Week in Review THIS WEEK IN THE HSI HEALTHIER TALK COMMUNITY Want to undo the upper respiratory congestion brought on by a spring cold? HSI members have some tips you can try. In a Healthier Talk community thread titled "Congestion," a member named JonB asks: "Can anyone give me an idea as to what you can use to break up congestion after a cold?" Brian: "Spicy foods work to loosen up congestion for me. I'd recommend trying cayenne, jalapeno, or wasabi. I also notice that salty foods loosen congestion for me so you could try gargling with sea salt in warm water." Apasionato: "Breathing in the vapors of eucalyptus works wonders. I add drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a simmering pot of water on the stove to breathe in as I sit nearby. Also, a natural product with menthol, camphor and eucalyptus would work… Eucalyptus: a few drops of eucalyptus oil in hot water can be used to cleanse the air of infection in the sick room. It clears the chest, helps bronchitis, sinusitis, colds and 'flu." Cedarchest: "Here's what we do for chest and lung ailments and congestion: Couple tablespoons of olive oil, emu oil or good quality oil, couple drops of lavender oil, couple drops of tea tree oil, couple drops of eucalyptus oil, and a couple drops of clove oil. Rub onto the chest and cover with a warmed piece of flannel or a heating pad, on low. I'm not sure why but this breaks things up very quickly. Reapply often throughout the day. You could also try fennel tea. It contains creosol and alpha-pinene, two substances that help loosen mucus in the respiratory tract. This makes fennel a good herb for asthmatics, too. Also, use it to soothe a cough." Sharon: "Have you tried thumping your chest/back/rib cage with cupped hands to break up the congestion after you've breathed in the steam/oil treatment? Works better to have someone else do it for you. When my daughter was in the hospital with pneumonia, the respiratory nurses always thumped her after giving her a breathing treatment. I've been using the thumping thing ever since." Jo UK: "You could try N Acetyl Cysteine. It's good for breaking up mucous/catarrh, as is tincture of Myrrh." Other topics being discussed this week in the Healthier Talk community forums include: - Dental: Honey! Natural treatment for gum disease
- General Health Topics: Dry skin
- Fibromyalgia: There is a cure for FMS
- Health for Men: Hair loss
- Cancer: Prostate screening tests
- Vision: Retina thickness
You can easily reach the HSI Healthier Talk community forums on our web site at www.hsibaltimore.com. Just choose "Forum," and join in with any of the dozens of discussions about nutrition and natural health care. | 
