CATARRH

Symptoms:

Chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the air passages of the nose and throat with an exudation containing mucin and epithelial cells.  This is an excessive and often morbid mucus discharge from the nose, throat, larynx, bronchi, stomach, duodenum, etc.  Catarrh can go through the entire body from the head to the feet.  Catarrh in the lungs is similar to colds, flu and pneumonia.  When it becomes chronic the person has tuberculosis or consumption.

Cause:

Catarrh is caused by eating devitalized or processed foods; by eating excess starches and glutinous foods; by poor circulation, lack of sunshine, fresh air, exercise; by eating wrong food combinations; by eating many soft and cooked foods; by drinking with meals; and by poor elimination.  When foods are not digested fermentation takes place in the digestive tract, Alcohol and acetic acid are formed and various forms of catarrh clog the membranes.  When this thickened mucoid matter is dispatched to the skin, the skin glands become obstructed, resulting in colds and fevers.  The fibrinous and glutinous substances (excess starches and carbohydrates, especially those rendered inorganic in cooking) overload the blood and tissues and cannot be passed off fast enough through the intestinal tract.  The eliminative system becomes clogged and the mucus is forced into the various mucus glands or membranes.  Although there is only one basic cause, the manifest symptoms are varied according to the form and location.  The problem induces such diseases as arthritis, asthma, biliousness, Bright's disease, bronchitis, cystitis, diphtheria, dysuria, gravel, jaundice, laryngitis, pleurisy, rheumatism, tonsillitis, etc.  If catarrhs collect in the blood stream and congest circulation, it becomes high blood pressure and finally apoplexy.

Herbal aids:

One should keep away from the mucus forming foods and the diet should consist entirely of leafy and juicy vegetables and fresh fruits.  As catarrh is a general mucoid complaint, one must thoroughly cleanse the stomach, liver and intestines.  One must keep the mucous membrane in the nasal passage clean.  The "musts" for catarrh are proper diet, outdoor exercise and good elimination.  If one doesn't get enough fresh air and exercise, the catarrh will develop into hay fever, asthma, or tuberculosis.  Take vinegar and honey copiously, especially for children (here you may add some glycerine).

Useful herbs:

African tea plant, angelica, anise seed, asthma weed, avens root, bayberry bark, bistort root (intestines), black mallow flowers, blood root, borage, buchu, burdock root, cascarilla bark, cayenne, coltsfoot, comfrey, coriander seed, couch grass, coughwort, cubeb berries, elder flowers and berries, elecampane, fennel seed, fringetree, garlic (Mucous membranes), golden seal, hyssop, Iceland moss, Indian hemp, Indian turnip, Irish moss, jaborandi, juniper berries, lemon balm, licorice root, lobelia, lungwort, marshmallow, meadow anemone, milfoil, mullein leaves, parsley, Peruvian bark, pichi tops (vessels), princes pine (bladder), Seneca snake root, Senegal, skunk cabbage, raisins, storax, sumac sun dew, swamp cabbage, sweet gum bark, tormentil, turtle bloom,  uva ursi (bladder), watercress, water plantain, white oak bark, white pine,wild cherry bark, witch hazel, yarrow, yerba reuma, yerba santa (bladder).