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Alternative treatments

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Oct 17, 2023 | Replies (62)

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@sueinmn

I don't use them. I had an excellent Oriental Medicine doctor who was also an acupuncturist. Unfortunately, she and her husband returned to his family home in Asia.
But, she told me to avoid most multi-ingredient herbal medicines because I have allergies. Under her supervision I tried a couple, and had reactions to both.

I'm going to add one more caveat - I always encourage buying supplements whose labs submit to outside review. My acupuncturist was concerned that many of the herbs used in Oriental medicine in the US come from unknown sources overseas, even those that may be mixed in the US. She was concerned about purity, and even whether the advertised herbs were indeed included. Please note that there is no indication, on the labels or the web sites, that these supplements have been submitted for any independent testing. In my experience, this is typical of Oriental herbal preparations. So I would only buy from a practitioner I trust, one who vets their sources.

As for me, I am sticking to my Mucinex & NAC taken with lots of water, with a side of Breathe Easy herbal tea.
Sue

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Replies to "I don't use them. I had an excellent Oriental Medicine doctor who was also an acupuncturist...."

I just looked up the Breath Easy tea if it is the same one and the first ingredient is licorice! Then eucalyptus. Can you consume eucalyptus internally? I agree one should make sure the source is pure and also understand that natural remedies can and do produce side effects. I know some people who got lead and heavy metal poisoning from herbal remedies from India.

I agree Sue. I am a retired acupuncturist/herbologist. Chinese herbs can be incredibly helpful under the right circumstances. It is difficult to source pure herbs these days and I would definitely not buy them on line. For folks taking western meds it is tricky. Herb/drug interactions can happen suddenly and without warning. Liver damage is often silent in the beginning. If you are on the big three it is a definite NO to herbs. If not on big three or too many other western meds I would seek out a very experienced chinese medicine practitioner. Don't try to be your own doctor - western or eastern.