Thursday, July 25, 2013

HOME MADE MOSQUITO REPELLENT also for ANTS and FLEAS)



(And free from chemicals that poison the body)

Ingredients:

1/2 litre of alcohol
100 gram of whole cloves
100 ml of baby oil or similar (almond, sesame, chamomile, lavender, fennel etc)

Preparation:
Leave cloves to marinate in alcohol four days
Stir every morning and evening
After 4 days add the oil
It's now ready to use.

How to use:

Gently rub a few drops into the skin of the arms and legs.
Observe the mosquitoes fleeing the room.
Repels fleas on pets too.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Strong Enough To Bend Lyrics

There's a tree out in the backyard
That never has been broken by the wind
And the reason its still standing
It was strong enough to bend

For years, we have stayed together
As lovers and as friends
What we have will last forever
If we're strong enough to bend

When you say something that you can't take back
Big wind blows and you hear a little crack
When you say "Hey well I might be wrong"
You can sway with the wind till the storm is gone
Sway with the wind till the storm is gone

Like a tree out in the backyard
That never has been broken by the wind
Our love will last forever
If we're strong enough to bend

When you start thinkin' that you know it all
Big wind blows and a branch will fall
When you say "Hey this job takes two"
We can sway with the wind till the skies turn blue
Sway with the wind till the skies turn blue

Like a tree out in the backyard
That never has been broken by the wind
Our love will last forever if we're strong enough to bend
Our love will last forever if we're strong enough to bend.

Strong Enough To Bend - song by Tanya Tucker

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Whooping Cough


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Definition

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious disease which causes classic spasms (paroxysms) of uncontrollable coughing, followed by a sharp, high-pitched intake of air which creates the characteristic "whoop" of the disease's name.

Description

Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordatella pertussis. B. pertussis causes its most severe symptoms by attaching itself to those cells in the respiratory tract which have cilia. Cilia are small, hair-like projections that beat continuously, and serve to constantly sweep the respiratory tract clean of such debris as mucus, bacteria, viruses, and dead cells. When B. pertussis interferes with this normal, janitorial function, mucus and cellular debris accumulate and cause constant irritation to the respiratory tract, triggering coughing and increasing further mucus production.
Whooping cough is a disease which exists throughout the world. While people of any age can contract whooping cough, children under the age of two are at the highest risk for both the disease and for serious complications and death. Apparently, exposure to B. pertussisbacteria earlier in life gives a person some immunity against infection with it later on. Subsequent infections resemble the common cold.

Causes and symptoms

Whooping cough has four somewhat overlapping stages: incubation, catarrhal stage, paroxysmal stage, and convalescent stage.
An individual usually acquires B. pertussis by inhaling droplets infected with the bacteria coughed into the air by someone already suffering with the infection. Incubation is the symptomless period of seven to14 days after breathing in the B. pertussis bacteria, and during which the bacteria multiply and penetrate the lining tissues of the entire respiratory tract.
The catarrhal stage is often mistaken for an exceedingly heavy cold. The patient has teary eyes, sneezing, fatigue, poor appetite, and an extremely runny nose (rhinorrhea). This stage lasts about 10-14 days.
The paroxysmal stage, lasting two to four weeks, begins with the development of the characteristic whooping cough. Spasms of uncontrollable coughing, the "whooping" sound of the sharp inspiration of air, and vomiting are all hallmarks of this stage. The whoop is believed to occur due to inflammation and mucous which narrow the breathing tubes, causing the patient to struggle to get air into his/her lungs; the effort results in intense exhaustion. The paroxysms (spasms) can be induced by over activity, feeding, crying, or even overhearing someone else cough.
The mucus which is produced during the paroxysmal stage is thicker and more difficult to clear than the more watery mucus of the catarrhal stage, and the patient becomes increasingly exhausted attempting to clear the respiratory tract through coughing. Severely ill children may have great difficult maintaining the normal level of oxygen in their systems, and may appear somewhat blue after a paroxysm of coughing, due to the low oxygen content of their blood. Such children may also suffer from swelling and degeneration of the brain (encephalopathy), which is believed to be caused both by lack of oxygen to the brain during paroxysms, and also by bleeding into the brain caused by increased pressure during coughing. Seizures may result from decreased oxygen to the brain. Some children have such greatly increased abdominal pressure during coughing that hernias result (hernias are the abnormal protrusion of a loop of intestine through a weak area of muscle). Another complicating factor during this phase is the development of pneumonia from infection with another bacterial agent; the bacteria takes hold due to the patient's already-weakened condition.
If the patient survives the paroxysmal stage, recovery occurs gradually during the convalescent stage, usually taking about three to four weeks. However, spasms of coughing may continue to occur over a period of months, especially when a patient contracts a cold, or other respiratory infection.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis based just on the patient's symptoms is not particularly accurate, as the catarrhal stage may appear to be a heavy cold, a case of the flu, or a simple bronchitis. Other viruses and tuberculosis infections can cause symptoms similar to those found during the paroxysmal stage. The presence of a pertussis-like cough along with an increase of certain specific white blood cells (lymphocytes) is suggestive of pertussis (whooping cough). However, cough can occur from other pertussis-like viruses. The most accurate method of diagnosis is to culture (grow on a laboratory plate) the organisms obtained from swabbing mucus out of the nasopharynx (the breathing tube continuous with the nose). B. pertussis can then be identified by examining the culture under a microscope.

Treatment

Treatment with the antibiotic erythromycin is helpful only at very early stages of whooping cough, during incubation and early in the catarrhal stage. After the cilia and the cells bearing those cilia, are damaged, the process cannot be reversed. Such a patient will experience the full progression of whooping cough symptoms; symptoms will only improve when the old, damaged lining cells of the respiratory tract are replaced over time with new, healthy, cilia-bearing cells. However, treatment with erythromycin is still recommended, to decrease the likelihood of B. pertussis spreading. In fact, all members of the household where a patient with whooping cough lives should be treated with erythromycin to prevent the spread of B. pertussis throughout the community. The only other treatment is supportive, and involves careful monitoring of fluids to prevent dehydration, rest in a quiet, dark room to decrease paroxysms, and suctioning of mucus.

Prognosis

Just under 1% of all cases of whooping cough cause death. Children who die of whooping cough usually have one or more of the following three conditions present:
  • severe pneumonia, perhaps with accompanying encephalopathy
  • extreme weight loss, weakness, and metabolic abnormalities due to persistent vomiting during paroxysms of coughing
  • other pre-existing conditions, so that the patient is already in a relatively weak, vulnerable state (such conditions may include low birth weight babies, poor nutrition, infection with the measles virus, presence of other respiratory or gastrointestinal infections or diseases)

Prevention

The mainstay of prevention lies in programs similar to the mass immunization program in the United States which begins immunization inoculations when infants are two months old. The pertussis vaccine, most often given as one immunization together with diphtheria andtetanus, has greatly reduced the incidence of whooping cough. Unfortunately, there has been some concern about serious neurologic side effects from the vaccine itself. This concern led huge numbers of parents in England, Japan, and Sweden to avoid immunizing their children, which in turn has led to major epidemics of disease in those countries. However, several carefully constructed research studies have disproved the idea that the pertussis vaccine is the cause of neurologic damage. Furthermore, a newer formulation of the pertussis vaccine is available. Unlike the old whole cell pertussis vaccine, which is composed of the entire bacterial cell which has been deactivated (and therefore unable to cause infection), the newer acellular pertussis vaccine does not use a whole cell of the bacteria, but is made up of (between two and five) chemical components of the B. pertussis bacteria. The acellular pertussis vaccine appears to greatly reduce the risk of unpleasant reactions to the vaccine, including high fever and discomfort following vaccination.

Resources

Periodicals

Jenkinson, Douglas. "Natural Course of 500 Consecutive Casesof Whooping Cough: A General Practice Population Study." British Medical Journal310, no. 6975 (February 4, 1995): 299+.

Key terms

Cilia — Tiny, hair-like projections from a cell. In the respiratory tract, cilia beat constantly in order to move mucus and debris up and out of the respiratory tree, in order to protect the lung from infection or irritation by foreign bodies.

Friday, March 8, 2013

10 Reasons Why You Should Drink Hot Lemon Water in the Morning



"10 Reasons Why You Should Drink Hot  Lemon Water in the Morning."

1. Boosts your immune system: Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds.  They’re high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps control blood pressure.

2. Balances pH: Drink lemon water everyday and you’ll reduce your body’s overall acidity. Lemon is one of the most alkaline foods around. Yes, lemon has citric acid but it does not create acidity in the body once metabolized.

3. Helps with weight loss:   Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet (see #2 ) lose weight faster.

4. Aids digestion:  Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that required for digestion. Efficient digestion reduces heartburn and constipation.

5. Is a diuretic: Lemons increase the rate of urination in the body, which helps purify it. Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.

6. Clears skin:  The vitamin C component helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well. It can actually be applied directly to scars to help reduce their appearance.

7. Freshens breath: Not only this, but it can help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. The citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should monitor this. I admit, I’m slightly worried about it.

8. Relieves respiratory problems: Warm lemon water helps get rid of chest infections and halt those pesky coughs. It’s thought to be helpful to people with asthma and allergies too.

9. Keeps you zen: Vitamin C is one of the first things depleted when you subject your mind and body to stress. As mentioned previously, lemons are chock full of vitamin C.

10. Helps kick the coffee habit:  After I have a glass of hot lemon water, I actually don’t crave coffee in the morning. This is weird, I can’t explain it, but I’ll take it.

The one thing I couldn’t find a concrete answer for is why the water has to be hot. Having studied Chinese Medicine, I can only assume that cold water likely provides a shock or stress factor to the body. It takes energy for your body to process cold and really hot water, believe it or not. I asked BluePrintCleanse how much lemon the recommend you put in your water. They suggested just a wedge or 1/8 of a lemon.

Tip:  Drink your warm lemon water in coffee cups that has coffee or tea stains.  The lemon water will help remove them.

Tip:  Grind the used lemon rinds in your garbage disposal to help deodorize it.

Read more @ http://lajollamom.com

1. Boosts your immune system: Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds. They’re high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps control blood pressure.

2. Balances pH: Drink lemon water everyday and you’ll reduce your body’s overall acidity. Lemon is one of the most alkaline foods around. Yes, lemon has citric acid but it does not create acidity in the body once metabolized.

3. Helps with weight loss: Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet (see #2 ) lose weight faster.

4. Aids digestion: Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that required for digestion. Efficient digestion reduces heartburn and constipation.

5. Is a diuretic: Lemons increase the rate of urination in the body, which helps purify it. Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.

6. Clears skin: The vitamin C component helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well. It can actually be applied directly to scars to help reduce their appearance.

7. Freshens breath: Not only this, but it can help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. The citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should monitor this. I admit, I’m slightly worried about it.

8. Relieves respiratory problems: Warm lemon water helps get rid of chest infections and halt those pesky coughs. It’s thought to be helpful to people with asthma and allergies too.

9. Keeps you zen: Vitamin C is one of the first things depleted when you subject your mind and body to stress. As mentioned previously, lemons are chock full of vitamin C.

10. Helps kick the coffee habit: After I have a glass of hot lemon water, I actually don’t crave coffee in the morning. This is weird, I can’t explain it, but I’ll take it.

The one thing I couldn’t find a concrete answer for is why the water has to be hot. Having studied Chinese Medicine, I can only assume that cold water likely provides a shock or stress factor to the body. It takes energy for your body to process cold and really hot water, believe it or not. I asked BluePrintCleanse how much lemon the recommend you put in your water. They suggested just a wedge or 1/8 of a lemon.

Tip: Drink your warm lemon water in coffee cups that has coffee or tea stains. The lemon water will help remove them.

Tip: Grind the used lemon rinds in your garbage disposal to help deodorize it.

Read more @ http://lajollamom.com/

Monday, January 14, 2013

Garlic and Cream Cheese Crackers

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Whenever it is cold or flu season and we want to help try to build up our immune systems, this is what we eat.
I mince about 3 raw garlic cloves and mix it with a fork into a third of a pack of cream cheese.
Spread on crackers and eat!
This evening I am drinking mint tea with it. If you have a hard time getting past the garlic and like V8 tomato juice, drinking tomato juice with the crackers will help cut the garlic flavor.

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Blessings! TinaJewel

Cold/Flu and Sore Throat? No Problem!

I'm  gonna have to try this for us! Found this from The Bulk Herb Store.

by Julie S. October 2006

Whenever we get hit by a bad cold/flu with sore throat, blocked sinus and heavy head and chest, we make up this tea. My mum also used to make it for us as children. It is refreshing, clears the head, breaks up mucous, and we have found it to be very helpful. It doesn't stop the process of healing but gives more strength and speed to our God-given healing processes.
Crush 1 - 2 cloves of garlic into a large heat resistant cup. Add the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon (also some rind too, if it is clean and organic). Then, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground powdered Ginger. Then, a pinch of Cayenne pepper, and to top it off, a tablespoon of honey. Add a cup of hot water, just off the boil, and drink the whole lot as soon as it is bearably cool enough. Within 20 minutes, go to bed and cover up. Let your body do the rest.
Often though, we make this up in a big glass jug, (multiply the ingredients accordingly and to taste) using chopped fresh garlic, and thinly sliced fresh ginger, plus the other ingredients, which settles and steeps on the bottom. We put the jug beside the bed and after sipping about 3 glasses while it is still hot/warm, it does wonders and is very soothing.
We have made it up and put it in a thermos flask too. This keeps it hot for whenever you want to drink it to relieve your symptoms.
If the kids ever have a bad chesty cough, we mix 1/2 lemon juice, with 1/4 teaspoon powdered Ginger, pinch ofCayenne (can be omitted if your child won't drink it) and honey to sweeten. Add very warm water to half a cup, and get them to drink it as needed. We have found this syrupy mix works well and the kids ask for it.
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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Candida Self-Test And How to Cure It

by Brenda Watson, C.T.

Based on information from the book,
“The Yeast Connection” by
Dr. William Crook M.D.

Section A - History
Circle the number next to the questions you answer “yes” to, then add up all the circled numbers and write the total on the line at the bottom.
1. Have you taken tetracycline (Sumycin®, Panmycin®, Vibramycin®, Minocin®, etc.) or other antibiotics for acne for 1 month or longer? 50
2. Have you at any time in your life, taken other “broad spectrum” antibiotics for respiratory, urinary or other infections for 2 months or longer, or for shorter periods, 4 or more times in a 1 year span? 50
3. Have you taken a broad spectrum antibiotic drug - even for 1 period? 6
4. Have you at any time in your life, been bothered by persistent prostatitis, vaginitis, or other problems affecting your reproductive organs? 25
5. Have you been pregnant... 
a) 2 or more times? 5
b) 1 time? 3
6. Have you taken birth control pills for...
a) more than 2 years? 15
b) 6 months to 2 years? 8
7. Have you taken prednisone, Decadron® or other cortisone-type drugs by mouth or inhalation... 
a) for more than 2 weeks? 15
b) for 2 weeks or less? 6
8. Does exposure to perfumes, insecticides, fabric shop odors, or other chemicals provoke...  
a) moderate to severe symptoms? 20
b) mild symptoms? 5
9. Are your symptoms worse on damp,muggy days or in moldy places? 20
10. If you have ever had athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch or other chronic fungus infections of the skin or nails, have such infections been... 
a) severe or persistent? 20
b) mild or moderate? 10
11. Do you crave sugar? 10
12. Do you crave breads? 10
13. Do you crave alcoholic beverages? 10
14. Does tobacco smoke really bother you? 10
Total Score for Section A:  __________

Section B - Major Symptoms
For each symptom that is present, write the appropriate number beside it.
• If a symptom is occasional or mild, score 3 points
• If a symptom is frequent or moderately severe, score 6 points
• If a symptom is severe and/or disabling, score 9 points
Total the scores for this section and record them on the line at the bottom of this section.
1.  Fatigue or lethargy
2.  Feeling of being “drained”
3.  Poor memory
4.  Feeling “spacey” or “unreal”
5.  Inability to make decisions
6.  Numbness, burning or tingling
7.  Insomnia
8.  Muscle aches
9.  Muscle weakness or paralysis
10. Pain and/or swelling in joints
11. Abdominal pain
12. Constipation
13. Diarrhea
14. Bloating, belching or intestinal gas
15. Troublesome vaginal burning, itching or discharge
16. Prostatitis
17. Impotence
18. Loss of sexual desire or feeling
19. Endometriosis or infertility
20. Cramps and/or other menstrual irregularities
21. Premenstrual tension 
22. Attacks of anxiety or crying
23. Cold hands or feet and/or chilliness
24. Shaking or irritability when hungry
Total Score for Section B:______

Section C - Minor Symptoms
For each symptom that is present, write the appropriate number beside it:
• If a symptom is occasional or mild, score 3 points
• If a symptom is frequent or moderately severe, score 6 points
• If a symptom is severe and/or disabling, score 9 points
Total the scores for this section and record them in the box at the bottom of this section.
1.  Drowsiness
2.  Irritability or jitteryness
3.  In-coordination
4.  Inability to concentrate
5.  Frequent mood swings
6.  Headaches
7.  Dizziness/loss of balance
8.  Pressure above ears...feeling of head swelling
9.  Tendency to bruise easily
10. Chronic rashes or itching
11. Psoriasis or recurrent hives
12. Indigestion or heartburn
13. Food sensitivity or intolerance
14. Mucus in stools
15. Rectal itching
16. Dry mouth or throat
17. Rash or blisters in mouth
18. Bad breath
19. Foot, hair or body odor not relieved by washing
20. Nasal congestion or post-nasal drip
21. Nasal itching 
22. Sore throat
23. Laryngitis, loss of voice
24. Cough or recurrent bronchitis
25. Pain or tightness in chest
26, Wheezing or shortness of breath
27. Urinary frequency, urgency or incontinence
28. Burning on urination
29. Spots in front of eyes or erratic vision
30. Burning or tearing of eyes
31. Recurrent infections or fluid in ears
32. Ear pain or deafness
Total Score for Section C:_________



Total Score Section A________

Total Score Section B________

Total Score Section C________

Grand Total Score___________


IF YOUR SCORE IS:  YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE:

180 (women) Almost certainly yeast connected

120 (women) Probably yeast connected

60 (women) Possibly yeast connected

below 60 (women) Probably not yeast connected



140 (men) Almost certainly yeast connected

90 (men) Probably yeast connected

40 (men) Possibly yeast connected
below 40 (men) 
 Probably not 

yeast connected

The total score will help you and your physician decide if your health problems are yeast connected. A comprehensive history and physical examination are also important. In addition, laboratory studies, x-rays, and other types of tests may also be appropriate. Scores for women will run higher, as 7 items in this questionnaire apply exclusively to women, while only 2 apply exclusively to men. If your total score for all three sections above was below 60 for a woman or below 40 for a man, then you are less likely to have a problem with candida. However, if you scored higher than this then you may wish to consider lifestyle and dietary changes, as well as a detoxification and cleansing program, all of which may help you feel healthy and more energetic.

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The best thing I have found to take away candida is Olive Leaf Extract. Truehope's worked best.  I have tried other brands but they never seemed to work! 

How should OLE be taken? What I learned from Truehope
This is the protocal they told us to follow when we called in and talked to one of their people who help you figure out what to take for each person's symptoms.

Start by taking 1 cap for three days, 2 caps for two days, and 3 caps for three days. Continue to increase by 1 cap every 3 days until you reach 6 caps per day. Take OLE with meals. Continue OLE at 6 daily for 2 months



∙ If really struggling (with die off) decrease temporarily or increase slower depending on severity.
∙ After 2.5 months; lower 1 capsule every 2 days until off.
∙ After 2.5 months begin rotating Caprylic Acid, Garlic and Grapefruit seed extract and OLE every 2 weeks.


The amount of "OLE" that you should take varies according to the reason you are taking it.

●     For maintenance of good health and increased energy 1-2 capsules daily.
●     For conditions of ill health 1-3 capsules three times a day.
●     Children ½ adult dosage 1 capsule three times a day.

Many people have reported good results from adding a capsule or two if they are exposed to germs or feel "run down" or "over tired.” Laboratory testing shows that OLE works best when taken shortly after exposure to a pathogen. So, staggering a few capsules throughout the day may work best (M.G. Soret, Anti microbial Agents and Chemotherapy: 160-166, 1969).

Drink Plenty of Good Pure Water!
When you are combating a particular problem with more than 1-2 capsules a day, be sure to drink enough good, pure water (Reverse Osmosis or Distilled). We recommend drinking 12-16oz of water for each capsule you take. Water helps the lymphatic system and flushes the kidneys. Drinking large quantities of water should prevent a detoxification overload (Herxheimer Response).

In a nut shell OLE combats the yeast in the whole body. Threelac is used as a defense mechanism to stop yeast in the digestive tract preventing it to become systemic.

The Best OLE I have found is from Truehope. Olive Leaf Extract

Truehope now recommends using their GreenBac instead of ThreeLac. I haven't had any experience with that.

ThreeLac

ThreeLac is the most effective candida defense product in the marketplace. This proprietary formula is teeming with live bacteria that start to work immediately to help rid the body of resilient candida organisms. You can expect results starting with day one!

The secret behind ThreeLac's effectiveness is the micro-encapsulation process that gets the candida-fighting live bacteria safely past the acidic environment in the stomach. These oxygen-friendly bacteria go to work "dining" on anaerobic problem organisms that your body does not need. An added benefit is that it helps to balance the body's pH, a favorable pH is instrumental in the management of candidiasis (yeast cannot survive)


Suggested Use
Take ThreeLac right before you eat a meal. Let each packet dissolve in your mouth and follow immediately with 4-6 ounces of water, then eat. Food acts as a buffer to assist ThreeLac in reaching the small intestine, where it helps your body rid itself of the candida parasites. For more severe candida infestations, you may want to take up to 5 packets to start (for the first 30 days). ThreeLac may be taken all at once prior to a meal or spread out among two to three meals. After 30 days you may then reduce to a maintenance amount of one to two packets per day to maintain body pH.

Once again we recommend drinking 8-12 glasses of water. Water helps the lymphatic system and flushes the kidneys. Drinking large quantities of water should prevent a detoxification overload (Herxheimer Response).

In a nut shell OLE combats the yeast in the whole body. Threelac is used as a defense mechanism to stop yeast in the digestive tract preventing it to become systemic.

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You can try this simple test to see if you have a yeast imbalance that ThreeLac may help with:  First thing in the morning, before you put ANYTHING in your mouth, get a clear glass.  Fill with water and work up a bit of saliva, then spit it into the glass of water. Check the water every 15 minutes or so for up to one hour.  If you have a problem that ThreeLac can help with, you will see strings (like legs) traveling down into the water from the saliva floating on the top, or “cloudy” saliva will sink to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks will seem to be suspended in the water.   If there are no strings and the saliva is still floating after at least one hour, you probably have candida under control. ThreeLac would then be used to maintain good bowel flora and proper pH.