Yep fighters. Fighters, but not outright winners, I'm afraid.
When proper flu strikes - as it did this week for me - the only thing that actually 'cured' it was time. Time and rest. And sleep. And more time - even when I'd decided I'd had enough of being ill and would BREAK IT.
I didn't win. That surprised me as I famously have the 'constitution of an ox', because I believe that mind can win over body, and because, well, I'm just not used to it.
It was proper flu and proper rubbish.
Kind friends suggested the following and I'm sharing them because - whilst they didn't cure my flu - they would all work if just a bit down with something, or a heavy cold and, they definitely helped me feel better.
1. The one from the perfumier / aromatherapist / healer, my friend Karen Quinn.
She suggested two drop tea tree essential oil with one each of lemon and peppermint. I put this mixture in the diffuser (using my doTerra oils, which I love), and it helped a lot with just breathing. 'Just' breathing, yep. Breathing had been a bit laborious.
2. The one from my friend Neelam, who suggested warm turmeric milk, or 'golden milk'.
I'd actually heard about this before from Layla Saad, but hadn't ever got round to making it, much though I had thought it sounded a lovely warm milky evening drink. Turmeric is also a wonder ingredient, packed with more health-giving properties than I think I can ever remember hearing.
I made mine by warming a cup of almond milk in a saucepan with 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon honey and a tiny pinch of sea salt. If you like cinnamon, I'd add 1/2 teaspoon of that too and another time I'll experiment with adding black peppercorns and a slice of fresh ginger (strain before drinking of course).
3. And my friend Kate recommended slices of fresh pineapple with lots of freshly ground black pepper for any sore throat or cough.
Now, I didn't dislike this ... and tried it a couple of times ... but I think I prefer my sugar/salt/spice dip (but I do believe in the power of pineapple) ...
Would love to hear your cold and flu remedies too ... do comment and let me know!