Okay, okay. I’d been reading and watching videos about everybody’s favorite de-tox drink. There were so many different varieties. So many different promises of benefits.

I almost got overwhelmed with the thought that I ought to be full scale de-toxing first thing in the morning when I wasn’t, and hadn’t. Ever!

All I’d ever done was drink plenty of clear, cold, refreshing Distilled Water before my morning coffee…sometimes with fresh-squeezed lemon juice thrown in the mix.

(No way I’m ever again drinking un-purified Tap Water, if I can at all avoid it. Uh-uh. Not happening.)

So what was I to do? Keep ignoring all the well-meant advice to drink something first thing when I wake up — after a hot shower usually! — that will get rid of all the nasties in my blood stream and cells and help me look better and live longer??!!!   …

(FINISHED THIS POST AFTER A LONG BLOGGING LAY-OFF…WILL EXPLAIN THE LAY-OFF IN MY NEXT POST!) …

I decided I was worth it. My health was worth it! So…here goes. A killer concoction for morning De-tox Tea that’s not too terribly difficult to make while you’re waking up!

My 7 Key Ingredients

BESIDES THE DISTILLED WATER

1. Black tea  I understand that green tea is better for you in some ways. And oolong tea is a good blend of black and green. But for me, there’s just something about good ol’ black tea that lights my fire–especially first thing in the morning!

I bring my 3 or 4 cups of distilled water to a boil in a sauce pan with the lid ON, then cut the heat, take off the lid, and add my 2-3 bags of black tea immediately! I like it strong!

2. Lemon slices   I simply cut 3-4 thin slices off a fresh lemon and plop ’em right in there!

3. Ginger gratings   I keep a few branches of ginger wrapped in a wet paper towel tucked inside a plastic bag in my refrigerator.  Using my steel or plastic grater, I rub an exposed section of branch 15-20 strokes against the grater over the hot tea/lemon water in the sauce pan and clean off any extra ginger stuck to the grater–right into the sauce pan!

4. Parsley leaves   I also keep several branches of parsley inside a wet towel in a plastic bag in my refrigerator. The parsley will keep for weeks, maybe even months this way! I simply take out my cheapie $1.00 plastic kitchen scissors and fine cut a nice bit of parsley right into the sauce pan as well. Probably the more the better, since parsley has so much going for it–for your health!

I re-cover the sauce pan to let my tea, lemon, ginger, and parsley steep for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, I prepare my empty big tea cup with:

5. Cayenne pepper  I choose a dash or two, or maybe three, depending on how “Hot!” I want my tea.

6. Organic Ground Vietnamese Cinnamon  I know, I know…it’s hard to get the ground cinnamon to mix in, because of its oiliness. But just put up with it. It’s that worth it in health benefits!

7. Apple Cider Vinegar   Depending on how much of this super-tart stuff you can handle, add it in.  Maybe just a very little, or maybe more.  I recommend you only use enough to keep your De-Tox Tea tasty for you, or you won’t want to go to the trouble to make and drink it!

After the distilled water/lemon/ginger/parsley steep for 10 minutes, simply place a metal strainer over your tea cup sitting in the sink, in case of overspill. Pick up the still-hot sauce pan and carefully pour–slowly!–until you’ve filled the tea cup.

Dump what’s caught in the strainer back into the sauce pan, and recover it for more steeping.

Then gently stir all the ingredients in your very hot tea cup for a moment, and carefully, slowly enjoy over several minutes of wonderful De-Tox Tea indulgence!!!!  AND IF YOU’RE A MIND TO, KEEP FILLING THAT CUP AND ENJOYING MORE DE-TOX TEA THROUGH THE MORNING, IF YOU CAN!

ENJOY!

 

 

Last time, I mentioned that if you ever get Mono, immediately go see your Doctor and get diagnosed to confirm the illness you have…then rest and rest and rest. Don’t go to work. Don’t go to school. Probably for at least two months, maybe longer. Everybody’s immune system handles the EBV Virus a bit differently. You may be lucky and get well quicker, but you might not. Go with reality and take care of yourself.

Do this by also taking your good-quality vitamins and drink lots of healthy fluids…

and be sure to get a prescription for mild anti-depressants.

I can’t overemphasize this last point enough. Mono attacks your emotions. You feel horribly down, bummed out, perhaps even suicidal, if you don’t get some help. So don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for some chemical help for your potentially disastrous Mono moods!

Enough of that! Let’s move on…

Okay, what were the other 4 “Secrets” or tips that helped me

through 3 illnesses back to back to back over a year and a half?

1. Stay in close touch with a family member and/or friend who can truly show compassion and help you the entire time you are ill with Mono. For me, since I am still not re-married, that meant  not just pouring out my woes to my beloved elderly father every day but also phone calls and FaceTime with a very dear long-distance friend for months and months. We talked some at some point almost every day and at length in the evenings.
2. With flu (BTW, I have NO trust in flu shots, just sayin’…), the same prescription applies as with Mono. Stay in bed! Don’t take your viral infection to work or to the store or anywhere else, if you can at all avoid it! But also, while you stay at home, drink and pee, drink and pee, drink and pee. The more fluids you can take in — along with perhaps TamiFlu, and Vitamin C and D3 (a few thousand units a day) — the better off you’ll be.
3. If you have a diffuser with anti-depressant essential oils that you love, use them. If you don’t have them, get them at all costs. Breathing in therapeutic smells — like the scents of Frankincense and Orange or Peppermint and Eucalyptus Oil — and the physical/brain benefits of certain healing oils can be a great help.
4. Remember that this Grand Vitality blog is about seeking zest in body, soul, and wallet? Mono and flu can definitely put hits on all three! Concerning your soul, I have to say that while you’re sick, you probably won’t feel too spiritual. You may get depressed and even sullen or angry. Don’t get down on yourself — especially if you miss church and/or personal study/meditation/prayer times that you are used to benefitting from. But do cry out to the Lord in your weakness! Psalm 34 talks about how the Lord is near those who are hurting and helps those who trust in Him when they are totally bummed out.

In addition to these little tips, I’ll mention that I tried out some anti-Mono Chinese herbs: Olive Leaf Extract Capsules and Astragalus, along with L-Lysine. I do believe these helped when I finally did the research online and learned about them!

I got my L-Lysine (fights all Herpes viruses, and Mononucleosis comes from that family of viruses) at the local Walmart and the other two helps online. They’re available from multiple sources on Amazon.

After you’re over the bad symptoms of Mono completely, you should still continue to take the Chinese Herbs regularly to help keep the virus under control in your system. At least, that’s what they say!

Okay!

Ah! Back toward health at last! And soon I’ll be giving you feedback on my new Ninja 1000 Fruit Smoothie Maker and my new Aroma Rice and Veggie Steamer. Since I got these a few months ago, I’ve been able to change my diet and lost 15 lbs.!!!!!  Plus, I’ll be telling you more about …

PROLOTHERAPY! THE HEALER OF OLD INJURIES AS WELL AS NEW!