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Five Simple Home Remedies

This newsletter is all about creating your Healing Kitchen. What does that mean? It means creating a healing center, a dispensary, in your kitchen, with everyday foods and simple remedies. It's amazing what you can find!

Here are five easy winter home remedies from the Kitchen Chick:

1. Cinnamon-Who doesn't have a stick or two of cinnamon in their kitchen? If you don't, well put it on the top of your grocery list. This ancient spice has been used as medicine for thousands of years. It helps balance blood sugar and has protective properties against diabetes. It's usefulness doesn't stop there though. A half teaspoon a day can help lower LDL cholesterol, the lousy kind and acts as an effective antibacterial stopping the growth of harmful bacteria like E. coli. But the best use for cinnamon as a home remedy is for arthritis. A teaspoon of cinnamon mixed with a tablespoon of honey every morning helps reduce the pain of arthritis.

2. Castor Oil-Traditionally no home was without castor oil in the medicine cabinet. We don't see if very often any more, but it is another must have item in the healing kitchen. Made from the castor bean it was at one time used as a laxative, however, it does have toxic properties and should not be used internally. Its best uses are external anyways. Especially for increasing circulation, stimulating liver function, reducing inflammation, improving digestion and reducing pain. A castor oil pack is the best way to apply this home remedy. Here's how it's done:
    1. Soak a 2' x 2' piece of soft flannel in castor oil.
    2. Fold the cloth in half or quarters depending on the size of the area being treated.
    3.Place the soaked flannel on the right abdominal area on unbroken skin for liver detox or on swollen sore joints.
    3. Cover with a piece of plastic or cling wrap.
    4. Place a hot water bottle on top of the plastic.
    5. Rest with the pack in place for 45-60 minutes.
Note: Castor oil can stain clothing or bedding so make sure the flannel is saturated but not dripping. When finished, put cloth in a zip lock bag and refrigerate; the cloth can be reused.

3. Plantain -Most of us have access to plantain. It's an unobtrusive herb, usually found on the side of roads or on a healthy unsprayed lawn. This little gem, though classified as a weed, has amazing healing properties and the bonus is that in our climate it's available year round. The crushed leaves are great for relieving the discomfort of insect bites and stings and also pain from boils and ulcers. Pick leaves that are away from heavy traffic areas and dogs. Wash leaves well. Masticate the leaves then apply to cuts, burns, bites, rashes or stings. For the uncomfortable after effects of poison ivy contact, plantain is a life saver! As it has a soothing affect on skin you can make a tea or tincture from the leaves and drink for irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers.

4. Oats-We love our porridge and if that is all we used oats for, we'd be happy. But oats can be used for so much more, especially when it comes to the skin. Oats have a soothing effect on red, inflamed skin and when made in to a paste, it turns in to an inexpensive home spa treatment. Mix in a few common herbs and you have also have a wonderfulfacial mask.

5. Garlic-Did you think I'd forgotten about this kitchen treasure? No way! We all know how good garlic is for boosting our immune system, fighting cancer and improving cardiovascular function and lowering cholesterol, but this humble bulb goes much farther. Suck on a globe of garlic to speed up recovery from sore throats. Mix the juice of garlic with a bit of salt and rub on bruises or insect stings. There's more! Ear infections respond extremely well to drops made of olive oil, especially if you are prone to this type of infection. Here's how to make garlic oil:
    1. Mince one garlic clove.
    2. Let sit for ten minutes to activate the enzymes.
    3. Add garlic to 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
    4. Let sit for four hours in fridge.
    5. Strain oil in to a dropper and use the garlic in your stir fries that night.
    6. Heat the oil until warm; you can do this by holding it in your palm for a few minutes.
    7. Have the patient lay there head on your lap and depending on whether they are an adult or a child drop two to four drops
    in each ear.
    8. If a child gently massage the area from hollow behind ear to throat or read them a story with their head still in your lap.
    For an adult, you can get creative!
    9. Repeat as needed.
    10. Store oil in fridge for up to two weeks.

Stay posted for more from the Kitchen Chick on creating your own Healing Kitchen. If you have your own home kitchen remedies let us know, create a discussion below.

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Cough Medicine Not rated yet
Mix butter, brown sugar to a nice paste and add fresh ground pepper. Mix together and when you have a cough put it on or under your tongue and you will ...

SBI!