Mumps
Definition:

A contagious childhood disease with inflammation of the glands around the tonsils and salivary glands. [HHH p.108]

Symptoms:

After an incubation period of about three weeks, the symptoms appear with fever, headache, and pain beneath the ear. Soon there develops a tense, painful swelling in the parotid region, which interferes with chewing and swallowing (both actions become very painful). After a few days to a week the symptoms gradually disappear. Sometimes the submaxillary and other salivary glands are involved, and occasionally the testicles become swollen. [HHH p.108]

Cause:

Mumps are the result of toxic mucus accumulations in the body. [HHH p.108]

Herbal Aids:

General Instructions: As quickly as evidences of mumps present themselves, use a fomentation of three parts mullein herb and one part lobelia around the neck and swollen area. Cover this with plastic and a cloth or towel over the plastic to be more comfortable and also to hold in the heat. Replace fomentation each half hour or each hour for the day and leave it on all night.

In addition to using the fomentation on the neck area, also have the child drink a half cup (more or less according to age) of the mullein and lobelia [Mullein & Lobelia] tea, three or more times a day. [HHH p.108]

With mumps, as with all fever diseases, use the fever routine as explained [Fever].

See formula using raspberry leaves, bayberry bark and ginger. [SNH p.147]

Mullein: Apply a fomentation as hot as possible on the swollen glands, wrung out of a tea made from mullein leaves; also the fresh leaves soaked in apple cider vinegar may be applied. [SNH p.317]

See formula using mullein, lobelia and cayenne. [SNH p.318]

Mumps (poultice): See formula using mullein and camomile flowers. Apply as warm as possible without inconvenience, cover well and change the application when cool. Repeat until the swelling is relieved. Give the patient stomach bitters of raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus) or bayberry bark (Myrica cerifera) which are excellent for cleansing the stomach and removing canker from the digestive tract. [SNH p.320]

Lobelia: Lobelia is said to be an excellent herbal aid (and preventative) for infectious diseases. Since most fevers result from obstruction in some part of the system--usually the digestive tract, we have found--Lobelia "locates" and removes the obstruction. We have seen this happen many times with children; they begin to sicken, and you can tell there is something congesting their system. By removing that congestion, you remove the cause of the illness. Lobelia can be used as an enema to remove congestion from the body via the colon. When Lobelia causes vomiting, Malstrom claims, it usually signals a cleansing process in the body expelling debris that cannot be expelled in any other way (Mal:94). He considers it an effective remedy in scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, mumps, and other contagious diseases. It gives almost immediate relief from suffocating mucus and phlegm that has accumulated in the respiratory tract and which is often associated with these diseases (Rose:Herbs:77). [UW-Lobelia] Lobelia is used in the case of mumps; when catnip enemas and Lobelia are given, mumps usually have very little effect on males, although there is usually concern when males contract the disease. The illness will disappear, after mild symptoms, within five days (Mal:14). [UW-Mumps]

Mullein & Lobelia: Dr. Christopher's Glandular Fromula:  Through the accumulation of toxic waste in the body from improper diet, poor blood stream and sluggish circulation of the blood system the glands become congested and infected, and swell up to cause much pain and misery. (There are glands that swell on the neck, breast, groin, under arm pits, etc.) Make a tea of three parts mullein and one part lobelia herb and use as a fomentation over swollen or malfunctioning glands. Leave on all night (covering fomentation with plastic), six days a week until relief is obtained. Use a fresh fomentation as warm as possible each night.

This can be used as an aid to relieve mastitis, thyroid malfunction, etc., etc. In addition to the external fomentation, also drink a cup of this tea two or three times in a day or take two of the capsules or tablets with a cup of steam-distilled water. [HHH p.187]

See Also:

Mullein & Lobelia: Dr. Christopher's Glandular Fromula

"Natural Healing with Herbs for a Healthier You"