For about three years now, I and the other women in our household have every day taken some mashed raw garlic, and a tiny amount) less than a quarter teaspoon of very powerful Manuka honey, the really good medicinal sort. I buy the honey when Holland and Barrett put on their Penny Sales. One pot costs well over fifty pounds, but the second one costs a penny.
I have not had a cold in all this time. Other people around me caught colds, but I never did.
Recently, we changed our eating rhythm in a way that didn't work so well with our garlic-taking rhythm, and our dance of life got wrong-footed. We began to miss out the garlic, and in the last month I have taken garlic and honey, but not very often.
And now I have an absolute corker of a cold.
Not last night but the night before, I could feel I had this germ travelling round my body, visiting one place after another — first my feet and ankles felt ill and painful, then my hips, then my head, bit by bit it travelled round, and I was very tired. The germ settled in my pharynx and made it very sore, then moved on purposefully to my left tonsil, which seems to act as Older Sister for them both. I went to bed early and slept twelve hours. In the morning I did my usual cleansing things, and emerged feeling better, so I thought I was okay.
Last night I went to a concert, and I do hope I haven't spread germs to everyone I met. By bedtime I felt distinctly coldy, and by the time I lay down to sleep my nose was — quite literally — running like a tap. I had to lie on my back or wind a hanky round my nose!
And this morning I have a humdinger of a cold! In fact I'm not sure this even is a cold. I'm wondering if I haven't somehow contracted Man Flu.
I suspected something like this was travelling my way, because last week I was by myself at home for several days so I took the opportunity to prepare everything for my preaching appointment next Sunday, where normally I wouldn't begin to prepare until the Monday before, not the best part of a fortnight in advance. In general I find when things like that come about, it's to make space for something I haven't foreseen. So I was a bit worried in case a calamity was travelling towards me — but no, only this cold, which will put me out of action for two or three days I think, and I'll need to have hymns and order of service ready for the steward tomorrow morning.
Well, that's taught me a lesson! Right now I'm in bed, but in a minute I'll go downstairs proclaiming "Unclean! Unclean!" and commander a clear space in the kitchen to mash myself some garlic.
Back on the daily menu, then. Raw garlic and high strength Manuka honey.
Oh, look!
My family has put together a Healing Tray for me. It has the mashed garlic (hooray!), a BIG emergency-sized spoon of Manuka honey, some (fresh) lemon and (fresh) ginger tea with more honey, a cup with dilute cider vinegar, turmeric (anti-inflammatory) and cayenne pepper (stops me getting venous clots), a cup of bone broth, and a lovely glass of chilled water from our spring, with a slice of lemon. Ha! Makes me feel better just looking at it.
I hurtled out into the garden and picked some apples from the tree, and got a little bowl of nuts to eat, and a toilet roll for mopping my eyes and nose.
I changed our bed linen and put it on a hot wash in hopes of defending my hubby from germs, because he has swampy lungs and is prone to pneumonia (Noooooo!).
And now I'm happily ensconced in our Fiona's bedroom — she's in Dorset; waving, Fi, if you're reading this — and I'm going to watch the first Strictly Come Dancing of the season on catch-up TV. Could be worse, no?
6 comments:
Hi Penelope,
First, blessings on a full recovery! Coincidentally, I was just talking to someone about how they changed their diet to deleterious effects. She had been taking ground flax in water every morning regularly, (yuck!) and had fallen off that regimen, and became aware that her hot flashes increased, and so will now resume! I may try that, (perhaps in apple sauce), but have other regimens I follow for various other reasons, so it will have to be a journey of trial and error to get there. I do notice that if I am stressed and eat too many sweets/carbs my night sweats increase dramatically. So, could be the stress or the sweets/carbs, or the combo, will have to start noticing. I have noticed the older/tireder/more ill I become with my many complaints, the more I crave sweets. That is not a natural thing for me. A small amount of sweets after savory meal has been my life long preference. A pastry in the morning without something less sugary was never tolerable, caused nausea. I've never even been a chocolate craver, as most others I know seem to be. So this new pattern which I know is unhealthy seems very strange to me. Obviously, too much stress.
DMW
May you be healthy, may you be well, may you find just the right eating pattern for you.
I think all of the things your loves brought you were perfect. I love garlic in food, but have had difficulty taking it like that. It comes out of my pores if I take one mashed clove. Not a welcome service to those around me. :) I pray you are feeling loads better now.
I take Manuka honey too.
I have taken to watching Dancing with the Stars in recent years, and it has just begun here. I think those dancers are better athletes than many athletes. :)
May your week be blessed with God's deep peace, Ember. xo
I agree about the dancers and the athletes. In the new UK series, there's a man who's an Olympic rower, a tremendous athlete, and as is often the case with sports people he's finding the dancing impossibly difficult. My heart goes out to him, because he is so disciplined and acculturated to success, and I think it must be humiliating to find it so hard to do. Every time I watch it, I'm amazed at the physical achievement, the focus, the determination and the commitment.
xx
Hope you are feeling better Pen. Yay for caring family, healthy treats, clean sheets and strictly!! Hugs xx
Waving! Hello, friend! I am loads better — though this one did knock me for six. I almost never get colds, it must have been a powerful one! I hope you and yours are all well. xx
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