HEALTH & BEAUTY

Bath

 Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your bath water for soft, smooth skin.

 Adults can dissolve epsom salts in bath water to relax.

Breakouts

• Dab zinc cream (diaper rash cream) on the area before bed and pimples will shrink by morning.
• Spot treatment: crush an uncoated aspirin tablet and mix with facial cleanser as a paste, apply to the spot.

Body Scrub

Mix white granulated sugar with coconut oil.

Separate in small containers. Tint with gel food coloring and mix in a few drops of essential oil for scent if desired.

Burns

• Wear long sleeves while cooking. Hot grease splatters will leave white marks on your skin.
• Ease pain from a minor burn with cold running water.
• Hold a cold raw peeled potato on the spot.
• Snip a piece of fresh aloe, peel back the skin and apply the aloe gel to the burn spot.
• Seek medical advice for blistered burns to prevent infection.

Wearing Colour

• Wear black to blend in unnoticed, for banishing.
• Blue for happiness and peace, blue beads for protection or psychic awareness.
• Brown for health, grounding, steadiness, to take a sense of home with you.
• Gold to reflect the energy and prosperity of the sun.
• Greens to calm and soothe, inspire the feeling of being in the natural world, for growth, fertility, money.
• Grey for neutrality, peace.
• Orange promotes energy and conversation, attraction, success.
• Pink inspires affection, love, friendship.
• Purple is the colour of royalty.
• Red for courage, good fortune, inspiring passion.
• Silver reflects the cool radiance of the moon.
• Yellow inspires intellect and confidence.

Dry Shampoo (non-aerosol)

• Sprinkle in arrowroot powder or corn starch. Mix in some cocoa powder if you have dark hair.

Eyes

A cucumber eye mask soothes skin around the eyes and helps with puffiness. To release the active enzymes, grate the cucumber over a clean cotton cloth (or use paper towel) on top of a plate. Wrap the cloth over the grated cucumber like a burrito, compressing tightly. Lean your head back and apply the compress over closed eyes for 5 minutes. Or lie down with cold cucumber slices on your closed eyes.

Refrigerate a used tea bag and put the cold, drained teabag over your closed eyes.

Face Masks & Toners

Aloe Mask: 

Aloe has anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties for calming, softening and plumping.

Mix milk and sugar and then stir in aloe vera to make a mask, then apply to a clean face and let sit 15-20 minutes before removing with warm water.

• 1/2 Tbsp milk or nut milk
• 1 Tbsp sugar (brown or white)
• 4 Tbsp aloe vera juice or gel

Antioxidant-Rich Blueberry and Cucumber Mask

• 1 Tbsp ripe blueberries
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp cucumber juice
• 2 Tbsp baking soda
• 2 Tbsp water

Blend, apply to face, let sit 15-20 minutes before rinsing.

Coffee Skin Mask

Ground coffee makes an exfoliating, invigorating skin mask. Buff on clean skin then rinse off.  Stir together:

• 1/2 cup finely ground coffee beans
• 1/2 cup yogurt or milk
• 1 Tbsp honey

Honey-Oatmeal Face Treatment for Brightening and Anti-Redness

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal

Buff onto clean face, then rinse.

Exfoliating Lips

Stir together and buff on lips with a new soft toothbrush:

• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 Tbsp raw sugar
• dash lemon juice

Rinse and apply lip balm.

Hydrating Cocoa

On clean skin, avoiding eyes, apply a mixture of 1 Tbsp each:

• cocoa powder 
• sour cream (lactic acid softens)
• honey (hydrating)
• 1 egg white (protein, tightens skin)

Let dry, then rinse.

Kiwi

Kiwi fruit and seeds have antibacterial and skin-sloughing properties. Rub this mixture only clean skin with a circular motion then rinse well with warm water:

• 1 kiwi, peeled and mashed
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• A few drops olive oil

Papaya Mask

The acids in papaya exfoliate, egg whites add protein and tighten pores.

• 1/2 papaya, seeds removed, diced
• 1 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
• 1 Tbsp white tea, brewed and cooled
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 egg white

Blend ingredients until they form a paste, then apply to clean face and neck.

Leave on 20-30 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water.

Apply moisturizer.

Tea Toner

Anti-inflammatory, purifying and calming.

In a French Press, combine:

• 1 tsp peppermint tea leaves
• 4 tsp white tea leaves
• 1/2 cup distilled water, boiled
• 2 drops lavender oil

Let steep 10 minutes, then pour into a glass container to cool.

Pour the mixture into a 4-oz spray bottle and fill to top with:

• aloe vera gel

Shake, refrigerate, when cool spritz on face.

Mood Boosters:

• Avoid refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, processed and fast foods.
• Good-mood foods are whole grains, oily fish (salmon), fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Laugh. Watch a comedy.
• Tell someone else what you really like and appreciate about them.
• Do a random act of kindness for someone else.
• Go for a walk in a forest, meadow, or near water.
• Spend time with a dog or cat.
• Sit near a tree.
• Plant a tree.
• Work in a garden.

Detox Diet

Dr. Ashley Brown of London's St. Mary's and Hammersmith Hospitals says there's no science behind detox diets. Practising moderation with alcohol will help keep your liver healthy.  Drink water. You should have at least two or three consecutive alcohol-free days every week.

Faith Healing

The key ingredient to faith-healing is having faith.

The Foxfire Book (Anchor Books, 1972) describes interviews with elderly Appalachian faith healers in in the 1960's.  These people could heal burns by "blowing out" or "drawing" the fire, stop bleeding and cure thrush. Healing power came from verses repeated silently from the Old Testament.  "Each illness has its own appropriate verse, and the verse is never uttered out loud." p. 347. If spoken, the speaker might lose the power to cure.

Healer Nora Garland said the verse to stop bleeding is in Ezekiel, "You don't have t'read any farther than th' sixteenth chapter. You memorize it by heart, but don't leave one little thing out. If you do, it won't stop." (352-354). According to the folklore site vintagepathways.com, the verse to stop bleeding is Ezekiel 16:6

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

The verse to blow out a burn is based on Revelation chapter 7, verse 2. Speak or silently say these words, then draw in the fire by inhaling with your mouth 1-2 inches from the burn, and turn to exhale away from the burn:

There came an angel from the east, bringing Frost and Fire. In Frost, out Fire. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen.

 

The Foxfire writers noted:

The elderly healers with whom we talked are quiet, simple, strong and sure. They are people with a faith of such quality that the differences between them and us were abundantly clear. They have faith in themselves, and they have faith in their God, believing that it is through Him their words carry weight. They do not heal in tents before throngs. They do not cry out over radios. They do not accept money for their work. They work with neighbors and neighbors' children individually, when asked to help, and they respond as a gesture of friendship and concern. (p. 346)

Germs

• 1 Tbsp bleach in a gallon of water will disinfect surfaces.
• A solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide sprayed on faucets will disinfect.
• A raw onion cut in half and left on a windowsill will attract germs. Do not eat chopped onion left out uncovered for long, as it attracts and holds in stray bacteria.
• Include onions and garlic in your diet for health.
• Cook with garlic, salt and rosemary to keep illness away.

Hands

• For work-worn, dry rough hands, soak your hands in 2-3 cups of warm whole milk for 5-10 minutes.

Hair 

Test anything new by putting some on the inside of your elbow first, wait for a reaction.

For dry, irritated scalp:

• 1 cup green tea
• 2 drops peppermint oil
• 1Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Mix well, massage into scalp, let sit 5 minutes before rinsing.

For flat, lifeless hair:

• 1 cup oats
• 2 Tbsp almond oil
• 1/2 cup milk

1. Soak oats in milk overnight or for several hours. Strain out the oats, leaving oat milk.
2. Mix in almond oil. 
3. Shortcut: mix oat milk with almond oil.
4. Smooth mask all over hair. Leave on 20-40 minutes, then shampoo.

Detoxify Hair with product build-up:

Mix 1/2 tsp baking soda with your shampoo.

Thicken, strengthen, add elasticity: Blend until pureed then leave on hair 20-30 minutes before rinsing:

• 2 egg yolks
• 2 peeled ripe bananas
• 2-3 Tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or commercial hair conditioner
• 2 Tbsp olive oil

To repair dry hair: warm 1 Tbsp coconut oil in the microwave, then massage into damp hair, avoiding roots. Tie strands in a bun and cover with a shower cap or hair wrap. Go to sleep and dream of your beautiful hair. Shampoo in the morning.

To clarify dull hair, boost shine, smooth hair's outer layer: Blend equal parts of:

• apple cider vinegar
• raw honey
• coconut oil

Work the blend through damp hair, leave on 20 minutes (at least) then shampoo out..

For greasy, flat hair with dandruff-like flakes:

Remove product build-up with a clarifying shampoo.

Make one by mixing:

• 1/3 cup shampoo
• 1- 2 Tbsp baking soda

Stir well, pour over wet hair, massage into scalp, let sit for 3 minutes, rinse thoroughly.

For frizzy hair: Rub just a dab of castor oil between hands and glide a thin layer over frizzy strands on dry hair.

To moisturize scalp and add strength and shine to chemically-damaged hair: Blend

• 1/2 avocado
• 1Tbsp olive oil
• 1Tbsp honey
• 3 drops essential oil of choice

Apply to wet hair with fingertips, starting at the bottom and moving up.

Wrap in a bun and cover with a shower cap.

Let sit 20 minutes, then shampoo.

Longevity

Dr. Mike Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz say you can roll back 21.6 years in terms of your body's aging by practising the following:

1. Take 2 baby aspirins a day to prevent gastrointestinal and cardio problems, protect the brain and decrease risk of cancers. Consult your doctor first.

2. Eat wild salmon or trout 3 times a week.

3. Avoid 4-legged food products (red meats).

4. Exercise 4 times a week (at least 30 minutes of brisk walking 4 times a week and do two resistance/strength training sessions on the other days.)

5. Eat 4-5 servings of fruit a week.

6. Eat a small handful (1 oz) of nuts 5 days a week.
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7. Drink 2 cups of caffeinated coffee a day or spread this out by drinking up to six small cups daily (said to help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's.)

My mom says if you want to live long, cook your own food and do your own work, especially housework and gardening. Drink alcohol rarely and never smoke.

Sleep Better:

• De-clutter and dust your bedroom, it needs to be clean and tidy.
• Go for a walk in the evening after dinner.
• Fix your bed, not as soon as you get up (let it air out a bit) but at least before you go to bed.
• Remove electronics. Digital alarm clocks and phones should be kept across the room and not at the bedside. The bedroom wall's not the place for a big-screen TV.
• If possible, let fresh air into the room from a window before closing it for the night.
• Never go to sleep with damp hair, to keep a healthy pillow. Wash your pillows or get a new one seasonally.
• Use a humidifier in the room if the air is dry.
• Sleep in cotton bed linens, washed regularly with fragrance-free natural detergent, or lavender oil scented.
• Try to keep to a schedule: lights out at 11 pm, wake with the morning light by 7 am., breakfast by 8 am.
• To ready yourself for sleep, avoid watching a screen (TV, computers or cell phone) or eating snacks a couple hours before bedtime. In this time, take a warm bath, drink calming herbal tea, like chamomile, read an actual book.
• When falling asleep, don't think about the events of today, yesterday or tomorrow, or make a mental to-do list.
• When falling asleep, breathe deeply and slowly in and out. Then pray, silently chant, count. Send a blessing to everyone in your family, living and passed. I tell myself a story that sometimes slips into a dream.

Sore Throat

Spray your throat with bee propolis (if not allergic to it.)

Swallow a teaspoon of Manuka honey.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice mixed with any honey and hot water helps. 

A stronger mixture:

• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1 Tbsp honey

Stress

• Anxiety signals that something may be threatening or dangerous to your well-being.
• Temporary stress can be a response to a challenge or having to learn something new that could be beneficial in the long-term. A baby may seem cranky, frustrated--and then she walks.
• Tell yourself that all you have to do is get through today. Do the hard things one day at at time.
• You can walk a long way by taking small steps.
• Avoid debt. Save for big purchases instead of buying on credit.
• Much stress is caused by too much stuff: wanting more, dealing with more. Make do with less.
• Visit a library, museum or art gallery instead of a shopping mall.
• Steer clear of relationships that don't bring happiness or contentment.
• Go for long walks outside.
• Turn off electronics, enjoy peace and quiet, let your thoughts wander.
• Don't overbook yourself or your kids. Everyone needs quiet time to play and explore their own interests.

Weight Control

• Consult your doctor first.
• If you carry excess fat on your body, especially around your midsection, you eat more than your body needs, so you have to exercise more or eat less, it is very simple but not easy, especially as you get older.
• Take smaller portions and smaller bites and chew your food longer.
• Eat your biggest meal at mid-day and less at night.
• Move more. Get up every thirty minutes.
• Express gratitude and appreciation for having nutritious food to eat, don't eat junk mindlessly.
• Sip water, the best drink, throughout the day. When you are thirsty your body is already dehydrated.
• Add slices of lemon, lime or cucumber to flavour water.
• Drink a glass of water before you eat any food to aid in digestion and avoid over-eating.
• Drink a glass of water before you have a glass of wine or any alcoholic beverage. Have one glass of water for every glass of wine, cocktail or beer. Limit alcohol or don't drink it at all.
• To stimulate metabolism, add slices of fresh ginger and cayenne pepper to water.
• Choose green tea for a hot drink in the daytime.
• Drink non-caffeinated herbal tea after dinner at night.
• Remind yourself that what you put in your body impacts your health and longevity.
• Buy the best foods you can afford.
• Eat fewer but higher-quality, organic, unprocessed foods.
• Try to grow your own vegetables and herbs without using pesticides or herbicides.
• Add herbs when cooking to boost flavour and increase satisfaction.
• Cook for yourself using healthy oils, fresh herbs, local vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains.
• Sleep well. The body craves sugars found in carbohydrates when sleep-deprived.
• Slow down and fast in the evening, wake with the light and break the fast.
• Avoid processed and sugary drinks like soda pop and artificial sweeteners.
• Eat a whole fruit instead of having a glass of juice.
• Juices and fruit beverages shouldn't have added sugars.
• If you've been drinking more frequently, maybe during vacation or holiday season, follow up with an alcohol-free month.
• Six small meals a day is better than 3 big meals for many people.
• Use a smaller plate.
• Fill half the plate with vegetables, a quarter with a protein, a quarter with a carbohydrate like potatoes or pasta.
•  Food combining: At a meal, eat protein with fats and vegetables only (Meat, poultry, cheese, butter, oils, vegetables) OR eat only whole-grain carbohydrates but only with vegetables (Whole wheat pasta or whole grains + tomato sauce + vegetables). This was the basis of Suzanne Somers' diet books, which I believe she said was the French way of controlling weight.
• Add a protein to every meal to feel less hungry, Include fish, chicken, Greek yogurt, hard-pressed cottage cheese, eggs at every meal, but no more than 4 oz. per meal (2 large-size eggs, a palm-sized portion of meat.)  Protein weight-loss diets had you severely restrict carbohydrates.
• Don' eat things that are white: suggests you not eat anything made from white flour, including breads and pastas, or starches, including potatoes, or things made from milk. So basically eat protein and vegetables and some fruit.
• Limit red meat to lean cuts, once a week. 
• Try a Mediterranean diet: fish, vegetables, olive oil as a fat.
• Use a calorie and fitness tracker to see if you're consuming more calories than you use every day and predict your future weight if you continue eating the same way.Take a walk or two every day, no matter what the weather. Buy yourself a raincoat, boots, snow gear, a dog.