Honey Lemons, Echinacea and Vicks Oh MY!

I had a head cold. Ok I still have a little cough but I can talk. A few days ago I had no voice. Was so much fun when I work with the public. It was kinda funny when I would talk and people would get this horrified look on their face as to say OH shit she is sick... and quickly back away.. But hey you won't be able to hear me... Plus if I had a dime for every-time some one told me "Hey you have Laryngitis!". Yep I do. Gee thanks Captain Obvious!

My adventure in trying to feel better was interesting....

OK You know this is not medical advice. That common sense will tell you if you are very sick go to the doctor not read my blog ....I am not a doctor or a nurse. disclaimer....... Just my adventure in laryngitis and cough my head off land..... 


 I quickly figured out that I have not started my winter echinacea regiment of 15 days on and 15 days off.  Seeing how it was like what 60 something last week I can see how I forgot to start taking it....

I started to drink a ton of tea cause the warm water did a great job on my throat. Crazy think is it didn't hurt most of the time (just when I weak up in the middle of the night). I would add honey (honey is suppose to be good for sore throats plus help fight infections) and lemon. (same thing with the lemons) I would take honey and lemon to work to add to my tea at work.  LOL I think I still have a little container of honey in my locker!!

    Didn't really feel like eating but knew I should. So I eat a lot of chicken and rice soup. You know the feed a cold thing that chicken soup is good for fighting a cold... but now I am so sick of chicken and rice soup... LOL

I made a cough medicine.

1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of warm water

tasted ok.  I didn't have cayenne. But then I wasn't really congested just coughing and had laryngitis.  I did once in a while just take a little honey and kinda suck on it to cover my throat.  I did that at work sometimes  after I drank all my tea... LOL  Cause honey is so gooooodddd. PLUS the most important part is I got the honey at the farmers market or the health food store not the big box shelves of the "sugar water" honey. They say that it helps with allergies because the bees work the flowers in your area. Helping you build up a resistance.  I know this is not proven to be a fact but it seems to help me (it works for me may not work for others.)
I wore vicks VapoRub on my feet with socks.  This is one of those things that has been circling the internet that helps night time cough. It did the first night then again maybe it was cause I got no sleep the night before because I kept waking up coughing.  Second night nope didn't work... BUT I also raised the top of my bed a little to help me breathe.  I lay down. I cough and get stuffed up... oh yea a head cold...

I now have a sports bottle of water by my bed and in my car. Great for the dry throat feeling. Stops the cough my head off cause I was over heated in that store.... Or cause I have been snoring half the night.
Water is good right? Guess a good habit came out of this fun.

OK You know this is not medical advice. That common sense will tell you if you are very sick go to the doctor not read my blog ....I am not a doctor or a nurse. disclaimer.......

Wouldn't you know it!!

I just got back from my staycation, where I didn't do much but hang out with family... I cleaned my house and of course got the bug to go to the second hand stores cause I found problem areas... LOL like this room would look so much better if I had a lamp on the other side of the room, yea that is what it needs.... But I ended up moving stuff around cause I couldn't find anything I liked... being very picky I guess... but it cured my need a fresher look to my house feeling....

I got to see my nephew who just earned a new nickname... Fuji Brother. Yep he was accepted in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity! Oh no don't call him a frat boy he gets mad... But I guess they use the Fuji nickname because of the pig roast they put on every year that welcome graduate brothers back.  As to keep the spirit of brotherhood alive.  I teased him oh yea drinking and frats, but this fraternity is dry and There is no hazing allowed. So I and his momma can stop worrying... But I also got rid of the futon in the basement.  It will now serve as a place for a Fuji brothers friend to sleep when visiting or studying to late.... Yea I know what it really will become, a place to throw a Fuji brothers clothes.... LOL

But many people have invited me for things on the following week-end.... I thought I should have taken my vacation the next week-end!!  But so sorry I will probably have to work.  But then the schedule came out and I have Saturday off!! YEA....

BUT Wouldn't you know it!!  I come home Friday night and I feel alittle off with a stomach ache that kinda brothersome but not really bad... Till Saturday morning.... Oh yea no going camping, no going to Cleveland sorry, nothing.... I am running back and forth to the bathroom.  I feel like some punched me in the stomach.

I am drinking weak tea most of the day, eating toast... good thing I made some bread on vacation... watching reruns on line or TV..... oh well, I do have to work today..... feeling a little queasy.....

GRR wish people would remember I need 3 1/2 week notice for stuff , but most this time I wish my body would have given me a break..........

                  

Thank-you Sweet Stuff

Yes Maple Syrup is good for us... ScienceDaily reported that University of Rhode Island researcher Navindra Seeram; who is famous for his research on plant healing! Working foods and flowers into the plan of healing the human conditions.  Helping us understand that adding some dark colors of food to our plate can help us fight cancer, diabetics and pain.

Maple syrup was used by the Native Americans to help them though the winter months. They used it as food and as medicine.  They would reduce the syrup by adding hot stones or letting it freeze and removing the frozen water layer. The settlers are the ones that would use the big  cast iron pots to boil down the liquid. For the sugar from the Indies was highly taxed so the maple sugar was a local item....

They found that maple syrup has anti-oxidant, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which have been shown to fight cancer, diabetes, heart disease,  Alzheimer's and bacterial illnesses. 54 beneficial compounds, anti-oxidant compounds, and a unique compound that they believe is created when the sap is boiled to the syrup............It contains  manganese. It is also a good source of zinc.0 trans fats, and 0 cholesterol, ok I am getting silly here but it is a great product that normally we wouldn't think that it is a super food!!

So remember it must be real maple syrup (you know the stuff that is more expensive...


Store in the refrigerator after opening, if you find a good price or stocking up for the months it is hard to get (getting from the farmer market??) You can freeze the wonderful liquid...  just make sure you defrost it before use,  like place in the refrigerator when running low... 

So pour that golden ymmness over your pancakes.....add that real maple syrup to your oatmeal, tea or whatever.  Thanks to Rachael Ray I also use it for a sweetener for a glaze or a marinate.. It is healthy for you... And I ran out!!

It is that time a year again!

Spring! Spring brings warm days and cool evenings.  And things start to grow like the weeds in your yard.  But did you know that the dandelion once was a wanted "weed" or should I say herb that people would trade for? They would be a prized item.

Dandelion is rich in many nutrients calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, selenium, and zinc. It is a good herb to use as a diuretic. Dandelion has been found to stimulate mucus membranes, sooth the digestive tract, stimulates digestion, absorb toxins from the bowel, and cleaning the kidneys and liver. Careful it also acts as mild laxative.

I have not seen studies to back this up most sites just stating that it is being tested and the results are indicating to have a possible effect ..... To help lower the bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. Helps strengthen the heart and prevent strokes. Help with diabetes. Protection from cancer, including breast and prostate cancers. I don't know if all that is true but it can't hurt if you have these issues to deal with. AS always CHECK with your DOCTOR before using a herb if you have any these conditions or any health conditions. If you have hay fever you maybe not want to try dandelion leaves for the possible allergic reaction.

Eating the Dandelion Leaves: 

Young leaves of the Dandelion are the tastiest. Dandelion is only pleasantly bitter if you eat the early spring tender leaves. When the leaf get older the center rib gets tough and very bitter. You can try to blanch the leaves but I found them still to bitter. It is best to tear into pieces, rather than cut, to keep the flavor. Like lettuce
Mix into spring mix salads. Hey even the bagged lettuce mix has the dandelion leaf. I have a friend that is allergic to the leaf and we went out to a nice restaurant and they had dandelion leaves in the salad.
Dandelion can be steamed, added to stir-fries and many other dishes which call for greens or spinach. Can add to spinach dishes with the spinach.

Something else I found was that you could even make a delicious sandwich. I haven't done this but I thought I pass it along..... To make a dandelion leaf sandwich just lay the leaves between slices of bread and butter and sprinkled with salt. Add a little lemon-juice and pepper for flavor.

Dandelion leaves can be used in facial steam, as well as face packs. It is good for skins issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis.

Other parts are used also:

The root is also used as a coffee substitute. Sometime mixed with coffee to help give it a better taste. Of course it is roasted just like coffee beans.

The flowers are used to make dandelion Wine.  I never tried or tasted dandelion wine but my parents said it was good, but a pain ti make.


… A man can let his wife know he loves her by giving her a dozen large roses,
while his small grandson can do the same with a fistful of dandelion flowers!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer has snacked this family with more than one punch. We lost my daughters great-grandmother when she was two. (Her fathers grandmother.) My mother had a radical modified mastectomy, chemo and the whole nine yards. She went into remediation for 5 years and it returned to the same breast and the other. My daughter was very little and all she remembers of her grandmother is with cancer. She lost her when she was only 8 years old. Her father's mother found a lump and had a lumpectomy and chemo. She is doing ok and it has been many years. So when we see shows with breast cancer news we like to watch.

Here is what we have learn:

lower your body mass index (BMI)
30 minutes a day of exercise (my mom would walk with my dad everyday)
Eat more fruits and veggies
Spicy foods help keep blood strong
Drink green tea at least 3 cups
2 aspirin or 2 acetaminophen a week
Vitamin D
Don't smoke
Limit alcohol
Watch the hormones, even from soy


I know many of you have seen the email that says that anti-perspiration. Spend some time on the Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database many of the cosmetics have known cancer causing ingredients, developmental problems, (and these are found in children products!!) brain and nervous system effects, and irritation
Plus many items can cause problems with your reproductive, endocrine system and or kidney or renal system effects. Not only for the human body but many ingredients are known to be a wildlife or environmental toxin! And we use them on our bodies and our children.... Scary!

So my daughter really loves the pink ribbon stuff, the pens, the coffee, and whatever that has a pink ribbon on it. I start my holiday shopping in October for my daughter....... I really was hoped that there would be a cure before the girls got boobs... but it didn't happen