248 The Complete Home Guide to Herbs, Natural Healing, and Nutrition
conditions require professional help, but prolonged use of antibiotics in-
variably makes the situation much worse, and they should be avoided after
any initial use. The general recommendation is to rest and relieve the kid-
neys as much as possible.
- No salt, animal protein, dairy products, tea, coffee, or alcohol should
be taken. - Assess and correct individual nutritional defi ciencies.
- Use lots of garlic when you are cooking.
- Plenty of barley water will help, as will nonroasted dandelion tea.
- Avoid sugar, as it encourages bacterial growth. Vegetable and fruit
juices, raw foods, steamed vegetables, fruits, and springwater are needed
here.
f Follow general guidelines and use herbs for cystitis, along with bear-
berry leaf and buchu leaf made as a tea; however, more personal,
professional treatment is advised.
~ Kidney cleanses will be vital (see chapter 6).
nose problems
Along with an increase in asthma and catarrhal buildups as an allergic
response to our diets and environmental pollution, blocked noses are also
on the increase, often causing long-term and deep-rooted infections.
External pollutants like benzine from car exhaust, chlorine gases from
swimming, paints, and many others can lead to mucus production
becoming extreme. Blocked nasal passages are often inevitable. Also look
to a weakened digestive system caused by lack of enzymes and gut fl ora
imbalances as a factor.
- Ensure that your diet is free from junk foods and mucus-producing
foods, especially carbonated drinks, sugar, wheat, or dairy prod-
ucts — see chapter 4 for details. - Eat onions, chives, and garlic, all of which are rich in sulfur.
- Horseradish, raw cayenne, and black pepper will also help.
- Avoid tea, coffee (including decaffeinated versions), chocolate, car-
bonated drinks, sweets, and cakes. Drink plenty of water. - Drink juices and eat light foods^ —^ rice, steamed vegetables.
f Herbs that help the immune system in general and directly cope with
pollen, exhaust fumes, and household irritations are mullein fl owers,
Pfaffi a root (suma), gentian root, plantain leaf, barberry root bark,
cayenne pod, echinacea root, lobelia leaf and pod, eyebright fl ower,
juniper berry, burdock root, and licorice root.
diseases 248