PINK PARTIES and HELPING HANDS(c)

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APPLE CIDER VINEGAR....ITS GOOD FOR YOU!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar
In all likelihood, you have a bottle of sparkling clear apple cider vinegar in your kitchen. Most probably you have also heard of all the health benefits of this wonder vinegar . You use it for marinating the meat, chicken and fish. Almost all the salads that you make contain apple cider vinegar. You make a conscious effort to put in a little extra every time, so as to gain from all its good healing properties. If you are using apple cider vinegar that is clear and sparkling, the news is not very good. This apple cider vinegar does not contain all the health benefits that you have heard of.

The Real Apple Cider Vinegar
The apple cider vinegar that contains all of the health benefits is not a clear vinegar, but just the opposite. It is an organic and unfiltered vinegar . It is not a clear liquid, but has got a brownish tinge to it. If you try looking through it, you will notice a tiny cobweb-like substance floating in it. This is known as "mother", and means just one thing. This apple cider vinegar is of good quality with all the nutrients and health giving properties intact.

Just think. Would you buy a vinegar from the supermarket that is not clear, has got a brown tinge to it, and most of all you find something floating in it. In all likelihood you will not buy this. This is the prime reason why manufacturers distil the vinegar. The pure vinegar is steamed to get the sparking clear vinegar that is available at the supermarket. This steaming process destroys almost all of the health giving nutrients. What it does do is give the vinegar an excellent eye appeal.

Health benefits
There surely must be something really healthy in using apple cider vinegar, since The Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, used this vinegar around 400 B.C. for its health giving qualities. It is said that he had only two remedies: honey and apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is made from fresh ripe apples that are fermented and undergo a stringent process to create the final product. The vinegar contains a host of vitamins, beta-carotene, pectin and vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, chlorine, sulphur, iron, and fluorine.

Pectin in the vinegar is a fiber which helps reduce bad cholesterol and helps in regulating blood pressure. The need for calcium supplements once you start growing older is very well known. This vinegar helps extract calcium from the fruits, vegetables and meat it is mixed with, helping in the process of maintaining strong bones. Potassium deficiency causes a variety of ailments including hair loss, weak finger nails, brittle teeth, sinusitis, and a permanently running nose. Apple cider vinegar is loaded with potassium. Studies have shown that potassium deficiency results in stunted growth. All these ailments can be avoided with the intake of apple cider vinegar. The potassium in this vinegar also helps in eliminating toxic waste from the body. The beta-carotene helps in countering damage caused by free radicals, helping one maintain firmer skin and a youthful appearance. Apple cider vinegar is good for those wanting to lose weight. It helps in breaking down fat which helps in natural weight reduction.

Apple cider vinegar contains malic acid which is very helpful in fighting fungal and bacterial infections. This acid dissolves uric acid deposits that form around joints, helping relieve joint pains. This dissolved uric acid is gradually eliminated from the body.

It is claimed that apple cider vinegar is helpful in ailments such as constipation, headaches, arthritis, weak bones, indigestion, high cholesterol, diarrhea, eczema, sore eyes, chronic fatigue, mild food poisoning, hair loss, high blood pressure, obesity, along with a host of many other ailments. No wonder then many know apple cider vinegar as the "Wonder Drug".

Different ways of consumption
Please make sure that you use only the natural, organic variety of apple cider vinegar; the sparkling clear variety will have practically no health benefits.

Many call apple cider vinegar the Wonder Drug . Propagators of this wonder drug claim that the best way to have the vinegar is first thing in the morning. Mix two tablespoons each of apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of water and drink it. This solution may taste slightly acidic, and may not seem to be the best way to start your morning, but once you know of the immense benefits that follow, it will not feel all that bad. Many find that following this routine first thing in the morning helps in eliminating constipation, which is one of the prime causes of many diseases. Constipation is also sometimes the cause of headaches - leading to a bad mood, deprived sleep, and a lethargic feeling the whole day. Once the constipation problem is solved, all the other symptoms vanish immediately, making you fresher and extremely active whole day long. Following this morning regime helps minor skin rashes vanish and the skin texture too improves, leaving you radiant and glowing naturally.

You can also enjoy the benefits of this wonder vinegar in many other ways. Use apple cider vinegar while preparing salads. Substitute the oil that is poured over a salad with this vinegar. Not only will the salad have a tangier taste, it will be much healthier too. Use this vinegar to pickle an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Marinating beef, pork, lamb, fish and a variety of meats is almost a daily process for meat eaters. Make apple cider vinegar the prime ingredient in the marinade with an assortment of herbs and spices. This marinade will not only help in flavoring and tenderizing the meat, but it also comes with all the health benefits that have already been mentioned.

Having that chilled glass of lemon juice can be substituted with a couple tablespoons apple cider vinegar and water. Some prefer the taste as is. If the taste is too acidic for you, add honey to give it the sweet tinge. Adding honey will only improve the health benefits.


YEAST INFECTIONS 


Here a few remedies for yeast infections that have been sent in by Jackie from Georgia; 1. Dab a little apple cider vinegar on the affected area, (it stings like the dickens but it's worth it) and to help the itching a little garlic steeped for a few hours in the vinegar. 2. A tampon soaked in plain yogurt and inserted every few hours will help to restore the PH imbalances in the vagina and will clear it up in a few days, plus doing so once a week will prevent further infections. 3. And last but not least, eat plenty of yogurt or buttermilk to keep the healthy bacteria where it should be. The acid in the yogurt and buttermilk will keep the PH level constant and prevents further infections. As a side note I NEVER use the creams and things at the store as they are too harsh for me and usually cause sever swelling and pain and just in general cause more trouble than they are worth." Thanks so much for the wonderful remedies Jackie! Here is yet another yeast infection remedy sent in by Susan Lewis; "I have a home remedy for women who get yeast infections frequently. Go to your vitamin store and purchase acidophilus in capsule form And take about 8 capsule, empty them into a douche bag add warm Water, and douche 2-3 times a day. The infection will be gone by the 3rd day! You’ll feel better after the first day! You can also take the capsules by mouth along with douching and it really knocks the infection out fast!"

Brew two tea bags in one quart of warm water and soak your feet for ten Minutes. Do this every night until the problem is gone. Then you can soak them periodically. Tea is terrific at keeping your feet odor free and it also will keep your feet perspiration free because of its tannic acid. Greg from Ontario, Canada writes; "Thought you might like to know a LONG-TERM CURE for stinky feet that I found out about through a person I met that practiced naturopathy. 50 mg of zinc a day for 2 weeks and in my experience, 15 years later I am only starting to have to do this again. I'll be good for another 15 years, I expect." Thanks for the great stinky feet remedy Greg! Nora T. from West Virginia writes; "A family member who shall remain unnamed found this cure. He had the WORST case of stinky feet you can imagine and he suffered with it his whole life until he found this simple solution. Put about one quarter cup of Pine Sol in a pan you use to soak your feet in with and enough warm water to cover the ankle. Soak until water is cool. Rinse and dry the feet. It Works great!

Home Remedy for Cough

A good effective home remedy for cough focuses on assisting the body’s natural process of expelling the excess mucous and phlegm that has been manufactured to trap and engulf pathogens and/or offending substances.

In earlier times, settlers would drink herbal horehound tea and also make tea from the bark and leaves of the white birch tree.

Authentic horehound lozenges are still sold today (mainly in Europe) but are difficult to find in the U.S. They are effective and much better than chemical lozenges that actually disrupt the body’s normal “expectorant” processes. The trouble with Horehound is finding it in a sugar free form. Horehound does not taste good and for this reason I have had people say that they could not drink it without putting a lot of sugar in it. When I found that out, I could not recommend it anymore. I am still searching for sugar free Horehound lozenges and when I locate a brand that I can trust I will let you know about it.

Chest Congestion

The sweetness of your breath may suffer, but eating a plate of curried, sauteed onions on rice can really loosen congestion in your chest. Lightly saute two onions, sliced, and at least 1 teaspoon of curry powder in 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil until the onions are soft. Onions contain quercetin and sulfur, two plant compounds that break up mucus and increase circulation, explains Orlarsch. Curry also loosens phlegm. And for that breath?.........

CHASE AWAY THOSE WINTER BLUES

The season has come when those warm sunny days are gone and we are stuck with the cold and dreary ones.  You don't have to let the Winter Blues get you!!!  Here are just a few ways to chase away those winter blues:

1.  GET MOVING!  You know, we exercise throughout the year but when the cold dreary days are upon us we seem to be upon our butts!!!  So get up and move...whether its dancing a jig in front of the TV or taking a brisk walk outside exercise is certain to lift your spirits and help keep off those extra pounds that creep up on us this time of year.  It is a known fact that exercise increases your heart rate and blood flow.  It is known to fight depression and 1 hour of exercise is like having two and a half hours of light therapy!!!! 

2.  NATURAL HERBAL REMEDIES:     There are also natural herbs that can help boost your mood and help get you moving.  St. John's Wort, Valerian root, Damiana, Ginseng and Chamomile. These can help lift your mood any time of the year, especially in the winter. Just be sure to check with your doctor or healthcare professional if you are on prescription  medicines before you start using herbs.

3.  AROMATHERAPY:  If you don't or cannot take herbal remedies  internally, then consider buying some aromatherapy oils. Lavender, for example, is  one natural fragrance that can relax you and make you feel better.

4.  SPRUCE UP YOUR ENVIRONMENT:  Since the snow and  cold of winter keeps up inside much of the time, take a look around your home. Is it bright and cheerful? Or, is it dull and dreary, much like the weather outside? Now would be a good time to perform some makeovers in your home. Sunny yellow walls in your kitchen or sky blue walls in your bedroom can go a long way in lifting your drooping spirits. You can paint, put up wallpaper, replace drapes with curtains to let more natural sunlight in. 



Blend to Ease Winter Blues

Blend to Ease Winter Blues


Lack of greenery, gray skies, a snow-covered world, reduced activity and the cold temperatures of winter can all lead to what is known as the "Winter Blues." The Winter Blues involve feelings of sadness, depression and loss of energy.

The below blends can help ease the symptoms of the winter blues. Citrus oils are emphasized because they are energizing and uplifting oils. Orange, Lemon and Grapefruit oils are inexpensive (especially Orange) and are also favored by many people, so your whole household may enjoy the aroma.

When selecting and using oils, be sure to follow all safety precautions and remember that aromatherapy should not be used as a substitute for proper medical treatment.

Blend #1

Blend #2

Blend #3

Blend #4

Blend #5

Blend #6

Directions: Select one of the blends shown above. Then, choose which method you'd like to use the blend - Diffuser, bath oil, massage oil or air freshener


http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/mind-and-spirit/anxiety-and-depression/blend-to-ease-winter-blues/

GO AWAY WINTER BLUES!!!!

Go Away Winter Blues !



Go Away Winter Blues !
by Margareth Montenegro

The holiday season is often thought of as a time of joy, but for some of us winter brings low spirits as the days get shorter. Many experience changes in moods and behavior, feelings of exhaustion, and most of all depression from the lack of sunlight. As daylight starts to diminish at early hours, millions of people suffer from a mild case of winter depression called the winter blues. The winter blues is a bummed-out feeling spawned from unrealistic expectations, unpleasant holiday memories, the inability to be with family, or the confinement of cold weather. This wintertime depression can last for few days or through the whole winter season. In some instances, people can't function normally without seeking medical and psychological help to cope with extreme winter depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If you think you experience the winter blues, here are few suggestions to help you through that wintertime misery.

Winter brings about colors associated with sadness, blue and gray making your home feel cold, empty, and depressing. To uplift your spirits think about decorating your home in colors reflecting the sun; the warm colors of red, orange, and yellow. These colors evoke the images of fire and heat, enhancing feelings of warmth and happiness. The colors of red overcome depression, encourages activity and escalates body metabolism. Oranges brings joy and heals grief. The yellows stimulates your mind, clears your head from headaches, and reduces depression. There is no need to paint your home. Just add decorative accessories with these colors like candles, tablecloths, pillows, sofa covers, etc? Add other accessories to bring happiness into your home by using curtains, instead of blinds to filter in light and brighten up a room. Place flowers and plants around your home to bring in the fresh smells of spring and summer. By decorating your home, you change the mood of depression towards a positive serenity. Check out decorating for the winter articles (Chinese Red) , (The Uses of Yellow)

Another way to beat the wintertime blues is to get plenty of exercise to improve your mood and reduce stress. Exercising rids feelings of depression by increasing serotonin levels. Studies have shown that one-hour of exercise outside had the same benefits as 2.5 hours of light treatment indoors. Briskly walking from place to place, taking a run, skiing, sledding and having a snowball fight have all proven to help sufferers of the blues feel better. It is a good idea to take a weekend vacation to a ski resort to get plenty of sunshine and exercise. Even if it is dark outside, snowing, or raining the best thing to do is to keep moving indoors. Do chores or exercise with home equipment such as a treadmill or stationary bike. The more you exercise to restore your body's balance the less likely you will suffer from the blue's stresses.

"You are what you eat" holds true when depression creates an urge to indulge in high-sugar foods that gives temporary liveliness, but eventually decreases energy. In order to maintain that energy people tend to overeat and gain weight. The best thing to do is to eat healthy. Eat foods that are naturally carbohydrated, like pasta, rice, and fruits. Try whole grain breads and crackers, or starchy vegetables like corn or potatoes. Eat foods that are high in Vitamin D, which increases serotonin levels and supplements rich with B-complex vitamins, taken daily can help improve your energy level and reduce anxiety to eat. This may be difficult as winter is the time for the holidays and there is an abundance of food, but trying to maintain a balanced meal is the best thing to do away with depression. (Healthier Holiday Recipes)

Depression and lack of energy caused by winter blues can lower your immune system, exposing you to colds or flu's. Before taking an over the counter medicine to help you deal with the blues, consider taking the holistic approach of herbal remedies and aromatherapy to prevent your body's immune system from declining. There are herbal remedies that help you with depression such as St. John's Wort or Chamomile flower, that encourage you to get a good night sleep and prevents you from waking up moody. Aromatherapy are essential oils that can be used as bath salts, bath oils, candles, or applied oils to the body for cleansing, calming, and balancing thoughts and emotions. The smell of lavender is good for depression and releases serotonin to produce a calming influence in the body. These holistic methods can uplift your frame of mind and encourage a positive behavior that counteracts the winter blues. (Staying Healthy for the Winter with Herbal Remedies)

 

Studies have found those suffering from the winter blues experience relief from light therapy. Light plays an important role in our health and the amount of time exposed to it affects our performance. As the sun begins to rise in the morning the light that makes its way through our eyelids is recognized by the pineal in our brain. This gland secretes a chemical called serotonin and reduces the production of a chemical called melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that our body produces to help us sleep, while serotonin regulates our mood and energy. Serotonin and melatonin work together in managing important aspects of our physiology. Immunity, pain, digestion, sleep/wake cycle, body temperature, blood pressure, blood clotting, and daily body rhythms are all affected by serotonin and melatonin. The shortage of light in the winter is what affects our hormonal balance causing the wintertime blues. That is why it is important to expose ourselves to a good amount of bright light.

The use of light boxes is one way to receive a similar effect to the sun's natural light. When emitting high intensities of light of 2,500 to 10,000 lux (the measurement of illumination) light boxes improves a person's mood and behavior. Full spectrum light is not necessary since intensity is the key factor, but a balanced-spectrum light minus the UV-B emissions is considered ideal and more comfortable to the eyes. The light box is placed on a table in front of the user at a distance that is recommended, at a desired intensity and sits for about 15 minutes to two hours. Eventually the person should feel happier and better about their days as they continue the use of a light box.

A winter blue's symptom is the difficulty of waking up in the morning. This happens because the mind tells the body not to wake up when is still dark out. When a person does wake-up they feel tired and are melancholy. Those who have trouble waking up use another form of light therapy: a dawn simulator. A dawn simulator is a computerized device attached to a bedside lamp and in about 45 minutes before you choose to awake the light gradually illuminates your room with your personal sunshine. Dawn simulation actually tricks your brain into thinking it is light outside and it is time to wake up. The pineal gland in your brain registers this light and begins secreting serotonin. Therefore, you wake up feeling rested and full of energy.

If you know that you suffer from a mild case of depression because of the winter, you can start preparing in the summer. Enjoy the long hours of sunlight, meditate outdoor, and absorb all the suns energy into the body at least everyday to increase storage of serotonin. Getting ready in the summer will keep you doing the same routines throughout the winter keeping the blues away. Some people take medication to cope with the winter blues, others just move closer to the equator so they can enjoy the longer sunny days. But for most of us, winter is hard to escape from and the best thing to do is to take care of ourselves mentally and physically. Keep moving, eat healthy and uplift your spirits, because spring and summer eventually come back.

Sources:
Winter Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder, What it is and how to cure it. (1993). Norman Rosenthal. New York: Guilford Press.
The National Mental Health Institute http://www.nimh.nih.gov

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Body+Soul
<SCRIPT type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> document.write('<SCRIPT language="JavaScript" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/mso.site/health;brand=BodySoul;content_type=MSLO-ARTICLE;position=articlecontent;taxonomy=mslo.food.drinks.alcoholic_drinks.spirits.vodka,mslo.food.drinks.alcoholic_drinks.spirits.brandies_c;comp=' + adid + ';kw=' + kw + ';sz=105x22;tile=0;region_info=also_try_p9;pageid=383fce908332f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD;ord=' + ord + '?" type="text/javascript"><\/script>'); </SCRIPT><SCRIPT language="JavaScript" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/mso.site/health;brand=BodySoul;content_type=MSLO-ARTICLE;position=articlecontent;taxonomy=mslo.food.drinks.alcoholic_drinks.spirits.vodka,mslo.food.drinks.alcoholic_drinks.spirits.brandies_c;comp=;kw=;sz=105x22;tile=0;region_info=also_try_p9;pageid=383fce908332f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD;ord=7129724200538700?" mce_src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/mso.site/health;brand=BodySoul;content_type=MSLO-ARTICLE;position=articlecontent;taxonomy=mslo.food.drinks.alcoholic_drinks.spirits.vodka,mslo.food.drinks.alcoholic_drinks.spirits.brandies_c;comp=;kw=;sz=105x22;tile=0;region_info=also_try_p9;pageid=383fce908332f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD;ord=7129724200538700?" type="text/javascript"></SCRIPT>Click here to find out more!Late autumn's seasonal trends-dropping temperatures, fading light, and your body's dipping defenses-invite all manner of maladies: colds and coughs, debilitating flus, and the lingering malaise known as the winter blues. But with a few herbal tinctures -- simple yet powerful remedies that you can make yourself -- you'll be set up to stave off these ailments and, when they do find a foothold, minimize your discomfort and speed up your recovery.

Tinctures, which are concentrated liquid extracts of medicinal plants, remain my favorite remedies for acute, wintertime ailments because of their sheer potency. Taken by the dropperful, they work well, and they work fast. Also called herbal extracts, tinctures have been made for thousands of years by soaking fresh or dried herbs in a solvent, such as vodka or brandy, to extract the plants' medicinal properties. While herbal-tincture manufacturers use more complicated, exacting methods, the traditional technique is simple. It requires only easy-to-find ingredients and common kitchen tools, yet makes some of the most effective tinctures available -- for pennies per dose.

Medicinal herbs can be tinctured alone -- a whole-plant echinacea tincture will serve you well -- or with other compatible herbs. The herb combinations here are among my most trusted, time-tested remedies. Echinacea, goldenseal, and turmeric make up Super Immune Support, my standby for fending off infections. Cold and Fever Fighter contains elder, yarrow, and peppermint to help ease colds and fevers. Cough and Sore Throat Soother features soothing, lung-supportive mullein, licorice, and wild cherry bark, plus ginger for a little zest. Garlic, onion, ginger, cayenne, and horseradish give Fire Cider its warming, infection fighting kick. And Mood Booster, for easing seasonal depression, includes hawthorn, oat tops, lemon balm, and St. John's wort

Whether you make one of these recipes or all five, keep in mind the two essential principles of herbal medicine making. First, quality ingredients make quality products. If you can't grow your own herbs, buy them from reliable growers or distributors. Likewise, when choosing your solvent, the medium used to extract and deliver the plants' medicine, choose the best. Second, but just as important, intention matters. Native American healers, who used many of the herbs in these formulas, had a deep reverence for the plants' healing powers. When they dug the plants, they did so with respect and prayer, and when they made them into medicine, they also prayed. Without prayer, they said, the plant's medicine -- its essence -- stayed in the ground. Among people who use "green medicine" today, there is still a deep sense of respect for the plants. I invite you to share this feeling as you gather your herbs and brew your tinctures. In my experience, herbal remedies made with clear intention and an appreciation for the plants are much more effective.

Simple Tincture Making
1. Gather the materials.
When people first start making tinctures, they often go overboard and make gallons. But tinctures are highly concentrated and taken in very small doses -- a little goes a long way. To make about a pint of tincture, you'll need a clean, dry, quart-sized jar with a tight-fitting lid, enough herbs to fill the jar halfway, and roughly a pint and a half of solvent (the herbs will soak up some solvent). Most of my formulas call for 100-proof brandy or vodka, both excellent solvents. If you prefer not to use alcohol, you can substitute vinegar.

2. Prepare the herbs.
If you have any fresh herbs, use them. High-quality dried herbs, however, are just as potent, and available year-round. If you are using fresh herbs, rinse them with water to remove any dirt, then chop them finely. (Dried herbs are usually finely chopped when you purchase them.) Fill your jar halfway with herbs. For a strong, effective tincture, be sure the jar is densely filled.

3. Add the solvent.
Pour the solvent over the herbs until they're completely covered, then add an additional 2 to 3 inches of solvent. The herbs must be completely submersed to prevent bacteria from growing. Cover the jar with a tightly fitting lid. Herbs often swell as they soak up the solvent; if they start to "emerge" above the liquid, add more solvent. Note: If using vinegar, as in Fire Cider, warm it on a stovetop before pouring it over the herbs; this helps facilitate the release of medicinal constituents.

4. Let the tincture sit for 4 weeks.
During the process of soaking the herbs in the solvent, the plants soften and break down (a process known as maceration), releasing their medicine. Most Western herbalists recommend letting tinctures macerate for 4-6 weeks. In Chinese medicine and several indigenous traditions, however, herbs are left to soak for months, even years. I have found that the longer tinctures macerate, the more effective they are, so consider a month your minimum. When starting the maceration process, label and date your jars so that you remember when you started.

5. Shake daily, with intention.
Shaking the tinctures while they're soaking facilitates the breakdown of medicinal constituents and prevents the herbs from packing down at the bottom of the jar. It's also an invitation to add some of the old magic to the science of herbal medicine. When you shake your tinctures, do so with your best healing intention. You can sing to your tincture jars, stir them in the moonlight or the sunlight, wave feathers over them -- whatever you feel moved to do. Your remedies will be the better for it.

6. Strain the herbs.
After at least 4 weeks, your tincture will be ready for use. Line a stainless-steel strainer with cheesecloth or muslin, and place over a large glass jar or measuring cup. Pour the liquid slowly through the strainer. When finished straining, squeeze the herb-filled cheesecloth or muslin to wring out every drop. Reserve the liquid -- this is your medicine -- and discard or compost the herbs. Pour the finished tincture into a clean, dry glass jar with a tightly fitting lid; Mason jars work well, as do amber-colored glass jars (available at herb stores or online). Label your tincture with the contents and date.

7. Store the tincture properly.
When stored properly, tinctures last for years. Both light and heat can break down the medicinal components, so keep your jars of tinctures in a cool, dark place. It's a good idea to keep a small supply of the tincture ready for use in a 1- or 2-ounce amber-colored bottle with a dropper top (available at herb stores or online).

Dosage and Use
Tincture dosage varies depending on the individual and the herbs being used. For chronic problems and for remedies you're using as a tonic, such as Mood Booster, the general adult dosage is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon three times daily. For acute ailments, such as colds and flus, small, frequent doses are much more effective: for adults, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon every hour. Tinctures should be diluted in a small amount of warm water; they're very strong tasting, so most people prefer to take them "down the hatch" rather than sipping them.

Solvents
The solvent is the liquid used to extract the herbs' medicine. There are two solvents used in these recipes, each with different benefits.

Alcohol
A potent, effective solvent, alcohol extracts most plant constituents, including fats, resins, waxes, and most alkaloids (some of the strongest plant compounds). The body rapidly assimilates alcohol tinctures, and their effects are quickly felt. Furthermore, alcohol makes an excellent preservative, maintaining the integrity of the tincture for many years. Brandy and vodka are perfect for the traditional method of tincture making; both can be purchased at 100 proof, which provides an ideal alcohol-to-water ratio. (Water extracts many important constituents, like vitamins and volatile oils.) For preservative properties and extraction purposes, you must use at least 50-proof alcohol.

Vinegar
As a food, vinegar is completely nontoxic, and well tolerated by almost everyone. While it is not as strong or effective a solvent as alcohol (it does not break down as many plant components), it's a good alternative for alcohol-sensitive people and for children. You can integrate vinegar tinctures into your daily diet, using them as a salad dressing (use organic apple-cider vinegar if possible). Most literature reports that vinegar tinctures have a short shelf life. My experience, however, has been that when stored in a cool, dark place, they will last for several years.

Wintertime Formulas
Note: If you have a serious condition, are pregnant, or take medication, consult your health-care provider before using these or any herbal remedies.

Super Immune Support
Take 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. per hour at symptom onset.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
2 parts echinacea root, flower, and leaf
1 part turmeric
1 part cultivated goldenseal root (Use cultivated goldenseal; this herb has been over-harvested.)

Cold and Fever Fighter
Take 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. per hour at the onset of symptoms.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
1 part elder flower and elder berry
1 part peppermint leaf
1 part yarrow flower and leaf

Cough and Sore Throat Soother
Take 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. per hour at the onset of symptoms.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
2 parts mullein leaf
1 part licorice root
1 part wild cherry bark
1/2 part ginger root

Fire Cider
Take 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. per hour at the onset of a cold, or as a daily warming tonic. Makes a great salad dressing.
Solvent: apple-cider vinegar
1 part garlic
1 part onion
1/2-1 part freshly grated horseradish
1/2 part ginger small pinch cayenne
honey to taste (add to finished product)

Mood Booster
To prevent or ease the winter blues, take 1/2 to 1 tsp. three times daily.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
2 parts hawthorn berry, plus flower and leaf if available
2 parts lemon balm
1 part St. John's wort
1 part milky green oat tops


http://www.marthastewart.com/article/make-your-own-winter-remedies

Your Immune System

Copy and past the following URL into your browser.  You will find really good information about foods that boost the immune system. 




http://www.lifescript.com/channels/healthy_living/Holiday/foods_that_fight_back_immune_system_boosters.asp?page=2

RETREAT CENTERS

Kris Carr recommends the following centers to help you detox and to upgrade your lifestyle:


  • http://annwigmore.org
  • www.hippocratesinst.org
  • www.livingfoodsinstitute.com
  • http://optimumhealth.org
  • www.treeoflife.nu

Hebal Remedies for Headaches

Herbal remedies have been used for centuries and are making a comeback in recent years. They are readily available in many forms at your local health food or natural food store. Many are now available at pharmacies. Herbs can be used in many different forms. Tea is the most common. However, capsules are now available in almost every herbal formulation.

Chamomile – Chamomile has a natural calming effect. Drink a cup of chamomile tea to help calm your nerves and naturally relieve a headache.

Ginkgo – Ginkgo can relieve a headache pain by dilating blood vessels in the head.

Feverfew – Feverfew contains substances that inhibit the release of mood hormones in the brain. For best results, use fresh feverfew. When this isn't available, consume as tea or in capsule form.

Bay – Combine bay with feverfew for headache relief. You can often find a combination available in most health food stores.

Ginger – Ginger has long been known to relieve and also to prevent headaches. It is anti-inflammatory and contains substances that relieve pain. Take in capsule form, according to directions.

Peppermint – Taken internally or used externally, peppermint can naturally relieve a headache. To take internally, drink peppermint tea. To use externally, mix several drops of peppermint oil with lotion or body oil and massage into the temples.

Home remedy for headache

One easy method to try is to apply a cool compress on the forehead. This helps to keep the blood flowing by opening constricted blood vessels. Hold a cold pack on your head or forehead for several minutes at a time. This is most effective if applied immediately at the onset of a headache.

Home Remedies for Sinusitis

Home Remedies for Sinusitis

Sinusitis treatment using Mango

The liberal use of mangoes during the season is considered an effective remedy for prevention and treatment of sinusitis. Mangoes contribute towards formation of healthy epithelium, thereby preventing frequent attacks of common infections like sinusitis. This is attributable to a high concentration of vitamin A in the fruit

Sinusitis treatment using Garlic and Onion

The use of pungent foods like garlic and onion is one of the most effective remedies for sinus problems. One should begin with small mild doses and increase them gradually. Beneficial results can also be achieved by adding these herbs in moderate amounts to regular meals

Sinusitis treatment using Fenugreek

The seeds of fenugreek are another effective remedy for sinusitis. A tea prepared by boiling one teaspoon of seeds in 250 ml of water till it is reduced to half, will help the body to produce perspiration, dispel toxicity, and shorten the period of fever in the acute stage of the disease. Upto four cups should be taken daily. The quantity should be reduced as the condition improves

Sinusitis treatment using Cumin Seeds

A teaspoon of black cumin seeds tied in a thin cotton cloth can provide relief when inhaled. The condition can also be relieved by taking a mixture of 100 gm of roasted and ground cumin seeds and 200 gm of pure honey

Sinusitis treatment using Vegetable Juices

Carrot juice, taken separately or in combination with juices of beet and cucumber, or with spinach juice, has been found beneficial in the treatment of sinus trouble. In the case of combined juices, 100 ml each of beet and cucumber juices, or 200 ml of spinach juice, should be mixed with 300ml of carrot juice to make 500 ml or half a litre of the mixed juice

Sinusitis treatment using Vitamins A and C

A diet rich in vitamin A is the best insurance against cold and sinus trouble. Vitamin A is the 'membrane conditioner' and it helps build healthy mucous membranes in the nose and throat. Some of the valuable sources of this vitamin are whole milk, curds, egg yolk, pumpkin, carrots, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, mangoes, and papaya. When the sinus trouble has already developed, relief can be obtained by taking vitamin A in large therapeutic doses of 25,000 IU per day. Vitamin C has also proved beneficial in the treatment of sinusitis and the patient should take one gram of this vitamin per day in two therapeutic doses of 500 mg each

Diet for Sinusitis

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices with water

In the acute stage of the disease, when fever is present, the patient should abstain from all solid foods and drink only fresh fruit and vegetable juices diluted with warm water on a 50:50 basis

Well-balanced diet

After the fever subsides, he may adopt a low-calorie, raw fruit and vegetable diet with plenty of raw juices. Once the acute symptoms are over, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits. In persistent chronic conditions, repeated short juice fasts may be undertaken for a week or so at intervals of two months

Avoid fried and starchy food

The patient should avoid fried and starchy foods, white sugar, white floor, rice, macaroni products, pies, cakes, and candies

Other Sinusitis treatments

Hot and cold water application

A cold application over the sinus will give great relief, while alternate hot and cold applications also prove beneficial. Take pans of hot and cold water, bathe the whole face with hot water as hot as you can bear-and then apply cold water for a short duration

Inhalation of steam, proper sleep and adequate rest

Nasal inhalation of steam for five minutes every hour will also give relief. Plenty of sleep, adequate rest, and fresh air are essential in the treatment of sinus trouble

Avoid perfumes and scented hair oil

Patient should avoid the use of perfumes and strongly scented hair oil



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Common Cold Home Remedies

Common Cold Home Remedies

Common Cold treatment using Lemon

Lemon is the most important among the many home remedies for common cold. It is beneficial in all types of cold with fever. Vitamin C-rich lemon juice increases body resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. One lemon should be diluted in a glass of warm water, and a teaspoon of honey should be added to it. This should be taken once or twice daily.

Common Cold treatment using Garlic

Garlic soup is an old remedy to reduce the severity of a cold, and should be taken once daily. The soup can be prepared by boiling three or four cloves of chopped garlic in a cup of water. Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties, besides several other medicinal virtues. The oil contained in this vegetable helps to open up the respiratory passages. In soup form, it flushes out all toxins from the system and thus helps bring down fever. Five drops of garlic oil combined with a teaspoon of onion juice, and diluted in a cup of water, should be drunk two to three times a day. This has also been found to be very effective in the treatment of common cold.

Common Cold treatment using Ginger

Ginger is another excellent remedy for colds and coughs. About ten grams of ginger should be cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water. It should then be strained and half a teaspoon of sugar added to it. This decoction should be drunk when hot. Ginger tea, prepared by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiled water before adding the tea leaves, is also an effective remedy for colds and for fevers resulting from cold. It may be taken twice daily.

Common Cold treatment using Lady's Fingers

Lady's fingers are highly valuable in treating irritation of the throat and a persistent dry cough. This vegetable is rich in mucilage and acts as a drug to allay irritation, swelling, and pain. About 100 gm of lady's fingers should be cut into pieces, and boiled down in half a litre of water to make a decoction. The steam issuing from this decoction may also be inhaled once or twice a day to relieve throat irritation and a dry cough.

Common Cold treatment using Bitter Gourd Roots

The roots of the bitter gourd plant are used in folk medicine to cure a cold. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an equal quantity of honey or tulsi leaf juice, given once every night for a month, acts as an excellent medicine for colds.

Common Cold treatment using Turmeric

Turmeric is an effective remedy for colds and throat irritations. Half a teaspoon of fresh turmeric powder mixed in 30 ml of warm milk, and taken once or twice daily, is a useful prescription for these conditions. Turmeric powder should be put into a hot ladle. Milk should then be poured in it and boiled over a slow fire. This mixture should then be drunk by the patient. In case of a running cold, smoke from the burning turmeric should be inhaled. It will increase the discharge from the nose and provide quick relief.

Common Cold treatment using Tamarind and Pepper

Tamarind-pepper rasam is also considered an effective home remedy for a cold in South India. Dilute 50 mg tamarind in 250 ml of water. Boil the diluted tamarind water for a few minutes with a teaspoon of hot ghee and half a teaspoon of black pepper powder. This steaming hot rasam has a flushing effect, and should be taken three times a day. As one takes it, the nose and eyes water and the nasal blockage is cleared.

Common Cold treatment using Vitamin C

Regular intake of vitamin C-75 mg for adults and 35 mg for children-will prevent the common cold. If, however, a cold has already appeared, large doses of this vitamin will relieve the symptoms and shorten its duration. He estimates that one to two grams (1000 mg to 2000 mg) per day is approximately the optimum amount of this vitamin for this purpose. His advice is to swallow one or two 500mg tablets of vitamin C at the appearance of the first sign of the cold and continue the treatment by taking one to two 500 mg tablets daily.

Home Remedies for Stuffy Nose

Inhale turmeric fumes, for this tie some turmeric in a clean cloth and light it. Boil some water and allow it to cool, now add ¼ teaspoon table salt to it. Put 2 to 3 drops of this solution in your both the nostrils before meals and going to bed. Mix natural apple cider vinegar and water in equal parts. Boil this solution in a pan, when the fumes rises lean over the pan and inhale the fumes. Prepare a solution using 4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and Pine Essential Oil, 3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil and 7 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Inhale vapors of this solution by putting it on a cotton ball or an aromatherapy diffuser.

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