Pain Support

Let's talk pain management. I'm talking about sore muscles from working out, sore feet from standing all day, and shoulder and neck stiffness from sitting at a computer for long periods of time.

One simple change you can make is a Epsom Salt Soak. You can just soak your feet or take a whole body soak in the tub.

Get the simple Epsom Salt from the pharmacy. I don't recommend any of that fancy stuff. I actually strongly discourage the use of any of the stuff with anything added to it. Well, unless you get it locally made from someone you trust.

Allow yourself some time to relax. Maybe Netflix and soak (your feet). If you're doing a foot soak you can just use a dish drainer tub. Put about a quarter to a third cup of Epsom Salt in, and add enough water to cover your feet. Get the water as hot as you can stand it.

If you opt for the bathtub soak, add about a scant cup of Epsom Salt to hot water. Again as hot as you can stand it.

I know there aren't any official scientific studies out there on if, how, or why this works. I also know that I have done soaks with Epsom Salt and without, and I feel so much better with.

Sometimes, I have been in a lot of pain after strenuous work all day, and the aches were keeping me from getting to sleep. I soak for up to a half hour, and I always feel better before I'm done with the soak.

#SimpleStepsToNaturalLiving #EpsomSaltSoak #FirstSimpleStep

Thyme for Athlete's Foot (Foot Fungus)

My kids are back to school.  They now are required to wear shoes everyday.  With that, I know that their shoes will start to smell, and they may even develop rashes or cracked feet.  I wanted a remedy that would kill the fungus that grows in the icky shoes and attacks their precious skin.

I found this link on Pinterest it is filled with a lot of great information on how to heal foot fungus at home.  I made a few adjustments, by just using what I had on hand.

http://frugallysustainable.com/how-to-treat-foot-fungus-a-k-a-athletes-foot-naturally/

Take 1/4 cup of olive oil and put it in a small saucepan.  Add about three medium sized sprigs of thyme, and placed it in the pan making sure to press them down into the oil to coat them.  You can use dried thyme if you do not have fresh thyme.  Just let it sit in the oil for a few minutes before you start to warm it.  That will let it soak up some of the oil moisture first.  

Then turn the burner on to a very low heat.  I mean low, like, the lowest setting you can get.  Just enough to warm the herb and the oil.  Warm them until the smell of thyme fills the room.  Probably about 10 to 20 minutes.  They will infuse just right in these conditions.  You do not want to simmer the oil or cook the thyme.  You just want it to release it's health benefits into the oil.

Let that cool, then pour the oil without the sprigs of thyme into a small glass container, like 1/2 pint mason jar.  

My kids just rub a little on their feet each night.  It has cleared up all of the skin issues, and their shoes actually stopped smelling.

Clove and Coconut oil for tooth pain

Tooth pain can be really frustrating and, well, painful, especially if a nerve is damaged, but other reasons can be present too.  Common reasons are tooth infection, gum issues, plaque, dental decay, injuries, cracked teeth, bad crowns and fillings, leaking of the fillings/crowns, loss of a tooth, temporomandibular joint TMJ issues, and sleep apnea.

Of course you should get an appointment with a good dentist right away, but these aches may happen suddenly or at night.  You may be traveling with no way to get to a dentist.  This natural cure can help right away.

Natural cure for tooth ache

To make this cure you need just this:

• ½ tsp Clove powder (ground cloves)
• ½ tsp Coconut oil

Place both items in a glass, start mixing to get a paste.  Apply it on the tooth and gums.  Do this up to 3 times daily.

Why does it work?

This works due to eugenol from the clove powder, which is analgesic, and the coconut on the other hand is antibacterial.

Breakfast smoothie

This morning I needed something that would be fresh, refreshing, and not add to toxic build up or sluggish digestive health.  I have a cold.  I didn't want anything that the germs could feed on, and only wanted foods that could support my immune system in healing me up fast.

I did not add any nuts or milks because the calcium would inhibit iron absorption.

This has a very fresh taste. It is not a sweet smoothie or a milkshake creamy kind of smoothie. It is perfect for it's intended use. To clean and detoxify. The flavor is mild and refreshing.  Below the recipe I have added some key points of the health benefits found in this smoothie.

Breakfast Smoothie

1/2 large cucumber, *peel on
1 cup **organic baby leaf spinach
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 peach, pit removed
Water for consistency

In a blender cup place all ingredients and blend until smooth, adding water as needed. Enjoy!


*Only if you grew it or it is organic. DO NOT eat the skins of cucumbers from the regular produce section of your store. See article here http://www.ehow.com/info_8689617_peel-not-peel-cucumbers.html

**One of the top 12 of non organic foods to avoid according to this article http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?dbid=43&tname=foodspice


I started with a Cucumber right out of my garden.  I wanted it to help keep my fever down.  Cucumbers have a cooling effect on the body.  Even if you pull them right out of the hot sun in the garden. 

"Cucumbers have mild diuretic property, which perhaps attributed to their free-water, and potassium and low sodium content."  -from http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/cucumber.html

"During summers, cucumbers help to normalize body temperature."  -from http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-cucumber.html

The diuretic property is helpful when trying to flush out your system.  Also the cooling effect when you feel feverish.

Then I added some organic baby leaf Spinach.

"Neoxanthin and violaxanthin are two anti-inflammatory epoxyxanthophylls that play an important role in regulation of inflammation and are present in unusual amounts in spinach.

The vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium present in spinach all serve as powerful antioxidants that combat the onset of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.  

One cup of spinach contains over 337% of the RDA of vitamin A that not only protects and strengthens "entry points" into the human body, such as mucous membranes, respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts, but is also a key component of lymphocytes (or white blood cells) that fight infection."  -from http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/11-health-benefits-of-spinach.html 

I pulled out of the freezer a bag of Blueberries and poured a bunch in.

"The highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit: Blue Berries, being very rich in anti-oxidants like Anthocyanin, vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper (a very effective immune builder and anti-bacterial), selenium, zinc, iron (promotes immunity by raising haemoglobin and oxygen concentration in blood) etc. boost up your immune system and prevent infections. Once your immunity is strong, you won’t catch colds, fever, pox and all such nasty viral and bacterial communicable diseases.

Constipation & Digestion: While roughage (fiber) in Blue Berries keep away constipation (Of course, a single piece alone will not do. You need to eat a big handful of them), the vitamins, sodium, copper, fructose and acids improve digestion.

They keep you fresh, active, fit, sharp, close to nature and in a good mood, as they are very good anti-depressants. You also need not spend a lot on medicines, neither are there any side effects. Remember, the deeper the color of the Blue Berries, the more they are rich in anti oxidants and other medicinal values."  -from http://www.womenfitness.net/blueberries.htm

I finally added a Peach for flavor and found that it also added to the detoxifying affect.

"Peaches have been found to be beneficial for individuals suffering from the following ailments:

• Acidosis
• Anemia
• Asthma
• Bladder and Kidney Stones
• Bronchitis
• Constipation
• Dry Cough
• Gastritis
• High Blood Pressure
• Nephritis
• Poor Digestion"             

-from http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/display.asp?CAT=1&ID=71

As you can see this smoothie is a great way to fight off my cold.  If you do a little more reading at the web pages linked in this post you will find this smoothie is great for more than just a cold.  Cancer, arthritis, blood sugar, blood pressure are all listed in the health benefits of these four foods.  Maybe make this a once a week breakfast or a cool off afternoon break food.



Check out these other great articles on the foods listed above.

Spinach:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/2700-facts-health-benefits-spinach/
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?dbid=43&tname=foodspice

Blueberries:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8

Peaches:
http://healthfood-guide.com/HealthBenefitsOfPeaches.aspx

Clean Eating

I find myself dealing with "normal" age related health issues.  Normal...bla.  Fatigue, weight gain, slowing metabolism and so on. 

I, however, disagree that it is just inevitable for me to sink into this lower quality of life.  I do think that it has EVERYTHING to do with what is being put into my body. 

From the air we breath to the food we eat to the supplements and pills we take, all of these enter with unknown and potentially toxic tag on's. 

Lately I have been feeling like I just want fresh cleansing foods that can scrub my insides and clean out the build up.  I haven't been drawn to foods I usually can't keep my grubby's off of.  Mostly foods that contain processed ingredients. 

Let me tell you that the feeling I get when I have had a meal of raw and unprocessed foods is amazing.  I can feel the health pulsing through my whole body.  I think clearer, which for me is good because I tend to get a little flighty.  I stand taller, because I don't feel weighed down by the nutritionally empty toxin filled food.  I have more energy, which every one tells you but until you experience it yourself it means nothing.

I am going by a fast that I did when I was pregnant.  I wanted to be able to fast and pray but knew that I needed to keep eating for mine and the baby's health.  In prayer, the HOLY SPIRIT laid this out for me.

Simply put nothing that has been processed and packaged. 

No-No's are:

Bread, cereal, rolled oats, pasta, milk, cheese, sugar, processed sweeteners, packaged meals, restaurant food, meat (unless I grew it and butchered it myself), fish (same as meat except I had to catch and fillet it myself)

Yes's are:

Raw fruits and vegetables, frozen (by me) fruits and vegetables,  home canned fruits and vegetables, beans and lentils cooked from dry, brown rice, steel cut oats, potatoes, herbs and some spices (you know taco seasoning is a no no but if you put your own together with cumin and red pepper and the like than it's okay)

This just sounds so good, yet so intimidating.  How in the world can I maintain meals for my family without Mac and Cheese or pizza?  Well, I think we will just have to adjust, and we will find that we feel better.  Enough so that when we do eat Mac and Cheese again it will be such an unpleasant experience that we will never turn back again.  We haven't eaten at the un-named (largest) burger fast food restaurant in so many years, that when we did stop there on a road trip recently, we all got so sick to our stomachs we will never return.  Even though we all ate salads with chicken, apples and white milk.

As the HOLY SPIRIT helped me when my son was allergic to so many foods, by telling me to make a list of what we can eat and not focus on what we can't.  We will do this.  I know that anything GOD asks me to do HE will give me the resources to do it.

Do this routine before every shower: 50 jumping jacks, 5 pushups, 20 crunches, 20 mountain climbers, and 30 second plank.

Sugar Free Smoothie

Yummm Great new smoothie treat. I just decided to try to freeze it into popsicles for the kids.

1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
2 small bananas
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup sweet pitted cherries
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
10 oz Spinach

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. If intended for a smoothie add ice and blend again until smooth. For freezer pops pour into cups and insert popsicle stick. Place in freezer until frozen.