Tuscan Home Remedy for Colds

Passed on from Tuscan natives to tourists and expats alike, this home remedy is tried and proven and will quickly heal those who are ailing from cold ailments, if  utilized multiple times throughout the day.  The idea behind the vapor treatments (done with vinegar and baking soda) is to disturb the present environment of the where the mucus is growing and a virus is thriving. Results after the first 2 treatments are immediately noticeable. This treatment is accepted by Doctor’s when addressing cold’s, however, should still be under advisement.  Often time’s when healing sinusitis and bronchitis, inhalation of vapor combined with eucalyptus drops may also be recommended.
Ingredients
6 cups Boiling water
1-2 Tea Bags
1/3 cup White or Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Baking soda
Have a large towel ready to create a tent as you cover your head over pan to capture and concentrate as many hot vapors as possible while inhaling.
1.  Boil 6 cups of water in medium to large size pan. Turn off stove and Remove pan placing it on to a hot pad on the  table.
2.  Add 1-2 Tea bags (Te`) to hot water in pan
3.   1/3 cup white or apple cider vinegar (Aceto or Aceto di Mela  to hot water)
4.   Cover head with a towel as to keep vapors inside tent,
5.  THEN slowly ADD 2  Tablespoons  Baking Soda (Biocarbinato)
6.   With mouth open inhale vapors that rise up. The first 10 seconds of inhaling the vapors are most important so don’t remove yourself from the bubbling reaction.
7  Utilizing the same pan of hot water, Repeat treatment 2 more times every 3 minutes by adding 1/4 cup vinegar and an additional 2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda. Your total first treatment will be for about 10 minutes.
Repeat 4-6 times throughout the day, may need to repeat for 2-3 days as needed.

ADD TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE:
1.  Squeeze as much of the juice of a lemon as possible into a glass.  Fill the rest of the glass with water.  Over 20 minutes time consume the lemon water. The vitamin C and antioxidants from the lemon will contribute to strengthening ones immune system.
2.Eat oranges and grapefruit to maximize vitamin C intake.
2.  To Suppress coughing consume 4-6 tablespoons of honey throughout the day.
3.  Drink hot Green, Black or White Tea throughout the day. 6-8 cups to keep body hydrated; additionally, the polyphenols from the tea will combat the virus that the body is fighting against.
4. Gargle with salt water. 1/2 glass of water, 1 Tablespoon salt, stir together . Gargle mouthful’s of water at a time towards back of throat. BE CAREFUL not to swallow water.

Kimberly Crocker