Kitchen Medicine...Part II

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"After thirty," says the proverb, "you're either a fool or your own physician." Maybe before thirty, too . . . especially if you live in an isolated spot and/or have a big bump of independence. Of course, you're a bigger fool still if you meddle with a serious or persistent condition... both you and your overworked doctor will be better off if you can prevent or cure your own minor ills... as Marj Watkins began pointing out in MOTHER NO. 28. Here's another installment of the health hints that work for her family

allergies|anemia|burns|colds

MARJ WATKINS

ALLERGIES

If anybody in your family has a "cold" that goes on forever, you might do well to suspect an unrecognized allergy to house dust, pets, feather pillows or wheat (the most common problem food). At any rate, it's worthwhile to kick the known allergens out of the house.

Dust can be kept down by proper cleaning methods: Dust with a damp sponge and damp-mop—don't sweep—uncarpeted floors. (Incidentally, Kay Holly, author of the book No More Colds, recommends that the inside of the nostrils be coated with pure olive oil to protect against airborne allergens.)

You can also try dusting household animals with a damp cloth . . . or vacuuming them if they don't mind the noise. Although most pillows now have synthetic foam fillings, any that do contain feathers can be restuffed with clean rags. Sifted oat flour is a good substitute for wheat flour in most recipes, and a very little potato flour will thicken gravies and sauces.

An allergic person benefits greatly from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and high-protein foods . . . and less or no starches or sugar. His only starchy dishes should be whole-grain cereals and flour other than wheat, potatoes cooked with the skins on, soybeans, brown rice and millet. Sweets can consist of dried fruits and honey, which supply natural sugars and much else: minerals, vitamins and enzymes.

Tomato juice is anti-toxic and seems to counteract allergens (besides calming a queasy stomach and cooling a feverish mouth and throat).

DECONGESTANT DRINK: 1 bouillon cube, 1/4 teaspoon powdered kelp and 1 cup boiling water. Stir, sip, stir, sip. Don't let the kelp sink to the bottom and just lie there . . . drink it, too.

ASTHMA AND HAY FEVER: People here on our Puget Sound island say that eating the local honey protects them from allergies produced by this area's pollens. Some asthmatics claim that eating a bit of native honeycomb gives instant, though brief, relief from an attack and that even smelling the honey helps. We haven't had occasion to check this out, but you might like to try it.

ANEMIA

Anemia is characterized by paleness, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and depression. The condition can be caused by lack of iron or of folic acid (found in green leaves and the livers of pasture-fed animals), vitamin B-12, magnesium and perhaps zinc.

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