How, I don't know, but I've succumbed to a summer cold. I thought these were just for the winter?!? Anyway, I"m wondering what healing tonics you all whip up at home for just these times. I'm a vegetarian, but I make a nice n'icken noodle soup using veggie chicken-ish broth. But I wonder if anyone has any tried and true things for sinus problems. A hot harissa maybe? Or ....?

Extra green sauce on a burrito will make those sinuses open right up Happy crying!

While I'll always congratulate you vegetarians on your choices & discipline - I definitely will never envy them when it comes to colds & chicken soup. Have yet to find even the most robust-made vegetable broth come remotely close to a terrific chicken broth when medicinal purposes are at hand.

Maybe add some beaten egg (ala egg drop) or some egg noodles to your soup?

Another thought - assuming you're not a vegan - would be nice scrambled eggs & cheese (with hot sauce if you like it) & buttered toast.

Yet another - Tomato Soup, or a vegetarian version of Chinese Hot & Sour Soup?

Try making a mock chicken noodle soup with garbonza beans and tons of garlic, onions, hot peppers, and other herbs.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the ultimate cure for sinuses and colds. Grate 2 cloves of garlic, some fresh ginger, and boil it for a few minutes. Pour into a cup with the juice of one lemon. It works wonders, the taste takes some getting used to though.

Well the one above may work better, but I think that you might like mine better;-)

Make a pot of tea, into a mug,put one thick slice of lemon, 1 Tblspoon of sugar, and one shot glass full of brandy, add the hot tea. Get into bed before drinking,(may not make it there otherwise ;-)

My sister gave me this years ago, and she said she is not sure if you feel better, or just don't give a damn anymore.

My husband uses this recipe, only he leaves out the lemon, sugar and the tea.

Mrs.K

Boy Mrs. K, that sure is a "blast from the past".

My mom used to give us hot tea laced with something called "Rock 'n Rye", which was Rye whiskey that had a wood skewer of rock sugar in the bottle. Don't know if that's still in production somewhere, but it sure gave us the warm fuzzies, clear heads, & a good night's sleep.

In oriental cuisines, one of the best healing foods is rice porridge, congee in Chinese, khao tom in Thai food, and all having their own versions, which are usually eaten as breakfast foods as well. And, since they still use food as their medicine, this is a good way to get many medicinal foods into their bodies...I just like the flavor of it, when made with jasmine rice. And it is one of those things that can be tweaked to each persons taste, making it a very nice comfort food.

Dave

My mom used to fix us eggs poached in milk and then served over toast -- milk toast with poached eggs -- when we were sick. It was a strong inhibitor to future illnesses!

The crazy sprout lady at the farmer's market says hot water with lemon, a pinch or two of cayenne, and some honey or agave syrup if you need it...and nothing else. The old 'starve a cold' theory, I guess.

Anything with ginger. it's anti-inflammatory properties would help you out. Also, Braggs apple cider vinegar heated up with some honey in it. Drink half a cup of that a few times a day and it'd help too.

I think I would force myself to get better instantly if I was faced with downing vinegar Maybe that's how it works?