Heath Journal - Beating the Bug!

We know of some families that have been dealing with a nasty flu bug, so I thought it might be helpful to share with you my remedy for the flu. 

About three weeks ago Jonny told me he wasn't feeling well.  At our house, that means mom gets out her potions. :)  Charcoal is my #1 remedy for vomiting, diarrhea, food poisoning, or that general yucky feeling that goes with eating bad food.  Charcoal has never failed me.  The sooner you take it the better.  If it is taken at the first sign of sickness, you will often beat it all together, but if you wait, it will take a little longer. The most a child has vomited after receiving charcoal is three times, but they usually tell me that they don't feel well when they are ready to vomit. :/  The charcoal not only stops the vomiting, they also recover very quickly. 

So I gave Jonny a charcoal slurry - as we call them.  It's one heaping teaspoon of powdered charcoal in a small glass of water.  Stir it up and down the hatch!  It doesn't have a taste, but it is chalky, so some people do better drinking it from a straw.  Jonny vomited twice before midnight and once after midnight.  After each trip to the bathroom, another slurry was given.  After his third trip I reassured him, "Well, you should be feeling better soon!"  Sure enough!  He slept the rest of the night and woke up feeling much better.  He ate breakfast, lunch and dinner that next day! :)  In less than 24 hours he was feeling like himself again.  And nobody else got sick.  Over the years, we have seen charcoal work like this over and over again in our family and in other families that we have recommended it to.  It stops diarrhea in its tracks!  It draws out toxins and can even be used topically.  It is amazing stuff!

I ALWAYS have charcoal on hand - reordering well before my container is empty!  If we travel, it is the first thing that goes in my first aid kit.  But before you rush out to get some, I should share a couple of things with you.  Charcoal is a VERY fine powder!  When you put a spoonful in a cup, you do it very carefully.  If you just dump it in, you will have the powder flying everywhere!  Hold your breath!  If you breath it in, you will have a nice coughing fit.  Always work slowly with it.  It also stains.  Do not get it on your clothing or anything else that you don't want to be black.  It can be removed from hands and dishes with a good amount of soap, but I prefer to use a paper cup and plastic spoon when mixing it up.  Then I can just throw them away.  Charcoal is not absorbed into the body.  It only travels through your digestive track, so you cannot overdose on it, but make sure you drink plenty of water after taking it so you do not get constipated.  Doctors used to use charcoal regularly, but now they can make more money selling pharmaceutical drugs so they don't use it as much.  But there are still some emergency rooms that use it for treating poisonings.  And speaking of drugs, be aware that any medications you are taking are considered toxins by your body, and they will be absorbed by the charcoal.   

Not all charcoal is created equal.  Charcoal tablets do not work.  You would have to consume a lot of them in order for them to be effective, and they also take too long to dissolve in the stomach.  Use the powder.  Invest in a book about charcoal.  It will be well worth the money.  One of my favorite books is Charcoal Remedies.com.  (Yes, that is the name of the book :)  They also have a website with the same title) Charcoal will not only help you beat the bug, but it also has uses with wounds, bites, stings, toxins, infections, and many other ailments.

Health Journal - Winter Prep II

There are lots of things we can do for our families to help avoid sickness during cold and flu season.  Some suggest vaccines.  Others avoid big crowds.  Many make use of anti-bacterial soaps and gels.  Our family has never done any of those things, yet we are rarely sick.  So I will share the one secret that I do have about staying healthy in the winter (other than good nutrition) - kefir!

Kefir, which I pronounce "key fur" , but is actually pronounced "keh fear" in Europe,  is a probiotic drink that supplies your gut (immune system) with everything it needs to keep you healthy. We often think that taking a probiotic supplement will do the trick, but our gut has hundreds of bacteria in it and consuming a few of those will not do the job.  But homemade kefir is more than probiotics, it also supplies you with many vitamins and minerals.

I am not talking about store bought kefir here.  There is no comparison to store bought kefir and homemade; homemade is so much better for you!  Homemade kefir is made with grains that look similar to cottage cheese.  These grains are added to milk (raw or pasteurized) and left on the counter to culture for about 24 hours.  Once your milk is cultured you strain out the grains, add them to some fresh milk, and start the process again - and don't forget to drink your kefir! :) 

We have made kefir shakes, as we call them, everyday for years. We add the kefir to our blender along with bananas, other frozen fruit, vanilla, and milk.  The more kefir you add, the more tart it will be.  As you get used to the taste, you can handle more and more of it.

You can learn everything you want to know (and some things you don't want to know :)) about kefir if you google "Dom's Kefir".  He has an incredibly informative website! 

Kefir grains grow and multiply as you use them.  If you need some grains, contact me, and we can figure out how to get you some. :)

Good health is really simple!  More on simple health care to come... :)

Health Journal - Winter Prep

This time of year, I am often asked what I do to prepare my family for cold and flu season.  While there are some herbal treatments that I do stock up on (make), herbal treatments are not what you should be looking to for good health.  Yes, whole food herbal medicines will help you recover without the risk of harmful side effects, but you should give your body more than that.

While I would prefer herbal remedies over drugs any day, they are not the key to maintaining good health - and neither are vitamins!  You must start at the foundation - food!  Food is the daily medicine that will keep your body functioning well and your immune system strong.  Yes, your food is your medicine!!  Without a good diet, you will not be able to avoid illness.  It will haunt you all winter long, week after week. 

Really you have two options.  You can spend time getting sick, running to doctors, and trying to get well or you can spend time preparing healthy food for your family.  Either way you will spend time!  You just need to decide which you prefer. :) 

I try to keep my meals healthy but simple.  I spend enough time growing, harvesting and preserving my food, I am not going spend time preparing gourmet meals too - although somehow my family thinks I feed them gourmet meals. :)  I am not into recipe hunting. I just keep it simple.

One very simple thing you can do is start making breakfast for your family.  Feed them eggs. They are SO nutritious and simple to make.  You can get creative and make a different style of eggs every day if you want.  One day make egg sandwiches, the next scramble them and put cheese on top or try an egg bake.

Just start with breakfast!  Get off the cold cereal and give your body a nutritious, health building meal first thing in the morning!

More on winter prep to come...

Health Journal - Making Vegetables the Main Course (Part 2)

I should have named this post "Making Produce the Main Course".  The more you can focus on produce when menu planning, the healthier your family will be.  It is a very easy way to simplify a busy life.  There is no need to make fancy recipes.  Just keep it simple- fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch, and lots of cooked vegetables with dinner.  Eat as much as you want, you will be totally satisfied, and you will look and feel great.  I will give you some ideas for meals that have worked well for our family.

If you are dealing with disease, extra weight, allergies, or chronic fatigue - anything, your answer is found in your food.  As Hippocrates said,

"Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food."

God did not give us all those nutrient-rich foods for no reason.  They are packed with all that our bodies need for good health!  As I said before, God is the Master Chemist!  He created all kinds of foods for our bodies, but we think we are smarter than God.  We take those healthy foods, pull certain constituents out of them, put them in a pill or capsule, and think we will find health.  I have tried taking vitamin and mineral supplements and they don't work!!!  They make you sicker.  You do not need vitamins, you just need God's food.  The following is a quote from the book Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.:

"There are subtle nuances and nutritive interactions that create disease resistance from the synergy of diverse substances in natural foods.  Like a symphony orchestra whose members play in perfect harmony, our body depends on the harmonious interactions of nutrients, both known and unknown.  By supplying a rich assortment of natural foods, we best maximize the function of the human masterpiece."
 

I believe that grains, nuts, seeds, eggs, fats, raw milk, and meat are also important for good health, but fruits and vegetables are the best source of disease-fighting ,nutrient-dense food, so make them the main course! :)

Here are some ideas for breakfast.

A grated apple with baked oatmeal (Let me know if you want this recipe. It's the best oatmeal!) and ground flaxseed - this is one of my favorite breakfasts!

Simply grate an apple, put a scoop of baked oatmeal on top, and sprinkle with ground flaxseed.  Flaxseed is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, so add some to your breakfast or put some in a smoothie.  There is no need to take an Omega-3 supplement, just eat flaxseeds or walnuts daily.

 

Here we have scrambled eggs with onions, mushrooms, and garlic on a bed of spinach greens and fresh broccoli.  Great breakfast!

This quick and simple breakfast is not only healthy but surprisingly filling.  It's just fruit (apple, orange, and kiwi) covered with ground flaxseed.  We are always trying new fruit combinations to spice things up a bit. :)

 

 

We usually have a kefir shake every day for a snack, otherwise we will just have fresh fruit.  Here are two more that we like.

 

These banana sandwiches are made with a combination of peanut butter, coconut, and maple syrup.  They are yummy!

Here we have the same peanut butter mixture as above only I added more maple syrup to make it easier for dipping.  Ground flaxseed could easily be added to this too.

Snackin' during science class. :)

 

 

Some lunch ideas... 

 

We bake the sprouted grain tortillas in the oven just long enough to make them crisp and dipped them in our white bean hummus. Chips, dip, and a fresh salad - a great lunch!

 

 

Here we have a vegetable wrap. It's just grated carrots, chopped cabbage, red & green peppers, and homemade ranch dressing. (As a side note, my boys are not fond of some vegetables, like fresh peppers. That is fine with me. Their wraps had everything but the peppers. They eat peppers all the time when I put them in things, like soup, and don't complain.)

 

 

Another wrap idea. This one is made with egg salad. First I put chopped romaine lettuce in the wrap, then slices of cheese, a scoop of egg salad, grated carrots, and chopped cabbage.

 

 A couple dinner ideas...

 

This is vegetable chili.  Simply make your usual chili recipe only add a ton of veggies and extra seasoning.  I think I added 2-3x the amount of chili powder and salt to this recipe.  I just added all kinds of frozen garden produce - zucchini, tomatoes, beans, carrots, peppers, broccoli, onions, and asparagus

 .

Vegetable chili with crushed chips, shredded cheese, and plain yogurt.  We all love this meal!

 

 

Underneath this pile of goodies is a baked potato.  One of my favorite dinners is a baked potato bar.  We put all kinds of topping on the table and just create our own specialty. 

The following foods make great toppings:

 

taco meat

sour cream or plain yogurt

onions

sauerkraut

peppers

dill relish

tomatoes

shredded cheese

mushrooms

 

 

There is so much variety in fruits and vegetables that meals never get boring.  Try creating your own nutrient-dense meals.  You'll be glad you did! :)

Health Journal - Making Vegetables the Main Course

In an effort to feed my family more raw foods, I am working on making vegetables the main course for two of our meals.  Having salads for lunch is nothing new around here, but eating mostly vegetables for dinner is.  I've had to get really creative!  There have only been a few complaints and every once in a while I'll make a fancy dinner where vegetables are not the main course, just to treat my very agreeable family. :)

Lots of people claim to eat healthy.  Healthy is relative.  A vegetarian would tell you that they eat healthy foods, but I would disagree.  I think God gave us meat to enjoy.  Really, He gave us all foods to enjoy.  But what is food?  I think that food is something that is alive; something that will spoil.  Brightly colored, packaged, chemical-filled items are not food.  I am famous for telling my kids, "That is not food!", when someone is tempting them with candy.  I want to get it into their minds so they will recognize it when they are older.  So how do you know if you are eating healthy?  One good sign is to look at how much compost you and your family generate in a day.  By the end of the day, the compost bucket should be full of orange peels, apple cores, banana peels, kiwi skins, onion skins, carrot tops, beet tops, lettuce ends, celery tops, avocado skins, zucchini tops, and such.  If the compost bucket is empty, and the garbage can is full of colorful boxes, cans, plastic bags, and pretty wrappers, well, you are probably not eating what you should be eating.  (Although frozen fruits and vegetables do come in plastic bags and don't generate compost, but they do count as healthy foods.)  God's foods are naturally beautiful.  They don't have to come in fancy eye-catching packaging.  Their colors are not manufactured in a lab, and they contain exactly what we need to maintain health.

One of the best ways to include more healthy foods in your diet, is to think of fruits and vegetables as the main course and the rest of your meal as a side dish.  Once you start eating all those fiber rich foods, you will fill up fast.  And the best part about eating healthy foods is that you can eat as much as you want (or as much as you can) and you will not gain weight.   There are so many benefits to making produce the main course.  You will be slim, healthy, and happy - meaning you will weigh what you should, feel good, and have balanced hormones. 

Here are some samples of our lunches.

Vegetable Pizza

Sourdough crust with pizza sauce and melted cheese. 

On top we put raw veggies - broccoli, tomatoes, onions, and mixed greens. 

Everyone enjoys this meal.

 

 

 

Vegetable Wrap

This is similar to the pizza with veggies, cheese, and mixed greens. 

For the sauce I use our Dill Dip recipe

which includes plain yogurt, dill, fresh garlic, lemon juice, and salt.

Another hit! :)

 

 

Fruity Salad

This salad is a treat.  It's made with spinach greens, oranges, shredded carrots, shredded apples, and raisins.  We top this one with homemade French dressing.  Yum. :)

 

 Taco Salad

We all enjoy this salad too.  It's made with romaine lettuce, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, celery, black beans, and shredded cheese.  Then we put crushed tortilla chips on top and plain yogurt.

Health Journal - Relax & Nourish Tea

I have never been fond of Chamomile tea...until I came up with this herbal tea combination. Emily felt the same way.  This is an excellent tea to drink after dinner, in preparation for a good nights sleep. It will relax and nourish your body.  The three ingredients in this tea - chamomile, oatstraw, and anise -  make a wonderful flavor, especially when combined with a little cream and honey. :)  Here's the recipe along with some information on each of the herbs:

Relax & Nourish Tea
4 cups of water
1 heaping teaspoon of chamomile
1 heaping teaspoon of oatstraw
1 heaping teaspoon of anise seed
Bring the water to a boil. Turn off the heat and stir in the herbs. Cover and let steep 5-15 minutes. Add cream and honey to taste. Enjoy! :)

Chamomile is a great herb for helping to induce a deep sleep.   If you struggle with anxiety, insomnia, ADD, PMS, ulcers, IBS, or stress, chamomile will be a great aid for you.  It is also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic.  This herb will relax your muscles - try soaking in a chamomile bath sometime!  It is also a safe herb for children and helps with colic.  I make a glycerin tincture with chamomile that is a great remedy for a child that cannot sleep or has a tummy ache.

Another wonderful herb for helping the body to relax is oatstaw.  Due to the high amounts of  magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B complex in oatstraw, it is restorative to the nervous system.  It helps with hysteria, irritability, menstrual problems, depression, urinary tract infections, and osteoporosis. 

The third ingredient in this tea, anise seed, is another great remedy for the stomach.  It helps with digestion, colic, gas, respiratory ailments, flu, and even bad breath.

Health Journal - One of My Favorite Home Remedies

With the cold and flu season around the corner, it's time to start preparing home remedies.  I picked elderberries last week and got my elderberry syrup made.  Elderberries are a great remedy for the flu, but there is another simple remedy I would like to share with you.  I learned of this recipe in one of my herbalist courses.  It's made with ingredients that you probably have on hand, and in only minutes you'll be able to mix up a cure for any ailement!

It's formally called Strep Throat Preparation becasue it is so effective in elimination strep throat, but it works on all kinds of illnesses.  It's been used for tooth infections, and even on sick animals.  The three ingredients are garlic, cayenne pepper, and honey.

Garlic is an amazing gift from God, and we underestimate it's ability!  Here's a quote from one of my favorite books, Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey.

"Garlic's power and value as a healing agent cannot be overstated.  John Heinerman (Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs & Spices) states, "The role of Garlic as an antiviral and anti-bacterial agent is unsurpassed.  There are no...repeat, NO...modern antibiotic drugs in the entire arsenal of medical science that even come close to doing what Garlic can do."
 

Cayenne pepper helps with infections, bleeding, gas, and pain.  And one of its greatest actions is found in its powerful influence over the circulatory system.  It is a stimulant.  It increases the actions of the body and gets things where they need to go...quickly.  This is why it is often added to herbal remedies.

Not only is honey anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and a strong antioxidant, but in this recipe, it is the key ingredient used to help get the remedy down. :)  With the honey, the blob slips down your throat easily. :)

Here's your recipe:

3-5 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Approximately 1 tablespoon of honey

Mix these ingredients in a bowl.  Take a spoonful every two hours until symptoms are relieved.  You must be faithful if you want it to work!  At our house, we set a timer. :)

One morning Emily woke up with a sore throat and felt miserable.  I told her cheerfully, "No worries, I will have you feeling well by noon!"   We were very faithful with the remedy and by noon, she was out of bed and doing fine. :) 

Often times we will alternate this remedy with elderberry syrup.  So when the two hour timer goes off, we take our Strep Throat Preparation.  Then when the next two hours are up, we take elderberry syrup...and so on.

Now, you would think that this remedy would be extremely painful with all that cayenne in it, but it really is not that bad (and I have never liked hot foods).  Your lips and mouth will burn for about 20 seconds, and occasionally your stomach may feel upset for about 3 minutes, but it all passes...and so do your symptoms! :)  If you have a reluctant child, just simply say, "Oh this is no big deal!" and then cheerfully take a spoonful yourself.  I did this with Jonny, and it worked wonders! :)  And I told him I didn't even need to drink water afterwards (normally I do, but in this case I needed to prove a point). :)  When he saw me take it, he was determined not to be outdone, so he took it and found out for himself that it is not that bad! :)

Health Journal - Chamomile

For the past few weeks, I have been harvesting chamomile.  It is one of the first herbs to start growing in the spring.  Since it reseeds itself so easily, I find it in almost every corner of my herb garden.  So I grab my hand shovel and bucket and wander around collecting all the little chamomile plants I can find.  Then I transplant the chamomile in a nice row.  It's my solution to a chaotic herb garden - which I cannot stand! :)  The plants may look wilty for a day, but they soon recover and grow amazingly fast.

A small portion of my chamomile, collected for drying.

My German chamomile has daisy-like flowers with yellow clusters surrounded by white petals.  It grows to be about 3 feet tall.  Once the flowers are fully open, I harvest it by cutting about six inches off the stems. 

Then I scatter the chamomile on old window screens that are stacked in my garden shed. (I bought the screens from an antique store for a dollar each.)  My garden shed gets nice and warm during the day which helps the chamomile to dry quickly.  Once the stems and flowers are dry, I put them into my food processor and chop them up.

Mike, my handy husband, made me this nice rack for drying herbs.  It's made out of old window screens. 

Here is a picture of what the finished product looks like.

My chamomile will bloom again after I cut it.  So I go back and cut more.  I do this until I have as much as I want, and then I just let it go to seed for next year. 

Chamomile makes a wonderful tea.  It can help you sleep and help relieve a belly ache. It is soothing and relaxing to nerves, aids in digestion, and regulates menstrual flow.  It is also soothing to a child who is teething or overly emotional.  Topically, it will reduce inflammation, clear up infection, soften skin, and heal wounds.  A chamomile bath will relieve sore muscles and inhaling the steam will open clogged sinuses.  Here are a couple of my favorite chamomile recipes:

Insomnia/Tummy Ache Tincture

I like to make this tincture once a year to have on hand for my children or anyone else that may need it.  I even take it if I am having trouble sleeping.  It is also a nice remedy for a child that is feverish and uncomfortable.  It will help calm them so they can sleep.

Here is how you make it:
I combine equal parts of chamomile, catnip (leaf and flower), lemon balm, and mullein. (By the way, I have all these herbs growing on my property if you need them.)  I put these in a quart jar and cover the herbs with glycerin.  If you have too many herbs, you may run out of room for the glycerin, so don't fill the jar too full!  Then line your crock pot with a towel, fill it with water and place the jar in the water.  You want the water to cover as much of the jar as possible without immersing it.  Put your crock pot on low (you don't want to boil your herbs) and leave the jar in it for 3 days. You will have to add water often.  Once the 3 days are up, line a colander with a towel and strain out the herbs.  Squeeze as much glycerin out as possible.  Then bottle your tincture and don't forget to label it.  I keep my glycerin tinctures in the refrigerator.  It should last a year or two.

Herbal Highlight Booster

Chamomile make a great highlighter for blond hair.  Simply combine 2 tablespoons of sunflower petals, 2 tablespoons of chamomile, and 1 tablespoon of lemon peel.  Boil 3 1/2 cups of water.  Add herbs and steep for 30 minutes.  Strain into a storage container (old shampoo bottle) and keep in the shower.  This will keep for a few weeks.  Pour herbal highlighter over clean, wet hair.  Squeeze out the excess.  Do not rinse.  Style as usual.  I make and sell Herbal Highlight Boosters at our market for blond, brown/black, and red hair.

Herbal Highlight Booster for Brown/Black hair

Chamomile also makes a great tea.  Drinking a cup before bed will calm you down and help you sleep better.  Simply add a teaspoon of chamomile to a cup of boiling water and steep for 5- 20 minutes (depending on how strong you like it).

Other than a possible allergic reaction (if you are also sensitive to ragweed), chamomile is one of the safest herbs to use and a great remedy for children.  Use freely.  I will have bags of it for sale at our market.  It's top quality stuff! :)

Health Journal - Wound Care

Warning: The pictures in this post are not for those with a weak stomach! :)

If there is one thing that we are not lacking on the farm, it's wounds. :)  Wound care is not hard, but you must have the supplies you need on hand and most importantly, be consistent with your treatments.

When someone comes to me with a bloody wound, the first thing I do is saturate it with Tea Tree essential oil.  I do not wash the wound, although we will put it under running water (before the tea tree oil) to rinse it off.  Lavender essential oil will also clean and disinfect the wound, but it burns.  I will clean the skin around the wound with hydrogen peroxide.

If the wound is bleeding heavily you can sprinkle cayenne pepper on the wound and it will stop the bleeding.  Once I cut my finger very deep with a kitchen knife, and it would not stop bleeding.  As I stood at the kitchen sink holding my finger together and not wanting to move away from the sink because blood was dripping everywhere, I asked one of my kids to get me the cayenne pepper.  They said, "Mom, you are crazy!"  But it did the trick and only stung for a moment.  If a wound is bleeding profusely, mix a heaping teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a small glass of water and drink it.  By the time you count to ten, the bleeding will have stopped.  This also works great for a bloody nose.

The next thing I do is apply a homemade salve, herbal oil, or powdered herbs.  There are a number of herbs that are good for wounds.  If it's a burn, I would apply a portion of a leaf from an Aloe Vera plant.  Raw honey is also good for wounds, especially burns.  It seals off the wound from the air which almost immediately stops the pain.  It will also sterilize the wound because of its antibacterial properties.

With all serious wounds, I change the dressing morning and night.  This is very important!  The herbs that I put on the skin are feeding the wound and need to be reapplied regularly.  I also put the patient on Vitamin C and garlic - the larger the wound, the larger the dose.  How much?  A lot!  If they get the runs, back off a little. You will not have to deal with infection if you do this.

Another way to prevent infection, with a wound like Mike's (see picture below) where there is a puncture, is to soak the wound in very hot salt water.  If there is any sign of infection (red, inflamed skin or red streaks) soak the finger OFTEN and make sure to keep the water hot.  If you are diligent this will cure the infection.

I always thought that a wound had to be exposed to the air in order to dry out and heal, but I have learned that the exposure to oxygen is very painful and slows the healing process.  If a wound is covered well, your patient will be quite content.  If they complain of pain, unwrap it and cover it better - meaning put on more salve and bandage it up well.

When bandaging a wound, you want to make sure that what you put on it will come off well, without ripping the new skin off.  This usually isn't too difficult with small wounds - the average band aid works just fine - but with large wounds, it can be challenging.  I have found that young burdock leaves work best for large wounds.  We have plenty of burdock growing on our property, so I don't have to worry about having a "band aid" when I need one.  In the fall, I will pick some burdock leaves and hang them in my garden shed.  When they are dry, I transfer them to a plastic bin.  The bin may sit in the shed all winter unused, but at least they are there when I need them!  With Jonny's finger, (see picture below) I used burdock leaves.  I would simply break off a portion of the dried leaf (removing the hard veins that run down the center) and pour hot water over the leaf.  Within a minute or so the leaf is ready to be applied to the wound.  Plantain leaves also make good band aids, but are quite a bit smaller than burdock leaves.  Fresh leaves can also be used.  However they can cause irritation, and in that case just pour hot water over them as you would a dried leaf.  The leaves will also FEED the wound.

It is also wise, to splint your wounds.  It helps in healing and may help the patient be more comfortable.  When Ben cut his leg, getting around was very painful for the first 24 hours.  A splint helped.  Drinking clove tea and taking 303's also helped a lot with the pain. (See my posts on Pain Relief and Cramps for more information on that.)  There is a website that I like for obtaining medical supplies - Rescue Essentials.  They have SAM splints which work great for splinting everything from fingers to legs.  You can get a training kit to learn how to use the splints for a very reasonable price.
As I said before, the hardest part of wound care is being consistent.  Life gets busy and it's easy to forget or put off treatments, but you cannot do this if you have a bad wound.  To prevent infection you must stay on top of your treatments and make sure your patient maintains a good diet.  Sugar is a big NO NO during a treatment period.  You are asking for trouble if you eat sweets during times of healing, and if you are not feeding the body well, the process will take longer.  Another important thing to remember is that you must be as aggressive as what you are treating.  If what you are doing is not working, you must do more, more often.  Natural remedies are not like drugs which often work immediately.

My personal conviction is that I do not want to be dependant on anyone to take care of me or my family.  That said, I am not against traditional medicine.  It is necessary at times, but I want to learn what I can and be prepared in case I am confronted with a situation where I cannot get medical care.

I am sorry that this post is so long!  There is just so much to write about! :)  For more information on natural home remedies join us for a class here on the farm.  Click on the "Classes" tab at the top of the page.

Mike pierced his fingernail with the end of a cattle panel.  It almost went all the way through his finger!

 

Jonny got his finger caught in a belt sander.  This was a bad wound!

In this picture, Ben cut his leg open by kneeling on a pruning shear.  It was pretty deep.

Health Journal - Drink Your Vitamins

Em and I like to sip tea.  What's even better is having friends over, baking scones and having a tea party!  Many times tea is thought of as an alternative to coffee or plain water, but tea is so much more than that.  Herbal teas are foods that feed our bodies all kinds of vitamins and minerals.  And in our family they are an alternative to taking supplements.

Our family used to take a lot of vitamins.  But over the years I noticed that the more vitamins I took the worse I felt.  Then we finally quit taking daily supplements, and I have noticed that the odd symptoms that I had for years disappeared.  And the more I have learned, the more I am convinced that most supplements are not good for us.  They are either in forms that our bodies cannot use -and are many times toxic to the body, or they are separated from the other nutrients essential to their assimilation in the body.  Foods are our safest option!  And herbs are foods!

With a little study, you can become familiar with the nutrients in specific herbs.  Most Americans are deficient in calcium because we eat so many processed foods and pasteurize our milk, so that would be a good mineral to start consuming through herbal teas.  Both oat straw and horsetail (shavegrass) are high in calcium.  Another great herb to start with is Alfalfa.  It is loaded!  Red Raspberry leaf is also a wonderful herb to have around - nothing compares for pregnant women and children.  It is good for the flu, constipation and fever.  I could go on and on. 

A basket of Chamomile tea

Below are some recipes for teas that I have made for my family.  I try to make tea every morning, and we drink it with our breakfast.  There are a couple secrets that I have for making a yummy tasting tea that my family will like.  First I include at least one herb that has a sweet and palatable flavor.  Some examples are: cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint, fennel, licorice root, and anise seed.  My second secret is cream and honey!   Most children will suck down anything loaded with cream and honey! :)

Also, not all teas are created equal.  I do not recommend drinking teas out of a box.  I have found that these teas are not very good quality.  Your efforts will be much better rewarded if you buy bulk organic herbs. (mountainroseherbs.com or bulkherbstore.com)

The possibilities for tea recipes are endless, but this list will give you some ideas to help you get started.  As a general rule, use one teaspoon of tea to one cup of boiling water.  Pour the water over the tea and steep for 5-15 minutes.  When I make tea for my family, I just heat my water in an eight cup stainless steel pot.  Once the water is boiling, I turn off the heat and add my herbs.  Then I put the lid on and let it steep.  Always cover your tea while it is steeping!  If you don't, the constituents from the herbs will evaporate, and you will be left with an inferior cup of tea.

 

Tea Recipes

All the recipes below are made with 8 cups of water.

1T. Oatstraw
1T. Alfalfa
1T. Peppermint
Alfalfa has been called the "King of Herbs" because it is so rich in nutrients.  Oatstraw is high in calcium and magnesium and is usually found in herbal combinations relating to the heart.

1T. Nettle
1T. Peppermint
1T. Licorice Root
This tea is good for fatigue or exhaustion.

1 tsp, Anise seed
1T. Nettle
1T. Red Clover
1T. Licorice Root
Red Clover is a great blood purifier.  Nettle is rich in chlorophyll, iron, and vitamin C.  It is also a natural anti-histamine.

1 tsp. ground Cinnamon
2 tsp. Red Raspberry leaf
2 tsp. Dandelion Root
2 tsp. Peppermint
Dandelion is a good blood purifier and liver cleanser.

4 slices of Ginger root
1T. Black tea
1T. Peppermint
Ginger is great for morning sickness, nausea, and, motion sickness

1T. Catnip
1T. Fennel
1T. Red Raspberry
Catnip and fennel are good for stomach discomfort, indigestion, gas, and bloating.  It will also help a colicky baby.  Raspberry leaf is high in vitamin C, manganese, iron, and niacin, and it also helps with an upset stomach.

2 tsp. Alfalfa
2 tsp. Nettle
2 tsp. Horsetail
2 tsp. Peppermint
1 tsp. ground Cinnamon
Horsetail is very rich in silica.  Cinnamon's anti-fungal properties will benefit the whole body and make the tea taste yummy! :)

As I said before, the combinations are endless!  Other herbs that I like to use for tea are:
Bilberry leaf and berry, Elderberries, Chamomile, Mullein, and Lemon Balm. 

Tip: Whenever you are using a root, go ahead and add the root to your water right away and let it come to a boil.  Roots need to cook longer than leaves and berries in order to get the properties out of them. 

Enjoy your vitamins and minerals! :)

Health Journal - Persistent Cough

When Mike and I were first married, Mike used to go through seasons where he would struggle with a dry, nagging cough.  At times he would cough so much he would cough up blood.  Eventually Mike figured out that the chocolate shakes from McDonald's would make him cough.  Actually, most pasteurized dairy would do this to him.  Back in those days- not knowing any better- we switched to soy milk and then to rice milk.  Thankfully it wasn't long before we found a good source for raw goats milk.

Recently Mike had another bout with a nagging cough.  I am not sure what brought it on, and he had no other symptoms.  After listening to him cough for about a week, I decided to get involved. :)  I put him on Vitamin C.  Unfortunately it's kinda hard to keep track of him (he is so busy!), so he wasn't taking it as often as I would have liked.  Nevertheless I persisted.  Then I started giving him a thyme tincture that I made last summer.  After several days of this with little progress, I switched to my Elder flower tincture, hoping to boost his immune system.  The cough persisted for another week.  Frustrated, I went back to my books.

Finally I found a remedy that worked - Wild Cherry Bark!  This native American tree was made known to the colonist by the Indian healers.  In the early days of our country is was one of the most popular and widely used medicinal herbs.  Now you know why most cough syrups come in a cherry flavor. :)  (now artificial flavored of course!)

Wild Cherry Bark

Wild Cherry Bark infusion

I  made this remedy once years ago for one of the kids and had forgotten about it (we don't deal with coughs very often).  After two doses, Mike said, "Honey, I think your potion is working!" :)  After twenty-four hours his cough had toned down and was less frequent.  This simple remedy is nothing more than a Wild Cherry Bark infusion (tea).  All you do is boil two cups of water.  Then pour 1 ounce (about 1/3 of a cup) of Cherry Bark into the water.  Cover and let sit for 3-4 hours.  After that, you strain out the bark and drink 2-3 ounces, 3-4 times a day.  Now, I have to tell you that since I was feeling desperate, I let the infusion sit overnight.  This made it really strong.  The taste is fairly palatable, with a mild cherry aftertaste, but you can sweeten it with honey if you like.  This infusion will help with  asthma, bronchitis, colds, and the flu.

I buy most of the herbs that I don't grow myself from Mountain Rose Herbs.  They have very high quality herbs and great customer service.   You can get a 1 lb. bag of Wild Cherry Bark for $8.00, and it will last you for a long time.  If you want to work towards taking care of yourself and your family without prescription medications, I would recommend you keep this on hand.  Here's the link to Wild Cherry Bark

The recipe comes from one of my favorite herb books, Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey.  This is another great investment!  If you want to learn how to make your own herbal remedies, this book will teach you how.

One more thought about coughs...I was able to keep Mike's cough under control at night by combining shea butter (You could use any carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil.) and Eucalyptus essential oil. I rubbed this on his feet and chest. This works great for a cough that is preventing sleep! The feet have the largest pores in the body, so that is why you want to make sure you put the oil on the feet.

Health Journal - Direct Access Labs

There are many hospitals and clinics that offer Direct Access testing.  A physician's order is not require and the results come directly to you.  No insurance claims are submitted.  You just show up, request a test, and write a check - it's that easy!

The lab will have a list of the test available to you.  Our lab at the Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield offers tests like: blood type, cholesterol, hemoglobin, liver profile, pregnancy tests, thyroid, prostate screening, and many others.  There are even website that will tell you how to read the tests.

When children go through growth spurts, their iron requirements are huge.  I used our local lab to test my children's hemoglobin, so that I can know if they have any needs in this area.  These labs are another tool to help us manage our own health and keep health care costs down.

Health Journal - Saturated Fats

We have reduced the fat in our diets, yet heart disease continues to plague our nation.  We are doing something wrong!  Please consider the following information; your health could depend on it. 

http://www.coconutoil.com/diet_disease.htm

After you have read that, consider what Coconut Oil can do for Alzheimer's disease.

http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/coconut-oil-and-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease-the-news-is-spreading/

Health Journal - Sunshine!

If you are one of those people who struggles with reoccurring or chronic illness, you really need to consider your Vitamin D intake.  Our overall health is greatly effected by Vitamin D, and many illnesses are now being link to its deficiency in the body.

Be sure to consider the source when taking this supplement.  Vitamin D2 is a synthetic form (used for food fortification), which I would not take.  Vitamin D3, which is consider the natural form, is found in foods such as egg yolks and liver and products like Cod Liver oil.  This is also the form that is produced in the body as a result of sun exposure.

Unfortunately if you live above the 37th latitude, you will not be able to get enough sunlight during the winter months (November - March).  In this case, you may want to consider supplementation.  Honestly, I hate taking supplements!  I would much rather get what I need from good food!  Yet, I realize that is necessary sometimes.  For my family, I will supplement with Vitamin D if I see a need for it (i.e. ongoing illness).  Fortunately we are rarely sick.

The very VERY best thing you can do for your health (and Vitamin D levels) is make going outside a habit!  It is such a simple way to improve your health, yet so many people overlook it!  We have developed a cultural trend of living, working, and even playing indoors.  This has contributed to a society that is very Vitamin D deficient!  It is estimated that 85% of the American public are deficient!  If you can expose yourself to the sun at least 3 times per week for 15 minutes, you can supply your body with an adequate amount of Vitamin D.  By being outside in the winter months, you will be getting fresh air and most likely exercise, two more contributors to good health.

Another factor contributing to deficiencies is fear.  Doctors have convinced people that they should be afraid of the sun.  Therefore we either don't go outside or worse, we cover ourselves in sunscreen.  Please do not put sunscreen on your children!  Be a responsible parent and make sure your children do not burn, but let them get sun exposure.  Just as we have a spiritual need for the Son, our bodies were also created with a physical need for the sun.  Our family spends time outside almost every day of the year.  In the spring, summer, and fall we spent LOTS of time outdoors, and it is rare for us to get sunburned.  In the beginning of the summer, if a child looks a little pink, I make them wear a wide brimmed hat and have them avoid tank tops.  Gradually we build up a tan, and then we are set for the rest of the summer.  Our family never uses commercial sunscreen!  A natural option for sunscreen is coconut oil, which we have used on occasion.  The point is, you do not have to be afraid of the sun!  You need it, so go outside and enjoy it! :)

Health Journal - Vitamin C

If I could only have one supplement in my cupboard, it would be Vitamin C!  It is such an important vitamin, especially when the body is under stress.  Vitamin C is an antioxidant.  It fights bacteria, viruses, and infections.  If you are low in iron, Vitamin C will help you absorb it from your food.  It is a natural antihistamine and is necessary for stimulating the immune system.  Another great benefit of Vitamin C is that it combines with toxins (like heavy metals), so they can be eliminated from the body.

Our bodies cannot manufacture Vitamin C.  Therefore, it is important that it is ingested often.  Unfortunately, most of what we ingest will be gone from the body in 3-4 hours, especially in times of stress, when the body uses it up quickly.  This explains why Vitamin C is often called a "stress vitamin".  Since our bodies can only handle a certain amount at a time, and any extra is eliminated in the urine, it doesn't help to take large doses all at once.  During stressful times, we need to take it often, throughout the day.

Since Vitamin C is essential in the formation of collagen, and it helps to prevent infection, I will supplement with it whenever there is a wound of any kind.  It is good for the skin, ligaments, and bones.  When we get a major cut or wound at our house, I immediately start supplementing with Vitamin C at every meal.  I will do this until I can see that the wound is healing nicely and there is no redness or swelling (usually about a week).  Vitamin C speeds up the healing process!

One thing that is really nice about this vitamin is that you will know if you are getting too much.  You will get the runs! :)  If that happens, just lower your dose and keep taking it.  When my children had Whooping Cough, I gave them mega doses of Vitamin C for two weeks and not one of them had anything close to a loose stool.  When our bodies need this vitamin, we can take a lot of it!  Just a caution, if you are taking very large doses, you may need to increase your calcium, and you need to be careful that you don't get too much iron (since it helps you absorb iron better).

Some good sources of Vitamin C would be berries, citrus fruits, and green vegetables. Orange juice is a good source if it is freshly squeezed.  Cooked and pasteurized foods are not good sources since Vitamin C is lost in the heating process.  Another good source is fermented foods.  The process of fermentation actually increases the Vitamin C content in foods like kefir and yogurt,  You may remember hearing old stories of seamen dying of scurvy (a disease cause by a Vitamin C deficiency), until someone discovered that keeping crocks of sauerkraut (a fermented food) on board kept their crews from being decimated by this disease.  Another source of Vitamin C used by seamen was sprouts.

Beware of pain medications (including aspirin), alcohol, oral contraceptives, and antidepressants. They all reduce the amount of Vitamin C in the body.  Smoking causes serious depletion!

Needless to say, this is a supplement that I make sure I always have on hand.  We get our daily doses from our foods, but during times of sickness or when we have injuries, we supplement with Vitamin C.  This is definitely one for mama to keep in her "medicine chest". :)

Health Journal - MS

My Dad found this video, and it is well worth your time to watch it!  It is only about 17 minutes long.  When this woman, a medical doctor, searched for answers as how she could slow down the disease that was destroying her body, she found more than what she was looking for!  Progressing from a cane, to two canes, to a wheelchair, and then back to her feet again is unheard of with MS.  Her story is amazing, yet is holds a very simple life lesson - our diet will determine much of our future!

Many times we are fooled into thinking that the older generations did just fine on bacon grease and cigarettes, so why should we do any differently.  But we fail to realize that the food our grandparents grew up on, is not the food our kids are eating today!  Back then sugar was sugar!  It may have been  processed, but I would take that over all the chemicals we call "sweeteners" today!  Most of our food today is not REAL food, back then it was!  Their meat wasn't infested with hormones, and their cows weren't eating GM corn as their main diet.  They drank RAW milk and canned their own foods.  They worked hard, got fresh air and sunshine, ate home-grown natural foods, and as a result could still smoke and live a long somewhat healthy life.  Today we bombard our bodies with chemicals and wonder why every month we hear of someone else we know who has cancer. 

While I found this video very inspiring, I don't totally agree with everything she said.  First of all, I do not believe in evolution.  There is far too much evidence of a Creator in the order and design of the human body, nature, and the universe.  Secondly, there are MANY nutritious foods.  While eating a limited diet for a period of time may be necessary to eliminate a disease, continuing a limited diet can potentially cause deficiencies in other nutrients which will then lead to a new disease.  Balance is the key!  Lastly, I am still hanging on to my grains and dairy! :)  Many new diets recommend eliminating grain, but I am not yet totally convinced that that is wise.  I think there are reasons why grains are causing intestinal problems for people (which I will explain in more detail in another post) , but I think we need to change the WAY we eat them, not eliminate them.  The same goes for dairy products.  It's not uncommon to read about how dairy is the cause of many health problems like eczema and allergies, but most articles don't mention the type of dairy causing the problems - PASTEURIZED!  The processes of pasteurization and homogenization destroy many of the nutrients in milk and not only makes them indigestible, but toxic to the body!  Raw milk is a completely different story!  And I believe it is foundational to good health in children...and adults.

It is interesting that the doctor in the movie had to look beyond her own colleagues for answers.  As I've said before, being your own doctor is not as hard as you think!  It starts with choosing your foods wisely; good food is your best medicine!  Then talk to your grandma or someone old and ask them how they prepared the foods they ate - research!  There is a lot of wisdom in the traditions of our ancestors! 

Here's the link to the video:

http://www.wimp.com/mindingmitochondria/

BTW, we have a family friend who worked closely with this woman while training in Iowa.

Health Journal - Pain Relief

While we are on the subject of pain, I thought I would mention a product that our family uses for body aches (you may not always have time to sit around drinking clove tea).   Since most pain relievers are so bad for the liver, it's hard to know what to take when you are hurting.   Our family has used Formula 303 for years, and it works great.   We get it from our Chiropractor, but you could find it using Google and order it online.

Formula 303's Ingredients:
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) - used for centuries to calm upset nerves and for treating mood problems, pain and headache. Today homeopaths and herbalists use Valerian root for its antispasmodic, calmative, tranquilizing, carminative (good for upset stomach and digestion) and pain relieving effects. (approximately 264 mg)

Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) - discovered in 1569 it is primarily used as a sedative or nervine to combat excess nervousness and anxiety, to tranquilize, and to promote sleep; as an anodyne, anti-spasmodic and anti-convulsant to treat dysmenorrhea, muscle cramps, and so forth. (approximately 132 mg)

Magnesium - is one of the most important essential minerals to promote proper nerve function. It is a key element in the stabilization of nerve cells, without which, the nerves would be in a constant state of excitation (a state known as tetany.) (approximately 65 mg)

Health Journal - Cramps

In my last "Health Journal" post, I mention that I had another use for cloves. If you are one of those women who suffers through cramps every month, we have a remedy for you to try.   Here it is:

Add a heaping tablespoon of cloves and two cups of water to a pot.  Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.  Then strain and add a good amount of honey and cream...if you like.  Drink this clove tea while it is hot.  See if that helps...seems to work around here. :)  Actually, this tea is good for any pain in the body.  Try it!