Basically, this is for wheb you dob feel bery dood.
You know, that *special* time of year when you become afflicted with a cold, flu or sore throat?
Everyone hates it, yet no one seems to be immune and we all rush to find the things that comfort and soothe in those dark times when we dob feel bery dood.
You know the time.
For me, I almost always get at least a light touch of some sort of cold or flu – whatever happens to be going around in the current season of cooler weather and the ever prompt winter season and no matter what, it seems I get a sore throat.
I tend to remedy that with lots of Sleepytime herbal tea by Celestial Selections (seriously, I should buy stock in it… I go through at least a box every four to five days!) mixed with a fair share of fresh lemon juice and honey. Might I add I buy the BIG jar of honey and at least a dozen or so lemons that I cut in half and quarter the halves so that I have a quick and ready supply of lemon to be squeezed and dropped into the tea. This sore throat remedy is a serious business. I buy what I will need and in bulk! At least a good week of this remedy, taken as many times a day as needed (or possible, depending on the day), your throat begins to recover and renew itself and you are nearly good as new.
Except maybe the last little dribbles of a runny nose that just refuses to go away.
Party crasher.
*sigh*
Late this past summer, it came to me! Why not mix the lemon and honey together and make a golden elixir of lemony-honey goodness that would soothe all that ails?
*Harumph!* I call this FELIX FELICIS!
Or liquid luck! Lucky that you made this ahead of time and have it on hand anyways! That’s for certain!
Felix Felicis soothes the throat of the drinker for a period of time, depending on how much is taken, during which time they will be successful at everything they attempt. The side effects causes giddiness, increased need to urinate and increased hopefulness that the sore throat and sickness will pass more quickly, it is meant to be used at the drinker’s risk. It is highly addictive in large quantities and banned from use in all organized competitions.
“Luck can only get you so far, Harry… Luck is not powerful enough to get through a powerful incantation.” As Hermione told Harry, remember this won’t be strong enough to eliminate your sore throat, cold or flu, but it will certainly allow you to function, speak and feel much better about being sick.
Have you seen Harry Potter? It is simply one of the most intriguing and delightful series of books and movies – a world anyone could easily fall enamoured with! Felix felicis is a magical potion first introduced in Professor Slughorn’s potions class at Hogwarts School of Magic. Harry Potter won a small vial of Felix Felicis from Profressor Slughorn for brewing the best Draught of the Living Dead potion, during a potions class that would give him 12 hours worth of effects. Lucky Harry!
Within the world of Harry Potter, Felix Felicis works by providing the drinker with the best possible scenario. This usually registers in the drinker’s mind in the form of an unusual urge to take a certain action, or as a voice telling him to do so. The effectiveness of the potion thus depends on the cooperation of the drinker with the voice, for the drinker may for some reason be unable to follow their Felix-induced urges, or can simply choose not to. This is easily remedied, however, as the potion does not single out only one scenario, but changes paths as the situation unfolds. Then again, the chances of the drinker refusing to follow the urge is very unlikely, as it manifests as a “sensation of infinite opportunity” where the imbiber feels supremely confident enough to be infallible for the duration of the Potion’s effect.
Felix Felicis also seem to culminate the magical power of the one who imbibed it, since Harry was able to use refilling charms non-verbally, something he otherwise would have had great difficulty casting.
The potion’s effectiveness seems to wane after a certain amount of time and the treatment will need to be repeated for continued success and soothing powers on the afflicted’s throat.
Good luck, not that you will need it with a little Felix Felicis around!
Ingredients:
- a large, glass jar (I used a pint Mason jar) with tight fitting lid
- honey
- thinly sliced lemons, about 2 large lemons fit into a pint jar
Cut off the top and bottom of each lemon so that there is just a thin ring of the rind and more of the lemon exposed. Thinly slice the lemons then remove the seeds and discard.
Place the lemons inside of a clean, glass jar. Pour the honey over the lemons, pushing the lemons down with a fork to create room to pour the honey in if necessary, until the honey completely covers the lemons. You may need to push along the sides of the lemons with a blunt butter knife or fork to push out the air and allow more honey to be poured in among the lemons.
Seal the jar tightly and place it upside down in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. This will allow the honey to soak up the lemon juice, melding the two together until a golden, tartly sweet elixir forms.
Pour 2-6 tablespoons into a mug of hot water, or tea and drink while hot. The lemon and honey will soothe and repair a sore throat, although this elixir is also good for a cold day, mixed in a mug of hot water.
This elixir will keep in the fridge for up to six months, although you will need to remove the lemons as their powers begin to wane and replace it with freshly sliced lemons.
Also, when the jar becomes half-empty, pour more honey in and let the jar sit upside down until you have a full jar of elixir. This is also a good time to take out the lemons and refresh the lemon supply in the jar.
