Acute bronchitis is usually a viral and a self-limiting condition that typically does not require the use of antibiotics. First-line herbal therapies for bronchitis often include ivy leaf, thyme, and Pelargonium sidoides. A thyme-ivy combination known as Bronchipret is a well-established treatment for acute bronchitis and coughs in Europe. The link to this large clinical trial clearly demonstrates that the syrup safely and effectively reduces the incidence of cough and duration of illness in adults with acute bronchitis. Thyme's phamacologic activities secreolytic, expectorant, and bronchospasmolytic effects while ivy leaf is noted for its antispasmodic and expectorant actions. Health care practitioners note that these herbal ingredients are recommended in children as young as 4 years of age but are contraindicated in pregnant or lactating women.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17063641?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
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Another thing I'm curious about is the question of the value of invasive therapies and symptomatic depression, and the theory of the cause of disease. The early naturopaths and natural hygienists seem to be in agreement---I'm thinking of everyone from Hahnemann to Benjamin Lust to Tilden---that the symptoms of disease are an expression of an underlying disturbance in the life-force (or some other similar expression). When we spoke last night, you mentioned the value of symptomatic depression in alleviating an illness. I'm curious. I think of the case of my sinus infection, which I took Chinese herbs for, and in one day my symptoms went away. That said, I am still expectorating phlegm that shows signs of infection. Is it not, in practice, tempting to stop searching for the source of disease once the symptoms have been alleviated? Is there not something valuable in learning from the experience of the symptoms---after all, they are a strong message from the body to itself, and would it not be a more accurate reflection of health to allow the symptoms to proceed unchecked until health was obtained? Or, is one faced with the horns of a dillema, where in order to achieve health, the most efficacious modality is to employ the least toxic method of reducing symptoms to enable the body's energy to devote itself to healing---and yet, the organism is fooled into believing it is healthy when in fact the healing is incomplete---it is if you have thwarted the messenger, and therefore Toxemia, Toxicity, whatever, still lies dormant, under the covers of an appearance of health?
Does this even apply to genetic disorders, and if so, to what extent and how? Does it make sense to talk of disease under the paradigm of the old Naturopaths, given our understanding of genetics---at least in the arena of genetic disorders? Does it make sense to talk of genetic disorders, given the philosophy of their putative cause?
Well, I have more to say, but I'm feeling inordinately tired, so I'll stop there; but, let's talk about this!
the question about genetic diseases is interesting. should we just give up and accept our fate? remember that gene expression is a function of two things. the first is the actual make-up of the genetic code that we receive from our parents over which we have very little ability to change. the second factor concerning gene expression is the actual cellular environment in which the the make up of this code is either turned on or turned off. we have a much greater ability to affect this second piece. nutrition is one of the most important environmental modifiers of gene expression that determine health and disease patterns. alas there is hope!
the new science of epigenetics — or changes in gene expression without changes in DNA sequence — demonstrates the link between the environment and gene expression. ironically, it's telling us the same thing the naturopaths were saying: live a good, clean life with moderation in all things, exercise and eat your vegetables....
we now known that nutritional factors are actually signaling molecules that interact with a comprehensive enzyme system composed of over 540 kinase enzymes. it is this system of kinase enzymes (kinome) that the body relies on the transmit signals from our environment (e.g., toxin exposure, food, stress,) to the genome. thus, the kinase signaling system actually facilitates the nutrient influence on gene expression (nutrigenomics) and related downstream effects on protein synthesis (proteomics), and metabolism (metabolomics). as a result, a new patient-centered health care is emerging that will rely upon nutrition and other modifiable lifestyle factors including, i believe therapeutic bodywork, that influence the kinome to help people achieve optimal genetic expression.
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