My second book Courting the Doctor’s Daughter releases May 12. Tomorrow! I've been told it's in some stores already. Tuesday evening a friend and I will visit bookstores in our area, looking for the book. I'll stick a bookmark inside and maybe work up the nerve to ask if I can autograph the copies of my books. I wonder if I'll have to show a photo I.D.
Perhaps you remember meeting Mary, the heroine of Courting the Doctor’s Daughter from reading my debut Courting Miss Adelaide. Here's a peek at the story from the back cover blurb:
Perhaps you remember meeting Mary, the heroine of Courting the Doctor’s Daughter from reading my debut Courting Miss Adelaide. Here's a peek at the story from the back cover blurb:
An Unexpected Match
A widow with three boys to raise, Mary Graves has no time for peddlers of phony medicine. She’s a dedicated healer working alongside her doctor father. When a handsome stranger blows into town with his “elixir of health” and asks questions about her newly adopted son, Mary’s determined to uncover the truth behind all his claims.
Once the reckless heir to a Boston fortune, Dr. Luke Jacobs travels the country with his herbal medicine while searching for his long-lost son. After meeting the feisty doctor’s daughter and her youngest boy, Luke has found what he’s been looking for at last. But can he convince her to let him into her home, her family—and her heart?
Once the reckless heir to a Boston fortune, Dr. Luke Jacobs travels the country with his herbal medicine while searching for his long-lost son. After meeting the feisty doctor’s daughter and her youngest boy, Luke has found what he’s been looking for at last. But can he convince her to let him into her home, her family—and her heart?
I'm sure we'd all agree that romance novels are good for whatever ails us. An extra dose of love and a laugh or two, even if they're found between the pages of a book, enrich our lives. So today in Seekerville, I'm honoring my hero, Luke, and his medicine, not phony at all. And talking about home remedies. To write Courting the Doctor’s Daughter I researched herbal remedies, looking for an ingredient with curative properties that fit the image I had of Luke’s medicine.
In Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, I found what I sought—catnip. Not only cats appreciate this herb. Uses for humans include: digestion and sleeping aids and help with colds, colic, nervous headaches and fevers. Catnip was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1842-1882. In more recent times, Varro Tyler, Ph.D., author of The Honest Herbal found a bit of evidence that catnip has sedative properties. The Health Food Shoppe near me carries catnip in capsule form. The store manager told me it’s mainly used to calm fussy infants.
Has anyone used catnip for medicinal purposes?
From reading the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, I found several medicines came from herbs. Digitalis comes from Foxglove. To name a few others—Ephedrine, Syrup of ipecac, camphor, aloe, morphine and codeine are all plant based. Even herbs I use to cook with have healing properties, including onions and garlic. Health food stores have various teas and herbal supplements. I've used ginger tea for a queasy stomach.
Has anyone used catnip for medicinal purposes?
From reading the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, I found several medicines came from herbs. Digitalis comes from Foxglove. To name a few others—Ephedrine, Syrup of ipecac, camphor, aloe, morphine and codeine are all plant based. Even herbs I use to cook with have healing properties, including onions and garlic. Health food stores have various teas and herbal supplements. I've used ginger tea for a queasy stomach.
If you've used herbal remedies and find them effective, please share!
Not all home remedies are herb based. Perhaps you've used aloe for burns and meat tenderizer for wasp stings. Anyone tried a bar of soap under the sheets? I forget what that's supposed to help. Maybe arthritis. Or a banana peel for migraines?
Not all home remedies are herb based. Perhaps you've used aloe for burns and meat tenderizer for wasp stings. Anyone tried a bar of soap under the sheets? I forget what that's supposed to help. Maybe arthritis. Or a banana peel for migraines?
Here's a couple remedies I'll tout with the same zeal Luke peddled his m
edicine.
Netie Pot—this remedy has been compared to water boarding, a form of torture. Trust me this is a huge exaggeration. I’ve found the netie pot effective for relieving congestion and preventing sinus infections. I prefer using a saline spray, but will bring out the “big guns” when necessary. To use the netie pot, tilt your head to the side and pour the water into one nostril and it will come out the other, if you remember to hold your mouth open. If not, it runs down your throat and chokes you. But not to death, so don't worry. Packets of a PH balanced powder come with the neti pot. But plain water works fine. If you have chronic congestion, give it a try.
Ear candling—my friend, Val (in the picture) introduced me to this method of removing ear wax. We d this about once a year. Very scary as the candle burns down. Definitely put foil or a disposable metal pie plate between the flame and your hair. There are those, even my dear
Seeker sisters, who are skeptical of this treatment, but I've found it to be effective. The wax is drawn out of the ear and into the hollow candle. The candles come in bees wax or paraffin and cost about $9-12.00 in health food stores for a set of two.
Leave a comment this post or tell us about a home remedy or herb you have confidence in or just try for the fun of it and I’ll put your name in the drawing for a copy of Courting the Doctor’s Daughter. Tina will announce the winner on the weekend addition.
edicine.Netie Pot—this remedy has been compared to water boarding, a form of torture. Trust me this is a huge exaggeration. I’ve found the netie pot effective for relieving congestion and preventing sinus infections. I prefer using a saline spray, but will bring out the “big guns” when necessary. To use the netie pot, tilt your head to the side and pour the water into one nostril and it will come out the other, if you remember to hold your mouth open. If not, it runs down your throat and chokes you. But not to death, so don't worry. Packets of a PH balanced powder come with the neti pot. But plain water works fine. If you have chronic congestion, give it a try.
Ear candling—my friend, Val (in the picture) introduced me to this method of removing ear wax. We d this about once a year. Very scary as the candle burns down. Definitely put foil or a disposable metal pie plate between the flame and your hair. There are those, even my dear
Leave a comment this post or tell us about a home remedy or herb you have confidence in or just try for the fun of it and I’ll put your name in the drawing for a copy of Courting the Doctor’s Daughter. Tina will announce the winner on the weekend addition.
To find Janet on the Web go to www.janetdean.net and www.janetdean.blogspot.com
I brought coffee with all the fixings and apple fritters. Dig in!
