Garlic!

If your cold or flu turns into a secondary infection then garlic will be your best friend.  Based on experience with our family, this usually means bronchitis for big people and ear infections for the little ones.  In this case, I have had great results in using one of nature's most powerful antibacterial weapons, garlic!

For the upper respiratory infections, I take raw garlic just like a pill.  Just peal it and cut a piece the size of the last joint of your little finger (this is very scientific), for me this is about 3/4" long and 1/2 " wide, and take it with water.  You can cut it in half or thirds if this makes it easier to swallow.  There is no need to chew it up, though you could if you would like to smell strongly of garlic for the next several days.  In fact, that is how you know that your body needs, and is using the garlic.  There will be no apparent garlic smell through the skin until the job is done.  When you feel like you're permeated with garlic and are starting to stink, it's time to stop.   This is a very safe and effective remedy.  I take it 4 times a day as needed.  When the discharge begins to run clear (instead of yellow or green) you'll also know it's done the job.

For ear infections, you can use the garlic oil, which can be made easily at home.  Just infuse the oil with raw garlic and add a little lobelia, a great muscle relaxant.  Warming the oil before putting it into the ear will make it more soothing.  You can put a cotton ball and tape over the ear to hold the garlic oil in over night.

My good friend, and master herbalist, Tisha Mecham, considers garlic a wonderful herb that everybody should learn to use.  She writes, "Garlic has been nicknamed the Russian antibiotic; it is anti-bacterial.  Garlic is effective against yeast, bacteria, cancer and virus.  It rids the system of parasites when used raw.  Clears the skin and dissolves tumors.  Very good for the heart, circulation, liver, lungs, ears, nose, throat and bronchi."

We use it regularly at our house for many of the purposes listed above, including yeast overgrowth and it works very well for us!

And remember, a couple cloves minced garlic in a spoon of honey with 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne will cure strep throat. Let it trickle down your throat. Take at least four times a day as needed.

So glad I know about the mighty garlic!!

I Love Ya Honey! (plus fevers, teething, ants)

Here are a few of my new favorite honey remedies:

Comfrey Healing Paste (for burns)

To equal parts liquid (heated) honey (organic) and wheat germ oil blend in freshly chopped or powdered comfrey leaf or root to make a heavy spreadable paste.  Apply thickly over burned or scalded area and cover.  Using in combination with BF&C also works very well.  Keeps well in air tight jar. 

Old Time Cough Syrup 

Chop up large onions, place in pan or crock pot and cover with liquid honey to at least 1/2 inch over onions.  Add one of the following herbs if desired; licorice root powder, horehound or wild cherry bark (one ounce per pint of honey).  Simmer on low heat (130 degrees or below) for several hours. Strain and press out liquid.  Take every 15 - 30 min. as needed, holding it in the mouth and letting it trickle down the throat.  Great expectorant and demulcent and aids in clearing out the lungs and bronchials. 

Strep Throat

Add to one tablespoon honey 1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne and 3-4 cloves pressed garlic bits.  Down the hatch! 



Other tidbits coming to mind:

To reduce the strain and feverish discomfort of teething give the child plenty of Dr. Christopher's calcium tincture (see my post of Feb. 21 ) as needed.  Also good for reducing the incidence of bloody noses, varicose veins and muscle spasms. 

For fevers, give plenty of yarrow and/or red raspberry leaf teas with hot bath to open pores and promote perspiration (cleansing). 

And FINALLY, ants won't cross over a line of cinnamon or chalk - just FYI!