How to Breath Through Your Cold!

As the cold and flu season nears its end, Typhoid Mary (aka my first born) brought home the bug to beat all bugs – the dreaded sinus infection with a nice helping of upper respiratory misery. For the past month we have been fighting a losing battle. Fevers, chills, congestion and zero ability to breath through our noses. Now we are a family of professional Kermit the Frog impersonators.(we do birthdays, weddings, corporate events etc. college ain’t cheap y’all) After numerous trips to several doctors and a serious cocktail of antibiotics it looks like we might actually survive. However, even modern medicine needs a helping hand and Fox just couldn’t understand why his cute little button nose stopped working.

 I was left with two choices,

1. Get rid of the source (that would be the germy children)
2. Consult my old world medicine woman. No, not Dr. Quinn but the woman we all run to when things get tough – mami

After reassuring her that, yes I’d cleaned the house, steamed all hard surfaces, and cloroxed my apartment to the point of needing gas masks, she proceeded to tell me that while I had to let the antibiotics do their job I could help out our noses and relieve some of the pressure with one simple thing -an herbal face steam. Of course, I’m skeptical, but when all modern medicine fails, why not try it?  Guess what? It worked!! I felt like all those people on the Breathe Right commercials. Coincidentally this concoction does wonderful things for your pores too!

It’s so simple I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before. Here’s what you do…

• Pick your herbs. You can use freeze dried stuff but I recommend fresh herbs as the scent is much more potent.
• What you’ll need:
  • a small pot for boiling water,        
  • 1 sprig of fresh eucalyptus (anti-inflammatory)
  •  1 sprig of rosemary (Anti inflammatory),
  • 1 sprig of mint (Great for digestion but I chose it because of the strong scent. This is totally optional.)
  • Two slices of lemon and a large towel. (and this is totally optional I just really like the smell)

Add two cups of water to the pot and set it to boil. Once the water starts bubbling add your herbs and let it boil for another five minutes. Then remove from stove top. You can leave it in the pot or pour it into a bowl. Move to a comfortable spot, set down, and make sure the steam is not too hot. Let it settle to a temperature you’re comfortable with and won’t burn your skin. Lean over the bowl with the towel over your head creating a tent and inhale through your nose. Do this for about ten minutes. Once you’re done discard the water and herbs, wash out your bowl and pot thoroughly, rinse your face and Presto! A freshly smelling nose with some clean skin on the side.

PS: not recommended for the kiddies because of the hot steam, for my little sniffle bugs I turned on a humidifier with a Vicks VapoPad inside and let it run through the night. Not quite as quick acting but definitely helps.