Lavender oil

Lavender oil
(quoted from Random Ramblings Blogspot who has been sending me nice emails)
I have been a fan of lavender oil for many years as it is something that you can grab and has a use for almost anything. Yes, it's old fashioned .... but what an amazing possession it is. It has anti-viral (not many things help kill viruses), anti-bacterial, soothing and healing, relaxing .... the list seems endless. You can apply a small amount to minor burns, place a few drops into bath water, add it to vegetable oil and use as a massage. Place a few drops onto a linen square and hang in a wardrobe, cloakroom, etc to ward away the little clothes moth .... well I won't go on - you get the picture.

And to Quote Wikipedia

Lavender has been used extensively in herbalism.

English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, yields a highly effective essential oil with very sweet overtones, and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. Lavandin, Lavandula x intermedia (also known as French lavender), yields a similar essential oil, but with higher levels of terpenes including camphor, which add a sharper overtone to the fragrance. Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas is not used medicinally, but mainly for landscaping purposes.

Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It was used in hospitals during WWI to disinfect floors, walls and other surfaces.

An infusion of lavender is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites. Bunches of lavender are also said to ward off insects. If applied to the temples, lavender oil is said to soothe headaches. Lavender is frequently used as an aid to sleep and relaxation: Seeds and flowers of the plant are added to pillows, and an infusion of three flowerheads added to a cup of boiling water are recommended as a soothing and relaxing bedtime drink. Lavender oil (or extract of Lavender) is claimed to heal acne when used diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it is also used in the treatment of skin burns and inflammatory conditions (it is a traditional treatment for these in Iran).

But see the Wikipedia article for possible Health Precautions wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender

Survive the Late Night Nibbles!

You've been good all day, have eaten sparingly and healthily, then in the evening you crack you want to eat naughty sweet things! One trick is to have lots of healthy nibbles prepared carrots, fruit, a bowl of olives. Still want sweet stuff? then try canned fruit say fruit cocktail but throw away the juice. Nothing working? well at least try to eat quality chocolate that is in reasonable quantities actually good for you!

Please post as a comment your techniques for avoiding the LNN (Late-Night-Nibbles)

Risks of drinking Aloe Vera juice?

Any Side Effects Of Aloe Vera Juice?

Aloe Vera is not without possible side effects. Reported side effects include allergic reactions, liver dysfunction, nausea, dermatitis and strangely colored urine.

However, these side effects are rare and may well be the result of drinking too much of the juice. It is unwise to drink Aloe Vera juice as if it were orange juice. If you stay to the recommended dose, you should be fine.

Nevertheless, it is important to pay attention to any side effects and stop drinking the juice if you detect a reaction. Aloe Vera juice is not a magic potion or a cure-all.

Indications

Indications that you should avoid Aloe Vera are if you are pregnant or breast feeding, have kidney or heart disease, or are allergic to garlic or onions. It is also inadvisable to give Aloe Vera juice to children as they can experience toxic reactions.

For most people, the health benefits of Aloe Vera juice outweigh any risks, however it is important to use this supplement wisely and pay careful attention to your body’s responses to it.

Original article from herbalnation.blogspot.com

Aloe Vera Cure for a Sore Throat

A fellow blogger mentioned that she was a fan of Aloe Vera since it healed a particularly bad sore throat. Just gargle a good quality Aloe Vera Juice.

Here a few other Folk cures just in case you don't have any Aloe Vera juice handy

Honey & Lemon juice Take several tablespoons of this mixture several times a day. Let it sit in your throat a little while. This remedy will also help alleviate that irritating throat tickle

Mustard Grind one tablespoon of mustard seed and combine with the juice of half a lemon, one tablespoon of salt, one tablespoon of clear honey, and 1 1/4 cups of boiling water. Leave this mixture, covered, for 15 minutes and use as a gargle.

Thyme Make a tea by lightly crushing five fresh or dried leaves; place in a cup and fill with water cooled to just below boiling; cover and leave to infuse for five minutes; remove leaves and drink. May also be used as a gargle. Thyme has antiseptic properties.

Water/salt Mix a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of quite warm water. Gargle the whole mixture several times a day. This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies. (I've used this)

Healthy Uses for Your Old Teabags

** Tea Shave – If you get razor burn when shaving, you can
use a wet tea bag to reduce the soreness. Place a soaked bag
on the irritated area and it will reduce the irritation.

** Refresh your eyes – If you’ve got tired and weary eyes and
the bags are swelling up because you didn’t quite get enough
sleep last night, a couple of tea bags can help. Douse them
in lukewarm water, place them over your closed eyes and relax
for a while. You’re eyes will soon look much fresher.

** Tea Feet – If you’re feet are a bit whiffy, fill a bowl
with warm water and diffuse a number of tea-bags in it. Once
they’ve diffuse and the water changes colour relax your feet
in the bowl. The tea will lessen the odour of your feet.

** Stinging Tea – If you sting yourself on ivy or nettles try
padding the irritated area with a cotton ball dipped in tea:
it will relieve the pain.

** Shiny Hair – After you’ve shampooed your hair, rinse it
with a beaker of herbal fruit tea. It will give your hair
added shine and a pleasant smell.

** Furniture polish – You can use lukewarm tea to clean wood
furniture. Soak a clean cloth in the tea and then rub down
the dirty furniture. The tea will give the wood a natural
shine.

** Rose Tea – Tea is great for aiding the nourishment of
rosebushes. Place a few used tea bags at the base of the
plant and the rosebush will gather the nutrients

From the Shortcut Bulletin