dandelion (both root and leaves, dried)

• If your child, or grandchild, comes down with one of the typical childhood diseases, like mumps, measles or chickenpox, or any type of upper respiratory infection (from pneumonia to chronic bronchitis), dandelion tea will help break the fever and clear up lung congestion.
  Bring 1 quart of water to a boil.  Cut 2.5 tbsps dried dandelion root. Reduce heat and add the cut root, cover and let simmer for about 12 minutes.  Cut 1 tsp dried dandelion leaves.  Remove tea from heat and add the cut leaves.  Let steep for 30 minutes.  Strain.  Sweeten the tea with 1 tsp of either blackstrap molasses or pure maple syrup per cup.  Give to a child to drink lukewarm every 5 hours or so until the fever breaks and the lung congestions clears up.

apple, berries

• Apples actually have properties that resemble those of penicillin.  Fresh apple juice or fresh apple sauce can successfully fight infections such as stomach flu, and polio viruses.
• Apples also help prevent cavities in your teeth: Eat a thin apple slice or two after every meal, or snack, and it will reduce the danger of cavities substantially.
• Strawberry extract, raspberries, blueberries and wild cranberries all have antiviral properties and can fight intestinal viruses, including the herpes simplex virus, and the polio virus.  Generally speaking, berries have a cleansing effect on the blood.

Sometimes, location matters.  if you have to live in the city, consider what this article has to say about 10 US cities:
Via: Allergy Asthma Blog

- Be Where It’s Safer For Your Asthma Or Allergy Attacks:

Are you the type of person who dreads the arrival of spring season because you are allergic to pollens? When you were a kid or now as an adult, do you usually suffer from asthma or allergic attacks?

If you belong to any of these two categories, then it is a must for you to know that there are states or cities in the country which are more allergy-prone than others.

Every year, the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA) publishes a list of the areas in the country which have the greatest risk for allergy prone individuals, as well as those who frequently suffer from asthma attacks.

Their basis is whether a city or state has a longer pollinating season; the level of traffic and factory smog; the possibility of mold growth in the air; the spore levels and the number of Board Certified Allergists per patient in the area.

Full Story

Via: TriCities

Q: I planted a small herb garden this year, and it is growing beautifully. Now that it’s growing, though, I don’t exactly know what to do. When do you harvest the herbs and how do you prepare them (cut, dice, chop, etc.) for eating? Actually, anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated. Now I wonder why I even bothered to plant them!
– Linda,
Blountville, Tenn.

A: First of all, don’t regret planting the herb garden. If nothing else, the smells that some herbs give off are great, the colors are good and some even keeps bugs away.
But, foremost, you can do so much with the herbs in the kitchen. Remember, if you have a recipe that uses dry herbs, you have to use about twice as much fresh herbs.
This is because dry herbs are more concentrated due to being dried out. Fresh herbs can be dried or frozen and used later.

SOME TIPS ON GROWING HERBS
Don’t let space stop you from starting your own garden. Small crops like lettuces, strawberries, herbs and tomatoes grow very well in containers on your deck, patio, windowsill or even a fire-escape.
Talk to other gardeners in your area before getting started. Since you share similar sun and soil conditions, oftentimes what works for them is likely to work for you.
Herbs are great for beginners. Start with hearty herbs like rosemary, mint and thyme that can survive indoors or out year-round. More delicate herbs like basil prefer the great outdoors and lots of sunshine.
Plant prolific herbs like mint in containers to keep them from taking over your garden. This is a very important tip. Make sure if your container has holes in the bottom, you don’t put the pot directly on the ground. The roots will grown out the holes and still take over your garden.
Most herbs love sunlight, so whether you plant indoors or out, in a container or in the ground, make sure they get plenty of sun and water.

STORING FRESH HERBS
Almost all herbs can be saved, either by drying or freezing. It’s best to dry woody-stemmed and thick-leaved herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano or even mint. Hang them upside-down in bunches somewhere cool and dry, then strip off the leaves and keep them in an airtight jar.
Soft-leaved herbs like basil and parsley are best frozen: freeze leaves, with a little water, in ice-cube trays. Thaw them out in a colander before using.

Full Story

cardamom, cinnamon

• To relive indigestion, heartburn and even cramps in a tasty way, sprinkle a little cinnamon and cardamom on hot buttered raisin toast, chew thoroughly on every single bite, and only then swallow.

Via: ezinearticles.com

Apples can neutralize stomach acid.

According to some experts, Granny Smith and Braeburn apples are great acid neutralizers and those who prefer natural remedies might want to give them a try. Apples contain malic and tartaric acids which naturally neutralize stomach acids. This reduces stomach pressure, which lessens the likelihood of heartburn. History notes that people have used the natural antacids of apples for many years to relieve discomforts brought about by heartburn. Since apples are natural you can eat as many apples as you’d like without getting any adverse effects.

Apple cider vinegar is another good remedy.

Vinegar is also another popular homemade remedy for heartburn, especially the apple cider vinegar. You can take a couple of teaspoonfuls of this vinegar in a cup of water or in applesauce to experience an immediate healing effect. Vinegar adds to the bulk of the acid in the digestive system and aids in the digestion process.

Full Story

Via: Charlotte Alternative Medicine Examiner

If you spend a little too much time in the sun without properly shielding your delicate skin, there are a variety of all natural remedies to help heal and soothe the damaged areas.

* A compress dipped in a homemade cooling mix will help calm the sting. Try a mixture of 1 part skim milk or 1 part baking soda with 4 parts cold water.

* Make a mixture of equal parts cornstarch and water and apply directly to the skin.

* Use raw vegetable slices to cool and soothe. Apply thin slices of cold cucumbers, potatoes or apples to the affected area.

* Boil lettuce in water. Strain and refrigerate the water for several hours. Later, use cotton balls to blot the cooled water onto the burned skin.

* Apply plain, cold yogurt to the skin and then rinse it off with a cool shower.

* Apply calamine or calendula oil to calm the burning sensation, reduce inflammation and promote skin healing.

* Natural aloe vera has soothing properties that cool on contact and aids in the healing process.

* Comfrey contains allantoin, an active ingredient that stimulates cell regeneration. It is available as a juice and a lotion.

* Green tea bags can be applied to the eyelids to reduce swelling and inflammation associated with overexposure to the sun.

Full Story