What's up Hivers! It's @mac once again welcomes you to my new blog. It's been a while since I published my last blog. I even rarely open the app due to some circumstances. I've been busy these past few weeks running errands, going here and there. If I'm not mistaken, I've mentioned in my last blog that we have an upcoming chapel fiesta inside their residence.
So, it successfully happened but I haven't had a chance to share it through the platform because I just can't. Another thing, my boss also had a visitor from the states. A black American who loves to visit and even stay in the Philippines. Since they arrived, the schedule is hectic.
As a sneak peek, we finished the novena and had a foot procession. Then during the feast day, we cooked something and roasted two pigs for the visitors.
Fast forward ⏩ after the event, I realized that I've tortured myself well. I caught a cold and found myself sneezing again and again. I got a runny nose and cough a lot until such time that my upper back hurts in the process. I bought medicine in the pharmacy but it only gives me temporary relief. So, I didn't buy more instead, I'm planning to make a natural herbal medicine to completely get rid of all these. But of course, I can't do it unless my boss went back to the states with their visitor.
Here we go! Yesterday, we went to the city for their flight back to the US. Since I'm not yet healed, I cough sometimes, at the van, at the casino, at the mall, at the hotel and even until we reached the airport. But I covered my mouth of course, and there's no phlegm yet and nothing to spit out. So BC, the Black American guy noticed it approached me at the casino and said,
"What is the most important thing in life?"
I was puzzled. Out of confusion, I ask him back, "What did you say?" He replied asking the same question. Then I thought to myself, the most important thing in life is being happy. Then I suddenly remembered myself being sick.
So, I answered; "The most important thing in life is Health I guess"
He said, that's right!
Conversation at the casino:
Non verbatim
BC: What is the most important thing about life?
Me: I guess, the most important thing about life is Health.
BC: that's right! Now, do you know Steve Jobs?
Me: who's that? (Confused)
BC: Steve Jobs. The former CEO of Apple Incorporated.
Me: well, I'm not updated. So, what's with him? (I didn't realize the point of the question as to what is it for me)
BC: well, He's a billionaire. He owns a multi billion dollar assets in the States.
Me: Okay. (Still confused 🤔)
BC: Do you know where is he now?
Me: of course not! Wait, Did you see him here? (I looked around)
BC: hell no!😅He's dead about 12 years ago.
Me: what the...!
BC: yeah, he died due to pancreatic cancer. He worked a lot and ignore his health.
Me: shocked😲
BC: The reason why I told you this is that, I've heard you coughing about more than a week now. That's not a joke anymore. You need to get checked.
Me: yeah thanks. I'm gonna see a doctor tomorrow or the next day.(realizing that the topic is all about me) 😭
BC: You should. Because you can't work anymore when you're sick. And your money is worthless when you die. Just like Steve jobs. He had billions of dollars but he can't use it anymore.
(More advices told and conversation ends)
Now, I got a chance to make a remedy for myself.
This morning, I roam around the backyard looking for herbal plants that can be used as cough medicine.
Luckily, I found the three main ingredients:
Oregano also known as kalabo is woody perennial plants with a heart-shaped light green thick leaves. It is a kind of mint that can also used to flavor foods. The leaves were used to treat cough and asthma by our ancestors.
Lagundi has a smooth and shiny five fingered light to dark green leaves. Just like oregano, Lagundi also is an anti-cough and anti-asthma medicine. In fact, there's this kind of cough syrup/medicine that used lagundi as a main ingredient. Aside from that, it can also be used to treat insect and snake bites, rheumatism, soar throat, and fever.
Camphor locally known as Gabon or sambong in Tagalog is a flowering plant with a rough green serrated leaves. This plant is one of the best medicine to treat cough. I also remembered that my Mother used camphor leaves to reduce her muscle pain and joint pain when I was young. Years later, I also discovered that camphor leaves can also treat stomach ache. This idea helps me decide to include camphor in making my natural remedy.
The process
First of all, I collected an exact amount of leaves for both plants.
Then, I washed them with tap water to remove the dust, dirt and insect that might stuck into it. Afterwards, I placed them inside a clean pot and added enough water. But before that, I added 7 pcs. of guyabano or soursop leaves and atis or sugar apple leaves and bring to boil.
After few minutes, the water starts to simmer and the leaves start to change colors. This time, I mixed them up and soaked well.
I let it boil for about an hour until the water becomes brown and started to evaporate. This means that the herbs were extracted.
After which, I took it out from the fire and set to cool. Normally, I boil this pretty long until only half of the water is left in the pot and the leaves will be soft. But this time, I'm in a hurry because I still have things to do.😁😁
So While waiting, I strained the leaves out of the pot and set aside for a magical squeeze 😀 😊 and then, I added two to three table spoons of honey.
After few minutes of waiting, I lost my patience. So, I decided to add a cup of ice cubes to cool it faster and it works.
Lastly, I used a funnel to transfer the extracted juice from the pot to a plastic container which will serve as its storage bottle.
Finally! I got a 2.7 liters of herbal drinks in hand. This must be consumed for less than two days because herbal extracts will easily spoil. Thanks for reading this far... I hope this may help you in the future. See you on my next blog hivers😊Adios!!!