Dec 30, 2012

Home Remedies for Eye care (including pink eye and stye's)




Home remedies for pink eye, stye's and eye irritations are close at hand for effective cures. As a person with eye issues I have learned them all over the years. I have used many of the things below.

 Herbal eye-washes have been used for eye problems over the years. They always made sure the teas made were stained and cooled before using them.  Remember a small piece of matter from an herb or a microscopic grain of sand, or water contaminates can cause more harm than good. If you must use a homemade eye-wash, straining through doubled coffee filters should help remove damaging particles. 
All compress should be used only fifteen minutes per hour and at the least fifteen minutes four times a day. With pink eye and stye's I would start with a warm compress. But with irritations you start with cold compresses the first day or two and then start warm compresses. I like my eye washes room temperature.

Willow bark is an aspirin so chewing that will help with some of the swelling

First  the bugs causing infection are sensitive to heat plus;  heat helps increase blood flow in the eyes and thus rinses the eye of toxins. So a good old fashion water compresse can work for most eye irritations.

Reminder: Do not rub eyes, wash hand before touching eyes, do not put pressure on eyes


 

And my most used remedy is with salt. A cup of water,  add  a forth of a teaspoon of salt, and it  works wonders. They say to boil it first,  but I just use warm water and stired. and used it as an eye wash.  But....... I have read that adding a teaspoon of powdered charcoal with the salt, boiling and then staining makes a great eye drop. They say use 4 or 5 drops a day. Also you can use baking soda instead of the salt.

You can use any of the following for pink eye....chamomile, elde berry blossoms, fennel seeds, dandelion, parsley or burdock root, can all be boiled in water, strained (or you can wrap the boiled herbs in a cloth) and cooled and used as a compress and an eye wash.  Even marigold has strong anti septic and anti inflammatory properties. Marigold extract can cure pink eye fast and effectively.


Pine bark extract....ok I have just learned about this one so you will have to do a little research on this one but they say it is and herb that helps improve your vision, help with glaucoma...even cancer and diabetes.   I would go to the health food store and see what they have (drops, pill and liquid extracts) I plan on doing more reserch on this one...will post when I get it all


Honey! use a few table spoons in boiling water. Cool. Use that mixture as an eye wash to help reduce infection in your eyes (and small wounds) It is a anti bacterial.  In fact my uncle got me some amazing honey from New Zealand because of its health benefits. And they say  it has been reported that the Egyptiansused a few drops of RAW honey in the eyes to help with cataracts

 

Ladies know this one already, potatoes, cucumbers on the eye help with irritation. I always thought it was because it was cool, but it is because they contain a natural astringent.
A clay mask will help with reducing swollen eyes and soothes them to.

If you are a prepper you know that warm milk help with eyes ( milk for mace irritation). But it also help with pink eye. Even try yogurt. Try a piece of cold bread on your eye while your at it.

Turmeric is a natural antibiotic and steroid and thus harmless. Add two table spoons of turmeric powder to a cup of boiled water and use it as an eye compress for quick relief from pink eyes. Or you can make eye drops by mixing one tsp turmeric powder in 2 cups of water. Use this at least three times a day till the swelling subsides.



Song for this post has to be one of my fav's  The Who - Behind Blue Eyes



Dec 22, 2012

Minor burn treatment (home remedy) and Merry Christmas!




Yes I am the queen of kitchen accidents. And I having to be the one that cooks for Christmas, I am going to get at least one burn over the next week. STOP LAUGHING!!

So this makes a great topic for my Christmas post.



This is for minor burns.

First remove what ever caused the burn from the skin and remove clothes or jewelry that maybe in the area of the burn. Place the area in water right away (not icy!) room temp. Apply an anesthetic and wrap in gauze or bandaid.  If in pain now is the time to take ibuprofen or aspirin. If there is a blister do not break because that can lead to infection.

Some home remedies are:

Honey or yogurt  can help with the burns healing. Aloe vera does to.

 But did you know that a piece of onion over the burnt area really helps with stopping the pain! Or try pouring diluted vinegar on it, this  helps it heal faster.

Or what about applying egg whites, that truly helps!

And my fav. soaking it in milk....ahhhh trust it brings relief!

I remember my grams saying to put butter on it...the few times I did that it hurt like HECK! not sure why she did that. 


So I am keeping this post short but have a SAFE Christmas everyone. God bless you all.

Little know fact... I can play the flute so I love Tull!! So I have a few songs for this post ....


Jethro Tull- Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow

 


Jethro Tull- Birthday Card at Christmas 

 

Jethro Tull- Ring Out Solstice Bells



Jethro Tull- Another Christmas Song



MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

 







 

Dec 18, 2012

Depression and sad time herbs





Grant it my doc gave me happy pills because of my surgery's but it got me thinking about the real need for alternative happy meds.

Going though Storm Sandi and the Newtown deaths and my surgery's and Christmas the need for things that can relax and de-stress you may be something that you should know about. We have booze and weed (as I have not hid I am pro marijuana for medication). But what I am talking about here is herbs and other plants.

I do not care who you are if times get tough you will get sad, depressed and anxious. Keep active and busy is always a good help. Talking to others is also a great way to lift some of the weight. But sometimes more is needed.

When I looked for these herbs St. John's Wart was the only one I had ever heard of. But I went to my local herbal remedy store to learn and get some more available options to have on hand.



We have Chamomile this is something you can plant in your flower garden now and it helps to relax you. Best taken as a tea.

 

California Poppy's- Another flower you can plant in your garden. It can be used in a tea and a bit of a stronger relaxer. Use the leaves and other aerial parts. They are a sedative, anti-spasmodic, and mild pain reliever. This is also a gentle herb used for colic and agitation in children. Do not use this herb or any other sedative herbs in pregnancy.


 Hops - Not for beer making but for tea and a sleep aid. This is easily to grown. But it is very bitter.

 

Scullcap - this is something I am trying to find. It spreads and is pretty in the garden. But great in teas and it is a smoke-able herb. Relaxes totally!

Rosemary-Sage Tea
Boil two cups of water with one teaspoon each of rosemary and sage. Steep for five minutes, strain, and drink daily.


Clove Tea
3 parts Crush cloves, 1 part sage, 1 part camomile or peppermint tea and a dash of ginseng powder helps to lift mild depression.

Lemon Blam 
 3 parts Lemon Balm,  1 part Lavender, 1 part rose petals and 1 part spearmint and a bit of honey and vanilla.
Mix the above herbs and flowers in a bowl. Store in a glass jar. To prepare the tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of herb per cup. Pour hot water over herbs and allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes.  with  Drink up to three cups per day.






Also remember what you eat helps with those feelings
-Eating fish  has a good influence on the serotonin production.

-Eating garlic has a mood elevating effect.  

-The amino acid tryptophan has been found to relieve depression and natural sources include turkey, chicken, fish, peas, nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanut butter.  If you can eat them with carbohydrates, such as potatoes, pasta and rice,  this can help the brain's uptake of tryptophan.


Song for this post has to be  Losing Keys by Jack Johnson great song when you just feel like simplifying your life and getting back to the basics.




Dec 17, 2012

I am finally back

 

So many things. As many preppers know we try to stay healthy.  As healthy as we can. I make sure that I go to all my well care check-ups. I make sure I keep up with my dental. And no procrastinating on surgery's. That was advice I did not take and put it off for some time. But was going to lose sight in one of my eyes if I did not get the surgery's I needed. Thyroids do damage to eyes and mine did alot. I still have a few more surgery's to go but my sight is now safe. And my stockpile made life a little easyier over the past month. 

I am sharing this with you because the importance of keeping healthy is even more real to me now. Imagine if a situation happened and I had not received this surgery that I was putting off? Do not procrastinate on your medical care.

Ok so I am back to posting but I may not do alot over the next few months because as I said I still have a few more surgery's (simpler ones now). But they really take alot out of ya. That and my prep's are hurting so my energetic moments will be getting back on track. 

Will try to post at least a new post per week. 


Song for this post is Back in the Saddle Again, Aerosmith