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Video: Herbalist Talks Cold and Flu Relief

Appearing recently on News 12, Sara Chana Silverstein, a Lubavitcher herbalist and alternative medicine specialist, gave some tips on how to beat cold and flu symptoms with natural remedies.

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30 Comments

  • Captain Obvious

    Herbalists and homeopaths are scammers. Go to a doctor if you have a medical complaint.

    • Larry

      She has a “degree” from Teleosis School of Homeopathy. I’m not making this up, it’s on her Linkedin profile. Her entire business is a scam. You’d make better use of your money flushing it down the toilet than giving it to her..

  • ty

    #1. You are very wrong. There are even remedies for natural healing through out Torah, and in Rambam, etc. There may be some herbalists who are not qualified, but to say that all of them are not, is a very unintelligent mistake. You will see, as the time is coming when people are educating themselves to avoid conventional medications when possible, and it is becoming more acceptable by the day.

    • Milhouse

      Some herbalists may know what they’re doing, but homeopathy is itself a scam. Homeopathic “remedies” by definition can’t work, because they have nothing in them that could have any effect at all. They are pure water or alcohol. The whole theory is false.

  • nutrition and atzilus!!!

    doctors treat you as a product build youre body dont harm it with meds they supress youre problem instead of healing the cause of it!!!!

  • Dr. Yikes!

    Cayenne pepper or any other concoction will not build resistance against the common cold or flu. Only a healthy body can fight against illness and for that you’ll need to exercise and eat healthy foods. Don’t ingest cayenne pepper or horseradish – these things may trick your body for a few minutes but they simply do not carry the chemical properties to destroy a virus.

    Unfortunately, the frum community is often quite gullible when it comes to sham doctors and healers. She is to be avoided.

  • not black and white

    There is definitely a time and place for herbal remedies I have used them to fend of colds and flu with success. I would obviously recommend a doc if one actually gets the flu or G-d forbid anything worse

  • Mottel

    Dear Crown Heights residents,

    Which doctors and misplaced hippy herb remedies are not the path of the Torah. Today we live in an era of unprecedented access to medical help – help that we have because the Aibershter has guided scientists and doctors to find cures and treatments.

    The desire to look for so called “natural” cures is based on a misplaced belief that somehow past generations knew more about medicine than we do. In 1918 some 500 MILLION people got the flu, 50-100 MILLION of the DIED.

    If you’re feeling sick, take your cayenne pepper – but only after you’ve gone to a real and legitimate doctor – as recognized by the state of New York – and followed his or her correct course of treatment.

  • Nurse

    This is ridiculous! there is no scientific evidence for any of these remedies, and it’s just way to make money; and lots of it!
    If you want medicine that actually works, use medicine that has been proven to work (beyond the placebo effect).
    As Jews, who have a heritage of intellectuals, we need to look away from superstitions and shams like these and actually be smart with our health!

  • for your info...

    I was told there is no cure for the common cold by Western medicine teachers. But this recipe (garlic, onion, horseradish, ginger, cayenne pepper in raw apple cider vinegar) has been curing the cold and flu in anyone I have seen use it correctly, often within the day. I have had this recipe on hand for over 10 years.

    Go argue with facts…

  • IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOUR

    SYSTEM MAY NOT HANDLE WHAT CHAND SARAH SAYS,BUT TRUTHFULLY PEOPLE DO HAVE SUCESS IN HOLISTIC HEALING,I FOR ONE RATHER USE A PERSON WITH THE REBBE’S BLESSINGS,THIS WAY YOU WILL ALWAYS GO RIGHT,
    IT’S POSSIBLE YOU ARE SICK FROM DOING SOMETHING AGAINST HASHEM

  • RD

    a western way of thinking has got us to think that destroying the body to let its self build up again with medicines that destroy more than they heal is better than healing naturally. Name one medication that does not have a side affect? i have yet to see one. homeopathy heals WITH the body, and if you think that’s better than destroying the body, your wrong; yes in a lot of cases medicine is needed but not in all so go ahead say that sara chana is a liar but know that by saying that you don’t really know what you’re talking about
    – someone who cares
    p.s. for those who have commented chana sara have clearly blocked their ears from the beginning of the video her name is sara chana.

    • Milhouse

      Liar. Homeopathy has never healed anything, and will never heal anything. Anyone who claims to heal with homeopathy is a swindler and a liar, and possul le’eidus.

  • Lewkowicz Tucson, AZ

    I don’t understand the attacks here these “remedies” work- they are not the answer at all to all illness but as far as fending off a cold or flu- they do help. There are times obviously when nothing but an anti biotic will help and nobody on the clip seemed to dispute that
    .
    Cold and sinus blaster available kosher at sprouts has these ingredients Fresh Horseradish Root (Armoracia rusticana)
    Echinacea Root (Echinacea angustifolia)
    Fresh Spilanthes Herb (Acmella oleracea)
    Elderberry Berry (Sambucus nigra)
    Garlic Bulb (Allium sativum)
    Cayenne Fruit (Capsicum annuum)
    Olive Leaf (Olea europaea)
    Horehound Herb (Marrubium vulgare)
    Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
    Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita)
    Boneset Herb (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
    Goldenseal Root (Hydrastis canadensis)
    Wild Cherry Bark (Prunus virginiana)
    Fresh Osha Root (Ligusticum porteri)
    Andrographis Herb (Andrographis paniculata)
    Onion Bulb (Allium cepa)
    Yarrow Herb (Achillea millefolium

    Burns going down but each time I felt a cold coming on last season I took some of this and it helped :)

  • why is this different than..

    hey guys, take a chill. She is allowed to sell whatever she desires so long as it is not harmful.. you have the option of buying or not buying.
    why is this any different than all these new “life Coaches” selling their wisdom?
    They took a short course and become advisers without a tiny concern for possibly making a mistake and sending people down a wrong road!. We are a lost generation and the only true path is the Torah.. Toras Chaim!!!
    With keeping to the teachings of the Torah and helping one another (not always for a fee) we can bring Moshiach!
    We won’t need herbs nor life coaches we will have arrived!!!!

  • YMSP

    Thank you very much Mrs. Silverstein!

    Just had strong bronchitis for over 2 weeks (2 rounds anti-biotics, passage opener vaporizer machine, etc., etc.). Went out tonight and bought the kind of chrein that you showed (Pesach type) and cayenne.

    Ate three round slices of chrein and what was blocking thinned out almost instantly (also took some regular benadryl so that dust won’t aggravate anything, which often works well when anti-biotics aren’t enough). Can’t say that it was the most pleasant experience, but it worked almost instantly and someone was surprised how I could talk without coughing.

    Followed up with noodles and tomato sauce with a lot of cayenne and oregano (also helps) and am 70% better already.

    Wow, it works. Thank you (dovar b’ito mah noim).

  • Sara Chana, IBCLC Rh (AHG)

    I may not have answers to all medical challenges , but I have seriously studied alternative and conventional medicine for 20 years. I now teach Doctors at a medical school how to integrate alternative medicine with conventional medicine. I them which herbs how to identify plants and understand which herbs are toxic and which herbs are not.

    Interesting true story: There was a man in Germany who had studied medicinal and edible plants. When the war came he ran into the forest to hide. He found many other Jews hiding and because he had studied edible plants he was able to save and heal thousands of wandering Jews. Rather than running for freedom he helped so many Jews travel safely through the forest to freedom! I know how to identify edible and medicinal plants that grow right here in Crown Heights. I know which plants can heal wounds and act in a similar way to antibiotics. Can any of the people who are calling my training a scam even identify one plant?

    Hashem says he put the healing in the world before the illness. Didn’t he create plants and trees before man?

    • Morris Goldstein, BA, GED, LD, ADD, ADHD

      Being able to identify plants is NOT a substitute for legitimate medical knowledge. Anyone, including yourself, who attempts to treat serious medical conditions with homeopathy is a charlatan, a liar and a fraud. Preying on the often unsuspecting, frum community for business is despicable. Invoking Hashem and Torah to further bolster your fraudulent claims is criminal.

    • YMSP

      Mrs. Silverstein,

      The bottom line is that your advice works. I can attest to it personally. And yes, Hashem is makdim refuah lmakah and that’s true in creation.

      You helped my breathing. The naysayers didn’t. There will be naysayers. That can’t stop you from doing what’s needed and the proof is in the pudding.

      In general, I’ve seen benefits from a mix of natural/preventative and conventional healing. I think that’s also what you advocate for.

  • Yosef Baras, PA-C

    My issue is I have a medical license (yes, google my name to find it) and cannot identify all plants, but I know how to do research and see results for myself. I know it is difficult for some with strong feelings for ‘modern’ medicine (very recent) and they feel anything older is ineffective, but the facts are otherwise. Until recently most drugs were based on plant extracts, which happened to cause side effects not seen when using the plant. The Rambam says all plants are either food, medicine, or poison. If you want to rely on medicine that is fine, but don’t ridicule anything beyond you.
    By the way, the resistance bacteria have against all antibiotics we have is real and worsening, and I see this in my office daily. Other countries understand this and are researching and approving antibiotics from plants.

    The above flu cure is real for I have used it for many years and if you are not willing to try it please keep comments civilized.

    • Not a doctor

      Yosef, you’re not a doctor – you’re a physician’s assistant. There is a big difference. For you to introduce yourself as someone who holds a “medical license” is irresponsible and perhaps illegal. If I were your patient and you introduced yourself as someone who obtained a “medical license” I would report you to the New York Board of Professions for fraud.

      Peoples’ concern for this type of quackery has less to do with perception than you’re willing to give them credit for. Perhaps this is why you’re not a doctor. Let me ask you this: the next time you’re treating a person with the flu, why not give them Ms. Silverstein’s “remedy” and see how long you’re allowed to keep your job. Better yet, quit your job now and go into business with her.

  • Yosef Baras, PA-C

    Some will never get it…
    The correct title is physician assistant without the possessive part, and it is with a state medical license- for your information. Go report that I treat patients. They may laugh or hang up on you. I guess you know the medical professionals and their functions. Read up on PAs a bit, as chances are you will be treated by one.

    Doctors and healthcare professionals are supposed to offer patients the options to get well, called ‘alternatives’. There is usually more than one option and you go with the least invasive. The patient makes the choice. I guess your doctor never gave you choices. Did you hear of that concept, or ‘off-label” use of drugs? Doctors and PAs have that responsibility to their patients. Thank G-d you are not mine…but you are welcome to hear what goes on in the real world with hands-on patient care in my office. If you find that illegal you can report it.

    • Not a doctor

      Your “medical license” is not comparable to that of an actual physician’s – the context in which you present it makes all the difference. In this case, you played it to make yourself seem relevant in a clinical sense, which you are not authorized to do in New York or any other state… Next time your little inferiority complex rears its ugly head proudly tell your superiors that you have a medical license and see how long you remain employed.

      I have never been offered homeopathic treatment as an “alternative” by a reputable member of the medical profession. I have, however, been offered conservative treatment — physical therapy — as an alternative to surgery. But this is not what you’re referring to.

      If I had documented proof that you offered a patient homeopathic treatment as an “alternative” I’d take the case pro bono and you’d never practice again in the US.

    • YMSP

      Ah…. “not a doctor” is a lawyer. Was wondering where that snooty, nonsensical, fighting attitude came from. Got it. May you be healed of your lawyerism – homeopathically or otherwise.

  • Yosef Baras, PA-C

    I must stop wasting my time, but will end off with these points:

    1- I will continue this with you or anyone in an open forum/ debate only. It may educate others- you know it all, except medical and legal issues.

    2- My practice is so busy that a doctor was hired to assist me. If that is illegal to your standards…go right ahead and meet me to debate it, report it, or comment here where I will no longer waste effort teaching you.