Yes, so we've been sick this week - not the stomach flu this time, but a cold that has us girls sneezing and snotty, and they have been coughing something awful (how Dan is avoiding this, I am not sure, though he does start to exhibit some pretty super-human tendencies during the crunch weeks at school. what this probably means is that Nov 21 he will wake up with every germ he has so far managed to avoid...). It has also put me in a fairly foul mood. But we have learned of a couple of new home remedies for cold ailments that I thought I would share with you all...
Garlic. I know you know it, but really. Garlic. Now, I don't have a whole lot of luck with feeding the girls raw garlic. I make hummous and ambrosia, but they can tell if there is more garlic than usual and the gig is up and I am left with a lot of food to eat. So my friend Melanie suggested trying what their family does for night coughs and colds: tie some to your feet. NO KIDDING. So we did! I'm always game for a little folk-remedy, as they are usually the ones that yield the best results, and besides, who doesn't like to play with food? Eliza was a champ and let me wrap some gauze around her foot, holding several pieces of minced garlic to her sole, and enclosing it all in socks. Ani would have nothing of it, so I made a little "lotion" by soaking freshly minced garlic in olive oil for an hour or so and then rubbing it on the bottoms of her feet. And yes, wear socks!! I also read online that an adult can put whole cloves between their toes overnight and it really works on bronchitis and chest colds. Can I tell you how fabulous our bedroom smells right now?!??
Eucalyptus. My mother-in-law turned me on to this one 2 years ago when she gave me eucalyptus essential oil for christmas, and told me it had helped her ward off several colds that winter. It's great!! I have cut up a few receiving blankets for nose-wipes, and I put a few drops on one of those, tuck it into a pajama sleeve, or lay next to the head of a sleeping child and within seconds the breathing is eased. Again, a great aroma for the night-time bedroom! (The jury is out on the garlic-eucalyptus combo)
Heavenly Cold Elixir. This is a mild version of what all Green Cat Cafe (RIP) customers in Seattle knew as the "ginger blast". Cut about an inch of fresh ginger (mine is sort of fresh - I keep a big hunk in the freezer) and grate or chop finely. Throw in a thermos. Add the juice of one squeezed lemon and loads of honey (lemon is high in vitamin C, and both are known to boost the immune system), fill with boiling water, and let sit for a while. Then pour through a strainer (or through your thermos top, if that's how it works) and enjoy feeling better!! You can also add garlic, cayenne, or any other miracle herb or plant you know of.
There you have it!! We also do our best to avoid processed sugar and other processed foods, and drink lots of water and tea, and to wear enough clothing (HA!!). What do you do to keep healthy during this time of year?
4 comments:
A remedy I swear by is 4 Tbls of apple cider vinegar, 4 Tbls of honey in a mug of hot water. The first few sips taste pretty foul, but it gets kinda good after that! You can add more honey if needed. This is also good for flu and arthritis!!! Who knew?!!
OK, another home remedy. This one from Aliea. For a fever, cut up onions, put them on the bottoms of your feet and put socks on. The onions pull the fever from the body. Or, make a poultice from cooked onions and smear on the chest. However, this could be pretty darn messy, and I just might have to eat them!!
I used your heavenly cold elixir to cure my sickness last week. It felt so good going down my sore throat. Thanks for the recipe.
Once again, your cold elixir to the rescue ... it's the only thing I can drink when my throat is awful sore ...
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