This is a post from three years ago, that certainly bears repeating. I imbibed a good bit of this stuff during my battle with the plague and it really did help.
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I remember my mother
telling me once, after emerging from a rather debilitating bout with the flu,
that she felt so bad she thought she'd have to rally to die. Oh, boy, do I get
that. Things started going south for me about a week ago. I'm talking way
south. Like Antarctica south. What began as sniffles blossomed into a colossal
headache, clogged sinuses, and sleepless night after sleepless night of
relentless coughing. I plowed through boxes of tissues, drank gallons of tea,
and watched a lot of Hallmark movies. I went from having my authoritative,
sexy, big girl voice, to having the voice of a cartoon character, to no voice
at all. In my late night bouts with delirium I started thinking about “The
Waltons.” Yep, momma, daddy, John-Boy, the lot. I began to think
about the Baldwin Sisters and “the recipe,” which ultimately reminded
me that I had a recipe of my own.
It's an old folk remedy, but since I'm an old folk, umm, person, I can probably
claim it as well as anyone. It's a cough calmer consisting of three common
ingredients: honey, lemon, and gin. My recipe makes 8 doses, and unlike
the chemically-laden cough suppressants sold in drug stores, you can take this
as often as needed.
There is actually science behind this combination. Gin is an effective
expectorant. Lemon provides vitamin C that may strengthen the immune system.
Honey has been found to be an effective cough suppressant. Both lemon and
honey have antimicrobial properties (significant ability to inhibit the growth
of microbes that can cause infection). Nothing can shorten the duration of a
cold, but this can treat the symptoms.
Not fond of the taste of gin? Me neither, and I'm not all that keen on
honey, but when these three ingredients come together, the taste is
rather
extraordinary and it goes down smooth. It is NOT, I repeat, NOT intended
for
children or anyone who has issues with alcohol. It is soothing, cough calming,
and can help you sleep.
Cough Remedy
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice*
2 tablespoons good (local if you have it) honey
2 tablespoons gin
Stir ingredients together until the honey completely dissolves and is
incorporated. Store in refrigerator until needed. Can easily be doubled,
tripled, etc.
1 tablespoon = 1 dose
*I use my own home grown (a potted tree that I recommend everyone own) Meyer
Lemons. If you don't have your own, please use fresh, organic lemons. I suggest
Melissa's.
Asparagus Martini
