Known as the golden spice of life, turmeric, or haldi, contains a plethora of healthy nutrients beneficial for the skin. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been known for centuries in the East. The spice is widely incorporated in the Indian cuisine and has been used in the Ayurvedic skin care for centuries. Indian women have traditionally used it in their beauty routines for radiant and healthy skin. It is a common practice for the Indian bride to brighten their faces for the wedding with a turmeric paste made of the spice and olive oil.

The main ingredient in turmeric powder is curcumin, which represses an excess of melanin production. Curcuminoids work great for treating skin irritations, sun damage, and chronic inflammation that can all cause premature skin aging.  Turmeric contains a handful of essential nutrients including:

• Vitamin C encourages the build up of collagen, preserving the skin elasticity and tautness.
• Vitamin B is vital for the new skin cell formation and for keeping the skin moisturized.
• Calcium helps heal dry and withered skin.
• Magnesium slows down the aging processes and maintains the youthful and glowing look of the skin.
• Potassium has outstanding hydrating properties.

Want To Grow Your Own Turmeric Plant?

You may want to try growing your own turmeric, especially if you are one of those hard-core gardeners. The hardy ginger relative will do best in humid and warm conditions. Although turmeric is better suited for planting in open fields, it can survive in a domestic environment, too. Gardening experts advise growing your plant from a small piece of rhizome bought from a nursery or gifted to you by another gardener. Pick a partly shaded place with morning sun exposure. The best time for planting is in spring. Dig the roots up in the late fall or the early winter, while the greenery is dormant.

Turmeric +Milk+ Honey Face Mask

Although turmeric has unquestionable benefits, the spice can stain fair skin with its natural yellow colouring and make it look sallow. Luckily, the colour does fade away after a couple of hours. With this in mind, here is an easy idea on how to use turmeric in your everyday skin care routine.

Why Is It Good for You?

Honey is known for its anti-bacterial, antiseptic, and moisturizing properties. It also helps even out the skin tone and removes any discoloration marks, acne scars, and dark spots on the skin. Milk smoothes the rough skin and nourishes it with vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon milk
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

Directions:

• Mix the above ingredients in a bowl.
• Use a gentle cleanser to remove any trace of dirt or makeup.
• Apply a thin layer of the turmeric face mask on your face and let it sit for five to ten minutes.
• Rinse off with a mild facial cleanser and water.

Bonus Tip:

With this mask, you don’t need to worry that the yellow powder will stain your skin. If it does stain your face, use a sugar face scrub.  To avoid staining your nails, wear gloves. To get rid of the turmeric nail stains, rub them with lemon juice using a brush.

For more interesting tips and ideas on how to grow an organic garden and make your own natural remedies, visit the London Gardeners blog.

Further reading:

• Turmeric – Learn More about This Ayurvedic Herb
• How to Optimize Curcumin Absorption – With Golden Milk Tea Recipe
• How To Use Turmeric To Kill Cancer
• Turmeric’s Anti-inflammatory Properties Explained
• Healthy Skin
• Get Naturally Gorgeous Skin with These 4 Home Remedies

Sources:

• 6 Fruits and Vegetables You Can Easily Grow Indoor – Alternet
• Skin Care Treatments – Bellatory

Many of us look forward to Spring. The weather warms up.  We start spending more time outdoors. Plants are growing, and flowers are blooming everywhere. When spring is in the air, so is pollen. For those of us with seasonal allergies, spring is not as lovely. Fortunately, nature has a way with timing and can really help us out if we pay attention.

In the spring, just as all those flowers, grasses and trees are blooming and releasing clouds of pollen, stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are popping up in full force, ready to come to the rescue.  Not only are they an amazing superfood and an all around useful medicinal plant, nettles work wonders for reducing inflammation.

This is an important thing to know because inflammation doesn’t stop with our sinuses and seasonal respiratory allergies. Food allergies and associated digestive inflammation are a huge problem for many people, and most of the over-the-counter treatments only make the situation worse.

Nettles are a safe, soothing treatment for inflammation, offering the added benefits of vitamins, minerals, and immune-boosting properties.  It’s time to make friends with the stinging nettle, folks. You won’t regret it.

Nettles and Seasonal Allergies

Stinging nettles have been used for centuries as a natural treatment for seasonal allergies,  hay fever, asthma, and hives. Research has shown that consuming nettles in freeze dried capsules effectively reduces histamine levels in the body, thus reducing inflammation of affected tissues. Even a simple nettle tea consumed daily throughout the pollen and allergy season will alleviate allergy symptoms.

Common symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, runny noses, and stuffed up sinuses  are treated as effectively, if not more so, by stinging nettle than over the counter allergy medications. It has been suggested that nettles actually desensitize the body to allergens and decrease our reaction to the allergens over time. Nettles will also spare you the side effects that come with allergy medications, like drowsiness or irritation and ulcers of the digestive tract, which leads to a whole other set of inflammation issues you don’t want.

With high levels of iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, sulphur, chromium, cobalt, magnesium, silicon, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K,  iron, and chlorophyll,  they will leave you feeling energized while assisting your immune system in overcoming the allergy response.

Nettles and Digestive Inflammation

Inflammation of the digestive tract has become a common reality that many of us deal with, and this isn’t really surprising when you look at the variety of culprits  and how common they are in our modern lives.  Food allergies, Candida imbalance, NSAID medications (ibuprofin, aspirin, etc.), chronic stress, sugars, highly processed foods, and environmental toxins are all potential sources of digestive inflammation and daily struggles for a lot of folks out there.

The most common go-to treatment tends to be over-the-counter NSAID medications that target pain and swelling, but they, in fact, contribute to the irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Here is where the anti-inflammatory benefits of nettles come into play.

When the leaves and stems of stinging nettle are digested, either in the form of a tea, tincture, capsule, or culinary green, the chemical constituents interfere with the body’s production of prostaglandins, resulting in an anti-inflammatory response. Nettles also interfere with pain signals in the body, clean out the intestinal tract, and boost the immune system, providing relief and healing for issues of the digestive system.

Given these healing properties, nettles are beneficial in healing leaky gut syndrome and are listed as a therapeutic ingredient in the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet. Nettle tea has been noted as a successful treatment for individuals dealing with gluten intolerance and Celiac disease to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation and discomfort.

Ulcerative colitis and ulcers in other areas of the digestive tract can also benefit from nettles, as they stop internal bleeding  and re-build  the blood with their high iron content and aided absorption.

Nettles for Pet Allergy Care

Allergies are not only an issue for people; their canine companions suffer from them as well. Dog owners may associate the springtime with treating “itchy dog syndrome” along with their pet’s eye discharge, ear infections, and overall discomfort. Stinging nettle is a natural anti-inflammatory for dogs to reduce levels of histamines, detox their system, and help desensitize their body to allergens. By giving dogs regular nettle supplements during allergy season, their allergies have been shown to actually go away over time. Nettles can be administered to dogs by adding it in freeze dried form to their food or through supplementation.

Where to Find Nettles

If you are interested in wildcrafting your own nettles, you can find them growing in moist soils at the edge of forests, streams, marshy areas, and pastures. You may even find them growing in your own backyard. They are one of the first plants to come up in the spring. They are very distinct with square shaped stems and opposite, serrated leaves tapered to a point, so they are fairly easy to find. With a good plant ID guide and advice from local foragers, you can venture out and gather your own nettles all through the spring months.

You can also establish a nettle patch at home in your garden either with nettle seeds from an heirloom seed company or by transplanting rhizomes from wild nettle patches. If you are working with fresh nettles, be sure to wear gloves while picking and handling them in the kitchen. The prickly hairs on the skin contain formic acid and can cause an irritation to the skin, which is a nuisance but not harmful. Cooking, drying, and grinding will break down the hairs so they are no longer an issue.

Nettles are very easy to dry and use throughout the rest of the year when they aren’t found growing outside. For those of us who may not have access to foraging areas or garden space, you can always purchase dried nettle leaf and a variety of nettle supplements. Sometimes grocery stores will even carry fresh wildcrafted nettles in the spring.

Anti-Inflammatory Nettle Tea Recipe

• 3 fresh nettle tops (three leaf nodes down the plant) or 3 Tbsp dried nettle leaf
• 1 Tbsp dried marshmallow root
• 2 slices fresh ginger root

Boil 4 cups water, and pour over herbs. Steep for 7 minutes, covered. I prefer using a quart mason jar with a lid.

Hay Fever Relief Nettle Tea Recipe

• 3 fresh nettle tops (three leaf nodes down the plant) or 3 Tbsp dried nettle leaf
• 1 Tbsp dried elder flower
• 1 Tbsp dried chamomile

Boil 4 cups water, and pour over herbs. Steep for 7 minutes covered. I prefer using a quart mason jar with a lid.

Recommended Reading:

• Five Common Weeds to Cultivate for Health and Nutrition
• Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease
• The Amazing Benefits of Stinging Nettles, with Recipes
• Allergy Free in Five Days (foods, dander, dust, seasonal, etc.)
• What Causes Chronic Inflammation, and How To Stop It For Good
• The Amazing Benefits of Stinging Nettles, with Recipes

Related Products:

• Gaia Herbs Nettle Leaf Capsules
• Gaia Herbs Nettle Leaf Liquid Extract
• Douglas Labs Nettle Capsules

 Sources:

• Nettles: The Sting—”Minor”; Healing Properties—”Major” – Idaho Observer
• Stinging Nettle – Dr. Christopher’s Herbal Legacy
• Stinging Nettle – University of Maryland Medical Center
• Stinging Nettle Benefits – Herb Wisdom
• What Causes Chronic Inflammation and How to Stop it For Good – OLM
• Nettle Tea: A Remedy for the Gluten-Free? – G-Free Foodie
• Gut and Psychology Syndrome – GAPS Diet
• Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Pain Relief – NCBI 
• Nettles for Allergy Relief (In Dogs) – Green JuJu Kitchen
• Understanding Canine Allergies – The Whole Dog Journal
• Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Wildcrafting Nettles – A Mountain Hearth
• 10 Benefits of Stinging Nettle

Allergies almost always disappear when the gut’s microbiome is balanced.

Allergies are symptoms of an overwhelmed immune system trying frantically to defend itself from any and all possible threats. Allergy medications suppress symptoms, and symptom suppression eventually leads to disease. Food allergies, seasonal allergies, and most of the other kinds of allergies can be completely eliminated. But there’s a catch. You’re going to have to change your diet.

Your body’s gut flora primarily consists of bacteria and fungi. A healthy gut contains a ratio of about 1000 bacteria to 1 Candida yeast cell. The fungi that likes our body best is Candida albicans, a kind of yeast that proliferates in a host who consumes a poor diet or otherwise disrupts their gut flora. The following are examples of how our modern lifestyle tends to disrupt our natural gut bacteria:

• Antibiotics from our food, soaps, water, and drugs
• Refined foods that feed the wrong flora
• Vaccines, drugs, heavy metals, and other toxins that kill beneficial flora
• Pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins that kill our bacteria
• Other toxic “foods” that disrupt our gut flora (like foods that contain heavy metals, artificial sweeteners, GMOs, etc.)

Naturally, our gut consists of a massive array of beneficial gut bacteria (and some Candida) that help us break down and assimilate food, assimilate nutrients, and produce hormones, all while crowding out any potential pathogens and keeping Candida at bay. It’s no coincidence that the most beneficial gut bacteria loves to dine on the most beneficial foods we can eat – raw, organic vegetables. The more fresh, raw, organic produce you eat, the healthier your gut flora will be.

Candida are Such Opportunists!

So what happens when you kill the good guys? Funny thing about Candida, the spores can survive just about anything. Candida is not all bad; it has its job to do, just like every other microbe, but when it’s not kept in check, things get messy. When you drink alcohol, take antibiotics, or do anything else that disturbs the gut flora, what you’re doing is killing beneficial bacteria and leaving behind Candida spores. These spores will hatch and flourish when they discover the coast is clear. Ideally, when this imbalance happens, our appendix squirts out some bacteria it had saved up for just such an occasion. Unfortunately, our modern sugary chemically laden diets and lifestyles have given Candida the boost it needs to take over the gut to the point at which the appendix’s bacteria can’t compete.

At this point there’s a very inhospitable environment in the gut. Candida doesn’t seem to mind neighbors, so once the gut is overrun by Candida, imagine a party with lots of other unsavory characters that got out of hand. Some of the gut flora that may have been beneficial to us before will now adapt to its new environment, and in turn, not be so beneficial. Microbes mutate and change in fascinating ways. Take e-coli, for instance. It’s a perfectly fine bacteria to have in our gut under natural circumstances. The problem is, when a cow is left in a pen, is fed an extremely acid and unnatural diet, and is given large quantities of antibiotics, the bacteria mutates to a much hardier and deadly form of the bacteria. Everything we put into our gut creates and manipulates the flora for better or for worse in countless ways. Feed your gut the good stuff, and you’ll have good flora. Eat the wrong foods, or take drugs, and you’ll have flora that adapts to a poor environment.

From Yeast to Pseudohyphal and Hyphal Forms – A Causal Agent of Other Infections

Speaking of adapting, once that Candida is feeling crowded and has outgrown its home in the gut, Candida can grow out of its single-cell yeast form and into a filamentous fungal form that grows root-like tentacles (hyphae) that drill deep into the mucosal lining of the gut, poking “holes” into already an irritated and inflamed, gut lining, resulting in a leaky gut. Now Candida and all kinds of other crap (excuse the pun) can leak into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Candida can infect every organ of the body and repeat the hyphal hole-making process in all of its new homes. When it takes the pseudohyphal and hyphal fungal forms, it creates a toxic biofilm that protects itself against things that would normally kill it (like antibiotics and anti-fungal medications).

Candida is the key that unleashes a barrage of other infectious microbes and partially digested food from our gut into the bloodstream. Now the body is in a constant tug of war with Candida and other invaders that continue to try to rip it apart. There is a back and forth with the gut’s permeability, as the body is constantly repairing the gut as best it can and fighting off infection from within the gut and throughout the body.

Candida, parasites, infectious bacteria, other fungi, and all kinds of microbes that escape the gut will set up their colonies where they can hide and find food. Infectious microbes generally eat simple sugars and decaying cells. Pathogens like to congregate in cavities and around old injuries (this is why old injuries ache and become inflamed). The mere presence of these microbes irritates their surroundings, causing damage to cells, which end up feeding the pathogens (as mentioned, they feed on dead and decaying and damaged cells). It’s not too difficult to see why the body will crave sugar. Every time you feed the pathogens there’s a feeling of relief within the body. It feels good. The pathogens are eating the sugar and leaving us alone for a moment. Unfortunately, the next thing they do is multiply. They turn back on you when they’re out of sugar to eat. And the more damage they do to the body, the more food they have to eat.

There are at least 70 different toxins live Candida releases, and even more toxins are released when Candida dies. Two of the most prominent toxins produced are acetaldehyde and gliotoxin. Acetaldehyde which is a metabolic byproduct of Candida that is similar to carbon dioxide that we exhale, leads to oxidative stress and inflammation. Too much acetaldehyde in the body is the equivalent of alcohol poisoning. Gliotoxin is another major toxin created by yeast that suppresses the immune system and kills key immune cells, liver cells, and impairs the liver’s ability to detoxify the body.

Is Candida the Problem?

Both of the aforementioned toxins can be linked to almost every autoimmune disease or symptom there is, but once Candida permeates the gut, it’s not just Candida causing the problems. The body is susceptible to anything and everything at this point. All kinds of undigested food particles and microbes flood the bloodstream off and on as the gut walls deteriorate and heal, back and forth, all while the immune system is completely overtaxed. To make matters worse, what Candida does to the intestinal wall when it goes fungal, it will do in other areas of the body as well, which wrecks havoc on the immune system. The typical human in a modern society is dealing with so many different kinds of infections and other toxins at one time that the body reacts to anything and everything that doesn’t belong. The more inflamed the body becomes, the more the immune system becomes overburdened and confused. It’s a painful cycle that starts with allergies and eventually leads to autoimmune disease. In other words, aches and pains from old injuries and allergies, any kind of allergies, are some of the first signs of an unbalanced, unhealthy gut that is currently, or has been, seeping toxins and microbes into the body.

Most people have pockets of infection all over their bodies. Candida spores (and some other interesting pathogens) can lie in wait, completely dormant, for many months, just waiting for an opportunity to flourish. Some pathogens have other tricks that allow them to hang out undetected by the immune system for very long periods of time, while their lifecycle produces toxins that damage the body. Once the gut allows infection into the body, Candida may or may not still play a factor in disease, but it’s almost always an underlining cause. And it’s easy to see, when you can picture what happens, why a holistic approach is imperative to getting well.

How Does One Know if One has Candida?

If you’re sick, it doesn’t really matter. There’s testing, but it’s not reliable. One of the many problems with testing is that the same body may test differently a day later, depending on what’s going on in the body. Different pathogens may flourish at different times depending on many factors. Symptoms that indicate an abundance of Candida may actually be caused by another kind of fungus or any other pathogen, and in fact usually is caused by more than one pathogen effecting the body at once. A holistic approach rids the body of fungal infections, parasites, infectious bacteria, and any other pathogen that doesn’t belong while the gut heals and beneficial flora is restored. So while this is a list of “Candida Symptoms,” it’s really a list of symptoms that the gut is not well and the body is dealing with a heavy toxic load.

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Irritability
• Seeing “floaters” in vision
• Itchy ears
• Itchy feet
• Headaches and migraines
• Allergies
• Difficulty with memory and concentration
• Flatulence
• Digestive upset
• Chronic diarrhea
• Recurrent urinary tract infections or other symptoms of poor urinary health
• Decreased libido
• Acne
• Dry skin and other skin issues including eczema
• Joint pain
• Slow healing
• Chronic sinus, ear, mouth, and jaw infections (including gum disease)
• Menstrual disturbances
• Premenstrual tension
• Any autoimmune disease
• Myasthenia gravis
• Schizophrenia
• Increased sensitivity to foods
• and much more! See Signs You Have Too Much Candida

The Holistic Approach – Natural Gut Healing Protocol

Most people can heal their body of any and every ailment provided they have all of their body parts. Things get tricky when parts are missing, but most of us can get completely and totally well with just the right diet alone. Supplements can radically speed up the process of getting well, but if you have access to the right food, supplements aren’t usually a necessity. With the wrong diet, supplements aren’t going to be nearly as effective. Here’s a protocol to rid the body of infectious microbes, heal the gut, and balance the flora. Try it for two weeks and it will change your life. But there’s a catch. You can’t go back to old habits that got you here. This is only step one. Step two is eating right and taking care from now on.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Drink Lots of Cranberry Lemonade

Drink between a half a gallon and a gallon of cranberry lemonade a day to flush the liver and kidneys of toxins, and help rejuvenate the endocrine system, which will help keep the blood clean and reduce “die-off symptoms” commonly associated with killing Candida.

Cranberry Lemonade Recipe

• Glass gallon jar
• Safe, clean, spring water or distilled water
• 1 cup of unsweetened, organic cranberry juice, not from concentrate
• 3 organic fresh lemons
• A citrus juicer
• Liquid stevia
• Liquid cayenne

Fill the jar to about 85% capacity with spring water (or distilled water). Squeeze the lemons and pour the juice into the water. Add cranberry juice. Add stevia to taste and then add cayenne to taste. The amount of cayenne used is up to you, but the more the better.

If you don’t have access to a good source for spring water, use other clean drinking water that does not contain fluoride. If you don’t have access to organic lemons, use conventional. Fresh is almost always best. If there are no fresh lemons, use organic bottled lemon juice. If you can’t get cranberry juice that is not from concentrate, get the reconstituted kind (just don’t get any kind of cranberry juice that has any other ingredients like sweeteners or other juices). If you can’t stand cayenne, don’t use it. No glass jar? Use plastic.

Eat Right

Produce detoxifies. Fresh, whole, organic, raw vegetables, herbs, and fruits pull toxins from the body as they repopulate healthy, beneficial gut bacteria and give the body the nutrients it needs including enzymes and other phytonutrients that are almost non-existent in most modern diets.

Try to eat a huge salad every day with lots of greens, plenty of other colors, garlic, cilantro, ginger, and more. Check out this salad recipe.

The Salad Base

• Spinach
• Arugula (I prefer baby arugula, mature arugula tastes funky)
• Collard greens (they’re very bitter; use sparingly)
• Lettuce (mix it up, try an organic spring mix)
• Kale
• Beet greens (the tops of beets)
• Red cabbage (thinly shred like a slaw or a little thicker, depending on the texture you prefer)
• Rainbow chard

Shredded, Grated

• Carrots
• Zucchini
• Beetroot
• Daikon (or other radish)

Chopped or Diced

• Leeks
• Red onions
• Red and yellow bell peppers
• Cucumbers
• Cilantro
• Asparagus (try cooking in a balsamic vinegar first)

Extras

• Pomegranate seeds
• Olives
• Raisins or dried cranberries
• Sesame seeds
• Ground papaya seeds and/or ground pepper
• Avocado
• Eggs (try soft boiled)
• Beans (black, pinto, kidney, green, garbanzo, etc.)
• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Chia seeds

It’s not an exact recipe, and it doesn’t have to be. Mix it up. Try new things. My salads generally have about 15 ingredients. Make them big; make them diverse. Just imagine you’re in nature, not modern society, and all you have to eat is nothing but a wide variety of the best, whole, fresh, healthy vegetables and herbs. This is what a big salad a day can do for you: it’s life changing.

I throw in chickpeas or a three-bean salad combination. If you’re not vegan, try a sheep feta cheese with this salad, and throw on some eggs. It’s good with meat, too, like chicken or steak.

Don’t ruin it with a crappy salad dressing! All this salad needs is a little balsamic vinegar (apple cider is better, but I don’t like the taste as much in my salads), or some fresh lemon juice. It doesn’t take much.

Related: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting  (salad and lemonade recipes included)

What Else to Eat and What Not to Eat

Eat whole foods; avoid refined foods. Brown rice is good; white rice is out. Avoid any wheat; artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners; trans fats; and MSG. Avoid carbonated beverages. Avoid GMOs. Limit fruits, and besides stevia, avoid or limit anything else that’s sweet.

Our modern diet almost always includes too much-refined sugar. We would not have access to agave nectar, brown rice syrup, fruit juices, and other sweeteners in nature. It’s just too much sugar. You may be thinking honey is a good alternative, but this is only true when the gut is healed, the body is relatively free of infection, and the immune system functions properly. Otherwise, even with its antimicrobial properties, honey can feed infection as it goes through the digestion process.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Fungal Supplement Stack – Knock Out Yeast, Candida, Mold, Fungus

The first three should be plenty for most people with the right diet, but for really prominent fungal issues or for impatient people with a bigger budget I’d recommend all of these:

• Formula SF722 – Thorne Research
• Syntol AMD – Arthur Andrew Medical
• Berberine 500mg – Thorne Research
• MycoCeutics MycoPhyto Complex – EcoNugenics
• MicroDefense – Pure Encapsulations
• Abzorb Vitamin & Nutrient Optimizer (500mg) HCP Formulas

Formula SF722 is one of the best products (perhaps the best) for killing any kind of fungal infection. It’s been shown in labs that Candida cannot adapt to undecenoic acid (the active ingredient in SF722) like it can with almost every other way we try to kill it.

I recommend taking the SF722, Berberine, MycoCeutics, and Microdefense with meals, and the Abzorb and Syntol separately, on an empty stomach (like in the morning and before bed). The Abzorb and the Syntol are a bit redundant, but I find good results using both if the budget can afford it. If money is really tight, just get the SF722 and put your money into your diet.

If bowel movements are a problem I would also consider Shillington’s Intestinal Cleanse and Intestnial Detox.

Shillington’s Intestinal Cleanse will kill parasites, Candida, and other bad guys while it heals the gut, improves regularity, and removes nasty biofilm (little-known fact: there’s good biofilm, and there’s bad biofilm), all while setting up a hospitable environment for beneficial flora. It will also make bowel movements easier and is often used for constipation.

Shillington’s Intestinal Detox is important for anyone who may have heavy metals in their system, and this formula heals the whole digestive tract. It’s not as necessary for more people, but if you experience digestive upset or heavy metal toxicity the intestinal detox is perfect for these issues. It can slow down the bowel movements a little and is often used with the aforementioned intestinal cleanse.

There are certain vitamins and minerals that have been proven to curb Candida growth, and of course, many of these nutrients are also nutrients that Candida depletes the body of. The right diet should suffice, but most people will do well with a nutrition formula, a mineral formula, fats and vitamin D, and a B vitamin Complex. This is especially true for anyone who doesn’t have access to high quality, nutrient dense food on a regular basis. Biotin, otherwise known as B7, helps prohibit Candida from converting to its Hyphal filamentous growth structure, which is when the tentacles drill through the gut. But there are at least a dozen other minerals and vitamins that we know are just as significant to gut balance, hence the holistic approach.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Conclusion

Candida is a hot topic of debate within both the naturopathic community and conventional medicine, with views ranging from Candida being the root of everything that’s wrong with the body to it being a very rare issue that is completely overblown. The reality is that a Candida infection in the gut is a process that happens when one is not well, and when left unchecked (it doesn’t take long) Candida will allow other pathogens to infiltrate the body through the gut. Once someone is sick, it may or may not be Candida causing their problems. Illness is never just one type of pathogen. If you feel ill there’s a safe bet that there’s more than just one type of virus or bacteria affecting your health.

Recommended Reading:

• Still Have Candida? How Mercury Fillings Cause Candida Overgrowth
• How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children
• Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases
• Hypothyroidism – Natural Remedies, Causes, and How To Heal the Thyroid
• Total Nutrition – Make your own Homemade Multivitamin and Mineral Formula
• How to Cure Lyme Disease, and Virtually Any Other Bacterial Infection, Naturally
• Understanding and Detoxifying Genetically Modified Foods
• Doc Shillington’s Total Body Cleanse

Sources:

• Conquer Candida Naturally – Dr. Jockers
• How to Treat Persistent Vaginal Yeast Infection Due to Species Other Than Candida Albicans – MedScape
• Signal transduction through homologs of the Ste20p and Ste7p protein kinases can trigger hyphal formation in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans – National Academy of Sciences

If  you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance that you or someone you know has been diagnosed with hypertension (also known as high blood pressure). It may be a worrying condition, but still, there are several things you can do about it: physical exercise, managing stress, quitting smoking, and of course dietary changes.

One of the most significant yet uncommonly practiced approach is cutting out salt. A small decrease in sodium intake can actually lower blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. You can flavor your food with organic salt alternatives that are readily available just around the corner! Not only are they beneficial in the reduction of sodium intake, they are also rich in many nutrients like magnesium and potassium, which are helpful in the management of hypertension. Plus, the taste is just great!

Let’s identify the best ones.

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are a really good salt alternative that comes from a common wildflower in North America. The taste is nutty and vaguely sweet.

Other Blood Pressure Benefits

There is more to sunflower seeds than being a salt alternative. They carry a peptide that helps lower blood pressure and they contain fiber, protein, folic acid, magnesium, copper, magnesium, tryptophan, phosphorus, selenium, and vitamins E, B1, and B6, for healthy blood and blood flow.

Preparation/Usage

Eat sunflower seeds raw or roasted and unsalted. Always note that sunflower seeds make a good snack, but you can also add them to salads, oatmeal, or wild rice dishes to add some crunch.

Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

The lemon is believed to be a hybrid between citron and bitter orange. Based on historical research, the fruit is found to have hailed originally from Asia. Lemons contain a lot of acid, making the flavor of the juice, tart and bracing.

Other Blood Pressure Benefits

The juice of the lemon keeps blood vessels pliable and soft, easing and improving the blood flow. Blood pressure becomes reduced – thereby blood can flow easily away from and towards the heart. Also, lemon juice is packed with Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals.

Preparation/Usage

Lemon juice can be used in so many ways. You can squeeze it into green tea or plain water for a little kick, or use it as a topping on salads, on fish or chicken, on pasta, or in your morning green smoothie.

Onion Powder

Onion powder is a dehydrated and grounded spice out of an onion bulb. The powder is commonly used as a seasoning ingredient in many spice mixes. Be careful not to confuse “onion powder” with “onion salt”. Onion salt is an onion powder with added salt. Stick with its plain powder form. Onion powder tastes sweet, spicy, and earthy, and in some cases, strong.

Other Blood Pressure Benefits

Onions contain Vitamin C and chromium. Pure onion powder induces the production of good cholesterol (HDL), and in doing so, it keeps your heart healthy and helps keep blood pressure in control.

Preparation/Usage

Onion powder is great in soups and stews, sprinkled on baked sweet potato wedges, and just about any other dish that will complement its complex flavor. Since powder is stronger than a raw, fresh onion, you should add it later in the process of cooking or baking.

Black Pepper Powder

The black pepper powder is a salt alternative that is native to India. It comes from a flowering vine that’s cultivated and dried for use as a spice and seasoning for a variety of foods. It tastes a bit acrid.

Other Blood Pressure Benefits

The peppercorn, whether whole or ground, aids in the breakdown of fat cells. Since obesity can lead to hypertension, this is a great way to keep weight in check.

Preparation/Usage

Peppercorn is delicious on egg whites, in tomato drinks, as a sprinkle on chicken or fish, and in just about any other dish you currently spice with salt.

Garlic Powder

Garlic is a bulb that is native to central Asia, but it’s been long associated with Italian food. Garlic powder has been used for over 7,000 years in the human diet, and was utilized as a medicine by the ancient Egyptians. The taste is rich and complex, with a slightly oniony undertone.

Other Blood Pressure Benefits

Garlic inhibits the body’s production of angiotensin II, a blood vessel constrictor that is responsible for increasing the pressure in your veins.

Preparation/Usage

You can actually take garlic powder in pill form as a supplement — a 600mg dose contains 3.6 mg of allicin, which is said to lower the blood pressure by 10% — but you can’t deny how it can tastier as an added ingredient to food. You may sprinkle it on healthy whole grain toast to make garlic bread, or use it on vegetable pasta.

Bay Leaf

The Bay Leaf is native to the Mediterranean, a product out of the old time favorite Bay Laurel tree. The flavor comes from its very sharp aroma, and tastes bitter.

Other Blood Pressure Benefits

Studies have shown that adding bay leaves to one’s diet can reduce glucose and lipids – aka, sugar and fat – in the blood.

Preparation/Usage

Add bay leaves to soups and stews, spaghetti sauces, and just about any dish you simmer. If you have headaches (a common symptom of blood vessel constriction and increased blood pressure), a well-known effective herbal remedy is  hot tea using three dried or fresh bay leaves, and letting them steep for 10 minutes before drinking.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a savory spice that comes from the inner bark of trees of the genus Cinnamomum. There are two varieties of cinnamon, Chinese and Ceylon. The taste is sharp, sweet, and warm.

Other Blood Pressure Benefits

The mechanism of action is not well understood, but clinical studies have shown that even short-term use of ground cinnamon can significantly lower high blood pressure. It also reduces glucose levels, making it especially helpful for people with diabetes in addition to hypertension.

Preparation/Usage

The spice is sweet, and a bit fruity, so it’s best in breakfast preparations such as whole grain toast or cereal, a healthy morning smoothie, a low fat yogurt, or hot oatmeal. It’s also well-fitting to have with herbal tea in its stick form. It’s good in some soups, as well.

Conclusion

Hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes and even kidney failure. A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or above is generally considered high. But fortunately, it’s a good thing to know that hypertension is a highly manageable condition. In fact, the DASH (Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension) was developed as a dietary plan to specifically deal with the condition. You may want to take a look at these DASH diet recipes.

Editor’s Note:

A limited diet of processed foods with refined salt leads to hypertension, but salt is not the bad guy here. The refined white table salt has beens stripped of its beneficial minerals so the companies can sell them back to you.  Make sure the salt you use is not refined and therefore not void of the nutritional benefits we need from it. Just like sugar, in its natural form salt is good for us and absolutely essential. On the other hand, cooking with herbs and seasonings is an easy way to improve your health and the taste of your food. If you want to lower your blood pressure quickly, try this protocol Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included for a few days and then get your blood pressure checked. You’ll be amazed.

Recommended Reading:

• Hypertension – How To Lower Your Blood Pressure Quickly and Naturally
• Salt is Good For You
• Cayenne and Capsaicin, Natures Miracle Medicine
• Cinnamon – Ceylon Vs Cassia, Health Benefits, and Other Interesting Facts
• Things You Should Know About Garlic – DIY, Recipes, Other Tips

Skin tags can develop anywhere on the body, though they are often the result of chafing and irritation where skin is constantly rubbing against other skin. Obesity is associated with the growth of skin tags due to extra skin folds and increased friction.

Who Is  More Likely To Develop Skin Tags?

Skin tags are very common; 50% of the adult population develops them by  middle age.

Apart from weight, other contributing factors include genetics, diabetes, insulin rejection, and pregnancy. Steroid use can interfere with the body and muscles, which in turn can affect the skin, causing collagen fibers to bond in such a way that skin tags are formed.

Where Do Skin Tags Appear?

Common sites for skin tags are the eyelids, under the breasts, the armpits and the upper chest, but there are other types of skin tags, too. Genital tags include anal skin tags, groin skin tags, and vaginal skin tags.

Although groin and vaginal skin tags are harmless and benign, many people become embarassed or they worry about the tags being something more sinister. As the genital area is moist and the skin is often sensitive and tender, these skin tags can be more easily irritated, chafed, infected, or injured by rubbing against underwear or from friction during sports, exercise, or sexual activities. And skin tags in the vaginal area are more vulnerable during menstruation because they swell during this time.

All Skin Tags Are Similar Except for Anal Skin Tags

Anal skin tags can differ from regular skin tags as they are often the result of another condition called an anal fissure, a small tear in the anus caused by a hard stool. During the healing process of this tear, the anal skin becomes uneven, resulting in an anal skin tag. These same anal skin tags can also develop following hemorrhoids as the tissue-swelling (associated with the hemorrhoids) may extend to the anal skin. One of the differences between anal and other skin tags is that they can be itchy or painful. All skin tags can bleed if torn because they have their own blood supply.

Conventional Methods for Skin Tag Removal

By far, the easiest time to remove skin tags is when they are small. Conventional methods may involve some pain and discomfort and any surgery in the anal area (however small) may cause some post-operative pain.

• Cryotherapy – a doctor freezes off the skin tag using liquid nitrogen.
• Surgical excision – a doctor cuts off the skin tag using a local anesthetic to dull the pain.
• Electrocautery (which is a suitable treatment for large skin tags) – a doctor cuts off the tag and cauterizes the wound.
• Laser treatment (which can be used on anal skin tags rather successfully) – a doctor removes the tag with a laser and the whole anal area is resurfaced at the same time, which is a bonus.

Natural Skin Tag Removal

Natural removal means not having to resort to painful methods that can end up with scarring. All types of skin tags can be treated naturally. And, of course, natural methods are far less expensive than conventional ones.

Here Are Five Suggestions for Natural Skin Tag Removal

1. Apply cider vinegar to the skin tag with a cotton ball. The only discomfort could be a stinging sensation. After a couple of days, you may notice that the skin tag changes color (becoming darker), but carry on applying for up to 4 weeks until the tag disappears.
2. Castor oil can be made into a natural skin tag removal ointment by mixing it with baking soda to create a paste. You might want to add a few drops of citrus oil to improve the aroma. Keep applying the paste to the skin tag until the tag is eliminated.
3. You can apply garlic juice or a sliver of garlic to any skin tag at night and cover with a bandage. The next morning, remove the garlic and rinse the tag. Repeat the process for the next two nights and then stop. Repeat if necessary after a week or two.
4. Pure natural pineapple juice can also be used. Apply twice a day for a week or longer, but do not wash off the juice until the skin tag is eliminated.
5. H-Skin Tags Formula is an ideal natural removal product for all types of skin tags, however sensitive the area. It is safe and gentle without any pain or scarring.

A Word or Two of Warning

Do not use any over-the-counter products for the removal of anal or genital skin tags. These chemicals are too harsh.

If you are in any doubt about whether a growth is a skin tag, ask for a definite diagnosis from your medical practitioner.

Conclusion

It is worth repeating that the easiest time to remove a skin tag is when it is small and easy to twist. The important thing is to choose as safe and painless a method as possible – whatever size they are and wherever they occur.

Related Reading:

• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included
• Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases
• Hypothyroidism – Natural Remedies, Causes, and How To Heal the Thyroid
• Natural Remedies and Prevention For Skin Tags

We’ve seen it before. Over time, bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Roaches become immune to bug spray. Weeds become immune to herbicides. Adaptation wins. Chemicals lose. Such is life.

The newest winner is lice. A champion strain of “super lice,” now reported in 25 states, is proving resistant to the chemicals commonly used today to kill them – both the over the counter and the prescription drugs. When are we going to learn that chemical warfare will always result in creating super bugs?

It isn’t necessary to poison lice with chemicals that harm us and our environemnt. You can kill them naturally by suffocation. Even if over the counter treatments and prescription treatments still worked, do you really want to slather neurotoxins on your child’s scalp? Or yours?

Natural Remedies for Lice and Super Lice

There are several methods to go to war on lice and a few preventative treatments as well. As always, the better you eat, the healthier you are, the less susceptible you are to infection both inside the body and outside. This is true for internal parasites and external parasites like scabies, fleas, and lice. If you’re dealing with any infection (or ailment for that matter), it behooves you to load up on fresh, raw vegetables; to eliminate processed foods; and to seriously restrict any excessively sweet whole foods (like grapes and bananas for instance).

Manual Delousing

First of all, check your child’s scalp on a regular basis – once a week at the very least if lice have been a recurrent problem in their daycare or school, daily if there is a current infestation.

Check all over the scalp, but pay special attention to the area around the ears. Look for lice and look little dark specks. If you find the dark specks, these are nits – otherwise known as eggs. You can use a nit comb to remove lice and nits.

Now, of course, the manual method works, but it is tedious and time-consuming. If you’ve ever tried to remove fleas from a cat or dog with nothing but a flea comb, you know the drill. But if you catch lice early enough and your child only has a few lice and nits, the manual method alone may work.

If you spray any area that has nits with apple cider vinegar (or dab it on with cotton balls), the vinegar will dissolve the “glue” that attaches the nit to the hair shaft, making manual removal much easier.

How To Smother Lice

Mayonnaise, olive oil, and coconut oil are all used to smother the little suckers. Some suggest beginning with an apple cider vinegar rinse, leaving it on until it dries, and using the nit comb as the first step. Some suggest doing this as the last step.

Cover the entire scalp with mayo, olive oil, or coconut oil. Oil can be used with or without the addition of essential oils (tea tree, rosemary, cinnamon, or peppermint oil are good choices).

Cover the head with a shower cap and leave it in place for 2-8 hours. Some say the little monsters can hold their breath that long. Other say 2 hours does the trick.

Don’t forget this important step: wash everything that could be infested with lice and use the dryer! Bed linens are not the only concern. Hats, hoodies, coats, clothes – wash them all at the same time you do a treatment. In fact, if you do the 8-hour treatment, wash the linens before and after.

One treatment will probably not be enough. If you miss one nit, it will grow up to lay 8-10 eggs a day. So… plan on repeating the treatment every 7 days for a few weeks. (Of course you may not find any lice and be home free after one treatment. But check carefully!)

Other Natural Methods of Killing Lice

Reports of using strong salt solutions or diatomaceous earth look promising. One mother successfully treated lice by using ½ pound of salt to 2 quarts of water. Her instructions are to pour the saltwater over the child’s hair while the child is in the tub,  leave on for 10 minutes, rinse, and condition. Repeat daily for 3 days and again every 7 days for 3 weeks.

Diatomaceous earth is a little trickier. You want to leave this dry powder on overnight after working it into the hair and follow with a vinegar rinse and nit comb. Since you don’t want to breathe this dust and you don’t want your child breathing it and you have to devise a method to keep this on the scalp overnight, it seems oil would be a better, easier method.

How To Prevent Lice Infestations

Yes, there are idiots out there who will say that your child caught lice because you did not keep his or her hair clean. Others say that lice prefer clean hair. Cleanliness is not the issue.

The one thing you are responsible for is the health of your child. Feed your child the best possible diet. All parasites do seem to prefer unhealthy hosts, and they all love sugar! If you do feed your child a healthy diet, and he or she still picks up lice, don’t waste your time looking for fault or blame. It’s time to deal with it in a healthy, responsible way.

In addition to diet, lice really hate essential oils and will avoid them. Spritzing your child’s backpack, coat, and hat with a spray of water and essential oils (10 drops of peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, or cinnamon oil to one cup of water) may deter lice.

Conclusion

Maybe the evolution of super lice is a good thing. Maybe the result will be  a revolution in awareness of natural treatments. Remember that the skin (scalp included!) soaks up any chemicals that are placed on it. Why would anyone ever want to expose their child to poisons, to neurotoxins, to anything that might harm your child this way?

One can only hope that Big Pharma doesn’t respond the way other scientists have – to replace a failing insecticide with a new, stronger one. They probably will. We’ll see.

Recommended Products:

• Diatomaceous Earth • Food Grade DE

Recommended Reading:

• Heal Cavities, Gum Disease, Naturally with Organic Oral Care – Toothpaste recipes included
• All About Fleas – Natural Remedies – Inside and Out
• Common Parasites and How to Kill Them
• Herbs and a Protocol that Eliminates Parasites from the Body

If I told you there was a plant that offered an amazing range of nutrients, eased allergy suffering, reduced inflammation, treated arthritis, healed rashes, cured anemia, and improved energy, you would want to know about it, right? Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are a superfood, super-medicine, and all around superstar of the plant world.

Nettles have a long history, appearing in the writings of the ancient Greeks, ancient Egyptians, and Roman armies. Their fibers were found in artifacts from the Bronze age and early indigenous American cultures. Nettles are found growing all over the world and in forests and fields near you. They are readily available as a bulk herb and supplement at health food stores. You can incorporate nettles in your diet by creating amazing culinary delights or by steeping them as a tea when you just feel like you need some super powers. There is a lot that you should know about nettles.

Nettles – the Super-Green Superfood!

Nettles pack a powerful punch of nutritional value, making them an excellent superfood and tonic. They contain high levels of iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, and more chlorophyll than almost any other plant. They have been used throughout history to restore energy to the sick and stimulate sluggish metabolic and lymphatic systems in the spring.

When consumed as a broth, tea, or even a traditional beer, nettles are an age-old cure for scurvy, anemia, low energy, and general depletion from illness or fever. Nettle tea can be extremely useful as a mother’s helper to bolster prenatal nutrition and to increase milk production for breastfeeding. The high nutrient content, combined with all the other positive benefits, makes nettles a worthy daily health supplement. Whether this is in the form of a capsule, tincture, or fresh herb, it’s a good way to ensure you are taking care of yourself.

Nettles as All Around Medicine

Stinging nettle is one of those plants I like to call “Nature’s medicine chest.” It addresses such a wide variety of ailments both internally and topically, that it is always worth having on hand. Aside from the more prevalent treatments for arthritis and allergies, nettles act as an anti-inflammatory agent, addressing a variety of related conditions from sore muscles to gastrointestinal discomfort. The diuretic properties of nettles make them a useful treatment for urinary tract infections, issues with the bladder and kidneys, and enlarged prostate (BPH) for men. A reliable women’s health herb throughout the entire reproductive

Nettles alleviate a variety of issues encountered during menstruation, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause making them a reliable women’s health herb for the entire reproductive cycle.

It is also thought that nettles aid in reducing blood pressure and lowering blood sugar. Externally, nettles treat eczema, burns, rashes, hives, and stimulate hair growth. As an astringent, it stops bleeding and can be applied in a powdered form to arrest nosebleeds. When it comes down to it, nettles belong in your medicine cabinet in some form, much like band-aids. Really.

Nettles as Arthritis Treatment

Although the sting of the stinging nettle is uncomfortable when you encounter it out on a walk, the prickly hairs on the stem and leaves actually reduce the pain and swelling of arthritis. If you pick  nettles with your bare hands, your fingertips may be numb for hours afterward. Urtification, or basically flogging the affected area with stinging nettles, is a practice documented over the last two thousand years. Research has shown that the “sting” of nettles both interferes with pain signals in the body and releases anti-inflammatory compounds to treat arthritic conditions. Taken internally, nettles have been found to support bone and joint health, deliver a healthy dose of boron, balance hormones that affect arthritic conditions, and flush uric acid buildup from the affected joint areas. With plenty of not-so-great-for-you pain relief available these days, it’s nice to have this natural, safe, herbal go-to available for daily management.

Nettles as Allergy Treatment

For a large number of the population suffering from allergies and hay fever, nettles can be a great ally. It is most commonly taken in the form of freeze-dried capsules during periods of seasonal allergies, to reduce inflammation of the affected tissues. Nettles are thought to reduce the histamine levels produced by the body as an allergy response, thus alleviating the allergy symptoms. Many people have reported that itchy eyes, sneezing, runny noses, and stuffy sinuses are treated as effectively, if not more so, by stinging nettle than over the counter allergy medications. They will also leave you feeling energized rather than drowsy. I have always thought it was a wonderful coincidence that nettles start growing in the spring just as pollens are coming out, and continue into the summer and height of pollen season.

Benefits and Use of Stinging Nettles for Other Ailments

Stinging nettles are a blood purifying, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, detoxifying antioxidant with more health benefits than we can list.

• May treat many skin problems from acne to eczema
• Stimulates lymph system
• Stimulates immune system
• Support adrenal glands
• Supports thyroid
• Supports prostate
• Supports the spleen
• Supports the pancreas
• Supports entire endocrine system (hormonal system, glands)
• Good for menstrual cramps, bloating, PMS
• Relieves menopausal symptoms
• Relieves arthritis symptoms
• Promotes release of uric acid from joints
• Supports the kidneys
• May break down kidney stones
• Helps with respiratory tract infections and respiratory inflammation
• Helps asthma sufferers
• Strengthens the fetus in pregnant women
• Promotes milk production for breastfeeding
• Improves blood clotting
• Relieves pain and symptoms from osteoarthritis
• Reduces inflammation
• Reduces likelihood of prostate cancer
• Eliminates allergic rhinitis
• Reduces hypertension
• May reduce nausea
• Alleviates diarrhea
• Helps with gastrointestinal disease, IBS, and constipation
• Reduces gingivitis (when used in mouth)
• Removes and helps prevents plaque buildup (when used in mouth)
• Has been shown to help treat Alzheimer’s disease
• Provides relief for neurological disorders like MS, ALS, and sciatica
• Destroys intestinal worms and other parasites
• It’s antifungal. Kills Candida along with other yeast and fungi

How to Find Nettles

Nettles can be found growing in moist soils at the edge of forests, in fields, along ditches and near streams or marshy areas. With a good plant ID guide and advice from local foragers, you can venture out and gather your own nettles all through the spring months. You can also purchase nettle seeds from heirloom seed companies and plant them in your garden. I have found that the rhizomes from wild nettle patches transplant nicely into my garden. They love my compost pile. With a little water, you can keep them going through the summer. Nettles are very easy to dry and use throughout the rest of the year when they aren’t found growing outside. If you do not have access to foraging areas or garden space, you can always purchase dried nettle leaf and a variety of nettle supplements. In the Spring, grocery stores will sometimes carry fresh, wildcrafted nettles.

Wellness Nettle Broth Recipe

I have found when I am feeling under the weather, or I am just in need of some solidly green food at the end of the winter, a nettle broth is perfect. It leaves me feeling healthy and energized.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of fresh stinging nettle tips (or 1 cup dried)
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 4-5 cloves fresh minced garlic
• 2 Tbs fresh grated ginger root
• 1 burdock root peeled and chopped fine (or 4 Tbs dried)
• 4 cups vegetable broth, miso broth, or bone broth
• 1 Tbs olive oil
• dash of tamari or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
• salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, sauté onions until translucent. Add burdock root, garlic, and ginger and sauté a few more minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add nettles, turn down to a simmer, and stir occasionally until the nettles are soft and fully cooked. (This breaks down the prickly hairs, and your tongue will thank you.) Add tamari or Bragg’s and season to taste.

Stinging Nettle Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

The boron in stinging nettles is an essential element for bone health that helps bones and teeth retain calcium. Therefore, it is a great addition to homemade toothpaste.

Homemade toothpaste is easy. If you don’t have one of the ingredients, leave it out or substitute something similar. Mix it up, and experiment.

• 2 Tbsp nettle powder
• 1 tsp Irish moss powder
• 1 tsp bladderwrack powder
• 1 drops liquid stevia
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1 tsp unrefined sea salt
• 1 tsp baking soda

Add dry ingredients together and mix. Add wet ingredients and a little bit of distilled water to get your desired consistency.

Recommended Reading:

• Five Common Weeds to Cultivate for Health and Nutrition
• Fight Cavities and Gingivitis Naturally With Homemade DIY Oral Health
• Allergy Free in Five Days (foods, dander, dust, seasonal, etc.)
• What Causes Chronic Inflammation, and How To Stop It For Good
• Things You Should Know About Garlic – DIY, Recipes, Other Tips

Related Products:

• Gaia Herbs Nettle Leaf Capsules
• Gaia Herbs Nettle Leaf Liquid Extract
• Douglas Labs Nettle Capsules

Sources:

• Stinging Nettle – University of Maryland Medical Center
• Stinging Nettle – Dr. Christopher’s Herbal Legacy
• Use Natural Remedies for Arthritis Pain – Mother Earth News
• Nettle: Nutritious Allergy Ally – The Practical Herbalist
• Eat Your Wild Greens: The Delectable Nettle – A Mountain Hearth
• Nettles Bring Spring to the Kitchen – NPR