--by North Wolf

Spirit Guide’s readership extends as far as New York and Washington. Because this is the first issue since the terrorist attacks on our country, I feel compelled to say something to you who live in those areas or who have friends there. Not a day has passed since then that the insane horror of 9/11 has not haunted my thoughts. My outrage, my anger and my grief for this nation and my fellow humans have been but slightly muted by the arduous attempt to come to some kind of reckoning with those events. I still can not absorb what has happened, I simply can not get my mind around it. In August I gazed at the Manhattan skyline as I crossed the Verrazano Bridge, once again in awe of the unparalleled beauty of New York. As a child I walked the noble halls of the Pentagon (my father was a military officer), perhaps in the same corridors that no longer exist. There is nothing I or anyone can say that will diminish your suffering, a suffering whose depths I can not begin to imagine. But it does matter, I do care and I will never forget. Everyone I have spoken with feels the same way.

I’ve been trying to think of a good winter topic. Then it hit me: it’s the “flu” sea-son— at least, it should be. Even though it’s early December, my AC is on, I’m wearing short-sleeved shirts and wishing there were someplace to go swimming. Perhaps it’s a little cooler now that these words have reached you, but if not yet, surely by January. (My next article will be about global warming.) Anyway, if you suffer from frequent or seemingly chronic colds, this article’s for you.

There are a number of things you can do to that may reduce the frequency and severity of colds. First of all, take stock of your envi-ronment. It may be that you’re suffering from allergies. If this is the case, try using essen-tial oils (especially tea tree) when you clean your dwelling, and clean thoroughly. You might also consider homeopathic remedies; consult a health care professional about this. If you find that the dry heat irritating, place a pan of water near the heating vents to help raise the humidity.

The next thing to con-sider is a change to your diet! Greasy foods, dairy products, low water in-take and limited variety can all contribute to the problem. Keep in mind, however, that not every-one is the same. The diet that keeps Jane Doe fit and healthy may not do a thing for John Doe. I would recommend using organic products, and if possible, locally grown organic prod-ucts. The expense is probably worth it.

Taking large amounts of Vitamin C is prob-ably a good idea. Taking echinacea at the first exposure to a cold may also help. Of course the effectiveness of both Vitamin C and echinacea have been doubted by the medi-cal and pharmaceutical industries, both of whom have a vested interest in proving the worthlessness of natrual treatments. I take the attitude of being uncertain, but I take Vi-tamin C as well.

Once you’ve actually caught cold, you have to treat the symptoms. Notice that I said “symptoms” and not “cause.” There is no cure for the common cold. The unbelievable array of antibiotics that some physicians dis-pense like candy will not cure your cold. They may, at best, prevent a streptococcal infec-tion. They may, at worst, engender resistant strains of bacteria. Unless you are particu-larly susceptible to bacterial infections, I would avoid synthetic antibiotics in favor of natural remedies.

French physician Jean Valnet recommends the following essential oils for those who suffer from chronic head colds: basil, cinna-mon, lemon, marjoram, niaouli (a relative of tea tree), onion, peppermint—which can help settle an upset stomach as well—and thyme (for catarrh). If the cold reaches the chest or bronchial passages, you may add eucalyp-tus, lavender and pine to the list. Some people would also include fir. Noted aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood offers the following formula for colds: 2 drops thyme, 2 drops tea tree, 1 drop eucalyptus and 3 drops lemon. The oils can be placed in a vaporizer. If you do use essential oils, especially for small chil-dren, or if you have cats, exercise caution.

You can e-mail me at the address below for specifics. There are also a couple of common brands of essential oils that I would never consider for medicinal use. A few brands that I have been happy with are Aura Cacia, Earth Harmony, Amrita, Frontier and Liberty.

You can also add the herbs to various dishes. Basil, for example, is a highly recommended addition to tomato sauces, both for its health benefits and its flavor. Add the spice shortly before you remove the sauce from the heat. To help release the aroma crush the dried herb between your fingers as you add it. And if you’re not going out on a date, throw a little garlic into the mix.

If your chest is congested, remove the cap from a bottle of eucalyptus oil and take a deep breath. Eucalyptus refers to a family of trees consisting of hundreds of varieties. For treat-ing colds I recommend Blue Gum Eucalyptus (E. globulus var. globulus), although there are several other varieties that may work as well. Look for a high concentration of cineol, or eucalyptol. Often the concentration is given on the label. For instance, eucalyptus 85 means eucalyptus oil with 85% cineol.

The last thing I’ll recommend is to add a few drops of lemon oil to a kitchen potpourri. Lemon oil is remarkably effective at reducing airborne bacteria.

Please feel free to send any questions or com-ments to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Bright bless-ings and a happy Yule to you all.

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