I am so excited! I just went to my mailbox and found the new book that my friend Chrystle Fiedler wrote about my adventures last year: Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery. It’s bittersweet news because the book chronicles my adventures in June playing amateur sleuth after my dear Aunt Claire was murdered. I’d come home to visit Claire from LA where I was practicing holistic medicine after I broke up with my boyfriend, looking for some rest and relaxation. Looking back, I can see now that Claire seemed distracted but I didn’t really notice something was wrong. That is, until I found her body on the floor of her store Nature’s Way Market & Café, a bottle of flower essences by her side. My life hasn’t been the same since.
The cops thought it was an accident but I knew it was murder. She’d just been given a clean bill of health the day before! I knew in my gut that something was wrong so I enlisted the help of one of her customers, Jackson Spade, a hunky ex-cop on disability who loved Claire almost as much as I did. I won’t tell you too many details of the story or it would ruin it if you want to read the book but let’s just say it was a harrowing time but good prevailed in the end.
Now, I’m back to doing what I love best and that’s natural remedies! I sell plenty of natural cures at Nature’s Way Market & Café which is located on Front Street in the idyllic village of Greenport on Long Island’s East End in New York State.
At Nature’s Way we have everything from herbs and supplements to homeopathic medicines, along with a wide variety of organic fruit and veggies (I plan to put Death Drops right on the counter at the check-out so I can autograph them!) When you visit you’ll also meet Gingko and Ginger, my two tabby cats and Qigong, my rescue. Animals are very important to me. They are my furry family and my customers love them too!
I help people who come to the store and also readers who submit their questions about natural health on the Nature’s Remedy website. I’m their go-to holistic doc, that means I take into account a client’s body, mind and spirit. I just got an e-mail that my editor forwarded to me. Here’s what it says and my reply:
Dear Dr. McQuade,
Help! I’ve been feeling anxious and stressed to the max ever since I started my new job. Is there anything natural I can take to help me chill out?
Signed,
Stressed Out
Dear Stressed Out,
Have no fear. One of the best natural remedies for stress is flower essences, which help to correct emotional imbalances. There are thirty-eight flower essences, developed by Dr. Edward Bach in 1934. Just put a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy—a combination of rockrose for terror and panic, impatiens for irritation and impatience, clematis for inattentiveness, star-of-Bethlehem for shock, and cherry plum for irrational thoughts—under your tongue and you’ll begin to chill big-time. You’ll find it at your local health-food store.
Signed,
Willow McQuade, ND
I know from my own experience that Rescue Remedy lives up to its name (and no, I’m not a paid spokesperson – don’t worry!). If I’m feeling stressed or a little anxious about say, a deadline, it really helps. You can take Rescue Remedy as drops, spray, cream, pastilles, and gum. You can even use it or kids and animals to calm them down! It’s all natural and safe. Best of all you can take it with you wherever you go! I like to tuck a bottle of the drops in my pocketbook so it’s there when I need it. You can buy it in your local health food store.
What is your favorite natural remedy? Leave a comment and you may win a free copy of Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery! Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends May 19.
Order Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery from your favorite bookseller or visit www.chrystlefiedler.com.
Meet the author
Chrystle Fiedler is the author of DEATH DROPS: A NATURAL REMEDIES MYSTERY (Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster), the non-fiction title THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO NATURAL REMEDIES (Alpha, 2009), co-author of BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! (Fairwinds Press, 2010), currently in its fourth printing, the BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! COOKBOOK (Fairwinds Press, 2012) and THE COUNTRY ALMANAC OF HOME REMEDIES (Fairwinds, 2011). Chrystle’s magazine articles featuring natural remedies have appeared in many national publications including Better Homes and Gardens, Natural Health, Vegetarian Times and Remedy. Visit her at www.chrystlefiedler.com and at www.killerhobbies.blogspot.com.
One of my favorite natural remedy’s is honey, which Helps to soothe a cough or a sore throat and has been shown to have properties similar to antibiotics. It is a great testing, natural and healthy alternative to cough syrup! I can’t wait to read this series, I have been following it since before it was published. I am interested in the herbal remedies as well as the location, as I am from Long Island as well. Of course I am a huge Cozy mystery fan, so it has all the elements I want in a book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
My doctor recommended using a salt water nasal rinse (kosher salt, baking soda and distilled water) for a bad cold to help clean out the sinuses and reduce swelling. While it is not pleasant to do, it works nicely. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
Take a nap – works wonders for so many ailments real or imagined….!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I’ve been a big fan of herbal remedies for many years. I think I could also become a big fan of Chrystle Fiedler and her books also. I’d love to win a copy of “Death Drops”.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite natural remedy is a tube of 100% Aloe Vera for burns. I love it, my skin heals so fast with it.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Hi Dru!
My favorite homeopathic remedy is grape seed extract. I have been using it for almost 6 years now at the first sign of any infection (usually the dreaded sinus infection). 14 drops into a glass of apple cider and down the hatch! Have had great success and learned a bit along the way…first of all apple cider is by far the BEST vehicle to get this very bitter extract down. I tried OJ (ARRGGHHH), grape juice (arrghh) and apple juice ( a wee bit arghh). Cider does the trick! I also found that some of our military troops are sent with this in their medical kits to help keep them healthy. All this to say that we always have it in the house and the cider is always at the store!!
blessings, Dru….thanks for this fun giveaway.
Nanc
My favorite remedy is tea and honey for a cold or sore throat.
Thanks to everyone for stopping by! It’s nice to know that there are natural remedy lovers out there! Thank you Dru! Chrystle
My favorite remedy is hot lemonade made with fresh lemonds and honey for a cold—and add a little whiskey to calm your nerves, too. My grandfather always made this when anyone was sick.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
My favorite would be aloe for minor burns, works so good.
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
my favorite natural remedy is ‘ME’ time……..getting away from everybody & everything & making sure that i get back to the core of ME!!!
thank you for this giveaway!!!
cyn209 at juno dot com
I’m a big fan of ME time too! I’ll have to try the grape fruit extract. You have all taught ME something! Thanks for stopping by! Chrystle
I would have to say honey. I like that it never spoils and can be used to sooth a sore throat.
Laughter. It even helps get the apple cider down. Thanks everyone for your input and I agree with using as much natural stuff as possible. I look forward to some mysterious remedies. Count me in for the contest.
Judy
I try to avoid most medications and have found apple cider to be a great help to aid digestion. With a couple of teaspoons in a glass of water, it’s an easy and quick fix.