The Year the Grinch Stole Christmas

This year is the real year the Grinch stole Christmas! There will be no family gatherings as per normal as everyone is practicing social distancing, wearing masks and staying safely at home.

For this reason I have prepared a Special Gift for all our guests, friends and family. Have fun going through your gift which will be coming to you via e-mail. It is nicely wrapped and as you untie the ribbon and remove the Christmas wrapping I know you will be wondering: “what is in this gift?” First of all, it is a gift of love and one that relates to the unusual time we are presently living in. Hope you enjoy your gift. As a note, the box is divided in four quarters.

The first quarter is a natural orange juice drink that will boost your immune system. We normally have a 6oz glass for breakfast. This is how to make it:
Recipe:
3 oranges, peeled and cut in pieces
2 limes, peeled and cut in pieces
2 plugs garlic
3 inches of ginger, peeled
¾ tablespoon turmeric
4 cups water
3 tablespoons honey

Blend fist six ingredients and strain to remove pulp.
Sweeten the juice with honey (to taste).

The second quarter is a tea made from Bay leaves. The benefits of bay leaves are many, and it is very useful in treating colds, flus and coughs. Bay leaves have a lot of vitamin C. You can boil the leaves and inhale the steam to get rid of phlegm and reduce the cough. It is important to keep your nose and air ways clean and free of mucus as you know, mucus must never reach the lungs. Once the mucus reaches the lungs, Covid19 can take over.

The third quarter is Fever Grass tea or Lemongrass tea (they are the same). To neutralize the threat in the throat, drink hot liquids regularly like tea, coffee, hot water, turmeric in hot water. Drink as much hot water as possible. Do vinegar, salt and warm water as a gargle. Make steam inhalation as part of your daily routine for five minutes at least twice a day; AM and PM
Recipe:
6 strips of Fever Grass or Lemongrass (same thing), slice into pieces and place in pot with 6 cups of water

Boil for 10 minutes. Cover and sit for 10 more minutes.
Strain and drink warm. If you wish you may add 3 thick
Oregano leaves along with the Fever Grass when you boil it.

This combination helps the body to expel the phlegm.

The fourth quarter we use only if you test positive for Covid19. The fourth quarter is called Vervain also known as Verbena. It is a humble and inconspicuous plant that grows in Belize near damp places, fences, near streets and road sides. It is called the Magical Plant and people are using it to treat Covid19. You can use every part of this plant which you properly clean before boiling. If you are diagnosed Covid19 positive then you take 3 warm cups a day for 3 days, morning, noon and night. After 3 days you continue to take only 1 tablespoon per day for 9 days.

People in Belize have always believed in herbal/holistic medicines along with traditional meds. For many years, Belizeans have used Vicks vapor rub on their chests to relieve congestion; taken by mouth a spoonful on honey and lime juice to relieve a persistent cough; rubbed by “hanky” rubbing bay rum on their foreheads and necks to bring down fever; and gargled lime, vinegar, salt and warm water to relieve a sore throat. Belizeans feel that by using the herbal immune boosting remedies that it is helping them to avoid getting the Covid19 and if they are diagnosed with COVID19, these natural remedies are helping to overcome this virus and helping them to recover.

Now we have opened the Christmas box and received a lot of “food for thought”. We realize that in spite of all that is happening in the world today there is always hope. The earth provides all the remedies we need to stay healthy and strong. We need to take care of ourselves by doing the right things, eating right, wearing our masks and protecting ourselves as much as we can. We need to do this for ourselves knowing that we will get through this, as this too will pass.

To complete this gift of “HOPE” on December 21, 2020, we will experience the winter solstice which is the longest night of the year; look to the skies 45 minutes after sunset; this is the year when two planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will come very close together to form the “Christmas Star”, also called “Star of Bethlehem”. The “Star of Bethlehem” will shine again for the first time since 1226. On December 21, as we gaze at the sky, we can reflect on the three wise men; who followed the star in search of the new born king. This is the true meaning of Christmas which no one can steal from us.

We wish you a very happy and merry Christmas season and even brighter 2021.

Warm regards,
Mike & Marguerite
& the BRL Family

PS
Just think, many of us in the world will unite tonight, socially distanced from our homes, but together in thought, as we take the time to step outside and watch the “Star of Bethlehem”. Whether you are Christian and wanting to see the star shine, or whether you believe in science and want to see the two planets, Jupiter and Saturn align or if the meaning is something else to you, we will all be out and looking to the stars tonight.