Insomnia and Throat Coat

[Guest guest]

Dear group,

 

Does anyone know if it's ok to use Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat while

pregnant? I have this awful virus going around...soar throat with dry cough but

no other congestion in sinuses. I'm on day 6 and the night sweats have let us

but I still feel pretty bad. I would love any advice as to ways to get well! I'm

doing homeopathics, and my midwife gave me some mushroom pill that's supposed to

help, emergen-c, lemon water etc. I'm also anemic and taking the sublingual b's,

floradix, molasses, the syrup from dried fruits, soaked almonds, and really

hoping I can get a handle on this in a vegetarian manner...I don't want to

resort to red meat as I did last pregnancy.

I also have had bad insomnia for most of my pregnancy. I get to sleep ok but

then wake up at 3-5 am and have to get up and eat or drink for awhile before I

can go back to bed...it's awful! Some days I do have to get places in the

morning and can't always nap or go back to sleep.

Anyways, I'd love any ideas and support around all of these subjects when you

get a chance! Thanks so much!

 

Blessings,

Nitya

[Guest guest]

NItya,

 

I'm not sure about Throat Coat  and would have to research the ingredients in

order to comment on that product.  What I can offer you is an Ayurvedic remedy

for sore throats that I have found very effective in my practice.

 

Do you have any tumeric in the house? A very effective gargle that works on sore

throats (even strep throat infections) is 1/4 tsp of tumeric, 1/2 tsp of sea

salt to 1 cup of water. Boil this mixture until the water is very yellow, then

cool to body temperature and gargle with it. You can make a larger batch and

then warm up as needed to gargle 2 -3 times a day with this mixture.

 

The heat and salt in the water will expand the capillary walls to faciliate the

absorption of the tumeric, which is a natural anti-microbial and

anti-inflammatory.

 

Your insommia indicates a Vata aggravation.  You are awakening during the Vata

time of the morning (~2am-6am, depending on the season).  Have you tried rubbing

sesame oil on the soles of your feet before bed?  Are you doing self-abhyanga

(self-massage with oil) regularly?

 

A cup of warm milk spiced with nutmeg before bed can also help allieviate

insomnia.  You can add cardamom and cinamon as well if you like.

 

If you are taking floradix, mollasses etc and still having a problem with

anemia, your digestion (agni) may not be strong enough to allow you to

assimilate the nutrients.

A simple and safe digestive is cumin-coriannder-fennel tea.  Mix equal parts of

these three kitchen spices, then add 1 tsp of this mixture to 1 1/2 cups of

water.  Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and let sit for 5-10 minutes. 

Strain and drink.  You can add fresh grated ginger to this tea if you like.

 

Hope this helps and that you are feeling better soon.

 

Suzanna

 

ps. I'm new to the AyurDoula and will post my self-intro soon.

 

--- On Mon, 6/15/09, nityarawal <nityarawal wrote:

 

 

nityarawal <nityarawal

PerinatalAyurveda forum Insomnia and Throat Coat

ayurveda

Monday, June 15, 2009, 3:58 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear group,

 

Does anyone know if it's ok to use Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat while

pregnant? I have this awful virus going around...soar throat with dry cough but

no other congestion in sinuses. I'm on day 6 and the night sweats have let us

but I still feel pretty bad. I would love any advice as to ways to get well! I'm

doing homeopathics, and my midwife gave me some mushroom pill that's supposed to

help, emergen-c, lemon water etc. I'm also anemic and taking the sublingual b's,

floradix, molasses, the syrup from dried fruits, soaked almonds, and really

hoping I can get a handle on this in a vegetarian manner...I don't want to

resort to red meat as I did last pregnancy.

I also have had bad insomnia for most of my pregnancy. I get to sleep ok but

then wake up at 3-5 am and have to get up and eat or drink for awhile before I

can go back to bed...it's awful! Some days I do have to get places in the

morning and can't always nap or go back to sleep.

Anyways, I'd love any ideas and support around all of these subjects when you

get a chance! Thanks so much!

 

Blessings,

Nitya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Nitya and Sarasvati -

 

I " m so happy to see these conversations, and that you are sharing your questions

Nitya. We have such a wealth of experienced professionals on this group, I " m

really grateful personally haveing started it and sometimes not able to be on

for days.

 

So, if it were me, I'd try the Throat Coat tea as a dry throat sometimes wants

demulcence. Though the turmeric recipe may serve your needs, and hOpefully you

are well past the problem. Throat Coat as I remember has licorice, an

ingredient we have spoken about in the archives I believe, how western herbology

avoids it (and turmeric!) during pregnancy. Licorice like slippery elm is

demulcent and throat specific among other properties, though they don't offer

the antimicrobial properties that turmeric does. The boiling and salt help the

latter some in that direction.

 

So in combo with other herbs properly, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine use it/them

sometimes during pregnancy, just not high doses or alone. I've had good results

with a client with threatened miscarriage even in third trimester, used in

supportive formulation with ashwagandha and other herbs.

 

I " d be using some essential oils on the soreness if it lasts more than a few

hours also. Sometimes a drop of lavendula angustifolia (if organic) is used by

French MDs for sore throats successfully - gargle a drop dispersed in a little

gargle water a few times, every few hours.

 

If that or the Turmeric water isn't strong enough, I'd be using the Thieves

blend, or another strong broad spectrum antimicrobial that addresses both viral

and bacterial influences well. Even lavender, especially the Thieves

(clove/cinnamon/lemon/rosemary etc blend) will sting for a minute or two used

this way as a gargle - stronger sting if felt when there are microbes being

killed off. The effects are worth it! I know you have both of these. I have

not tried using it mixed in an oil gandusha/gargle instead.

 

I have successfully fought off strep very easily with this for my young son and

myself (oh my, that was 11 years ago!) when other household members (including

kids I babysat, and the parents we often ate with) had it 3 times that winter.

Topical on the skin of throat and soles of feet also slightly dilute with

carrier oil.

 

There are so many very antibiotic resistant microbes (MRSA I believe they are

called as a group) going around these days, what used to work in natural

medicine sometimes doesnt. This is one of the reasons I have no hesitation to

offer info on the potency of good essential oils - so often they safely support

quick reversals. A friend who recently was in India with Dr. Lad's gurukula for

6 weeks reported they all got a heavy virus or bacteria, even Dr. Lad and all

had many weeks challenges before getting out from under it, even with the

blessings of this master teacher's ayurvedic and herbal medicines.

 

Ess. OIls are much more expensive, and it is such a blessing we have the wisdom

of all these " kitchen medicines " that often DO do what is needed, at very

minimal expense. I look at it rather like Susan Weed's wisewoman steps of

healing - simplest first, layered approach (1 - do nothing, observe, meditate!

Etc. to most invasive, surgery). as long as it is not a severe illness

situation.

 

So Nitya, I hope you don't have one of those bugs that keep bugging you for

weeks! Please keep us informed, there are many heads and hearts here to help

find your best solutions.

 

Warmly,

Ysha

 

 

> Dear group,

>

> Does anyone know if it's ok to use Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat while

pregnant? I have this awful virus going around...soar throat with dry cough but

no other congestion in sinuses. I'm on day