Top Tips for Upper Respiratory Health

Dear Friend,

Before we know it, Fall will be here again with back to school activities, changing leaves and increased pollen counts. While there's no universal solution for supporting overall upper respiratory health, there are ways to strengthen your immune system. Here are some of my top suggestions. I hope you'll give them a try.

Sinus and Upper Respiratory Health

It’s important to support your sinus and upper respiratory health. One of the things I recommend is an herbal product I found in Germany which does this by promoting your body's normal inflammatory response and naturally supporting normal mucus production. The results are healthy sinuses, nasal passages, and nasal tissues. Your sinus cavities are drained and well-ventilated. To learn more, click here.

Salt Water for a Sore Throat

If you have a sore throat, try using a salt water gargle. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of warm water and stir until dissolved. This actually helps drain the lymph nodes. The same salt solution can be used as either nose drops or in an inhaler bottle to help clear the nasal passages. Some people find this easy to do in the shower.

“Scrub” Your Air Clean of Harmful Pollutants

“Scrub” your air clean of harmful pollutants, germs, and viruses that most of us have lurking in our homes by using an air purifier. Thanks to our current environment, it has become impossible to breathe clean, pure air every minute of the day while living a normal life. We don’t need or want to live in a totally sterile environment, but there is technology now available to help cleanse the air in our homes and to FILZer out large and small air particles, gases, fumes, viruses, bacteria, odors, and even irritating, low-level ozone. I suggest you make the investment in a good purifier. Click here to read more about one I recommend.

Bee-Venom Therapy (BVT)

Bee-venom therapy (BVT): research indicates that bee venom’s effectiveness in relieving seasonal discomfort may be due to its ability to boost the immune system. In BVT, live bees are allowed to inject their venom, by stinging, into various trigger points on the body. (Some doctors inject the venom just beneath the skin with a syringe.)

All-Natural Nasal Wash

There’s an all-natural nasal wash that I recommend to help keep your nasal passages clean and moist. This product is called Xlear. Along with nasal cleansing, it helps flush out irritants and environmental pollutants in your nasal passages. It’s a safe, cleaning and moisturizing solution you can use every day.

Grapefruit Seed Extract Supports Your Immune System

Grapefruit seed extract: Drinking three to four drops per 8 oz of water per day helps maintain immune system function. This extract is a also a good remedy for cleansing your sinuses:

• First, in a clean sink or large saucer add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of salt to a quart of fairly hot water. Once the salt has dissolved, immerse your face in the water for five to 20 seconds; repeat this three or four times. Allow the water to run into your nose, but keep your mouth and eyes closed.
• Follow the facial with a quick nasal rinse by adding a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to ý cup of warm water. Cup a small amount of the water in the palm of your hand, and then lean over and gently "inhale" the water into your nasal passages. Do this two or three times before bed and first thing in the morning. You may momentarily feel a very slight tingling or burning sensation as the extract coats the nasal and sinus passages. Once it gets to these hard-to-reach areas, it can begin to eliminate the harmful irritants.

The grapefruit seed extract I have used and recommended is sold in health food stores under the brand name NutriBiotic Liquid Concentrate.

Psyllium Husk Powder to Help Alleviate Seasonal Discomfort

Try psyllium husk powder. In addition to a multivitamin program that promotes a healthy immune system (with 2,000 mg of vitamin C, which has been shown to lower histamine levels), I recommend psyllium husk powder. Taking 3 tablespoons a day of psyllium husk powder can be effective in helping to alleviate seasonal discomfort. Psyllium husk powder can be purchased at health food stores or through the mail and Internet.

Till next time,

Dr. David Williams