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Page 41
to several years, as needed, because hawthorn's effect is not cumulative.
Hawthorn berry preparations are considered safe to use in combination with pharmaceutical drugs such as digitoxin, and in many cases its use allows the patient to reduce or eliminate the use of such drugs. Of course, such substitutions should be made under a physician's supervision.
In Germany, where over three dozen hawthorn-based heart medications are available, one teaspoon of hawthorn tincture on arising and another before bed is the standard recommendation. Because the taste is bitter, hawthorn can be mixed with honey, lemon, stevia or other herbs to improve its taste. In addition to its cardiovascular benefits, hawthorn berry is an excellent source of vitamin C. Hawthorn berry jams and jellies are popular wherever the plant grows wild, and the berries can be made into a fresh tincture or dried and made into a tea or tincture, as can the flowers and leaves. To make your own effective hawthorn berry tincture, follow the procedure described on page 55.
Herbs for Colds, Flu and Chronic Coughs
If you feel the symptoms of an oncoming cold, or if the flu is going around and you want to boost your immunity, review the infection-fighting herbs on pages 48 to 51. Astragalus, echinacea and grapefruit seed extract are all effective if taken at the beginning of an infectious disease, and when everyone around you is sick, taking these herbs will help keep you well.
For sore throats and coughs, licorice root (page 44), ginger root (page 43), ginkgo (page 35) and garlic (page

 
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