Article: 5385 of alt.sysadmin.recovery From: ruhl@latakia.dyndns.org (Robert A. Uhl) Newsgroups: alt.sysadmin.recovery Subject: Re: So WTF is a doctor for, anyway? {Minor Rant} Approved: jsragman@timtoady.net Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2002 02:02:24 -0000 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Message-ID: References: Reply-To: ruhl@4dv.net User-Agent: slrn/0.9.7.1 (Linux) X-Complaints-To: newsabuse@supernews.com Lines: 73 Path: news.meer.net!sea-read.news.verio.net!dfw-artgen.news.verio.net!dfw-peer.news.verio.net!news.verio.net!crtntx1-snh1.gtei.net!washdc3-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!feeder.qis.net!news.maxwell.syr.edu!sn-xit-03!sn-post-02!sn-post-01!supernews.com!corp.supernews.com!not-for-mail Xref: archive.mv.meer.net alt.sysadmin.recovery:5385 AFAICT, the vast majority of physicians exist to seperate fools and their money. Not to say that they're not needed--they most definitely are. It's just that most illnesses really don't need a doctor. My general advice is to make a good chicken curry[1] for every meal, and alternate drinking a glass of water, a glass of orange juice and a glass of good thick beer (_not_ the disgusting megabrewery swill--something with vitamins and calories). If coughing, make hot punches[2] and toddies[3]. Get plenty of bedrest (i.e., _no_ computer--when you're on the mend, get a book, maybe). This is the diet I credit having saved me from pneumonia when it struck my apartment building last year. It may be psychosomatic--but hey, it works! [1] Chicken Curry 1 lb. chicken, diced, chopped, ground or otherwise cut up 3-4 in. ginger, peeled, then grated or chopped 1 large onion, chopped very fine indeed lots of garlic, chopped 2-3 green chilis, chopped very fine 1 tsp. cayenne 1 tsp. cumin 2 tsp. garam masala 1/4 cup vinegar 6 in. dried lemon grass 1 Tbsp. sriracha or other chili paste--garlic a plus, unpasteurised paste even more so 1/2 cup coconut milk 1/2 cup water Mix chicken, spices (except lemon grass) and vinegar. Let sit a good long while. Meanwhile, let lemon grass sit in warm water. To cook, chop up lemon grass finely, add to chicken mixture, dump in pot, add coconut milk and water, boil until done. Serve over rice. The theory of this is that a) ginger is good for one b) chicken is good for one c) chilis are good for one d) garlic is good for one e) onion is good for one f) spices are good for one. The idea is also that it will cause you to cry so fiercely that with any luck much of the sickness will end up being forced out by the tears. [2] Hot Punch 1 part ea: hot tea, boiling water, sugar, lemon juice & alcohol Note the five ingredients. Apparently the Hindi or Sanskrit or something word for five is panch. This is not a coincidence. For medicinal purposes, I suggest an alcohol with lots of botanicals/herbs/what-have-you. Benedictine, Drambuie, Chartreuse, gin, obstler, absinthe--you get the picture. The idea is to swamp the body with lots of good stuff, slay germs by the million and get better ASAP. Make sure the tea is _tea_, not an herbal tea. The inherent caffeine/tannin/stuff is vital. If you've access to one of those Russian or Chinese teas with the flowers in, that would be good. [3] Hot Toddy 1 mug tea honey lemon 1 shot alcohol clove or two 1 thin slice butter Much the same as the previous, but without quite so much water. Same suggestions as to the liquor and tea. Go for something with lots of herbs. -- Robert Uhl There's only so many cookies one can pull out of a floppy drive before losing faith in mankind.