What Happens When Caregivers Get Sick?

What happens when we, the primary caregivers, get sick or injured?  Can our elderly parents, frail spouses, or other dependents help care for us? Too many of us let our own health fall short of where we need to be. This can make us miserable and add to the financial burdens on our families and others we love and care for.  In this episode, I share several ways to get help from work colleagues, friends, neighbors, those we care for, and even from a few sources you might not have thought about.  I’ll also share a special antioxidant tea/brew that you can easily make at home.  It’s good for you and those you care for, even when you’re not ill.  Here’s that special recipe.Olive and Basil Leaf tea: A large heaping tablespoon of dried olive leaves. Two or three large, dried bay leaves. Fresh ginger, which you can get at your local grocery store in the produce aisle. Honey to taste. Local unprocessed honey is the best!<br/>Boil a pot of water. add the above ingredients and let steep until the water turns a goldish-green color.  Strain, drink, and enjoy –hot or cold This tea has been known to keep colds at bay (excuse the pun) and even help with tooth infections – should you ever have one. It's also delicious as an iced tea!The benefits of bay and olive leaves are numerous. However, like any herb, they can interact with medications.  Please consult your medical professional before trying this tea, or other herbal teas.  Bay Leaf, benefits:Improving digestionReducing risk factors of type 2 diabetes.Lowering blood pressure.Helping provide extra vitamin C.Contains antibacterial properties.  Helps with sleep.<br/>Olive leaf benefits, per Memorial Sloan Kettering:Olive leaves contain oleuropein, which is thought to help reduce cholesterol levels and some levels of inflammation. Olive leaf extracts (OLE) also reduce glucose levels in the blood. Laboratory studies found that OLE can kill several microorganisms including yeasts, bacteria, and fungi. It was also shown to have anticancer effects, but more human studies are needed.Other episode links:Online Chicken Soup care packagesCareManity websiteBook: How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, AfterFree: File-of-LifeEldercare Success on YouTube<br/>Host:  Nancy May, Author of How to Survive