Herbal Household Remedies

Via: NaturalNews

By Jo Hartley
Wife, Mother of 8, and Grandmother of 2

With the current call for a ban of all cough medicines for children age 6 and under by an expert panel of the FDA, it’s helpful to understand why these cough medicines are being reevaluated and to explore alternative remedies.

The cough medicines are being recalled because they don’t work well and the incidences of drug overdose for the children who use them are too high.

The good news is that there are effective alternatives. One of the best home remedies for a variety of issues is honey. Honey has been shown to be a safe natural remedy.

Researchers at Penn State University conducted a study on honey’s effectiveness for treating coughs in children. Children with cough symptoms were divided into three groups. One group was given nothing, the second group was given a cough suppressant containing dextromethorphan DM, and the third group was given a spoonful of honey before bed. Honey was found to be significantly better for quieting coughs, compared to the DM or no treatment groups.

Honey is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-microbial compounds that are very beneficial for healing. Honey also soothes the throat by coating the area that is irritated. Honey has the added benefit of tasting good!

Dosage: Children ages 2 to 5 can have a half teaspoon; ages 6 to 12 can have a teaspoon; and ages 12 and over can have two teaspoons. It may be helpful to follow the honey with warm decaffeinated tea.
Honey also contains strong natural antiseptics that can be both eaten and used topically on wounds. Many countries recognize the healing properties of honey, including England, France, Japan, Austria and New Zealand. Their practice is to keep honey available as one of the best home remedies.

You can spread it on scraped knees and administer it whenever a sore throat is felt to be coming on. It’s used to control ulcers by preventing the buildup of H-pylori in the stomach. It’s used for acid reflux as an effective remedy. It’s even been touted for its ability to heal leg ulcers in patients with diabetes.

New research is also revealing the unusual antibacterial activity unique to honey. This has led to a greater understanding of the capability of honey to kill certain bacteria through different mechanisms.

* Honey has even been effective against many different drug resistant bacteria, including E. coli.

* Honey has been observed attacking E. coli bacteria in ways that render the bacteria defenseless.

* Honey has been able to kill not only the E. coli bacteria, but other types of bacteria as well.

One of the strongest and most effective kinds of honey is manuka honey (made from the manuka flower). This honey has proven itself the most effective cure for acid reflux. Clover honey and other honeys are effective as well, but to a slightly lesser extent. Researchers have even discovered that manuka honey has been shown to prevent and fight some of the super bugs currently invading hospitals.

Not only does honey possess significant antibacterial qualities, it is also effective in promoting healing by directly stimulating cells necessary in immune response for disease fighting and wound healing.

Honey is the one sweetener that offers not only life-giving qualities that are unique, but also a sweetness that is absolutely natural.

Via: nbc.com

From prescription drugs to over the counter, it seems a lot of people take something to help them get to sleep.

Many natural food stores promise they have products that will help you get a good night’s rest without the risk of side effects or dependency.

Jennifer Simpson-Green has been using natural sleep aids for more than five years.

She’s a nutritionist and massage therapist at New Life Natural Foods on Washington Road in Augusta.

“I tried everything from melatonin and then I started adding chamomile and passion flower for sedation,” said Green.

Melatonin is a natural chemical our body uses to help us sleep better.

Green said you can use it alone, but she uses Sleep Assure… a natural combination of valerian root, chamomile, passion flower and melatonin.

“Within 15-20 minutes after I take it, you start to feel like you just got done working out and you’re kind of tired and then after that, you realize your mind isn’t racing quite so much,” said Green.

Green said you don’t get that groggy feeling or hangover effect that some sleep aids cause.

She said they can also take a toll on your body.

“A lot of medication has a synthetic base to it and that gets trapped in your lymph system and if your lymph system can’t process naturally then you have a side effect from that,” said Green.

The Lymphatic System helps with removing fluid from the body, circulation and helps with your immune system.

Green said since natural remedies are usually made up of chemicals already in our body, they’re easier to digest.

Doctors say if you’ve been on a sleep medication for a long period of time, you should check with them before going off of it. And you should always consult with your physician to see what works best for you.

Via: informativepost.com

By: Willow Sidhe

Drying herbs from your garden or herbs that you have gathered from the wild is extremely easy and will help preserve vital properties and nutrients. Herbs should be dried as soon as they are picked to prevent loss of beneficial properties.

When gathering herbs to dry, it’s best to pick them early in the morning but after the dew has dissipated. Do not gather herbs to dry after the sun has become too hot. The optimal time for gathering is around 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Make sure the herbs have not been sprayed with pesticides or poisons of any kind. This will diminish the healing properties of the herbs. Also, check to be sure the herbs are free of disease or insect infestation.

If the herbs are dirty, it’s best to brush them with a soft bristled brush to remove excess dirt. However, if a brush won’t do the job, you can rinse them quickly in cool water and immediately pat dry with a clean cloth.

To dry herbs by hanging them, gather about five to ten stems of one herb and bundle them together. Secure the ends together with a piece of twine, string or a rubber band. Do not dry more than one type of herb in the same bundle. Hang the bundles upside down in a well-ventilated area. Do not expose them to direct or bright light or too much heat. The temperature should be kept somewhere between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal drying conditions. Leave at least one foot of space between each hanging bundle to promote good circulation of air and enhance the drying process. If you are not completely certain you’ll know which herb is which after drying, you might want to label the bundles to avoid confusion.

The amount of time needed to dry each herb depends on the herb. Some take longer than others. It may take as little as three days or as much as three weeks. You’ll know the herb is sufficiently dry when the leaves or petals are brittle but not so brittle that they shatter upon touching. Avoid over-drying herbs as this can lessen the healing properties of the herb.

Although drying herbs by the hanging method is recommended, if you are short on space you can also dry them on screens. Remove the leaves and/or petals from the stem of the herb and spread them out in a single layer over a screen. Make sure you leave enough room between the pieces to allow for circulation of air. Do not dry more than one type of herb on a screen. If using this method, you’ll need a separate screen for each type of herb or use something as a barrier between different types.

Again, the time required to dry herbs on screens will vary. Check to see if they are brittle before storing the herbs. And, avoid over-drying. Once your herbs are sufficiently dry, store them in lidded glass containers in a cool dry place. Shelf life will vary depending on the herb but dried herbs generally last between six months to one year.