How I Got Over My Epic Cold
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I completely grossed myself out last week when I ate a salad at Picante. My nose was completely stuffed up, so my method of salad-eating became: take a bite of food, chew twice, then gasp for air around the food, chew some more or swallow, gasp for air, and repeat. Luckily I was eating by myself and facing the corner. Miss Manners would not have been impressed.
I have back problems from hell, but, (knock on wood,) I almost never get sick. I go years between colds or flus. Last week my luck ran out: I got an epic cold and instead of heading to the local drugstore, I reached out to people for their best natural cold cures. Here’s what I learned, and I think it worked great. I’m all better 6 days later and although I spent a lot more time than usual in bed, I also worked and hiked with dogs every day except one.
Recipes to Kick a Cold’s Ass
Sara and Mom said I should use the Neti Pot, and Roberta Abel, my realtor, has had sinus surgery and had this excellent Neti Pot Recipe: Use it 2x/day (BTW, a Neti Pot is the thing that you use for “nasal irrigation or nasal lavage:” you drip water into one nostril and it goes through your sinuses and out the other nostril. Totally disgusting but it’s tremendously helpful in clearing your sinuses. It has been practiced in India for centuries as one of the disciplines of yoga.)
2 drops grapefruit extract
1 tbsp kosher or sea salt
Couple pinches baking soda
8 oz distilled water
More info on nasal irrigation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_irrigation
From Roberta, Sara, and my Mom: Steam: Use a steam room if you have access to one, or do the cheap-o kitchen version: put your head over a mug of hot water with Eucalyptus oil drops in it. Drape a towel over your head and the mug so it traps the steam around your head.
From Roy, my friend in Brooklyn: Native American Cold Remedy Drink—Drink 2-3x/day
Hot water with:
Lemon juice
Cayenne
Honey
Ginger
From the lady at the Food Mill: Avoid sugar and dairy and take Wellness Formula Herbal Defense Complex (3 pills in the AM and 2 at night). Mine is made by Source Naturals.
Everybody said: Sleep as much as possible. Saturday night I almost went to a groovy art opening, but I felt completely exhausted and instead went to bed at 6 PM and got out more than 18 hours later. (Sorry I didn’t make it to your opening, Merav.)
I hope these recipes help someone somewhere. Here’s wishing you and yours good health.