Baker's Best of Health

If you (and everyone around you) seem to be coughing and sneezing up a storm, try one of these down-home remedies:

Herbal Throat Spray—For a blast of natural sore throat relief, buy yourself a new plant mister. Then brew up a triple-strength tea with 3 teaspoons each of dried slippery elm, echinacea, and licorice (available at health food stores) in 3 cups of water. Bring it to a full boil; then reduce the heat, and let it simmer 10 to 15 minutes. Strain out the herbs, and pour the brew into your new spray bottle. Open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and spray the back of your throat as needed during the day. Ahhhh, soothing relief! (Caution: Licorice shouldn’t be used by folks with high blood pressure or kidney disease.)
Rub on the Oil—Make your own chest rub by adding 3 to 4 drops of an essential oil (try eucalyptus, lavender, or thyme) to 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Apply liberally to your chest, cover with a clean cloth, and settle into a comfy chair with a cozy afghan and a good book.
Hail Mary!—Try a bloody Mary, without the booze! Mix some lemon, a celery stalk, and horseradish in a glass of tomato juice, and drink it down. Tomato juice is full of vitamin C, but it’s the horseradish kick that really does the trick. Its powerful fumes will loosen mucus congestion, making your cold more bearable.