Snuffle season

There is no way to soft soap this, I officially have the autumn cold. I have all symptoms on the check list, temperature sore throat blocked nose you name it I have it. Except unlike everyone else who can reach for the cold and flu medicine, I can't. as they have ingredients in them that conflict with my other medicine

So armed with a man size box off tissues ( the 2nd of the day) I am raiding mums herbal medical cabinet. In there is a multitude of alternative remedies. Everything from cider vinegar and local honey, for stiff joints, to raspberry vinegar for sore throats. Tonight I think it will be lemon and ginger tea with a side of raspberry vinegar. Also on the menu will be Vick for my chest and Melissa cream for my sore nose. Not a usual list, but that's the way round becoming a chemistry experiment. Its odd really that in fact some of the old remedies are the best as there is little side affects to them, except maybe a heady aroma of various herbs and spices.

Along with that little revelation, is the fact there is a trend I have been noticing that seems to be over taking the nation. The return to cupcakes, afternoon tea and the such like. Just this afternoon I watched a program about cake creating which encouraged the use of rose petals and lavender in the cakes. Only recently I have tried my first lavender cupcake as we have a lavender farm not far from us. As I was dutifully informed it was a very popular flavour during the Elizabethan times, along with rose and violet. It was a rather heady experience eating one and I have to admit it is probably an acquired taste as its like eating an aroma if that makes sense. I certainly wasn't brave enough to try the lavender tea though, that is one step into the unknown I am not yet ready for.

That said it does raise questions, are the more natural ways of eating and medicating better for a least certain conditions. Like when I get low iron readings (by low I mean seriously low) I find increasing my fruit in take with my meals, adding more spinach and similar dark leaves to my diet and marmite, help just as fast as any of the iron tablets I have been given with less of a side affect. Coltsfoot rock is sold in the retro sweet shops is actually a good throat sweet for minor dry coughs and sore throats. The list continues, the truth is a our body processes the more natural sourced food quicker than the synthetic, well that's how it seems to work for me.

And on that cheerful note I am off to find the kettle of hot water to do a steam bath on my face and hope come the morning my ears stop feeling like the Thames is sloshing around in there, especially as I have the dentist 1st thing.