Thursday, December 16, 2010

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil - Uses and Customer Comments

Today Australian Tea Tree Oil is known to be an effective antiseptic and fungicide and promotes tissue healing. The following is some suggested therapeutic uses for this oil. This information is for educational purposes only. For serious or persistant problems consult a physician.
General Use
Externally: Tea Tree oil may be applied directly to the skin to stimulate regeneration of injuries and fight bacterial and fungal infection. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to dilute it with a little olive oil. A Massage Oil can also be used as a carrier oil since it is formulated especially for skin absorption.
Internally: To fight infections (bacterial or fungal) take a few drops well diluted with water.

Specific Uses

Acne - Dab on pure or add to warm water and rinse. You can add it to any facial wash you use.

Athlete's Feet - Being a fungal based problem, Tea Tree Oil does a great job eliminating the problem. Put 2-3 drops in your palm and add a carrier oil or lotion and apply at least once a day.

Boils - Wash the area surrounding the boil thoroughly and then apply full strength with a cotton swab two to four times each day for four days. A gauze pad saturated with the oil may also be applied directly to the boil for up to twelve hours.

Bug Buster - We keep a spray bottle mixed with 15 drops of Tea Tree Oil and a quart of water to repel insects. In the summer ants tend to come in our patio door or along the exposed wall. When we see that begin, we spray our natural Bug Buster several times a day for several days and they'll find somewhere else to go. Natural doesn't work fast like chemicals, but then it doesn't kill a little bit of you either! Another favorite bug repellant is Clove Oil.

Burns - Being a non-greasy and volatile oil, Tea Tree Oil is excellent for burns. Any of the oil which has not been absorbed within 10 minutes will evaporate, allowing the skin to breathe. Speedy treatment is essential. The burn should be put under cold running water or packed in ice for one minute. Then, alternate applications of Tea Tree Oil and cold water for ten more minutes. The oil may be poured from the bottle directly over the burn. The oil can be applied liberally twice daily for three to four days if necessary.

Cankers (Mouth Ulcers) - Apply the oil full strength directly to the canker sore several times until sore heals. One or two applications are reported to do the trick for most people.

Cold Sores - Apply the oil full strength daily for a week.

Cuts - Clean the wound and apply the Tea Tree Oil directly to the cut two to three times the first day. You can continue to apply the oil twice daily for up to seven days thereafter.

Dandruff - Add Tea Tree to your shampoo for dandruff, dry or oily scalp, and itchy scalp. Use 10 drops to an 8 ounce bottle.

Diaper Rash - Apply 2-3 drops of oil mixed in your palm with a carrier oil (not baby oil - it contains mineral oil which causes Vitamin A deficiencies).

Disinfectant - Use 15 drops to quart of water in a spray bottle. Use on countertops or for general cleaning. Tea Tree Oil along with Sunshine Concentrate will give you all the cleaning and laundry supplies you need in your home.

Ear Aches - Rub two or three drops of the oil on the outer ear or dilute three drops of the oil in one teaspoon of olive oil and put a few drops of the diluted mixture in the ear twice daily.

Fleas - Use 10 drops to 8 oz. of water and spray on animal's coat as you rub it in. It will be good for their skin also. This needs to be done daily until the problem is under control in the home. After all fleas are gone you can put it in a spritzer bottle and give your animal a spritz all over once or twice a day if fleas are in the area.

Fungus Nails - Andrew Weil, M.D. in "Natural Health, Natural Medicine", says Tea Tree Oil will clear up fungal infections of both toenails and fingernails even if they are resistant to strong systemic antibiotics.

Gums/Teeth - Add 2 drops to a little water and swish around mouth --- or add a drop to your toothbrush and apply while you brush. Does a great job for receding gums, pyorrhea, gingivitis, plaque, and bad breath from dental sources.

Infected/Sore Nails - Applied several times a day.

Insect Bites and Stings - As soon as possible, apply the oil full strength directly to the bite with a finger or cotton ball.

Laundry Disinfectant: Add one teaspoon per load to disinfect laundry such as diapers or to prevent transmission of fungal infections.

Lice - Mix five drops of Tea Tree Oil in a teaspoon of shampoo and wash the hair. Repeat this treatment twice daily until the lice are gone. 

Mites - Cats and dogs get ear mites. They are not transmittable to humans, but infestations are very contagious with pets in contact with other animals. We have used TEA TREE OIL diluted. I use 10 drops in a tablespoon of olive oil (you can use another kind). Then I take a small eyedropper and squirt it in one ear at a time, instantly covering the opening with the ear flap. I spend a full minute massaging the ear to keep the animal from shaking it all out before it gets into the ear canal and begins doing its work. Massage as long as you can and rub the animal's head to make it a plesant experience so you can repeat this twice a day for a week. Consistency equals results.

Pimples - Apply full strength with a cotton swab two to four times each day for four days.

Scalp Problems - Itchy, dry, scaly or oily scalps can be helped with Tea Tree Oil. Use as shown above under "Dandruff."

Sinus & Bronchial Congestion - Rub a few drops of the oil on the nose and sinuses and/or rub the oil on the chest. The vapors may be inhaled by adding five drops of the oil to a bowl of steaming hot water or to a vaporizor.

Skin Problems - Use one teaspoon in a tub of bath water for a very invigorating bath. It is reported to help sooth and disinfect the skin in cases of psoriasis, eczema and so forth.

Splinters - First, soak the afflicted area in hot water to soften the skin. Then, apply Tea Tree Oil full strength. Remove the splinter with a sterilized needle. Clean the cut, dry the area and reapply the oil. For deep slivers, Black Ointment, pine tar or lily of the valley herb applied to the area and covered with a dressing will help to draw the sliver to the surface.

Sunburn - Dilute one part Tea Tree Oil with ten parts of olive oil or coconut oil and spread freely over the affected areas. This is reported to be soothing and pain-relieving and to reduce blistering and peeling. People have also applied tea tree oil full strength to sunburn.

Thrush in Infants (Mouth) - Dilute a few drops of tea tree oil in the child's saliva to reduce the strong taste and paint onto the afflicted areas with a swab. This can be repeated twice per day for two days. Discontinue if there is no improvement.

Ticks and Leeches - Apply Tea Tree Oil to the live tick or leech and surrounding skin. Leave for 20 minutes. The tick may fall off. If not, remove it carefully (make certain no part of the tick is left in the skin). Continue applying the oil to the bite three times per day for up to seven days.

Vaginal Yeast Infections - Use one teaspoon of the oil in a 500 ml. douche daily. You can also soak a tampon in the oil and insert.

Purchase 100% Guarantee Pure and Potent Tea Tree Oil

Customer Comments
Athlete's Foot
"My hubby, a natural skeptic about herbs, broke out with athlete's foot a few weeks ago. He allowed me to put a few drops of TEA TREE OIL on the problem. I massaged the oil into the area and overnight the athlete's foot was gone!" A.K.
Eczema and Rash
"I suffer with eczema in the winter months, especially my right thumb, which cracks open in one spot and never seems to heal until the warm weather comes in. The past few days, I've also developed a painful rash between my second and third fingers of my right hand. After reading your comments on TEA TREE OIL this morning, saying that it is good for wounds, I applied some to the rash. An hour later, I noticed that my finger was no longer bothering me. When I looked, I noticed that the rash was completely gone. I then applied it to my hard-to-heal thumb and, although the split is still there, it seems to have closed up a bit. I've also used Golden Salve on that thumb with great results. I love this stuff!" Joanne
Hard Bump on Dog
"I noticed a hard bump on the side of my dog, Tasha, and was concerned. I decided to try a natural approach and began using TEA TREE OIL four (4) times a day. I also added Black Ointment beginning the next evening. I applied that four (4) times a day also. I noticed it was shrinking in a couple of days. ONE WEEK LATER, Tasha's bump is completely gone...zappo...it is gone! No trace of it. Great news!" Margot
Lice
"It seemed the whole school had an infestation of lice and somebody told me about using TEA TREE OIL. I was feeling really horrible about putting all those chemicals on my children's scalp, knowing they were being absorbed into their bloodstreams, so I decided to give it a try. It worked so much better than the drug store stuff. Tea Tree is used for so many things that I feel like I have a first aid kit in a bottle." Mary T.
Nail Fungus
"I began putting TEA TREE OIL on my nails and the fungus around my cuticles died over night." Kellie
Planter's Wart
"I had a planter's wart on the bottom of my left foot that just would not go away. Instead of going to the dermatologist for an acid treatment, my wife wanted to try something "alternative." She put a drop of Nature's Sunshine Tea Tree Oil on the wart and then followed it up with a dab of Nature's Sunshine Black Ointment and then we put a waterproof Band-Aid on it to keep all the "alternative medicine" on it. We did it morning and night, and by the second night (after three treatments), the wart was flat and there was a "divot" in the middle where it looked as if the seed had drawn itself out." Steve
Sarcoptic Mange
I used Tea Tree Oil on my dog's sarcoptic mange because the vet couldn't fit him in for an appointment for a week. I canceled the vet appointment because the Tea Tree Oil cleared it beautifully! I cleaned the area and applied the oil with a dropper twice a day. This stuff is great! My dog thanks you! J.K.
Tea Tree Does It All
"We took our kids camping this past weekend and of course I had my handy little bottle of TEA TREE OIL (I love this stuff). We were camping and when we were taking our tent down, we found we had planted one of our spikes right into a sappy pine root. My husband had sap all over his hand. Well, anyone whoever gets that pine sap on themselves knows it's very hard to get off. I threw the bottle of TEA TREE OIL to my husband and said, "Try this it works on everything else!" Guess what? He rubbed it into his hands, rinsed with water, and it was gone! So, my advice is, "Don't leave home without it!" Pam in Atlanta
Ticks
"I had read somewhere that Tea Tree Oil was helpful when removing ticks. Stephanie, our youngest, has had three ticks so far. All three times, I've put some Tea Tree Oil on the tick and waited until the tick let go so I could flush it down the toilet. It worked everytime! It takes about 30 seconds but I like the fact that I don't have to worry about getting "all of it out". It must be very toxic to them. I love it!" Giselle

Information borrowed from The Herbs Place, thanks!! Try them for your Tea Tree Oil needs!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Baking Soda Uses in the Kitchen

Clean your produce
You can't be too careful when it comes to food handling and preparation. Wash fruits and vegetables in a pot of cold water with 2-3 tablespoons baking soda; the baking soda will remove some of the impurities tap water leaves behind. Or put a small amount of baking soda on a wet sponge or vegetable brush and scrub your produce. Give everything a thorough rinsing before serving.

Tenderize meat

Got a tough cut of meat on your hands? Soften it up by giving it a rubdown in baking soda. Let it sit (in the refrigerator, of course) for three to five hours, then rinse it off well before cooking.

Soak out fish smells
Get rid of that fishy smell from your store-bought flounder filets and fish steaks by soaking the raw fish for about an hour (inside your refrigerator) in 1 quart (1 liter) water with 2 tablespoons baking soda. Rinse the fish well and pat dry before cooking.

Reduce acids in recipes
If you or someone in your family is sensitive to the high-acid content of tomato-based sauces or coffee, you can lower the overall acidity by sprinkling in a pinch of baking soda while cooking (or, in the case of coffee, before brewing). A bit of baking soda can also counteract the taste of vinegar if you happen to pour in a bit too much. Be careful not to overdo it with the soda, though -- if you add too much, the vinegar-baking soda combination will start foaming.

Bake better beans
Do you love baked beans but not their aftereffects? Adding a pinch of baking soda to baked beans as they're cooking will significantly reduce their gas-producing properties.

Fluff up your omelets

Want to know the secret to making fluffier omelets? For every three eggs used, add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Shhhh! Don't let it get around.

Use as yeast substitute
Need a stand-in for yeast when making dough? If you have some powdered vitamin C (or citric acid) and baking soda on hand, you can use a mixture of the two instead. Just mix in equal parts to equal the quantity of yeast required. What's more, the dough you add it to won't have to rise before baking.

Rid hands of food odorsChopping garlic or cleaning a fish can leave their "essence" on your fingers long after the chore is done. Get those nasty food smells off your hands by simply wetting them and vigorously rubbing with about 2 teaspoons baking soda instead of soap. The smell should wash off with the soda.

Clean baby bottles and accessories
Here's some great advice for new parents: Keep all your baby bottles, nipples, caps, and brushes "baby fresh" by soaking them overnight in a container filled with hot water and half a box of baking soda. Be sure to give everything a good rinsing afterward, and to dry thoroughly before using. Baby bottles can also be boiled in a full pot of water and 3 tablespoons baking soda for three minutes.

Clean a cutting board
Keep your wooden or plastic cutting board clean by occasionally scrubbing it with a paste made from 1 tablespoon each baking soda, salt, and water. Rinse thoroughly with hot water.

Clear a clogged drain
Most kitchen drains can be unclogged by pouring in 1 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup hot vinegar (simply heat it up in the microwave for 1 minute). Give it several minutes to work, then add 1 quart (1 liter) boiling water. Repeat if necessary. If you know your drain is clogged with grease, use 1/2 cup each of baking soda and salt followed by 1 cup boiling water. Let the mixture work overnight; then rinse with hot tap water in the morning.

Boost potency of dishwashing liquid

Looking for a more powerful dishwashing liquid? Try adding 2 tablespoons baking soda to the usual amount of liquid you use, and watch it cut through grease like a hot knife!

Make your own dishwashing detergent
The dishwasher is fully loaded when you discover that you're out of your usual powdered dishwashing detergent. What do you do? Make your own: Combine 2 tablespoons baking soda with 2 tablespoons borax. You may be so pleased with the results you'll switch for good.

Deodorize your dishwasher
Eliminate odors inside your automatic dishwasher by sprinkling 1/2 cup baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher between loads. Or pour in half a box of baking soda and run the empty machine through its rinse cycle.

Clean your refrigerator

To get rid of smells and dried-up spills inside your refrigerator, remove the contents, then sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub the sides, shelves, and compartments. Rinse with a clean, wet sponge. Don't forget to place a fresh box of soda inside when you're done.

Clean your microwave
To clean those splatters off the inside of your microwave, put a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda in 1 cup water in a microwave-safe container and cook on High for 2-3 minutes. Remove the container, then wipe down the microwave's moist interior with a damp paper towel.

Remove coffee and tea stains from china
Don't let those annoying coffee and/or tea stains on your good china spoil another special occasion. Remove them by dip-ping a moist cloth in baking soda to form a stiff paste and gently rubbing your cups and saucers. Rinse clean and dry, then set your table with pride.

Clean a thermos
To remove residue on the inside of a thermos, mix 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart (1 liter) water. Fill the thermos with the solution -- if necessary, give it a going-over with a bottle brush to loosen things up -- and let it soak overnight. Rinse clean before using.

Freshen a sponge or towel
When a kitchen sponge or dish towel gets that distinctly sour smell, soak it overnight in 2 tablespoons baking soda and a couple of drops of antibacterial dish soap dissolved in 1 pint (450 milliliters) warm water. The following morning, squeeze out the remaining solution and rinse with cold water. It should smell as good as new.

Remove stains and scratches on countertops
Is your kitchen countertop covered with stains or small knife cuts? Use a paste of 2 parts baking soda to 1 part water to "rub out" most of them. For stubborn stains, add a drop of chlorine bleach to the paste. Immediately wash the area with hot, soapy water to pre-vent the bleach from causing fading.

Shine up stainless steel and chrome trim
To put the shine back in your stainless steel sink, sprinkle it with baking soda, then give it a rubdown -- moving in the direction of the grain -- with a moist cloth. To polish dull chrome trim on your appliances, pour a little baking soda onto a damp sponge and rub over the chrome. Let it dry for an hour or so, then wipe down with warm water and dry with a clean cloth.

Get rid of grease stains on stovetops
Say good-bye to cooked-on grease stains on your stovetop or backsplash. First wet them with a little water and cover them with a bit of baking soda. Then rub them off with a damp sponge or towel.

Clean an automatic coffeemaker
Properly caring for your automatic coffeemaker means never having to worry about bitter or weak coffee. Every two weeks or so, brew a pot of 1 quart (1 liter) water mixed with 1/4 cup baking soda, followed by a pot of clean water. Also, sweeten your coffeemaker's plastic basket by using an old toothbrush to give it an occasional scrubbing with a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon water. Rinse thoroughly with cold water when done.

Care for your coffeepots and teapots
Remove mineral deposits in metal coffeepots and teapots by filling them with a solution of 1 cup vinegar and 4 tablespoons baking soda. Bring the mixture to a boil, then let simmer for five minutes. Or try boiling 5 cups water with 2 tablespoons soda and the juice of half a lemon. Rinse with cold water when done. To get off annoying exterior stains, wash your pots with a plastic scouring pad in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart (1 liter) warm water. Follow up with a cold-water rinse.

Remove stains from nonstick cookware
It may be called nonstick cookware, but a few of those stains seem to be stuck on pretty well. Blast them away by boiling 1 cup water mixed with 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar for 10 minutes. Then wash in hot, soapy water. Rinse well and let dry, then season with a bit of salad oil.

Clean cast-iron cookware
Although it's more prone to stains and rust than the nonstick variety, many folks swear by their iron cookware. You can remove even the toughest burned-on food remnants in your iron pots by boiling 1 quart (1 liter) water with 2 tablespoons baking soda for five minutes. Pour off most of the liquid, then lightly scrub it with a plastic scrub pad. Rinse well, dry, and season with a few drops of peanut oil.

Clean burned or scorched pots and pans
It usually takes heavy-duty scrubbing to get scorched-on food off the bottom of a pot or pan. But you can make life much easier for yourself by simply boiling a few cups of water (enough to get the pan about 1/4 full) and adding 5 tablespoons baking soda. Turn off the heat, and let the soda settle in for a few hours or overnight. When you're ready, that burned-on gunk will practically slip right off.

Deodorize your garbage pail
Does something smell "off" in your kitchen? Most likely, it's emanating from your trash can. But some smells linger even after you dispose of the offending garbage bag. So, be sure to give your kitchen garbage pail an occasional cleaning with a wet paper towel dipped in baking soda (you may want to wear rubber gloves for this). Rinse it out with a damp sponge, and let it dry before inserting a new bag. You can also ward off stinky surprises by sprinkling a little baking soda into the bottom of your pail before inserting the bag.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Top 10 Apple Cider Vinegar Beauty Benefits

Here Are The Beauty Benefits

  1. Clears Acne - Miraculously, Apple Cider Vinegar can clear acne.  You can dilute it with water to drink it and it detoxifies your entire body to clear acne.  Some people even suggest applying it directly to the acne but it can leave your skin dry.
  2. Diet - If you are trying to slim down then Apple Cider Vinegar can be very helpful.  It detoxifies the liver and helps you to shed a few extra pounds by reducing your appetite and helps you to burn calories.
  3. Hair Growth - Apple Cider Vinegar stimulates hair follicles and aides in better hair growth.  It can treat your dandruff and an itchy scalp and leaves your hair shiny.  For more benefits on using Apple Cider Vinegar for healthy hair click here.
  4. Face Wash - Apple Cider Vinegar is an effective and cheap way to wash your face.  It removes dull appearances by removing dry skin.  It peels the outer layer away and helps to fade blemishes.  It is ideal for oily and dry skin and leaves you skin glowing.  Apple Cider Vinegar even cleans pores, removes blackheads and can be used as a toner.
  5. Mani/Pedi - Apple Cider Vinegar can be used for your manicure and pedicure because it can be used to treat fungal infections.  It leaves your feet and hands super soft and clean.  Use equal parts of Apple Cider Vinegar and water.
  6. Age Spots - If you mix 2 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar with 1 Tbsp of orange juice and apply it to the age spot it can fade them, however drinking it may fade them faster.
  7. Varicose Veins - The multi-vitamins in Apple Cider Vinegar can deter and reduce varicose veins.
  8. Sunburn - Apple Cider Vinegar provides a much needed relief from painful sunburns.  Apply it directly to the burn to soothe the skin and prevent itching, peeling and blistering.
  9. Soft Skin - Mix 1 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar in a spray bottle with warm water and spray it on your body.  Leave it on a few minutes and then rinse away, your skin will be silky soft.
  10. Youthfulness - The high levels of beta carotene fight off free radicals, helping you to stay looking young longer.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Top 10 Benefits of Lemon Water

Many people often love the tarty flavor of lemon juice in their dishes. But have you ever wondered that you can put this lemon juice to many more good uses than this? Yes! There are enormous benefits of lemon juice and water in your everyday life. You simply need to arm yourself with relevant knowledge and you would soon start valuing this amalgamation more than ever.
Lemon is an inexpensive, easily available citrus fruit, popular for its culinary and medicinal uses. It is used to prepare a variety of food recipes such as lemon cakes, lemon chicken and beverages like lemonade and lemon-flavored drinks. It is also used for garnishing. Lemon juice consists of about 5% citric acid that gives a tarty taste to lemon. Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C. It also contains vitamins like vitamin B, riboflavin and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium as well as proteins and carbohydrates. Lemon is generally consumed in the form of lemon juice or lemon water. Lemon water makes a healthy drink, especially when taken in the morning. Daily consumption of lemon water provides a number of health benefits like:
  1. Good for stomach Lemon can help relieve many digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent. The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.
  2. Excellent for Skin Care Lemon, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can participate to cure problems related to skin. Lemon is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow on your face. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water if applied on the areas of burns can fade the scars. As lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin.
  3. Aids in Dental Care Lemon water is used in dental care also. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the areas of toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. The massages of lemon juice on gums can stop gum bleeding. It gives relief from bad smell and other problems related to gums.
  4. Cures Throat Infections Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. For sore throat, dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water and gargle frequently.
  5. Good for Weight Loss One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight as well.
  6. Controls High Blood Pressure Lemon water works wonders for people having heart problem, owing to its high potassium content. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea as well as provides relaxation to mind and body. It also reduces mental stress and depression.
  7. Assist in curing Respiratory Disorders
    Lemon water assists in curing respiratory problems, along with breathing problems and revives a person suffering from asthma.
  8. Good for treating Rheumatism Lemon is also a diuretic and hence lemon water can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush out bacteria and toxins out of the body.
  9. Reduces Fever Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration.
  10. Acts as a blood purifier The diseases like cholera or malaria can be treated with lemon water as it can act as a blood purifier.

How much should I drink?

In case you are in good health and weigh 150 pounds or less, it is advisable for you to have juice of one-half of the lemon squeezed into one glass of water, twice daily. However, if you weigh more than 155 pounds, juice of one whole lemon in a glass of water should be preferred. For maximum benefit, this mixture should also be taken two times a day, though you may dilute more lemon juice according to your taste if you wish.
Do not just remain oblivious to the gifts of nature such as this, for you should always try to make the most of them. So, make it a part of your daily routine to drink a glass of warm lemon water in the morning and then open your gateway to enjoy its health benefits.





Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Baking Soda, the greener way to clean!

In the Kitchen
1. A box or small bowl of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, or any cupboard will keep away unpleasant odors.
2. Similarly, baking soda will keep away garbage odors; sprinkle the bottom of the pail, and then sprinkle again after you put a new bag in.
3. Grease fires can be put out by sprinkling them with baking soda.
4. To clean surfaces, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth. Wipe, then rinse with clean water.
5. To remove stale smells from food containers, rinse out with hot water and baking soda. If the smell persists, let the container soak overnight in the baking soda and water mixture.
6. To clean silver, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Rub the paste onto each item, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
7. To remove scuff marks or grease spills from the floor, sprinkle with baking soda and then wipe with a warm, damp cloth. This is even safe for no-wax floors!
8. For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily.
9.To remove stubborn stains from most surfaces, use a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda, one part water). Apply, let stand, then scrub or wipe clean. 10. Hairbrushes and combs can be cleaned in a baking soda solution.
11. To avoid clogged drains, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down weekly. Rinse through with hot water.
All Around the House

12. To remove scents from a carpet, sprinkle with baking soda. Let stand for at least fifteen minutes, then vacuum. Repeat as needed.
13. If there is a smoker in the house, put baking soda in the bottom of each ashtray to keep away some of the stale smoke smell.
14. Baking soda in the litterbox will help prevent odors.
15. To quickly clean pets and remove "wet dog" odor, sprinkle with baking soda and brush out their fur.
16. To help remove spills, blot as much as possible. Then clean as you normally would. When finished, sprinkle with baking soda. Vacuum. This will decrease the chance that some of the spilled item will remain in the carpet and cause unpleasant odors later.
17. Children's toys can be cleaned using 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Submerge in this mixture (or wipe with a cloth dampened in it), then rinse with clear water.
In the Laundry

18. Replace half of each measure of laundry detergent with baking soda to keep clothing fresh.
19. To remove grease stains, either add baking soda to the wash load or pretreat the stains with a baking soda paste.
20. Pretreat diapers in their pail with baking soda. This will keep odors from becoming overpowering between washings.
21. Baking soda increases the effectiveness of chlorine bleach. Add 1 / 2 cup to your laundry, along with the usual amount of bleach.
22. If you keep a laundry hamper, add some baking soda every day to keep the hamper from smelling between emptyings.
Outside the House (Yard and Garage)
23. Baking soda can be used to help clean up grease spills.
24. To remove burnt food from the grill, sprinkle with baking soda, then soak. After several hours, the charred pieces will come loose easily.
25. Lawn furniture can be easily cleaned with a rinse of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water.
26. The children's pool can be cleaned and have mildew removed by washing with baking soda in warm water.
27. Before packing away your camping gear after a trip, sprinkle with baking soda.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Goals for 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day and just think.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10.Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11.Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present
moment.
13.Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14.Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.Dream more while you are awake.
17.Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18.Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes from the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20.Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21.No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22.Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.Smile and laugh more.
24.You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25.Call your family often.
26.Each day give something good to others, even if it is only a laugh.
27.Forgive everyone for everything..
28.Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29.Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.Do the right thing!
33.Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.GOD heals everything.
35.However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36.No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.The best is yet to come..
38.When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39.Your inner most self is always happy. So, be happy.

Friday, January 8, 2010

10 Uses for Lavender


The hardy yet humble lavender plant embodies healing properties that benefit the mind and body. Find out how this garden favorite can help relieve stress, aid insomnia, fight depression and more!

1. Lavender flowers (fresh or dried) emit a strong, aromatic, uplifting scent when crushed between the fingers. For a quick mood pick-me-up or instant stress relief, crush and roll between your fingers a few of the flower buds and inhale the scent slowly and deeply. The combination of breathing deeply and inhaling the lavender scent will calm nervous tension, anxiety and panicky feelings within minutes.

2. A relaxing, soothing tea can be made from the flowers. Just put one heaping tablespoon of the fresh or dried flowers in a tea pot, and pour boiling water into the pot. Infuse for about ten minutes. This tea calms the nerves, settles the stomach and “butterflies” and induces sleep.

3. Lavender essential oil can be applied like a perfume to the hair, neck, ears or other body parts. Smells delicious!

4. Add several drops of lavender oil to your bath for a soothing soak, or just add a generous handful of the fresh or dried flowers if you don’t have the essential oil.

5. To make sleep more restful, drip a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow. Another option is to wrap a handful of the dried flowers in a cheesecloth sachet, tie and throw in your pillowcase.

6. To soothe a sunburn, add a few drops of the essential oil to water in a spray bottle, and mist sunburned skin.
7. Wrap a handful of lavender flowers in a square of cheesecloth and tie with a string. You can also drip a few drops of essential oil onto the sachet for an extra aromatherapy boost. Throw the sachet in your dryer to make your clothes smell great. This will freshen up to 25 dryer loads!

8. Apply lavender essential oil to insect bites and stings, cuts, scrapes and abrasions. Lavender is very anti-septic and helps destroy germs that can cause infections.
9. Infuse fresh or dried lavender flowers as if to make a tea. But instead of drinking it, let it cool down and use as a hair rinse to reduce dandruff.

10. Pulverized lavender flowers can add a unique and delightful flavor to salads, custards, jams, jellies and cookies, especially sugar cookies. It is a culinary relative to mint, sage, marjoram and thyme and can be used in the same fashion as these herbs. Lavender is so versatile in the kitchen, that virtually any experimentation with it will yield favorable results.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Latest Research on Home Remedies: 12 Drug-Free Cures That Actually Work

Toothpaste

It relieved a bee sting in minutes and reduced pain for more than five hours, according to one informal test -- better than eight other over-the-counter products and home remedies, including every sting cream and stick tried . Toothpaste's other "off-label" use? Zit zapping. Put a tiny dot on a pimple before bed. The pimple should be dried out and less noticeable by the next morning. But use only in emergencies. Toothpaste's fluoride can make acne worse, says Adam S. Stibich, MD, director of the Dermatology Clinic in Hot Springs, Arkansas.


Dish Detergent

If you've been exposed to poison ivy, liquid dish soap could spare you from the red, itchy rash. When researchers swabbed the forearms of medical students with crushed poison-ivy leaves, then rubbed a patch with everyday dish detergent for 25 seconds before rinsing, they found that dish soap prevented a reaction in almost half the volunteers and reduced the inflammation and blistering in the rest by 56 percent. The soap works because it strips your skin of the plant oil that's responsible for causing the rash. But for it to work you need to wash within two hours of exposure, before the oil has time to bind to your skin cells, says Dr. Stibich, a coauthor of the study. He adds that any full-strength dish detergent will do the trick.


Peppermint

A minty herb that's long been known to quiet the occasional stomach upset, peppermint is now also seen as a powerful treatment for irritable bowel syndrome -- frequent bouts of pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation that strike as many as one in five adults. Peppermint-oil capsules bring significant relief to about one in three IBS sufferers, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Surprisingly, prescription antispasmodic drugs help only one in six. The recommended dose is three 0.2-mL capsules a day and it's safe to try on your own. But don't use it if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or a hiatal hernia, since it can make their symptoms worse.


Ginger

This gnarly root quells pregnancy-related morning sickness and vomiting, possibly because it blocks the serotonin receptors in the stomach that cause nausea, according to a review of six studies. It also reduces motion sickness, says Brett White, MD, an assistant professor of family medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University. He recommends steeping a slice of fresh ginger about the size of a pat of butter in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, then drinking it an hour before you travel. Dried ginger is effective, too. You'll find tea bags or capsules in most health-food stores.

Camphor-Eucalyptus Menthol Ointment

Vicks VapoRub and similar topical cold remedies may be more effective than a prescription pill against the fungus that makes toenails thick, yellow, and unsightly: Thirty-eight percent of people who applied the ointment daily to affected toes were fungus-free in five to 16 months, according to a study from the Michigan State University College of Nursing, in East Lansing, compared to 35 percent for the pill. Experts recommend applying the ointment twice a day until the fungal nail has grown out and been replaced by a healthy nail.


Baking Soda

You know you can cook with it or use it to deodorize the fridge, but it's also an effective antacid -- just follow the instructions on the box. What's more, three international studies have concluded that baking soda is one of the best treatments for bothersome earwax. "It takes some time, but it's a safe way to get rid of packed earwax that is interfering with hearing," says Walter C. Johnson, MD, a specialist in internal and emergency medicine at Dewitt Army Community Hospital, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Just mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons water. While lying on your side with one ear on a pillow, have someone drip the liquid into your upturned ear using a small spoon or an eyedropper. Wait one hour. Then flush out the dissolved earwax with warm water, using a bulb-shaped ear syringe. Caveat: Don't try this on children with tubes in their ears.

Baby Shampoo

Treat itchy, red, or crusty eyelids -- a problem for many contact-lens wearers -- by gently scrubbing the edges of your lids with a cotton ball soaked in diluted baby shampoo (three drops shampoo to six tablespoons of water). Then rinse the lids with a clean cotton ball dipped in warm water. Do this in the morning and at bedtime to help your eye feel better, says Dr. Rosen. If the eye problem doesn't clear up in a few days, see your physician. You may have developed an eye infection that requires a prescription for an antibiotic ointment.


Honey

Just a spoonful calms a cough better than over-the-counter cough syrup or no treatment at all, notes a Pennsylvania State University at Hershey study of more than 100 children ages 2 to 18. Honey soothes by coating the throat but may also help because it's packed with disease-fighting antioxidants and antimicrobials. Don't feed it to kids under age 1; their immature immune system can't battle a bacterium that's in some honeys. For adult-size coughs, a teaspoon or two is enough. If you're allergic to bee stings, make sure you don't have a honey allergy, too.

Witch Hazel

This clear astringent is an effective facial cleanser, treatment for insect bites, and cooling agent for inflamed hemorrhoids. Now research from Germany suggests witch hazel fights Herpes simplex virus type 1 -- the virus that causes cold sores. "Witch hazel's drying effect may break down the fatty outer envelope of virus cells, weakening them," Dr. Stibich explains. To apply witch hazel, dip a cotton swab into the bottle, then dab on your cold sore. Although the best dose hasn't been determined, it's safe to apply several times a day.