4 HOME REMEDIES MAKE A COMEBACK

The covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. People are avoiding doctor visits when possible. Hospitals don’t want to schedule elective surgeries. It makes you wonder how everyone is surviving. But if you’re my age, you can remember when people only saw doctors for emergencies. Probably because ordinary people didn’t have health insurance, and there was no Medicare or Medicaid. Antibiotics weren’t available to the public until the late 1940’s. Most everyone had their own ways of dealing with sickness and maintaining good health. Now, these 4 home remedies make a comeback.

1, Vicks VapoRub. , This was the mainstay of any medicine cabinet in the early 20^th century. If a child had a cough or the flu, out would come the Vicks. I loved the smell of menthol, and the way it seemed to clear up congestion. The directions for use haven’t changed in 100 years:

Home remedies make a comeback during the pandemic. — Home remedies make a comeback. Vicks has been used for over 100 years, and it still helps when you have congestion.

“Rub a layer of Vicks VapoRub on your chest and neck only. Drape a warm, dry cloth over your head while you’re sitting upright or standing. Loosen any clothing around your chest and throat so vapors can rise to your nose area. Repeat, if needed, up to three times in a 24-hour period.”

Vicks also relieves arthritis pain and muscle soreness. For me, It works better than some of the newer , menthol based products. It just smells a little bit stronger.

2. Chicken Noodle Soup. My mother didn’t open a can. The soup came in a package of dry mix. To me, it was the best tasting chicken noodle soup in the world. And it really helped. According to WebMd

“Chicken soup appears to help fight colds, according to several studies. It helps clear nasal congestion as well as thin mucus so you can better cough it up. In addition, research shows it may have a mild anti-inflammatory effect than can help ease symptoms”

3. Baking soda. If you read Heloise in the daily newspaper, you know she recommends it for many household tasks. But we used it to relieve heartburn or soothe a canker sore. We also brushed our teeth with soda. . While I keep toothpaste around, I still brush my teeth with baking soda at least once per day. And, I still have my own teeth, with only two fillings. I recommended it to a friend, who said it cured her gingivitis.

4. Neti pots. Were used in ancient yoga practice thousands of years ago. They came back into popular use around 1972. Scientists say that the nasal wash is an effective way to relieve sinus discomfort. When using the neti pot, patients become less reliant on medication. I don’t use a neti pot all year long, but it’s a godsend when my spring and fall allergies kick up. And during the winter, when the air is so dry, I’m apt to use it every day to prevent colds and sinus infections.

When the pandemic is over, the doctor’s offices will once again fill up with coughing, sneezing patients. In the meantime, you may want to fall back on these four old fashioned home remedies.

December 12, 2020December 13, 2020

EASE THE PAIN WITH TURMERIC

As a dietitian working in an acute care hospital for over 25 years, I saw many elderly patients who were taking over 10 prescription drugs per day. That was before medical records were computerized, so there were many errors with drug interactions, overdoses, missed meds, and so on. But that didn’t stop the medical profession from prescribing more and more pills. It’s still going on today, with the average elderly person taking 14 different prescriptions. Hoping to avoid all this pharmacology, I started looking into alternative therapies for my arthritis. Since I can’t tolerate Tylenol, I took a lot of aspirin. But that can be dangerous, too. Finally, I’ve found a way to ease the pain naturally with turmeric, which has potent anti-inflammatory properties.

If you’ve eaten in Indian restaurants, you’ve probably had turmeric without knowing it. It’s an ingredient in many Asian dishes, and imparts a golden yellow color. It is a principal ingredient in curry powder. Not everyone likes curry. But even if you do, you probably can’t get enough in dishes containing the spice to help with pain.

According to the Mayo clinic,

“Turmeric’s main active component — curcumin — is what gives the spice its yellow color. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential treatment for a number of health conditions, including reduced pain and increased ease of movement in people with osteoarthritis. One study found that taking turmeric extract three times daily was comparable to taking a 1,200-milligram dose of ibuprofen daily. However, more research is necessary to confirm these effects.

Other research suggests that curcumin may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, it may lessen some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint swelling and morning stiffness. Other areas of investigation include curcumin’s effect on Crohn’s disease, certain cancers, depression, diabetes, joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome. ”

Tumeric eases the pain because its an anti-inflamatory — Ease the pain with turmeric. It’s an anti-inflammatory .

The Arthritis Foundation suggests taking turmeric capsules (400 to 600 mg) 3 times per day.

Studies show that it takes about 4 weeks of taking turmeric before enjoying any real benefits. But my knees started feeling better after a week. These knobby, arthritic knees are never going to run marathons, but they get me around, and the pain no longer keeps me awake at night.

If you have arthritis, try easing the pain with turmeric.

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020

ESCAPE WITH A FREE BOOK

Are you about at the end of your rope? This pandemic lockdown has gone on for almost 9 months. At first, it didn’t seem too bad. Working from home in pajamas. No rushing around getting the kids to school. Plenty of sleep. But now, it’s wearing thin. We have a contested presidential election that’s putting everyone on edge, regardless of who you voted for. And to make everything worse, it’s cold outside, and Christmas is coming! Hiding under the covers helps a little, but not for long. You really just want to get away from it all. How about some armchair travel to romantic, exotic Costa Rica? Starting today, you can escape by down loading a free kindle book: Take The Money, Romantic Suspense in Costa Rica.

kThis book is free on Friday, Feb 7 thru Monday, Feb. 10 — Escape with a free book, today through Friday.

Here a brief synopsis:

What would you do if you witnessed a murder and the victim gave you $60,000 just before he died? Should you keep the money or call the police? Julie Lawson has only moments to decide.

Julie goes for a drive in her boss’s new Porsche, but a joyride turns to terror when they’re rammed from behind and tumble into a ravine. Knowing he won’t survive, Kevin Dufrain urges Julie to take the money and run because, “they’ll get you, too.” She boards a night plane to the cosmopolitan city of San Jose, Costa Rica and meets mysterious businessman, Bud Jimenez, who helps her find a job at the “Memphis South,” a popular nightclub run by Texas beauty, Nellie Compton. When Julie discovers the killer has tracked her down, she heads for a beach near the Nicaraguan border.

Julie’s small plane is forced to land in a remote Indian Village where she meets the passionate and charismatic Dr. Enrique Rojas, a widower who runs a medical clinic for the impoverished natives of Costa Rica. Here, Julie thinks she’s found the secret thing she always wanted to do, but it may be too late. The killer is still on her trail and the DEA suspects her of drug trafficking. Her fragile hopes for happiness seem about to shatter. Now, Julie must lose herself to discover what’s really important in life.

Take the Money is a compelling tale full of passion and courage. It takes you from a corrupt, inbred, southern Indiana town to the mountains, beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests, and all of the fabulous natural wonders of beautiful Costa Rica.

DOWNLOAD this free kindle book today through Friday @ HTTPS://AMZN.TO/1AGDW8A

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020

WARNING! VOTER RAGE IS DANGEROUS

The contested election of 2020 between Biden and Trump has reached the boiling point. And it couldn’t come at a worse time. People are already feeling that they’ve lost control during this Covid-19 pandemic. And now, all of a sudden, many fear that their vote has been compromised by a rigged election. It’s like being caught in a tornado following a hurricane. That helpless feeling that our lives are veering out of control. Warning! Voter rage is dangerous.

Most people can’t remember another supposedly rigged election, but I do. The Kennedy-Nixon election in 1960 was so close that it only took the votes in the states of Illinois and Texas to throw it to Kennedy. Historians believe that John’s wealthy father, Joe Kennedy, had the money and political power to somehow rig the votes. I was living in Chicago at that time, in a northern suburb that was strongly Republican. People were furious, but they didn’t contest the election. I’m not sure why. They say Nixon thought about it, but in the end, he decided to concede. He was young enough to know he could run again. And he did.

Kennedy’s election was fraught with controversy, and it didn’t get any better after the Bay of Pigs fiasco when 98 Cuban American’s lost their lives. But John redeemed himself with the triumph of the Cuban Missile crisis. For awhile, the Kennedy era was like Camelot. These young beautiful people were America’s version of royalty. And then it all went South. Kennedy’s assassination was soon followed by the killing of his brother, Bobby. Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who many thought had helped rigged the election in Texas, then took over. But that didn’t end well, either. The Vietnam War caused him to resign from politics, and not run for re-election.

So that’s why this contested election has me worried. Whether it’s Biden or Trump, the winner won’t have won in a landslide, like other popular presidents such as Ronald Reagan and Lyndon Johnson. Voter rage will always be simmering beneath the surface of the political landscape. It won’t take much to make it erupt into something very ominous. In contrast to Kennedy and Nixon, we now have two old men with nothing to lose but the election. Warning! Voter rage is dangerous.

December 4, 2020December 4, 2020

LIBRARY GETS AN A FOR EFFORT

If there is one thing I could never do without, it’s the library. Libraries have always been a place of refuge and joy for me. I grew up walking to the library from the time I was eight years old. That was before a child walking by herself a few blocks from home wasn’t considered child abuse. It wasn’t just the library I loved, it was the librarians. I don’t think I’ve ever met a rude librarian. They’re unfailingly pleasant, patient, and helpful. Thank heaven, they were only closed for a short time during the pandemic. And now that they’re open, they’re doing a fantastic job of following CDC guidelines. Our library gets an A for effort from me.

Did I say they were closed? Actually, they were sort of open. You could order print books online. Then, when you got to the library, you could call inside, and they would bring the books out to your car. Is that cool, or not? And then, just to be safe, they “quarantined” the returned books for three days before letting anyone borrow them again. You can still use this service if you want to.

Library Gets A for effort during this pandeimic. They are enforcing masks. — Library gets “A” for effort. They’re enforcing mask wearing & following CDC guidelines.

When the library re opened to the public, they had removed most of the furniture and put Plexiglas barriers all over the place. No plush, comfy sofas and chairs, or wooden reading desks and chairs. All of which meant people couldn’t spend hours in the library reading newspapers and magazines, or halfway sleeping. ( Sleeping in the library was banned a few years back). They do have two or three small, metal tables and chairs. These came in handy if you need to sit a minute, which I often do, at my age.

Everyone is required to wear a mask, and it’s enforced. I don’t know how these kind, gentle librarians are able to make everyone mask up, but they do. Yesterday I saw a couple of teenagers approach the door without masks. I figured they would get away with it. But when I got inside, they were wearing the paper masks the library provides. I’d loved to have seen that transaction. If these sweet librarians can be enforcers, why can’t the people at Aldi’s and the Dollar Store do the same? I guess it’s a matter of economics. The stores don’t want to turn down any extra sales, whereas the library isn’t in it for the money.

Why do I go to the library instead of calling and ordering books? The same reason I don’t have my groceries delivered. I like to wander the aisles and see what’s there that I hadn’t thought of. But I feel 100% safer in the library than I do in the supermarket. There’s no loud talking from barefaced people. No one crowding behind you at the checkout. No clusters of people clogging the aisles for a chat. The library is quiet, subdued, and safe. Our local library gets a an A Plus for observing CDC guidelines during the pandemic.

December 2, 2020December 2, 2020

CUSTOMER SERVICE ON DOWNWARD SPIRAL

Remember when it paid to complain about poor customer service? Well, that doesn’t happen anymore. I suppose it’s because of the pandemic. We can blame pretty much everything that goes wrong on Covid-19. And some people really don’t care if you like their service or not. When the coronavirus crisis is over, I have a feeling that’s not going to change. According to a recent survey at Arizona State University, Customer Service is on a downward spiral, and consumer rage is increasing.

Customer Service is getting worse and so is consumer rage. — Customer service is on a downward spiral and consumer rage is getting worse.

For us, it started last summer with the delivery of the Indianapolis Star. We’re a two newspaper household. For over three decades, a carrier delivered both papers to our side door. But when our local paper went to five days a week, the Indy Star had to find another carrier to deliver on Tuesdays and Sundays. That carrier decided she couldn’t take a few seconds to turn in our lane, roll down her window, and toss the paper on our side porch. In spite of repeated instructions to leave it on the porch, she kept throwing it near the street. Which means that I must get dressed and walk to the end of the lane so as to have our morning paper when we wake up. Not bad in the summer, but I’m not looking forward to ice and snow.

After exchanging e mails with various customer service representatives over a four week period, nothing changed. The Indy Star representatives repeatedly assured me the paper should be delivered to our side door, but that hasn’t happened. The Indy Star is still out by the road on Tuesdays and Sundays..

I suppose it’s hard to find paper carriers in ordinary times. But with all the people out of work, and scrambling for Uber delivery jobs, you’d think the Indy Star could find someone to take a few seconds to deliver the paper to our door.

Recently, we had another bad experience with the customer service department at Lazy Boy. Although we had thought bulky recliners were kind of ugly, we finally succumbed to the urge for comfort in our old age. We didn’t buy any old recliner. Ours was a custom job with all the bells and whistles, and pale blue upholstery. When it finally arrived, the dealer gave us a phone number to call if anything went wrong.

We enjoyed that recliner for three years. Just press a button to move it back, lift the leg rest, massage your back, or provide heat. And then, one day, it went all the way backward, but wouldn’t move forward. My husband found the Lazy Boy Customer Service phone number. He had to wait 50 minutes to get an answer. They said they’d have to schedule an appointment with a repair man. That was on November 23. A week later, they called to say they couldn’t come until Jan. 7. That meant six weeks with our recliner spread out across the room on its back. Seems the service center is in Texas, and it takes them awhile to get to Indiana.

In both of the cases above, we’re at the mercy of the service provider. No one else is going to deliver the Indianapolis Star, and there is no one in town who can repair Lazy Boy recliners (we checked) . I’m afraid it’s a portent of things to come. Customer Service is on a downward spiral, and it’s only going to get worse.