is copious, thin and watery; hot catarrh is thick, scanty and yellow with more inflammation of the mucous membranes. Those with a tendency for “cold” catarrh are often the cold, damp, “phlegmatic” types, with a sluggish digestion. Hot catarrh is a characteristic of more active, tense, “choleric” personalities. While cold catarrh is more characteristic of common colds, some types of sinusitis would come into the “hot” category with thick, yellow mucous that stubbornly refuses to move.

Persistent catarrh is extremely common, often seems related to geographic areas (such as damp river valleys) and is associated with a variety of allergies — many of them difficult to avoid, like house dust or car fumes.

Hay fever is associated with pollen allergies in the summer months but the symptoms can be triggered by a range of all-year problems and then become labelled as “allergic rhinitis”. Typical symptoms include sneezing, sore and watering eyes, running noses and drowsiness. The physical symptoms are largely due to the body’s production of histamine as it attempts to rid itself of the allergen and orthodox treatments are generally based on anti-histamines.

Herbal BeautyThe herbal approach involves strengthening the mucous membranes to help reduce the likely allergic response:

Useful herbs include elder flowers, hyssop and golden seal, while antiallergenic herbs like chamomile and yarrow oils can help reduce symptoms.

Catarrh can stay in the upper respiratory tract, causing nasal congestion, or the mucous can affect the lower airways and be coughed up as phlegm. Lingering catarrh also makes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to inflammation of the sinuses — cavities in the bones of the face. Inflammation here can lead to severe pain, made worse by bending forward or blowing the nose.

Sinusitis, with its associated headaches, tooth problems and general discomfort, causes much misery to many people. It is often helped by massaging stimulating ointments containing chili or ginger into the sinus areas above and around the nose. From a holistic point of view sinusitis is often associated with tense personalities who tend to hold their emotions under tight check. Relaxing herbs — such as skullcap or lemon balm — can help, but perhaps the best choice is chamomile. Not only is this a good relaxing nervine, but the combination of heat and water used to make chamomile tea or essential oil, causes anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic substances known as azulenes to be produced. Steam inhalations of chamomile flowers are thus good for both the physical effects of sinusitis and its related emotional cause.

While orthodox medicine treats catarrh as a self-contained problem, the condition can also indicate that toxic material elsewhere in the body is not being disposed of adequately — the digestive system could be sluggish or the kidneys not working as efficiently as they should — and cleansing herbs for these areas may solve a persistent catarrhal problem as well.

Whatever the cause, diet is extremely important and, as in the common cold, foods that encourage mucous formation should be avoided. These include refined carbohydrates, dairy products and alcohol. A fruit fast for a couple of days helps to clear any lingering toxic wastes while zinc, garlic and Vitamin C supplements will help to strengthen the immune system and combat infection.

Steam inhalations can also help to clear catarrh. Add 5 drops of thyme or eucalyptus oil to a basin containing a litre of boiling water, cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam for 10 minutes.

Excess catarrh in children can all too frequently lead to ear problems — such as glue ear— and even orthodox researchers now acknowledge that food allergy can be a cause of both middle ear and catarrhal disorders. In trials with 28 patients suffering from otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear), 17 people developed nasal symptoms after taking a suspect food, while three- quarters of those also suffered hearing loss or earache as well,

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