Sorry for my prolonged absence...I had kind of a full plate for the end of April, start of May...
1) My divorce to my ex was finally FINALIZED (*throws confetti*)
2) My darlin' man got deployed to Iraq
3) I got a job at the local Dollar store (not gonna say which one)
4) Swine flu concerns kept me busy sanitizing the house regularly.
5) Food preps were getting a bit scanty, so I had to *bulk up* my pantry.
6) Gardening...yup...and lots of it!
7) My darlin' man gave me the gift of a new rifle and I HAD to try it out!
You might notice I have added a flash bar of my zazzle store to my blog. Yes, I make a wee bit of money there , not much, but it goes directly into my paypal account so I can shop for necessities online!
If you see something you like, buy it! If not...that's okay, too.
Will get back to my discourse on herbal medicine soon.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
I have read with great interest about the Swine Flu (H1N1) now hitting Mexico, NYC, Latin America and the Southwest US.
I am in one of the states affected. Texas.
I have already started Emergency Procedures here at the house:
I bought several vials of Lavender Oil at the local health food store, also a large bag of lavender flowers to make my own lavender oil. The blossoms are currently in a jar (old pickle jar, scaled out and clean) covered with almond oil, tightly capped and inverted out in the sunshine on the picnic table. I will do this for a week so all the essence of the lavender flowers gets into the oil. (Almond oil is an excellent carrier oil) I will keep that oil in reserve as I make it extremely strong.
The purchased lavender oil I use in a disinfecting spray. All bed linens, furniture, even the air is sprayed daily. Frequently, I walk through the house spraying the air. I spray down the bathroom, the door knobs, any surface that is frequently touched or handled.
Am I being paranoid?
Maybe a touch...but even the CDC has stated that this version of the Swine Flu could be the *pandemic* variety they have been dreading.
I also have broken out the face masks and latex gloves from my first aid kit...just in case.
I have 3 gallons of bleach, and Lysol as cleansing agents. All floors will be mopped with bleach in hot water (1 cup bleach to 3 gallons water). Before bed, all bathrooms will be wiped down with Lysol.
I urge anyone that reads this to get sickroom type supplies, plus cleansing/disinfecting agents.
My disinfecting Spray Recipe:
One cup rubbing alcohol
One cup water (I use distilled)
1 to 2 ounces Lavender Oil
I do hope that this is NOT the pandemic that the CDC and the World Health Org. is dreading, but I am being careful.
Put all in misting type bottle (I use an old Febreeze bottle)
Shake well before using.
I am in one of the states affected. Texas.
I have already started Emergency Procedures here at the house:
I bought several vials of Lavender Oil at the local health food store, also a large bag of lavender flowers to make my own lavender oil. The blossoms are currently in a jar (old pickle jar, scaled out and clean) covered with almond oil, tightly capped and inverted out in the sunshine on the picnic table. I will do this for a week so all the essence of the lavender flowers gets into the oil. (Almond oil is an excellent carrier oil) I will keep that oil in reserve as I make it extremely strong.
The purchased lavender oil I use in a disinfecting spray. All bed linens, furniture, even the air is sprayed daily. Frequently, I walk through the house spraying the air. I spray down the bathroom, the door knobs, any surface that is frequently touched or handled.
Am I being paranoid?
Maybe a touch...but even the CDC has stated that this version of the Swine Flu could be the *pandemic* variety they have been dreading.
I also have broken out the face masks and latex gloves from my first aid kit...just in case.
I have 3 gallons of bleach, and Lysol as cleansing agents. All floors will be mopped with bleach in hot water (1 cup bleach to 3 gallons water). Before bed, all bathrooms will be wiped down with Lysol.
I urge anyone that reads this to get sickroom type supplies, plus cleansing/disinfecting agents.
My disinfecting Spray Recipe:
One cup rubbing alcohol
One cup water (I use distilled)
1 to 2 ounces Lavender Oil
I do hope that this is NOT the pandemic that the CDC and the World Health Org. is dreading, but I am being careful.
Put all in misting type bottle (I use an old Febreeze bottle)
Shake well before using.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
If I only had more thyme...
Definition of Herbalism
Herbalism: The practice of making or prescribing herbal remedies for medical conditions. Practitioners of herbalism may be licensed MDs, naturopaths, or osteopaths. They may also be unlicensed. Interested consumers should seek out knowledgeable, and preferably licensed, herbalists. ( http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11465 )
HERBAL MEDICINE
- Main Entry:
- herbal medicine
- Function:
- noun
- Date:
- 1848
1 : the art or practice of using herbs and herbal preparations to maintain health and to prevent, alleviate, or cure disease 2 : a plant or plant part or an extract or mixture of these used in herbal medicine. ( http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbal+medicine )
I put the definitions as the first part of this entry so there would be no mistakes in understanding what we are talking about here.
Some folks associate herbalism and herbal medicine with old crones with crooked noses and peaked hats stirring love potions up in cauldron for love lorn maidens.
Some pair the thought of herbal medicine with an image of an African witchdoctor or Amazon tribe shaman.
While most tribal communities use herbs in the prevention, care, treatment and cure of many medical ills, we should not distance ourselves from such a wonderful resource!
Here's one that is familiar to most of us:
Garlic.
Now, most have heard that garlic can lower blood pressure or prevent or lessen colds.
Did you know garlic is also an effective anti-fungal?
Garlic, smashed up fine and creamed into a simple ointment can be used to treat athletes foot and ringworm.
It has many more uses, but that is just one example.
Everyone should try and get knowledge of the herbs that grow in their local area.
I am a firm believer in everything having a purpose and those *weeds* in your yard have purpose, too!
Those dandelions that are so hard to eradicate? Natural diuretic. Cleanses the system (especially the liver) of toxins. And, quite tasty in a salad.
Most of what you call *herbs* used to be known as *weeds*. Then one day, someone decided to taste one, or someone having an illness tried one out of desperation.....it all followed from there.
Some herbs grow close to where they are needed most. Ever get tangled up in stinging nettles? Those will leave some nasty painful welts! But, if you look around a nettle plant, you will usually find some plantain growing. Crush the leaves and apply the plant juices to where the nettle got you and all is better. (That's a plantain pic at the start of this particular blog)
One lady I know that is very well versed in all things herbal firmly believe that herbs grow where they are most needed. Whenever she spots a new herb growing in her households vicinity, she does a quick *health check* on everyone there. She says that 99 times out of 100, before the plant reaches maturity, someone in her household comes down with something that can be effectively treated with that particular herb.
Kings in France and England used to order convents and monasteries to have herb gardens with certain herbs planted "for the general well-being" of the King and the populace.
If you have a homestead or even just a yard, a herb garden is one of the first things you should plant. Your "green medicine chest" can prove itself invaluable in times of illness...and usually without the nasty side effects that come with doctor prescribed medications.
My next blog will be about the basics of what to plant in your herb garden...
Til then, look around on your next walk and see what grows near your house. If you can't identify it, search the internet for it. See how many uses it has...in cooking, medicine, aromatherapy, etc..
I put the definitions as the first part of this entry so there would be no mistakes in understanding what we are talking about here.
Some folks associate herbalism and herbal medicine with old crones with crooked noses and peaked hats stirring love potions up in cauldron for love lorn maidens.
Some pair the thought of herbal medicine with an image of an African witchdoctor or Amazon tribe shaman.
While most tribal communities use herbs in the prevention, care, treatment and cure of many medical ills, we should not distance ourselves from such a wonderful resource!
Here's one that is familiar to most of us:
Garlic.
Now, most have heard that garlic can lower blood pressure or prevent or lessen colds.
Did you know garlic is also an effective anti-fungal?
Garlic, smashed up fine and creamed into a simple ointment can be used to treat athletes foot and ringworm.
It has many more uses, but that is just one example.
Everyone should try and get knowledge of the herbs that grow in their local area.
I am a firm believer in everything having a purpose and those *weeds* in your yard have purpose, too!
Those dandelions that are so hard to eradicate? Natural diuretic. Cleanses the system (especially the liver) of toxins. And, quite tasty in a salad.
Most of what you call *herbs* used to be known as *weeds*. Then one day, someone decided to taste one, or someone having an illness tried one out of desperation.....it all followed from there.
Some herbs grow close to where they are needed most. Ever get tangled up in stinging nettles? Those will leave some nasty painful welts! But, if you look around a nettle plant, you will usually find some plantain growing. Crush the leaves and apply the plant juices to where the nettle got you and all is better. (That's a plantain pic at the start of this particular blog)
One lady I know that is very well versed in all things herbal firmly believe that herbs grow where they are most needed. Whenever she spots a new herb growing in her households vicinity, she does a quick *health check* on everyone there. She says that 99 times out of 100, before the plant reaches maturity, someone in her household comes down with something that can be effectively treated with that particular herb.
Kings in France and England used to order convents and monasteries to have herb gardens with certain herbs planted "for the general well-being" of the King and the populace.
If you have a homestead or even just a yard, a herb garden is one of the first things you should plant. Your "green medicine chest" can prove itself invaluable in times of illness...and usually without the nasty side effects that come with doctor prescribed medications.
My next blog will be about the basics of what to plant in your herb garden...
Til then, look around on your next walk and see what grows near your house. If you can't identify it, search the internet for it. See how many uses it has...in cooking, medicine, aromatherapy, etc..
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