I woke up the day after Christmas sick. I think I have a better than average immune system and am rarely really sick. I get the occasional cold – usually around the Holidays – but rarely get knocked out of commission.

Given our proximity to the pandemic, I took a COVID test that we had in the medicine cabinet. It was negative. So, I loaded up with vitamin C, hot tea and my favorite cold remedy, Alka Seltzer Plus. I don’t know if any of it really works, but I’m fine even if it’s a placebo, it gives me a sense of comfort.

Everyone has their own remedy for colds and flu. My parents were mainline when it came to illness. Our family doctor, Dr. Eicher, was the one who delivered the three boys in the family.

He was our doctor for roughly 40 years before he retired. He knew our systems and what to do to relieve whatever was getting us down – well almost.

At six months old I developed asthma. Two years later, my baby sister developed it, as well. I don’t know the environmental forces that allowed us to both get it at such a young age, but I’ve always been suspect of cigarette smoke and feed lot dust.

As a result of having two small children with asthma, Mom started looking at alternative medicine to help relieve our distressed breathing – things like taking vitamin C supplements, eating yogurt and maintaining a healthy diet. We never had manufactured sweets or soft drinks in the house.

Once when we were on vacation, I had a bad reaction to the large number of pets in the house where we were staying. It was filled with cats, dogs and Ghinea pigs. One of Mom’s cousins mentioned that there were some old siblings living in the woods who practiced “country medicine.”

At her wits end, Mom took me to visit the two sisters and the brother that lived in a one room house in the woods – pretty scary stuff if you ask me. They made a tincture - tea - which I drank. I don’t remember if it worked, but I’m still here plugging away, so it didn’t kill me.

The thing that helped my sister and me the most was regular exercise. Competitive swimming was the thing that worked the best. If we had an asthma attack, the coach would have us hang on the gutter of the pool and bob – rhythmic breathing – to calm the reaction in the lungs.

I don’t do a lot of bobs anymore, but I think that hot herbal tea goes a long way to relieve a cold. There is nothing better than a bowl of chicken soup to help with the flu. And an extra dose of vitamin C certainly doesn’t hurt. I don’t discount a good natural remedy.