JANUARY 15, 1999
9
Traditional Healing
Strengthening the Immune System
What foods or supplements are useful to help curb risk of infection and boost immune system function?
Which herbs are useful in fighting allergies that result in sinusitis?
By Dr. Marie Miczak
News from Indian Country
The need for a bridge between
natural and allopathic medicine and
the cultures whom they represent is
very great.
Fighting off infections is a chal
lenge for any little one and especially
so when the immune function is
compromised. Did you know that
children living in the United States
today get an average of 6-10 colds
per year? In contrast, adults only
get about 4. One of the reasons for
this difference is the fact that colds
are caused by micro-organisms called
viruses. A younger child's body
hasn't been exposed to as many
types of cold viruses as an adult or
even an older child. The more ma
ture we are, the more "experienced"
our immune system becomes at deal
ing with old enemy viruses. The
drop off in the amount of colds we
get each year is directly proportional
to the antibodies developed to the
most commonly encountered cold
germs.
Since most cold viruses are con
tracted by touching objects that
other infected individuals have also
come in contact with, it would make
sense to wash your hands with an
antibacterial soap as frequently as
possible. You can even make your
own natural antibacterial soap
which would be far superior in pu-
Herbs and oils provide a natural
alternative to pharmaceuticals.
rity than anything sold in the store.
Start with an unscented liquid
soap such as Neutrogena and add a
few drops of essential oil of Laven
der and Tea Tree oil. Some health
food stores and pharmacies even sell
liquid or bar Tea Tree oil soap, which
is unique because it not only has an
tibacterial and antifungal proper
ties, but has also been seen to ex
hibit antiviral activities as well.
Lavender oil on the other hand has
been seen to have the same germ
fighting qualities as the Tea Tree oil
but with the added bonus of
strengthening the immune system's
response.
You could diffuse a little Lavender
into the air in the room in which you
sleep. It will help to control airborne
germs and help you rest and relax
all at the same time. If you are un
able to find these essential oils and
or a diffuser, you can call Aromaland
of New Mexico at 1-800-933-5367 or
obtain a Aromatherapy catalog
online at www.aromaland.com.
There are also many herbs which
assist proper immune function such
as Echinacea and Goldenseal, but
they are not recommended for use
in children under 2 years of age. If
you are breast feeding, you can take
these herbs and a small amount will
be present in your milk. This com
bined with the natural immun
oglobins inherent to human breast
milk will offer optimal resistance to
infection.
An allergy is actually hypersensi
tive reaction to a normally harmless
substance. About one in six children
in the United States is allergic to one
or more products. When a baby en
counters pollen, animal dander,
house dust, feathers, dust mites, etc.,
which are all common allergens, his
system overreacts.
An allergic child's body therefore
treats the substance as if it were a
disease causing substance. Hista
mine, a normal substance present in
our cells is released in large amounts
and is what causes the sudden on
set of allergic symptoms such as
swelling of the mucus membranes of
the nose causing nasal congestion
and often sinusitis.
These blocked sinuses actually do
not drain properly and bacteria
laden fluid accumulates to cause in
flammation of the sinuses. Once
again the same essential oils men
tioned previously can be used in
"sweat lodge" fashion only now by
adding a few drops of Eucalyptus
and Lavender oil to the baby's warm
bath. When the oils come in contact
with the water, they will vaporize in
to the areas of need, including the
nasal passages and lungs. You
should notice a decrease of symptoms
in very short order.
Looking at the diet, cow's milk is
often a major offender in causing the
body to produce large amounts of
mucus. No wonder it is often on the
hit list of high allergy producing
foods! Replacing cow milk with a
dairy free substitute just might do
the trick. Also, get enough beta caro
tene, vitamin C and zinc by eating
plenty of fruits and vegetables af
fording the most variety.
Reprinted in part from News from
Indian Country, Dec. 1998. Dr.
Miczak grew up with herbal rem
edies learned from her Mohawk and
Eastern Cherokee families. She is
an alumni of Rutgers University
College of Pharmacy and the
Clayton College of Natural Health.
You may visit her website at
www. naginc.comthepharm I
Congratulations to
ANTHONY HENRY and
BOBBY MERCIER
on earning their GED in
November and December.
Good job guysl
Bobby
Mercier
Anthony
Henry
Tribal business
directory
Small Business Development
would like to print a Tribal Business
Directory. IfyouareaGrandRonde
tribal member who owns a small
business and would like to have your
business advertised in this directory,
please submit the following:
Business card with business name,
address and phone number.
Photo of Grand Ronde tribal mem
ber owners (please include the names
of business owners).
Any promotions or general dis
counts you would like to offer.
Please send this information as
soon as possible to Sheila Herber,
Small Business Development,
CTGR, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
For more information on starting
your own business from business
plans to business cards contact
Sheila, Perri, or Barbara at 879
2476 or 1-800-422-0232.
Small Business Development and ONABEN presents:
WHAT: This is a class designed to
"DISCOVER" tribal and local entrepre
neurs and encourage the development
of your business idea BEYOND
"JUST AN IDEA." These classes are
presented by the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde Small Business De
velopment Center and OBABEN.
WHERE: Classes will be held at the
Tribe's Small Business Development
Center located at 28840 Salmon
River Highway in Grand Ronde.
WHEN: Interested persons should
plan on attending ONLY ONE of the
two Discovery classes:
JANUARY 18 or 25
from 5:30 to 8:30 P.M.
WHAT: A ten week series of classes
designed to guide participants through
the BUSINESS PLAN WRITING PRO
CESS. The course materials and indi
vidual counseling sessions allow par
ticipants to work through the BUSI
NESS PLANNING PROCESS. The end
result is a comprehensive business
plan that can be taken to financial in
stitutions for loan consideration! This
is an accredited class. i
WHERE: Classes will be held at the
Tribe's Small Business Development
Center located at 28840 Salmon
River Highway in Grand Ronde.
WHEN: Held on Mondays from 5:30
to 8:30 P.M.
FEBRUARY 1 through APRIL 12
(No class on February 1 5)
i