You might be able to treat your cold without regular "Medicine"...

A couple of days ago, I came down with symptoms of a cold – the “common” cold.  This was after all three of my kids had or were already infected.  It probably started with my oldest kid – who in turn probably got it at the local germ cesspool known as a school where a whole bunch of other germy kids gather on a daily basis.

This cold was a little different as it took almost two weeks for me to get it after he had it – which meant the “incubation” time was 7-14 days – longer than most colds.  Probably it was Respiratory Sincytial Virus (RSV) which can be dangerous and even deadly in small infants.  In older children it causes a fairly intense cold and in adults it usually causes a minor illness – doesn’t really mean you don’t feel like garbage, you just don’t feel like you are going to die.

RSV is one of the most common causes of “croup” which is characterized by a barking and sometimes spasmodic cough.  In children, this often leads to a buildup of congestion – which can lead to infections such as ear and sinus infection, along with pneumonia.  I say it was probably RSV – but it could have been an adenovirus, a parainfluenza virus – or a number of others.  Point is RSV is not an emergency except in small children.  You should take your kid for treatment if they can’t breath, have a high fever, have been sick for more than a couple of days…etc.  Use your common sense or someone else’s if you have none of your own (apparently a lot of people don’t).

Aside from waiting until the bacteria have grown in the stagnant mucous – and aside from the over-the-counter meds that you can give or take, there are also a number of home or natural remedies that can help treat a cold – or even a worse infection such as the flu.

• MOST OBVIOUS – wash your hands frequently with soap.  DON’T touch nasty tissues or drink after someone else.  If you have touched something or someone – WASH YOUR HANDS and DO NOT touch your face or eat.
• Spending a little time in a steamy room – can help to moisten and liquefy mucous so that it can

Mental Health Issues: It might be you and not “them”

Since last week was Mental Health Week – I know this not because I am self-aware but only because I have seen several postings from Nikki et al at “Moms Who Drink and Swear” – which is a nationally recognized phenomenon now - (a blog, a book and a facebook page - probably soon a cable TV show - since there is so much swearing it has to go on cable), occasionally quite nasty blog, offensive to some but always funny and true - anyway, MWADS had several blog postings on the subject of Mental Health. Anyway it made me think - about my own journey - and that of my friends and relatives - and those small-ish and irritating people who suddenly developed an opinion about the age of two.  Also - lets not forget my husband - he has issues too.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1 in 4 adults are at any one time suffering from some sort of mental health issue.  As with many government statistics – this is certainly vastly under reported as this is likely based on those who are actually diagnosed – or who answered a survey.  In fact there are certainly thousands and thousands more with issues that they either will not see a doctor about – or refuse to admit it even to themselves – even if family and friends already know.

Unfortunately in today’s judgmental society, admitting that you have a mental disorder can disrupt many facets of your life.  First, it will likely affect your friendships – once your friends know that you have a mental disorder, they can hold it against you – be patronizing – disregard what you say, etc.  It may also affect your family relationships – "if you disagree with me, it must be because you aren’t taking your meds" – "are drunk or high" or "are just plain crazy which is "bull$hit" – or "I must make sure you are limited in your exposure to the outside world and therefore you are not allowed to drive or go anywhere by yourself" - or all of the above.

Coffee For Headaches

Periodically, my husband wakes up with a huge headache. He gets up, takes acetaminophen or ibuprofen and it doesn't work. then he sits around moaning.

I am a coffee drinker. Each morning I try to have at least 2 cups of coffee before the children get up. I am such a coffee addict - that I don't even wait until new coffee is brewed and start the day by drinking whatever is left in the pot. I also drink coffee in the afternoon. I do this, not so much because I like coffee but because it helps me stay awake since I am chronically sleep deprived.

I also do this because if I do not, I will get a caffeine withdrawal headache. Yes, like millions of Americans and people around the world, I am a caffeine addict. I do not really see this as much of a problem since there seem to be many health benefits to drinking coffee. There also is not a short supply of coffee - it is readily available so I have no plans to quit soon.

The thing is, while I readily admit I am a coffee addict - my husband will not. Each time he wakes up with an unexplained headache....I politely say, "Perhaps you need some coffee." Of course his response is to glare at me. He used to argue that coffee would not help and then finally after an hour or so, drink it out of spite. Lo and behold, it worked - every time.

So this time, I did not even say anything. I simply went and poured a cup of coffee and handed it to him. He glared at me and then drank it without saying a word. Amazingly (that's sarcasm), in about 15 minutes - he felt better.....at least he has learned not to argue.

Natural Therapy: Coffee Treats Asthma, Headaches and other Conditions

Everyone knows that drinking a cup of coffee will give you a little boost of energy. But, it can also treat and prevent a number of other disorders such as asthma, headaches, Parkinson's Disease, Type II Diabetes and colon Cancer.

Coffee as a Stimulant
While most people realize that the caffeine in coffee may wake them up in the morning, many do not realize there may be additional benefits to drinking coffee. Coffee has also been shown to improve mental performance and increase productivity at work. According to the National Coffee Association, 54% of adult Americans drink coffee on a regular basis. The average amount consumed is around 3 cups per day.

Coffee as Disease Prevention
The International Coffee Organization, states that it is also believed that since coffee contains a slew of antioxidants there may be benefits to the liver, brain and it may actually help prevent colon cancer. Coffee has also been shown to have benefits in prevention of Parkinson’s disease, Type II Diabetes.

Coffee Treats Asthma
Coffee’s primary stimulant activity is caused by the presence of caffeine. Caffeine is a member of the chemical group Xanthine derivatives which also includes Theophylline and Theobromine.
Theophylline is a powerful bronchodilator which has been in use for many years to treat asthma available by prescription as “TheoDur” and several other brand names. Theobromine, a related chemical is highly present in chocolate.

When medical help is not available, because of its caffeine, coffee can be used to treat an asthma attack. The Caffeine works similarly to Theophylline by constricting the blood vessels in the lung tissue leading to an opening of the airway and easier breathing.

Coffee Treats HeadachesBecause Caffeine is a “vasoconstrictor”, it can also be used to treat headaches. Some headaches, such as migraines are thought to be caused by a dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Drinking a cup of coffee can help to alleviate this condition. Many “migraine treatments” have caffeine as one of the active ingredient. This includes the popular over-the-counter pain relievers “Excedrin” and “Anacin” and the prescription products “Fioricet” and “Fiorinal”.

As a health care professional and natural therapy enthusiast, I have often recommended that people drink a cup of coffee in order to alleviate a headache. If it won’t completely treat the headache, it may help the pain reliever work better.

There are a few drawbacks to drinking coffee on a regular basis such as staining of teeth and possible bad breath, though good oral hygiene should minimize this effect. The worst potential side effect of daily use is that one may become dependent on the caffeine and develop a need to consume it daily. Withdrawal can be unpleasant and result in tiredness and withdrawal headaches which seem to be only treatable by consuming more coffee.

As coffee is readily available most everywhere in the world, it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem and the benefits appear to outweigh the drawbacks. So, drink up!