Master Tonic for colds and flu: was a skeptic, now a believer (blisters, natural)

[nightlysparrow]

So, I made up a batch of this all natural "Master Tonic" stuff way back in 2006 for the Bird Flu scare. The fumes from cutting up the ingredients and the resulting concoction were so intense it destroyed the contact lenses I wore, even though I mixed it outside. I did not try it. I put in in mason jars. The recipe said it needed no special storage and would last "indefinitely." I shelved it and forgot about it.

Now, all this virulent flu is around. Everyone around me has it. Then, a week ago, a tickle, then a scratchy throat, and started to feel it coming on. Strong. Headache, sneezy, dry cough.

Remembered the tonic. Why not? I thought. Looked unchanged, and even after almost 7 years, wickedly strong smell. Took a few teaspoons full. Hot as curry, jalapeno sauce, Thai food, like that; burning in the mouth, the lips numbed, required a milk chaser.

But: felt an immediate difference! The throat scratchiness was gone instantly, like the virus was burned away. I just knew the virus replication was stopped. And it was. I took some later and continued the next day just in case (I used a dropper to avoid my mouth to just get it down), but I knew the battle was over.

How to Make Homemade Master Tonic - wikiHow

[AnonChick]

I wouldn't recommend it, especially for children as the "instructions" suggest. A drop might be useful. And even using it, mixed with oil for a salad, would be -very- useful. Or marinating chicken in it and then broiling/grilling the chicken. But two teaspoons by themselves, defitely not. Habanero's heat index is high enough to cause blisters to the skin when touched. That last thing you want to do is put that stuff down your esophagus in high concentrations. It's not that you shouldn't use it at all. Just not in high concentrations. The recipe is definitely a high-concentration mixture.

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

I wouldn't recommend it, especially for children as the "instructions" suggest. Habanero's heat index is high enough to cause blisters to the skin when touched. That last thing you want to do is put that stuff down your esophagus in high concentrations. It's not that you shouldn't use it at all. Just not in high concentrations. The recipe is definitely a high-concentration mixture.

Four people have now used it. No burns or negative side effects whatsoever. They all said I was wimpy; it wasn't that hot to them. (I am wimpy. I can't eat the hot sauce at Taco Bell.) All stopped the flu, and one had had it for 2 days.

Also, I have eaten with children at restaurants who could wolf down hot spicy dishes that I couldn't bear; it's all tolerance. Go to India, Thailand or Mexico and this is obvious.

The vinegar in the recipe counteracts the peppers. Peppers are alkaline, vinegar, acid. That substantially neutralizes the burn effect.

[purehuman]

that's very interesting nightlysparrow, I'm gonna make me some up.