When you are sick what do you do? Do you go to a doctor before or after googling the symptoms? Do you want  to be prepared to match up your symptoms yourself or simply let the doctor decide?  Do you read about home remedies or only take traditional medications or both?

There is so much information about wellness and what it means out there in the cloud that no one person could possibly take all the advice of good eating and exercise (and have the right genes if you’re really lucky) and put it all into practice.  That would be sainthood and still no guarantee you’d live a pain-free life until you’re a 120.

Anytime I consider the web for information on illnesses though I use some common sense, like I don’t even look at the ads promising a cure if you send in cash (well maybe just to see how silly they are), and I wouldn’t do anything really strange and weird or beyond safety. But right now I’m looking for just a little bit weird since I’m just a little sick and tired of being sick and tired.

The past few weeks have been a bit of hell as I try to overcome a cough that, at times,  has been so bad I’ve almost blacked out.  Even now after four weeks I still cough a little bit when I talk and move around too much. So to say that it is causing me grief would be an understatement.

I googled the symptoms and I may have what is commonly called by the health profession when they’re pretty sure it’s not caused by allergies is non-allergic rhinitis.

It’s still part of the multi-billion dollar industry for all those OTC things that can possibly be considered to relieve the symptoms. Over the past couple of months I’ve contributed to that total quite well. Yeah, I had this in October too.

So where does the “wellness” come into this?

Let see what have I tried and in no particular order or time frame: a various assortment of OTC drugs and syrups, sleep, vitamins natural and supplemental, walks for a breath of fresh air, a neti pot, mentholated rubs, baths, hugging my dogs, light treadmill use, meditation, juice, water, tea, etc. etc. etc. I’m getting just a little bit frayed about all of it and on top of it all I feel guilty about missing work, missing my course classes (two out of 12) and missing a job interview. I know I can work through this and I will eventually get better but  in the meantime I am truly feeling miserable.

So what to do about it other than gripe about it?

From the website: ” Avoiding the irritant triggers which cause the symptoms is the best way to treat non-allergic rhinitis, but not always possible.” Okay so it’s not possible to move to Hawaii but I’m pretty sure my problem would go away.

There’s also trying to beat this thing but until they have a cure the best I can do is try to prevent it (okay if I’m moving  I’m leaving Alberta; Quebec or BC)

That leaves me with trying some more unusual home remedies that people swear by and again no cure but perhaps some relief for awhile.

Up first for yet another suggestion is Tomato Tea I’ll let you know how it works out and add it to my list of things to drink. I wonder what it’s like with vodka and a celery stick?

Next up, uh, oil pulling. Okay it’s doable but you’ll have to read about it to understand it.

Update 03/07/2010: The warm tomato juice did nothing for me

The oil pulling was just weird.  I used the sunflower oil as suggested and it made my teeth feel cleaner which is okay but nothing else. Also it took too long even if I was dedicated and that’s twenty minutes of morning time that is far too precious.

I’m still just using Flonase or whatever it’s called.

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There is a moment in time, a pause upon a hill where there is a whiteness of winter. It’s not just an absence of colour but more a blending of textures. White upon white, cold to cold, slipping into the many shades of gray and finally a fade to black.

A fresh snowfall on a windswept prairie with the trees silhouetted against a dusky sun shrouded in a cold blanket of clouds.

The clear air, the crunch of snow and a sense of stark bleak threatening cold it’s a sense of darkness and dying. A certain biting chill threatens to take my breath away and drive a tingling numbness to my fingertips and my toes.

I move my feet to dislodge a small clump of frozen snow clinging to the bottom of my skis. The noise starts off a ruckus of brown sparrows as they take flight, chattering noisily and flicking from bush to bush they search for a cache of lingering fall seeds.

I inhale deeply and just as quickly the biting cold air threatens once again to pull it away. I stomp my legs more vigorously to drive the chill away then push off down the track. The warmth of my legs starts to return just as quickly as my face starts to burn with the cold. But in these peaceful surroundings and with each glide of my skis, I know this cold winter day will find no strength to take me today.

While I’m not always a big fan of cookies, every so often I get a recipe that makes my mouth water and a bonus if it looks easy enough that I’ll actually make them. I saw these in my December Canadian Living Magazine and what a tasty surprise.

I used  a Pampered Chef sprinkle to make them really tasty the second time around. I’m not one to buy MLM products often so if you can find a cheaper alternative, please share it as I can think of a few cinnamon buns and the like that would be very tasty with this on them. I think one of the ingredients in this mix is a bit of candied ginger.

1. In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy; beat in egg yolk, molasses and vanilla. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Stir into butter mixture.
2. Divide into thirds. Place each on waxed paper, using paper as support, roll into 1 inch (2.5 cm) diameter logs. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, 2 hours.*
3. Sprinkle turbinado sugar** on waxed paper, unwrap logs and roll in sugar. Cut into 1/4-inch (5 mm) slices and place 2 inches (5 cm) apart on parchment paper-lined or ungreased baking sheets. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
4. Bake in 350F (180C) oven until bottoms are browned, about 10 minutes. Let cool on pans on racks about 2 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool completely.***

Makes about 60 cookies. Per cookie: about 32 cal, trace pro, 1g total fat (1g sat. fat), 5g carb, trace fibre, 6 mg, chol, 39 mg sodium.

* Make ahead: refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze in airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

** Make ahead: store layered between waxed paper in airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.

*** I used Sweet Cinnamon Sprinkles from Pampered Chef by only dipping the tops in the sugar before baking.

I get the feeling around this time of year that people search for something tangible to enjoy or maybe they hunt. Food is always a fav so is companionship as is a good deal.
I’m always looking for a good way to take the edge off a desirable food item. Drink water (boooring) or (my favourite) substitue. Yeah baked potato chips for real Miss Vickies - not – a – chance! How about this one: eat less of what you want. That works for me for the most part.

So tell me, how do you avoid buying that big screen LCD TV because it will make you happy? Buy a smaller one? Buy a whole bunch of good books instead? Invite yourself over to your neighbour’s house offer to bring your blu-rays and the popcorn (he’s got a huge screen projection job its like an IMAX in his basement).

My point is (and there is one I think) is that we are never quite happy, we always seem to want something. Which is too bad, conspicuous consumption is more about keeping our sense of fullness and completeness, not about satiation and satisfaction. Being mindful of so much in this world: food, breathing, loving, appreciating, caring, thankfulness, everything….

If we had less food or even just simpler food, if we read books and invited people over for card games and laughter, would that help us see that all the consumer goods in the world really don’t matter. As I sit here in the relative comfort of my recliner, the hypocrisy of my words spill forth from my Dell laptop, while I sip coffee with a great, fantastic, “I-made-this” ginger snap.

I get it and I don’t. I’ve fallen victim to this as well. Get out the hard hats people, this recession is going to be a tough one! Happy 2009!