TUMMY UPSETS

There are a million and one things that can set the old stomach into overtime. There could be something that your body just doesn’t like or it could be that food hasn’t been prepared in the correct way, and it could simply be a change of drinking water when you go visiting. Then of course there is dipping into the fridge to nibble on the Christmas leftovers when they should have been thrown to the dog a week and a half ago. Some one we know dipped into the fridge after a heavy night on the town a few years ago and came out eating raw bacon rashers for his supper! Thankfully he didn’t end up in casualty. He’s still not sure which upset his stomach more, the ten pints of beer or the raw meat. Whatever the reasons for the upset we have tried to come up with some simple solutions to the problem.

SOME NATURAL SOLUTIONS

We have tried to keep things safe, but do use these remedies with caution and test with a small amount first. As it says on medicine bottles, if the problem persists see a doctor,

For an upset tummy pour boiling water into a cup with 1 teaspoon full of either coriander seeds or caraway seeds. Soak for a few minutes then strain out the seeds and drink up!

Acid indigestion and heartburn
Mix together ½ teaspoon of baking soda with ½ glass of water. Drink every two hours until the problem goes away. Don’t take more than 8 doses throughout the day (4doses if you are over 60) the mixture is a bit yucky, so we are working on a way to freshen it up a bit.

Diarrhoea
This can be very uncomfortable and confine you to living within a few feet of the loo for a while. One remedy that is said to be effective is to use a ripe apple. Grate the apple and allow the pulp to stand at room temperature for a few hours until it goes brown (keep it covered or the flies will get it). The first reaction will be to throw it away, but this is when to eat it. The oxidized pectin that is produced is very similar to the ingredients of the diarrhoea remedies from the chemist. Again, you could try to make it more palatable when it comes to eat it.

Flatulence
To calm down an overactive tummy put two drops of peppermint oil into a half a glass of cool water. Mix and drink.



NATURES PENICILLIN

Of course it’s not all self-inflicted problems at this time of year. There are a lot of people with the sniffles. We have one very tasty idea (for some!) that will ease the symptoms of sore throats and help to combat a cough.
24 cloves of garlic
Raw honey.

Peel the garlic cloves and put them in a medium sized jar. Add the honey a little at a time over the period of a few days. Put the jar in a sunny window and leave until the garlic goes opaque and the honey tastes strongly of garlic. (We think this will take about three weeks) Take a teaspoon full every few hours when the coughing starts and the throat is sore.

Household.