Thyme

Thyme is a stimulant and an antiseptic. 1 cup of herb to 3 cups of boiling water is an effective deoderant, aftershave lotion, mouth and face wash for problem skins or a deep cleanser. Use it in the bath, steeped in vinegar as a hair rinse, as a face steam, and apply the tea to eczema, psoriasis and rashes.

Coughs, Colds and Flus

I've marked the ones we use most often and that I most highly recommend.

**Torpedo Drink/Composition Essence
This drink was always given to us by my mum. Its an aquired taste but oh boy does it burn out anything going on in your system! Thats why we renamed it Torpedo Drink!! Great for coughs, colds, flus, etc.
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Cloves (can be crushed or whole)
1 tsp Cinnamon
A couple of tsp Honey
Cover with boiling water, let cool slightly but drink as hot as you can bear it. Play around with the amounts too. Just be careful - cayenne pepper burns!

**A mustard footbath before bed is also really good for a cough surprisingly enough. Put 1 tsp mustard powder into a bucket or deep basin, and add hot water to come halfway up your calves, as hot as you can bear. Keep feet in for atleast 10 minutes, topping up with hot water as you need to. Mop the feet dry, put some olbas oil on the bottom of your feet, chuck on a pair of thick socks and roll straight into bed!

**Olbas oil is fantastic! Rub into your throat and chest before bed. Really helps settle things down.

**Another chest rub is to heat vaseline and add either finely chopped garlic cloves or crushed garlic, leave to cool then rub into your chest and back. Wrap up warmly.

**To soothe your throat steep crushed garlic (or finely sliced garlic cloves) in runny honey. Leave for a minimum of 4 hours and take a teaspoon at a time, letting it slide down your throat. This is really good!!

Thyme, marjoram or lavender made into a tea with abit of honey added is very soothing. Eucalyptus tea is also really soothing and a powerful bactericide.

Gargle red sage tea with a dash of vinegar. if you don't have sage then gargle hot water, lemon juice and abit of honey if you want. Drink the rest.

Depression

Depression can be due to a deficiency of zinc. If you want a cheap way to find out if you're deficient then ask your pharmacist to make up a solution of 13.2g of zinc sulphate heptahydrate and distilled water. Add enough distilled water to make a litre and swirl 5-10ml round in your mouth. If you are deficient it will be tasteless if you aren't it'll taste totally foul!!! Otherwise your chemist might have another taste test you can do.

Vitamin B deficiencies also have a depressive effect and can be a common cause of some forms of PND. Women who have been on the pill can suffer a B6 deficiency which pregnancy doesn't help so a supplement is good. I've just picked up some all round vit B tabs to start taking. Also try brewers yeast - disgusting but omg so incredibly good for you!! Makes your eye whites so clear and just cleans out your system. Take a dessertspoonful of brewers yeast, a cup of milk, a couple of big spoons of yoghurt and a sliced banana in your blender and its yummy!

Eat lots of oat porridge - its excellent for depression. Chamomile, Rosemary and Lemon Balm made up into a tea is also great and none of the above should affect AD meds at all. Ginseng tea is good, also Fennel tea which has the added benefit of helping milk flow if your BFing.