For the past several weeks I have been getting progressively sicker. It started off as just a sore throat and cold, and then turned into fatigue, headaches and swollen glands (I know that swollen gland game far too well). Needless to say, it was time for some blood tests. With all this swine flu stuff you can never be too careful.

This morning I got some blood drawn. The nurse told me it was probably just allergies. I have never suffered from allergies before, but hey, anything is possible. A couple of hours later I get a call with my results. Positive for Mononucleosis!

Lucky for me, Steve had mono almost a year ago and kept all of his specially researched vitamins that he had bought for himself during his episode. I was perfectly content with just the regular Tylenol and Advil, but he had insisted I take the vitamins. Before I threw them down the hatch, I made sure to do a little research myself. here is what I found out:

Milk Thistle: Believed to have protective effects on the liver and improve it’s function. It is typically used to treat the liver, cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and gallbladder disorders. Silymarin, which can be extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle plant, is believed to be the biologically active part of the herb.

Dandelion Root: Dandelion has been used to cure breast illnesses, bloating, disorders of the gastrointestinal system, aching joints, and skin conditions. The leaves have large amounts of vitamins, including A, C, D, and B-complexes. The leaves of the plant are very nutrient-rich, and so they make good supplements for women who are pregnant or elderly women.

Dandelion can also be used as a gentle diuretic and can decrease serum cholesterol in some people. The root can be an appetite stimulant and it can treat some digestive disorders. Today, many herbal doctors use dandelion to purify the liver and gallbladder of toxins. Research indicates that dandelions can treat pneumonia, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders. Dandelion can improve general health, and is beneficial to the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and other organs.

So if you are ever stuck out in the woods, or just bored, try chewing on some dandelion stems and milk thistles. Who knows- it just may save your life.