DON'T BOIL IT!
Seriously... it's all too likely to ruin the medicinal value. That's why I say in my syrup recipe to just barely heat the berries as needed to get them to juice out.
As far as "new lids"... as long as everything is scrupulously clean, and they'll seal/close the containers "airtight", no it's not necessary.
Summerthyme
Yikes. I brought it to a boil and then simmered. Damn. I have 5 kids, I don't want to take a chance with their health. I haven't mixed it with the vodka and honey yet. I'm thinking it was all free, just a lot of labor...... probably throw it out???
It was so easy with the dried berries. How did I mess up so much with the fresh? Did I miss seeing the exact step to get the juice out the fresh berries? What is the best way to extract the fresh berries?
I'm sorry about that! Truthfully, I just mash up the fresh berries with a TINY bit of water in a saucepan and BARELY heat them. Then dump them in a linen type kitchen towel and twist the ends in opposite directions to squeeze all the juice from them. An herb press works wonderfully- but my son broke mine last fall making cider... sigh. Or you can improvise with a jelly bag and some bricks on a rack in a bowl.
I wouldn't toss it out, but I wouldn't use it for THIS flu. If you make syrup from it (especially with the vodka for preservative) it will store for 3 years at least, and you could use it as a preventative for "normal" flu seasons and see how it works. But you wouldn't be risking your lives, as you might be with this strain (and Lord help us if it does combine with H5N1 as may be possible, with some confirmed co-infections going on now)
Summerthyme
Thanks, Summerthyme for teaching me, and I'm sure others about all this! I think I will go ahead and label this batch "allergies." Lots of people claim it helps with that and if it does, great. If not it won't hurt anyone.
I know you've answered thousands of questions, but the silliest questions pop up when your actually doing it for the first time,and it is your family's health at stake. What a shame so much knowledge has been lost instead of handed down.
Blessings to you and yours for sharing.
Qestions please for Summerthyme, Goatlady or anyone who is in the know.
As I have 3 precious grandbabies under the age of 6, one pregnant DD and another trying to get that way (and at 35 she's not waiting for this flu to go away), I am very interested in all the alternative treatments.
Elderberry we're working on. No probs there.
Alcohol isn't acceptable in one household and not best in the other.
So, elecampane can be used as a tea. Okay. Good.
Japanese Knotweed can't be used as a tea. Will the essential components dissolve in something besides alcohol?
What about lomotium root? Any way to use it short of alcohol based tincture?
Thanks.
LC
Hi, LC... I have no idea about the Lomatium root.. you might want to PM Tom McDowell over at TB2k and ask him.
Japanese Knotweed MIGHT be able to be used as a glycerite. It's soluable in ETOH and DMS0 (much lower in DMSO than ETOH, but still much better than H20). So I suspect it would be at least "usefully" soluable in glycerin. However, making glycerites is a giant PITA compared to tinctures... it requires a fairly long, slow heating rather than a cold process. The amount of alcohol for JK tincture to be useful is MINISCULE- 50 mgs resveratrol dissolves in 1 ml alcohol. I've got to go back to read my notes on recommended dosages, but I've seen 50 mgs resveratrol tablets/capsules for sale... so I'm guessing you're talking (adult doses- kids would be less) 1/2 tsp or even less per dose.
You CAN get resveratrol extract tablets or capsules... they use ETOH to extract it, but then evaporate it away, leaving only the resveratrol itself. That would likely be the best option for a lot of folks. You could almost certainly crush the tablets, or open capsules and add it to applesauce, etc, for kids too small to swallow pills.
Hope that helps!
Summerthyme
Hi all, I have a question regarding the elderberry tincture. I made the tincture about 3 years ago when the H5N1 flu started. It's been sitting on the top shelf of my pantry since I made it. It is dark and cool in there. My question is if it's still good to use. I do have dried elderberry's left so I could make some more if I needed to throw this out. I made the tincture with 80 proof vodka and there's no sugar or anything else in it, just elderberries and vodka.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks Summerthyme. I'll probably PM Tom when I catch my breath. Right now I'm purple and blue from elderberries and very tired. Will probably purchase some reservitol tabs. SIL, daddy to the darlings, is a Baptist preacher. Absolutely no alcohol in the house. Doesn't want to mess up the witness. I haven't check the cabinet for Nyquil. I may the next time I'm there. lol
Thanks again.
LC
jschlaty- tinctures are good for several years, especially stored cool and dark. It should be fine.
Summerthyme
Thanks Summerthyme, now I have another question if you don't mind.
I want to start giving my kids the elderberry tincture now since we will be starting up our church activities this week. My youngest son gets asthma/bronchitis after every respiratory infection so I want to do everything possible so he doesn't get it. We are already doing vit. C and D, along with colloidal silver and olive leaf every couple of days. How much of the tincture should I be giving them each day. They both weigh approximately 55 pds.
Again, thank you so much for all the information you provide!
Jschlaty
Oh, boy... this is where I have a BIG problem with the tincture. Most folks figure the effective dose for adults is 1 tablespoon, so, if you figure the "average" adult at 150# (obviously screwy, but that's what is used for Rx meds), the kids would get 1/3 of that (1 tsp) morning and night.
I'm really not sure how 1 tsp of high proof vodka is going to affect a kid! Probably not much... but do try it "at home" first!
Dilute it well, obviously- add to juice or any stronger flavored drink. You can supposedly "evaporate" some of the alcohol off by adding to a hot drink, but there are mixed reports about whether or not heat damages the medicinal value of the elderberry.
Because I use the syrup, I just give kids (above toddler age/size) the adult dose and don't have any problems with it.
Summerthyme
For over 30 years now I have been eating Bee Pollen. My wife has used for almost as long and my kids have used it from before birth. We almost never get sick and when we do it lasts half the time, or less, than it does in others.
My kids have never had an antibiotic. They have never had an ear infection, allergies, or sinus problems.
If you decide to start eating Bee Pollen remember it is food and not a magic pill. You will get benifit right away but you need to take it for 6 - 12 months to rebuild your body. Try an buy it from a local bee keeper. Local pollen helps fights allergies and will cost less than getting it online. I buy 6 pounds at a time, local, for $7.00 per pound. A pound lasts, my family of four, about a month.
Here is a site with some good info.
http://www.envirobee.com/beepollen.htm
I have not had the flu for a very, very, long time and have not had a flu shot in over 15 years. I put my trust in the Lord. The Lord made the bee and the bee makes the Honey Bee Pollen.
Anyone have info on lomatium. I have read the Washoe Indians in Nevada took this during the 1918 pandemic & all survived, while other tribes had massive deaths. I have aquired some tincture, but cannot find any info about combining it with the elderberry as part of a safe treatment.Thanks so much for any help OB
We've found it to be a very effective and synergistic combination.
Lomatium has somewhat of a Garlic type effect. After ingesting it tends to permeate the respiratory system. Nearly everyone I know who's used it reports having it on ones breath for quite a while - similar to Garlic, It may be possible, Lomatium combined with other botanical agents may aid the delivery of the Elderberry into the respiratory system.
In respect to the Alcohol & Lomatium, in our case it's unavoidable, and warranted. Aside from needed for extraction, our manufacturer has found by utilizing his processing methods with an Alcohol base there are less instances of a skin rash. This rash usually appears in a small number of people, and in most cases it will only appear once, as long as there's a few days in between doses. This is arguably one best reasons to try out your preps before hand.
In all of our tinctures and formulas the alcohol content is near 50%. We find the best way to avoid issues, other than to treat it as a medicinal, not recreational substance, is to utilize with herbal teas. Hot water will dissipate quite a bit of the alcohol content. Left standing eventually nearly all the alcohol will dissipate over a short period of time.
We also find adding the tinctures to teas can increase their efficacy.
Alcohol is also good for delivery into the body for many botanical preparations and compounds. The tried and true method of droppers under the tongue, grin and bear it is the fastest way to move the tincture into the systems of the body.
One Milliliter (or dropper) is just shy of 1/5 th of a teaspoon. Since our preparations are much higher in potency (Herb to extract 1:1) the need per serving is mush less, 1 milliliter to one hundred pounds, 3x daily. Not nearly a Tablespoon per dose.
With Children in mind, many formulations (nearly all) are very distasteful. Same response from grownups too for that matter. Masking the preparation a beverage or meal, is about the only way to overcome the issue for the finicky.
Juice with young children, orange in particular is very effective. To avoid alcohol, mixtures may be prepared prior in warm water, then later mixed with a beverage for the later in the day - administration.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks,
Tom
Tom thank-you so much for all the wonderfull info! You mentioned a supplier, may I ask who that is? I ordered from Vitacost, the manufacturer is NATURES ANSWER & it is alcohol free, seems I have made the wrong choice. Thank-you again for your time. OB
Thanks Tom. Very helpful.
LC
what a wonderful thread, i have been helped by everyone here, i just wanted to say thanks and especially to summerthyme for posting her experience (and her DHs too). ive been busy printing off everything to make sure i have hard copy cause i dont trust my old brain cells much anymore.
i was very concerned with my DH being out in elk camp from sept to nov, each week bringing in a new batch of strangers who might be carrying whatever, every year he would catch something at least once from hunters coming in coughing, sneezing, hacking.
this year i armed him well and packed a box of things to take and this year he is really paying attention and promised to dutifully follow every direction so he doesnt get sick.
sorry to go off topic, but i wanted to say thanks.
jazzy
I have a question about the elderberry syrup recipe. I have assembled all my ingredients and I need to go ahead and make some syrup (this is my first time).Quote:
Originally Posted by goatlady
I wanted to make the one with vodka but it occurred to me today that this may not be a good idea since I am currently trying to conceive and I don't think you are supposed to consume alcohol when you are pregnant. Or if you can, I don't know what the safe amount would be. So if I end up getting pregnant in the future, I should probably stay away from the vodka.
So I figured I would make the one with just honey and elderberry juice. But I got to looking at the recipes and noticed that the one with vodka has a yield of 18.75 cups and the one with just honey yields 21 cups.
I plan on taking 2 tablespoons (1 oz.) every day as a preventative.
1 cup = 8 oz therefore:
18.75 cups = 150 oz (150 doses)
21 cups = 168 oz (168 doses)
Summerthyme, I am wondering if the honey recipe is less potent than the vodka recipe. Each recipe calls for the same amount of elderberry juice yet the vodka recipe produces fewer doses. So I am wondering if a dose of the vodka recipe is more potent than the honey recipe? Is the elderberry more diluted in the honey version?
Krayola... first, the amount of ETOH (alcohol) in a dose of syrup with the vodka is TINY... about 2.5 cc (half a teaspoon). My DD is pregnant, and her doctor has told her she's absolutely fine taking it... YMMV, of course.
As far as the potency, the recommended doses (1/2 ounce) is probably overkill, so you should be safe with either one.
I suspect you could get away with taking a lower dose and still get effective medicine. The biggest problem is we don't have any "official" studies (that I've been able to find, anyway) which actually show what dose works in vivo.
Since it's not terribly expensive to make your own, I figure erring on the side of caution (especially with this particularly nasty virus) is better. What I can say is that we've discovered that dosing schedule is maybe more important than dose amount- skipping a dose is NOT advised if you are ill. BTDT... it wasn't fun. It was rather amazing at how clearly I could feel the virus "roaring back" after I had it knocked down very nicely. It obviously has something to do with keeping blood levels reasonably high- just like many antibiotics which require multiple doses per day.
If anyone does get sick, and is using elderberry as their main antiviral, I think it's important to take it every 4 hours around the clock... set an alarm clock if you have to, to avoid a 6-8 hour gap which gives the virus a chance to start reproducing again.
Summerthyme
Summerthyme, thank you so much for your quick response to my question.Quote:
Originally Posted by Summerthyme
You're contributions on this subject are truly invaluable!
I hope you don't mind if I try to clarify what you were saying above. When the doctor told your dd that it was OK to take the syrup, do you happen to know if this was just in the context of taking the preventative dose (2 tbsp per day) or did the doctor also mean that it was OK to take the treatment dose (2 tbsp every 4 hours)?
Her doctor is basically "ok" with "up to a glass of wine" a day. Since that is approximately 14.4mls of ETOH (4 ounces at 12%)...taking the treatment dose of ONE tablespoon every four hours is almost the exact equivalent.
She DID talk to her about the elderberry syrup, telling her how I make it, what's in it, etc... and the doctor had no problem with using it "as needed".
But again, it's probably best to talk to your own doctor, for your own peace of mind! My own feeling (and DD says her doctor basically said the same thing) is "if you DO catch this virus, and are pregnant, ANYTHING you can do to keep the viral load down is worth it- even if it means not being "completely pure" in terms of your diet or intake.
FWIW, her OB also is dead set against the vaccine for pregnant women- she says "it's far too new, not tested, and I'm not comfortable giving it to anyone carrying a baby until we know it's safe".
Summerthyme
just to reassure you:
as summerthyme knows, i am an EXTREME lightweight. i am pregnant, and the syrup with the alcohol is no problem for me.
and she can tell you i mean EXTREME lightweight. very cheap date :mrgreen:
LOL! How are you feeling, Huny? Better, I hope!!
Still praying for all our ill members..
Summerthyme
In doing some research when my grandson's got it i put them on antibiotics for the respiratory infection and it cleared it up it has been 3 weeks and no recurrance.
In Mexico the people that recovered fast were put on antibiotican not anti virals as some others.
Just my two cents and experience.
I take colodial siver and garlic everyday and have yet to get it.
Summerthyme - I got flu about 15 days ago - will detail my experince and my protocol soon. I still felt like s*** but I know without herbs including elderberry it would have been way worse, esp becuase I have asthma. I am not over it by any means but see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I took a ton of elderberry. Funny - DH who takes elderberry regularly as prevention (I've been more lazy...bad!) got a much lighter case of the flu.
I'm going to be good about taking it as prevention now, you betcha~~ Especially since people can get re-infected.
Thanks! I follow your recipe (pretty much, it's hard for me to be totally exact) and given it to a lot of people. I made tincture before and I like the syrup much better.
I do have a gallon of the E. syrup with vodca added to preserve it cuz no room in the
fridge. I also have maybe 2 gallon of elderberry Wine i made a few yrs ago. Will that
do in a pinch like if i run out of the syrup? How much to drink then? A small glassful
a day?
We have no real idea if elderberry wine would work. However, if it does (and it very well might... just no proof) I'd use it like I use the syrup... a couple tablespoons (because most people dilute heavy bodied juices to make wine- the yeast can't handle too high a specific gravity) every 4 hours. It's become obvious that the "effects" of elderberry aren't terribly long lasting... skipping a dose in a 4x a day regimen often results in a palpable increase in symptoms very quickly.
But the dosages are working... it just needs to be taken often enough to keep the blood levels up. So, a couple tablespoons elderberry wine every 4 hours during the worst of a flu should be sufficient (IF it CAN work... I'm not saying that for sure, because I don't know). And it wouldn't be so much that you'd be affected by the alcohol.
Summerthyme
This is the recipe I used to make elderberry elixir - haven't tried it yet - just made it the other day and I'm letting it sit for a few weeks. I used dried elderberries and added some rosehips. Also used an excellent quality brandy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Krayola
Elder Mother Immune Elixir
from The Medicine Woman's Roots by Kiva Rose
I don’t find the idea of magic bullets to be very effective in healing, and find that the most successful therapy always originates in tailoring the treatment to the individual person and situation. For this reason, you’ll rarely see/hear me recommending a set formula or list of herbs for any given diagnosis. In fact, my answer is almost always, “it depends” to any question asking about herbs to treat a disease or disorder. This is because I work with people, and with the unique ways a virus or pattern may manifest in each person.
For an overall tonic approach to modulating and enhancing the body’s native immune system though, I’ve seen Elderberry really shine, even in people with excess inflammation and/or autoimmune disorders. This elixir is one of only a few herbal preparations I would never want to be without. Although most people use it primarily to ward off or quicken healing from acute viral issues (influenza, primarily), I have found it useful in a variety of situations, especially chronic hyper or hypo immunity, extended illness and other depletion syndromes. The elixir is generally safe for children, pregnant women and nursing mothers taken in the moderate amounts suggested here.
Gentle, safe and very effective, Elderberry is one of our most important immune tonics, and is especially notable for its viability for children. Not only does it work extremely well, it also tastes good, which is certainly a plus when trying to convince your four year old to take her medicine. Elder Mother Elixir is safe even for small children, a food-like medicine appropriate for all ages. It’s also easy to create, making it a fun project for the whole family.
Elderberry does not simply stimulate the immune system, instead, it modulates the immune system to more appropriately respond to environs and circumstance. It also disarms the some cold and flu viruses and helps them flush through body quicker, while strengthening the mucus membranes, supporting the body’s natural fever mechanism without overheating, improves energy and stress handling AND last but certainly not least, it tastes great too.
Ingredients
For your elixir, it’s helpful to have on hand:
▪** *A pint canning jar (or other glass jar that seals well)
▪** *Fresh elderberries (dried can be used as well, simply use about a third of the amount, or about 2.5 oz to follow the 1:5 proportion method for dried plants).
▪ ** Several large pinches to a handful of dried Elder flowers (or a few ounces of Elderflower tincture added to the mix), this is optional, but my experience indicates that it makes the elixir more effective.
▪** *About a pint of high quality brandy (the better the brandy, the better your elixir will taste), depending on whether you’re using fresh or dried berries.
▪** *Appr. 1/3 pint of raw honey (or to taste, as you prefer)
▪** *A good stirring spoon
Step by Step Instructions
•** *First, fill your jar all the way to the top with fresh elderberries.
•** *Now, pour the honey in slowly, stirring as necessary, until the berries are well coated.
•** *Next, fill jar with brandy, stirring as you go, until all air bubbles are released.
•** *Now cover the jar with a tight fitting lid, and shake carefully to finish the mixing process.
•** *Let macerate in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks (or as long as you can stand to wait.
•** *Strain, reserving liquid. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Take 1/4 – 1/2 dropperfull of Elixir every two to three hours at the first sign of illness. You MUST take the Elixir frequently rather than having a bigger dose further apart, it just won’t work that way. Use the same dosage if you are actively ill. For a general preventative dose, I suggest 1/3 dropperfull every four hours or so.
Be sure to rest extra as well, the Elderberry has a much harder time with your immune system if you’re really worn down. A little extra sleep will increase its benefits tenfold. Likewise, staying well hydrated will assist Elder in its work.
Optional Additions
▪** *Warming spices such as fresh Ginger, Osha, Calamus, Orange peel, Cinnamon powder/sticks or Cardamom pods can add flavor and zing to the elixir.
▪** *Rosehips make a very helpful addition, I usually add a small handful or more of fresh Rosehips per pint of elixir.
▪** Soothing lung herbs such a Licorice root, Peony root or Mullein can be extra helpful for people with a propensity towards lung weakness.
Here is the link:
http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=82...n%27s+Roots%29
A couple problems with the THEORY behind her "elixir": Elderberry is NOT an immune stimulant of any note. It does have some weak effect on some cytokines, but it's main effect is as a direct anti-viral. The berries stop the influenza virus from reproducing. It WORKS- but must be taken early and often (many folks have now discovered that cutting back on their elderberry medicine after a couple days because "I felt much better" was a big mistake.
ElderFLOWER, however, can stimulate the immune system. And for that reason, I'd avoid it for H1N1...
I personally wouldn't make a combination "elixir", as I like to be able to control what herbs I'm taking (or giving). The same reason I don't buy combination cough medicines... if I need an expectorant, I don't want to be taking a cough suppressant at the same time.
Just my experience after almost 35 years of learning about plant medicines...
Summerthyme
I have boxes and boxes filled with small bottles of each kind of herb, made one by one by the quart or gallon.
If I decide to mix any I do it AFTER each has been made alone. I also like to be able to control what is given and taken. You just never know how each person will react to an herb. Thus giving a mixture makes it very hard to find out which herb is causing a problem ... IF there is one.
I have both elderberry and elder flower tinctures but not mixed together.
I also agree that the better the Brandy the better the tincture. But, I use Vodka for nearly all of mine. I do however use Christmas Brandy for my flower tinctures that only uses mere drops of each flower tincture formula.
The longer I belong to this site the more I LOVE it!
I got what was almost certainly the H1N1 virus a few weeks ago, and ended up with difficulty breathing and an inhaler. I slept in the recliner for over a week, and it took a couple of weeks before I was really back up on my feet. At the time I thought I had a really bad cold, so didn't take the Elderberry Tincture that I have on hand (got it from Jazzy, who posted on here earlier). When I was still having trouble breathing after I was 'over' the bug, though, Summerthyme recommended the curcumin, and it REALLY helped. Then my DD got the bug -- she didn't seem to have as bad a case as I did. I thought we were both over it, although I was still giving us both the curcumin (and it seems to be helping her to function better -- she's autistic and has lupus, so I don't know for sure what it was helping). Well, last Thursday, DD came down with it again, and then on Sunday I came down with it again. This time I started giving both of us elderberry, and am following Summerthyme's recommendation of taking it every four hours (along with the curcumin). I'm feeling much better -- as long as I take the stuff on time! And I think DD is, too, although I can tell when it's time for her to have another dose as she starts to get crabby. So, I can verify that the elderberry and curcumin DO WORK. I'm going to make sure we stay stocked up on both of them. The first round of this virus that I had got a bit scary with the breathing issues -- is that the cytokine storm that we've been talking about??
Someone up there mentioned that in Mexico the people who did best were the ones who were prescribed antibiotics rather than antiviral medications -- we think that my 96-y-o grandmother probably had this same bug when she was at my uncle's house before Christmas. He took her to the Dr. and she was given antibiotics. She got over it quickly and hasn't had a relapse. So maybe that's something that needs to be checked into, also?
Kathleen
Kathleen, good to hear you're doing better. Remember to take the elderberry for a week after the symptoms disappear, like you do with antibiotics. I had not heard that about the antibiotics. Could be your grandmother got over it quickly because at her age she has a weakened immune system, which would negate the cytokine storm. The cytokine storm sets up an autoimmune response that damages your organs. The problem breathing is not that so much as a symptom of the H1N1 virus itself -- it tends to set up in the lungs. That's why the curcumin helped...it relieves inflammation.
I thought of something I wanted to ask -- and I know it's been answered somewhere, probably in the archives somewhere at TB2K.
When it comes to elderberry, does it make a difference if you use vodka or brandy or some other liquor to make the syrup? And would it make a difference to make elderberry wine instead? A difference in dose, or in the length of time the stuff keeps?
Kathleen
Kathleen... it's usually best to use a clear liquor for tinctures, simply because the ETOH molecule that "absorbs" the active medicine in your herbs (whether elderberry or whatever) also holds the colors or flavors in the solution (at least that's the way it was explained to me by a couple of professional herbalists with a good chemistry background). If you use brandy or other flavored liquors, they usually have less alcohol in them to start with (lower "proof"), plus some of that can't extract the medicinal compounds because it's already "tied up" with the color and flavor.
My last chemistry classes are 30+ years back, so I can't vouch for that, but... I'm not a drinker, but I do know that different liquors tend to "work" a little differently... brandy, for example, seems to produce more "heat" than vodka (it used to be an old time remedy to take a swig of blackberry brandy for a cold or flu, and having tried it once or twice, I can vouch for the fact that it causes an intense "flush" that other hard stuff doesn't- at least on me). So I wonder about possible interactions between some of the other chemicals in various types of booze....
And since I can't get EverClear here, my next best choice is a high proof vodka.
Now... if you're only using it in the small amount to preserve the syrup, not making a tincture, sure... use any type you want. Just remember to adjust the amount so you end up with 5% alcohol by volume in the finished product. That means if you're using an 80 proof brandy, rather than 100 proof vodka, you'll need to add 20% more to your syrup...
Make sense?
On the "making wine for medicine"... I just don't know for sure. I THINK it probably would be very effective... elderberry juice by itself is, and could be used except for the problem of "keeping it" for long... Heat does seem to deactivate some of the medicine, so you can't can it and be certain it will be effective. Unless the yeast action also affects the medicinal parts (which I doubt, since it works mostly on the sugars in the juice), it should work. I'm planning on trying a batch this year and I'll try and report back if we're still online!
Summerthyme
Thank you, Summerthyme. That helps -- I'm not too enthused about a trip to a liquor store to buy vodka (or anything else -- trying to avoid 'all appearance of evil'), so I think I'll try making the wine. At least I have some experience with other fermented foods.
Kathleen
Since flu is making a comeback in some countries (that we know of, anyway) like India, Chile, some other SA countries, Malayasia - and now news of some kind of "new" swine H1N1 reassortment, I'm bumping this thread.
Tomorrow I'll post a link to my blog which has (so far) stuff about pandemic (a couple of summaries), flu protocol, and the start of home remedies etc. Have a lot of ideas, maybe bounce some of 'em here first!
I had swine flu twice so it gave me experience - hard won!
Oh, WONDERFUL. Hubby and I were just talking about last summer...the Summer from Hell, as we call it. We were sick from H1N1 for weeks and weeks... probably had the last "flares" around Thanksgiving. I do NOT want to see this bug again, ever!
Summerthyme
I drink it every morning, it's touted to help change of life issues too!:|Quote:
Originally Posted by darkchocolate
Up front, I am sure sorry for anyone who caught that awful Swing Flu, so please don't think my experience below assumes everyone who caught it to be unhealthy.
This is part of what I posted on another thread, but pertains to Swine Flu...
I recommended to my adult children that they NOT get H1N1, so they didn't. Len & I didn't. His sisters did.
Who got the Swine Flu? Us, who didn't get the shot or them, who did?
You guessed correctly- the sisters! That was sad as they were terribly ill. Now, one is in the medical field, so she was given an inhaler with "live virus" (oops). The other one was administered a shot (no live virus and no chance to contract it, right?).
Another strange thing. Although I kept reading how healthy people would catch it, not a single healthy friend or family member caught it. Instead? The unhealthiest ones did.
Now, adding on here, that I had read about healthy people contracting it, but that was not our local or personal experience where I live. I am thrilled to see a thread with remedies for it! Washing your hands well and avoiding touching what you can in public places is a deterrent for many things.