Tired of Being Sick? Get Well Already!

Every time I log onto my facebook account I see someone complaining about being sick. "My children are still sick!" My husband is sick, and can't go to work today." And the most pathetic, "I'm sick. I hurt all over! ;("

Yes, it happens to everyone. But do you really need to wallow in self pity, with multiple trips the the doctor's office? I don't think so!

For example, if you are throwing up, and can't keep anything down, make a cup of very mild black tea. Sweeten it with a little bit of white sugar. The black tea is lighter on the stomach than water, and the sugar will help prevent dehydration. I have often found after a cup or two that I (or any member of my family, for that matter) am well enough to sleep the rest of it off.

If you are sick with a fever, aches and pains, get up off your butt, head out to the nearest pine tree (not cedar), and peel a small branch off. While you are out there, gather a few leaves of yarrow.

What are you going to do with it? You are going to make tea! That's right. Pine needle tea is not just for starving pioneers. It is for everyday aches, pains, and illnesses.

Pine oil, which is released when the needles are crushed and steeped in hot water, is a known source of tamiflu, a powerful virus killer. It is also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. In Sweden, pine needles are made into mattresses for those suffering from arthritis. Besides that, it tastes good. You don't believe me? Try it. You'll see. Even children like it's mild, sweet flavor.

Once you have picked a small branch off of your pine tree (or the one in the park), rinse it in warm water with a little bit of white vinegar added. This will get rid of dust and pollution that might be clinging to the needles. If you've got yarrow leaves, rinse them too. While you are rinsing the herbs, start your kettle.

When the herbs are clean, crush a few needles into your favorite cup. For an adult, I'd recommend about 6" worth of needles. Take a bit of the branch and crush it too. How to crush the needles and branch? Either bend it back and forth in your fingers until it is well bruised or lay it on a cutting board and smoosh it the handle of a heavy knife. I prefer to use my hands, because then the oils from the plants can be absorbed through my fingers. Pour boiling water over your pine needles, cover the cup and let steep for about 10 minutes.

Why add the branch to the tea? When pine needles and bark are combine, they make a wonderful source of vitamin C.

To reduce a fever right now, head to your silverware drawer and grab two metal spoons. That's right, any two regular eating spoons. Now carefully run these along either side of the spine, from neck to tailbone. Repeat until the spoons are warm. If the person still has a high fever, repeat with cool spoons.

• I don't know why this works, but I know that it does. If a child wakes up at night with a fever, this is my first remedy. It often reduces the fever enough so that the child can sleep until morning.

Now get those yarrow leaves you collected. They are going to make a fever fighting tea. Steep a 2 teaspoons of crushed leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Strain out, add a bit of honey and a drop or two of peppermint extract. This tea is strongly flavored.

So it is your baby that is sick, and he refuse to swallow the teas. You can take the same herbs and steep them in hot olive oil to make an infused massage oil.

To do this, pour 1/2 a cup of pure olive oil in a small pan. Add the herbs and heat over a low heat. The oil needs to get hot, but not simmer. You'll want to steep the herbs, not fry them. Keep the oil and herbs hot for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat source and allow to cool. When the oil is cool, strain into a glass jar. Use the oil to massage your baby's abdomen, chest and back.

• If you have a candle warmer, you can infuse the oil by heating it in a glass jar with the herbs for an hour or so.

Olive oil is a natural liver cleanser, so using it for the base of the massage oil will help to keep your baby's body functioning at its well and help prevent jaundice.

P.S. A spoon full of pure olive oil wouldn't hurt you either.

If you have been sick for a while, or what you have seems very stubborn, you may need something stronger.

For viruses, such as German Measles, the Amish use vodka, honey and lemon juice in hot water. To make up a tonic, mix a 1/4 cup each of vodka, honey and lemon juice (preferably freshly squeezed), in a large mug. Add hot water to fill the cup, mix and drink immediately -- the hotter the better. Repeat every 4 hours.

For bacterial infections, heat 1/4 cup black pepper in 1 cup of milk, and drink. You don't need to choke down all of the pepper, but do get as much of the milk as possible. This is an old Norwegian remedy that I have used many times -- especially for my husband, when he wakes up not feeling well.

Another black pepper remedy that we have used with success calls for 1 teaspoon of black pepper mixed in one shot of whiskey. Let the pepper soak in the whiskey for about 5 minutes, then swallow it all. Chase with lots of water! When I use this right before bed, I wake up feeling great.

Ivorwen, 2009.

Looking for a writing platform? Join Here

 I have not checked to see if any of these statements are approved by the FDA. 

If you are on a drug already, check with your doctor, before using any herbal remedy.  There are a few things that will react badly to each other.