Picture Post

Basic Home Remedies

Basic Home Remedies:
Using Baking Soda for HEALTH: 

1. Natural Deodorant- Sprinkle or pat on pure baking soda on your armpits for a natural deodorant. This is most useful for those summer months when one tends to chaff.

2. Stinky Shoe Remedy- Sprinkle generous amount into sneakers or other shoes to help absorb odors.

3. Remove Splinters- Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to the bottom of a bandage, and apply that overnight. In the morning, the splinter should be much easier to remove.

4. Antacid Use- about a 1/4 teaspoon in a small cup of water and drink to help reduce acid.

5. Mosquito Bites- Heres something I tried out this summer that worked really well. We had been outside alot and I had gotten a lot of misquito bites on my legs that were itching reallly badly. Mix a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to the bites (helps if you haven't scratched them yet. In about 1 minute the itching stops and in about one hour the redness and swelling have gone away!! It was wonderful, and I used this remedy the rest of the summer with great results.

6. Cold Sore Remedy- Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to cold sores at least two times a day.

7. Treats Burns- On your list of baking soda tips, put that it is good for burns.
 
For example:

I had a neighbour come over with a bad deep frying grease burn to her whole hand. I told her to put her hand over the sink. I had made up a liquid paste of baking soda and water, fairly thick and poured it over the hand. I said this will hurt just for the initial time I put it on, then will be ok. I then wrapped it in gauze to protect it and to keep the soda from going all over. She simply just needed to regauzed it daily.
The beauty of it is that there was no blistering and no scar later.

Breaking Yokes - Part V.

Breaking Yokes - Part V.

Are you feeling liberated yet? Feeling those yokes and chains falling away from you as you realize just how much the Enemy has had a field day playing around in your head? Doesn't it feel completely awesome to realize that God's Word speaks against every single negative thought you could ever have? Praise the Lord!


26. God is just so far from me 

Let's fast from the thought that says: "God is far from me." Not only is God with us. Not only is God for us. But He is also IN US. 
 
Remember, that the serpent was subtle in Genesis 3. Thoughts that can defeat us are often very subtle thoughts.

We have to learn to not only discern between right and wrong; but we must discern between "right" and "almost right."

It's "almost right" to ask God to come down and help us. It sounds holy. It sounds humble. But you will truly be free when you discover, HE IS ALREADY HERE. Emanuel means "God with us." When Jesus came to the earth, He put an end to the separation between God and man.

Let's fast from the thought that says: "God is far from me."

Not only is God with us. Not only is God for us. But He is also IN US.

This is an amazing mystery, and we won't understand it completely until we are in heaven. Colossians 1:27 says "...this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

It's "almost right" to believe that if we become holier, we can get closer to God.

But the separation between us and God is a myth. It's an illusion. The devil wants us to believe it to keep us powerless and misinformed concerning our connection with God. It's true that in Isaiah 59:2 it says that "your sins have made a separation between you and your God." But Jesus TOOK AWAY the sin through His blood. Therefore, THERE IS NO SEPARATION between us and God, if we have been born-again. It's our failure to recognize this that keeps us in bondage, feeling distant from God. We feel sometimes, He is so far away. But He is not. He is here. He is there.

For us today, let's replace this "almost right" thinking with "right" thinking.

1. Psalm 46:1 says, "He is an ever-PRESENT help in times of trouble."

WOW! You have to love this thought. Have you ever had times of trouble? (Ya think!) But notice, He is ever-present. THEN, it says, "help" in times of trouble. It is His "ever-presence" that brings us help in times of trouble.

2. Take Him at His Word.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I am with you always; even to the end
of the age." There is no way to misinterpret this verse. "I am with you always." That has to warm your heart and comfort you."

3. Christianity is not a life of attainment, but a life of recognition.

Philemon 6 says, "that your faith might become effective, through the acknowledgement of those things which are already in you, in Christ Jesus." Many people focus on "attaining" God's presence and God's blessing. But the scripture is clear: We must recognize and acknowledge that He is already in us. His gifts are already in us. This produces power that MONEY and RELIGION cannot buy! The first part of the verse says - this is what makes your faith become effective. Acknowledge. Recognize. He is already in you. His gifts are in you.

4. Christianity is not us "finding God."

It's that He came and found us; took us into His arms; spilled His blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness; and breathed His very Spirit into us. Now He lives in every person that has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord. Romans 8:11 says, "and if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you; then He who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead, will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that indwells in you."

5. Eliminate every thought that says, "God come down and help me" or "Send your Spirit."

He has already come. He has already sent His Spirit. Our fight, our battle is to believe this whether we feel His presence or not. He is in you!

6. It's not: us living FOR God. It's us LIVING FROM GOD.

Galatians 2:20 says, "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me."

David said in Psalm 139:7-9, "Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to heave you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even THERE your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me."

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I decide today to eliminate the thought that I am separated from God in any way.

He is an ever-present help in my time of trouble. His ever-presence brings me help! He is in my boat. And I will rest in knowing I am in His presence.

I recognize that He is already in me. That's what makes my faith work. He has found me and put His Spirit in me. The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is living on the inside of me.

God is not far off. He is right here, right now. I am surrounded by His love and enveloped in His presence. Therefore I am not afraid.

He is my shield and refuge. My fortress and my very present help today.

I am not trying to live FOR God; I am living FROM Him. His power is in me. His presence is in me. His love is in me. And nothing can ever separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord!



27. I'm Alone In This Storm 

When we fast from wrong thinking, we're not just discerning between "right" and "wrong"; we also need to distinguish betwen "right" and "almost right."
 
There are many things we have believed that are almost right. t's "almost right" to believe that if we worship God with all our heart, we can usher ourselves into the presence of God. Many ministers will even say, "let's press into His presence." But you see, beloved, we are in His presence already, because we have passed through the veil that separated us from the holy of holies. It is through the body and blood of Jesus that we pass through the veil. (Hebrews 10:19-20)

We now stand in His presence unashamed, without guilt, without condemnation, without separation.

Building upon the last couple of days, today we're fasting from the thought that says, "I'm alone in this." "Where is God when I need Him most."

When the disciples tried to cross over to the other side of the sea in the boat (Mark 4:36-40), they were overwhelmed by the storm that struck their ship. They thought they would perish. They feared for their life, bailing out water furiously. Have you ever been in a storm? The waters crashing against you; you don't know what to do; you feel helpless. You cry out, "Lord where are you? Don't you care?"

The disciples forgot one small detail in the midst of their storm ... Jesus was in the boat with them! There was nothing greater than His presence!

Let's overcome the thought that says, "I'm alone in this storm." "Where is God when I need Him most?"

1. He is in the boat with you!

In Mark 4:36-40, Jesus was asleep in the boat. Someone asked me once - "how do we wake Jesus up, when He is asleep in our boat, in the middle of a storm?" Well, I said, "You don't wake Him up. You rest with Him!" If He's not worried, don't you worry. HIS PRESENCE calmed the storm then, just as it will do now.

2. The disciples didn.t need Jesus to awake. They needed to awake to the fact that God was with them.

When you know He is with you, there is nothing to fear; therefore, there was nothing to fear. Psalm 23:4 says, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear NO EVIL for You are with me!"

3. Great miracle: Jesus calmed the storm. Greater miracle: Jesus slept IN THE MIDST of it.

When you realize He is in your boat with you, you will have supernatural peace. Calming the storm is great. Peace in the midst of it is greater!

4. DO NOT MISTAKE A FIRE IN YOUR LIFE FOR GOD'S ABSENCE.

In Daniel 3:22-25, Jesus was the 4th man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. His presence was felt in the middle of the fire. Just because you don't feel His presence, doesn't mean He isn't there. BELIEVE HE IS WITH YOU, and eventually, your situation will FEEL HIS PRESENCE!

5. Psalm 91:10 says, "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your tent."

Notice, the next verse says, "for He will give His angel charge concerning you." There are many angels involved in our lives, but this is talking about HIS ANGEL. The Old Testament "Angel" is Jesus Christ. He is Lord, therefore He has charge concerning us!

THINK IT & SAY IT:

There is nothing greater than God's presence, and His presence is with me and in me. As surely as He was with Moses, He is with me.

I am not trying to get in God's presence. I am already in, through the blood of Jesus. He is in my boat with me. He is not "over there." He is "here" right now - with me and in me!

I awake to the fact that He is with me. There is no separation. I can rest with Him, in the midst of any storm. I can walk with Him in the midst of the fire.

I am fearless, because He is with me. Therefore, no evil shall befall me, nor shall any plague come near my dwelling place - my church, my home, my body, my life - in Jesus. name.



28. It's Just So Hard

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says, "It's so hard!"

Many people don't even start some things because they have conditioned themselves to think it's too hard. We defeat ourselves with this thinking, before we even start.

Let's fast from this thought:

1. realize you are yoked to Him.

Many people find the Christian life so difficult because they are trying to do it on their own. The Christian life was not meant to be lived that way. We were meant to be yoked to Jesus. He said, "Take My yoke upon you. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28)

2. Accept that some things are difficult in your own strength, but God wouldn't ask us to do something that He doesn't give us the strength to do. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) His grace is sufficient for you. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

3. Keep in mind (meditate on) the fact that we are one with Him.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says, "Do you not recognize that Christ Jesus is in you?" He is in you, so whatever you are facing, He is facing with you. Your problem is His problem. Your trial is His trial. Your debt is His debt.

4. Meditate on God's nature; His ability.

Jeremiah 32:17 says, "Ah Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for Thee." The Message Translation says, "Dear God, my Master, You created earth and sky by Your great power, by merely stretching out Your arm! THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO!"

5. Matthew 19:26 "With God all things are possible."

6. Don't focus on doing things "for Jesus", but FROM Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 says "It's no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."

You see, what is impossible and too hard for man, is easy for God. The God of the impossible lives in you.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I am not alone in the challenges and responsibilities of my life. I am yoked to Jesus. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

The Holy Spirit is my Helper. He lives in me and gives me His strength, encouragement and power.

God knows what I'm going through, and He has given me the grace and ability to make it. I have a covenant with God, therefore my battles are His battles.

Nothing is too difficult for Him, and all things are possible for me, because I believe. I live life from the strength that He supplies in me.

I can do all things through Christ, who infuses me with His strength!



29. God must somehow be mad at me 

Many people think that God is mad at them, or the reason bad things are happening is because God is against me. Or, perhaps you don't think He's overtly against you, but He's just not aggressively helping you.
 
Today, we are fasting from the thought that says, "God is mad at me."

Wrong thoughts are designed by the devil and our flesh to undermine our faith. If you think God is mad at you, you won't be EXPECTANT toward God to bless you.

Let's take this thought captive (the word "captive" means: "to conquer with a sword." We conquer wrong thinking with the sword of God's Word!)

1. God is not mad AT you. He is mad ABOUT you!

When you accept this thought, you will have confidence, expectation and peace. Who couldn't use that! How do I know this is true? Romans 8:37 says "Nothing can separate you from the love of God..." You are forgiven (1 John 1:9) and you are LOVED (1 John 4:10).

2. Think this new thought: God loves me as much as He loves Jesus!

In John 17:23 Jesus says to the Father: "I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that You sent Me, and LOVED THEM, AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME!" What an amazing truth. God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. And there is no way God can be mad at Jesus.

3. He thinks precious thoughts about me ALL THE TIME!

Psalm 139:17-18 says "How precious are Your thoughts toward me, O God...If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with you!"

4. What God said to Jesus, is the SAME to you: "You are My beloved Son. In You, I am well-pleased." (Mark 1:11) Hallelujah!

He doesn't sound mad at Jesus! He sounds "mad about Him"! Well, 1 John 4:16 says, "As He is, so are we." Look, there is no getting around this marvelous truth: God doesn't love Jesus half-hearted, therefore He doesn't love you half-hearted either.

5. There is nothing God is holding back from you!

Romans 8:32 says "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him, freely give us all things!"

6. YOU ARE NOT CONDEMNED!

Romans 8:1 says "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." Condemnation is an expression of strong disapproval. God approves of you, because of your faith in Jesus, not because you have done everything right. God's love for you is non-negotiable. Deuteronomy 7:8 says He loves you with an everlasting love. It cannot be stopped, quenched or compromised.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

God is not mad at me, He is mad about me. He loves me as much as Jesus. He thinks precious thoughts about me all the time! I am His beloved, and He is mine!

There is nothing God is holding back from me. He didn.t hold back His best, therefore He won't hold back the rest!

I refuse to be condemned. I am forgiven. I reject the thought that He is mad at me or against me. God is for me, and not against me. His love toward me cannot be stopped.



30. God Is Judging Me 

We're fasting today from the thought that says: "God is judging me." "Why is God doing this to me?" "Why is this happening to me?"
 
We all feel at times like when we don't measure up, that perhaps God is mad at us. And we replaced that wrong thinking with the thought that "God is not mad at me, He is mad about me."

We're fasting today from the thought that says: "God is judging me." "Why is God doing this to me?" "Why is this happening to me?"

When something goes wrong, it's easy to think, "maybe God is letting this happen because of what I did or what I didn't do."

This kind of thinking distorts the true view of our Heavenly Father. We need to stop seeing God as a vengeful and judgmental God. He is just. But His justice is satisfied, through the shed blood of Jesus. All that's left is His mercy and grace.

We're going to blast this "judgment mentality" out of our heads!

1. It is impossible for God to give anything that is not good.

Psalm 84:11 says "No good thing does He withhold from the righteous." (And don't forget: you are righteous through the blood of Jesus, not through you own works.)

2. God's judgment "passed over" the children of Israel through the blood of lambs.

In Exodus 12:12-13 God said, "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn - both men and animals - and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."

Therefore, God's judgment passes over us more powerfully through the blood of Jesus.

3. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights! James 1:17 - God doesn't change. He is GOOD, and the author of good. Never doubt that again.

4. EMBRACE HIS MERCY.

Lamentations 3:22 says His mercy is new EVERY MORNING. I love what Paul says in Hebrews 4:16, "So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." HE IS NOT JUDGING YOU!

5. Meditate on what mercy is.

A woman approached Napoleon to ask for mercy for her son and let him go free. He was to be hanged for crimes against Napoleon and France. "Do you know what he has done, madam? He doesn't deserve mercy!" She responded: "If he deserved it, it wouldn't be mercy, sir." Napoleon released him.

The next time you think, "why is this happening to me," EXPECT GOD TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING GOOD, rather than thinking God is judging you.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

God is NOT judging me. He is my Father, and He is madly in love with me. I deserve judgment, but He gives me mercy.

When things don't go right, I will not believe it's God's judgment. I will not believe that I have lost favor with Him. His favor SURROUNDS ME like a shield.

His judgment passed over the children of Israel, therefore His judgment passes over me. I expect GOOD to happen to me. EVERY DAY, something good is going to happen.

I embrace His mercy. It follows me all the days of my life. No matter what happens in my life, I expect God to turn into something good!

Glass Bottles and Bath Soaks

Glass Bottles and Bath Soaks

I confess! I am a glass bottle junkie.

I absolutely abhor plastic bottles and consider them to be a blight on humanity. I am equally not fond of drinking out of a plastic cup or bottle. In this day and age when it is becoming increasingly harder and harder to find anything packaged in actual glass I find myself actively seeking out glass bottles that are visually interesting and hoarding them like a squirrel preserving nuts for winter.

The problem then becomes what to do with all of those visually interesting glass containers that I just had to have.


Solution: Homemade Bath Soaks

I came by the idea when my daughter gave me a recipe for a Mimosa Cocktail- which turned out to be a beverage that I love! and have to have upon occasion {all things in moderation; as you know} for Sunday brunch. However; champagne doesn't have a very long shelf life once you've opened the bottle and really! who likes a flat cocktail?

The same holds true for Wine Spritzers. Unless you are drinking them on a daily basis then you end up with a collection of half full bottles of flat wine looking pretty sad sitting the the back of your refrigerator. Sure, sure. You say that you are saving them with the intention of adding them to some exotic recipe that you downloaded off of the Internet but really? If you are honest you'll admit that you are also saving your money for all of the exotic spices you have to have to go with the exotic recipe that you downloaded off of the Internet and in the meanwhile all of those half full bottles of wine are staring at you every time you open the refrigerator door.

So; here is what you are going to do. Scrap the exotic recipe that probably won't taste near as good as it looks and use the money you have been saving to buy more visually interesting glass bottles. To which you will add the following recipe.


Red Wine and Champagne Bath Soak

Simply add your red wine or your champagne or a combination of both to your glass bottle.

Pour a glass (or more) of red wine or champagne (or both) into your running bath. Soak for 20 minutes. Feel decadent.

Don't worry. Unless you filled the tub up with red wine it isn't going to stain your skin.

Info!

The polyphenols in red wine are incredible antioxidants and the tartaric acid in champagne lightens skin and helps reduce discoloration and fine lines. Both red wine and champagne are also great for cleansing pores and then reducing their appearance.

So never again will you have to throw out that flat champagne or wine that’s sat alone in the back of the fridge. Now, you can bathe in it. Genius!


Simple Mimosa (for those interested)

Ingredients

1/2 oz triple sec (or) grenadine

1 1/2 oz cold pineapple (or) orange juice

3 1/2 oz chilled Champagne

pineapple (or) orange slice for garnish


Preparation

1.Build the ingredients in the order given in a Champagne flute.

2.Garnish with the pineapple or orange slice.

3. Enjoy!



Beauty for Ashes

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Lemons and Life

Lovely, Lovely Lemons!

What a bright, fresh scent that just sings "wake up, feel refreshed!" This attribute must be why I often think of lemon's scent on hot sticky days. I expect it goes along with the appeal of a cold glass of lemonade. Besides adding lemons to drinks there are a number of ways to use lemons in the home.

Like vinegar, much of lemon's gift is that it is an acid. It smells much fresher than vinegar, which is fermented. As an acid, lemon juice provides the benefits of vinegar, such as being a very good antiseptic killer of mold, germs, and bacteria.

What better time to learn some of these household hints during the heat of the summer when you and your family can receive a bright aromatherapy boost from the scent? Here are tips for using lemons for hair spray, cleaning metal, freshening the air, cleansing your skin, lightening your hair, and more.

HOUSEHOLD USES


Lubricant

Lemon oil is renowned as being very lubricating, which is why it is so often used on furniture.

Aromatherapy

Known to calm fears and lift depression, adding a few drops of pure lemon oil to a diffuser is considered to be a good tip for when someone is experiencing these symptoms.

Antiseptic/Deodorizer

Lemon juice is a great choice for deodorizing counters, cutting boards, and more. The acid in lemon juice kills mold, bacteria, and germs. While not a 100 percent kill rate, you can't sterilize your house anyway, so if you look at lemon juice as a solidly good deodorizer you will turn to it when you aren't needing a hospital-level disinfectant job.

Using leftover lemon and lime rinds in the garbage disposal is a great way to deodorize this apparatus, which so often can give off an odor.

Glass and China Cleaner

The acid in lemon juice will break down the alkaline minerals found in hard water. It will also work on stains. Make a solution of ½ water and ½ lemon juice and place in the glass, letting the solution set there for a few hours before washing as usual.

Air Freshener

Simmer sliced lemons in water. I like to use 2-3 lemons to about 4 cups of water. Simmer for a few hours, replacing water as needed.

Microwave Cleaner

Just put a slice or two of lemon in a cup of water and put in the microwave for 30 seconds on high. Use a cloth to clean dry. You can substitute a tablespoon or so of lemon juice with water.

Metal Cleaner

An acid like lemon juice works wonders for cleaning metals such as chrome, copper, and brass. There are myriad ways to get the lemon juice onto the metal, from simply rubbing the metal with a cut lemon (use the majority of the juice for a salad dressing), to mixing lemon juice with salt for a bit of an abrasive.

Whitener

Lemon juice and the sun combined proves to whiten clothes, hair, and more. I like to soak grey clothes in some water and lemon juice (add ½ a cup of lemon juice to a small load of laundry and let it soak, agitating occasionally, before rinsing and hanging on the line on sunny days).

Soap Scum/Shower Stalls

Soap is very alkaline and when it combines with hard water minerals it tends to form soap scum that can then coat shower stalls, bathtubs, and sinks. Acids cut through this soap scum. I'd suggest using lemon juice straight on a sponge and wash it onto the soap scum, let set for a few hours, and then rinse.

Mineral Buildup/Scale

Minerals are very alkaline and the acid of lemon juice cuts through and dissolves the minerals. Known as scale, mineral buildup frequently gets hard and in particular resides around faucets. Pour straight lemon juice on a washcloth or clean cloth. Lay the cloth over the scale and let set for a few hours before rinsing and cleaning the area.

PERSONAL CARE


Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Freshly squeezed lemon juice on my face is one of the best facials I have ever given myself. Lemon is a natural alpha hydroxyl acid and works like a charm to remove dead skin cells. Add some carrot juice for some vitamin A and you have something as good as found in any spa!

Hairspray

The solvents in most commercial hairspray could light your hair on fire if you were ever near an open flame, so I recommend you make this lemon-based natural hair spray at home, instead!

Hair Lightener

How many Saturdays I spent on the front lawn in the summer, my hair rinsed full of lemon juice, lying in the sun for a few hours, hoping to lighten my brown tresses. Squeeze ½ cup of lemon juice into a container with a spout, pour on your hair, work it through, and set in the sun until it is fully dry and then wash as usual. Make sure not to get the lemon juice in your eyes!

Skin Lightener

Dab freshly squeezed, straight lemon juice on dark spots like "liver spots" that you want to remove. Let it fully dry and then rinse.

7 Steps to De-Stress

~ De-Stress To A Better You ~


1. LEARN ABOUT STRESS
Gain an understanding, and grasp the seriousness of the physiology of stress. This is important because most people do not "get" the stress/heart health connection. Bottom line: You CAN control how stress affects you.


2. EAT A REPLENISHING DIET
Eat fresh organic foods to help replenish and rebalance your body. Fresh foods contain life-giving enzymes which actually get depleted as we age. (Depleted enzymes are linked to digestive problems, obesity, and chronic illness!) Eat fresh fruits and veggies, and a fresh green salad every day. You'll notice a difference within a week in how you feel and look.

Tip: Instead of orange juice (which may be pasteurized thereby losing some nutrients and enzymes), squeeze fresh oranges for enzymes and nutrients, especially vitamin C, folic acid and potassium. Get a juicer and sip on fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

Eat mineral-rich foods like seaweeds, leafy greens, beans, nuts and seeds to help replenish depleted minerals like magnesium.

Drink plenty of pure water. Stress causes dehydration and dehydration can promote stress—an endless cycle. Staying hydrated is important for healthy brain function.

Sip green tea and peppermint tea throughout the day to ward off stress. To relax and encourage sleep, drink a cup of chamomile tea in the evening.

Healthy snacks only—fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, and whole grain crackers.

Tip: Start your day with a nibble of fresh parsley and boost serotonin—a "feel good" hormone.

Create a pleasant relaxing atmosphere for meals. Try to eat outside at work. Use mealtime for pleasant conversation and socialize with friends and family. Socialization works wonders for stress, especially for women.


3. MANAGE AND CONTROL YOUR STRESS
Incorporate proven stress-reducing meditative therapies. Note: You don't have to wait until you think you are having a stress event. These techniques not only help repair damage done over the years, they also help set you up so you are better able to handle stress.

Practice meditation: Recent studies confirm the fact that Prayer and Meditation not only relieves stress, it also promotes a healthy heart and cardiovascular system, and reduces high blood pressure. Just 20 minutes a day can change your life, for the better.

Practice deep breathing exercises: Deep breathing reduces stress, relaxes and even helps you sleep better at night. Bonus: Healthier lungs.


4. EXERCISE EVERY DAY
Walk briskly for a half-hour outside every day.

Start your day with a quick stretch and warm-up. A 10-20 minute rejuvenation routine wakes up your lungs, glands, brain and heart, plus boosts the hormone production of serotonin (feel good) and dopamine (focus).

Tip: Be sure to stretch in the morning. Stretch your toes, which helps break up and release toxins as well as boost circulation.

Go outside during short breaks. Raining? Wear your raincoat and take an umbrella. Cold or snowing? Bundle up and get invigorated. Hot? Stay in the shade.

Dance. Put on your favorite music and go for it. Ten minutes will get you to a higher state!

Tip: Take some time off and get yourself into natural surroundings—into the woods, by the water, fields, mountains, etc., for the benefit of fresh air and sunshine! Even just an afternoon can refresh you for days.


5. GET BETTER QUALITY SLEEP
Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. It is believed that the sleep you get before midnight is better quality, so get to bed by 9 or 10.

Drink a cup of chamomile tea with dinner.

Create a peaceful sleep space that is completely dark. This induces the production of the lovely sleep hormone, melatonin.

Listen to relaxing music before bed.

Take a calming bath. Turn on relaxing music. Light candles. Drop in 5 drops of organic lavender essential oil.


6. USE AROMATHERAPY
One of the fastest ways to affect mood is through the sense of smell. Organic essential oils are potent therapies for reducing stress, encouraging focus, lessening depression, and building energy.

Relaxation: Lavender, chamomile, rosewood and clary sage.

Focus and concentration: Rosemary, thyme, peppermint and sage.

Alertness: Peppermint, juniper, and bergamot.

Creativity: Frankincense, rose germanium, rosemary and sandalwood.

Note: Pregnant women or those with health concerns should discuss using essential oils with a doctor before using. Do not use essential oils directly on your skin without diluting in a carrier oil such as olive or almond, and only use a few drops.


7. ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE
Did you know that what we focus on expands? What do you want to expand in your life? Try to look at obstacles as only bumps in the road. Focus on the positive aspects of your life. Stay away from people or situations that bring you down. Make conscious choices to put yourself in environments that are stimulating and nurturing. Make the best of situations. For example: Stuck in traffic? Look at it as a gift of free time. Listen to music you've been missing, or learn from books or courses on tape.

Tip: Sing often!

The Beauty of Esther

~ The History of Esther ~


478 B.C. - Esther, born Hadassah, was the wife of Xerxes the Great and the Shahbanu of the Persian Empire. She was Persia's first Jewish queen and heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther which is named after her. As a result of Esther's intervention and influence, Jews lived in the Persian Empire for 2400 years thereafter.

Esther's husband Xerxes (Ahasuerus) followed in the footsteps of Cyrus the Great, in showing mercy to the Jews of Persia. According to the Biblical Book of Esther King Xerxes of Persia held a one hundred and eighty-day feast in Susa to display the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.

The King ordered his queen Vashti to appear before him and his guests wearing her crown, to show off her beauty. But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Furious at her refusal to obey, the King asked his wise men and the seven princes of Persia for advice, according to the law; they advised the King to search for a new queen.

The King followed this advice, then began searching for a new queen by means of a beauty contest. Beautiful young women were gathered to the palace from every province. Esther was advanced for this role by Mordecai, her cousin and guardian.

For 12 months each woman underwent beauty treatments in the harem, after which she would go to the King. She was given anything she wanted to take with her from the harem to the King's palace. King Xerxes chose Esther to be his wife and queen.

The name “Esther” comes from the Persian word: "star".

~ Beauty Basics Part I ~

Beautiful You Check List 

Taking  a good look on our health condition~ our body tells us how it is functioning~ eyes, nails, tongue...

Clues About Fingernail color and texture can reflect a wide range of medical conditions

A Guide to Health via Your Fingernails:

White nails - Possible Liver problems or`Lung problems

Yellowish nails with a slight blush at the base - Possible Diabetes

Half-white, half-pink nails - Possible Kidney problems

Red nail beds - Possible Heart problems

Pale or white nail beds - Possible Anemia/Blood problems

Pitting or rippling of the nail surface - Possible Psoriasis or inflammatory problems

"Clubbing," a painless increase in tissue around the ends of the fingers, or inversion of the nail - Possible Lung problems

Irregular red lines at the base of the nail fold - Possible Lupus/connective tissue problems

Dark lines beneath the nail - Possible interior skin problems




~ Necessities ~Find time for yourself

Schedule time away from your job, your partner and your children. Use this opportunity to tune in to what you want and need. Don't feel that you're being selfish; you have a responsibility to yourself to take care of your needs.

Buy time
The next time you're asked to do something, don't answer right away. Say, "Let me think about it" or "I have to take care of something right now. I'll call you back and let you know." This will give you time to evaluate the situation and decide if it's something you truly want to do.

Practice saying "No."
For many women, saying "No" doesn't come naturally. But practice makes perfect, so start now! You can try it in the mirror, or even walk around the house saying it. Get used to hearing yourself say the word, and then you'll be ready to use it with other people!

Finding yourself is not about what you add to your life, it's about what you take away. Once you have created your "Absolute Yes List," the top priorities in your life, it becomes easier to identify those things that you'll need to let go. Although it may feel uncomfortable to think about saying no, it's important to remember that each time you say yes to someone or something else, you say no to you and your priorities. If saying no is difficult (especially to family members), then make sure you speak to your partner for support before and after you decline a request.

Your self-care is always a valid excuse to say no. Don't over-explain or defend your decision. Be graceful and honest. You might say something like: "I'm sorry, but it's just not possible for me to do that," or, "I'll have to decline but thank you anyway." As you practice saying no, it will get easier. Start now.

For one week, keep track of how many times you say yes to something that is not on your Absolute Yes List. At the end of the week, tally up the number…surprised? Awareness is the first step to realigning your decisions and priorities.

Make a list of five things you'd like to say no to. Start by thinking about these and then move into saying no.




Food From God


A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over! 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm a Swell to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries: looks just like them too. 

Grapefruits, Oranges , and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.




Vitamin K (Menadine)
named for the Danish word for bloodclotting-Koagulation.


It is important in the production of the clotting agent prothrombin and in the conversion of glucose to glycogen (the form of sugar stored in the body for use as fuel.)

Vitamin K is produced in the intestines of normal, healthy people.  It is important for normal function of the liver and needs bile to be utilized.

Positive Effects:
Promotes proper blood clotting
Reduces hemorrhaging
Used in treatment of coronary rhrombosis

Natural Sources -
fish, kelp, soybeans, and oil, safflower oil, egg yolks, alfalfa, leafy green vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, yogurt, corn, strawberries, wheat bran and germ, cauliflower, carrots, peas, cow's milk.


Cinnamon
is the dried inner bark of an evergreen tree that is harvested during the rainy season when the bark is most flexible and easiest to work with.

A wild cinnamon tree can grow to 65 feet (20 meters) high, but trees used for harvesting are pruned down at about 2 years of age to produce an abundance of finer bark-yielding growth called, tillering. Once the tree reaches 3 years of age it's harvested twice yearly following each rainy season.

At harvest time the shoots are cut and the leaves and twigs are removed with the rough outer bark. The shoots are then beaten to soften the tissues of the inner bark and make it easier to peel away in a complete strip. Once peeled, the bark is placed in overlapping, extended layers then rolled to form long canes or quills that are sun-dried. As the quills dry, the bark curls and becomes paper-like.

Cinnamon was one of the principal ingredients used in the manufacture of the precious ointments of "holy oil" which Moses commnded to use in the Tabernacle for anointing the sacred vesels and the person of the officiating priests. (Exodus 30:23).

Cinnamon is a powerful antiseptic that kills many decay and disease-causing bacteria.  It's leaf juice has strong activity against the germs that cause tuberculois.

Its flavour is due to an aromatic essential oil which makes up 0.5% to 1% of its composition. This oil is prepared by roughly pounding the bark, macerating it in seawater, and then quickly distilling the whole. It is of a golden yellow colour, with the characteristic odour of cinnamon and a very hot aromatic taste.




Home Remedies For Bad Breath:

1. Chew on a carnation flower for better breath smell.
2. Take one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar daily.
3. Brush your teeth with baking soda.
4. Gargle with parsley (or thyme) and water each night before bed. 
5. Salt water gargle kills bacteria. Spit out after a few minutes.

Home Remedies For Unnatural Body Odor:

Drink one cup of tomato juice everyday for 1 week.
The following week, Drink 1 cup of the juice, every other day.
Thereafter drink one cup on the first day of each month.


STRAWBERRY!
Find out the secrets of strawberry, right here:

1. Quickest Strawberry Scrub Ever
Strawberry's main skin-pleasing ingredient is alpha-hydroxy acid, a great little substance that helps us slough off dead skin cells so that new, youthful skin is revealed. Here's a ridiculously easy way to get some of strawberry's benefits in a New York minute: just cut a berry in half, rub it over your face, and let it sit there for a few minutes, then rinse. Instantly softer, smoother skin!

2. Sweet Strawberry and Cream Mask
This recipe is so delicious- with berries, cream, and honey--that you might be tempted to eat it instead of putting on your face, but give it a try. It will leave your skin so soft and beautiful: strawberries and cream mask.

3. Strawberry Foot Scrub
Feet can use a little help in summer, when sandals expose rough dead skin for all to see. This easy scrub helps slough it all away:

INGREDIENTS
8 strawberries
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoons kosher salt
Mix ingredients into a paste, massage well into feet, then rinse and dry.

4. Puffy Eye Remedy
Just place a few strawberry slices under your eyes and relax for 10 minutes, then remove the slices and moisturize.

5. Berry Good Acne Remedy
Many of us older women are learning the hard way that you don't have to be a teen to have acne! But whatever your age, if you get occasional blemishes, this formula is for you:

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1 tablespoon sour cream
Mash well to combine, then apply this mixture to your face and allow to stay for 10 minutes or so. Rinse thoroughly.

6. Strawberry Mask for Oily Skin
Mix equal parts fresh strawberries and plain unsweetened yogurt, mashing to combine. Apply to face, allowing to stay on for around 10 minutes, Rinse.

7. Strawberry Tooth-Whitener
Simply rub crushed fresh strawberry pulp directly on your teeth to clean and gently remove stains.

8. Strawberry Hair Conditioner
If you want glossy, silky hair, this one's for you:

INGREDIENTS
8 fresh strawberries
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
Mash ingredients thoroughly and massage into damp hair. Cover with a shower cap and a warm towel. Allow to stay on hair for at least 10 minutes, then shampoo as usual.




Basic Bath Salt Recipe Base

Materials:
Bottle or Jar (baby food jars are great!)
Epsom Salts
Food Coloring
Perfume or Essential Oil

Instructions:
Combine the desired amount of Epsom salts (enough to fit in your bottle or jar) with food coloring. Mix well so color is even. Add your purfume or essential oil and mix again. Spread the mixture out on a sheet of wax paper to dry for a couple of hours and then put it in the bottle or jar.
While the salts can be used right away, the purfume or esential oil will blend better with the salt if it is allowed to set in the jar for a few weeks.



Seaside Bath Salts
1 1/2 c. Table Salt
1 c. Kosher Salt
1 c. powdered milk
a few drops of blue food coloring
a few drops of essential oil (any scent that reminds you of the seaside).

Combine all of the above in a large bowl and stir well to mix all of the ingredients and distribute the food coloring evenly. If any clumping occurs, use a fork or large spoon to crush.



Dream Time Bath Salts
2 cup kosher salt
2 cup baking soda
5 drops lavender scented oil
handful of lavender buds

Combine all of the above ingredients and stir well. The liquid in this recipe might contribute to clumps forming, so simply break apart with the help of a fork.



Christmas Bath Salts
3 cups epsom salts
1 1/2 cup kosher salt
6 drops peppermint oil
2-3 drops red and green food coloring

Divide the epson salts into three 1 cup amounts and place in plastic bags. Add peppermint oil to two bags, leaving one unscented. Add green food coloring to one bag and stir until well distributed. Add red food coloring to second bag and mix well. By now you should have three bags of salts in green, red and white. With a spoon, start with the red salts and fill your decorative bottle until a nice layer is visible... an inch or two depending on size of bottle. Add second layer of white salts this time and finish off with a third layer of green.


Rainbow Fruity Bath Salts
3 quarts of Epsom salts or course sea salts
3 envelopes unflavored unsweetened Kool-Aid powder (one each of three different colors)
3-4 drops of scented Essential Oils which compliment the flavors of Kool-Aid you have chosen (Orange oil with orange Kool-Aid, Lavender Oil with Grape Kool-Aid, Peppermint Oil with strawberry Kool-Aid, etc)
Mix one envelope of Kool-aid to 1 quart salts in three separate bowls.  Add 3-4 drops of essential oils to each of the three bowls, in a scent which coordinates with the color.  Alternate colored layers in a glass or plastic container.  To use, add 1/2 to 1 cup salts per bath.  No, the Kool-Aid will NOT stain your skin or tub, as it will be in fairly small concentrations, but, your white towels are another matter!  Careful!


* Grapefruit Sugar Scrub
1-1/2 cups white table sugar
8 drops grapefruit essential oil
2 drops red food coloring (optional)

Place sugar into a large bowl and stir to break up any clumps. Add the essential oil.  Add one or two drops of red food coloring if you'd like it pink! Mix very well to make sure the color is evenly dispersed. Mix well and the pour into clean container. To use, stand in the tub or shower and massage the sugar scrub onto your skin from head to toe. Rinse.  Inhale. Smile.



~ Hair Treatments ~

Lavender/Rosemary Hair Oil
1 oz. oil of Rosemary
1/8 oz. oil of Lavender

Quantity:
Enough for about 6 months of use.

To Make: 
Simply mix the two oils together and store in the dark or in a small amber or light-proof bottle.

To Use: 
Put a few drops of the oil on your palm, brush your palm against your hairbrush and then brush your hair.


Cucumber Hair Drench
1 egg
1 eggshell's worth of olive oil
1 quarter of a peeled cucumber
Blend the egg, olive oil and peeled cucumber. Spread evenly through your hair, leave on for 10 minutes, then thoroughly rinse. For the best results year-round, continue this treatment monthly.


Rosemary Honey Hair Conditioner
The extremes of heat and cold we endure throughout winter can make even the greatest of hair look and feel like straw. This nourishing conditioner blends honey for shine; olive oil for moisture and essential oil of rosemary to stimulate hair growth.

1/2 cup Honey
1/4 cup warmed Olive oil (2T for normal to oily hair)
4 drops of essential oil of Rosemary

Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a tight fitting stopper or lid.
Apply a small amount at a time to slightly dampened hair. Massage scalp and work mixture through hair until completely coated. Cover hair with a warm towel (towel can be heated in a microwave or dryer) or shower cap; leave on to nourish and condition for 30 minutes. Remove towel or shower cap; shampoo lightly and rinse with cool water. Dry as normal and enjoy shinier, softer and healthier hair the natural way.


Protein Hair Treatment Recipe
1 ounce soy sauce
1 cup warm water

After you shampoo, pour this over your hair. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse out.



Super Body Hair Treatment Recipe
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon stale beer

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
Comb or brush into your hair.
Cover your hair with a plaster shower cap or wrap with a sheet of plastic wrap. Cover with a thick terrycloth towel. Leave this hair treatment on for 30 minutes, then rinse in warm water. Shampoo your hair as usual.

Tip: 
Proper Hair Brushing: Every day, rain or shine, men and women should thoroughly brush the hair.  Brushing dislodges dirt and distributes the natural hair oils.  Bend at the waist (this increases circulation to the scalp) and massage the scalp with fingertips.  Then brush hair starting at the nape of the neck with long easy strokes from nape to ends. Follow each of the brush strokes with your other hand to eliminate static electricity. Brush about 100 strokes in this upside down position. This is guaranteed to give new life to your hair.




Old Home Remedies...


Home Remedies For Backaches:
1. Massage your back with mint or almond oil then apply a heating pad where the back hurts to help absorb the oil.
2. Take a warm bath and sit in for a while relaxing.
3. Put dry rice in a cloth, warm in the microwave and apply on the back for a few minutes.
4. Rock the pelvis from side to side and front to back.
5. Eat nuts daily.



Home Remedies For Arteriosclerosis(hardening of the arteries):

1. Grate one lemon peel, saturate in warm water over night. Take one teaspoon 3 times a day with meal. Can also eat added to food or plain.
2. Drink carrot juice daily.
3. Mix equal amount of honey and lemon juice and swallow 1 teaspoon before bed time.
4. Blanch parsley in a cup of water and drink daily.
5. Squeeze an onion and drink 1 teaspoon of the juice daily.
6. Eat spinach everyday.


Home Remedies For Bee Sting:

1. Apply honey immediately after being stung by a bee.
2. Cut a tomato in half; apply the inner side on the sting for a few minutes.
3. Put vinegar on the sting.
4. Apply mud on the sting.
5. Smear a egg yolk on the sting. (for relief of pain and make the sting disappear).



Home Remedies For Bladder Inflammation:

1. Drink 1 glass of cranberry juice a day.
2. Drink radish juice to help with the bladder inflammation.
3. Drink watermelon juice.
4. Steam asparagus and drink the water.
5. Drink fresh onion juice.
6. To increase urine, eat a lot of parsley.
7. To increase urine, eat a uncooked potato with no salt.
8. Eat a lot of celery.
9. Eat grapefruits to help with the inflammation
10. Boil parsley in water, strain and drink the water.
11. Drink 2-3 glasses of pomegranate juice.



Home Remedies For Bronchitis:

1. Warm castor oil. Spread on the chest and cover with a dry towel for the night.
2. Mix mustard powder and equal amount of flour and water. Smear on the chest area and cover with a towel for the night. May also make a poultice bag of this and simply lay (or tie) the bag to your chest.
3. Drink fresh cabbage juice everyday.
4. Pour a cup of boiling water into a cup with grind/ cut horseradish root, wait 5 minutes and drink. Repeat 3 times a day.
5. Put half a teaspoon of licorice root (or one black piece of licorice candy) in a cup of hot water, wait 10 minutes, strain and drink. Repeat 3 times daily.



Home Remedies For Age (Brown) Spots:

1. Apply fresh Aloe Vera on the brown spots and rub.
2. Mix onion juice with vinegar (1:2 teaspoons), and apply on the brown spots.
3. Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of orange juice; soak a cotton ball and apply on spots.
4. Apply some lemon juice on the brown spots.
5. Blanch scented geranium leaves in boiling water, strain, cool and apply.
6. Mix 1 tablespoon of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of grind oatmeal and 3-4 drops of lemon juice. Apply on the brown spots, leave for 10 minutes and wash off. Keeps in Refrig. for one week.
7. Apply watermelon peel on the brown spot.
8. Cut horseradish and saturate the pieces in warm milk, Cool and apply on the brown spots.



Home Remedies For Minor Burns:

1. Apply honey on the burn and cover with a bandage.
2. Put egg whites on the burn.
3. Cut an onion and apply immediately on the burn.
4. Put some mustared on the burn.
5. Apply some dish washing detergent on the spot, immediately after getting burned.




Home Remedies For Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcer)

Drink non sweetened chamomile tea all day and dont eat any solid food but tea for 2-6 days.
Drink unpasteurized goats' milk.
Eat 3 kiwis a day.
Apply Aloe Vera juice as a mouth rinse.
Saturate coriander leaves in water, strain and use as a mouth wash.
Brush you teeth with backing soda, or apply baking soda on the ulcer.
Put horseradish on the ulcer.
Mix cinnamon with water and gurgle.
Smear carob honey on the ulcer.
Wash the mouth with salty water
Drink tomato juice or eat tomatoes.
Apply raw onion on the ulcer.
Drink and gurgle barley tea.
Rinse your mouth with plum juice for 2-3 minutes



Home Remedies For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Massage the hurt spot with mint oil or lavender oil.
When working on a computer use a wrist rest
For carpal tunnel syndrome: put your hand in warm water for 30 minutes, can add lavender oil to the water.
Splint your wrist through the night.



Home Remedies For Cholesterol:

Eat a lot of oatmeal every day.
To reduce cholesterol levels: Boil 10 pieces of cinnamon sticks (2.5cm each) in 5 teacups of water. Add a tablespoon of honey and drink hot.
Eat honey to reduce cholesterol level
Eat 1-2 apples daily.
Blanch lemon grass and drink several times a day.
Mix 1 tablespoon of Hilba (Yemenite herb) in water and drink every day.
Drink 1/2 glass of red wine every day before bed time.
Eat one cup of walnuts everyday.



Home Remedies For Cold And Flu

1 spoon Lemon juice.
1 flat spoon of honey.
1 spoon of brandy.  (mix the three together)
Drink one tablespoon 3 times a day to help the flu.
Put 1 tablespoon of cut/ powder root, pour hot water into the cup, wait for 5 minutes and drink, repeat 3 times daily.
Make green onion soup.
Mix one teaspoon of cayenne to 1 cup of boiling water. Take one teaspoon from the mixture and mix with a cup of water; drink when needed.
Pour 1 cup of boiling water to 1 teaspoon of Marjoram, wait for 5-10 minutes and drink. Repeat 3 times daily.
Blanch salvia/ lemon grass, add honey, wait 3 minutes and drink.
Put cupping glasses on the shoulders and smear arrack on the chest; Drink tea with brandy and cover up.
Cook 1 cup of water to 1 tablespoon of mustard seeds on low heat for 5 minuets. Cool and drink to help the cold.
Drink herbal tea with cinnamon.
Pour a cup of boiling water into a cup with grind/ cut horseradish root, wait 5 minutes and drink. Repeat 3 times a day.
Blanch half a teaspoon of ginger with half a teaspoon of cinnamon in a cup of boiling water; add honey, wait 3 minutes and drink.
When you catch a cold: drink granny's chicken soup.
Lie in bed and drink tea, let your body do the rest.
Cut an onion into small pieces, pour honey on the pieces, and leave for a few hours. Swallow one spoon every 4 hours.
Boil 1 cup of water, add 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, cook for 5 minutes, cool and drink.




Home Remedies For Constipation:

Eat a lot of plum's spread.
Constipation treatment: eat apples.
Drink carrot juice.
Eat 1/2 a cup of sunflower seeds everyday.
Drink every morning on an empty stomach, warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and half a lemon juice.
Blanch a teaspoon of thyme in a cup of warm water, add honey, and wait for 3 minutes then drink.
Eat potatoes daily to help with the constipation.
Saturate plums (or dates) with warm water before you go to bed; drink the water in the morning and eat the plums if you want to.
Take 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar every morning (on an empty stomach) with a glass of water.
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salt to 1/2 a glass of water and drink right a way (bitter but amazing).
Constipation treatment: eat cooked red beet.
Drink a lot of water, 2 liters a day at least.
Eat a lot of green vegetables, especially lettuce and parsley.
 Swallow 2 tablespoons of olive oil on an empty stomach every morning.
Eat: green cabbage (might make you gassy), plums, fig, Do Not eat white bread!
Eat a lot of bran and oatmeal.
Eat honey everyday.
Eat 1 banana everyday.
Eat horseradish.
Chop chick peas (hummus) and eat.
Drink 2 cups of warm water first thing every morning on an empty stomach.
Mix dried figs with plum's concentration, add half a teaspoon of paraffin oil, 1 cup of borsch, honey and lemon and drink.
Grain tomatoes and eat, also drink tomato juice.
Grain potatoes and drink the liquid to relieve the Constipation




Home Remedies For Corns / Warts:

Rub the inside of a banana peel on warts - 
Pick a fig leaf or a ficus leaf, squeeze and apply the liquid on the blister.
Soak a cloth with apple cider vinegar and tie around the foot; leave for 24 hours.
Slice garlic clove into big slices, put the slice on the wart and cover with a plaster/ bandage. The next day, smear Dead Sea mud on the wart and cover with a bandage. Then garlic the following day and so on until it's gone.
Apply some of the fig's white liquid on the wart.
Smear castor oil on the wart.
Put banana leaves on the wart and bandage. Repeat every night before you go to bed.
Mix 50gr of turmeric to 3 teaspoons of olive oil, smear on the wart (colors the skin). 
Apply 1-2 essential lemon oil drops on a q-tip and put on the corn (do not put on skin).
Mix apple cider vinegar to crushed onion, apply on and around the wart and bandage




Home Remedies For Cough

Mix: 1/2 a cup of boiling milk and 1/2 a cup of cold soda. Drink slowly.
Warm a cup of milk and add 1 spoon of honey, then drink (can also add butter).
Cough treatment: boil 5 garlic cloves in 2 cups of water; take the cloves out and drink up the warm water.
Make an eggnog: Mix an uncooked egg yolk with a tablespoon of sugar, add hot milk and drink.
Eat fresh and dried apricots.
Drink grapefruit juice mixed with a teaspoon of honey.
Smear olive oil on the chest to help with the cough.
Mix half a cup of boiling milk with half a cup of cold carbonated water, drink immediately in small sips.
Drink a lot of herbal tea: Thyme/ Salvia/ Hyssop/ Fennel/ Eucalyptus/ peppermint.
Pour 1 cup of boiling water on 1 teaspoon of Marjoram, wait for 5-10 minutes and drink. Repeat 3 times daily.
Blanch 50gm of thyme leaves in one liter of water, cover the head with a towel, band over and breathe the steam.
Cook 100gm of grind ginger root in 1 liter of sweet wine, strain and drink 3 tablespoons daily to reduce the coughs.
Put fennel oil in a burner and bread the fumes to relax the cough.
Saturate almonds in water overnight, peel, grind, add some butter and sugar. Eat 1-2 tablespoons several times a day.
 Mix equal amount of honey and lemon grass juice then drink to reduce the coughs.
Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with some drops of brandy.
Grind 1 tablespoon of dried Ruta Graveolens and 3 tablespoons of dried rosemary leaves, mix with a teaspoon of honey and eat one tablespoon every morning (don't use if you're pregnant).
Squeeze basil leaves add equal amount of honey, stir and drink.
Russian med: Boil some water with 2 garlic cloves, 1 table spoon of oregano. Pour into a cup add 1 tablespoon of honey and drink.
Grind a big onion put into a jar with honey, mix well and close the jar. Drink 1 tablespoon from the juice, twice a day to help the cough.
Eat pears, very good for phlegm.
Blanch 1 teaspoon of rosemary leaves with 1 teaspoon peppermint leaves, 1 teaspoon of honey and some lemon juice. Drink several times a day.
Drink herbal tea with cinnamon to stop the coughing.
Boil water and add salt, breath the steam after the water cools a little.
Make green onion soup.
Put 2 tablespoons of peach leaves and add boiling water. Wait 10 minutes and drink 3 times daily.
Chop fresh leaves of loquat; boil a few minutes in water. Drink several times a day. Can also add sugar or honey.
Saturate slices of oranges in wine overnight. Cook in the morning until the slices are very soft. Eat several times a day. Also very good for phlegm.
Blanch 1-2 teaspoons of oregano in water for 10 minutes and drink.
Drink a cup of tea with a cinnamon stick.
Romanian med: Mix 1 cup of soda water to 1 cup of milk and drink.




Home Remedies For Cracked Lips:

Smear olive oil on lips (do not put Vaseline on lips it will make them more dry).
Rub melted unsalted butter on the cracked lips.
Apply some table salt on your lips, peel, wipe and apply some olive oil on the lips.
Apply some Aloe Vera gel on the cracked lips.
Smear honey on the lips.
Mix 1 tablespoon of Vaseline to the same amount of butter; then put 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of sugar and apply on the cracked lips.
Apply some fresh orange juice drops on the afflicted area of the lips (might sting).
Apply some cocoa butter on the cracked lips.
Smear some Vitimin E oil caplets on the chapped lip
Slice a cucumber and rub the chapped lips with a slice.
Dip a wet toothbrush in baking soda and gently scrub the cracked lips
Apply some hand/body lotion on the chapped lips




Home Remedies For Cramps:

Drink a hot cup of coffee or tea right after you get the cramp, try to sit and relax for a few minutes.
Drain some pickle juice and drink 1 cup.
Suck on a lollypop or peppermint candy.
For muscular cramps: Massage the muscle that is opposite to the muscle that is cramping. Example if you have a cramp in the lower thigh, massage the upper part of the thigh muscle.
Take a Heating pad or a water bottle with very hot water. Place on the place where it hurts and leave it until the pain is gone.
Take a very hot bath, can also add a cup of camomile tea into the water.






Wonderful Ways to Use Epsom Salts
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS: 

I always knew that soaking in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom Salts was good for relaxing muscles and drawing toxins from the body, but I could never figure out why. And it wasn't until I spent some time at the Epsom Salt Industry Council web site that I learned that epsom salts— made of the mineral magnesium sulfate— are also a sedative for the nervous system.

When magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, such as in a bath, it draws toxins from the body, sedates the nervous system, reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, is a natural emollient, exfoliator, and much more.

Relaxing and sedative bath:
Soak in warm water and 2 cups of epsom salt.

Face cleaner:
To clean your face at night, mix a half-teaspoon of epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream. Just massage into skin and rinse with cold water.

Homemade skin mask:
Apply the mask to damp skin. For normal to oily skin, mix 1 tablespoon of cognac, 1 egg, 1/4 cup of non-fat dry milk, the juice of 1 lemon, and a half-teaspoon of epsom salt. For normal to dry skin, mix 1/4 cup of grated carrot, 1 1/2 teaspoons of mayonnaise and a half-teaspoon of epsom salt.

Foot soak:
Soothe aches, remove odors and soften rough skin with a foot soak. Add 1/2 cup of epsom salt to a large pan of warm water. Soak feet for as long as it feels right. Rinse and dry.

Skin exfoliator:
Massage handfuls of epsom salt over your wet skin, starting with your feet and continuing up towards the face. Have a bath to rinse.

Remove excess oil from hair:
Epsom salt soaks up excess oil from hair. Add 9 tablespoons of epsom salt to 1/2 cup of oily hair shampoo. Apply one tablespoon of the liquid to your hair when it is dry; rinse with cold water. Pour lemon juice or organic apple cider vinegar through the hair, leave on for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse.

Remove hairspray buildup:
Combine 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup epsom salt. Combine, cover and let set for 24 hours. The next day, pour the mixture into your dry hair and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then shampoo as normal.

Hair volumizer:
Combine equal parts of deep conditioner and epsom salt. Warm in a pan. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse.

Soak sprains and bruises:
Epsom salt will reduce the swelling of sprains and bruises. Add 2 cups epsom salt to a warm bath, and soak.

Splinter remover:
Soak in epsom salt, it will draw out the splinter.





Dry Skin-Controlling Paste
To naturally-moisturize dry skin.

You will need:
Egg yolk
Olive oil
Lemon juice

Procedure:
Make a creamy paste with egg yolk, olive oil and lemon juice by mixing all these ingredients together. Mix well and apply it on neck and face. Leave the mixture for 10 minutes and wash with water. Repeat this remedy as often as needed.



Oily Skin Controlling Cream
To extensively remove oily skin that may cause pimples.

You will need:
Oatmeal
Egg white

Procedure:
Mix the egg white with oatmeal enough to create a creamy paste. Mix thoroughly and apply to face and neck liberally. Leave the mixture for 20 minutes and wash with clean water. Do this as often as needed.


All Natural Exfoliating Cream
To help even-tone skin and remove dead skin cells and renewing them into a natural glow.

You will need:
1 tablespoon of barley powder
½ lime juice
1 tablespoon honey

Procedure:
Mix 1 table spoon of barley with 1/2 teaspoon of lime. Mix thoroughly and add 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix it well until it appears creamy. Apply the mixture on the face and neck and leave it for about 20 minutes. Rinse face and neck with lukewarm water. Repeat this process daily and achieve a good result.






Homemade Natural Baby Skin Care Recipes

When baby has sensitive skin, things like perfumes and petroleum just make it worse. So, you know you want natural baby skin care but you don't know where to start? Here are some ideas for you.

Olive oil can be used on baby's dry skin. It's been known to help diaper rash as well.

Use 100% pure cornstarch instead of perfumed baby powders. It's better for baby's lungs and skin, and easier on your wallet as well.

Oatmeal bath for kids.
Grind 1 cup of plain oatmeal in a food processor or coffee grinder until it turns into a powder. Add it to running water and stir with your hand to get the oatmeal powder to dissolve in the bath water.  Relives itching due to chicken pox, poison oak, diaper rash etc. Also good for dry skin.

Diaper Rash Cream
Combine 1 tsp mineral oil with 1 tsp cornstarch until it forms a paste. Add 2 tsp zinc oxide ointment and 2 tsp antibiotic ointment.

Hand Sanitizer
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
1/4 cup grain alcohol
10 drops fragrance oil
1 drop food coloring
Combine ingredients and shake. Store in a spray pump bottle

Kids Hair Detangler
Add a small amount of conditioner to water and pour it into a spray bottle


Tooth Paste
1 cup baking soda
1/3 cup salt
3 teaspoons glycerin
Peppermint oil to taste (or any other flavor).
Combine baking soda and salt. Add the glycerin and mix well. Add a few drops of peppermint oil. For fun, you can add a few drops of food coloring.




Home Remedy For Diaper Rash
To get rid of diaper rash, try one of these diaper rash cures:


* Wash the affected area with soap and warm water and pat dry or allow it to air dry (during the warm months).
* An oatmeal bath will help to curre the diaper rash. Pour one cup of oatmeal in the bathe water and let your baby soak for ten minutes or more while you make sure the rash is cleansed.
* Allow you baby to go without a diaper for 30 minutes or more everyday.
* Apply a coating of organic vegetable oil or olive oil.
* Tea bags appled to the area - or put directly in the diaper - will make the rash will make it go away practically over night. This is one of the diaper rash quick cures and keep in mind the tea bage will cause a temporary brown stain on the skin.
* A severe diaper rash remedy is scorched flour. Put some flour in a stainless steel or cast iron skillet and let it turn a beige color and sprinkle some in at each diaper change.



Homemade Herbal Baby Oil for Bath, Body & Massage

Herbal baby oil is easy to make, and nice to have on hand to use on delicate baby skin anytime of the year. 

Supplies to Have Ready:
Clean Dry Jars-recycle your Glass Jars or use Canning/Mason jars
Organic Chamomile Flower and Calendula Flower
Organic Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:
Fill your jar half full with a combination of the chamomile & calendula.
Fill the rest of the jar with the Olive Oil, leaving about a one-inch space at the top.
If using a metal lid, place a piece of plastic wrap over the opening of the jar, then cap.
Label, date and store in a cupboard or pantry for 6-8 weeks. Shake gently daily or occasionally.
At the end of 6-8 weeks, use cheesecloth to strain the oil and discard the herbs.  Be sure that the oil is free from all tiny herbal particles, this may indicate several strainings.
  
To Use:
Warm a small amount of oil in your hands before applying to baby's skin. Use to heal, comfort, soothe & heal bottoms and to moisturize & condition skin.

Summary:
Cold pressed extra virgin olive oil attracts external moisture while still allowing for normal skin functions to take place. It is mild, gentle, healing and superior for baby's tender skin.
 
Calendula has been used by Physicians to treat minor infections and skin irritations; it is extremely gentle.

Chamomile is confirmed by research to be useful in treating minor skin conditions, it is known to calm and is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.

Store baby oil in a cabinet, closet or cupboard outside of the bathroom.
Take care not to get water inside the bottle, as this beautiful, natural & healing oil contains no preservative.



Natural Herbal Healing Wipes

1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 TBS Calendula oil
2 tsp. Baby Shampoo
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
Mix solution together and repeat the steps for the "basic" baby wipes.


Baby Wipes
Mix 1/4 cup of baby or olive oil with 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup baby shampoo. Cut a roll of paper towels in half. Remove the cardboard center. Place it in an old baby wipes container and pour the oil/soap mixture over the wipes. Use like regular wipes.



Natural Diaper Pail Odor Eliminator

1 cup of (white only) vinegar per two gallons of water.
Wash the diaper pail to neutralize the odors and to also neutralize the urine in cloth diapers.