Commercials, newscasts, and signage saying that it’s cold and flu season makes ailments sound celebratory (Get sick! Enjoy medications! Yay!). We all know being ill isn’t a festive occasion, although a dose of Nyquil is sorta like downing a couple of tequila shots.
Dear Nyquil: To celebrate this year’s cold and flu season, we suggest you cap your bottles with tiny sombreros. Also, if you put worms in your delicious mind-numbing concoctions, it might feel more like a party when we knocked back 30mL of cherry-flavored evil. We also wouldn’t protest the addition of margarita salt to place around the rim of our plastic shot glass. Thank you.
Our bodies are capable of fighting off most infections. Granted, sometimes we need a little help, but taking antibiotics has a downside. For one, antibiotics kill bad and good bacteria. If I have to take an antibiotic, I also take probiotics to replace the good bacteria. For another, microbes mutate and render antibiotics ineffective. Forget Stephen King. Google “superbug” for a real scare.
Like a lot of writers, I don’t have health insurance, so I’ve experimented with alternative remedies, including homeopathy, diet (you wouldn’t believe what I know about sugar in all its forms … okay, maybe you would), vitamins, supplements, yoga, and herbs. Unlike homeopathic treatments, herbal remedies can interact with other medications, too much or the wrong product can harm you, and you gotta be careful when dosing your kids. To learn more about herbal remedies, check out the section at Dr. Andrew Weil’s website.
I’ve also used homeopathic remedies (which are available at health food stores or online), though not every treatment I’ve tried I’ve liked. However, I’ve had success with the flu remedy Oscillococcinum®. Thanks to the kind folks at Boiron, I received free full-sized samples of Children’s Oscillococcinum®, Children’s Chestal®, and Children’s Coldcalm® Pellets. They came in handy, too, because for the last couple of days, my son’s been ill. Yesterday, the cough remedy and the pellets worked well enough for The Boy, but I had to administer doses every two hours. It wasn’t exactly fun for a sick kid who just wanted to stay face-first in his pillow and sleep. The great thing about homeopathic remedies is that they don’t interact with other medicines. So, today I switched him to an OTC medicine for his symptoms, and I put him on Children’s Oscillococcinum®. He’s feeling better, and his energy and appetite have returned. You can find out more about Boiron’s children remedies HERE.
Although my son would rather throw himself into a pit of rusty spikes than drink tea of any kind ever, I love herbal teas, especially if I’m feeling unwell. I’ll usually drink echinacea tea, something from Traditional Medicinals or Yogi. And I sometimes I’ll make a hot toddy, which I learned about from my grandmother. She made awesome hot toddies. Or maybe it was her grandmotherly concern that always made me feel so much better.
What are your favorite home remedies or have you tried alternative remedies that you like (or don’t like)?
December 21st, 2009 at 1:26 am
Hi Michele
I hope your son recuperates quickly so he is all better for Christmas. I took hot toddies too. I got the recipe when my own children were born. Did yours include heating rum on the stove and adding real butter?
Merry Christmas,
RKCharron
December 21st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Gigi made hers with booze, tea, honey, and lemon. But I will happily try your version.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I am one of those that hate drinking regular tea as well. Usually, I end up dumping a bunch of sugar and milk into it. That usually ends up making it a bit more palatable.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I want the hot toddy recipes I like hot alcoholic drinks lol
leasha
December 21st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I don’t really have anything for the flu or flu type crud but….
My mom was raised on and raised me on Watkins drawing salve. That stuff could draw a splinter the size of a log out of your finger overnight. Mom still has a big tin of the stuff that was in their house when she was a little girl over 50 years ago. AND it still works! We also swear by ear candles to draw out decades old, petrified ear wax. My dad, who used to cut wood years ago, did it and we’re pretty sure there were actual clumps of sawdust in there.
Otherwise, we pretty much just use the old standby’s. Heat/cold for strain injuries, bland food and fluids for, um, digestive issues…that kind of thing. Although…my mom will save herself money on sinus sprays and pills by making her own saline wash. She mixes up so much salt in so much boiled water and then oh so delicately snorts a few drops out of her hand. This procedure is saved for the worst of the sinus issues as it will cause the sinuses to drain copiously and immediately.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:04 pm
My great grand mother had a wonderful concoction of honey and lemon she’d brew on the stove for hours and she would give me big mugs of this while allowing me to lay on the couch. Between that and her way of rubbing Vicks vapo rub on my chest I was set.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:06 pm
My mom would just give me lots of gatorade and soup.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Michele,
I hope your son feels better soon and that you and yours stay healthy… My mom used to make a really strong hot tea with honey, whiskey and lemon… Now I’m allergic to honey so I just use some sugar but I really think the honey worked better than the sugar…
Also the rum thing… Those things ROCK!
And I know it sounds silly but when I was sick, mom would make up jello and heat till it was just hot enough to still be drinkable and let me have that in a cup… Always made me feel better too…
December 21st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I like my OTC drugs, nothing too crazy though.
I have noticed that Burt’s Bees cuticle cream is great for helping papercuts and “facial blemishes” heal faster.
December 21st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
In my younger, pre-medication days – for the cold/flu my favorite remedy was a shot or 3 or 4 of Jack Daniels neat. Then I would crawl under a big down comforter and sleep for several hours…LOL. Now with having to take so many different kinds of medication I go to the doctor, but for an old fashioned sore throat I love hot tea with lemon.
I hope your son feels better soon. will keep him in my thoughts and preayers. Merry Christmas.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Because of Mom, first hint of a cold, flu or sniffle means it’s time for vitamin c overload. Lots of C and lots of water, too, to flush out the body. And hot lemon tea with honey is required for proper sore throat soothing! I have to admit I do go the Theraflu route, too. :-/
December 27th, 2009 at 10:11 am
For severe coughing (especially at night when you can’t get to sleep because of it) you can mix equal parts honey and vinegar (usually just a tablespoon each) and drink it to ease the cough. It’s only temporary and unless you like the taste of vinegar it won’t taste great either, but it helps you get some rest.
December 28th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
As someone who is allergic to most of the antibiotics, I have to use herbal remedies. I have books of them. For a croupy cough steam up the bathroom and sit. (Breathe deep) That with vicks does wonders. But the best thing I have come across recently has been Swedish Bitters, I have been taking it for two months now and when my entire family, (hubby and 4 kids) all got a cold…I didn’t. The most I got was a slightly running nose. Yay. Look it up. google Swedish Bitters. By the way you can put a teaspoon in tea, juice, coffee…anything.
December 29th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Michele,
I’m an herbalist with two small kids and we always use holistic remedies. My first choice is Garlic Honey. Take 5-8 cloves of organic garlic and one cup of local honey, cook on the stove at a very low heat for 15 or 20 minutes. Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar when it cools and keep in the fridge. We take a few spoonfuls whenever we feel something coming on and it takes care of most any illness. It also does not interact with OTC or prescription drugs. The honey is not good for diabetics but most anyone else is fine with it. The taste isn’t great but it’ll knock the heck out of the flu.
December 30th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
We like to make a hot toddy too with whiskey and honey. My mom always slathered us with Vicks rub when we were ill.
January 1st, 2010 at 11:31 pm
I have health insurance, but prefer homeopathic remedies for the reasons you mentioned. I take pretty much what you mentioned. The only thing we do different is lots of vitamins esp C, D, Zinc and acihdolphilis (which I can’t spell tonight) to boost the immune system all year long.
Hugs and healing
January 10th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Living in the UK I use echinacea tincture (3 drops in 15 mls of water about 6 times a day) and zinc logenzes (I get both from Holland & Barrett). A cold usually only lasts 3 days if I start taking this combination as soon as I get a sore throat. As I have asthma I have to be careful about catching colds and getting coughs.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
I LOVE Osicillococcinum! I also like Umka, which is fairly new.
And I also want that hot toddy recipe, lol!
February 12th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
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