Thursday, October 7, 2010

Think It Over: remedies.

It's coming. I know it is. Every year at this time, pretty much without fail, I get a sinus infection.

I know exactly why, too. This is the time of year when we kick on the furnace. All of the crud that's been lurking in the ducts blows right into my sinus cavities and starts up a wild party. There must be some great music in there, because my whole head thumps along with the beat.

But I'm ready. I have eucalyptus oil.

On the rare (knock wood) occasions that I get a respiratory ailment, I run to the essential oils shelf in the pantry. CYA Announcement: The following is not intended as a prescription or any other form of medical whatevers. I am not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV. This is just me telling y'all what I do when I get sick. Announcement ends...

In my experience, eucalyptus oil can trounce just about any cold and flu complaint between your eyebrows and your belly button. There's the old "steaming pan of water and a towel" trick, or you can take it straight. One drop per ten pounds of body weight (and no, I won't tell you MY dosage), taken in honey or sugar with a water chaser.

Try not to belch for an hour or so afterward...

There's also the toddy variation: A cup of hot lemonade with a tablespoon or so of honey, plus your dose of eucalyptus oil. Drink frequently.

It's not just a lack of medical insurance that keeps me from running to the doctor if I get sick. There's my DIY attitude, plus a mistrust of the free-handed dispensing of chemical products for every little sniffle. Okay, and I'm cheapskate. If I can go into the backyard and pick a handful of free leaves that will boil up into a tea to knock out my cough (in half the time of an OTC), why waste the bucks?

Cold and 'flu season is coming. How do you help yourself?

7 comments:

  1. It's funny you post this because I'm sick. I feel like I can do things but I have pain in my chest. I can't talk, only cough. I'm going to search for Vick Vaporub and some alcohol.

    CD

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  2. Good for you! Just look at the ads on TV and you have to wonder what's going on. We're an over-medicated society and if people are hooked by those ads, it can only get worse! Maybe we should all go back to the pantry!!!

    Monti
    MaryMontagueSikes

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  3. I'll have to try it. Cotton gets to me.

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  4. I also get sinus headaches. The furnace isn't on yet and I'm sick so I think it is the change of season. I will have to try that remedy. I don't suppose you can tell me where to buy eucalyptus oil? Nancy
    N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  5. It's wonderful you've found something that works so well for you. I usually stick with herbal tea and a good book. Feel better soon!

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  6. Clarissa-- What kind of alcohol? ;)
    Monti-- I agree! I especially hate the ones that don't tell you what the medicine is for. "Ask your doctor if PanFloogleGastrinex is right for you!"
    Alex-- Just don't eat the silica packets!
    Nancy-- You can usually find eucalyptus oil in health food or co-op markets. Just be sure to look for the words "essential oil".
    MT-- Ah, the power of tea and books!

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  7. I had to look this up and discovered that eucalyptus leaf infusions are traditionally used by Australian Aboriginals to treat body pains, sinus congestion, fever, and colds. This is definitely an old-time folk remedy! May you feel better soon!

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