Home Remedies

I have spent almost all of this year laid up with flu or a heavy cold. I am not sure which. Every day a new symptom.

I have had a few days where I thought I was better only for it to return in full force.

Remedies recommended to me include the classic honey and lemon (not so good for vegans - I tried using maple syrup but I am not sure it is the same. Not that I am wholly vegan anyway, more I didn't have honey); garlic cloves whole (I can't - I tried eating a garlic clove whole once and ended up writhing on the floor in agony for about 30 minutes); onion on the soles of the foot (erk); vapour rub on the foot (nicer, but don't get it in your eyes); chilli (good since I can't taste anything anyway); ginger (that one I like); vocalzone (and then someone else said they are bad and mess up your throat); cinnamon; dry toast (apparently it scrapes your throat and that is good (again - erk)); chicken soup (yet again, okay as long as you are not vegetarian); bear root or osho. A Native American friend had given me bear root tea a while ago so I used that at the start of the illness. It tastes sort of like celery or curry powder. Not unpleasant, just unexpected. It seems to work but I only had enough for one day and after that I was too ill to go out to shop to get more.

I haven't eaten much the last few weeks so I have lost almost 7 pounds. I do not recommend this as a weight loss plan, at all.

Anyone with any other remedies? Suggestions in comments please. At this stage I will try everything and anything.