Exfoliate Without Doing Harm, Ban the Microbeads

On December 28, 2015, President Obama signed into effect the "Microbead Free Waters Act", which prohibits the sale of products that include microbeads in their formula and will ban microbeads in the U.S. as of July 2017.

This is wonderful since microbeads have become an environmental disaster. The polymer technology to manufacture polymer beads was invented by the late Norwegian Professor John Ugelstad and these perfect little monosized spheres went into production in 2002 with the Norwegian company, Microbeads AS. They were used in a wide range of industries, not just with cosmetics and personal care. Uses included paints, plastics, ceramics and adhesives. Being cheap to manufacture, they seemed like a dream until it was realized how destructive they were to marine life.

Microbeads are made of non-biodegradable plastic. When they get washed down the drain they end up in local rivers and lakes. Being so tiny, they slip right through most water treatment systems. 

About the same size as fish eggs, to any organism that lives in the water, they look like food. Once in the food web, such toxins are passed right along to humans and other wildlife.

Microbeads are in so many personal care products, body scrubs, facial cleanses, toothpastes, all things most everyone uses on a daily basis. So many beads are believed to be polluting the Great Lakes that our world's largest source of fresh water is being poisoned.

Until the ban is completely in effect, what you can do is read labels. If polyethylene or polypropylene are listed as an ingredient, there is most likely microbeads in that product.

Another option is to use other sources for exfoliation. 

The definition of exfoliation is the cosmetic practice of removing dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin, called the epidermis. Amazing fact is that our skin can naturally shed 30,000 to 40,000 dead cells per minute.

If you feel your face or body has a dull appearance it could mean an accumulation of those dead surface cells. Remove them by means of dry brushing, a loofah sponge, a hemp scrubby pad or by using a salt or sugar scrub. 

Complaints people often have with moisturizers is that they seem to leave an oily residue. Of course a reason could be the lotion itself, but it could also be because the person is applying a moisturizer to old, dead skin cells and it is not penetrating the upper layer of the skin.

Sugar scrubs are a great way to slough off that old layer, unclog blocked pores, and reveal radiant freshness to perk up that tired look.

Cane sugar contains a naturally occurring acid known as glycolic acid which belongs to the family of alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). These acids stimulate and loosen the dry, flaky layer created by accumulating dead skin cells. 

White sugar is the result of sulfur dioxide being introduced to the cane sugar before evaporation which bleaches the sugar to be white as are most familiar. 

These scrubs below use raw, unprocessed sugars such as demerara and cane juice sugar.

Though exfoliation is important for an effective skin care routine, you can't overdo it and you must be very gentle. The skin of your face is fragile and can be easily damaged. It should be treated with care, no scrubbing, or you may irritate or even create tiny tears which leave the skin vulnerable to bacteria.

Salt scrubs are great too, but if used on the face you must remember that salt can be more abrasive than sugar. Using salt for a body scrub is a great way to cleanse and detoxify by drawing out impurities. Sea salt is a much better choice than table salt. Table salt is bleached and refined, therefore it lacks many of the minerals of the ocean.

The salt scrubs below are called salt polishes because they not only contain a moisturizing oil but also a touch of castile soap. Therefore, you get the effect of a good clean as well as the expected exfoliation.  

Coconut Oil Face and Body Sugar Scrub

Vegetable Glycerin Face and Body Sugar Scrub

Glowing Skin Salt Body Polish

Lemon Zest Glowing Skin Salt Body Polish

Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, Baking Soda...Helping Hand to Raising Children

Though many of us are aware how useful the Fab Four (Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda) by Shea Zukowski can be around the house for anyone seeking earth-friendly solutions, it is difficult to actually remember which is for what purpose.

I came across this little gem of a book and now I have all these tips in one place for reference instead of forgetting where I read those tips and to where I filed them away. The book is categorized into sections including kitchen, laundry, personal, pet and outdoors. For this post I am just going to center on what can be useful to make life easier in raising children.

CLOTH DIAPER CLEANER

1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup vinegar
Fragrance-free liquid laundry detergent

Add the baking soda to the wash cycle along with the detergent. Baking soda helps neutralize the acids in the dirty diapers.
Add the vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften clothes and help remove the detergent.


BABY FORMULA STAIN REMOVER

1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water

Baby formula easily stains clothing because of it's high protein content. Keep this mix in a spray bottle in the refrigerator so it is handy to pre-treat stains as soon as possible. Let the garment air dry in the sun and then wash as usual.


BABY AND CHILD TOY DISINFECTANT

1/4 cup vinegar

Soak a clean cloth in the 1/4 cup of vinegar and wipe down all  non-plush toys. Allow items to air dry. The vinegar scent will fade away.


STUFFED ANIMAL CLEANER

1/2 cup baking soda

Not all plush toys can be put into the washing machine. To rid stuffed animals of odors, put them in a plastic zip lock bag along with the baking soda. Shake the bag to distribute the baking soda over the stuffed animals and let sit overnight. Remove the toys and shake off the excess baking soda.


URINE SMELL ELIMINATOR

2 cups vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup baking soda

Bed wetting can be frustrating for everyone. There are waterproof mattress covers to protect the mattress but if the deed is already done you'll want to get rid of the smell of urine. Mix the vinegar and water and apply with a sponge to the affected areas. Blot dry with a towel and cover the spot with the baking soda. Let the area fully dry and then vacuum.


MUDDY CARPET CLEANER

When kids or pets come charging into the house leaving a trail of muddy footprints behind them, resist the urge to try blotting it up. This could just drive the dirt deeper into the carpet fibers. Take a handful of plain old salt and sprinkle generously onto the messy spots and leave it. Give the salt time to absorb the liquid and once dry vacuum it up.


PRE-TREATMENT FOR GRASS AND OTHER STAINS 

1 Tbsp baking soda
1 Tsp lemon juice OR 1 tsp vinegar

Stained knees and shirt fronts are prime targets for stained clothes. Sprinkle baking soda on the area, followed up with the lemon juice or vinegar on top. As the mixture starts to fizz, rub the fabric or use a toothbrush to rub it in to make sure the mix is getting through the stain. Let it sit a few minutes and then launder as usual.


CHEWING GUM REMOVER

Before you grab the scissors to cut out gum stuck in your child's hair, try using a lemon. Cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side onto the gum to help it loosen its grip. Gently squeeze the lemon to release some juice. Lemons can cause some bleaching so rinse the hair. This method can work on clothes and carpets as well, just remember to blot it up so it doesn't lighten the carpet.

SWIMMER'S EAR PREVENTION

2 Tbsp vinegar
2 Tbsp isopropyl alcohol

After a day of swimming there is always a chance the protective layer of wax in the outer ear canal gets worn away. Bacteria rich water from swimming can get in there and cause an infection. To lower this risk, make a solution of equal parts vinegar and isopropyl alcohol and store in a bottle or jar. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and squeeze a few drops into each ear after swimming.


POOL TOY MILDEW PREVENTION

Inflatable pool toys are susceptible to mold and mildew once deflated and stored away for the winter. To minimize this from happening, let them sit in the sun to thoroughly dry before storing. Sprinkle each deflated item with a handful of baking soda before rolling up.


FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASH

1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp baking soda
1 cup water

A homemade, very economical fruit and vegetable spray to remove waxy coatings and help clean off pesticides. Fill a spray bottle with the lemon juice, baking soda and water. Shake before use. Spray the produce before eating and rinse it well to remove any aftertaste from the wash. The spray will last about a week.

NEED SOMETHING TO DO KID ACTIVITIES

SALT PAINTING

4 to 5 small bowls of salt
Food coloring of different colors
School glue
sponge brush
Paper

Pour an equal amount of salt into a few small bowls. A few Tbsp in each should be plenty.
Add a drop of food coloring into each bowl and stir to create different colors.
Using the sponge brush, coat a piece of paper with a thin layer of glue and let the children sprinkle the colored salt to form pictures and patterns.

SALT CLAY DOUGH

1 cup salt
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 cups flour

Mix the salt with the warm water and stir to dissolve. Add the vegetable oil and flour and stir slowly to combine. Knead the dough till pliable, adding flour if necessary till not sticky. If desired, divide into smaller balls and add a few drops food coloring to each to make different color dough balls. Store the play dough in a zip lock bag or lidded container. If the kids want to save their creations, let them air dry a few days and paint them with watercolor or acrylic paints. A thin coating of clear nail polish will help preserve them.


Here are three other posts about natural care for adults and children:
All Natural Care for Mom and Baby

The Well Stocked Natural Child's First Aid Kit

Dealing with the Pitfalls of Summer, Naturally

Lemons, Radiant Skin, Improved Health

Lemons have so many health benefits that it is wonderful to hear of their use in ways other than as lemonade or added to a cup of tea. More often, restaurants are even offering a wedge of lemon for glasses of water.

The juice of a fresh squeezed lemon in water has many medicinal values. Stimulating to the liver, digestion and elimination are improved, which has a cleansing effect on the entire body. Drinking lemon water helps to remove metabolic and acidic wastes from the system. By decreasing underlying causes of inflammation, the body becomes more alkaline which is ideal to help with chronic conditions. For example, if uric acid is reduced, the pain of gout resulting from urate crystals irritating the joint lining can be relieved. It may be confusing to understand since lemons on their own are acidic. Lemons contain both citric acid and ascorbic acid, which once metabolize in the body, actually alkalize the blood. Disease, or dis-ease, occurs when the body pH is acidic for too long.

With so many people trying to lose weight, using lemon water as a digestive aid and liver cleanse can be a wonderful start to using lifestyle rather than fad diets to lose the weight and keep it off. By just tweaking our daily rituals and routines to better focus on aligning the body with nature's rhythm, we can achieve our goals without the usual yo-yo of dieting. One more perk is that lemons are high in pectin fiber which help fight hunger cravings. 

Reoccurring bladder infections can be remedied with lemons! By increasing the rate of urination, toxins are flushed out at a faster rate, which helps maintain a healthy urinary tract.

Proper hydration is so important for a healthy body. When your body is not getting enough fluids you'll feel the effects. Always feeling tired, sluggish, brain fog, constipation, trouble sleeping, and inability to handle stress could all be signs that your body needs more water. Daily lemon water helps the lymph system by replacing lost fluids  from normal body functioning.

Warm lemon water stimulates the bowels, which can be a godsend for people struggling with constipation. Heartburn, belching and feeling bloated can all be helped as the digestive system becomes regulated and a balance in digestive flora is achieved.

  Promote immunity and fight infection with such good things as bioflavonoids, magnesium, limonene, calcium, vitamin C, pectin and citric acid. Many people take vitamin C to help prevent a cold, and vitamin C also enhances iron absorption which is very important in immune function. Potassium stimulates brain and nerve function, as well as control blood pressure. Lemons reduce the amount of phlegm produced by the body which is very necessary for people with respiratory or lung conditions.

 Ever wonder why citrus is considered such a "happy" aroma? It all has to do with atoms. The energy received by food in the body comes from atoms and molecules. When food enters the digestive tract, a reaction occurs when positive charged ions interact with negative charged enzymes. Lemons contain more negative charged ions, which provides the body with more energy. The scent of lemon energizes the mind, mood and body. 

Lemons are a great home remedy for beautiful skin from the inside out, as well as topically to treat blemishes. By adding lemon water to your daily routine you will be getting this important antioxidant so vital for a healthy and glowing complexion.

All the rage right now is the use of vitamin C serums in skin care to fight wrinkles. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps to combat free radical damage which is the cause of aged skin. Vitamin C is great in treating and preventing acne, as it kills certain types of bacteria. Applied directly to age spots, vitamin C serums can help reduce hyperpigmentation. As a healing agent, it can even help with the appearance of scars.

Note to remember about ascorbic acid: If you plan on making your own vitamin C serum from purchased powdered ascorbic acid, remember that vitamin C oxidizes fairly quickly. Once ascorbic acid is added to water it is no longer stable. If the serum turns yellow, don't use it. You certainly don't want to be adding free radicals to your face. Make a fresh batch of homemade serum on a weekly basis and only make small amounts at a time.  Here is a recipe for a homemade serum:

 (1/4 tsp.  ascorbic acid powder, 4 tsp. distilled water,  3/4 tsp. glycerin)

 

According to Nancy Hearn, CNC from Water Benefits Health there is a method to how much lemon water to drink and how often.

"If you weigh less than 150 pounds and are in good health, squeeze half a fresh lemon (about one ounce) in 8 to 12 ounces of filtered water and drink it first thing in the morning for the best cleansing benefits. If this is too strong, dilute it to taste.
If you weigh over 150 pounds, you could drink the same amount of lemon water twice a day.  Or you could squeeze a whole lemon (two ounces) into 24 to 32 ounces of clean water and drink this throughout the morning.
Our bodies can only metabolize about 12 ounces of water at a time. Thus, if you are drinking more than 12 ounces of lemon water, you would want to spread it out over a period of a few hours. You will still get most of the enzymatic properties of the lemon water if it is stored in a sealed container, preferably glass or stainless steel, and kept cold.
If you drink more than the recommended amount above, it is best to add it gradually over time since the lemon juice will accelerate body detoxification.
Too much lemon water too quickly can cause uncomfortable detoxification symptoms such as headaches, bowel changes, or fatigue.
It is also best to drink lemon water about 30 minutes before a meal to help your body get the most energy and nutrients from the food you eat.

We do not recommend children under 12 years old drink lemon water on a daily basis. In most cases, healthy children simply do not need it.  However, if a child is having issues with constipation or has cold or flu symptoms, you could add fresh-squeezed lemon juice (1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon) to about 8 to 12 ounces of water, which the child could sip on throughout the day. Adding sugar would defeat the purpose, but a small amount of honey would be ok as needed for taste."

 Below are a few other ways to incorporate the wonder of lemons in your lives

Once you try homemade lemonade you will not want to go back to the artificially flavored powder mix found at the grocery store. The following is the original recipe but we stretch it by using  five lemons which make about one cup juice to 2 cups sugar and 4 quarts or one gallon water.

 

Enough lemons to made 1 cup juice (about five large)

1 cup sugar

2 quarts water

The amount of water or sugar can be adjusted to your liking

Did you know that the lemon peels contain 5 to 10 times more vitamins than the juice?

Below is a great tip to using the whole lemon without any waste.

Use organic lemons if possible to avoid ingesting pesticides which may be in the peel.

Place the lemons in the freezer. When you have a need for lemon, get your grater and shred the whole lemon, peel and all. Use these shreds to top your food or drinks. You'll discover a new taste for lemon, as well as increase the nutritional value of your food or drink. Are you aware that lemon peels help to eliminate toxic elements from the body in addition to the boost in Vitamin C?

  

Honey & Lemon Syrup/Tea
Lemon slices to fill a pint size mason jar
Grated 1 inch piece of ginger root
Enough honey to fill the jar
This is an Asian remedy to combat a cold, cough, or sore throat. High in vitamin C and an immune system booster. Honey is a natural preservative, therefore this mix can be kept in the refrigerator and used as needed. Add extra lemon slices and top with additional honey as needed. The lemons sort of dissolve into the honey to form a marmalade like mixture. Just add a dollop to a cup and add boiling water, stir to mix. Don't offer honey to children under one year of age.

This recipe is another form of a nourishing hot tea to use when ill

 Lemon n' Honey Grog
1 cup water
1 whole clove
pinch of cinnamon
juice of one lemon
honey to taste
Put the water, clove, and cinnamon in a pot.  Bring to a boil and keep boiling for one full minute.  Turn of the heat and allow to steep for twenty minutes.  Strain, reheat it, and add the juice of the lemon and honey to taste.  Drink while hot.

Go Green in your Cleaning Routine, Safe, Non-Toxic Clean

 

Having already done a post on homemade ways to clean our laundry, this time we'll focus on the rest of the household.

Whether you're new to the movement towards "going green" or just always on the look-out for new recipes, it is good to know the word is spreading about what is happening to not only our natural environment, but the very health of our families and pets who depend on us to make wise choices for their care.  Due to the onslaught of toxins everywhere we turn, we are exposed to pesticides and carcinogens in the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and even the building materials that make up our homes and furniture.

We keep our homes clean in an effort to protect our loved ones from germs and illness. Look a little closer at those cleaning supplies and realize we just may be contributing to potential health risks through long term exposure to these chemical cocktails. We've long associated the meaning of clean with the smell of ammonia, bleach, moth balls, even the beloved scent of pine in Pine-Sol. We may have gagged as we scrubbed and polished; we may have had to wear rubber gloves to prevent skin irritation, but by darn, the place was grease and dust free. There hasn't been sufficient testing to point fingers should a health concern pop up, but just knowing this stuff cannot be good for us, if there are alternatives out there, why not be safe than sorry.
Here is a good article titled "8 Things to never bring into your Home."

Next time you wash your kitchen floor, think about your child or pet crawling around down there, where everything they touch usually ends up in their mouths. A good example is chlorine bleach, which is sodium hypochlorite, NaClO, the salt of hypochlorus acid. Chlorine is one of the main smells that we've come to associate with "clean". Yes, it is very effective as a disinfectant, a whitening agent for clothes and paper products, the care of swimming pools, bathroom cleaners, etc. It also is a toxic respiratory irritant, can burn the skin, worsen already existing heart or respiratory conditions and is in general, a poison. But because it works in its intended purpose and is dirt cheap, companies use it extensively. For cleaning and whitening, such as with laundry, bleach oxidizes many chemicals causing them to lose their color, and dissolve more easily into solution.

Back to our clean floor. Because chlorine is heavier than air, it tends to collect in low-lying areas. Children and pets are low to the ground, therefore are exposed at higher concentrations than those of us who stand 4 to 5 feet taller. Every time you open the dishwasher, those vapors drift right out into the room. I don't know about your kitchen, but when my kids were small they, and the dogs, were always right there too.

We have the same concerns with the use of ammonia, NH4OH. As a base, it does make a great glass cleaner, and a very effective method to cut grease, but like bleach it can be very irritating to the respiratory system. To make the mistake of mixing bleach and ammonia can be devastating. When these two combine, the result is a chemical reaction.  Chlorine gas, chloramine and other toxic chemicals are released in the air, which can result in poisoning, skin burns, even an explosion.



So what can we use to get the results we still expect in cleaning?
The good old basics we hear so much about but never really knew how to use them:
Baking soda, vinegar, lemons, hydrogen peroxide,and salt. All inexpensive and probably in your cabinets already. You don't even need all those. You could clean your home your entire home using just baking soda and vinegar.

I like to know the "why" for everything so in case you are interested, here is a little lesson on what is baking soda, what is difference between white vinegar and other vinegars , and why they clean so well.

Baking soda is NaHCO3. It is the weakest alkali of sodium compounds and being an alkaline substance as are many soaps, it neutralizes acids. When mixed with water, it splits into H+ and HCO3-, and that latter ion is absorbed onto any dirt to help break it up--and thus make it easier to remove.It is a mild abrasive, so it scrapes away dirt without scratching or doing harm to harder surfaces. Last, because it neutralizes acids, it works as a great way to deodorize.

Then again, vinegar is an acid, usually 5%, though white vinegar is stronger which is why it is used for cleaning. However, if you don't have white vinegar on hand, apple cider vinegar is fine too. Think of what happens when you soak something rusty in vinegar. The acidity breaks things down and dissolves mineral deposits, so good-bye rust.

Many of us played around with baking soda and vinegar as kids to make volcanoes spew forth the "lava". Perhaps you still play a bit to unclog that kitchen or bathroom sink by first pouring a half cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a half cup of vinegar. The immediate chemical reaction is usually very effective at dissolving soap scum and hair. Let this mixture die down on its own and sit for a few hours, then pour a pot of very hot water down the drain to flush it all down. A lot safer and more fun than the risks of inhaling Drano or get burned if it should splash back up at you.

Want to use more natural ways to take care of your children's laundry challenges?
Read this post about using lemons, vinegar, baking soda and salt.

Ok, now for the recipes:

For the recipes that call for vinegar, water and castile soap, add the soap last to avoid clumping.

ALL PURPOSE HOUSEHOLD CLEANER
Ideal for kitchen and bathrooms to clean surfaces

16 oz. spray bottle
To the bottle, mix 2 tbsp. white vinegar with 1 tsp. borax
Fill the rest of the bottle with very hot water (this helps dissolve the borax)
Add 1/4 cup liquid soap (castile liquid soap or dish soap)
Drops of preferred essential oil or combination

Essential oils disinfect, deodorize, are antimicrobial, some such as tea tree are also antifungal.
Good by themselves or in combination. These recipes vary in the concentration of the oils. Use more or less to your liking.
Options are:

20 lavender
20 eucalyptus
6 tea tree oil

10 lemon
10 eucalyptus

8 - 10 drops tea tree oil
8 - 10 drops lavender
8 - 10 drops hyssop

ORANGE VINEGAR CLEANER
Ideal for kitchen and bathrooms to clean surfaces

Save your orange peels (can also use grapefruit) and put into a mason jar.
Cover the peels with undiluted white vinegar.
Cover with a plastic lid (don't use a metal lid, the vinegar will corrode it).
Label and include the date.
Let sit for 2 to 4 weeks (there isn't a set rule)
Strain out the peels.
To use:
Use full strength or dilute it with water into a spray bottle.
The strength depends on what you want to use it for.
Half water and half orange vinegar or one part vinegar to three parts water.
For further astringent and antiseptic value add orange essential oil (anywhere between 15 - 30 drops for 16 - 32 ounces vinegar/water mixture).

GLASS CLEANER

Use the above orange vinegar cleaner at the 50/50 dilution or just fill a spray bottle with half water and half vinegar.

NO SCRATCH SOFT SCRUB CLEANSER
Good for counter tops, stove tops, sinks and tubs, grout

1 2/3 cup Baking soda
1/2 cup Castile soap or dish soap
1/2 cup Water
2 tbsp. White vinegar
Essential oils are optional

Stir soap into the baking soda.
Add the water and stir until smooth.
Add the vinegar and essential oils.
Pour into a squeeze bottle.

NO SCRATCH WHITENING SCOURING POWDER
Use as you would a powder cleanser without worry about scratching your sink or stove top.

1 cup Baking soda
2 tsp. Cream of tartar
2 tbsp Borax
1/4 cup finely grated citrus peels
15 - 20 drops citrus essential oils

Pour into a shaker top container.
Pour onto surface and moisten to clean.

TOILET BOWLS

A simple method to clean the toilet bowl is to spray vinegar around the inside of the bowl and then add 1/2 cup of baking soda
OR
Add 1/2 cup of Hydrogen Peroxide into the bowl.

Swish around with the toilet brush, let sit an hour or so and flush.

WOOD FURNITURE POLISH
Vinegar makes an excellent wood cleaner because it won't damage wood finish.
Olive oil polishes

In a 16 oz spray bottle combine:
1 cup Olive oil
1/2 cup White vinegar

20 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil if desired

Shake before each use.
After polishing, buff with a clean cloth

WOOD FLOORS
Vinegar won't strip the wax off floors like ammonia can do.

Mix one cup of vinegar into a gallon of warm water. Mop your floor as you usually do.

GENERAL FLOOR CLEANER
Make a batch as needed

1 cup White vinegar
1 gallon very hot Water
1 - 2 tbsp Liquid soap
Essential oils if desired (recipe calls for 100 drops or 1 tsp. but the amount is up to you)
Lavender, Eucalyptus and Rosemary are all nice by themselves or a combination.

CARPET FRESHENER
Great to deodorize
Mix the baking soda and essential oils in a bowl. Using your fingers, crush the essential oils to mix thoroughly with the baking soda. Sprinkle onto the carpet and let sit at least an hour. Then vacuum

1 cup Baking soda
Up to 25 drops any essential oil  or blend.
Options:
15 lavender
10 eucalyptus

15 sweet orange
10 lavender

For a flea problem use Borax instead of Baking soda. Don't let pets walk on the carpet until you have vacuumed up the borax.

FRESHENING AIR SPRAY

16 oz. spray bottle
Fill with water and add about 25 drops of any combination of preferred essential oils.
Spray around the room. Be aware when spray could land onto wood furniture for possible staining.
Good essential oils to use are:
Any in the citrus family such as lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, sweet orange, bergamot or lime.
Around the holidays use frankincense, sweet orange, cinnamon and/or cloves
For disinfecting use tea tree oil,  lavender, rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus, pine or thyme

If you want air sprays ready to go, check out the benefits of aromatherapy! Click on the link below the pictures to get more information of the use of essential oils for help in disinfecting the air and surfaces.

Lemon & Eucalyptus Air & Surface Spray

Evergreen Clean Air & Surface Spray

Germ Fighting Air & Surface Spray

HAPPY CLEANING! ENJOY BEING CLEAN AND GREEN!!

Did you know you can carry the many uses of baking soda, vinegar, and even salt into your beauty routine?

Super Foods Lemons, Avocado, Ginger, Coconut.....You Know Their Value now Learn How to Use Them

 Earth Diet
Based on the beliefs of Hippocrates, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food."

These four foods are popping up again and again for both nutrition and cosmetic purposes. Many people are aware of their benefits but don't utilize them very often because they just don't know how. We think lemons and we get lemonade, avocados and guacamole comes to mind, ginger is ginger-ale. When we see coconut in our diets it is usually in granola or a candy bar. Using them on a regular basis as part of our diets hasn't really been all that common.
Hopefully, these ideas will encourage you to add these superfoods to your family's diet.

 The following is the original lemonade recipe but we stretch it by using  five lemons which make about one cup juice to 2 cups sugar and 4 quarts or one gallon water.

 

Enough lemons to made 1 cup juice (about five large)

1 cup sugar

2 quarts water

The amount of water or sugar can be adjusted to your liking

This recipe for an herbal rub is a good way to use those lemon rinds.

From Jenn's Gardening Spot

                                                                                         

1/4 Cup Fresh Rosemary Chopped (dry it out for a couple of days)

2 Tbls. of dried Oregano

2 Tbls. dried Sage

2 Tbls. dried Garlic Flakes

1/4 cup Sea Salt or Kosher Salt

2 Tbls Red Pepper Flakes (add extra Tbls. for a bit of kick or pinch of Cayenne)

4 to 6 Tbls. of Lemon Zest

Mix Herb mixture well. Put all the contents of your mixture into a jar.

This recipe is enough for one batch or small jar shown above. 

This amount can be used for one whole chicken.

Also good on fish .

Did you know that the lemon peels contain 5 to 10 times more vitamins than the juice?

Below is a great tip to using the whole lemon without any waste.

Use organic lemons if possible to avoid ingesting pesticides which may be in the peel.

Place the lemons in the freezer. When you have a need for lemon, get your grater and shred the whole lemon, peel and all. Use these shreds to top your food or drinks. You'll discover a new taste for lemon, as well as increase the nutritional value of your food or drink. Are you aware that lemon peels help to eliminate toxic elements from the body in addition to the boost in Vitamin C?

When we hear avocado we usually think guacamole. Here is a very healthy, meatless pita pocket sandwich, full of antioxidants, B vitamins and protein. 

This recipe came from the May 1998 issue of Vegetarian Times

Brain Power Pita Pockets

Tahini Sauce:

1 cup plain yogurt

2 tbsp. sesame tahini

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

salt to taste

Pita Pockets:

4 large whole wheat pita breads

8 oz. soft tofu, drained and cubed

4 plum tomatoes, diced

1 cup torn spinach leaves

1 cup sprouts (alfalfa, sunflower or mung bean)

1 large ripe avocado, pitted, pealed and cut into pieces

In a small bowl, mix the sauce.

In another bowl, mix tofu, tomatoes and spinach.

Add 1/4 cup of the sauce and mix.

Spoon the mixture into the pocket breads.

Top with sprouts and avocado and drizzle with sauce.

This dip recipe comes from "The Natural Healing Cookbook" by Bessie Jo Tillman, 

Black Bean and Avocado Dip

2 ripe avocados

1 cup cooked black beans

1 cup cooked brown rice or cooked millet

1 - 2 tbsp. minced onion

salt and pepper to taste

Place beans in a bowl. Chop the peeled avocados and with a wooden spoon, mash it into the beans. Mix in the rice or millet, onion and seasoning.

Serve chilled or at room temperature

Ginger is actually a root, the rhizome of the plant Zingiber Officinale.

Ground ginger is used in baking but for stir-fry or Asian cooking the taste of fresh ginger is no comparison to the dried. Being a spice, I figured rather than have a few recipes I just give a few tips on how to use this funky shaped root.

These tips came from The Steamy Kitchen

The best way to store ginger is to place the root in a paper bag and keep in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.

To use as needed, get yourself a microplane grater. Using such a fine grater eliminates the frustration of trying to peel the root and then dealing with stringy pieces of ginger. For a recipe you want it smooth and fine, not in pieces large enough to actually bite into while eating the dish. Any pieces of fiber will cling to the microplane grater. Another option is to peel it first using a spoon. 

The skin will come right off when scraped with a spoon.

If you doubt you'll use the whole root on a regular enough basis or for convenience, you may want to freeze it. The easiest way to do this is to microplane the whole root onto a piece of plastic wrap. Spread it into a nice line and twist up the ends. When you need a piece, just snap off. It defrosts quickly or can be regrated. Just remember that things like minced garlic, ginger or sesame seeds burn very easily, so don't leave unattended while sauteing.

Coconut oil has gone from a no no for our health to a superfood. Go figure.

A great site for information and a source for purchasing good quality coconut oil is:

coconut oil online

If you love to bake or saute with vegetable shortening but would prefer to avoid the hydrogenated fats, then using coconut oil as a substitute would be a healthy decision.

 Coconut oil contains no water, therefore when substituting the measurement for shortening it isn't exactly a 1:1 ratio. Use slightly less coconut oil, about 25% less. So if the recipe calls for one cup of shortening you would use 3/4 cup coconut oil.

To substitute coconut oil for vegetable oil, the ratio would be 1:1 but melt the coconut oil first to get that same measurement. Be sure that the other ingredients, such as milk or eggs, are at room temperature so that they do not cool down the coconut oil enough to make it solidify.

Coconut oil solidifies at temperatures below 76 degrees F. It is much harder to scoop than vegetable shortening, so the easiest way is to take a large metal spoon and scrape across the surface. Those shavings will make it a lot easier to measure in a cup and cream together with perhaps sugar or butter.

Enjoy! 

 

Sniffle Sneeze Tissue Please

Not too long ago the yearly flu shot had been available only to the very young, the elderly and those with high risk conditions.  Now it is encouraged that everyone receive the vaccine in hopes to reduce the chances of getting sick.  Just remember the flu shot doesn't protect from the common cold.  Below are a few 'passed down through the ages' remedies to naturally help the body fight infection and strengthen the immune system. 


Honey & Lemon Syrup/Tea
Lemon slices to fill a pint size mason jar
Grated 1 inch piece of ginger root
Enough honey to fill the jar

This is an Asian remedy to combat a cold, cough, or sore throat. High in vitamin C and an immune system booster. Honey is a natural preservative, therefore this mix can be kept in the refrigerator and used as needed. Add extra lemon slices and top with additional honey as needed. The lemons sort of dissolve into the honey to form a marmalade like mixture. Just add a dollop to a cup and add boiling water, stir to mix. Don't offer honey to children under one year of age.

Knock it Out Cold Remedy
1 eight oz. jar honey
1 inch piece of ginger, bruised
1 lemon, chopped including skin
1 tsp cayenne pepper
5 cloves garlic, sliced

Remove 2 - 3 tbsp honey to make room in the jar and add the rest of the ingredients.
Steep for six to eight weeks.
At the first sign of a cold, take 2 tsp in a cup of hot water.
Drink three times a day. Not for children under one year of age.
Store in a cool, dark place or the refrigerator.

Lemon n' Honey Grog
1 cup water
1 whole clove
pinch of cinnamon
juice of one lemon
honey to taste

Put the water, clove, and cinnamon in a pot.  Bring to a boil and keep boiling for one full minute.  Turn of the heat and allow to steep for twenty minutes.  Strain, reheat it, and add the juice of the lemon and honey to taste.  Drink while hot.

A cough syrup utilizing garlic or onions:
Take 3 - 4 garlic cloves, remove skin and slice them into a cup with a lid. Add enough honey to cover, put the lid on the container, and let it stand for a few hours. Give a spoonful of the finished syrup to coat the throat and help ease a cough. Being a high sugar content don't give too often. Don't give to children under one year of age. Store in a cool, dark place or the refrigerator.

At the first feeling of an earache, try this homemade remedy
Pick the yellow flowers of the mullein roadside weed and add them to a small bottle or jar. Cover with olive oil and steep in a warm place or the sun for two weeks, strain and add fresh flowers for another few weeks. Strain into a glass dropper type bottle (you won't be using this oil that frequently so use a 1 or 2 oz. size bottle). Add a few garlic cloves and store in the refrigerator. I just leave the garlic in the oil. Be sure to refrigerate to avoid botulism. Discard after one year. When needed warm up the oil by putting the bottle in a pan of warm water. Drop 1 - 2 drops in the ear and stopper the ear with a little cotton. Place nothing in the ear canal if your child has ear tubes or has any type of ear drainage. An alternative would be to add a few drops to a cotton piece and then stopper the ear. If you don't have access to the mullein herb, an oil with just the garlic is great as well.

Mineral Mustard Detox Salts for bath or footbath

Peppermint Body or Air Spray

Cold n' Flu Season Elderberry Syrup to boost the immune system 

Lemon & Ginger Raw Honey Syrup

Help to Sleep Linen or Air Spray 

Sinus and Chest Vapor Rub Balm

Cold Sore Fever Blister Lip Balm 

Germ Fighting Air and Surface Spray

Home Remedy Assortment