Old-Fashioned Mustard Plaster Like the Poultices Great-Grandma Used to Make

I was asked about the mustard plaster I mentioned the other day, and when I looked up the instructions again I realized I had done it wrong--I forgot to soak the lower cloth, the one that goes against the skin, in warm water first. That's probably why it felt warm, but not as penetrating as I thought it should. I'm going to try it again tonight. Between sucking down buckets of onion and garlic soup and being able to open the windows today for the first time in months, I think the evil winter cough is losing its grip. And now it's time to kick this bad boy in the butt once and for all.

Here's the recipe I'm going with, which I found on a web page called Grandma's Attic. Be sure to check out some of the other home remedies they have. (Of course, I am not a doctor and only post this for information's sake, yada yada, use at your own risk.)

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Mustard Poultice

A mustard poultice is a time-honored therapy: Your great-grandmother may have used mustard poultices and plasters to treat congestion, coughs, bronchitis or pneumonia. A mustard plaster offers immediate relief to discomfort in the chest and actually helps to treat infectious conditions - a much needed therapy. It works mainly by increasing circulation, perspiration and heat in the afflicted area.

The person receiving the treatment should sit or lie down comfortably. The best poultices are made from black mustard seeds ground fresh in a coffee grinder, but ordinary yellow mustard powder will do in a pinch. To prepare a mustard poultice, mix 1/2 cup mustard powder with 1 cup flour and stir hot water into the mix to form a paste. Spread the mixture on a piece of cotton or muslin has been soaked in hot water. Cover with a second piece of dry material. Lay the moist side of the poultice across the person's chest or back.

Leave the poultice on for 15 to 30 minutes; promptly remove it if the person experiences any discomfort. The procedure is likely to promote perspiration and reddening of the chest. Give the individual plenty of liquids during the procedure and encourage her to take a warm or cool shower afterward, then rest or gently stretch for 1/2 hour. Do not administer this treatment to a young child, elderly person or the seriously ill without consulting a health care professional.

The Keenest Mustard is the Best print courtesy of Allposters.

Onion and Garlic Soup Has Saved My Sanity

I have had this gawd-awful cough the last few weeks that I can't seem to shake, the kind that seems to settle in for the winter, and even when I'm not hacking up a lung, I end up making these little *ack ack* noises throughout the day to clear my throat. Very annoying, to myself and to those who must live under the same roof with me. Probably more annoying than the cough itself.

It's lucky I work from home; I remember when I did work in an office how I wanted to throttle the woman in the cubicle next to me who was constantly snuffling back her allergy-related post-nasal drip. It wasn't her fault, she couldn't help it, but I still would gladly have booted her and her box of tissue out the window if I could.

I won't go to the doctor for antibiotics--I'm kinda stubborn like that and don't like taking them unnecessarily so as not to build up a resistance to them. I want them to work, and work well, when I actually do need them, like I have in the past when traveling.

So I'm trying to follow the usual advice of drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. Still, I've ended up sleeping on the bed in my office a few times because I didn't want to bother Ted during the night. I've tried a few over-the-counter medications to alleviate the cough and even mixed up a good old-fashioned mustard plaster to break up the congestion. And while the plaster felt wonderfully warm, it wasn't doing the trick.

And then I thought to whip up a batch of onion and garlic soup; both onion and garlic are said to have many health benefits, including combating respiratory infections. So I browsed the Internet until I found one I liked in particular. I've been sipping it since yesterday, slept pretty well last night, and today woke up feeling the best I've felt in weeks--greatly reduced wheeziness and congestion, almost no coughing.

It's too early to tell, but I've got my fingers crossed this will do the trick. (Although from the amount I'm consuming, I'm sure I have this onion-and-garlic cloud hovering around me, and that's probably more annoying than Vick's Vaporub.)

What old-fashioned remedies would you recommend?

Roasted Onion and Garlic Soup

I made a few modifications to the recipe below. I used bottled lemon juice instead of fresh because when it came down to it last night I couldn't be bothered to zest and juice a fresh lemon. I also skipped the shallots because I was feeling cheap--$2.79 for 3 dinky little bulbs--and just added a yellow onion in its place. I know, I know, it's not as sweet or mild, but I figured with all the spices in this soup I probably wouldn't notice the difference. And because I'm temporarily giving up dairy products until I can clear my lungs, I only put a small dollop of cream on top. All in all, it's a very spicy soup mix that really cleans out your sinuses and warms the chest.

4 to 6 large red onions, quartered
Cloves from 2 large heads of garlic, peeled
2 shallots, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Essence, recipe follows
6 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine the onions, garlic, and shallots in a roasting pan just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Add the olive oil and Essence and toss to coat. Roast until well browned, about 1 1/2 hours.

Remove the pan from the oven and set over 2 burners on medium-low heat. Add 2 cups of chicken stock, sage, thyme and salt. Cook for 10 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate any of the caramelized bits from the bottom.

Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a large pot over medium-low heat. Add remaining 4 cups chicken stock and balsamic vinegar, and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and stir in cream. Serve with French bread.

ESSENCE Creole Seasoning

I think you can buy a commerical version of this, but I just mixed up a batch in the kitchen and stored the extra away for later use. I cut the salt down to 1 tablespoon Celtic Sea Salt.

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

Recipe modified from "New New Orleans Cooking" by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William and Morrow, 1993. Illustration Arrangement by Teresa Saia.