Coming down with the sick.

Welp! It’s finally my turn to get the cold. I’d been boasting this winter to all of my disease-ridden friends of my perceived immunity to the seasonal bugs, due to what I considered farm-hardiness. I’d been outside working all winter long, eating fairly well and feeling the sturdiest I ever have physically. I actually considered that I might skate through this season without so much as a sniffle….

But then my wisdom tooth decided to get angry and it all went to hell.

Pre-tooth yank! Not a good look, but I was high on nitrous oxide so who cares!

I had to get an emergency extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth about a week and a half ago which was followed by a bottle of antibiotics. Antibiotics are known for their uncanny ability to jack up a person’s intestinal flora, and as such it creates a window of opportunity for viruses to take hold and ruin your week.

So that’s where I am right now. My week is not ruined, exactly. Sick or not, I have work to do and I aim to do get it done, but I’m slowed down. In between tasks, I make sure to do things that I feel help my body mend. I thought that I’d share some of the things I do to help myself heal/feel better. Feel free to share your cold care regiment in the comments section below!

Also known around here as “Bee Magic”!

1.Propolis Tincture–

Propolis, made from the tree resin foraged by honeybees, is a great cure for many bacterial and viral maladies. I soak about 2 tablespoons of propolis scraped from the inside of my treatment-free hives in a pint of corn whiskey for about a month before decanting and bottling it. The result is a medicine that not only helps shorten the amount of time one has the cold or flu, but can also be used in place of antibiotic ointments. Propolis has shown to be helpful in treating fungal infections as well as cold sores, and minor cuts and scrapes. It’s awesome stuff. I take a dropper full of it 2-3 times daily at the onset of illness. For added medicinal benefit, add fresh rosemary, thyme and oregano to the whiskey while it steeps.

I make a propolis tincture that you buy on my Etsy shop by clicking the tab to the right! Check it out!

2.Mint and Rosehip Tea

Mint is soothing to the throat and the aroma can help combat congestion. Rosehips are high in vitamin C and taste good! Add a spoonful of honey to a steaming hot cup and you’ve got yourself a whole lotta relief in a little bitty mug!

I like my toddies like I like my men. In quart-sized jars.

3.Hot Toddies

Now, some of you might say “Meg, drinking alcohol while sick is not a good idea.” To that, I say…I DO WHAT I WANT, and if you’ve ever had one at the end of the day when your head starts filling up with snot and your throat feels like it’s been stripped, you know that a good toddy really does help soothe the discomfort and prep you for a good night’s sleep. It’s old medicine and I like it, so there.

It is worth noting is that you should not drink toddies if you are taking medicine like NyQuil, as it can cause liver damage and really mess you up. So stick to one or the other. Don’t mix!

My toddies consist of:

2 oz of rye whiskey or apple jack
1 cup of boiling water
1 cinnamon stick
1 slice of lemon with 4-5 cloves jammed in the peel so you don’t swallow them accidentally
1 tablespoon of raw, local honey
a few slices of fresh ginger

Drink em ’til you feel right.

4. Sleep

I try to get extra sleep each night, especially when I’m feeling under the weather. The toddies certainly help get you groggy. I’ve learned that it’s hard to stay well if you don’t get a reliable amount of rest, so hit the hay early, sleep in little and ask for a little help from friends if you need it. Sleep is the best medicine out there, so take the time to do it right and do it often.

Bee well, my peoples!