Garlic & Elderberry for Oink-Flu Blues. Update June 2013

Garlic & Elderberry

for

Oink-Flu Blues

Garlic, as antibiotic? Garlic elixir?

Only side-effect being garlic breath?

You’re kidding, right?

Actually, garlic eaten as infection-fighter and tonic immune-builder, is as old as pyramid building at Giza and the daily ration of Roman legionnaires. It’s way more interesting than just a frozen pizza option! Garlic heals, fortifies and builds strength.

We’ve lived an inside joke—pinch-lipped Puritans, who boiled veggies to death, looked down on later Mediterranean immigrants who ate garlic at ebullient, anti-oxidant-rich meals! Garlic-eating connoted Ellis Island late-comers, scorned by the entrenching WASP “Elites.”

The Mediterranean diet has since met the DAR, and we enjoy the gift of garlic-rich meals from Italy, France and the Middle East.

Given the pandemic buzz in our currently interesting times, has garlic deeper health potential?

You betcha.

Read on for in-house remedies* and elixirs.

(Yes, various capsules are currently available, but if not, what can be done at home?)

What if health care, as reigning BigPharma paradigm, just supposin’, what if health care were to break down?

19th Century MD remedy:

Interesting tidbit gleaned from the 19th century eclectic physicians about garlic and severe infections. This is pre-antibiotic info—an entire bulb of garlic was separated into garlic cloves, peeled, minced and mixed into lard. Lard was then readily available. Cold cream would serve as well.

The garlic remedy was then packed onto the soles (only) of the feet of a patient with high fever, flu, pneumonia, etc., the mixture covered, and held in place with socks. Within just a few moments the patient will have garlic on their breath.

The author observed this remedy put to use in a case of scarlet fever. Fever broke; the patient went into deep sleep and woke many hours later, smelly but well.

(This is mentioned as an anecdote, potentially worth noting if other help is not near, and should in no way be construed as medical advice.)

Garlic Elixir Recipe:

1c organic cider vinegar

1c organic raw honey

8-12 large cloves garlic, peeled

Plop above three ingredients into blender and liquefy. Pour into glass jar or two; cover with lids. Let age 5 days in fridge. Take 1Tbs daily in juice or water. An additional dose or two can be taken, in case of the “epizoodic”, as they say in the South.

Lingering Cough:

This garlic elixir is potent stuff, and astonishingly is reported as having cleared up hacking “Chemtrail Cough”, dating from heavy spraying this summer. Suddenly, deep lung crud is brought up by the garlic tonic, and months-long coughing ends.

Whatever one’s opinion or observations of the skies, locally many of us have been watching unmarked white jets spewing out dense something or other.

Emergency Room admissions seem to peak after heavy spraying—instances of respiratory distress, e.g., asthma attack, bronchitis, pertussis, pneumonia; also burning eyes, dehydration and flu-like malaise.

The jets generally fly in teams of 4 or 5, making repeated parallel passes and X’s overhead. I have watched through binoculars as dense spew was emitted from the tail section, not the engines, of unmarked planes, perhaps setting the jet contrail-argument into question.

Before each torrential, crop-destroying summer rain this year, we watched the jets at play. Some spews rained down oily and caused circular smog “rainbows” around the sun.

After one such LA-sky blanketing, the rain puddles on our local organic farm had a reddish oily scum and the air stank oddly of chemicals.

Anomaly? Dunno, but in-home garlic has been a useful resource. It’s not too late to fall-plant in many parts of the country.

What to do about garlic breath?

1) A whole clove (the spice, that is) in the mouth clears garlic smell. Clove is also anti-viral and not a bad idea when out and about. A small jar of whole clove in the glove compartment of the car could be useful, to pop a spice clove in the mouth before entry into snuffling, coughing crowds.

2) In India, cardamom seed is often chewed after a garlicky, spicy meal. Good digestive as well.

3) Fresh mint sprig chewed; ditto, good digestive.

Elderberry Elixir:

There’s pretty interesting medical data on elderberry as an anti-viral. Expensive syrups and capsules are available from Switzerland and Israel. The brand names are some variation on the botanical name of the plant, Sambucus (canadensis).

What can we do at home, more economically?!!

Elderberry Recipe:

1Qt or liter filtered water

1 rounded Tbs organic dried elderberries

1 rounded tsp organic dried ginger root

1 rounded tsp organic dried rosehips (or juice of ½ lime or lemon if available)

Bring water, elderberries and ginger root to simmer, covered. Set timer for 30 minutes. Tea will turn a gorgeous purple-plum color. Turn off heat. Add rosehips or citrus juice. Cover. Drink in 5 minutes.

A second, still yummy though weaker brew can be made when tea is drunk. Add another quart of water to plumped-up elderberries and ginger. Bring to boil; turn off and leave to steep. Nice to pour into a glass bottle and drink while out doing errands or at the office.

For additional good health home remedies, see: “Power-Up Immunity with Kitchen Probiotics”:

http://feastandfamine.blogspot.com/2009/05/flying-pig-flu-power-up-immunity-with.html

*The organic ingredients for the remedies can probably be found at your local health food store or food co-op. Being service-oriented, the store managers will likely be willing to order in product which represents a community good.

June 2013: Am updating the elderberry info with a recipe I like even better, concocted by True Earth Mama. Kudos to her! Given honey component, it's suitable for kids one year old and above, and yummy for adults as well. Here goes:

Ingredients (Organic):

2/3 cup dried Elderberries
4 cups water
2 tea bag of Rooibos tea
1 tsp of Cinnamon
2 T fresh or dried Ginger
1/2 tsp of Cloves
1/2 cup raw Honey  

Directions:

1. Pour water into saucepan and add all ingredients except for honey
2. Bring to Boil, Cover and Simmer for 45 minutes
3. Remove from heat, let cool
4. Pour through a strainer
5. When completely cool, add honey and mix completely
6. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator

Suggested Dose:

Take daily for immune support:

       ~ 1 tsp. for children

       ~ 1 T. for adults              

                                                               

If Flu comes on:                     

       ~ Take suggested dose every 2-3 hours until symptoms disappear.

The Benefits:

Elderberries: High levels of Vitamin A, B and C, high in antioxidants, immune system stimulate, helps with digestive system, anti-inflammatory.

Rooibos: From South Africa, this red bush is excellent for you.  Very high in antioxidants, lowers blood pressure, protects the heart, inhibits brain aging, improves immunity

Cinnamon:  Reduces pain linked to arthritis.  Contains fiber,calcium and iron. regulates blood sugar levels. Reduces cholesterol. 

Ginger: Anti-inflammatory, helps digestive issues, rids throat and nose congestion, reduces flatulence.

Cloves: High levels of antioxidants. Encourages healthy teeth and gums. Anti-inflammatory.

Raw Honey: Antibiotic properties which treats conditions like the cold, sore throats, indigestion and acne. Treats allergies, helps support and protect the growth of bacteria in our gut. Relieves constipation. http://www.trueearthmama.com/blog.html

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