Dear gentle green people: Normally I would call my regular doctor regarding this
question, but their offices are closed on weekends and I have to host my beloved baby daughter's (her name is Holly) first birthday party tomorrow. Perhaps you can help me?

I seem to have Laryngitis (which I can deal with), but I have this upper
respiratory infection (for about 3-4 days now) that is driving me crazy. My cough is
worse at night and in the morning. There only seems to be phlegm production in the
morning. I have not had any fever but a slight sore throat. I've been taking Echinacea
(but I'm not sure I'm taking enough?).
I don't want my little ones to get this.

Do you have any suggestions? I am also still breast feeding my little one.

Jana

                         Susun's Response: Dear busy mother

There is a flu going around that seems to start with laryngitis. Hope the party was
a success and that you are taking the day off today.

A dose of echinacea is one drop for every two pounds of body weight. This dose
can be taken as often as every two hours in acute conditions. However, echinacea
works against bacterial infections, not colds, not the flu. To counter viral infections
(colds, flu) try hyssop tincture, or tincture of hypericum/St. Joan's wort/St. John's wort,
a dropperful at a time.

Yarrow tincture is effective against colds and the flu. A dose is 20-40 drops several
times a day.

Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Lung and wound questions

I am a nurse, trying to help a woman with lung congestion and also a deep wound on
her back. She is very versed on herbs - I need to catch up to her in order to be as supportive as possible. I need more of the basics and any help you can offer regarding wound care in particular. I read in one book published a while ago that burdock root powder would be good or rather the dry form. Is tincture good for lung congestion?

thank you
Martha

                                     Susun's Response: herbs for your lungs

The best herb for strengthening the lungs is mullein. It is best used as an infusion
(one ounce dry weight of herb is steeped for four or more hours in a tightly covered
jar with a quart of boiling water). The dose is 2-4 cups a day.

Elecampane is my favorite herb for removing pathogens from the lung tissues. Usually
used as a tincture; the dose is 5-10 drops up to 4 times a day.

For the wound, I would probably use comfrey leaf compresses and dress it with
plantain salve. Both contain massive amounts of skin healing substances. Burdock
leaves (not root) also heal wounds, but must be used fresh or soaked in vinegar.

Congratulations on having an open mind and on staying active :)

Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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A Goat with a Cough

Dear Susun,

I have a few questions that I hope won't be too bothersome...:)

I have a Nubian goat with a cough. The lady that owned her before me had her to
the vet and they treated her for everything from pneumonia to lung worms. Then they
thought it could be the hay because it had mold growing on it. Well I get her home
and I was hoping fresh air would clear it up...it hasn't. I've tried garlic, and herbal expectorants.

Overall she's healthy...she was born blind and her roommates pushed her around, so
she had a late start. Her poop looks good and she's gaining wait, her fur isn't all ratty looking. Her cough is a little wet and croupy sounding, and she has a runny nose so
she puffs through her mouth alot. When I put my hand to her chest I feel a "rattle".
Have you had to deal with this at all? I hope you can help (I hate to see the poor thing
cough so much).

My next question:
I'm going to be presenting an herbal class to a group of young kids ages 12-14. I
was wondering if you might have some suggestions on what herbs I should cover...
I've decided to use nettle, dandelion, burdock, lavender, chamomile, garlic, and ginger
(these are the herbs I've used with wonderful success and ease), and do you know of
any place I could get handouts and such. I went to the hardware store and grabbed a
handful of "weed identifying charts" but they advertise for ortho, I hope that won't
backfire.

I also am generating my own herbal instruction packet...I loved your
disclaimer in Healing Wise 10th edition. I wanted to know if I could use it as my
guide to write my own...I wouldn't copy exactly, and I would give you credit of course.
It's a great disclaimer because it tells people to take responsibility without running just
to a Dr.

I know this is alot of questions, and I thank you
for any time you spend on them!

Sabrina

Susun's Response:: Re: goat cough

Dear Sabrina

As you probably know, baby goats get pneumonia very very easily. They often
recover with no treatment, but even with treatment, the lungs are scarred. I suspect
this is what has happened.

The herbs that may help are comfrey leaf, which she will probably eat eagerly fresh
or dried, and elecampane, which you will probably want to give her in tincture form.
I just put the dropper in the goats dental gap when I dose them with a tincture. They
usually love the taste of herbs in alcohol and are eager to continue taking it but an
occasional goat gives me a hassle.

From what you say, she sounds healthy and you are certainly giving her good care.

Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Changing seasons ills- Bronchitis

Dear Susun,

Thank you for your books and your work! I am proned to have recurrent bronchitis
and colds when then seasons change. It seems to be worse from Fall to Winter than
any other time even living in California. I am in the Los Angeles area. I know...bad for
lots of things, but I love it here.
Any suggestions on how to plan ahead?

Thanks, Oleeta

                                          Susun's Response: bronchitis herbs

Dear Oleeta

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, if we treat an overheating condition with cooling
herbs (or vise versa), then the problem will go away but become chronic. Can you
answer a few questions for me?

Is your tongue bright red? Is it coated? Is it white? or yellow?
When you have bronchitis do you feel hot? run a fever? get chills with the fever? Is
your urination more or less frequent at these times? And how about your bowel
movements when you have bronchitis -- harder than usual or looser?

Echinacea root tincture is one of my favorite anti infective herbs. Most people do
not use enough. A dose is one drop per two pounds of body weight, taken at least
four times a day, more if the infection is acute (up to every two hours). I always have
lots on hand so I can take it with wild abandon when I need it.

Mullein is a wonderful lung nourisher and tonic.

Elecampane root tincture is considered one of the strongest disinfectants for the lungs.
I once gave some to a man with emphysema and he started running up and down the
stairs of his house he felt so good! (Had not been able to get up those stairs for ten
years, he said.)

One or more of these may be the help you are looking for. But do get back to me with answers to my questions and we can go further.

Green Blessings, Susun Weed

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