I never get a flu shot. Nor do I use OTC products if illness should visit me. I'm about in the age group of the real push to get all the annual shots before winter. They may call it flu season or pneumonia season or even strep throat season, but I simply call it winter and with all the shots now promoted and pushed, I think it's only logical that more illness will be going around! Father warned me, many would be ill, this winter.
I got an early taste of illness this year, and although it was my own carelessness, I gained valuable information. More folks are coming to visit the homestead, Tabernacle, and Bethesda, now, and I was busier than I've ever been, while still recovering . . . Part of my recovery plan was pool therapy, which has been wonderful, but as it's been getting cooler, I took a chill early in the fall. The pool water was getting cooler and I was still trying to get in 2 to 3 times a day, but night swims just didn't work and sitting out on the deck in the cool night air resulted in awakening in the night with a serious sore throat, horrible cough, and low grade fever. I took it as a challenge. "They" say there is no cure for the common cold and it must run it's course a week to 10 days. I can't say for sure, this was the common cold, but I can tell you what I did and it was gone in less than 72 hours!
Since the elderberries were so abundant this year, it would only follow that the juice would be needed. Elderberry juice is a wonderful immune builder! So, I hit that the first night and continued 4 times a day for the three days. I also have a wonderful Essential and Extract blend that I used as needed. I believe the first 24 hour period was probably as many as 6 times . . . I never touched a Tylenol or ibuprofen for the fever. Fevers are your body's way of killing germs. Granted with children, fevers must be monitored, but the fever, itself, is not the problem. I also have an old time honored remedy my Granny used to make. In a cup, 1 tsp. Lemon juice, 1 TBS Honey, 1 oz. boiling water, blend, then add 1 jigger of Whiskey. The first 24 hour period, I took three of these, then twice a day for the next two days, and that was it!
I will tell you, the moment I took the first Tablespoon of Elderberry juice, I felt it hit the site of infection in the back of my throat. By the second Tablespoon, I knew whatever was attacking me, was now under attack! I followed with Granny's formula which burned all the way down . . . I could literally feel the illness being attacked by natural remedies.
The symptoms began in the wee hours of early Monday morning, and by Monday evening, I had all three remedies at hand. Tuesday was a day dedicated to recovery . . . Wednesday, I took care of business, pretty much as usual, and by Thursday, I was completely symptom free!
Many believe this winter is going to be somewhat harsh and with that may come illness. Get some elderberry juice and have it on hand!
