Lavender Essential Oil: Antiviral Uses

"On ‘National Pharmacist Day’ you can put your own first aid kit together without the assistance of a professional and still get stellar results. You should always have some lavender essential oil in your personal pharmacy, as it is a wonderful anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent, and it will also strengthen your immune system."

From <http://www.astrology.com/horoscopes/details/2015-01-12/daily-feng-shui??nlcid=zf%7c%7cdh-fengshui%7c>

I received this in an email.  I get daily Feng Shui tips.  Anyway… this particular one prompted me to do some further research.  I'm wondering how to use Lavender Essential Oil for it's anti-viral properties.  I mean it's not enough to just have something on hand in a kit.  You need to know how to use it too.

Lavender oil helps strengthen and boost your immune system, helping you to resist most common viruses.  For this it is best used in an aromatherapy massage, in a bath, diffused in a room, or steam inhaled. (1)

It can ease cold and flu symptoms when applied as a rub, in a bath, in a hot or cold compress, diffused in a room, or steam inhaled. (1)

It can help treat a mild fever when used as a cold compress, a rub, diffused in a room, or steam inhaled.  DO NOT USE MASSAGE WHEN TREATING FEVER! (1)

To use in a bath: Put 3 drops in a small cup of full-fat milk and add to a warm bath. (1)

Aromatherapy massage:  Put 10 drops into a carrier oil. (1)

What carrier oils are good for aromatherapy massage?

Cold pressed plant based oils are better than mineral oils because they are lipid soluble.  Which according to this article means it absorbs into the skin and works well with our systems. (2)

Sweet Almond Oil: DON'T USE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO NUTS!  May stain light clothing and linens.  Shelf life is 12 months. (2)

Grape Seed Oil: nice price.  Shelf life is 6-12 months. (2)

Apricot Kernel Oil: May stain light colored linens and clothing.  Shelf life is 12 months. (2)

Jojoba Oil: Many benefits.  Shelf life is indefinite!  This is probably what I will try.  I hate getting and making something, that expires before I get a chance to really put it to use.  Plus it sounds like I would use it for many other things as well.  (2)

Olive Oil:  Usually on hand, but only used in a pinch because of the smell.  Shelf life is 18 months. (2)

In a diffuser:  burn with a little bit of water in the diffuser. (1)

What is a diffuser?

There are many different types.  I am pretty frugal so I will probably just boil some water, remove from heat, and drop a few drops in it.  (4)

Steam inhalation:  Add 3 drops to a bowl full of hot water.  Hold your head about 30cm above the water, with your eyes shut, with a towel draped over your head like a tent.  Breath in deeply through your nose.  DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA! (1)

Hot compress: Find a piece of cotton cloth (resize if needed).  Mix a pint of water with 2 drops of Lavender oil.  Soak cloth in water/oil mixture.  Carefully heat in the oven. Wring out.  Apply to affected area.  Wrap in plastic wrap and a bandage to secure. (3)

Cold Compress: Find a piece of cotton cloth (resize if needed).  Mix a pint of water with 2 drops of Lavender oil.  Soak cloth in water/oil mixture.  Cool in the freezer. Wring out.  Apply to affected area.  Wrap in plastic wrap and a bandage to secure. (3)

It is ok to apply Lavender Oil directly to the skin. (2)

Another thing that my first resource suggested for rooms in general, is to mix about 7 drops of lavender oil into a cup of water, place in a spray bottle, spray rooms as needed. (1)

Always remember to use common sense and seek medical attention when needed.

I would love to make a natural first aid box, complete with instructions like these on index cards, organized by condition.  This would be something to have on hand in addition to my "tried and tested" regular first aid box.  Until I have proof of natural remedies working, I will keep my Neosporin on hand.  LOL

(1) http://www.your-aromatherapy-guide.com/antiviral-essential-oils-1.html

(2) http://www.motherearthliving.com/natural-health/the-best-carrier-oils-for-aromatherapy.aspx

(3) http://www.stepbystep.com/how-to-make-an-aromatherapy-compress-104515/

(4) http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/diffu.asp

Green Bean Uses

As I stated in the introduction on page/tab plants, I am writing first about the plants I already have seed for.  Being grateful for what I have.  First on my list is Green Beans.  I hope to provide you with many uses of this plant so that you can better plan how much of it you want to plant.  Every one has done a post on how to grow plants so I really just want to talk about the uses of the plant it it's self.   You can look on just about any seed provider's website for planting instructions but many of them don't provide any clue as to how MUCH to plant. I hope that by knowing all the uses that are relevant to you, you can better know how much to obtain and plant and then by looking at the planting directions you will know how much space you need.

Uses:

For the land:

Tilling in the unused part of the plant will add some nitrogen back into your soil.  This reduces the need and dependency on fertilizers.  I am pro natural fertilization.  Which if you make the most use of the nutrients already in your garden by tilling them under allowing them to reabsorb naturally, it saves you much more money than if you were to purchase expensive natural or organic fertilizers.  Even most manure's take the cost of time and treatment (bunny poo being the exception).  I want you to feel empowered and know that you have abundance.

If you have an old chain link fence that is looking kind of poor you can always give it a fresher look in the summer by planting pole style green beans along it.  They flower prior to making the beans so I would imagine it would be a very pretty decoration for an old fence.  Not to mention the fence would give the pole beans the support they need.  You could weave them in and out of it as you wish, or you can just let them naturally climb as they wish.

For Kids:

To get your kids involved in the garden you can always relate the green beans to the Jack and the Bean Stalk story.  This will get your kids and possibly even you imagining and feeling like the garden is a magical story book kind of place.  This should definitely help when you are struggling with it because it feels like a chore.  Get the kids out there to help you pick "magical" beans.  LOL

For pets:

Many varieties of green or string beans can be given to dogs.  You can use the whole pod or cut it up into small pieces.  Giving green beans to dogs may help lower their blood cholesterol and glucose levels, resulting in better over all heart health.   This is because green beans are high in fiber, folic acid, vitamin B6 giving them an antioxidant effect. Messonnier recommends that if your dog is fed processed natural dog food that organics only make up 20-25% of it's diet.  If you give your dog a natural home made diet organics make up 40-50% of it's diets.  You can try it with other animals but the author only recommended dogs and says cats are a bit more finicky about vegies.

Bunnies love green beans!

For the body:

Eating:

The recommended serving size is 1 cup and only has 44 calories (for those of you who may be on a diet).  They are packed full of vitamins.:

Remedy:

Antioxidant (Vitamin C)

Anti-inflammatory

Cancer reducing (Lutein, zeaxanthin, Neoxanthin, Violaxanthin)

Because the content of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C can lessen from preparation, storage, and cooking it is best to eat green beans fresh picked and raw.  If you must cook them the method that causes the least nutrition loss is steaming.

To read more on the health benefits of these vitamins and others I recommend the following resources in which I used for this article:

http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/diet-and-nutrition/lutein

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=59#toxicitysymptoms

http://www.beyondveg.com/tu-j-l/raw-cooked/raw-cooked-2e.shtml

http://www.health-alternatives.com/vitamins-nutrition-chart.html#vitaminc

Spirituality:

I know many of you are wondering what possible link there is between spirit and the green bean but hey "as above so below" right.  There are galaxies named after the green bean because of their unusual color and appearance.  This has to account for something.  I don't think much research has been done on the topic of green beans connection to the spiritual or supernatural but I thought the galaxy thing was worth noting in this section.

So how much should I plan to plant?  Well the recommended serving size is 1cup.  There are 3 of us.  This won't be the only veggie in my garden though.  So I am going to go with 1 meal per week where green beans would be served so that would be 3cups or 1.5 pints (for canning/freezing purposes) per week times 52 weeks equals 78pints of green beans.  So 78 pints of green beans is the absolute minimum I need for my family.  I have bunnies too though and if I can reduce or eliminate their pellet consumption that would be great.  So I am going to double the amount allowing room for any number of issues plus feeding the bunnies now 156.  I read a forum on idigmygarden.com that said you can expect about 1/2 lb of beans per plant if you keep picking them, they also said it takes approximately 1lb of beans per pint jar.  So 2 plants per pint so for a 1 year supply equals 312 plants I need to plan to plant.  Yea…I definitely do not have enough seed.  See I now know in February instead of May that I need to buy more seed….LOL 

Other resources:

• EN on Foods, Summer's Health Bounty: Green Beans, 8 ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION,August 2012, www. environmentalnutrition. com
• Organic Gardening, Aug/Sep2013, Vol. 60 Issue 5, p30, 1p, Item: 88897618, http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=b839e067-e7f5-4cf5-82fa-4620d0a42566%40sessionmgr4004&vid=2&hid=4206&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=8gh&AN=88897618
• Messonnier, S. (2013). Plants for Pets. Organic Gardening, 60(5), 30, http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=b839e067-e7f5-4cf5-82fa-4620d0a42566%40sessionmgr4004&vid=2&hid=4206&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=8gh&AN=88897618
• Turn a Patch Into a Storybook Garden. (2013). Old Farmers Almanac for Kids, 588, http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=aad8a078-24fa-4aee-ad37-ecd3e1fce31d%40sessionmgr4004&vid=1&hid=4206&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=prh&AN=89522200

Stay tuned I am working on a couple of paintings of green beans.

Systems of Healing

Anasazi:

Healing methods are based on the month (season's) magnetic pull and vibrational frequency.  For more information on each planet's influence and months of influence please see the following links.

• Mercury (May & August)

 

Shamanism

Shamans are individuals who are religious leaders as well as healers.  They practice healing the body as well as the soul.  All Native American tribes had a Shaman, Medicine Man, or Witch Doctor.  They practice in similar ways although they do not follow a specific set of religious guidelines as defined today.

 

Physical treatments the Shamans used included ointments, herbalism, and using tools such as a hollow bone to suck poison out of the body and sharp flints to cut the skin.  All of these would be very helpful in a natural crisis where someone may have been bitten by something venomous.  One plant we know of that they used as a pain killer was the root of the black cohosh also known as squawroot.

 

This is an ongoing article that will be updated regularly as I come across information.  It doesn't seem like much right now but has the potential to become a huge post.  So stay tuned for updates.

 

#healing #natural #Anasazi #month #season #magnetism #vibration #frequency #planet #influence #physical #mental #ailment #remedy

Natural Living

Earthway is a way of natural living. Minerals, geology, botanicals and many more things work together toward healing.
Having a medicine bundle/bag is good medicine for the owner. I have sort of a medicine bag. In the traditional sense it is usually made of buckskin and contain small packages of healing herbs and special trinkets, crystals, rocks any kind of memento that is special and has a memory or meaning to the holder. It is considered very sacred and not to be shared with anyone. My current bag is just a crown royal bag but I plan to contact someone locally to try and learn how to make one traditionally as well as any rites that may accompany the making of the bag or I will find some directions and attempt it on my own.
In order to live in a more natural and healthy way we need to learn how to attune ourselves to the Earth's vibrations.
This is an ongoing article so stay tuned for future updates.

#natural #living #medicine #Earth #vibrations #Earthway

Chamomile Tea for the Scalp

I am going to go buy some Chamomile tea tomorrow!

 

I was researching how to take care of my itchy scalp and I came across this article:

http://voices.yahoo.com/five-natural-homemade-remedies-itchy-scalp-1907598.html?cat=69

I liked what it said about Chamomile.  It sounded like it would be much easier to use than the other treatments plus I'm sure it smells better than some of them too.  Anyone who has used Apple Cider Vinegar for anything knows what I mean!  I don't want to walk around smelling like stinky feet for 24hrs LOL.  Lets be realistic about this treatment stuff…LOL. 

 

Apparently I just have to make a cup of chamomile tea and after it cools pour it into a spray bottle spray it directly on my scalp and rub it in.  Concentrating it in the itchiest spots.  It also helps with any sores you may have caused from scratching your head!  No I don't have lice…LOL My husband checked.  Apparently since I have strayed away from most chemicals it is likely that my scalp is irritated by the chemicals in shampoo.  Anyway.  I decided to do more research on Chamomile's uses on the hair and scalp since I would be applying it there anyway.  This is so I wouldn't be surprised by any other effects.

 

WARNING! This will gradually LIGHTEN your HAIR!  So if you don't want your hair lighter don't use this.  I don't mind…I'm thinking maybe it will help my grey not stand out so bad! LOL.  Anyway it might be wise to make sure all of your hair gets some so your roots don't end up lighter than the rest of your hair…just saying :)

If you have BLONDE hair this will brighten it up for you. 

If you have dark hair and want highlights apparently you can add henna to it and it is a natural highlighter.

For brunettes using it has a final hair rinse will add a "bright golden light" too it and as stated before will gradually lighten it.

It soothes your scalp, eliminates dandruff, and prevents it from coming back apparently.

 

I received all that extra info from the following article:

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/health-benefits-of-chamomile-tea/

The first article should have warned about the lightening effect because some could get mad about it.  Not me though…I'm gonna do it.  I will keep you posted on how my scalp and hair is doing along the way as well as how it effects my hair type (thick, curly, sometimes frizzy or fuzzy looking poufy white girl afro puffs LOL).

 

There are more health benefits of Chamomile tea as well and I will go over those as I move through the body system.

 

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