Don't Come if you are Sick!

            I have a professor at Aquinas, Rob Kirkbride, who is a not a typical professor.  His class is a hands-on, “lets figure it out as we go” class.  The class is filled with “Let’s go out and try” statements.  His relaxed attitude encourages me to dare and dream about journalism. He has his own list of classroom rules; one non-traditional guideline especially caught my attention, “Do not come to class if you are sick, really.  I do not want you here, getting us sick and yourself sicker.  Stay home and get better.”  OK, I will.  So, by urgent request of members of the afflicted student body, I offer a couple of more remedies:

But first, the disclaimer:  It is important to remember, I am not a doctor, nor do I practice medicine.  I lived in Slovenia and Germany for almost seven years and learned some traditional rural “cures.”  Over the past hundred years, country folk in Europe often could not afford official medical care.  (Fair enough to say, others have been suspicious enough to avoid it.)

            1.         The best way to get rid of a burning stomach: 1 tablespoon of crushed ginger, ¼ squeezed lemon, and 1 teaspoon of honey.  Make a tea from the ginger, lemon and honey, it is best to add the lemon and honey after the hot water has cooled a bit; too much heat destroys the healing properties.  I drink this if I have a stomach ache or if my ulcer starts to act up. Try to drink (and eat all the solids in the cup) two or three times a day.

            2.         Another great stomach calming drink is Licorice tea.  It must be the real kind.  It can be found anywhere authentic Middle Eastern food is sold.  (I go to the Mediterranean Island on Kalamazoo Ave, just a few yards from 44^th Street.  It used to be the A&P.) 

            3.         If you are throwing-up or have an upset stomach drinks strong mint tea.  I boil hot water and place two teabags in one cup.  It must sit for a full fifteen minutes.  I then add honey and drink it all.  I am always amazed how quickly my stomach relaxes.

            4.         An alternative to mint tea for puking is strong rosehip tea.  Once, when I lived in Slovenia, my body decided to heave up everything between my mouth and my toes.  The fun part of the story is that it was the night we had twenty people from the church coming over.  They sat in the living room with my husband, while I was hugging the commode every ten to fifteen minutes.  When Daniella arrived, she immediately asked if I had any rosehip tea.  Within five minutes of drinking her strong tea, I completely stopped throwing up and fell asleep.  The prayer meeting was saved.