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.

read more “ CABBAGE LEAVES RELIEVE PAIN AND SWELLING ”

HEALTHY HYDRATION – HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU DRINK?

Many factors determine the amount of water needed for optimal hydration. Humidity and altitude will increase the need for water as will physical, mental and emotional stress. Water lost through perspiration will need to be replaced. In the event you consume 6 ounces of alcohol or caffeine, an additional 10-12 ounces of water will be required to keep your body hydrated.

The simplest way to know you’ve consumed enough water is to note the color and odor of your urine. If your urine is not neutral in both its color and odor, you lack adequate hydration.

Rather than drinking water throughout the day and visiting the bathroom frequently, you can take scheduled water breaks. In this way, your bladder will be able to eliminate excess fluids after each session. The first dose of water should occur shortly after you awake, before any other beverages and at least a half hour before breakfast. The second and third water breaks should occur 1/2 hour before lunch and ½ hour before your evening meal. The last break should take place about 2 hours before bed time in order to allow enough time to empty your bladder before retiring for the night.

There are some additional advantages of taking in quantities of water during these sessions. This accelerates hydration by completely filling your empty stomach with water. There will be a temporary feeling of bloating as the water is forced past your stomach and into the small intestine. From there, it is pushed to the large intestine where your body can absorb the needed fluids. This flushes the digestive tract to give you a bit of a mini-cleanse, which helps relieve constipation. Another benefit is that you will be giving your stomach a full sensation just prior to a meal which may help you better regulate food consumption.

So, how much water SHOULD you be drinking? A standard guideline for years was that you should drink 8, 8-oz glasses of water per day. This translates into 64 ounces of water per day. Another rule of thumb is that people should drink 2 to 3 1/2 quarts of water per day. However a single amount doesn't take into account the varying needs of different body types. One way to allow for this is to divide the number of pounds an individual weighs in half. The answer is the number of ounces of water that person should drink daily. Of course, heavy physical activity, stress, or the consumption of diuretics will require drinking even more fluids.

If you find that water doesn’t suit your taste, be sure you are drinking the purest water you can find. It is also possible that your sense of taste might be masked. Consuming sugary drinks can contribute to this condition. Consider cutting back or avoiding them completely. As your water intake increases, your body will be better able to rid itself of toxins. This also helps keep the mucus membranes in the nose and mouth moist, which can enhance the sense of taste and smell. As the taste receptors in your mouth are no longer impaired, you will find the taste of water is not objectionable. More likely, you will begin to enjoy it.

Remember, the need for water varies depending on body size and other factors. Watch the color and odor of urine output to determine whether or not you are well hydrated.

The following video has a lot of good information on the benefits of drinking adequate amounts of water daily. I do not endorse the web sites or recommend the products that she discusses towards the end of the video.

read more “ HEALTHY HYDRATION – HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU DRINK? ”

HOW TO MAKE DEODORANT WITH BAKING SODA

Making deodorant at home is not a complicated endeavor. Why would you want to make your own? Because making your own deodorant will help you avoid aluminum toxicity.

Some form of aluminum is found in nearly all commercial deodorant and antiperspirant products. This ingredient is used because it helps block the pores and neutralize odor. However, once in the body, aluminum is a neurotoxin (brain poison) that has been linked to breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative diseases.

Crystal deodorant stones are considered to be a safer alternative. These contain a different compound known as potassium alum or potassium aluminum sulfate. These molecules are natural salts and believed too large to be absorbed by your skin. Often, these are recommended to cancer patients for use as an alternative product as they are urged to get rid of toiletries containing aluminum.

However, there is a cheaper and safer alternative than this. You can make your own deodorant for pennies from items you likely have in your cupboard. Even if you don’t have all of the ingredients on hand, you will need such small quantities, that it is VERY economical to secure them. This simple natural recipe will also benefit your health by helping you avoid aluminum.

You will need: ½ cup or a little less of Coconut oil, 4 tablespoons of baking soda (Arm & Hammer contains no aluminum), 4 tablespoons of arrowroot powder, 2 tablespoons of grated beeswax and 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional).

Note:
Coconut oil will help fight odor causing bacteria while nourishing and moisturizing your skin. Essential oils can help eliminate odors, but be careful that they are not processed with harsh chemical extraction methods that could irritate the skin. Tea tree oil, lavender, frankincense, and citrus oils all have properties that can help eliminate odors.

Directions:
1. Gently warm the coconut oil and beeswax to a liquid state.
2. Blend the baking soda & arrowroot powder with a fork.
3. Slowly add the baking soda & arrowroot powder to the coconut oil and wax, working it in with a fork until completely mixed.

Your deodorant will have a firm paste-like texture, almost like commercial deodorant. The paste will continue to firm as it cools. More arrowroot can be added if it seems too wet or mushy. The beeswax will help it hold its shape even in warmer climates. If it becomes very stiff from cooler temperatures, you can place the container in a pocket for a few minutes to warm for ease of use.

Store this in a screw-top wide-mouth container. I use ones found in the ‘travel container’ section of most pharmacies. This permits each family member to have an individual jar.

This recipe yields about 1 cup and can last several months for one person with daily use.


The following video shows a variation of this recipe using a dry method of blending:

read more “ HOW TO MAKE DEODORANT WITH BAKING SODA ”