Panic Buying for Naturopath's

While everyone was out stockpiling toilet paper and hand sanitiser in 2020, Naturopath's were doing their own version of panic buying.   Vitamin C, Zinc, Echinacea, Elderberry, Andrographis and anything else you might need to treat coughs, fevers, sore throats and viruses were bought up for both clinic use and personal use in alarming amounts. 
​These products were rare as hen's teeth (or toilet paper) for months afterward.  Fast forward  more than a year and we have some new contenders........Quercetin and N-AcetylCysteine (NAC).  

I would be hard pressed to tell you exactly how many enquiries I've had on these products over the last few weeks.  It's fair to say that I would run out of fingers and toes many times over before I got to a final tally.  I have spent countless hours online trying to source these products from wherever I can to keep up with demand.  But for all their popularity now, these are products that most people hadn't heard of before.
So I guess there is where you think I start telling you about how good these products are and how to use them?  Unfortuantely there's not much point in that as there is very little around now and generally what's left is only available after a consultation with a qualified health professional (in fact NAC has only ever been available with a prescription)

Instead I'd like to tell you about some other little known superstars in our field.  Who knows - they might be the next big thing and I'm giving you an early exclusive!*

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
If you were giving out medals for names, surely this one takes the gold?
But it's more than just a great name.  Boneset is a plant native to North America with a long history of use for ailments that involve fever (with associated aching bones), colds & flu's, upper respiratory congestion and coughs. 
These days it's also recognised as being useful for inflammation, immune deficiencies and even some gastrointestinal complaints.  

Lomatium (Lomatium Dissectum)
I've been using this one in clinic for about a year now and I absolutely love it.  It's main indication is actually for viruses of the respiratory tract (it was widely used in North America in 1918 during the spanish influenza outbreak), but I've also been using it as a lung tonic and for people with chronic lung/airway conditions like bronchiectasis. 
As well as it's uses in respiratory issues, it also has a wide variety of other uses including as an anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal.

There are so many more wonderful herbs and supplements out there that hopefully will one day get their day in the spotlight, but for now I'll be content to let them stay in the shadows as it means I can still get my hands on them!

For further information on these herbs or for any questions you may have, please contact us on (03) 5977 7342 or book an appointment with one of our Naturopaths at www.thenaturalclinic.com.au/bookings

*Please consult a healthcare professional before commencing any natural remedies.  Many supplements and herbs have contraindications and may interact with other medications, or may not be suitable for certain people.