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A Little Under the Weather

September 23rd, 2009

I’ve been battling a cold since last week, so I’m feeling a little under the weather. I’m actually getting better, thanks to herbal/homeopathic treatments. I really like Chestal Honey Cough Syrup 8.45 fl oz Liquidno weird colors or ingredients, it’s all homeopathic and the #1 ingredient is honey! If you’re concerned about taking OTC medications this is a great non-toxic alternative! I always get a killer cough after I’ve been sick and I used to have a prescription cough syrup, not any more. This all-natural syrup works for me, I can’t say enough about it!
Chestal_cough_syrup
I made myself a big pot of chicken soup with a chicken from the local farm, farmer’s market onions, homegrown celery and lots of homegrown garlic and hot peppers. It’s soothing and really helped break up my congestion.
chicken_soup
I haven’t been able to do any canning in the evenings so I’ve been reading. As a result my library book pile is slowly dwindling, but the fruits & veggies are piling up on the table just waiting for their trip into the canner. While reading, I’ve been drinking lots of Throat Coat teawith honey. It is the perfect tea when you’ve got that raw scratchy feeling in your throat from coughing, I can’t recommend this tea enough!
Tea
As a result of my illness, I will have some great book reviews for you guys in the coming weeks. You will love some of these books I’ve been reading.

What remedies do you use to fight a cold/flu?

NOTE: I was not paid to tell you about these products, I’m the kind of person that tells people about products I love and I always appreciate it when people do the same for me so I don’t have to try different ones to find one I like.

24 Comments to “A Little Under the Weather”
  1. kristin @ going country on September 23, 2009 at 8:04 am

    I don’t really fight it so much as let it run its course. Besides using the tissues with lotion and drinking tea with honey and lemon, I just wait it out. I don’t like taking medicines.

    Hope you feel better soon!
    .-= kristin @ going country´s last blog ..You’re Going To Tell Me To Shut Up, I Just Know It =-.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  2. Dave on September 23, 2009 at 8:22 am

    I don’t use it as a remedy but tea is usually what I drink during a cold. I’m a fan of Mint and Earl Grey. Not necessarily together although that does sound interesting…
    .-= Dave´s last blog ..The Greenhouse Project: Inspiration =-.

    Reply to Dave's comment

  3. annie avery on September 23, 2009 at 8:27 am

    if i feel one coming on i drink more fluids and get to sleep..no real change in my pattern, otherwise. if it takes hold i let it run it’s course.

    Reply to annie avery's comment

  4. Shelagh C. in Houston on September 23, 2009 at 9:31 am

    I don’t do anything for a cold at all. Actually, can’t remember the last time Ihad one but if I do get one, just let it run its course.

    As to the flu, I think the last time I had that was in 1968 – Hong Kong flu and other than drink plenty of fluids, I just let that run its course too.

    Hope you feel better soon.

    Reply to Shelagh C. in Houston's comment

  5. Wild Peach on September 23, 2009 at 10:00 am

    Hot water, wedge of lemon, honey and a slice of raw ginger can’t be beat! (Ginger is an anti-inflammatory). Hope you feel better soon :)

    Reply to Wild Peach's comment

  6. LeLo on September 23, 2009 at 10:04 am

    I do like you do: I listen to myself, drink as much as I can–especially that Throat Coat tea, and up my vitamin intake. I have never had a flu shot, though I have to admit, I’m considering it this year.

    Oh, and I do a lot of whining. I’m pretty pitiful when I’m sick.
    .-= LeLo´s last blog ..About my canning labels… =-.

    Reply to LeLo's comment

  7. warren on September 23, 2009 at 10:08 am

    I am not a drinker in the least, but I always take a shot (or two ;) ) of whiskey when I get a cold and/or sore throat. It numbs it long enough for me to fall asleep anyhow…
    .-= warren´s last blog ..Oh the West Virginia hills, how majestic and how grand =-.

    Reply to warren's comment

  8. Louise on September 23, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    Sorry to hear that you are not feeling well; I hope you get better soon! What might be a great project is to plant a cold & flu healing garden. You can research it online; info is readily available. Following is a link to get started: http://www.eons.com/groups/topic/1829587-The-Cold-and-Flu-Garden.

    What really works for me is Echinacea. As soon as I do not feel well I take it immediately (multiple times a day – in tablet form); I can say that it helps me 90% of the time so that the cold or flu does not take a good hold, it goes away after a day or 2.

    Facial steam baths are also really helpful. Boil water, mix in some fresh lemon juice. Place mixture in a bowl, place yourself over it, put a towel over your head and breath deep for a few minuets. It helps loosen-up stuff and the extra oxygen makes you feel better.

    Also, a cup of one tablespoon of cider vinegar, one tablespoon of honey in hot water might help. Vinegar restores the loss of electrolytes, and as you know, honey has many healing powers.

    Drinking lots of liquid also helps (although sugared store-bought juices are not a great for you because sugar is not a great thing to take in when you are sick.) Honey is different, it has already been digested by the bees so that your system does not have to digest it the same as other foods.

    Feel better soon!

    Reply to Louise's comment

    • Susy on September 23, 2009 at 6:48 pm

      I do grow a lot of herbs to use for medicine. I like breathing steam with some fresh rosemary, lemon verbena & oregano along with some eucalyptus oil. It really helps break up congestion.

      I also add oregano & lemon verbena to my tea, and I try to consume lots of garlic, apple cider vinegar and elderberry syrup.

      Thanks for the link, I’ll be checking that out for sure!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  9. Christine on September 23, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    Taylor is really starting to take an interest in herb gardening. We’re hoping to add some natural cold-fighters to our garden beds, and bees will provide us with honey to help us with itchy throats. I saw a scientific study where they compared honey to cough syrup in a double blind test, and honey actually won out over fancy OTC medications. There’s a lot to say for natural, herbal remedies.
    .-= Christine´s last blog ..Say hello to the ladies =-.

    Reply to Christine's comment

  10. Sande on September 23, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well, but glad you have some things that help. And really hoping you get to the fruits and veggies before the house fills up with fruit flies. I banished all tomatoes from my kitchen table because of that happening.
    .-= Sande´s last blog ..Composting question =-.

    Reply to Sande's comment

  11. Louise on September 23, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    Hi Susy,

    This does not have anything to do with this particular post, but with something you wrote about some time ago. I could not find the article after I once read it, but it was about Ethel Gloves. Well, I tried some for myself, and they are the best!! I just returned from Lowes and they were on-sale. So you can buy some to make you feel better; we all need a little cheering-up when we are not feeling well. Here is the link.

    http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productList&N=4294961544&Ne=4294967294&Ntk=i_products&Ntt=ethel+gloves

    Reply to Louise's comment

    • Susy on September 23, 2009 at 6:48 pm

      Thanks for the tip, I do love Ethel gloves!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  12. Pampered Mom on September 23, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    We usually got with a number of things – our homemade tinctures of Echinacea and Licorice Root (for sore throats), elderberry syrup, and a fantastic tea I found in Rosemary Gladstar’s “Family Herbal” for lung and chest congestion. My DH swears by it for congestion. The main ingredient is Elecampane root which inspired several plantings of it in my herb garden – you should see the size of the leaves!! The flavor is a bit strong so I’ll probably make a tincture of it this next time. My kids will take tinctures w/out a problem, but they always pass up on tea.

    Rosemary was actually involved in TM at the very beginning and so I suspect that the Throat Coat tea may be one of her blends. I highly recommend her book for anyone – family or no.
    .-= Pampered Mom´s last blog ..An quick, yet urgent sewing project =-.

    Reply to Pampered Mom's comment

    • Susy on September 23, 2009 at 6:50 pm

      Thanks for the book recommendation. I’m buying a few herbs so I can make my own cough drops for next time I’m sick (I used up all of my bought ones with this cold).

      I’ll have to check out that Elecampane root, sounds fascinating. I’ve been wanting to spend more time ready about medicinal herbs.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  13. KitsapFG on September 23, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    I prescribe for myself:

    Permission to sleep – even during daylight hours
    Lots of fluids
    A little vicks vapo rub swabbed on the inside of the nostrils when really congested – totally helps and feels good on a raw nose

    A pillow, quilt, and classic movies – camped out on the couch. The movies are necessary to keep me from feeling distressed about “not doing anything”.

    Reply to KitsapFG's comment

    • Susy on September 23, 2009 at 11:52 pm

      Yes, yes. I camp out on the couch as well.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  14. MAYBELLINE on September 23, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    Vitamin C by the fistful.

    The best medicine is prevention and I live by these wise words:
    “Wash your hands and don’t pick your nose.”

    Get well.
    .-= MAYBELLINE´s last blog ..Fall Planting Part II =-.

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

    • Susy on September 23, 2009 at 11:53 pm

      Great advice! They should put that on signs in the bathrooms!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  15. deedee on September 24, 2009 at 11:47 am

    i’m also a big fan of the chestal… i’m not afraid to give it to my kids:)

    Reply to deedee's comment

  16. k dilley on September 26, 2009 at 12:30 pm

    Elderflower tea is a good one if you have a cold already. I’ve been fighting off a cold for the past few nights by drinking a tea with elderberries, ginger and honey. In the morning I always wake up feeling like I’ve won!
    .-= k dilley´s last blog ..sidewalk sighting #4/nopal =-.

    Reply to k dilley's comment

  17. stefaneener on September 27, 2009 at 1:59 am

    I want to learn how to make cough drops. We get coughs, well, some of us do.

    My kids swear by what they call “throat drink” — essentially hot honey lemonade. I’ll sneak some ginger in when I remember.

    Hope you’re feeling better.
    .-= stefaneener´s last blog ..Saving Eggs =-.

    Reply to stefaneener's comment

  18. Elderberry Herb on October 13, 2009 at 3:44 am

    I am being told that elderberries have 3 times the VIT C as oranges. Really???

    Reply to Elderberry Herb's comment

    • Susy on October 13, 2009 at 9:22 am

      I’ve heard that as well.

      Reply to Susy's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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