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Homebody, Heal Thyself

T

he poet John Dryden once wrote:
Back when ague, a form of
“Better to hunt in fields, for
malaria, ran rampant through
health unbought, than fee the
many parts of the world, various
doctor for a nauseous draught.”
treatments were used to control
Perhaps we would feel bet-
the disease. One was to
ter about today’s pills and
consume tablets of com-
unguents if we consider what
pressed spiders’ webs.
people did ages ago while seek-
A variation of this treatment
ing cures for what ailed them.
involved eating the actual spider,
One sore throat remedy
sometimes while it was alive.
called for wrapping your own
(Perhaps this led to the origin of
dirty socks around your throat.
the saying, “Whatever doesn’t kill
Our guess? Because sore
you will make you stronger.”)
Sy Manello
throats are so contagious and,
Many Ozark residents used
in the olden days, a signal of
folk remedies they had inherited.
potentially lethal diseases, the dirty socks Some worked; some worked despite their
were used to keep loved ones as far away
toxicity; and some didn’t work at all. Here
as possible from the patient. An Irish
are some unusual remedies from that
gem to heal a sore throat involved apply-
region:
ing salt herring to the soles of the feet.
1.) For your heart, scrape the black
An old, traditional memory-booster
stuff off the skillet and use it in a tea (the
calls for dipping garlic cloves in chocolate creosote stimulated the heart).
and eating one to three of them a day. In
2.) To care for colds, rub on coal oil
theory, this makes some sense: The garlic (kerosene or turpentine) or rub on a mix-
and the chocolate are loaded to the gills
ture of skunk grease and mutton tallow.
with the kind of antioxidants that protect
3.) For stomach problems, consume
brain cells.
the pulverized lining of chicken gizzards.

(They were really big on chicken-parts
cures!)
4.) For sinus problems, find mold
on the door of an underground cellar.
Breathe nine times deeply into the mold
for each nostril and make a cross in the
middle of the hand each time. Do this
three times every other day for nine days.
(What they were getting from the mold
was penicillin.)
5.) For childhood asthma, measure the
child’s height on a board. At that place on
the board, auger a hole and place a lock
of child’s hair in the hole. Then plug the
hole with a hickory cork. When the child
grows taller than the hole, the asthma
will be gone.
The next time you grumble about the
latest pain pill you are required to take,
consider some of what you might have
been subjected to back in the day.

*

letters

Thanks To Volunteers

As we bask in the glow of Mitzvah
Day 2015, we thank the 879 wonderful
volunteers who came together to be
“Here for Good.”
Together we helped prepare and
serve meals at shelters and warming
centers, cheered residents at nursing
homes, visited with veterans, deliv-
ered holiday meals to the homebound
and toys and gifts to needy families
throughout Wayne and Oakland
Counties. Whether working with fam-
ily and friends or side-by-side with
fellow volunteers from the Michigan
Muslim Community Council, we built
new bonds and showed the strength
of Detroit’s Jewish community while
performing mitzvot.
We thank everyone who par-
ticipated this year and the Jewish
Community Relations Council and
Jewish Federation for making this
program possible. We extend a
very special thank you to the Maple
Theater and Riviera Cinema for their
generous donation of movie passes to
all Mitzvah Day 2015 volunteers.
We look forward to seeing all of our

amazing volunteers again, along with
many more new faces on Mitzvah Day
2016.

Janet Berman, Seth Fisher,
Micki Grossman and Milt Neuman
Mitzvah Day 2015 Co-Chairs

Shir On A Tear

They claim Obama lacks emotion;
He acts with too much caution.
Now, don’t you fear,
He shed a tear.
Forget the bad old notion.
— Rachel Kapen

PLANNING TIME!

What do you suggest
for 2016?

As we cross the calendar
year, it’s the time to assess
what needs to be done for
the upcoming year. First
on your agenda should be to make
sure you have your estate plan in
order. A Will, Revocable Trust (to
avoid Probate), Durable Power of
Attorney (so your spouse or child
can act for you if you are unable) and
a Healthcare Power of Attorney (to
address critical care health issues)
are essential. Young couples with
children need to make sure they
have appointed a guardian for their
children in case a disaster occurs.
1H[W²DUH\RXUÀQDQFHVDUHLQRUGHU
Stated simply, are you on course to
have enough savings for retirement
that you will be able to sustain your
remaining years? On this point,
you need to make sure you are not
wasting your retirement by paying
high interest on credit cards month
and month, year after year. Call us –
we can address these issues.

THAV GROSS has been
solving its clients’ business, tax
and fi nancial problems since 1982.
Be sure to watch Law and Reality
Sunday’s at 11 AM on TV20 and
listen in on Saturday’s at 9 AM on
WDFN 1130 AM.

thavgross.com  lawandreality.com

30150 Telegraph, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

January 14 • 2016

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