Sick? Put on a Flannel Shirt and Eat Some Onions.

This week I'm so utterly sick.. not really.. but I'm pretending to be more sick than I really am. But... here are some old time killing germs techniques that can get you back on your feet fast.

1. Flannel

That's right, saddle up to buy a flannel shirt and some flannel sheets. Red flannel was say to work the best at getting rid at rheumatism and back pain.

And now for the science: Other than using flannel to keep you warm, Alum was used in the drying process when making red flannel. Other than alum's drying properties, it has medicinal and cosmetic properties as well. Alum has long been used as an astringent after shaving or waxing. It's also a main ingredient in deodorant, combating underarm bacteria all day long, all day strong. Alum is also included in vaccines to help the body fight better the germs in those vaccines. Why do you think Paul Bunyan was so strong?

2. Skunk Oil or Bear's Oil

I guess this is where the "spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" saying comes from. It was traditionary, to cure a cold, place a few drops of skunk oil onto a teaspoon on sugar and swallow it. Although, if you didn't want to eat it, you could do Bear's Oil.. which is second best. Then you rubbed it on your chest to make your breathe easier apparently. And as much as you're thinking how awful skunk oil must smell, it really doesn't smell too bad. Skunk oil is obtained from some glands in the skunks back--not it's stink glands. These glands store fat for the skunk in the wintertime when it goes to hibernate.

There is no science behind this one, children. Although, It is said to have a warming sensation when rubbed on the skin. If you do find some info... please comment below.

Note: if you're into rubbing things on your chest and have not skunk oil or bear oil... you can use butter, an bird oil, lard, turpentine, or any other greasy thing you have around your house.

3. Onions

This one is good 'cause I love onions... especially caramelized. And seriously, a lot of old time remedies having to do with onions include sugar. The most popular way to include onions into your sick diet is to make Onion Syrup.

Onion Syrup

Dice a large onion in a bowl and layer it with two or three table spoons of sugar.

Let sit a couple of hours and drain the sugar-onion water in a a vial.

You now have onion syrup.

Take one tablespoon every 2 hours.

And now for the science: Onions are a good source of fructo-oligosaccharides, which means, they fight the growth of bacteria esp. in the colon. They also help cardiovascular health and fight cancer.

If you hate eating onions, you coule always tie them around your neck to ward off colds, or slice them and put them in your shoes before putting your shoes on. That'll help. Still wanting French Onion Soup.. X-tra cheese.

Source: Janos, Elisabeth. Country Folk Medicine: Tales of Skunk Oil, Sassafras Tea and Other Old-time Remedies. Guilford, CT: Lyons, 2004. Print.