Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Dahlisgrams]

I hope everyone gets a handle on their predator problems. Happy Holidays to all!

 

[Toxic Chicken]

Just found my Orpington sitting on a nest of 14 eggs under a bush. Aahhhhg!!
They are all on lockdown till they learn to lay in the nest boxes.

 

[littlecritters]

Peter Brown just e-mailed me, he has 600 bottles of Mareks vaccine due in tomorrow.
http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store2/vaccines/live-vaccines/

Roberta,
Thank you for the heads up on the vaccine.

Everyone,
My husband, son and I are incredibly sick with a truly debilitating virus. I havent been this sick in over a decade. I'm reaching out to you all, because when I had my kidney stone, Al suggested Apple Cider Vinegar which really helped. I'm hoping ya'll have more good suggestions for dealing with cold and flu.

I have been desperately trying to remember the home cures that my family used in the 50's and 60's. Does anyone here remember mustard plaster? How to make it and use it? Or any other cures that your families used? Vitamins, supplements, teas, anything at all... I would be so appreciative of anything that will help congestion, sore throat, ear infection, cough, nose bleeds etc.

I should add that if you get near anyone with a cough or cold, you should move away fast! Run, not walk away! This virus is a doozy.
Tina

 

[JerseyHen]

Just found my Orpington sitting on a nest of 14 eggs under a bush. Aahhhhg!!
They are all on lockdown till they learn to lay in the nest boxes.

I know how that feels. At least they are laying.

 

[JerseyHen]

Roberta,
Thank you for the heads up on the vaccine.
Everyone,
My husband, son and I are incredibly sick with a truly debilitating virus. I havent been this sick in over a decade. I'm reaching out to you all, because when I had my kidney stone, Al suggested Apple Cider Vinegar which really helped. I'm hoping ya'll have more good suggestions for dealing with cold and flu.
I have been desperately trying to remember the home cures that my family used in the 50's and 60's. Does anyone here remember mustard plaster? How to make it and use it? Or any other cures that your families used? Vitamins, supplements, teas, anything at all... I would be so appreciative of anything that will help congestion, sore throat, ear infection, cough, nose bleeds etc.
I should add that if you get near anyone with a cough or cold, you should move away fast! Run, not walk away! This virus is a doozy.
Tina

Ok, here is what I use for ear aches:
Melaleuca (tea tree oil): put 5 drops in a tablespoon of warm olive oil. Put 5 or so drops of this tea tree/olive oil mixture into the affected ear and put a cotton ball in there (to keep it from running out). Do this twice a day. DO NOT USE if the tympanic membrane is ruptured. Also, try to get the best oil you can afford to avoid skin irritation. Test the oil on the inside of the arm first to be sure you are not allergic (nothing worse than finding out that you are allergic after it is in your ear).

A moist hot pack also feels good on an earache (put a wet, but wrung, washcloth in the microwave until hot and stick it in a baggie when you take it out, put that over the affected ear (I put the baggie/cloth inside a thin pillowcase for comfort purposes).

Mustard Plaster:
2:1 Flour:dry mustard (so 4 tblspn flour to 2 tblspn mustard), add just enough water to make a paste. Spread the paste on a thin towel to the size that would fit on the chest on one 1/2 of the towel (I use glass towels) and fold the unused side to cover the plaster (so think plaster sandwich or use 2 towels with the plaster in between). Put it on the chest or back for about 15 minutes or so, be careful not to blister the skin, then remove, gently cleanse the skin with warm water, cover with a lotion or vaseline (to protect the skin) and that is it.

I would test this on a patch of skin prior to applying to the whole chest since it can cause some blisters if you are allergic or you burn yourself.

Congestion:

Put several drops of eucalyptus oil in a bowl, pour in boiling water, put your face over the bowl and put a towel over your head and the bowl. Nice to add some rosemary to the mix (smells good and is an astringent).

There are several homeopathic remedies for flu. Some people swear by them. I use them for my daughter when she is sick: similasan makes one for colds and coughs.

Sore throat: honey and lemon: mix a couple of tablespoons of honey with a tablespoon of lemon juice and use as a throat syrup or put hot water in and sip for throat soothing warmth. Honey has antimicrobial properties.

Most nosebleeds are caused by dry air combined with irritated skin and a lot of blowing. Try a humidifier (good for all of those things). You can also use the saline sprays to help keep the membranes of the nose clear.

I will work on some others for you, but right now I need to get back to work... feel better!

Oh, and my friends in the TCM side of our clinic say Ginger chicken soup (ginger, green onion, celery, chicken stock, chicken). If nothing else, it sounds kind of yummy.

 

[ChickenAl]

Roberta,
Thank you for the heads up on the vaccine.
Everyone,
My husband, son and I are incredibly sick with a truly debilitating virus. I havent been this sick in over a decade. I'm reaching out to you all, because when I had my kidney stone, Al suggested Apple Cider Vinegar which really helped. I'm hoping ya'll have more good suggestions for dealing with cold and flu.
I have been desperately trying to remember the home cures that my family used in the 50's and 60's. Does anyone here remember mustard plaster? How to make it and use it? Or any other cures that your families used? Vitamins, supplements, teas, anything at all... I would be so appreciative of anything that will help congestion, sore throat, ear infection, cough, nose bleeds etc.
I should add that if you get near anyone with a cough or cold, you should move away fast! Run, not walk away! This virus is a doozy.
Tina

Tina, if you have had this for 2 days or less I would suggest Tamiflu. The doctor has to prescribe it but it is the only thing that works on virus. This year's flu is a nasty one, and the secondary infections that are possible would be no fun either.

Hope others will come up with additional suggestions. Good luck. Feel better.

 

[littlecritters]

JerseyHen and ChickenAl,
Thank you!!! We are on the third full day of being knocked off our feet. Might be too late for TamiFlu. I have been using Cold Calm by Boiron and surprisingly it has not made a noticeable difference. I'll switch to Ocillococinum instead (homeopathy). This virus seems to be combination of flu and cold. Absolutely debilitating. I'll be trying all the suggestions and do appreciate them all. If my husband wasn't sick, I would ask him to candle my ears, since that is usually soothing...
Hugs,
Tina

 

[magsrags]

Donna! Like your new avatar lots!

Finally found some Saranac pics in my photo albums and if I can remember how to scan them I'll put some up for you.

Tina, feel better. Here we also use the honey/lemon and the steam as Jerseyhen suggests and my dh swears by eucalyptus oil for his sinus infections and to generally give his head a good cleaning out period.
He gets instant relief using a neti pot and now I use it as well. Amazing how such a simple remedy works such wonders.

We sometimes make a "salt bag" using a cotton sock.....put regular salt in it...warm up in microwave.......lay down and place on side of head/ear. Cheap....easy.... and handy.

What wind here all day. Seems to be better out there now but sure is chilly.

 

[magsrags]

Oh, and my friends in the TCM side of our clinic say Ginger chicken soup (ginger, green onion, celery, chicken stock, chicken). If nothing else, it sounds kind of yummy.

That made me hungry for soup.

I just happened to have some chicken veggie left over i'd made 2 days ago and I think ginger would make a great addition. thanks for the idea!

 

[smkchick]

Nothing beats homemade chicken soup. I also take echinacea with golden seal, drink tea with honey (a natural sedative) and drown the bug with lots and lots of water. I don't use a neti pot (my sister calls it "self-waterboarding") but I do use a saline flush for bad congestion. When I used to be in the classroom, I was exposed to a LOT. Fortunately I built up a lot of immunities.

The law of averages means I'm flu-bound this year. Feel better.