Little helps for healing

The younger half of our family has not been feeling well.  Fevers, coughs and congestion have caused for demanding days and sleepless nights.

As one friend observed, "there is much giving and receiving in your home". And Clara takes to the giving naturally, especially when one is not feeling well.  In her own gentle way she whispers, sings and places her arms around who ever is in need.  In this case she collected her favorite rocks and placed them along George's body as he was suffering with a high fever.  This moment was too sweet not to capture, she was so intent and George shortly fell asleep.

Meanwhile in the kitchen I began brewing up some "potions" as my kids like to call them.  I consulted with the wise woman behind Indigo Forest and she suggested adding elderberries and rose hips to our regular red raspberry and nettle tea, that is the dark one and actually tastes good I'm told.

The other jar is a remedy made from a pound of garlic that was soaked in apple cider vinegar for four days, I strained it and then added some water and honey.  I got the recipe from here  and I have to say it is strong, even for me.  I swallowed the test dose in too much haste and honestly almost instantly threw up.  I went down to my knees and had to breath slowly for a few minutes before I could get back to normal motion.  But after the initial shock of the test dose I felt great, and have since taken a few spoonfuls to support my immune system as I'm caring for those who are sick.

Henry and Maryanna actually really like the garlic solution, I suppose they really need it the most.  Charles is still too young for honey so I'm just giving him sips of the herbal tea and spoon feeding him warm chicken broth.

George on the other is refusing both the herbal tea and garlic solution.  Instead he got into the cabinet with herbs and on his own took two dropperfuls of burdock blend and on another occasion chewed up a capsule of golden seal.  In both cases he said "yummy"...........and anyone who has ever tried those knows there is nothing yummy about them.  Perhaps he was in tune with what he really needed, I don't know, but I do believe if we are in tune we can know.

The tastier healing tools are pictured below.  We went through almost $30 of cough drops this week probably because everyone loves cough drops, even those who are not sick.  I told them anyone could have a cough drop after two spoonfuls of garlic juice and everyone but Paul and James fell for it.  They are tall enough to simply sneak a cough drop whenever they want.  But I have urged them to open the wrappers very slowly because even after the tiniest "crinkle" many little bodies come running with open hands.

Additional healing tools have included homeopathic remedies, essential oils, saying lots of prayers and practicing Jin Shin Jyutsu.  I believe in the Eastern philosophy that healing is 70 percent in nurturing and care and only 30 percent medicine, so that is what I practice with my family.    

And lastly, here's to the kind neighbor who not even knowing what I've been struggling with dropped off a fresh cut bouquet from her garden.  My spirit was revived by her visit and I'm happy to say all the little ones are slowly mending.