The mono blog

A mononucleosis sore throat can range from mildly uncomfortable to downright painful and unbearable. Fortunately there are some healing herbs that can help. Let’s have a look at the most popular herbs for a mononucleosis sore throat.

Myrrh

Myrrh is an ancient arid climate plant originating from the Middle East and North Africa. Myrrh extracts have been shown to enhance the efficiency of white blood cells in killing bacteria, viruses and fungi. It has a direct anti-microbial effect. Myrrh is one of the strongest herbs for treating mononucleosis sore throat and secondary throat infections like strep. It is best used as a tincture at about 3 ml, three times a day. It has a good safety record.

Sage and Thyme

Sage and thyme are strong antiseptics that are effective for mononucleosis sore throat. Sage is renowned for soothing inflammation of the mouth like a red throat, sore gums and mouth ulcers. As well as thyme, it makes a soothing gargle for a mononucleosis sore throat.

Thyme is an excellent cough remedy as it helps remove phlegm from the throat and respiratory tract. When I was a student working part time at a health food shop, I came down with a particularly painful, sore throat. It felt like I was swallowing razor blades every time I talked or swallowed. In desperation I made myself a hot tea of dried sage and thyme which I sipped throughout the day. To my amazement my sore throat had eased by the end of the day and even though the next day I had organised a sick day off, my symptoms were totally gone!

Goldenseal

Goldenseal is well known for its antibiotic and immune-stimulating properties. It helps dry and cleanse the mucous membranes, so is good for a mononucleosis sore throat that involves mucus. Evidence shows that goldenseal stimulates the macrophages that engulf and destroy viruses and bacteria. Goldenseal is a safe herb but can raise blood pressure so should not be taken in those with high blood pressure.

Olive leaf extract

The drinking of olive leaf tea has been done for many centuries by Middle Eastern cultures to treat disorders such as coughs, sore throat, cystitis, fever and gout. As it is a mild astringent, poultices were also made of the olive leaves to treat boils, rashes, warts and other skin problems.

Olive leaf extract can be helpful in the treatment of a mononucleosis sore throat as well as the common cold, flu, cold sores (herpes), ear infections, eye infections, nose and throat infections, impetigo, pink eye, parasites, and a host of bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

The main constituent of olive leaf is the phytochemical oleuropein, which has a powerful antimicrobial effect. It also has the ability to interfere with critical amino acid production essential for viruses. It can even directly penetrate infected cells and stop viruses from replicating.

Olive Leaf Extract is nontoxic, but when killing too many pathogens too quickly, a “die off” or Herxheimer’s reaction may occur – which can be experienced as flu-like symptoms, loose stools, nausea, headaches, tiredness or a skin rash. A reaction like this will only last a day or so, and can be minimised or avoided by starting at a low dose and gradually increasing.

Herbs are a good starting point for treating a mononucleosis sore throat. For further information on natural treatments for a mononucleosis sore throat please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: Epstein Barr sore throat, glandular fever sore throat, mono herbs, mono sore throat, mononucleosis herbs, mononucleosis sore throat

Homeopathy is a form of natural medicine that has been used safely for centuries. It has a big following in Europe, India, Latin America and Russia, and there is a growing interest in western countries. Homeopathy for glandular fever(Epstein Barr virus or mononucleosis)  is showing promising results especially in children and babies who are often unable to swallow other supplements.

Homeopathic remedies are based on the principle that “like cures like”. They revolve around the observation that substances that cause symptoms in healthy people, can actually help sick people, if given in dilute amounts.

For example, a respiratory infection which involves burning and watery eyes can be treated with a homeopathic remedy called Allium copa, which is made from onions (cutting onions normally causes teary, burning eyes in healthy people). The theory is that when you take a remedy that matches the symptoms of your illness, it stimulates your own innate healing ability.

Homeopathy for glandular fever relies on remedies made from plants, minerals or animals. The active substances are diluted in a solution of water or alcohol, then diluted again and again – sometimes hundreds of times. Because of this dilution, homeopathic remedies are not toxic. They are safe for babies and young children.

Many of the antimicrobial homeopathics are based on some of the anti microbial herbs like Echinacea and Thuja.  In the acute stages of glandular fever, Belladonna is often prescribed to treat fever and a dry, red throat. It is often used for the first 12 – 24 hours. Ferum phosphorica and Kali muriaticum are then alternated every hour to alleviate fever, painful cough, swollen tonsils and night sweats.

Other homeopathy for glandular fever remedies include Phytolacca, for weakness and restlessness with swollen lymph glands, or Gelsemium for dullness, dizziness, drowsiness and headache.

You can buy homeopathy for glandular fever from your health food shop. For a more comprehensive remedy it is worthwhile seeing an experienced homeopath who will take a detailed health history and prescribe a particular remedy for your individual needs.

For further information on homeopathy for glandular fever and other natural treatments please refer to  the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: homeopathy epstein barr, Homeopathy for glandular fever, homeopathy mono, homeopathy mononucleosis

Epstein Barr virus causes may include stress, low immunity, malnourishment, vitamin D deficiency or a chronic underlying disease. It is now believed that mold is an immune suppressant that may tip the scales in allowing EBV (mono or glandular fever) to take hold.
Here’s an interesting article on the dangers of mold written by Dr Mercola – an American alternative practitioner:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/03/molds-making-you-ill.aspx

If you think one of your EBV causes may be mold then there is a lot you can do to boost your immunity and reduce your exposure to mold. For further information on Epstein Barr virus causes and natural treatments please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: EBV causes, Epstein Barr virus causes, Epstein Barr virus mold, glandular fever causes, glandular fever mold, mono causes, mono mold, mononucleosis mold

Garlic is famous for its anti microbial properties. It is especially effective for mononucleosis treatment (also known as Epstein Barr virus or glandular fever).

Garlic was used by the ancient Egyptians to treat infections and wounds, by the Greeks and Romans for tumours, wounds and infection, and by the Chinese for fatigue, infections and tumours. In both World Wars it was used in wounds to stop infection, where no other antiseptics were available. It saved thousands of lives helping troops recover from typhus and dysentery and preventing gangrene.

Research shows that garlic oil contains a sulphur compound called allicin which has strong anti microbial properties – perfect for mononucleosis treatment. It can slow the growth or kill more than 60 species of fungi, more than 20 species of bacteria, and many viruses.

When garlic is consumed as a food, a sulphur-type odour can be smelt on the breath or skin as the garlic metabolites are excreted. The recommended dosage is 1-3 cloves a day – preferably raw. Those with a sensitive stomach may need to cook the garlic slightly or use the enteric coated capsules. The odourless garlic capsules may not be as effective as the active compounds may be lessened. If you are worried about the garlic smell on your breath you can chew on a sprig of parsley to take the smell away.

The other option I recommend during mononucleosis treatment, which makes ingestion of garlic a bit easier is to make up ¼ cup each of apple cider vinegar, honey and soy sauce. Pour into a screw top jar and fill to the top with as many peeled garlic cloves as can fit. Alternatively fill a screw top jar with peeled garlic cloves and cover with olive oil. You can take 1 teaspoon of these mixtures every 1 – 4 hours during mononucleosis treatment. These liquids can also be used as dressings on salads or vegetables in everyday cooking. They will last in the fridge for a few weeks after making.

For babies or young children who can’t tolerate garlic or take tablets, a garlic poultice (or compress), can be effective for mononucleosis treatment. Simply crush a clove of garlic, wrap it in gauze and tape it to the soles of the feet. It is a good idea to oil the soles of the feet with some olive oil first, because direct contact with the garlic may irritate the skin. The garlic oil will be absorbed into the blood stream and help fight the infection.

When my boys were younger, I would apply garlic compresses to the soles of their feet at bedtime. By morning, they might have had a slight garlic odour, but the infection had always improved.

Garlic is generally very safe but in some people can cause heartburn or gas when ingested. Because it has a blood-thinning effect it should be used with caution for those on anticoagulant medication or those undergoing surgery.

Garlic for mononucleosis treatment is a safe, cost effective option for those struggling with this nasty virus. For further information on natural mononucleosis treatment please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: mono garlic, mono treatment, mononucleosis garlic, mononucleosis treatment, treating mono, treating mononucleosis

Echinacea or the purple cone flower, is probably the most famous and widely used herb for fighting infections. It is invaluable during EBV treatment for both adults and children.

Echinacea is a very safe herb. Many tests show it to be nontoxic, with little or no side effects. It is the top selling herbal medicine in the United States and has been used for centuries by the American Indians.

Apart from EBV treatment, echinacea has been used effectively to treat colds, flu, ear infections, throat infections, staph infections and urinary tract infections. It is also used to treat allergies, burns, skin ulcers and a low white blood cell count.

Echinacea stimulates the white blood cells – particularly the macrophages which help kill viruses, bacteria and fungi in the body. For EBV treatment, this herb is invaluable in raising levels of white blood cells when they are low and increasing the activity of these cells.

Echinacea is usually taken as a tincture (in a alcohol base). It is also available in capsule or tablet form for those who can’t tolerate liquids. For severe symptoms you can take it every 2 hours and gradually decrease the frequency to three times a day as symptoms improve.

For maximum benefit it is good if you can get a blend of the root of E. purpurea with E. augustifolia.

Many of my patients swear that taking echinacea as a preventative or even at the first sign of an infection, can stop the infection in its tracks or at least curtail the severity of the infection.

If you are going to take echinacea long term for EBV treatment, most herbalists recommend you take it for 8 weeks then have a break for a week or two. You can then restart it for another 8 weeks. When you take it without a break, your phagocytes – the immune cells responsible for destroying microbes, can rise to peak levels but do not stay there as the body gets used to the herb.

For further information on natural EBV treatment including herbs, please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: EBV echinacea, EBV herbs, EBV treatment, Epstain Barr virus treatment, Epstein Barr echinacea, Epstein Barr treatment, Epstein Barr virus echinacea

During a bout of Epstein Barr, preventing colds and flu is a priority. When the immune system is suppressed, secondary infections can take hold so you need to know the basic prevention and treatment strategies.

Here’s an excerpt from Dr Mercola’s website www.mercola.com on some strategies used for preventing colds and flu during Epstein Barr.

The most common way cold viruses are spread is from hand-to-hand contact. Cold viruses can also live on pens, computer keyboards, coffee mugs and other objects for hours, so it’s easy to come into contact with such viruses during daily life.

If your immune system is impaired from an infection like Epstein Barr then preventing colds and flu can be an uphill battle.There are many ways this can result, but the more common contributing factors are:

1.Eating too much sugar and too many grains
If you feel yourself coming down with a cold or flu, this is NOT the time to be eating ANY sugar, artificial sweeteners or processed foods. Sugar is particularly damaging to your immune system – which needs to be ramped up, not suppressed, in order to combat an emerging infection.

So if you are fighting Epstein Barr and want to prevent colds and flu then avoid all sugar like the plague, and this includes sugar in the form of fruit juice and even grains (which break down as sugar in your body).

2.Not getting enough rest or sleep

Pay attention to how you are sleeping. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or enough restorative sleep during Epstein Barr then you’ll be at increased risk for getting a cold or flu. Your immune system is also the most effective when you’re not sleep-deprived, so the more rested you are the quicker you’ll recover.

3.Using insufficient strategies to address emotional stressors in your life
Emotional stress during Epstein Barr can also predispose you to colds and flu. Finding ways to manage daily stress as well as your reactions to circumstances beyond your control will contribute to a strong and resilient immune system.

4.Vitamin D deficiency
Research has confirmed that “catching” colds and flu may actually be a symptom of an underlying vitamin D deficiency. Less than optimal vitamin D levels will significantly impair your immune response and make you far more susceptible to contracting colds, influenza, and other respiratory infections. Getting a daily dose of sunshine is a good start to boosting your vitamin D levels during Epstein Barr so you prevent colds and flu taking hold.

Ideally during a bout of Epstein Barr you must address nutrition, sleep, stress issues and sunshine in order to prevent colds and flu. For further information on Epstein Barr and preventing colds and flu please refer to mercola.com or the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: epstein barr cold prevention, epstein barr colds, epstein barr colds and flu, epstein barr flu, epstein barr preventing colds

EBV is the virus that causes mononucleosis or glandular fever. It can affect the nerves of the body resulting in symptoms such as headaches, body pain and muscle aches. In some people chronic Epstein Barr pain can make life extremely difficult.

Conventional painkillers can mask painful symptoms however these medications can have undesirable side effects when taken in the long term.

Fortunately there are other ways to deal with chronic pain naturally. Here’s a video of an interview with the actress Jennifer Grey about her 10 year battle with chronic pain and how she has coped.

http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/144885/interview?ic=506011

For further information on natural treatments for chronic Epstein Barr pain please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: chronic epstein barr, chronic epstein barr pain, epstein barr pain, glandular fever pain, mononucleosis pain

In an earlier post I introduced yoga as a way of building up the body’s muscle mass and strength after a bout of mono or glandular fever. Epstein Barr and yoga exercises go perfectly well together. As you get stronger, I recommend stretching regularly, strength training twice a week and some aerobic exercise in moderation most days.
Here’s a longer video on yoga exercises for beginners:

For more information on Epstein Barr and yoga exercises plus more natural treatments please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: Epstein Barr exercise, Epstein Barr yoga, Epstein Barr Yoga Exercises, mono exercise, mono yoga

Living with Epstein Barr, the virus that causes mono or glandular fever, can be a frustrating and worrying time. The good news is that as well as physical treatments like vitamins, minerals, herbs and diet, your emotional state can also help or hinder your recovery. Here’s an interesting article called “Attitude” by Charles Swindall which you may find helpful when living with Epstein Barr:

“The longer I live
the more I realise the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude is more important than facts.
It is more important than the past,
than education,
than money,
than circumstances,
than failures, than successes,
than what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.
It will make or break a company…a church…a home.

The remarkable thing is
we have a choice every day
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change the past,
we cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do
is play on the one string we have
and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me
and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you.

We are in charge of our attitude”

If you or a loved one are living with Epstein Barr then your attitude may help or hinder your recovery. For more information on natural treatments for this nasty illness please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.

Tags: epstein barr attitude, Living with Epstein Barr, living with glandular fever, living with mono

Recent research shows that many patients with CFS / chronic Epstein Barr virus have decreased heart function. Although the heart may be smaller and beat less efficiently in these conditions, this is likely caused by dehydration, low red blood cell count and low blood volume, as opposed to being a heart problem.

Decreased heart function can contribute to classic CFS / chronic Epstein Barr symptoms like fatigue, cold extremities and dizziness.

The good news is that there are several key things that you can do to treat the dehydration, low blood volume and low red blood cell levels that will leave you feeling better. Let’s have a look at each of these areas in turn:

1. Treat the Dehydration.

Dehydration is often caused by underactive adrenal function and a decrease in antidiuretic hormone (“anti-peeing hormone”), both of which are routinely present in CFS / chronic Epstein Barr virus because of the hypothalamic dysfunction. Quick fixes for dehydration include:

a. Drink more water! Instead of counting glasses of water (an annoying way to spend the rest of your life), check your mouth and lips to see if they are dry. If they are, drink!

b. Eat more salt. Unless you have high blood pressure or heart failure, you need more salt than most people.

c. Improve adrenal function. Nutrients like vitamin C, the B complex and magnesium plus plenty of rest can help repair exhausted adrenals in CFS / chronic Epstein Barr virus patients.

2. Increase Your Body’s Production of Red Blood Cells.

Fewer red blood cells means less oxygen and nutrients are carried around the body. To fix this:

a. Treat for low iron. The best blood test is called a “ferritin” level. Your doctor will say it is normal if it is over 12, but research has shown that in people with chronic fatigue, iron supplementation increased energy dramatically in people with a ferritin under 50.

b. Treat for low testosterone and low thyroid levels. Both of these, especially the testosterone (use only the safe and natural bioidentical forms), increase red blood cell production.

3. Improve Your Heart Function

a. Nutrients that improve heart function also improve energy in CFS / chronic Epstein Barr virus patients. These include Acetyl L-carnitine, co enzyme Q10, vitamin E and some of the B vitamins.

b. Reducing stress and exercising regularly can also help strengthen heart health in
CFS / chronic Epstein Barr virus patients.

For further information on treating CFS / chronic Epstein Barr virus please refer to the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble. For more detail on this article please refer to Prohealth.com and Vitality101.com

Tags: CFS chronic Epstein Barr virus, CFS EBV, CFS Epstein Barr, CFS heart, chronic fatigue epstein barr, EBV heart, Epstein Barr virus heart