There is a time and a place for everything

Sometime in December I came down with what I thought was just a common cold.   It very well may have been just a cold to begin with.   But, being pregnant, there are very little medications I can take to ease the symptoms.  Yes, I know the medications won't make my cold go away, I just needed to function.   So, knowing there were very little options for medications, I turned to some friends and family who use herbal remedies.  Some of these people rely solely on herbal remedies, others will use medication when absolutely necessary.   

So, after consulting with these people, here is the regimen I began.

Garlic-   I began using fresh garlic.  I would chop it up, put it on a spoon, and wash it down with water.  At first it was really gross, but I soon got used to it.   I could tolerate the fresh garlic.  I was taking about 3 cloves of fresh garlic a day.

Zinc/Vitamin C supplement-  I would take 2-3 pills per day.  Zinc is supposed to be a natural antibiotic as well as garlic.   

Neti pot-  I love the neti pot.  It is a little weird, but I have been using the neti pot for about 5 years now.   Usually I can flush out my sinuses before the infection settles in.   

Peppermint oil-  I would put this under my nose, on the back of my tongue, and on my forehead to help clear my sinuses and to relieve my headaches.  

So, with all the garlic, zinc, and vitamin C I was infusing my body with, I should have started to feel better, right?   Fast forward three weeks.   I was getting sinus headaches galore.   My face felt ready to explode.  My sinuses were so clogged the neti pot was not doing any good.   My face was was so swollen and sore.   I had the chiropractor do work on my sinuses to open them up and help them drain.   This seemed to all be to no avail.   I was sure at this point that I had a sinus infection.  

After trying everything, except going to the doctor, I knew I needed to get in quickly.  After all, it had been just about 4 weeks since I first started feeling like I had a cold.  I was able to get in the same day I called.  I knew the doc would prescribe amoxicillan, but I know my body does not respond to amoxicillan.  I talked with the doctor about this.  I told him I did not want to return in two weeks not feeling any better and needing a different antibiotic.   He gave me one I can use safely and he took time to explain the classifications of antibiotics and why he could give me the one he did.   

I am now on day four of antibiotics and I feel 10 times better than I have for the past month.   I have gotten through the day without a major headache.  I am still exhausted as ever, but I can function.  

Not that anybody needed all this dumb information about how sick I've been.   My point is that there is a time and a place for everything.   I do believe herbs work to a point.   But I do not believe that we should disregard the place of medication and the advice of doctors in our lives.   I have friends who are completely sold on the use of essential oils for everything.   Others I  know are completely sold on herbs for everything.   

I am not completely sold on the sole use of either essential oils or herbs.   I do believe they have a place and will help.  But there are times when the ailments we suffer with require more than what the herbs and oils can do for us.   After trying all I knew to do with herbs and oils, I knew I needed more help.   I do not like medications but I also recognize the need for medication to help me.   I recognize that there is a time and a place for herbs and also a time and a place for medications.

If the stars and moon could be our pillow . . .

Apparently my little guy has an obsession with the stars and the moon.  Who knew?  I certainly didn't realize this.   It was about 3 a.m. and I was tucking him back into bed after he had gotten sick (yuck!).  He turned to me and told me when he grows up he wants an airplane that will go all the way to the stars and to the moon.   When I asked him why he wanted that when he grows up, he looked at me and said, "So the stars and the moon can be my pillow."   Then he laid his head down and went to sleep.   I'm sure he was dreaming of sleeping on stars.  

How would that be to believe all is well if the stars and moon make the pillow we lay our heads on as we sleep?