I will be the first to tell you that I would rather take a beating as to have to go to the doctor. Never have liked it and will go to great lengths not to go. So one trip out to the farm I asked Andy and Lizzie what they do when they get sick. (They hardly ever get sick) Sinus infections run in the family and living in the Ohio River valley sure doesn't help. I was hoping that they could give me a miracle cure.
I was told to mix up some honey with minced garlic. Okay I did that and took it for a couple of days...a spoon full every hour or so. Then I heard from Justin, the CSA driver, that his wife adds horseradish. So I mixed in pretty much of that. And let me tell you I was breathing better within the hour.
Here are some of the things I have learned so far...
Sinus problems can either be viral or bacterial or they can be triggers by allergic responses. DO NOT take decongestants. Instead fill up a Neti Pot with a saline solution of 1/4 cup of warm water, a 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of baking soda. Mix well. If you have no Neti Pot, you can put a puddle of the solution in the palm of your hand. Hold one nostril shut and stiff the solution up the other nostril. Then you must inhale deeply. It might burn just a smidge but don't worry it won't hurt you. Blow your nose and you should get a lot of 'gunk'. If you are really clogged repeat. Usually within 30 minutes you should be able to blow something out.
To go along with the Neti Pot, Lizzie gave me some Deep Tissue Oil that her sister mixes up. I rub just a little bit over sinuses. It feels warm and smells wonderful.
This oil can be called 'first aid in a bottle'. It can be used for many things. It increases circulation, breaks up congestion and speeds healing. It helps with muscles, aches, and pains. It is a pretty strong oil so a little goes a long way. Ingredients: wintergreen oil, peppermint oil, menthol, cayenne pepper, ginger root, Arnica, St. John's wart, calendula and organic virgin olive oil.
And then as a last resort...horseradish juice. Literally, Lizzie has a glass gallon jar filled with fresh shredded horse radish. The top two inches is just the juice. She poured me some in a glass pint jar and told me to take some every few hours. I tried it straight for the first few times then I had to mix it with honey to get it to go down. I took half the jar and decided that if all of this couldn't work I should probably go to the doctor.
So I am 100% well after two shots, three prescriptions and a week of bed rest. I wonder if all these remedies work better on the Amish because their systems have not been filled with all the junk and meds that we put into our bodies on a daily basis? That might be a good research project for someone to do.
