Old Home Remedies
For old home remedies, golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez swears by tequila. Apparently, he drinks a shot with breakfast every morning for the sole purpose of killing germs inside his body. He figures if doctors use alcohol to sanitize cuts, he would use it to sanitize his internals.
I hear he’s never been sick an adult day in his life.
I have to admit, there’s something to his logic. Old home remedies exist for a reason. I’ve been drinking a glass of wine or a cocktail most nights for years, and I’m rarely down for the count. But Wednesday night, I was feeling a bit under the weather. I think it was a mix of stress and lack of sleep, though with the sunny cold weather and all the cycling I’ve been doing, it could just be physical fatigue.
Whatever the cause, I wasn’t convinced a classic gin martini, mojito, or irish coffee would do the trick and keep me well. So I turned to one of my own old home remedies: grapefruit tea. (It’s only been in my family for a couple of years, but I learned it from an old lady in the supermarket, so it gets grandmothered in with our other old home remedies.)
Grapefruit Tea
peel a grapefruit
boil the rind in how ever many cups of water you’ll drink – for 5 minutes
pour liquid into a mug or teacup
stir in a spoonful of honey
drink
A glass of this old home remedy will make anyone feel better. Even Chi Chi Rodriguez.
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Comment by Jimmy
| December 11th, 2008
DH-If it isn’t therapeutic, it sure sounds tasty. Could the health benefits be somehow connected to the fact that grapefruit is a diuretic?
However, before taking large amounts of grapefruit, those on prescription medicenes like cholesterol lowerers and antihistimines should check with their health provider for possible interactions.
DH-Did you mention that you are of Scandanavian descent? I’m of Swedish descent and a glögg recipe for the St. Lucia’s Christmas season would be welcome!
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| December 11th, 2008
I will never forget how Les Nessman pronounced Chi Chi’s name as “Chy Chy Rod-ri-gweeze.” AND, as an extra bonus, it has always helped me know how to spell that last name! I learn so much watching TV.
As far as old home remedies go, my plan is lots of water, lots of rest, fresh ginger root tea with honey and pumping the echinacea. I rarely, rarely, rarely get sick.
Cathouse Teri´s last blog post..The Land of Oz
Comment by mama llama
| December 11th, 2008
I love grapefruit, as do my children, and we just eat it plain in the mornings, half grapefruit each person, and merely compost the rind. I like the sounds of your recipe; I’ll have to give that a try.
Tequila in the morning? Why not at night, I wonder? I would think it would have the same germ-fighting effects without having the smell on your breath during the morning hours…and even better, while your body is at rest rather than while out and active.
But that’s just me…
I’m copying that recipe. Hope you’re feeling better soon, Dads. Be well.
mama llama´s last blog post..My letter V
Comment by Twenty Four At Heart
| December 11th, 2008
For some reason a shot of tequila sounds better than grapefruit tea …!
Twenty Four At Heart´s last blog post..Random Tidbits
Comment by Exception
| December 11th, 2008
I love the old ways of doing things sometimes!! This one sounds like a good one to try. I wish I had a few to share – those family secrets…I will have to sit back and read what others add!
I hope that you are feeling better. Maybe you need a virtual bowl of soup? ;) (Sending warm and good thoughts)
Exception´s last blog post..Perhaps it is Just My Naivety
Comment by dadshouse
| December 11th, 2008
Dang, I’m going to have to start drinking a glass of red wine with my martini! Gotta love old home remedies.
Comment by T
| December 11th, 2008
We always did that with lemon. Slice up lemons and throw the slices in some water. Boil til you can smell the lemon from the other side of the room (I’m not kidding). Then add honey and some whiskey for good measure.
Or my grandma also had “The Remedy”. Some Jack Daniels with peppermints. Whew! That’ll kick what ails ya! And then some!
Feel better soon.
T´s last blog post..Velvet AND Steel
Comment by T
| December 11th, 2008
Oh Teri… I forgot about Les Nessman’s pronunciation of Chi Chi Rodriguez. SO funny!
T´s last blog post..Velvet AND Steel
Comment by Mad Cartoonist
| December 11th, 2008
Dads, I like your approach of drinking a glass of wine / day to keep the doctor away! Because I swear by that, too!
I also think that slowing down to enjoy a glass of wine is a very good thing becuase it makes me take a break out of my usually far too-hectic day. And that’s got to be healthy too, right?
Interestingly, red wine in particular is very healthy to drink regularly.
It has long been known that people who drink moderately live longer and have a lower risk of heart attack than non-drinkers. (Heavy drinkers of course are at much higher risk for developing many cancers and many other problems in addition to liver problems.) But it turns out that the health benefits of drinking moderately are most highly associated with those who regularly drink red wine. Other forms of alcohol (including tequila, sorry!) are not nearly as beneficial.
Red wine (but not white wine or hard liquor) contains a chemical (reservetol) that was recently shown to reduce inflammation, clear arterial plaques, and lower abdominal fat deposition. But just taking reservetol as a supplement still didn’t achieve all the health benefits as drinking red wine.
Red wine also contains lots of anti-oxidants, which prevent cellular damage associated with aging. Red wine is also thought to contain other, currently-unidentified, anti-aging chemicals. Both anti-oxidants and reservetol come from the skin of the grapes used to make the red wine, which is why other alcoholic drinks aren’t as healthy.
Also, it’s great that red wine goes so well with pasta!
Comment by MindyMom
| December 11th, 2008
Thanks for the old home remedies. I do agree with the alcohol thing too. Once when I was really sick but had to attend a very important dinner, we were served premuim russian vodka with our dinner instead of wine. By the second glass I felt and sounded so much better. The next morning my terrible cold was gone!
MindyMom´s last blog post..Monsters (Part 2)
Comment by Mad Cartoonist
| December 11th, 2008
Or, just eat a lot of grapes!
Comment by krn
| December 11th, 2008
Great remedy. I’m going to try the same thing with organic blood oranges and reduce the honey a bit since they are naturally sweet.
A fomer beau made me a bowl of lotus root soup that cured a sore throat once. I wish I would have asked for that recipe because it was rich and yummy and I’ve no idea what else was in it except maybe some shitake mushrooms. Anyone ever heard of a recipe like this?
Comment by Honey
| December 11th, 2008
Does having 3 beers a day keep the doctor away, too?
I will have to try this recipe; we have a grapefruit tree in our backyard.
Honey´s last blog post..In Sickness…
Comment by ilinap
| December 11th, 2008
Interesting. I happen to have a couple grapefruit so I’m going to try this. Thanks for sharing your old home remedies! For the record, the tea sounds WAY better than tequila.
Comment by justrun
| December 11th, 2008
Man, I wish I had a grapefruit right now. I NEED a cure.
justrun´s last blog post..DOR, TMI
Comment by Leah
| December 11th, 2008
Ok, you’ve all inspired me to break out a glass of Shiraz :)
This grapefruit remedy sounds spectacular. I also highly recommend lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and some honey in hot water. It cleans you right out. I’m sure some kind of alcohol would taste good with it, too.
Leah´s last blog post..Shout out to Sami G on Birthday #3
Comment by Solo-Dad
| December 12th, 2008
I say we all get together at DH’s and try a bunch of his old home remedies. I’m sure we’d feel better after! :)
Solo-Dad´s last blog post..10 Tips for Solo-Dads at Christmas
Comment by Manali
| August 26th, 2009
Interesting… I was not knowing that Grape fruit tea is so helpful.
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