Yogurt, Feet and the Bible:  Historically Significant Ways to Treat Cold Symptoms and Depression

Most of what I knew about Christianity (before I met my husband)  was from Jesus Christ, Superstar (the musical).  In fact, any biblical reference usually creates song fragments to immediately bubble up and I have to resist jumping around doing the hand and face gestures, like "What's the Buzz, tell me what's a happenin'". In this case, today, my family is sick with the flu.  How does this relate to the Bible, you ask? Well, through the feet.  Does that mean I have a foot in the door with the church? Clearly not, though my mother is a Unitarian Minister and a fine one at that. Does that mean I'm coming to religion feet first? Well, many a pauper did that in England, but not today for me I trust. It means the feet, like Mary Magdalene treating the feet of Jesus during her conversion, are very sensitive, and it feels really good to have someone rub ointment on them. "Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to, problems that upset you ohhh.. don't you know everything's all right, yes, everything's fine, and it's cool and the ointment's sweet, for the fire in your head and feet.."

Back here in Shorewood where colds are running rampant and today's snow makes going to the store nothing short of practicing for the Iditarod, rubbing the feet in particular reflexology points will make a stuffed up, runny nose, miserable, can't breath, coughing person feel better.  The act of having the feet rubbed is comforting (in most cases, though some kids and adults don't enjoy it, so don't force it).  In addition, there are specific points of the foot that will ease a cold.  I remembered this at about 2:30 am the other night when the baby couldn't sleep. I cuddled her rather upright, reached down and gently (after the first one wasn't and she yelped and hacked) squeezed her big toe.  Here's a simple ten-toe process of what you do for a baby, a child, a parent, a grandparent, probably even the dog:

Hold the foot gently, to let it know things are all right. You don't need ointment or water or anything so ... biblical. You don't even have to take off the socks, though removing the snow boot or shoe is probably more effective.  You can do it to yourself - it's approved - and the feet are just that far away from your head it's not like trying to tickle yourself, they don't know it's you, and it will help you, too.  Anyone can do this.  For the kids, II might do this a bit before bedtime, as it might get them excited to have their toes squeezed, and it does seem to have a lasting effect. Adults will generally collapse from it, so make sure the car's locked and the food's all put away.

For the head, like headache, stuffy head, sinuses, nose and ears squeeze the sides and the top of each toe. Each toe has a specific nose or ear relation - just get 'em all.

Then gently press the pad along the base of the toes. The nose might start to run (as in drip, of course, not phsycially leave the face), have tissues on hand. This area - across the whole top of the foot pad - can ease everything from the neck and tonsils to the shoulders. It may feel really crunchy if the person is really sick, so be gentle. 

This also works on the hands, especially in children and babies. As adults, we've been kind of rough on ourselves, so the fingertips might be a little hardened by life (or shovelling).

Another biblically historical element in treating the cold is yogurt.  It's an ancient food. And by avoiding it, you can help ease congestion.  As most of us know, dairy adds to congestion, and cutting back on dairy when you have a cold is pretty easy for adults but a real pain when you have a whole-milk sucking baby or kids who really like their milk. I think I stand to get a note from the Milk Board of Wisc. by even suggesting a family cut back if afflicted with the cold/flu. I take that risk.   Emotionally, if you would feel really good if someone brought you that pint of Blue Moon from Kopp's, by all means, emotions rule. 

Besides cutting back on dairy, I have a theory about yogurt that I think you should try. Not everyone who knows me knows about my theories on things, but now you, dear reader, will have access to them and can test this one at home.  I believe yogurt makes me depressed. (Soy too, actually, anything with those "live cultures."  But let's focus on yogurt. I'm not even going to address aspartame or phenylalanines found in the sugar free kind. Just yogurt.)

My husband can bust me if I've had a yogurt that day - he'll just say "HEY, Did you have a yogurt today???" and a)it is rare for me to eat yogurt and b)he is always right.

I've tried it on my son, and darn it if he doesn't seem low low low about 45 minutes after eating it.  He actually had a crying jag the last time that he couldn't explain. Just sat and wept for a while saying he couldn't stop! Sad to watch. I don't think it was the mixed berry combo.

This could be the makings for an "old wive's tale" but I'm not THAT old yet and I really think it is true for me and my offspring. My husband doesn't eat it anyway. I suggest a test for you dear reader, because I need to spread this knowledge and cheer up anyone who may be easily un-afflicted with what I'm calling yode (pronounced yo'dee).  Eliminating things from your diet that could bring you down that you THINK are having no effect is significant. Just have a yogurt at a random time - not with a meal or a slab of tofu or a hot fudge sundae chaser - and check in with yourself about 45 minutes later. Hopefully you'll feel great BUT if you're like me and you have started feeling like there is no way you're going to make ends meet or send the kids to college or life is seeming a bit too hard, start suspecting your yogurt.  It could be affecting you more than you know!

Now, back to your regularaly scheduled shovelling of the walk, the driveway, and that little patch by the car.  

[Today's links brought to you mostly by Wikipedia. And, though I really like the DK Publishing reflexology widgets linked to the words "feet" and "hands" I am not generally a proponent of this publisher.]