Fun in the Sun with Green Tea

Last year my children spent extensive amounts of time in the pool.  We put it up in June and it was used just about every day through September.  The pool is a summer life saver.  What amazed me last summer, though, was that they would often get out the door without sunscreen and yet they were not getting burned.  (I know this sounds very lackadaisical, but I have always been very vigilant about sunscreen due to having been burned as a child.  My kids can count on one hand the number of times they've been even pink.  At least they could before this summer!  I was less vigilant because they weren't getting burned.)  I couldn't understand it.  I knew that the reason for this had to be something they were eating or drinking, but I never really gave it more thought than that.  Fast forward to this year...same kids, same pool, same summer sun but this year,  those little munchkins were coming in sun-kissed and pink.  I was flabbergasted.  I racked my brain but I just couldn't think of what we were doing differently.  Then one day, I read something and it hit me, green tea.  We have been big green tea drinkers for some time but lately I haven't felt like making the kind you brew (which is what the rest of the family drinks) so I've just been drinking my powdered green tea.  Also of interest is the fact that in the last 2 months, we've been hit with 2 separate illnesses (after a long spell with no illness, which is no small feat with 6 kids, 4 of which are mine, around here) neither of which effected me like it did the rest of the family.  Again, green tea is the only difference.  So, I decided to delve a little further into the whole green tea vs. UV rays subject and here's what I found.

Per the website, www.freewebs.com/herbal_remedies/sunburn.html, "Preliminary studies suggest that certain green tea polyphenols may help prevent skin cancer if they are applied directly to the skin," says Steven Bratman, M.D., an integrative physician and author of The Natural Pharmacist (Prima, 2000). "In addition, there is some evidence that green tea constituents might help protect the skin from sun damage and sunburn," he adds. In a recent study, six volunteers received applications of green tea extract on their skin prior to being exposed to UV radiation, which would normally produce redness. Those who received the highest concentration of green tea extract (10%) were almost completely protected from burning. Even a low-dose solution (2.5%) provided significant protection. Drinking green tea by the cup is also a good idea. It contains a powerful antioxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Researchers at Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J., tested green tea both topically and orally on mice. They concluded that drinking green tea for two weeks before and during UV exposure diminished both sunburn and skin cancers. The stronger the tea and the more the mice drank, the less severe their sunburns.

Our experience certainly substantiates this research.  We were conducting our own little field test without even realizing it.  We normally endeavor to drink 5-6 cups of green tea a day.  We drink it cold, sweetened with a little honey and/or stevia.  I also use the green tea powder, which I buy from herbalcom.com, to make sure I'm getting as much as I need for all the health benefits.  You can google "benefits of green tea" and you'll be surprised at all the things green tea is good for.  One website listed 15 different things.  I know I have seen a substantial difference in my metabolism while drinking green tea, increased immunity, and, of course, sun protection. 

Also, a note on sunscreen, the one I use is from Dr. Ben Kim.  Every ingredient in it is good for you, unlike the ones you'll find at the local Superstore, and it even has green tea in it.  Unfortunately, the shipping charges on his site are outrageous so unless I can find other like-minded individuals who want to go in on an order and split the shipping, I may have to find another alternative.  Dr. Kim has many informative articles on his website, and he outlines the dangers of commercial sunscreens and natural measures you can take to protect your skin.  Check out his website for great recipes (he's Korean) and helpful articles.  The sunscreen can be found here:
(www.drbenkim.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=96)

As for green tea, drink up and enjoy all the benefits it has to offer.

MMS...water purifier and so much more

A few years ago, a story posted in my Raw Food World newsletter mentioned a product I'd never heard of (www.therawfoodworld.com/blog/?p=568 & www.therawfoodworld.com/blog/?p=564).  However, after reading Matt Monarch's experience with it, I quickly became convinced that it was something I needed to have.  The product is called MMS (formerly Miracle Mineral Supplement, now Master Mineral Supplement).  This product has been used for years as a water purifier and considering that the human body is more than 60% water, well, enough said.

There has been some controversy surrounding this product and because of this, I am only going to say, do your own research and make your own decision about whether or not it is for you.  It has helped us through many a rough patch.  I've used it on all of my family, dogs and chickens.  A friend recently had much success bathing her dog in it.  He didn't seem to make any great strides toward recovery until she gave him an MMS bath.  I have had the same success bathing myself, kids, dogs and chickens in it (we've also all taken it internally).  For bathing, you use 30 drops of MMS to 150 drops of citric acid (10%) or 30 drops citric acid (50%).  Again, you can google this info to find exact info on mixing. 

Anyways, I just wanted to throw this out there.  If you have experienced issues for which you have had no resolution, this may be something that would interest you.  Google it and see what you find, but remember to read both sides of the story.  Jim Humble's websites are infomative as is the CureZone website.

NOTE:  Older articles you read may mention taking numerous amount of drops (like 15 or 30).  This is no longer recommended.  The new protocol does not exceed 3 drops per any one dose.  It is recommended that you take smaller (no more than 3 drops) doses more frequently (up to every hour, I usually do every two).  Using smaller doses decreases the likelihood of nausea, which results from pathogens dying off more quickly than your liver can dispose of them.    

Natural Remedies for Coping with Depression and Anxiety

Though we'd rather not think about it, depression and anxiety are daily issues for most people.  Let's face it, the world we live in is wrought with things that can cause or exacerbate these issues.  You can go to the doctor and get a prescription, but who can deal with the side effects, not to mention the cost?  (Disclaimer here:  These are serious medical conditions and if you are affected more than mildly by them, please seek help.  The info presented here is for individuals who have these conditions under control and are simply seeking natural ways of helping them to deal with them.)  Though I have not personally been effected by depression, I have people who are close to me who deal with it daily.  As for anxiety, I don't think you can be alive and not have to deal with it at some point in your life.  These are some of the means we have come up to help ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety.


If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times but it bears repeating.  The best treatment for ANY illness is diet and exercise.  Unfortunately, people care more about the oil they put in their car than they do about the fuel they put in their bodies.  As someone who suffers from a number of health issues, I can speak from experience and say, the only thing that got me back on my feet was changing my diet.  A good rule of thumb is eat at least 50% raw (uncooked) foods at each meal.  The less you eat the better.  You should never feel full.  All of this taxes your digestive system and causes your body to spend more time dealing with digesting and less time taking care of the other issues that need attention.  Exercise is important in allowing your body to flush out toxins, which can contribute to these conditions.  Even just 30 minutes of walking a day has proven helpful in dealing with a number of different health conditions.

You may also find that supplementing with different vitamins and minerals helps.  Often, depression and anxiety are caused by a deficiency.  SAM-e is a supplement that has gained a reputation in helping with depression and anxiety.  The dosage we've found to be effective is 400mg/daily, taken in the morning on an empty stomach.  To make SAM-e work, you also need 800mg of folic acid and 1000mcg of B-12.  Make sure your B-12 is sublingual (the kind that dissolves in your mouth) and Methylcobalamin.  Research has found this to be the most easily absorbed form of B-12.  When you find yourself under a greater amount of stress, increase to about 800mg of SAM-e.  (These are the dosages that work for us.  You may find 200mg/daily is sufficient or you may need 800mg/daily.  Start small and work up until you find the dosage that helps you to feel less stressed and depressed but not irritable.) Then once things calm down a bit, decrease back to your normal dosage.  If you start feeling irritable on SAM-e, it means your dose is too high.  Also, you may experience some stomach upset when you first begin to take SAM-e.  This will go away with time.  Don't stop taking it.  The improvement you'll feel mentally is worth a little tummy ache!


Essential oils have also been found to help with depression and anxiety.  Check out the recipes page for a great "anti-anxiety" blend.  We have used this with much success on numerous occasions.  For intense moments of anxiety, Bach's Rescue Remedy works wonders.  Regardless of why your experiencing stress, this helps, adults and kids alike.  We often use the oil blend and rescue remedy together.  


These are a few things that help us face each day, knowing we can deal with whatever comes our way.  Maybe they'll help you.  And remember, even just the act of smiling (even if you don't feel like it) has been shown to improve one's mood.  So put a smile on your face and feel better!
 

Natural Burn Remedy...this really works!

When my eldest was a mere three years old, he suffered a horrible burn thanks to a bowl of grits.  My DH was microwaving some (poor guy, he never got them unless he made them because I do NOT love them), the microwave went off, he was on the phone with me, trying to give me directions to a co-worker's mother's funeral, and my dear little boy opened the microwave door (which he had never done before), reached in for the bowl of grits and proceeded to pour them down the front of his body.  As you can imagine, it was not good.  He burnt his hand, chin, part of his upper arm and a big spot on his chest.  I got out of the funeral, got the call and rushed home and together we took him to the ER.  Not fun and I do not recommend the ER unless absolutely necessary!  Long story short, he suffered mostly 1st and 2nd degree burns and was sent home all wrapped in gauze with a tube of Silvadene Cream.

At this point in my life, I was beginning to dabble in natural medicine.  I didn't like the looks of the Silvadene and didn't want to keep it bandaged in a moist environment.  I just didn't see how it would heal well that way.  I resorted to my beloved copy of Herbs for Health and Healing, to see what Ms. Kathi Keville had to say about treating this burn.  I used her recipe for Aloe Burn Spray, producing results that shocked the doctors and healed my son.  The recipe calls for aloe vera juice, lavender and vitamin E.  I made some slight changes, using what I had on hand.  I did not cover the burns (we were at home and had no plans to go out, at this point) but instead let them be exposed to the fresh air.  I wrapped them in gauze when we left the house to protect the burns.  I took him to the doctor, a mere one day later, and I thought the doctor was going to fall on the floor.  He was in shock.  He ran around the practice, gathering people to come look at how amazingly fast my son's burn was healing.  I'm not joking.  A week and a half later, most of the scabs were gone and a nice pink layer of skin coated the burn sites.  An added plus, we were told that he would carry a scar there for the rest of his life and that if he got sun, the area would stay white.  Neither of those has proven true.  8 years later, you can't even tell where the burn was.

Now obviously, I am not recommending that you refrain from seeking medical attention.  Ms. Candee, in her book, Gental Healing for Baby and Child, gives some good advice on when to seek emergency help.  There are some burns that would just be too painful or dangerous to handle on your own.  Even if you seek medical treatment initially, you can follow with natural treatment, as we did.  Check out my recipes page for the Burn Remedy.

Put those drugs away...Natural Remedies for Allergies

My Dogwood

 The sight of a blooming dogwood...it can almost take your breath way.  Throw in the flowering pears and azaleas and it's like you've stepped into a painting.  Unfortunately, here in the south, all this abundant beauty brings misery for young and old alike.  I have suffered from allergies since I was a young child and my children have inherited that wonderful trait from me.  How is it we seem to pass down all the undesirable traits for sure?  This year has actually been a little better for us thanks to the discovery of some little white pills.  A few months back, I purchased Hyland's Allergy Relief 4 Kids homeopathic pills on a lark.  I didn't expect them to do anything but thought it was worth a try.  Occasionally someone eats something or is exposed to a fragrance and the sneezing begins.  The suggested dosage is every 15 minutes for the first 8 doses but the sneezing stopped after the first dose!  We were shocked.  My kids are firm believers now and as soon as the sneezing or watery eyes begin, they're asking, "Mom, where's the allergy pills?"

There are a couple other things that are supposed to really help with allergies but I have never done either consistently enough to vouch for them one way or the other.  One is eating local honey.  I do buy local honey and use it but I read that you should take a couple teaspoons a day to receive the allergy benefits.  I have a hard time taking it straight but have been mixing it into my green tea.

The other natural allergy reliever is Quercitin.  I found some great info at the following link:
http://www.immunesupport.com/92fal004.htm.  According to this site, taking 1000 to 2000 mg per day will help with allergy and asthma symptoms (I suffer from both).  It also suggests taking Bromelain with it to improve the absorb-ability of the Quercitin.  My mom swears by quercitin (which can be obtained through onions and apples as well) but again, I've never been consistent enough with it to know whether it would work for us.

Both Hibiscus and Nettle are great antihistamines and since they can be taken in tea form, would be easy to administer to kids.

I usually order my herbs from either Iherb.com or Vitacost.com and for this I found Iherb to have the better pricing if you buy the Now Foods brand.   I may have to place an order and give this one a try as well.  I purchased my Hyland's pills through Frontier and they had the absolute best price but if you don't have a way of ordering through them wholesale, then I suggest Iherb for the next best price.

So, I hope this helps.  I'm gonna go help myself to a teaspoon of honey and let the experiment begin!

Castor Oil For Insect Bites & Stings

Well, I guess I will finish this Castor Oil series and put it to bed, for now.  So far, we've done Castor oil for injuries, bruises or blood pooling and now insect bites.  When my son was about a year old, he got into some ants and before I knew it, his little hand looked like one of those surgical gloves that people blow up.  I rushed him to the ER (pre-natural medicine days!) and they pumped him full of Benadryl.  However, as the swelling would subside, a large area (the size of 4 quarters, sometimes more) would turn black, I guess the damaged tissue was dying off.  A few years later, after the discovery of that awesome book I mentioned in Part 1, I took three of her treatments for insect bites and combined them.  I had already been using lavender essential oil on bug bites but it did not prevent the tissue from dying.  While on vacation one year, my son got several bites on his foot.  The book recommends Castor oil, lavender and aloe, among other things, for bites.  I mixed and applied these 3 and within minutes the swelling was already going down.  Later that day, you could hardly tell where he had been bitten!  For 6 years we had watched every ant bite swell, turn black and take weeks to heal, causing much pain and irritation.  With the Castor oil/lavender/aloe we were business as usual in one day.  It was wonderful!  Now my son is no longer paranoid about getting bit by ants, though he still obviously tries to avoid them.  At least he has a quick fix should he get bitten.  Also of note is that it works even if you do not catch it immediately.  He has been bitten at times when we didn't have the needed items available or he wasn't at home, but as soon as he was able to apply it (within a day) it would begin healing and he has never again experienced the black, dying tissue.

There is no formal recipe for this.  I usually just mix it in my hand and rub it on.  If I had to give measurements I would say I use about a teaspoon of aloe gel (you could also use juice), 5 drops of lavender and 1/2 tsp of Castor oil.  Aloe is anti-inflammatory, lavender is calming, therefore quieting inflamed skin and Castor oil speeds up lymphatic flow and disperses toxins, per the book Gentle Healing for Baby and Child by Andrea Candee.  This works!  Do not hesitate to try it.  You can get all of these ingredients at Iherb.com but I actually purchase my essential oils in bulk from NewDirectionsAromatics.com.  I'm sure you can also get them at a health foods store but you will pay twice as much or more.

As promised, here is my special blend that I am never without.  I have a bottle in my purse, a bottle upstairs, a bottle downstairs and a bottle in my car.  I also hand out bottles to friends and family whenever possible and have received nothing but praise and thanks.  So here goes...I take a 2 oz bottle of Castor oil or fill a 2 oz bottle with Castor oil, add 10 drops of lavender, 10 drops of tea tree, and 5 drops of chamomile.  This will help with anything... rashes, bruises, cuts, bites, etc.  I've had friends who had wounds that just would not heal, put this on it and within a couple days the wound was healed.  I've used it on hurt chicken feet, dog bites on my cats, tick bites on my dogs and goats, goose eggs on my kids' heads and so on and so forth.  So there you go.  If you do not have any Castor oil in your house, get some!  Throw some lavender and tea tree essential oils in while your it at.  You won't be sorry!