Colds and flus

[Mira O'Halloran]

Well, we've just wandered into one of the bi yearly flu seasons, and guess what?
I got a cold!!
So for anyone else who is suffering is should help lessen it, make it shorter and more bearable.

Herbs/foods:
lots of vitamin C:
Lemon
Lime
Orange
Grapefruit
Mandarin
Garlic
Antiseptic/immune boosting:
Garlic
Ginger
Honey
To help unblock the sinuses: (and you need a fair bit)
Black Pepper
Hot Chili

External things to reduce the feel and length:
Sleep! Lots of sleep.
Massage diluted rosemary oil along the sinuses.
Hot Compress - Get a face washer or small piece of thick cloth, hot water with some rosemary and or tea tree and or eucalyptus oils, dip the material in the water, wring it out and place it across your nose and cheek bones, and across your forehead.

A note for the structure of the sinuses - it isn't just whats behind your nose. Ear, Nose, Throat and Eyes are all connected. the face points that available begin at the front of the ears, along the cheek bones (both above and below) into the nose, and from the highest point of the eyebrow (both above and below the brow) it to the middle of the face and down either side of the nose. Attack these areas with rosemary massage oil.

[Rook]

Does any of that work for a cough in the lungs. I seem to be dueling a chest cold, not a head cold. We're circling 'round each other like dogs, some days my cough is wet and consistant, other days I hardly have a tickle at my throat at all.

[Mira O'Halloran]

Heres a recipe i picked up

Chest congestion
For head and chest congestion, malaise, and chills, try this powerful tea: Grate a one-inch piece of peeled ginger root. Put it in a pot with two cups of cold water, bring to the boil, lower heat, and simmer five minutes. Add one half teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more or less to taste) and simmer one minute more. Remove from heat. Add two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, honey to taste, and one or two cloves of mashed garlic. Let cool slightly and strain if desired. Then get under some warm covers and drink as much as you like.

i hope you get better soon!

[Gelare]

It seems like having a fully stocked spice rack can help alleviate quite a variety of symptoms - and sounds delicious, to boot. I guess they had to be doing it somehow before modern pharmaceuticals were invented.

[Rook]

Where would I buy ginger root? Would you suggest a store like Mother's Market or Trader Joes or should I find an herb shop.

[Mira O'Halloran]

Gelare - Herbs are amazing. I have a painkillers, circulatory stimulants, decongestants, and many other things sitting in my spice racks. it's brilliant.

Your Majesty - Um... Well here you can buy ginger root at markets, green grocers, and large supermarkets. Health food stores should stock it. If you can't find it, powdered can be substituted.

[Rook]

How much powdered ginger would equal an inch of grated ginger root?

[Mira O'Halloran]

about two to three dessert spoons, i would think. got for four to be on the safe side.