Natural Headache Remedies

For migraine sufferers: You may find a trick or two in this list that could provide some relief but this is a much more complicated ailment and requires the expertise and direction of your doctor.

If you haven’t looked into feverfew yet, check it out. The idea is to grow a plant indoors and eat a few fresh leaves each day…this is a preventative measure only and not a migraine cure. Be aware that it could conflict with medications so speak to your doctor about it first. Also note that this is not recommended for pregnant women.

For the rest of us, here’s a collection I’ve compiled from my notes and clippings that lists herbs or essential oils you can try for relief from mild or tension headaches.

Teas:

Brew a fresh cup when you feel a headache coming on…

• Lemon balm
• Chamomile
• Ginger
• Peppermint

Compresses (can be hot or cold):

Pour 3 cups boiling water over 1 TBS of herbs, steep for 20 minutes then strain. Soak cloth in mixture, wring out and place on forehead or where it aches.

• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Chamomile & Lavender Infusion: Fill a glass mason jar with 1/2 cup each of fresh or dried chamomile flowers and lavender buds. Cover with boiling water and steep for 25 minutes. Strain then use as compress until cloth is cool.
• Rose Vinegar Splash: Made with white wine vinegar, rose petals and whole cloves. Hot vinegar is poured over petals and cloves and left for 10 days, strained and then liquid used as a compress. See page for details (scroll down to bottom).
• Lemon Balm & Lavender
• Apple cider vinegar (soak cloth, wring out then apply on the forehead)
• Sage: Boil fresh sage leaves for 5 minutes, strain then apply as a compress.

Baths:

You can make your own bath salts with essential oils and dried herbs, keep them sealed in a glass jar until needed.

• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Ginger foot bath (1 tsp ginger per gallon of hot water). Apply a cool cloth on back of neck while your feet are soaking.

Temple Dabbers:

• Lavender water
• Cinnamon & water paste (apply twice daily)
• Apple cider vinegar
• Make a paste of ground ginger and water then apply to temples (from 23 Home Remedies From The Spice Rack)

Microwaveable Heat Bags (Or Chill):

See this page for how to make them (simple cloth bags filled with uncooked rice, wheat, etc.) and add dried herbs such as lavender, marjoram, rose petals, cloves and rosemary. These can be zapped in the microwave to heat or keep them in the freezer so they’re chilled and ready to use as needed.

Aromatherapy:

Apply about 4 drops of one of the essential oils below to a cloth or cotton ball, put it underneath your nose then breathe in deeply…

• Rosemary
• Basil
• Peppermint
• Sweet marjoram
• Lavender

Sniffing/Aromatherapy Sachets or Jars

*First published March 4, 2008 and moved to this page for better organization

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dried lavender
1/4 cup cloves

Pouch: Made from fabric such as muslin, cotton

Directions:

• Mix the lavender and cloves together then fill a fabric sachet or small drawstring pouch.
• When you feel a headache coming on, open the pouch and breathe in the fragrance to help soothe away the pain (breathe in around 5 or 6 times). Press the sachet to your forehead and temples. Repeat 30 minutes later if headache hasn’t disappeared.
• Keep the pouch sealed in a ziploc bag or airtight container and away from heat or light to preserve aroma strength and freshness.

Tip: You could also choose to skip the fabric pouch and store the lavender and cloves in a small jar with a tight seal. Shake the jar then open it and sniff deeply a few times.

You could also try a lavender and cloves herbal steam, massage your temples during the steaming.

Always choose organically grown lavender (chemical free) when using as a health aide, you should have no problem find this in a bulk health food store.

*Note: These are simply notes I have collected, they are not professional medical advice.

courtesy of TipNut

How To Make Oil Of Oregano

courtesy of LiveStrong

Oil of oregano is a beneficial oil used for cooking and massage. Oil of oregano is beneficial for sinus and respiratory infections, according to Valerie Ann Worwood, author of "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy." You can produce essential oil of oregano, using a complex distillation process, but that requires a lot of special, and expensive, equipment. You can also make infused oil of oregano using a light carrier oil and fresh oregano. The infusion method does not produce essential oil of oregano but it does produce an effective oil that you can use for cooking, massage and other purposes.

Step 1

Sterilize an 8-oz glass jar with metal lid---immerse both in boiling water for 10 minutes. Set both the jar and lid, face down, on a kitchen towel to dry.

Step 2

Pour 1 cup of grape seed oil into a microwave-safe measuring cup and warm the oil in the microwave in one-minute increments. The oil should be slightly warmer than body temperature, but not boiling.

Step 3

Add 1 cup of fresh oregano into a 1-qt. zip-closure freezer baggie---do not seal the bag. Shake the oregano leaves to the bottom of the bag and roll the bag into a cylinder.

Step 4

Wrap a second kitchen towel around the bag and pound on the rolled towel with a meat mallet. The meat mallet will crush the leaves, to express the natural oils, while the towel protects the plastic bag.

Step 5

Pour the warm oil into the bag, with the oregano. Seal the baggie and squeeze the oil and oregano mixture for one minute.

Step 6

Pour the oil and oregano mixture into the sterilized jar and store the jar in a cool, dry place for two weeks. At the end of two weeks, strain the oil into a new, sterilized jar.

Tips and Warnings

• For stronger oil, repeat Steps 1 through 5 using the infused oil and fresh oregano. Double the batch by using 2 cups of oregano to 2 cups oil. If you do not want to use plastic, you can crush the leaves in a ceramic mortar and pestle or crush them on a cutting board.
• 
  
• Do not use dried oregano as there may not be enough oil in the leaves to infuse properly. Do not overheat the oil. The oil needs to be hot enough to express the natural oils in the oregano but cool enough that you can pour it into the plastic bag and manipulate it with your hands.

Things You'll Need

• 8-oz glass jars with metal lids
• Kitchen towels
• 1 cup grape seed oil
• Microwave-safe measuring cup
• 1 cup fresh oregano
• 1-qt. zip-closure freezer baggie
• Meat mallet

References

• The Complete Book of Essential Oils; Valerie Ann Worwood; 1991
• The Herbal Home Spa; Greta Breedlove; 1998

Unlock the Benefits of Cayenne Pepper in Your Spice Rack

The benefits of cayenne pepper might actually be of greater value to your health as a staple in your medicine cabinet rather than in your spice rack.

The cayenne pepper, or Capiscum annum, derives its proper name from a Greek word meaning “to bite,” a clear allusion to the pungent properties of the plant and its seeds. However, it’s the many medicinal benefits of cayenne pepper that earned it the nickname “The King of Herbs”.

Many people think of this spicy little beauty as just a delicious way to boost the flavor of their cooking, but the health benefits of cayenne pepper is a valuable medical tool with a wide range of uses.

According to a combination of herbal lore and medical research, cayenne pepper benefits may:

• Ease congestion
• Aid in weight reduction
• Prevent tooth decay
• Support digestion
• Heal ulcers
• Stop hemorrhaging
• Relieve infection
• Cure arthritis
• Numb pain
• Clean the blood
• Regulate blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol
• Nourish the heart

Part of the logic behind the many herbal applications of capsicum is that it is a catalyst, and can be used to enhance the effects of other treatments. Little is known about the pharmacological activities of capsicum in humans, but it is abundantly clear that capsicum is a stimulant. In fact, it has been called “the purest and most certain stimulant in the herbal materia medica.”

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 23 ed., 1943, states that “Capsicum is a powerful local stimulant, producing, when swallowed, a sense of heat in the stomach, and a general glow over the body without narcotic effect.”

Chili peppers have long reigned over the canon of folk medicine. Archeological remains show that capsicum was a dietary staple in Mexico 9,000 years ago. In Indonesia, capsicum is used as a traditional remedy for gonorrhea. In central Africa, it’s used as a calming, stress-relieving tonic. In Hawaii, it’s used for backaches, rheumatism, and swollen feet.

Read more: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/benefits-of-cayenne-pepper-for-your-health#ixzz2614UNmZ8

DIY Lunchbox Ice Packs

courtesy of Homemade Mamas

What You Need:

• Plain sponges
• Zipper top sandwich bags
• Water

Simply saturate your sponges in water...

...then place inside a sandwich bag. Then lay it flat in your freezer until frozen.

Pop it in a lunchbox and your ready for a cool lunch!  The nifty thing about this is that when the sponge thaws the sponge will reabsorb the water! The sandwich bag will protect everything else from the moisture.  After school throw it back in the freezer and it will be ready for next time! 

10 Easy Ways to Unclog Drains

courtesy of Wisebread

We all know the warning signs. The sink takes a little longer to drain. You begin to notice water pooling around your feet in the shower. And the odors. The strange, unpleasant odors. They're all signs that you may soon be facing a clogged drain. And then one day, boom. Your drain is blocked completely. It's something you need to deal with quickly, or face the wrath of a burst pipe or a useless bathroom.

So you remove the excess hair and gunk that has built up at the surface of the drain. And nothing happens. You try some liquid plumber. No good. Then, the plunger. But what happens when it doesn't come to the rescue? Here are 10 ways to deal with the blockages before resorting to that expensive emergency plumber.

1. The Bent Wire Hanger

Simple enough, but surprisingly effective. Take a regular wire coat hanger and straighten it out as best you can. Then, bend one end over to create a small hook. Push that past the drain cover and start fishing. You should be able to get all sorts of hair and nasty stuff out of the drain. Remember, you always want to be pulling gunk out, not pushing it further. When you've got as much out as you can, run the hot water, and it should clear things up nicely.

2. Baking Soda and Vinegar

Mix 1/3rd of a cup of baking soda with 1/3rd of a cup of vinegar in a measuring cup. It will fizz immediately, and you should waste no time pouring it down the clogged drain. The fizzing action will help to remove the gunk, hair, and grime that has built up in the pipe. Let it sit for one hour or even overnight if you can. Flush with hot water. Alternatively, get as much of the dry baking soda as you can down the drain first, then pour on the vinegar.

3. The Wet & Dry Vacuum

If you have a wet & dry shop vacuum, it can become a terrific tool to unclog drains. First, set it to vacuum liquids. Cover up the vent to prevent a mess. Then, create the tightest seal you can over the drain. You may want to get creative and adapt an old plunger head for this purpose. With the vacuum turned on its highest setting, it can be powerful enough to draw the clog up the pipe and into the vacuum bag. It doesn't always work, but it's worth a shot.

4. Boiling Water

Tips don't get any easier than this. Put the kettle on (or use the stove or microwave if you don't own a kettle) and boil up as much water as it will hold. Now pour it slowly down the drain in two to three stages, allowing the hot water to work for a several seconds in between each pour. This is usually the easiest and quickest way to unclog a drain. If there's any water left, congratulate yourself with a cup of tea.

5. Caustic Soda

Get some rubber gloves and eye protection. Caustic soda (also known as Sodium Hydroxide) can cause nasty chemical burns. You can pick some up from your local hardware store, but always use caution handling it. Pour 3/4 gallon of cold water into a mop bucket, and then add 3 cups of caustic soda. Stir it well with an old wooden spoon. It will begin to fizz and heat up. Pour it into the clogged drain and leave for 20-30 minutes, then flush the drain with boiling water. Repeat if necessary.

6. Cleaning the Pipe

There are some plumbing jobs that I won't do, but this one is easy. First, place an empty bucket underneath the U-shaped pipe (the trap) beneath the sink. The bucket will collect the water that will spill. Using a plumber's wrench, loosen the slip nuts at both ends of the pipe. You should be able to finish the operation by hand. When the trap is free, remove it and turn it upside down, emptying the contents into the bucket. You may also need to fish around inside it for debris, and do the same with the pipes that were holding it. An old toothbrush is good for getting the tough gunk out. Rinse the trap with water and then put it all back together. In most cases, that will have done the trick.

7. The Drain Snake

This is a fairly low-tech piece of equipment that works wonders. It's basically a long flexible metal rope with a spiral of metal at the end.

8. Salt and Baking Soda

Mix 1/2 cup of table salt with 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour down the blocked drain. Leave it for 10-20 minutes, then pour boiling water down. The salt, baking soda, and boiling water will produce a chemical reaction that should dissolve some of the nastiest blockages.

9. Dish Detergent

If your toilet is clogged, pour 1/4 cup of dish detergent in the bowl. Then boil some water. The dish soap will act as a lubricant and help break up any greasy residue. Then pour the hot water down, and get ready to start plunging. If the plunger doesn't cut it, rubber gloves may be the next option.

10. Baking Soda, Vinegar, Gravity, and Pressure

If your bath drain is clogged, mix up some of the baking soda/vinegar mentioned in tip two. Pour it down the drain, and then place the stopper over it. After 45-60 minutes, fill the bathtub with water. Then, remove the stopper. The pressure of 40-60 gallons of water should be enough to dislodge the blockage that has been loosened by the baking soda and vinegar. You could also try some plunging or the drain snake in conjunction with the weight of the water.

Those are 10 quick and easy tips that should help you deal with the most stubborn blockages.

9 Uses for Aluminum Foil

courtesy of This Old House


1. Get rid of rust
Crumple a piece of foil, and use it to rub rust spots off car bumpers and shower-curtain rods.


2. Make a funnel
Curl a section of foil into a cone shape, secure it with tape, and start pouring.


3. Fix a loose connection
Fold a 1-square-inch piece of foil several times and insert it between a battery and a loose spring to hold it in place and complete the circuit.




4. Glue down loose vinyl tilePlace a sheet of foil over a loose self-stick vinyl tile, and press a hot iron over the foil until the adhesive backing melts and sticks to the subfloor.

5. Sharpen scissorsFold a sheet of foil several times and cut through it with a pair of dull scissors to sharpen the blades.

6. Radiate heat
Wrap a piece of plywood in foil and tuck it behind a radiator to reflect heat into the room.


7. Guard against drips.
Wrap door handles, knobs, and drawer pulls with foil for quick paint-job protection.


8. Decrust your grill
Ball up a square of foil, and use it to scrub off black bits.


9. Save your steel wool
Set your scrubber on a piece of foil to keep rust away.

Tinctures, Elixirs, and Cordials

Courtesy of Swamp Pixie Herbal


http://www.swamppixieherbal.com/2011/10/lets-talk-about-tinctures-elixirs-and.html