Friday, February 29, 2008

Home remedies

Here is some great information I found while browsing around health issues on msn.com. I thought these were great. . . and might just work! To health and happiness!!


Dry, Tired Eyes

Infuse a bag of chamomile tea in 4 to 6 ounces hot water, cool in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, then apply as a compress on eyes for 10 minutes, until it comes to room temp. Chamomile has a mild anti-inflammatory effect.

The Expert: Paul S. Anderson, ND, associate professor of naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University

Bad Breath

Drink up to ¼ cup pure aloe vera gel dissolved in about half a cup of water or apple juice. Aloe vera contains an anti-inflammatory compound called B-sitosterol that soothes acid indigestion, a common cause of bad breath. But go easy; in large doses, aloe vera can work like a laxative.

The Expert: New York-based herbalist Letha Hadady, DAc, author of Healthy Beauty

Nasal Congestion

Irrigate the nose with contact lens saline solution, using a Neti Pot. Or try: putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil on the floor of a hot, running shower and inhaling the steam that accumulates. (Note: The room may be too hot for children.)

The Expert: Benjamin Kligler, MD, MPH, research director at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing in New York City

Less-than-White Teeth

Combine ½ teaspoon baking soda with 1 or 2 drops of peroxide. Brush on, let sit for a few minutes, then rinse (don't swallow) and ta-da—enjoy your once-again pearly whites. Baking soda serves as a safe, light bleach. A baking soda and salt mixture can also restore the shine of dingy teeth (dip a wet toothbrush into 1 4 teaspoon soda and sprinkle with up to 1 8 teaspoon salt) as effectively as it polishes your pots and pans. However, the peroxide recipe is safer for people on no-salt diets.

The Expert: Letha Hadady, DAc

Mild Heartburn

Combine 1 teaspoon powdered glutamine, an amino acid, to fuel gastrointestinal tract cells and cool inflammation; 1 capsule to introduce good bacteria to the gut; and 1 teaspoon herbal marshmallow or slippery elm powder to coat and soothe the digestive system. (The ingredients are available at health food stores.) Mix with 6 to 8 ounces yogurt or applesauce (to get everything down) and take one or two times a day for 8 to 10 weeks.

The Expert: Paul S. Anderson, ND

Mosquito Bites

Rub liquid laundry detergent on the spot and let dry. The liquid soothes the skin, dries the bite to reduce irritation, and seals the area from outside irritants.

The Expert: Paul Lyons, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine at Temple University School of Medicine

Headaches

Try do-it-yourself acupressure. Feel along your trapezius, the large muscle that runs from the high point of both shoulders and joins your neck. Use your thumbs and index and middle fingers to squeeze the muscle just below where it attaches to both sides of your neck. You'll be releasing "trigger points," tiny muscle spasms that can cause neck tension and are a common cause of headaches. Hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute—or have a friend do it for you. Or try: massaging one or two drops of peppermint (Mentha piperita) oil into the same trigger points and the lower neck. "Peppermint oil relaxes muscles in spasm."

The Expert: Benjamin Kligler, MD, MPH

Sore Throat

Mix together a clove bud, which is antiseptic and fights infection, with 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger (or 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger) and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon—the latter two because of their anti-inflammatory properties. Infuse the tea in 2 cups boiling water, and for every cup, stir in 2 teaspoons soothing and sweet raw honey. Sip throughout the day until your throat settles down.

The Expert: Paul S. Anderson, ND

Dandruff

Douse it with a cup of antioxidant-packed green tea, which will naturally exfoliate dry flakes without dehydrating skin. Steep two bags of green tea in 1 cup hot water for 20 minutes to overnight. Once it has cooled, massage the strong tea into your scalp.

The Expert: Letha Hadady, DAc

Pimples

Treat them with tea tree oil and witch hazel, both of which have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. As soon as you feel a pimple forming, dot either tonic on the area twice a day for 2 or 3 days. "Never use rubbing alcohol because that only dries out and irritates skin without having any effect on the bacteria that cause acne."

The Expert: Doris Day, MD

Sunburn

Take a lukewarm bath with 1 cup added ground oatmeal (grind it with a mortar and pestle; instant oatmeal works fine), 1 cup whole milk, 2 tablespoons honey, and 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel. Oatmeal is anti-inflammatory, honey is antiseptic, milk's proteins and fats soothe skin, and aloe numbs pain. "Afterward, moisturize with a cream containing hydrating shea butter and aloe."

The Expert: Doris Day, MD

Diarrhea

Drink a cup of chamomile tea. The herb has an antispasmodic effect that stops contractions in the lower intestine.

The Expert: Evangeline Lausier, MD, assistant clinical professor in medicine at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, NC

Flatulence

Sip 1 cup hot water steeped with 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, which stifle the enzymatic action that causes gas.

The Expert: Evangeline Lausier, MD


Enjoy!! Let me know if they work!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE!!


Happy 31st birthday to my ANN MARIE HUN! I know you said birthdays are kinda depressing at this point in your life. . . but it is still a day to celebrate YOU!! I want to celebrate you, so there!! Thanks for being the wonderful, no-nonsense, tell it how you see it, adorable, genuine friend that you have always been to me. . . . even when my “ca-waab died!” You have helped me through many struggles and hard times that I have had throughout my life and for that I am thankful. I will definitely remember you in my will!! Hehe

Love you bunches!!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Comfort Foods




According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia, “Comfort food is typically inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. Many people turn to comfort food for familiarity, emotional security, or special reward. The reasons a dish becomes a comfort food are diverse but often include pleasant associations of childhood. Small children often seem to latch on to a specific food or drink (in a way similar to a security blanket) and will repeatedly request it in high stress situations. Adults eat comfort food for a sense of continuity.”
My personal favorites:


Stressed ~ hot chai tea, pizza, chocolate!, wonton soup, Doritos

Sad ~ cookie dough ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate

Lonely ~ Thick homemade soup, Shepherd’s pie, turkey, mashed potatoes, pancakes

Indulgent ~ Butterfinger candy bar, McDonald’s cheeseburger, Chili’s chocolate
molten lava cake, chocolate milk, Chocolate dipped caramel apple with
crushed Oreos, Cinnamon Dolce steamer from Starbucks


Any new additions to my list would be welcomed! (I tend to use my comfort foods quite a bit these days) :-)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Birthday Bash!


Helow, my name is Mika and todai I am 7 yers oald. Todai has ben a verry fun dai. My Sarah hade a birtdai parti fore mi with hats and treets and mi broddurs and sissters came too! Fritz and Thelma hade hats butt wer mizbehaving so thei gott tima outt. I then openede mi prisents and gott tweats and chewiis. Sarah made mi pancakies for brek-fast. I lub birfdays. My unkle Ryan sais Sarah is "retarded" butt I thout it wuz verry special.




I met mi Sarah 7 yers agoa whin she cambe to Flordia. I was 6 weks oald. She hade just loast her dog Spoofy and was verry sade. My brudders and sissters all twied to comefort her and I layed my sewf on her feett. She said she fweld so special. She tooka mi home to my newa hoouse in cali-fornia and I lub it hewr. I know my Sarah lubs mi verry mucha.



~~~~~The pancakies wer soo guud!~~~~~




Her are sumb of mi prisents ------->








Happi Birfday to my twin brudders and sissters too: Beau, Tyson, Amy and Chante!


(sorri four the spelying. Ibe never ben to skoul.) :-)

Monday, February 4, 2008

Friends. . .

I wanted to share with you all a poem one of my dearest and best friends wrote for me. She then had it engraved on a wooden box for me and presented it to me last year as a present for being the maid of honor in her wedding. It is one of the sweetest things anyone has ever given me. I hope you enjoy it!

Friends make the world more beautiful
They share their point of view
And help us to see things in a way
That’s wonderful and new
Friends make the world more beautiful
In countless different ways
Making good things better
And enriching all our days
It may seem we take for granted
As the days go past
The good and faithful friendships
That we’re counting on to last
But there’s a special language
Understood by you and me
In which our words of gratitude
Are spoke silently
An though your heart already knows
Sometimes I’d like to say
You’ve made my world more beautiful
I’m glad you came my way

~Elizabeth Richardson