Sunday, April 18, 2010

The Cure

I have been sick for over a week. By sick, I mean, head cold. I also only missed a half day of work and felt better, then shitty, then all right, then shitty, and so on and so forth. Anyway, the thing got in my nose. I am pretty sure I have/had a sinus infection. However, I don't feel like going on antibiotics, I don't really feel like taking meds when I do think my body can fight it off at some point (just depends on how long I want to feel 80%). I also don't feel like paying $90 to a) go to the doctor and have her not want to prescribe antibiotics or b) go to the doctor, get meds, and then pay for the meds.

So, here are my two new best friends, Netipot and Apple Cider Vinegar.


Leave now if you don't want to hear about natural/hippy things. Actually, if you don't want to hear about snot either, move on.

Now, about 4 or 5 years ago Oprah was all talking up the Netipot. I think my mom told me that. Anyway, I never tried it. I had a huge aversion to sticking any water thing up my nose and here is the reason why. When I was younger, say ages 8 - 16, my parents made me "douche" my nose. Seriously. That is what they/we called it. It required the use of one of those nasal thingies they use on babies to suck the boogers out or something. You take that thing, put it in salt water, squeeze the salt solution into the bulb and fucking squeeze the bulb and send water rushing through your nostrils and...usually out our mouth. Needless to say, I f-ing hated that thing. It burned, it plugged your ears, your eyes water. I am pretty sure I cried about it.

Anyway, back to the Netipot. I got so clogged last week that I thought, I really need to "douche" my nose but I really don't want to use the damn bulb so it was time to try the Netipot. I figured it couldn't be as bad as douching with the bulb because no one in their right mind would market such a horrible product. Turns out, the Netipot is a gentle ceramic teapot-like device that holds water into which you put salt. You kindly place the spout into your nose, tilt your head and let the water find its way out the other nostril. If you are really clogged, it takes a few tries but you just wait. No rushing water, no burning, no crying. And....snot comes out your nose and it is SO satisfying. It is satisfying not only to watch the green snot come out but also to actually breathe and taste and smells things when you are all done.

And now to the real cure, Apple Cider Vinegar. On Friday, my sinuses started getting back up into my head sinuses. It hurt like a bitch to even blow my nose. I thought, if this doesn't go away by Monday, I will be forced to go to the doctor. I decided to look online for some home remedies to sinus infections and really did think there wouldn't be anything. Low and behold, I found this. Since I couldn't taste anything, I decided to try the concoction, it couldn't hurt me, right? So, Friday evening I drank my 2Tbs of apple cider in 2ozjuice/6ozwater mixture. Couldn't taste it and I swear, within 24 hours I could smell and taste again. I have been drinking the stuff for a couple days now and I am amazed. I honestly think it is a great cure. However, I must note that I am not 100% better. I still get clogged at times and sound awful but I feel all right and am back to running and daycare.

So I avoided the doctor and I am hopefully on the mend. I will keep drinking my AVC con water and see what happens. I have high hopes for this miracle cure though.

5 comments:

Garden Street Zoo said...

I discovered the netti-pot this past fall and I swear by it. I have the cheaper plastic version (it was all they had a Haggen and I was desperate after having a nasty cold for over two weeks). I also swear by gargling salt water when you have a sore throat. The best thing ever! I hope you feel better soon. I have allergies/cold right now too, so I am off to use my netti-pot!

The Momma said...

I knew in the first 3 sentences where this was going. Abusive Childhood Memory #85 - Nose Douching.
For educational purposes: the word "douche" is French, meaning to wash or soak. Douching is introducing a stream of water into the body for medical or hygienic reasons.
We were not using it inappropriately though it always sounded bad. But we don't say ‘douche your nose’ anymore. We say ‘irrigate your nose’. I think I changed it after a kid called me a douchebag.*

Of course you cried about it – you cried about most everything.

And I thought ACV's main use was for dying Easter eggs; I never knew it was such a renowned health remedy for so many ailments. Are your ‘kids’ getting their daily dose too?

*Definition: Douchebag, or simply douche is a slang term, dating back to the 1960’s. It refers to a person with a variety of negative qualities, specifically arrogance and engaging in obnoxious and/or irritating actions without malicious intent.
Reading this definition really makes me want to start using it when I encounter those to whom it applies.
It does not apply to me. Wait, maybe it does. :^!

Melody said...

Hey

This is funny I have also started the apple cider vinegar remedy. I have had three colds this season which has totally sucked but during my first one I started drinking apple cider vinegar and I swear by it too. The way I do it is have it hot like tea and put in two TBS of vinegar and then some honey - I have actually come to like it. I haven't yet used the neti pot but maybe next time when I can't taste and smell.

-Mel

Farmers Veggie Wife said...

mom- Irrigate, douche, whatever you call it it was still not cool. At least my children will get to use the neti-pot although they will probably think it is a worst. Damn Dr Starr for ever suggesting it.

Melody - The day after I wrote this post I was cured. I am back to normal now and I swear by ACV now too (I tell everyone I can, I even told the ladies at the bank yesterday. haha. they did look at me oddly). I read you can drink it daily too and it fights off stuff. I think I will do it. I do like the water/juice mixture though since I need to drink more water during the day. Although, I did drink it in tea when I was really sick, tea is better when I am sick. :)

Melody said...

That is great - I tell everyone I know too. My friends think it is cool and try it but my coworkers think I am crazy. I think I should drink it when I am not sick as well but I just forget. I sent you and Claire checks you should let me know when you get them because I found my mailbox open the other day so I am a wee bit concerned but I think they went out before then.