Unfortunatley the nearby wild fire is only partially contained. Our hearts go out to the families that have been devastated by the recent fires. As we gather our energy to help those in need at this time, we are faced daily in our clinic with patients that are experiencing symptoms from the severe smoke in the bay area.

What you can do at home to help mitigate the effects of current wild fires and alleviate symptoms such as a sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, cough, wheezing and irritated eyes.

  1. Eat pears and asian pears. Pears nourish the fluids of the lungs and help them function properly thus alleviating cough and dry throats.

  2. Steam Asian pears. If you have a cough or are particularly dry, you can add honey to the center of a pear once you have cored it.

  3. Enjoy some almonds. Almonds help to nourish the fluids, stop a cough and help to resolve phlegm.

  4. Add some mushrooms to your dishes. Mushrooms that are white are particularly good, but any kind will do.

  5. Honey helps to soothe the throat, ease a cough and nourish the fluids thus combating dryness.

  6. Pick some local Loquat. I have noticed loquat starting to ripen around my neighborhood. that small round fruit may seem unfamiliar, but it is famously used for cough syrup and especially liked by children. Loquat helps to alleviate dryness and stop a cough.

  7. Traditional medicinal “throat coat tea” is a pleasant sweet tea that can help to soothe mucous membranes.

Try to avoid spicy food, alcohol, too much dairy, too much coffee as it can cause your symptoms to become worse. its like adding heat to the fire!