God, how I hate being sick. I managed to make it through the cold days and months thusfar without getting sick, but alas, my body finally succumbed to the worst of winter curses, the cold/flu virus or some variation of the like. Who knows, in different places, at different times, certain bugs get around. So whatever my friend who I just texted and said she can't go out for new years probably since she's totally sick right now.. well that's most likely what I have too. My roommate has been hacking for the past 3 days, dismissing it as some sort of allergy. But i will tell you something, coughs are not something that my body gets easily. We all have our ailments that we seem to get over and over again. A horrendous, nasty, hacking cough is luckily not one of them.. very rarely. So after three days of travelling with the hacker, today I am totally ill. hes' still saying its an allergy (in his case). I think he made me sick. I'm so mad. But anyway, que sera sera, this is life. what doesn't kill me makes me stronger and all of that crap. But in the meantime, I am SUFFERING. UGH, THIS SUCKS!!
So, I'm trying out some new stuff. Stuff I bought for my roommate to help him with his respiratory complaints, which are pretty chronic, and that I am taking for myself since at this point, I have no mercy, and no empathy of any kind. I made him an awesome tea blend, it was actually a Christmas present, yes.. I'm that ruthless, I am appropriating his Christmas present. It's contents are:
Bronchial Tea:
Mullein
Eucalyptus
Orange Peel
Ginger root
Marshmallow Root
Peppermint
Spearmint
Nettle Leaf
Elder Flowers
Rose Hips
I made a strong decoction of this tea (boil water, pour in herbs, simmer on low for 10-15 minutes, let it steep 5 minutes or longer after removed from heat). It was pretty darn good. I mean, tasty good. That's always nice. And minty.. yay for mint, it helps clear the sinuses. Then I added something new:
HONEY LOQUAT SYRUP
That was something I picked up at Natural Grocers to go along with the respiratory tea blend for my roomie. It's strong, wow!! But good stuff, seriously. According to the label on the honey, this is a tradition Chinese "soothing" beverage that dates back to 25 AD. Loquat is a pear shaped fruit native to Asia (but now cultivated in California). This recipe, which is han's "New Formula" Natural Honey Loquat includes Loquat fruit, grosvenor momordica, or Lo Han Guo fruit, fritillary, stemona root, hogennel root, apricot extract, peppermint, apricot kernel and licorice. It is some serious sh-t, in a completely good way. Jiving on it. Not the best tasting, definitely CANNOT be used in place of honey, this is not just some derivation of honey.. it's medicine, for real. I'm going to have to look up a bunch of those herbs, since I have yet to formally study Chinese herbs or TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), but I believe strongly in the wisdom of the Chinese way of natural healing, and I'm a new big fan of honey loquat syrup. Thanks Han.. whoever you are.
Next ingredient: CINNAMON. I dug up some organic cinnamon from the cabinet and put about a teaspoon in and stirred. It might sound a bit crazy to do, but as much as I abhor having a sore throat, nonetheless a cold (I studied herbalism, dangit, shouldn't I be immune by now? I take the right supplements... alas, sometimes you can't prevent everything, especially if it is a virus.. sometimes.. it just gets you) I really don't care. I will swallow a whole clove, breathe in anything that might clear my lungs of this congestion.. I will do.. anything. I HATE this. Stirred in the cinnamon, and the final touch, squeezed HALF A LIME into it. I'm going to eat my antibiotic soup and retire to my bed, where I will lay in a half daze moaning and groaning until I fall unconscious and wake up to a hopefully healthier tomorrow. Lime, of course, is chock full of vitamin C, and one of my faves to add to pretty much anything and everything when I'm not feeling well in a cold/flu/chest/head congestion kind of way..
ANTIBIOTIC SOUP:
CHICKEN (although I am trying to cut meat out of my diet.. studying Ayurveda and well, you aren't supposed to eat meat according to Ayurveda, but that's another story)
CHIVES
ROSEMARY
GARLIC
QUINOA
KALE
POTATO
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
ONION
LIME
PEANUT OIL
CAYENNE PEPPER
CHOPPED RED ONION
TOMATO FLAVORED BOULLION
All of the ingredients were simmered together for an hour or so with the exception of the lime, which was squeezed over the finished soup, 2 tbsp of peanut oil, which was added and stirred in after as well, and the cayenne pepper, same as the previous 2. The last ingredients were added because, well, I made the soup before I was feeling sick.. luckily, it was like a premonition. But also, it's cold outside, and basically, the colder it is outside, the more sense soup makes in general. So I warmed up this tasty treat, added the peanut oil because it is one of the best anti-inflammatory oils (and everything feels inflammed; my throat, lungs, and glands) plus its super high in Omega Oils your body needs for strength and vitality, plus I've just been basically obsessed ever since I read about it in a book about Edgar Cayce, one of the most prominent pioneers of naturopathic medicine, and boy does he have an interesting story. But he prescribed peanut oil to treat inflammation, and I've been hooked ever since. It's also just really yummy. I don't much like eating peanuts, not sure why, they are too hard I think, seriously, I never thought about it but if I do, I think that's why I'm not a big nut eater. They are just too hard. However, I've learned recently, its a good idea to soak them before eating. That might change things a bit. But anyways, the flavor of peanuts is SO FREAKING GOOD. So basically peanut oil, is all of the tasty yumminess of peanuts, without the whole biting and chewing part. I'm smothering it all over my body (part of Ayurvedic self massage regimen), plus dousing my food with it. Cayenne pepper, I probably added at least a tablespoon. But I can take it, anyways, my tastebuds are totally out of order, as they often are when you are wayyyyy congested, so I can't really taste it if it is insanely hot. But cayenne, ginger (which I put in my smoothie earlier in the day), and garlic are the 3 MUST HAVES if you have a cold. Oh, I forgot to mention that I sprinkled the raw sliced red onion over the finished soup as well. Raw onion.. raw anything that is antibiotic in nature, is always better raw, organic and fresh. So, I sprinkled about a 1/3 cup of diced onions into the soup and stirred. Those are among my favorite as well. Super good for decongesting the lungs.
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