10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HEALTH Amanda's home remedies for a sore throat Recently encountering a sore throat SUFFERER while working on a project other than what became this article, gave me this idea. Why not share this information with as many people as possible via our Groundcover publication? So “Here Goes” ... “An apple a day keeps the doctor away …” Most of us in the United States have heard this old saying (let’s just hope it’s not the problem-bringing fruit Eve gave to Adam!) Obviously, the idea is that we can do something pro-active to stay healthy. Here we are, mid-winter according to our calendars, and we have sore throats — possibly from cold air exposure weakening our immunity, or perhaps more often from all the germs we likely encounter if we’re stuck indoors too long. So, what can we do? Are there natural remedies and obtainable over the counter items that ACTUALLY CAN PROVIDE RELIEF? Is it reasonable to think that just perhaps even some humble herbs or other simple ingestibles might have actual potency for health prevention and cures? Legend from North American Pioneers has it that boiled pine needles cure colds (and scurvy), while Romans paid taxes with anise and also made cough drops from it! Some cultures have indicated successful use of Duct Tape for wart removal; and old farmers were said to cure “sour humors” (and scorpion and spider bites — OUCH!) with oregano. While coconut oil is still useful for curing acne, not all herbal use requires the caution to not fall asleep under an Elderberry tree in mid-summer, if you wanted to avoid disrupting the fairies' travels to their Mid-Summer Feast and consequently have them carry-you-off with them — never to return!! And not all home remedies’ purposes must be as dramatic as warding-off vampires (and infections) with garlic, or as unusual as getting (the vitamins within) golden raisins drunk from juniper berries (used to make gin) to bring about the anti-inflammatory aspects that reduces swelling and eases pain for arthritis sufferers. Perhaps this journey for sore throat RELIEF might not be as entertaining; though ADVENTURE is yours FOR the FINDING! HOWEVER, I can and will herein seek to share what I have found, to be TRULY VERY! RELIEVING, for the pain of throat infection! Of course we realize that anything we can do to boost our overall immunity is excellent for preventing infection and disease for our whole body. Beyond just a healthy diet and any specifics per person for care for particular physical conditions one might have, our culture also has a general AMANDA GALE Groundcover vendor No. 573 Besides being a good preventive and curative against sore throats, elderberry also helps eliminate congestion and coughs and is helpful against infections in general. If you include vitamin C with elderberries, this is extra-helpful for health; just don’t allow those fairies to carry you off to their “place of no return!” Healthy foods: Eating foods that are awareness for getting sufficient rest and exercise, consuming appropriate vitamin intake and adequate daily light exposure per day. Beyond this however, what might we include to PREVENT sore throats and physical illnesses? What follows is my shared experience and awareness for prevention for throat infection. (I am placing a * by the ones I find MOST EFFECTIVE, RELIEVING or that I have used the most). BOOST IMMUNITY! Probiotics: kind of the opposite of antibiotics (which get your body to produce more of its defenses against the invading agent of illness, by introducing a little more of the inflicting agent — sometimes in another form). Probiotics are a gift to your body of a boost HEALTHY microorganisms. Unhealthy microorganisms don’t like to “hang around” the healthy ones; so this is a GOOD strategy. The higher the healthy microorganism count, the BETTER you are fortifying your body’s immunity. Billions and billions of healthy microorganisms are more helpful than even just millions! A barrier to probiotics can be the price; however, sometimes if you have a pre-existing medical condition, and you seek to coordinate with your healthcare provider, PERHAPS if a prescription is written for it, there might be a way to get it paid for other than out-of-pocket. Otherwise, some other ways to obtain at least some probiotic immune-boosting is via eating yogurt and drinking (usually herbal) teas that include probiotics. Of course even a lower-amount supplement of probiotics (which cost less) might be more helpful than not ever consuming any because of the prohibitive financial cost of the capsules that contain billions. *Elderberry, *echinacea and *green tea as brewed tea (or via supplement or other forms): These teas are used with success by everyday people with great success for boosting immunity, and herbalists concur these herbs have immune-boosting aspects. healthy in general is good; eating foods targeted to what each person needs to BUILD and KEEP their immunity, is BEST. *Walnuts: These are rich in Omega-3s and thus provide powerful antioxidant immune fortification. *Hibiscus tea, *beets, *baby spinach: Boost hemoglobin which helps iron, and thus red blood cells, to increase. Kale and *swiss chard and some particular mushrooms: Help increase platelet count. Green, leafy vegetables like romaine lettuce or celery: These are very HEALTHY and contain vitamins. *Powdered electrolyte mixes (to be added to water): Salts and sugars your body needs! When you feel your body feeling weaker, drinking this will energize you and improve your physical energy and how your body feels overall. This also can help relieve physical weakness and tiredness, and you will feel more hydrated and have more physical energy after consuming it. GARGLING Keeping your throat as clean as possible from infectious germs and other harmful agents is a great preventive measure. Though, as with other preventive measures, gargling is also a great curative for sore throats. • *Water or *saltwater: Water to rinse/cleanse throat and salt can help heal throat wounds and reduce swelling, though for sore throats it will be somewhat worse at first, but will bring RELIEF afterwards. • *Peroxide (three parts water, one part peroxide): Do NOT swallow the peroxide, and DON’T give this to young/unsupervised children. • *Listerine (or off brand): disinfects. Please note disinfecting agents shouldn’t be overused or can cause throat irritation. • Brushing teeth: Regular good oral hygiene rids the mouth of “bad stuff” that can infect. There are also even tongue scrapers available nowadays! • *Vinegar: This cleanses out germs and also changes PH (acid) in your throat, which aids against acid-consumption and/or acid reflux sore throats. Also, vinegar is a natural analgesic — i.e. it numbs pain! Caution: it does sting at first, however within seconds it brings RELIEF! • *Distilled water: In the microbiology lab, one learns distilled water is the PUREST water there is, being the ONLY water that can be included on a slide to not also view microorganisms that were simply within the water! Distilled water is SO GENTLE and REALLY FEELS SOOTHING for an IRRITATED THROAT; soup, bullion, Jello, and more can also be prepped with this water. (For drinking and/or gargling) • *Aloe Barbadensis juice prepared for consumption (NOT topical or other forms of aloe): This is another REALLY SOOTHING agent, for an irritated throat. (For drinking and/or gargling) CURATIVES TEAS: Any tea that is soothing for sore throat can be gargled and/or drunk warm (most preferably) or cold/ room temp, with great success to rinse the throat and also begin RELIEVING! sore throat symptoms. Though various herbal teas can qualify there is ONE PARTICULAR TEA I recommend: *Twinings (purple-box) black tea, grown in the altitude and climate of India’s Himalayas (its particular processing probably is what makes it particularly effective). I have not experienced any other tea — including ones specially formulated to ease sore throat — to be as effective! *STARCHY FOODS: Though a constant diet of only this probably ISN’T! healthy — i.e. lacking nutrients and being bad for diabetics! If you have a sore throat, starchy foods can be BEST tolerated by your throat, and also HELP TO RELIEVE symptoms and also helps to reduce acid: • Crackers with or without salt: Salt can help disinfect and begin to reduce swelling, though might not be tolerated by an extremely irritated sore throat. • Potatoes, bread, biscuits and pancakes: (Possibly without syrup if throat is REALLY IRRITATED; possibly butter use is OK.) • Pasta with butter only: This isn’t as soothing, however it isn’t irritating or acid-producing, either. • Chicken soup or bullion (with or without noodles): Chicken broth has an aspect that actually provides a light congealing function, which therefore coats your throat in a soothing way. Additionally, the warmth and nutrition from it also aids healing! • Tomato soup mix (added to water): Some of these can actually FEEL soothing for a sore throat. However, if the tomato aspect is TOO strong, it will burn instead of feeling relieving. see REMEDIES next page FEBRUARY 7, 2025
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