Sometimes it seems that people just do not use a lot of commonsense. Over the last few weeks, there have been numerous visitors to the Little Bayou House. These were mostly short visits of about an hour or so but they were long enough to cause problems. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy visitors..just not sick visitors! Where is the commonsense that tells folks that they should stay home if they are ill?? Several different folks made the startling announcement while sitting in my kitchen that they "have been so sick with the flu for the past few days". GO HOME! Do not...I repeat..DO NOT bring me your illnesses! Well, you guessed it..I am now coming down with every ache known to mankind! The sore throat, upset stomach, congestion, body aches and headache have all descended upon Son and me. We are not too happy at the moment. One of the things about being sick, though, is that it gives me the perfect guinea pig to try to home remedies! Me! Son and I started out with our usual "Bayou Brew" which is more of a conglomeration of everything in the herb garden and pantry than a medicine! Everything is tossed in a pot with some added water and cooked down until it is just a thick, bubbly goop! Since it includes a lot of hot peppers and ginger, the stuff is a tad....ummm..spicy? It burns the tonsils until there is no room for soreness. One young man told me that it does indeed work but that you only have to take it once..your body automatically cures itself with the mere thought of the stuff! I admit that it is a bit potent so I rarely administer it to anyone but myself..or Son. Today, however, I experimented with a new "tea". I feel much better with each cup that I drink so I am sure this might be something that actually works! AND!!..It tastes delightfully better than the Bayou Brew. This is a blend of juices and spices that actually makes you want to drink more. This in itself could be a plus as the more (non alcoholic) liquids you imbibe, the quicker you heal. I have decided to share this "magic" cure with you as I am quite sure that this has shortened my malady intensely. Son will not drink any and is quite ill whereas I am healing quite grandly! Like I said..the good point of this home remedy is the taste! It is divine! And..you can drink as much as you like!
Soothing cup of "comfort"! (Do remove the Star Anise before drinking!)
In a blender place:
2 cups apple juice
2 cups cranberry juice
1 whole lemon (halved..seeds and all!)
2 inch piece ginger root
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup sesame seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
Blend this until well blended. Pour into a saucepan and add 4 whole Star Anise. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about ten minutes. Strain to remove all pulp and seeds then sip like a tea.
Ideally, this should be all used by the end of the day.
(As an explanation..the juices and lemon provide vitamin C and the seeds of the lemon are a pain reliever. Ginger Root is an anti-inflammatory and Honey acts as mild antibiotic. Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg and Fennel Seeds relieve congestion. The Sesame Seeds act as an expectorant.)
Trust me..it does help you deal with the raunchy feeling of being sick. Perhaps it is just the fact that you are drinking so much juice or perhaps the warmth of a cup of "tea" is comforting. Still, I feel that I am truly on the mend. Now if I could only get Son to drink a pot of this, our little household will be well, again. WARNING..if anyone who is ill comes to this house again and infects me or my family..I am going to make them take some of the original "Bayou Brew"! Heehee!
No comments:
Post a Comment