CABBAGE LEAVES RELIEVE PAIN AND SWELLING

Cabbage isn’t just for slaw and sauerkraut – although those are wonderful uses! Cabbage leaves also have a proven history as a treatment for wounds and swellings.

An old Irish blessing reads, "May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms."

Ancient armies carried cabbage for use not only as a food, but as a wound dressing that fought infection. The explorers of the 17th and 18th centuries carried Vitamin C rich cabbage with them as a natural preventative of scurvy. On one of Captain Cook's voyages sailors injured in a storm had their wounds bound with cabbage to help prevent gangrene.

Cabbage leaves act as a diuretic, and they contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. Cabbage juice is rich in lactic acid, a known anti-bacterial. Applied to the skin, these compounds are remarkably effective at relieving swelling and the pain associated with it.

There’s not a simpler remedy for engorged and painful breasts than the application of raw cabbage leaves. Bruise a couple of cabbage leaves. Cap a leaf over the affected breast. Use a bra to hold the leaf in place next to the skin. Wear it for a few hours. Noticeable relief can be detected by the following day.

The leaf of the cabbage is an effective treatment for the pain of swellings due to sports injuries and strains. Apply ice and elevate the injured limb to curb initial swelling. Then apply the cabbage leaf compress two or three times daily until pain and swelling subside. You may want to hold it in place with a cloth bandage. If you’ve been slow to recover from a sprained ankle, this remedy is worth a try.

Arthritis sufferers can often reduce the amount of medication they must use or eliminate it completely with the application of a cabbage leaf dressing. The cabbage leaf helps eliminate waste products from the body.

Use leaves as a poultice on other skin conditions such as psoriasis, burns and ulcers. Flatten layers of cabbage leaves with a rolling pin. Wrap leaves around affected areas of skin until the leaves turn yellow. Change the leaves and repeat until the wounds heal. Between reapplications, clean and dry the wounds.

To apply a cabbage leaf dressing:
Use clean leaves and – if at all possible – ones that have been grown organically. Peel off the outer layers of cabbage and remove the hard stem. Bruise them slightly with a rolling pin or other hard cylinder. Use gauze or other cotton cloth to hold the leaves in place. An additional layer of plastic wrap can be applied, unless you are dressing a burn. Keep the cabbage wrap on the area for two to four hours. You may want to repeat the process, using new leaves. Some people apply the leaves at bedtime and keep the poultice on overnight.

If you are interested in reading more about how to use leaves as dressings, I highly recommend the book, COMFORT FOR THE BURNED AND WOUNDED by John W. Keim. At the time of publication, the author of this book had over 20 years of experience in treating wounds with natural dressings. In this small book, he details case histories and the results of various treatments. I have found his recommendations regarding the use of plantain leaf to be very valuable as a first aid application in various circumstances. He doesn’t claim to be a doctor, nor is he medically trained. However, this is a fascinating read whether or not you are in the medical field.

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CRUCIAL DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

While the US medical system is one of the most advanced in the world, it is fallible. Health care workers have the same human weaknesses as the rest of us.

Regardless of their personal beliefs about the best course of care, many health care professionals are limited in the practice of medicine by treatment protocols which have been established by their medical practice, liability insurance coverage or the hospital where they have privileges. These guidelines can even restrict whether they are able to discuss alternative courses of treatment with you -- even if they believe these courses to be safer or more effective. Rather than freely administering treatments they deem best, doctors must abide by these protocols or jeopardize their employment.

Understanding the limits of medicine and medical professionals is never more important than when you are deciding upon a course of treatment for your little ones.

According to a CNN Health report, the US has the second worst newborn mortality rate among developed nations. It is more likely that a newborn will die within the first month of life in this country than babies born in Japan. US babies die at a rate 2.5 times higher than those born in Finland, Iceland and Norway. We have more neonatologists and neonatal intensive care beds than Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Even so, the United States’ infant mortality rate is tied with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia at five deaths per 1,000 births, near the bottom of the rankings of industrialized nations. Only Latvia has a higher death rate than the US at six deaths per 1,000 live births. This is according the 2006 annual State of the World’s Mothers report.

Infants in the US are injected with three times the number of vaccines to prevent childhood illness and death than other first-world countries. After the implementation of the Center for Disease Control’s mass vaccination programs, this country fell from 2-3 on the international infant mortality list to 41-42.

According to the CDC’s 2010 report, autism affects 1 in 110 children. Two years ago, the rate was 1 in 150 children. Medical authorities continue to insist that they cannot locate a link between this cluster of neurological symptoms and the increased volume of vaccines being injected into children. This epidemic is robbing children of their intellectual potential and our nation of its brain trust. The US government openly acknowledges that approximately 13% of the children in our nation have a developmental disability. Where else in the world is there an instance of a population with more than 10% of its children developmentally impaired?

Being proactive in the preservation of good health is far better than depending upon a flawed medical system to restore it once it has been lost. It’s time to look critically at the cost of relying upon recommendations that are dictated by something other than a calling to promote healing.

I’m of the opinion that decisions regarding our health should be made with an understanding that life is a gift and our bodies are magnificently designed. Take the time to become as informed as possible about ALL of your options before deciding upon a course that hasn’t taken these things into account.

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Below, Michael Pearl discusses how his family dealt with a health care crisis after one of his children was vaccinated. His account of his experience begins at the 6:20 mark.

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The video below is the story of Adam and Lana. They tell of their experience with their son and his recovery from a stroke. Conventional therapies offered them little hope for improvement and disrupted family life.

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ABC News 20-20 1999 report on Hepatitis B vaccinations offered to children Part 1

ABC News 20-20 1999 report on Hepatitis B vaccinations Part 2

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ADVOCATING FOR PATIENT AGAINST DR'S ADVICE -- THE ALAN SMITH STORY

In King County, New Zealand, dairy farmer Alan Smith is alive today because his family went against the advice of health professionals.
He caught swine flu and very nearly died.

Doctors were determined to pull him off life support. The family was told there was no hope. But his wife and sons wouldn't listen.

They demanded that a treatment of high doses of Vitamin C be attempted. Something that wasn't recommended by mainstream medicine. They were told it wouldn’t work but the family insisted. The family hired a top lawyer to help them fight for the chance to see Alan recover. Thanks to their efforts, Alan is now very much alive.

Full Video

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DEALING WITH A CYTOKINE STORM

A healthy immune system is your best defense against a multitude of illnesses. Once you’re sick however, some illnesses can actually use your powerful immune system against you. This is known as a Cytokine Storm.

WHAT IS A CYTOKINE STORM?
Messengers in your body that regulate your immune response to sickness are called cytokines. When cytokines over-stimulate your immune system to produce an exaggerated response to a pathogen, a Cytokine Storm has begun.

Cytokine storms can cause great physical harm. High fever, inflammation and redness along with nausea and weakness are symptoms of a cytokine storm. If the storm is located in the lungs, the combination of overwhelming mucus and inflammation could block airways and cause death. Many believe that the cytokine storm response was what caused the deaths of so many young adults in the 1918 influenza pandemic.

AVOID IMMUNE BOOSTERS DURING A CYTOKINE STORM
At the first sign of serious viral infection, herbs and foods which boost the immune response should be avoided. These include herbs such as Echinacea, Elderberry, Pau d’arco, Aloe vera, and Oregano which offer temporary relief followed by more severe symptoms. Additional foods that increase cytokine production (and should be avoided during a Cytokine Storm) include: Sambucol (Elderberry juice), Spirulina and Chlorella algae, Honey, Chocolate, and Kimchi. These foods are good for treatment of less severe colds and flu, but should be avoided when symptoms become severe.

USE ANTI-VIRALS TO ATTACK THE PATHOGEN
Include herbs which are classified as anti-viral or antipathogenic in order to fight back severe viral infections. These include Garlic, Olive leaf extract, Grapefruit seed extract, Ginger, Mullein, Pine needles, Eucalyptus (inhaled) and Apple Cider Vinegar.

USE IMMUNOMODULATORS TO HELP BALANCE IMMUNE RESPONSE
Select herbs and foods that are known as immunomodulators. These help to balance the immune system and bring the immune response back into normal parameters. Herbs and foods known as immunomodulators include Ginseng root, Chamomile, and Olive Leaf Extract.

TREAT THE SYMPTOMS
If you are dealing with a Cykotine Storm which has resulted in bronchial inflammation and lots of mucus, you will want to utilize herbs which are anti-inflammatory and help expel the mucus, reducing the symptoms. Eucalyptus (inhaled), Ginger, Mullein, Curcumin (extract of Turmeric), Pine Needles, Apple Cider Vinegar, Onions, Marshmallow, Mustard, Plantain, Pleurisy Root, Red Clover, Yarrow and can help with these symptoms.

APPLICATIONS
Most of these herbs can be administered in an herbal tea or in tincture form. Many herbs and Apple Cider Vinegar (diluted with water) can be heated to a simmer in water using the steam as a medicinal vapor. Mustard and onions can be applied via a plaster to the chest. Onions can also be given as an ingredient in a soup. Another effective way to administer these herbs is by applying a low heat and breathing the resulting smoke (incense).

Lots of liquids and rest will also help as the patient recuperates. Monitor symptoms closely and seek additional help at the first sign of a life-threatening condition.

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This article is presented for information purposes only and not intended as a substitute for trained medical care. The reader assumes all liability, should be informed, and exercise common sense when incorporating these methods.

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HICCUP REMEDIES

The easiest way I’ve found to stop hiccups is to take a small spoonful of honey. It has worked every time for my family and usually within five minutes.

A very full stomach can cause hiccups and these usually go away on their own. Things that contribute to hiccups include eating too quickly, swallowing too much air, changing the stomach’s temperature by drinking a cold and then a hot beverage or emotional excitement.

The reason that honey works to stop hiccups is that it helps to increase the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. Other remedies include taking a teaspoon of maple or agave syrup, eating a teaspoon of sugar, taking a teaspoon of peanut butter, holding your breath while counting slowly to 10 or higher, drinking a cold glass of water, or breathing into a paper bag.

While hiccups are not often painful, they can be a nuisance. It’s nice to have simple and effective remedy.

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NOTE: This article presents ideas and information designed to enrich the reader. This is NO substitute for personalized professional care. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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HEALTHY INFANT SIGNALS

Knowing when an infant is ill can be a challenge for new parents. Sometimes a parent's concerns can be treated as a casual inquiry by medical workers who are accustomed to soothing new-mother nervousness. Rather than trust her own instincts, a mother can begin to doubt herself.

It will come as a relief to know that there IS a way to objectively measure a baby's health.

WEEK ONE
From the start, newborns will need to nurse for no less than 15 minutes, 8 times per day during the first week of life. A mama can hear her baby swallow milk during feeding. Baby's first bowel movement will be a black paste called muconium. The texture and color will change from a blackish green to a brownie batter consistency. The color will appear yellow by the 4th or 5th day. Within 48 hours after birth, the baby will have wet diapers. The number of wet diapers will increase to two or three each day be the end of the week.

An ill baby will show definite physical signs of his condition. Nursing for less than fifteen minutes fewer than 8 times per day, showing no desire to eat and having a sucking reflex that is week are all signs for a parent to be concerned. Signs that something is wrong can include a clicking sound when the baby nurses, cheeks that pucker inward and dimple when the baby sucks, or the inability to stay awake for a full 15 minute feeding. It is outside of a healthy range if the baby's stools haven't changed and there is no urination two days after the birth. Such symptoms persisting for two days mean your child should be seen by a health care provider.

THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS
Signs of a healthy baby will be similar for the first month. Each day a healthy baby will nurse for eight sessions and produce 2-4 yellow bowel movements. Track your baby's wet diapers. You should see between six and eight of them each day with clear urine, not yellow. Along with observing some milk and hearing your baby swallow during nursing, you should see a strengthening of the suck reflex. Your baby will grow both in weight and alertness.

Continue to monitor anything out of the ordinary in weeks 2 to 4 -- infrequent or bright yellow urination, stools that are small or too seldom, fewer than 8 feedings per day. Your baby should gain weight and grow longer. A baby that has a weak suck, doesn't make swallowing noises during nursing, becomes sluggish and lacks quick responses and doesn't sleep between feedings, is a reason for concern. If you observe these behaviors for more than two days in a row, contact a health provider for assistance.

THE 5TH THROUGH THE 10TH WEEK
A baby may change from 8 to 7 feedings per day during this time. This is due to your growing baby's ability to hold more food. Bowel movements will continue to change and will settle into a pattern of either several small stools in a day or a large bowel movement every 2 days. This isn't unusual in breastfed babies as they assimilate much of the milk. Check the wet diapers to make sure the urine isn't bright yellow; there should be six to eight wet diapers daily. You should notice that your baby is increasing in his awareness, has a stronger suck, audible swallowing and a little milk dripping at feeding time.

There may be reason for concern if a baby fails to produce the right amount of wet diapers without bright yellow color, or if the baby doesn't nurse at least seven times daily. Length and weight should increase for baby. Babies that can't be heard swallowing and have a weak suck are not likely to be getting enough nourishment. Seek medical assistance if your baby becomes lethargic, slow to respond or unable to sleep between nursing sessions. A couple of days in a row of these indicators mean that something is not well with your baby.

HOW TO KEEP UP WITH IT ALL
A well-rested person would be hard-pressed to know when and how often an infant ate. It can be overwhelming to expect a new mother to know this with reduced sleep. Have note paper and a pencil near the baby's bed. Write down the time of each feeding and changing along with your notes. One example of an entry might be: "10:00 a.m. -- BIG BM, brownish green, nursed 30 minutes." Start with a clean sheet each day. Write the date at the top of the page.

Your detailed list will be of great value to you and your doctor should your little one become ill. Your notes can also help you bond more effectively with your little one. By looking over her list, even a weary mama can tell at a glance if the crying is due to hunger (too long between feedings) or constipation (hasn't moved his bowels). This tool helps a mama learn to identify the different cries of her newborn. This list will then encourage a mother to trust her instincts as she learns to identify her baby's different cries and meet those needs.

Yet, BEST advice is often the most common advice, and it comes from the not-so-new mothers. Don't take for granted any of those first weeks. Other things can wait while you take the time to get to know your baby. They aren't little for long.

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MAKING BEDS, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

Disclaimer: I admit that my beds are not always made neatly. I further admit that there is more than one way to make a bed. What follows is the result of research and listening to people who make beds for a living and take care of patients for a living, not my own personal bias.

There's more to making a bed than just having something that looks nice. Standard nursing care has long recognized the importance in having wrinkle-free, smooth bedding to aid in the recuperative sleep of patients and as a preventative against bed sores. In cancer patients, sleep disorders are common. Along with lowering the noise level and dimming the lights, making sure that the bedding is dry and wrinkle-free is part of creating an environment where the patient can get the rest needed to be able to regain health.

Learning how to make a bed properly, even luxuriously, will not only prove useful if you are hosting guests, you will also find it helpful if you are caring for a sick loved one. Most importantly, you will find that when there isn't time to do any of the other things you might like to do for self-care. This is ONE thing you CAN do that won't cost you anything and will help you get the rest you need . . . . PLUS it should impress your husband. Who says you have to stay at a fancy hotel before you can enjoy the luxury of a finely made bed?


Before you make the bed
One way to make this chore easier is by folding your bedding in half lengthwise after laundering -- this means matching the sides and corners and smoothing out all of the wrinkles. This will create a crease in the center of your sheet that will serve as a guide when you are trying to center sheets on your mattress. This is a major help when making a large bed.

Hospital Corners, a solid foundation
The most common complaint about hospital corners is that this method of securing sheets does not allow for movement. However, the bedding can be loosened to accommodate the comfort level of the person using the bed when he or she gets into the bed. Having bedding in place keeps the legs from becoming entangled in the sheets and restricting movement during sleep.

In addition to contributing to a good night's sleep, hospital corners can save you money. Knowing how to fold hospital (or mitered) corners means that you can purchase flat sheets or make your own without being bothered with elastic binding. Also, this tight pleat will anchor your bedding without fraying the edges like some other methods.

Making hospital corners is a skill that takes time and patience to learn. Knowing how to make a bed tightly will ensure that there are no wrinkles when it's time for bed. I've watched lots of footage on how to make a bed.

Best Video for Hospital Corners
It should come as no surprise that none of them come close to the precise detail as one made by Sgt. Shane Medders. I highly recommend that you follow this link to see his video.
http://video.about.com/usmilitary/How-to-Make-Military-Corners.htm

The runner-up for instructional videos is an instructional video of a man demonstrating to nursing students the proper way to make a bed. He credits the U.S. Navy with his training in bed making.



This site has good photos with written instructions to show the process:
http://www.organization-makes-sense.com/how_to_make_a_bed.html

Once the Sheet is on . . . Then What?
This depends upon your resources and your needs. There are two separate categories for this. The first category is for regular household use.

REGULAR HOUSEHOLD USE
What follows is the order that bedding is placed onto the mattress. This list is a loose consensus of several sites.

1. A foundational sheet is placed over a mattress which has already been covered with a mattress protector. This foundation sheet can be fitted or flat.
2. A second sheet is placed over the foundational sheet -- Optional
3. A flat sheet -- the first top sheet
4. A thin blanket. Optional
5. Another flat sheet. Only necessary if you've added the thin blanket
6. A bedspread or comforter
7. Any additional quilts or blankets folded at the foot of the bed. Optional

Numbers 1 through 5 are anchored with hospital corners.
Numbers 1 and 2 are tucked on the sides as well as the ends.
Numbers 3 through 5 are tucked 3 quarters of the way up the sides of the bed and turned down for ease of access.

CHILDREN'S BEDDING -- CARE OF BEDRIDDEN PATIENTS
For this bed, you will need:
1. rubber sheet/pad
2. Bottom Sheet
3. Draw sheet/pad (for bedridden patients)
4. Top sheet
5. Pillow w/ pillow case
6. Blanket (use to cover bedridden patients while changing the linen)
7. Hamper (this is for your convenience when changing soiled linen)

When making a bed for bedridden patients or children that have difficulty with bed wetting, a waterproof mattress protector is a tremendous help. On top of this, you can then place another waterproof pad. Other items can be used in place of waterproof pads such as flattened garbage bags or even disposable plastic or vinyl table covers.

Helpful Hint:
You can save a little time when initially making the bed to make 3 or so layers of alternating plastic and bottom sheets. This way, when you must change the bedding, you can remove the topmost layer from the bed and have the lower layer already in place, ready to go.

Why a draw sheet?
Bedridden patients will require a draw sheet. A bedridden patient will need to be repositioned every few hours to prevent bedsores. A simple tool, draw sheets protect both the caregiver and the patient from injury. A draw sheet enables the caregiver to move the patient either from one side to another in the bed, or to reposition the patient higher or lower in the bed. To make a simple draw sheet, take a top sheet and fold it in half, matching the top and bottom edges. Position this on top of the bottom sheet between the chest level and knee level of the patient. Tuck the overhang underneath the mattress, smoothing out any wrinkles. A draw sheet also helps you turn the patient to one side when making the bed.

Making An Occupied Bed
Pull up the soiled bottom sheet and plastic liner and tuck it next to the patient's back in the center of the bed. Place the clean linen onto the stripped half of the bed and tuck the clean sheets onto that half. Turn the patient over the top of the soiled linen onto the opposite side and onto the newly made side of the bed. Remove the soiled linen and flatten out the clean linen, making the other side of the bed.

Click the video below for an example of how to make an occupied bed.

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