Help me get better for work tomorrow - any herbal/natural remedies?

[PanicPants]

I've been off work since last wednesday with a cold turned into a chest infection. Could only get to drs yesterday due to weather and being cut off, but now on antibiotics and oral steroids 6x day. Plus inhalers / paracetamol etc.

But don't feel any better at all.

Thing is I HAVE to go into school tomorrow as it's our last day and I've so much to do.

So what can I do to make it bearable to get through the day?

[startouchedtrinity]

Onion/garlic soup?

[SaintGeorge]

Onion soup, fresh garlic

[SaintGeorge]

See, must be a good idea, two of us recommending it.

[PanicPants]

Right, onion soup and garlic it is!!

Any recipes?

[startouchedtrinity]

Saute a load of onions and garlic in butter until soft and mushy. Add some stock, and if you have it, white wine and/or brandy. Also herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, bay. Simmer until you fancy eating it!

(I'm a pants cook but this is Delia)

[SaintGeorge]

I just chop loads of onions and 1-2 cloves of garlic. Soften slowly in a little butter or olive oil. Add lots of stock (whatever you like - chicken is good for colds too so use that if you can). Cook for about 30 mins, reduce by about 1/4. Blend slightly if you prefer a thicker consistency.

[SaintGeorge]

I'm also a shite cook but that was StG and surprisingly close to Delia

[PanicPants]

Thankyou ladies! (And Delia!)

I've set dp on to it right away. Amazingly we actually have lots of onions and garlic in the house.

[PanicPants]

Oh, and when we've cooked it, will the leftovers be alright reheated for tomorrow? Or frozen?

[SaintGeorge]

Should be ok for both.

[PanicPants]

Thank you!

It's nearly ready, apparently the house now smells of onions and garlic but I can't smell a thing so thats ok!

It's looking yummy though and so quick to make. Why don't I know these things already?

[startouchedtrinity]

My dh gets a lot of bronchitis and I make this for him. Word of warning though, no-one will go near you for a week!

[PanicPants]

It was yummy! I had it with grated cheese on top (which I know is not the best thing to eat with a bad chest) and I actuyally managed a bowelful. It's the most I've eaten for about 5 days

Might have another bowel before I go to bed. Make sure none of the children come near me tomorrow!!

[PanicPants]

( actually bowlful ) Tut tut at the spellings but I am poorly

[PanicPants]

Still no better despite all the pills and soup.

Any other suggestions?

[southeastastra]

i'd go for the unnatural lemsip

[CountessDracula]

You need Rasam soup
Incredibly hot and will blow most things like this away

Do you have a southern indian restaurant that delivers?

[PanicPants]

Have tried lemsip, day/night nurse, the works but still the same

Whats Rasam soup? And can I make it?

[startouchedtrinity]

Onion soup needs a few days to kick in. Also good to eat throughout the winter as a preventative.

[CountessDracula]

Simple Rasam




Serves 4

Preperation Time 30 Minutes

Contents
Green Vegetables

Ingredients
250 gms tomatoes, quartered
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 green chillies, chopped
1 lemon-sized ball of tamarind
1 tbsp jaggery
1 tsp mustard seeds
10 curry leaves
1 red chilli, broken into two
1 tsp coriander seeds ? roasted & powdered
1 tsp cuminseeds ? roasted & powdered
2 tsps peppercorns ? roasted & powdered
½ tbsps oil

Recipe
1.Extract the pulp of tamarind by soaking it in a cup of hot water.

2. Boil the tomatoes, chillies and garlic in 4 cups of water.

3. Add the ground spices, jaggery and tamarind pulp and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Heat the oil.

5. Splutter the mustard seeds.

6. Add the curry leaves, red chilli, asafoetida powder and onion and fry for a minute.

7. Pour it over the tomatoes.

8. Serve hot.

[CountessDracula]

i have tamarind gunge in a jar in the fridge, use that not fresh it is fine

[CountessDracula]

prob not useful unless you are habitual curry maker I must say!

Delivery option better
where do you live?

[PanicPants]

Delivery much better option since I don't even know what jaggery is!

I'm in Swindon. Just going to look at my takeaway menus now.

[CountessDracula]

jaggery is sort of solidified sugary stuff

[PanicPants]

There was no soup of any sort on my menus. But nevermind, thanks anyway.

I can't believe I still feel so ill. I'm off school again after going in yesterday (Last day for the children yesterday and my class are leaving the school for good so I wanted to say goodbye).

I'm trying to eat healthy bug busting foods (i.e., oranges etc)
Taking all the pills I'm supposed to, sleeping etc. BUT it's not getting any better.

Anymore ideas?