Two points for herbal, one point for manufactured medicine.

I am working hard not to get discouraged every time something unpleasant happens.  I think I have PTSD from the past four years of constant intense stress and upheaval and what felt like a hell of a lot of misfortune.  It seems like even little things can unravel me now that wouldn't have in the past.  I've never been all that great at handling physical issues, I get panicky when things aren't right in my body.  Which is all the time these days.

The impetigo didn't completely go away before I finished my antibiotics.  It was almost gone and then two days off the antibiotics and it flared up again.  So I'm back on the pills.  Why not try something herbal this time now that I know what it is?  Because I've already had this thing for a month and I'm sick of it.  Impatient.  Besides that I read my herbal books and even those suggest that impetigo might not go away using natural remedies. 

I want to make more and more of my own medicines but there are times when it seems that the best solution is to go with the stronger modern medications.  Herbal remedies never worked well for my anxiety and depression and the incredible relief the psyche meds give me is not something I'm eager to live without.  I would never treat a bladder infection without antibiotics.  Why?  Because it can so quickly turn into a kidney infection.  While a bladder infection itself is not generally dangerous, a kidney infection can kill you.  I don't like to mess around with that.  I think the best treatment for many things, where possible, is prevention. 

I don't generally  take any medication for colds or flu.  Most of the time I had the flu last spring I took a homeopathic/honey cough syrup that worked well until my sinuses were so clogged and my cough so painful and dry that for two days out of the ten I resorted to over the counter decongestants.  That got me through the most painful two days and then I returned to my natural remedies such as sage tea and natural cough syrup.

Now my dog has a "hot spot" on the base of her tail.  We're still waiting to give our kitties shots, no way we can afford a vet visit for Chick unless it's an emergency.  This didn't seem like an emergency but it was clearly distressing the dog a lot.  She was constantly licking the area until part of it went bald and then it looked a little inflamed and then it started to look icky.  I looked up information on "hot spots" to confirm that that was what she really had (seems clear that that was the problem) and looked up treatment.

I didn't find much information on treating it without a vet and when I called our vet she didn't have any suggestions either (that's not surprising though, they don't want lawsuits as a reward for making home treatment suggestions).

My friend Blaize, who works at a feed store, told me that the main ingredients in their best "hot spot" spray are: chamomile, aloe vera, and tea tree oil.  I figured, what the hell, I have all those ingredients on hand.  I added plantain to the decoction I made and after giving Chick a bath and drying her, I sprayed the infected area as well as the rest of the area where she was licking constantly...

It's working!  She hasn't been licking it since last night and the dampness of the raw area is gone and it looks like it's healing.  I will apply more this morning.  Thank you Blaize!  That's a score for natural medicine. 

Now I also remind myself that the cold I got a week ago was very mild and I believe that was because of the elderberry syrup.  That's another score for natural medicine!

I am truly a fan of mixing medicinal traditions to get results.

I am really relieved that Chick isn't acting distressed anymore or worrying her sore skin.  I'll write this concoction up on Stitch and Boots as soon as I get a chance.  I suspect that it would be worth trying for some skin irritations and infections in people too.  When something comes up I'll give it a try.

So.  Positive thoughts.  I'm working on it.  Imagining what it might be like to be healthier.  I'm telling myself that these things aren't personal.  It isn't as though the Universe is doing this to me to punish me.  That's the beauty of not believing certain things that others believe in. 

Although, I do believe in karma and it's possible that the several years of poor health that I've experienced is karmic payback. 

Random tidbits:

The kid told Philip this morning that he doesn't like being in the advanced math.  WHAT?  My kid is in advanced math?  This is either Max's view of all math in the 3rd grade or he's been put in an advanced math class...we haven't heard from the teacher at all this year and even though Max comes home with complaints about school it's been fairly smooth so far.  I think it's time I chatted with his teacher.

My small quince tree (only two years old) produced one beautiful fruit.  It's big and fuzzy and gorgeous.  I knew it had started to develop a fruit early in the summer but I figure it would drop it and didn't check again.  At a glance nothing was visible but while Philip and I were discussing the new location for the chicken coop/run he saw a big fruit on it.  He didn't know what it was.  It's like seeing your kid walk for the first time.

That reminds me that I never mentioned that my Elephant Heart plum tree produced one plum and it took forever for it to get ripe and when it did I tasted it hoping it was fully as good as I expected it to be: IT WAS BETTER!!  I have only had Elephant Heart plums as a jam that my friend Chelsea made.  I've never eaten one fresh but it's been my ambition to plant one for years after tasting her insanely flavorful jewel colored jam...I cannot wait until it begins to produce more!

My "Napolean's Hat" moss rose has produced a few hips this year and I think my "Cottage Rose" is also producing some hips for me (sometimes a rose's hips will start to swell up and then instead of turning red or orange will shrivel up and die).  What isn't producing any hips is the Rugosa I planted for the express purpose of getting hips because supposedly it produces tons of gorgeous rosehips.  Lies.  My little "Ballerina" rose has quite a few of the tiniest rose hips you've ever seen- I can dry them whole. 

My friend Riana sent me five Elderberry twigs to sprout and plant in my garden.  Two might not make it but two of them already have sprouting leaves on them!  The fifth one isn't giving any clues at all.  I may need to cover them as it gets colder so that they will make it through the winter but I'd like them to do some rooting until then.  I'm so excited to have European Elders to plant in the spring!  (I had meant to buy a couple last year but had no money for them so it's extra sweet!)  Thank you Riana!

My friend Jo sent me a cute British pickling book and inside the pages she stashed dollar bills and a five and a ten dollar bill that added up to twenty dollars!  Such a thoughtful gift- I spent it on paying my library fine and beer.  Thank you Jo!  I don't think I'll be able to make anything from the pickling book this year but I will next year and if I do I'll send you a jar of whatever I make.

Food should never resemble cat vomit.  I don't think too many people will disagree with that.  Dogs might though.

Oh yeah, and I'm really sad that "Grey's Anatomy" is done.  Forever.  Kind of bummed that Izzy died.  I call that mean after all she went through with Denny.  I was really happy with the outcome of Dr. Hunt and Christina though.  He's not even really good looking but the two of them had serious chemistry and that made them both look gorgeous.

Time to stop looking like a bum.  Hope you're all having a great week so far!