No, I don't mean "OAC," though she is also the bomb.
ACV. Apple Cider Vinegar.
I'm just back from Santa Fe, NM. Yay Santa Fe!
BUT...and this is a big butt...I ate most of the green chili chicken stew, posole, and sopapillas in the tricounty area. As a result, I have a Santa Fe food baby that won't quit.
Half way to work today after a twisty yoga class, I though I was going to barf or have the drizzling poops. Gross.
So, I get to work and still feel sick.
2 tablespoons of ACV in a glass of tepid water, drink it down, and I fell much better in aout 15 miutes. A nap would help, but I'm at work so instead, I'll blog and watch a couple of youtubes while the rest of the food damage settles out.
Showing posts with label alternative medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alternative medicine. Show all posts
Friday, February 28, 2020
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Medicine Wheel Garden
This isn't my garden. It is at the house of some friends. It's lovely.
It's built around the compass and each quadrant is based on a color. I may have the colors wrong and will edit after the gardener corrects me.
White, yellow, red, purple/blue. A lovely tree is in the center and a ring of rocks defines the edge. I have to admit that being Princess Practical, when I first saw the design as it's going in I thought "you can't put a garden under a tree!" That thought was immediately followed by "says who?" The 2nd thought was the correct one. You can put a garden wherever you want.
Here it is with the rocks and a few baby plants.
And here it is this morning. You can see the added mulch of wood shavings which looks great. It has a substrate of cardboard and paper. I'm stealing the idea for the area around my camper I think.
A bit of the "yellow" quadrant featuring a calendula plant. I've never gotten calendula to grow at all so I'm impressed.
A bit of the white quadrant
Red quadrant (poorly centered)
More lovely plants. I like the mix. Mostly herbs and whatnot with decorative grasses.
Bit of art near the center.
It's really lovely. I find it fascinating that a mullein, with yellow flowers, planted itself in the yellow quadrant.
The garden follows most of the principles I just read about in Sepp Holzer's book on permaculture. Trees, rocks, mulch, microclimates. This tiny garden has it all going on.
It's built around the compass and each quadrant is based on a color. I may have the colors wrong and will edit after the gardener corrects me.
White, yellow, red, purple/blue. A lovely tree is in the center and a ring of rocks defines the edge. I have to admit that being Princess Practical, when I first saw the design as it's going in I thought "you can't put a garden under a tree!" That thought was immediately followed by "says who?" The 2nd thought was the correct one. You can put a garden wherever you want.
Here it is with the rocks and a few baby plants.
And here it is this morning. You can see the added mulch of wood shavings which looks great. It has a substrate of cardboard and paper. I'm stealing the idea for the area around my camper I think.
A bit of the "yellow" quadrant featuring a calendula plant. I've never gotten calendula to grow at all so I'm impressed.
A bit of the white quadrant
Red quadrant (poorly centered)
More lovely plants. I like the mix. Mostly herbs and whatnot with decorative grasses.
Bit of art near the center.
It's really lovely. I find it fascinating that a mullein, with yellow flowers, planted itself in the yellow quadrant.
The garden follows most of the principles I just read about in Sepp Holzer's book on permaculture. Trees, rocks, mulch, microclimates. This tiny garden has it all going on.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Natural Bug Repellent...Not Just for Gardens
I'm avoiding spreading DEET on my skin these days, at least until I get desperate. Then I'll use the DEET.
Citronella oil makes an OK bug repellent. It's in many commercial repellents and is probably what makes that Avon bath oil work as a repellent.
According to many websites, and random hippies I've run into over the years, there are many essential oils that will work as bug repellent:
Mix together:
basil, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, pine, rose geranium and/or rosemary.
Various sites recommend putting these in a base of 190 proof grain alcohol (from the liquor store) at a ratio of 21/2 tsp of oil to 1 cup of alcohol. Others say to use a carrier oil like almond or even olive but not a heavy virgin olive oil.
Be careful, some essential oils are a bit tough on skin or people are allergic to them. Best to do some experimenting before.
Lavender oil or the crushed leaves of a plantain (the North American weed, not the gourmet banana from the fancy food store) will take away the sting. Personally I keep a bit of "Sting Stop" around the trailer.
And since I've got a friend (Hi Karin) with a GIANT case of poison ivy, here are recommendations for that:
aloe vera applied right to the rash
tea tree oil applied liberally and frequently to the rash to stop the itch and maybe stop the rash (this might also stop itching from bug bites) (tea tree oil DOES cure various minor skin fuguses too and is a good antiseptic and disinfectant) (I wonder if I can grow a tea tree here? hmmm...)
Jewelweed...I don't know what this is, but they say it works against poison ivy and stinging nettles
Rhubarb stems! A site says to break the stems up and rub the broken ends (and the juice that comes out) on the affected areas. Interesting. And you'd smell like pie!
Since Karin has a horrible case, perhaps we could put a grid pattern on her with a sharpie and try a variety of natural remedies and see which works. Sure it's cruel, but it would be interesting.
The best cure is to NOT GET INTO POISON IVY. If you see this plant:
That whole "leaves of three, let it be" seems about right.
Anyway, enough about the poison ivy.
The garden continues apace, though I'm worried as there are no tiny tomatoes on the tomato plants yet. When do those come on? And the tomatillos? The beans? I know I could look it up but it would be easier if someone just told me.
The lettuce looks OK again so I might harvest a leaf tomorrow. I was supposed to have 4 bunches but only one made it. Some of the carrot tops (not the horrifyingly crap comedian, the vegetables) are starting to come back.
I'm still spraying stank on it frequently and I fertilized it with fish emulsion after spraying on the onion stuff the other day. It STANK to high heaven. I hope I can harvest worm poop soon. I've also heard that I should save my bean water (from soaking, cooking, and even from rinsing canned beans) to put on the garden. Something about nutrients. It also seems that once I get my sprouter going again that water is good for the garden. Since I water out of a bucket, I could just bring in the bucket to get that water and bean juice. I'll try it and let you know.
If anyone has used an oil or plant or something as personal bug repellent, I'd like to know how it worked. And for the family elders out there, what did you use back in the day?
Citronella oil makes an OK bug repellent. It's in many commercial repellents and is probably what makes that Avon bath oil work as a repellent.
According to many websites, and random hippies I've run into over the years, there are many essential oils that will work as bug repellent:
Mix together:
basil, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, pine, rose geranium and/or rosemary.
Various sites recommend putting these in a base of 190 proof grain alcohol (from the liquor store) at a ratio of 21/2 tsp of oil to 1 cup of alcohol. Others say to use a carrier oil like almond or even olive but not a heavy virgin olive oil.
Be careful, some essential oils are a bit tough on skin or people are allergic to them. Best to do some experimenting before.
Lavender oil or the crushed leaves of a plantain (the North American weed, not the gourmet banana from the fancy food store) will take away the sting. Personally I keep a bit of "Sting Stop" around the trailer.
And since I've got a friend (Hi Karin) with a GIANT case of poison ivy, here are recommendations for that:
aloe vera applied right to the rash
tea tree oil applied liberally and frequently to the rash to stop the itch and maybe stop the rash (this might also stop itching from bug bites) (tea tree oil DOES cure various minor skin fuguses too and is a good antiseptic and disinfectant) (I wonder if I can grow a tea tree here? hmmm...)
Jewelweed...I don't know what this is, but they say it works against poison ivy and stinging nettles
Rhubarb stems! A site says to break the stems up and rub the broken ends (and the juice that comes out) on the affected areas. Interesting. And you'd smell like pie!
Since Karin has a horrible case, perhaps we could put a grid pattern on her with a sharpie and try a variety of natural remedies and see which works. Sure it's cruel, but it would be interesting.
The best cure is to NOT GET INTO POISON IVY. If you see this plant:
That whole "leaves of three, let it be" seems about right.
Anyway, enough about the poison ivy.
The garden continues apace, though I'm worried as there are no tiny tomatoes on the tomato plants yet. When do those come on? And the tomatillos? The beans? I know I could look it up but it would be easier if someone just told me.
The lettuce looks OK again so I might harvest a leaf tomorrow. I was supposed to have 4 bunches but only one made it. Some of the carrot tops (not the horrifyingly crap comedian, the vegetables) are starting to come back.
I'm still spraying stank on it frequently and I fertilized it with fish emulsion after spraying on the onion stuff the other day. It STANK to high heaven. I hope I can harvest worm poop soon. I've also heard that I should save my bean water (from soaking, cooking, and even from rinsing canned beans) to put on the garden. Something about nutrients. It also seems that once I get my sprouter going again that water is good for the garden. Since I water out of a bucket, I could just bring in the bucket to get that water and bean juice. I'll try it and let you know.
If anyone has used an oil or plant or something as personal bug repellent, I'd like to know how it worked. And for the family elders out there, what did you use back in the day?
Friday, May 22, 2009
I'm Not a Doctor! I'm An Anthropologist
OK, because there are like 2 people I don't know reading this, let me just be CLEAR that I in no way advocate putting gelled alcohol ("purell") or boric acid IN YOUR EYE. Also, don't ignore pink eye.
I had no idea about these folk remedies.
That in mind, AND keeping in mind that I'm not advocating actually DOING any of these, what other folk remedies do we all use?
Here are some of MINE that I do not recommend for anyone else:
Digestion issues: digestive enzymes, ginger tea, ginger, candied ginger, mint tea, chamomile tea, any tea
Headache: just ignore it. It will go away.
Sinus headache: wrap your head, straight around the forehead, with an ace bandage. It gives a little back pressure and really helps (not so tight you cut off the blood to your scalp). Neti pot, homeopathic allergy drops.
Itchy eyes (allergies or dehydrated or too much sun/glare): Wash with cool distilled, or at least filtered, water in an eye cup, lie down with a cool cloth on them.
Allergies: homeopathic allergy drops, neti pot, nettle tea, licorice root tea, AVOID DAIRY. Sleep with a humidifier on or some laundry hanging in the room to keep the lungs and sinuses from totally drying out. It is VERY VERY dry here, like 15% humidity in the summer. In Iowa this was not necessary as the summer air could not possibly hold anymore moisture.
Cold: airborne and a toxic mix herbal tea that tastes so bad it must be good for me. The usual ingredients in this witch's brew include: licorice root, dandelion root, goldenseal, nettle, calendula, chamomile, slippery elm and whatever else sounds yucky and therefore healing. Also, I run a humidifier while I sleep to avoid getting all dried out.
Fever: wrap up and go with it and drink lots of water. I think taking anti-fever meds makes it last longer.
Itchy bug bit: scratch it open and apply rubbing alcohol. Sure it stings, but it also quits itching for a bit.
Bee sting: mud or baking soda paste on it (ooo...maybe I should mix those). Also, don't you hate it when someone gets a bee or wasp sting and acts like they are going to die? I'm not talking about people with a real allergy. Regular people who get a bump and whine and whine and whine. Jesus. Half of Afghanistan is missing a limb thanks to us or the Russians or someone else. It's just a sting!
Any cold, flu, infection: AVOID SUGAR. Even honey and fruit sugars. The natural health encyclopedia says to keep total sugars under 45g per day when sick with any bacteria or virus. I checked this with Aunt Sara Lynn (Hi Sara) and she said indeedy that is a good idea. Sara is a nurse.
Also, I almost never take anything that dries the sinuses. I'll just end up with a sinus infection because it will stop the draining. As gross as the draining is, if it stops then things get thick and stuck and infected. I think that's how I got the last sinus infection. I caved in and took alka seltzer cold so I could get some sleep (because I didn't want to be too sleepy to work...hate wasting time-off on illness). Two days later I've got infected sinuses. DAMN!
So, if the readers would like to contribute their non-advocated home remedies, that would be awesome.
I had no idea about these folk remedies.
That in mind, AND keeping in mind that I'm not advocating actually DOING any of these, what other folk remedies do we all use?
Here are some of MINE that I do not recommend for anyone else:
Digestion issues: digestive enzymes, ginger tea, ginger, candied ginger, mint tea, chamomile tea, any tea
Headache: just ignore it. It will go away.
Sinus headache: wrap your head, straight around the forehead, with an ace bandage. It gives a little back pressure and really helps (not so tight you cut off the blood to your scalp). Neti pot, homeopathic allergy drops.
Itchy eyes (allergies or dehydrated or too much sun/glare): Wash with cool distilled, or at least filtered, water in an eye cup, lie down with a cool cloth on them.
Allergies: homeopathic allergy drops, neti pot, nettle tea, licorice root tea, AVOID DAIRY. Sleep with a humidifier on or some laundry hanging in the room to keep the lungs and sinuses from totally drying out. It is VERY VERY dry here, like 15% humidity in the summer. In Iowa this was not necessary as the summer air could not possibly hold anymore moisture.
Cold: airborne and a toxic mix herbal tea that tastes so bad it must be good for me. The usual ingredients in this witch's brew include: licorice root, dandelion root, goldenseal, nettle, calendula, chamomile, slippery elm and whatever else sounds yucky and therefore healing. Also, I run a humidifier while I sleep to avoid getting all dried out.
Fever: wrap up and go with it and drink lots of water. I think taking anti-fever meds makes it last longer.
Itchy bug bit: scratch it open and apply rubbing alcohol. Sure it stings, but it also quits itching for a bit.
Bee sting: mud or baking soda paste on it (ooo...maybe I should mix those). Also, don't you hate it when someone gets a bee or wasp sting and acts like they are going to die? I'm not talking about people with a real allergy. Regular people who get a bump and whine and whine and whine. Jesus. Half of Afghanistan is missing a limb thanks to us or the Russians or someone else. It's just a sting!
Any cold, flu, infection: AVOID SUGAR. Even honey and fruit sugars. The natural health encyclopedia says to keep total sugars under 45g per day when sick with any bacteria or virus. I checked this with Aunt Sara Lynn (Hi Sara) and she said indeedy that is a good idea. Sara is a nurse.
Also, I almost never take anything that dries the sinuses. I'll just end up with a sinus infection because it will stop the draining. As gross as the draining is, if it stops then things get thick and stuck and infected. I think that's how I got the last sinus infection. I caved in and took alka seltzer cold so I could get some sleep (because I didn't want to be too sleepy to work...hate wasting time-off on illness). Two days later I've got infected sinuses. DAMN!
So, if the readers would like to contribute their non-advocated home remedies, that would be awesome.
Monday, May 18, 2009
No Pink Eye!!
Well, so far so good. (knock on wood).
I have no pink eye. But the other aftermath of the sinus infection, the first in years...damn kids. Is pretty gross. I won't share.
And I also see that Pam commented that she really DOES put purell around her eye to avoid it. I did think of putting peroxide in my eye but thought better of it. I challenge Pam to put up a video of this procedure of hers but I in no way endorse it! (not just because putting gelled rubbing alcohol in your eye can't be good, but also because it comes in a plastic bottle).
Speaking of that. I'm a bit pissed at the makers of my usual Kombucha. They changed from the glass bottle with metal lid, to a glass bottle with a plastic lid. I may have to quit buying it but it really helps my gut issues...and it's something to drink other than water water water.
With the metal lid the only plastic was the lid liner and that "don't put arsenic in me" plastic wrapper we have to put on everything with a lid no. Jeez. Are there really so many people going around putting poison in stuff? Really? Since Kombucha is a fermented product already, I can't imagine it's a problem if someone breaks the seal so it's probably not that.
We are a nation of fraidy-cats.
Anyway, the plastic lid. It was the one treat I had where I thought I was really not doing much damage to the planet (never mind the jet flights to concerts...we're talking about minutiae today, not the big picture). Now, it has a plastic lid.
This also makes the bottle less useful for refilling as the plastic lids are not as durable. I was using them for dish soap, vinegars, whatever at the bulk section of the co-op. The metal lids were virtually indestructable but the plastic ones not so much.
I'm going to end up with everything in a mason jar. Oh well.
I know you can make kombucha at home, but you need to order a starter kit that no doubt comes in a giant plastic bag!
I'm sick of it.
Speaking of that. I got the 5lbs of shea butter I ordered. It is a LOT of lotion. I need to start repackaging it and maybe keep some in the fridge or a cooler area in the trailer. They say it doesn't go rancid, but I'm sure being in a hot trailer over summer will test that theory. There is plastic packaging involved, but much less than if I kept getting it in 8oz tins. I'll just refill the tins and some jars I have already.
I have no pink eye. But the other aftermath of the sinus infection, the first in years...damn kids. Is pretty gross. I won't share.
And I also see that Pam commented that she really DOES put purell around her eye to avoid it. I did think of putting peroxide in my eye but thought better of it. I challenge Pam to put up a video of this procedure of hers but I in no way endorse it! (not just because putting gelled rubbing alcohol in your eye can't be good, but also because it comes in a plastic bottle).
Speaking of that. I'm a bit pissed at the makers of my usual Kombucha. They changed from the glass bottle with metal lid, to a glass bottle with a plastic lid. I may have to quit buying it but it really helps my gut issues...and it's something to drink other than water water water.
With the metal lid the only plastic was the lid liner and that "don't put arsenic in me" plastic wrapper we have to put on everything with a lid no. Jeez. Are there really so many people going around putting poison in stuff? Really? Since Kombucha is a fermented product already, I can't imagine it's a problem if someone breaks the seal so it's probably not that.
We are a nation of fraidy-cats.
Anyway, the plastic lid. It was the one treat I had where I thought I was really not doing much damage to the planet (never mind the jet flights to concerts...we're talking about minutiae today, not the big picture). Now, it has a plastic lid.
This also makes the bottle less useful for refilling as the plastic lids are not as durable. I was using them for dish soap, vinegars, whatever at the bulk section of the co-op. The metal lids were virtually indestructable but the plastic ones not so much.
I'm going to end up with everything in a mason jar. Oh well.
I know you can make kombucha at home, but you need to order a starter kit that no doubt comes in a giant plastic bag!
I'm sick of it.
Speaking of that. I got the 5lbs of shea butter I ordered. It is a LOT of lotion. I need to start repackaging it and maybe keep some in the fridge or a cooler area in the trailer. They say it doesn't go rancid, but I'm sure being in a hot trailer over summer will test that theory. There is plastic packaging involved, but much less than if I kept getting it in 8oz tins. I'll just refill the tins and some jars I have already.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Alternate Medicine...Hmmm
That news story about the kid who is refusing chemo (something I may well do myself if I had cancer) and finding out that he didn't know how to read...interesting.
ANYWAY, as most who've seen me in the past few years know, I'm big on the avoiding mainstream western medicine when possible.
It wasn't possible anymore with the gallbladder. It was suck it out through a tube, or spend much time in the ER. No more avoiding.
But, as for the asthma and allergies I've always had. That I'm sticking to alternatives. Avoiding dairy and using homeopathy (which is a fairly old European traditional system, not just any old herb you happen to make into tea) along with nettle tea has done much more than that cocktail of allergy and asthma meds they tried to put me on in high school. As has avoiding second hand smoke (a pretty constant presence in my childhood) and other general environmental issues.
I'm at what is hopefully the end of a sinus infection that I've been treating the same way I treat a cold or the flu: Less than 30g of sugars per day including fruit sugars; echinacea and goldenseal tea (nasty stuff so it must be good), neti pot, vitamin C, and buckets of herbal tea and steamy showers. I seem to be doing better and only missed a half day of work. I didn't get much done the other days but that could be a separate issue. My boss had the same thing and he's been sick and out for almost the entire week. Of course, he's a guy and well....they are weak in general. I hate to waste days off on illness.
A friend just told me about how she avoided pink eye in Africa during her Peace Corps days. She said pink eye was common in the villages where she worked in Cape Verde and antibiotics were not. So, as soon as her eyes started to get that telltale itch, she would boil a wash cloth and as soon as it had cooled enough to touch, she put it over her eyes and left it there until it was cool. She said she did this 4 times on the day she noticed the itching and never got pink eye. El Kid had pink eye and my eyes were itchy and goobery from the sinus issue this morning so I'm trying it. At the very least, it's ice to take about 20 minutes out every few hours to just lie back with a cloth on my eyes and just leave it. Quite nice.
My sister claims she put purell around the edge of her eye when she thought she was getting pink eye but I'm not sure about the truth or wisdom of that.
I asked my Aunt Sara (Hi Sara!), a nurse, about sugar and infections and she said that indeed sugar will feed an infection and that is one reason diabetics have tough infections to cure. So much sugar in the blood sometimes.
I also just read that most people who get sinus infections in the maxillae (cheek bone sinuses) after a cold had an underlying dental infection! Makes me wonder. I don't think I did. I've always had sinus issues so I'm hoping it's just poor drainage, not dental infection.
Ok, enough of the grossness. Hope not too many people are getting hit by this spring's second round of cold/flu, whether swine or not, and that all avoid dairy (milk makes mucus...that is the most important thing I learned in highschool biology) and sugar if they do get ill.
On a more amusing note. I've spent the day chatting on the phone (Hi Chris) and watching (or listening when the cloth was on my eyes) to Wallace and Grommet videos. They are hysterical. I think they are more like the cartoons of my youth than these stupid baby versions of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck that pass as cartoons these days. These have an actual plot and are not pandering to children. Also, the animation is exquisite claymation. I highly recommend the Wallace and Grommet movies as well as the "Creature Comforts" series by the same folks.
ANYWAY, as most who've seen me in the past few years know, I'm big on the avoiding mainstream western medicine when possible.
It wasn't possible anymore with the gallbladder. It was suck it out through a tube, or spend much time in the ER. No more avoiding.
But, as for the asthma and allergies I've always had. That I'm sticking to alternatives. Avoiding dairy and using homeopathy (which is a fairly old European traditional system, not just any old herb you happen to make into tea) along with nettle tea has done much more than that cocktail of allergy and asthma meds they tried to put me on in high school. As has avoiding second hand smoke (a pretty constant presence in my childhood) and other general environmental issues.
I'm at what is hopefully the end of a sinus infection that I've been treating the same way I treat a cold or the flu: Less than 30g of sugars per day including fruit sugars; echinacea and goldenseal tea (nasty stuff so it must be good), neti pot, vitamin C, and buckets of herbal tea and steamy showers. I seem to be doing better and only missed a half day of work. I didn't get much done the other days but that could be a separate issue. My boss had the same thing and he's been sick and out for almost the entire week. Of course, he's a guy and well....they are weak in general. I hate to waste days off on illness.
A friend just told me about how she avoided pink eye in Africa during her Peace Corps days. She said pink eye was common in the villages where she worked in Cape Verde and antibiotics were not. So, as soon as her eyes started to get that telltale itch, she would boil a wash cloth and as soon as it had cooled enough to touch, she put it over her eyes and left it there until it was cool. She said she did this 4 times on the day she noticed the itching and never got pink eye. El Kid had pink eye and my eyes were itchy and goobery from the sinus issue this morning so I'm trying it. At the very least, it's ice to take about 20 minutes out every few hours to just lie back with a cloth on my eyes and just leave it. Quite nice.
My sister claims she put purell around the edge of her eye when she thought she was getting pink eye but I'm not sure about the truth or wisdom of that.
I asked my Aunt Sara (Hi Sara!), a nurse, about sugar and infections and she said that indeed sugar will feed an infection and that is one reason diabetics have tough infections to cure. So much sugar in the blood sometimes.
I also just read that most people who get sinus infections in the maxillae (cheek bone sinuses) after a cold had an underlying dental infection! Makes me wonder. I don't think I did. I've always had sinus issues so I'm hoping it's just poor drainage, not dental infection.
Ok, enough of the grossness. Hope not too many people are getting hit by this spring's second round of cold/flu, whether swine or not, and that all avoid dairy (milk makes mucus...that is the most important thing I learned in highschool biology) and sugar if they do get ill.
On a more amusing note. I've spent the day chatting on the phone (Hi Chris) and watching (or listening when the cloth was on my eyes) to Wallace and Grommet videos. They are hysterical. I think they are more like the cartoons of my youth than these stupid baby versions of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck that pass as cartoons these days. These have an actual plot and are not pandering to children. Also, the animation is exquisite claymation. I highly recommend the Wallace and Grommet movies as well as the "Creature Comforts" series by the same folks.
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