Purely Natural

Last night I noticed I wasn’t feeling my best, and my throat was a little sore. This morning I woke up with a throat like sandpaper, stiff muscles, and that general “I just want to curl up on the couch with a blanket” feeling. You know, the start of a cold or something like that.

I don’t get sick often. Or rather: colds and the flu usually don’t get a foothold in me. That used to be completely different, before my recovery. Back then, I was sick all the time. Sore throats, ear infections, fever, the flu: I was the queen of being sick, even as a teenager. The cause was always the same: exhaustion. School demanded an insane amount of energy from me, and after every exam period I’d collapse from illness, spending half the vacation in bed or on the couch. Year after year. It was the same in my working life, but there I decided to just ignore it and “not make a fuss.” I would teach with a fever without any hesitation and even go running in the evenings.

During my recovery, I learned that symptoms of illness demand attention and the right actions. Catching a little virus isn’t a disaster and is perfectly normal, but then it’s just a matter of shifting gears and taking the right steps. Since then, my main remedies have been what nature has to offer and rest.

I’ll start with the latter: without being afraid to do it anymore, I cancel appointments. Not unless it’s absolutely necessary, but definitely if I feel too lousy and don’t want it to get worse (which wasn’t the case at all today). Because I’d rather cancel everything for two or three days than just keep going and end up in bed super sick for a week and then have to cancel everything anyway. The fact that I don’t work or have kids certainly helps with this. Still, sometimes I feel like I “have to do things” that aren’t actually that urgent. Then I just decide that it can wait until tomorrow, and that spending eight hours embroidering on the couch today is much better.

My other recovery strategy when I’m sick is to make use of what nature has to offer. For several years now, I haven’t used pharmacy medication for minor ailments like colds and the flu. I’ve noticed that what nature has to offer is much more powerful—and also a lot cheaper. For example, this morning I made a gargle using thyme, rosemary, and salt. All of these are said to be anti-inflammatory. I’ve been gargling with it every hour, and it really works very well. The pain is already much less. I’ve also been drinking fresh chamomile tea, which is supposed to soothe the throat. Honey is said to do that too, but I don’t use it myself.

A few years ago, I had a neighbor who once made her own “drink” based on something she’d seen on social media. It was a concoction made of fresh ginger, lots of turmeric, black pepper, and plenty of fresh garlic (and probably water). Chop, blend, and then freeze into “ice” cubes. When you’re sick, you can quickly grab one, pour boiling water over it, and drink it. It did not taste good, but it was insanely effective! Since my neighbor was very generous, I got about ten of those “ice” cubes myself. They lasted me a long time, and really helped me out a lot! Maybe I’ll make some myself someday...

Another natural remedy is steam. Yep, steam! About five years ago, I bought a Vicks steam inhaler. I literally know of nothing that works as well against a cough as that device! Better than cough syrup (and my family can confirm that, because they sometimes borrow it, precisely because it works so well)!

I’m not against “regular” medication. I use painkillers for headaches and antihistamines during pollen season. If I were to get seriously sick later on, I’d probably use conventional medication too. But I am a fan of the idea of trying first what God has provided: nature. And often that works just as well, or even better!

And now, I’m going to rest a bit. And gargle. See you soon!