Herbs With Healing Properties You Can Grow at Home

Growing herbs in your home is not only easy, it is highly recommended. This is especially true if you are growing them for medicinal purposes. Although you can buy herbs, you won’t know how the plants were raised or how the herbs were stored. Nothing beats the quality of homegrown herbs.

It doesn’t really matter if you have expert gardening skills as herbs require nothing but basic knowledge and some free space. If you have a garden in your home, it is wise to reserve some of the available space there for herbal medicines, as they can truly help when you are feeling ill. The best part is that the following are all easy-to-grow and require very little in terms of care.

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)

The flavour of this plant is so unique,  that people either hate it or love it. It is used in several Thai and Mexican dishes, but most notably in Indian curry.  You can easily grow it in a moist, cool garden. Cilantro is a digestive aid and it also helps you detox heavy metals.

Callendulla or Marigold

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

The other name for Calendula is pot marigold. It is a powerful antiseptic and antifungal tool. Use the petals  for wound care and soothing the skin. Numerous cosmetic products use the plant for its properties, which is proof of its quality. This annual blooms throughout the entire season and looks charming in an outdoor garden, where it can receive plenty of sun.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

PeppermintYou are well-aware of the boost of freshness you get from peppermint flavoured toothpaste. Did you know that peppermint is also a very powerful ally against digestive discomfort (peppermint tea) and aching muscles (peppermint liquid/lotion)? You will do well to include this moist-loving plant in your garden. Just keep in mind that the leaves of the plant should be harvested before they flower or they will taste bitter.

 

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

RosemaryThe main benefit of rosemary is its power to bring more oxygen to your brain for better memory. According to expert gardeners, this herb is the equivalent of caffeine. The best part is that the evergreen plant is very drought tolerant and will likely survive any environment.

Lavender (Lavandula)

LavenderAccording to some studies, lavender is not only a perfume plant, it may also be used to benefit the nervous system. Adding some lavender oil to your bath will most certainly reduce tension, stress, and even insomnia. In order to grow lavender, you will need to provide a dry environment that is hot and sunny.

You can benefit a lot from each of these herbs, especially if you have invested time and effort in growing them at home. Do consider all of the benefits, and plant them today. Be sure to check out Handy Gardeners’ Blog for more articles on gardening.

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Reduce Your Dog’s Carbon Poo Print One Flush at a Time

Chances are good that you’ve had the same thought as thousands of eco-savvy dog stewards: “Every day I pick up poop in a plastic bag and throw it in the garbage.  How dumb is that?”

Does it make better sense to simply flush it down the toilet?  If you have an average sized dog — say, a 25-lb. beagle — you dispose of around 274 pounds of dog waste a year.  That might be more than you weigh!  Multiple dogs, of course, up the ante.  Flushing is not a novel idea.

Plans for animal shelters and dog daycares now design flushing systems into the kennel areas so that they can be easily cleaned.  Caretakers simply hose waste directly into built-in drains that flow into the same sanitary sewers servicing human toilets.  So the dog waste winds up at a local treatment facility.  After sanitation, the water can be released or reused and the left-over sludge, might be re-purposed as a soil conditioner.

Flushing has always been a reliable solution for people with small, elderly or disabled dogs that do their business in a controlled indoor area such as a litter box or synthetic grass pan.  In these cases, scoopers or even toilet paper are useful for pick up.   But what if your dog downloads outdoors?  Is it worthwhile bringing the booty home for a flush? If you’re game to try flushing and have a moderate “ick factor” threshold, bear with me.

Flushing loose dog waste is far from convenient.  And you can’t flush dog waste in a regular plastic pick-up bag.  Do you really want to send a bag that will never degrade in a meaningful time frame to your local treatment plant’s garbage patch?

But if flushing dog poo seems like a reasonable approach to you, try thinking outside the standard plastic bag.  Consider using flushable polyvinyl alcohol dog bags that are “hyrdo-biodegradable.”  But before buying in whole hog (dog?), consider the pros and cons.

Flushables cost around 12-20 cents per bag, so they’re more expensive than commercial plastic pick-up bags.  But you can find some real bargains online.  Read the claims and reviews carefully before hitting the “buy” button.  You might want to compare several bags in small quantities before coming to conclusions about their usefulness and purchasing in bulk.

These bags may not stay intact when transporting dog doo long distances, so you might need to use them in combination with a waterproof container or baggie.  There are also many fine-looking leak-proof, washable totes, pouches and clip-on holders on the market that are made for that purpose.

Before using your flushable bag, experiment to see how long the bag will hold up without disintegrating at room temperature.  You can do this by filling the bag with wet food scraps and setting it in the sink.  While you can’t always perfectly time your doggie road trips or control the heat of the day, at least you won’t have any surprises regarding bag performance.  Keep the process green by knotting the top of the flushable.

If your dog has giant paws or you pick up after multiple pets, don’t dispose of a sizable doo dump in a single flush.  The bags may be flushable, but none claim to be miraculous.  The labyrinth of traps, wax rings and closet bends inside residential toilets were never intended to handle mega masses, let alone mega masses compressed in bags.

Newer toilets have larger openings and are less likely to overflow than older models.  You do not want dog waste collecting in your toilet waiting for a plumber to arrive.  You do not want dog waste backing up over your floor.  Be conservative and use common sense when testing your toilet’s capacity for flushables. Use multiple bags with limited contents whenever possible.

Don’t flush dog waste into toilets connected to septic tanks.  Dog waste contains quite a bit of fur and the bacteria in tanks do not readily digest hair.  Hairy residue could obstruct emitters that drain effluent into the soil, requiring the services of your favorite honey dipper.

You’ve probably seen online lessons on how to toilet train your cat.  Bad idea!  Feline poo might contain Toxoplasma gondii, a disease agent affecting marine mammals, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.  You don’t want to release that stubborn parasite into waterways.

But, if you have a really smart, eager-to-please, dare-I-say saintly dog, you might entice him or her to pot-sit.  Yes, people teach them to do that.  Search “train dog to use toilet” and let me know how it goes.  Be sure to leave him or her the latest edition of the Daily Wag.

Whether you have a single dog, a small pack, or run a pet care facility, a separate outdoor flushing system for pets might work well for you.  Any dedicated septic system for dogs will be pricey.  The least expensive option requires contracting with a reputable plumber to install a direct access line into the sanitary sewer connection on your property.  Doo can simply be dropped or washed into an entry hatch.  Be sure to include a lid or other mechanism to trap sewer odor.

Manufacturers offer some truly inventive systems for dog waste flushing at high-volume facilities.  Products with whimsical names like “Powerloo” and “Whoopsie Away” are easy to find via online searches.  All require professional installation.

At the exit end of the sewer line, flushed dog waste is processed and tested per EPA standards. The resulting biosolids might be buried, landfilled or (best-case scenario) used as a fertilizer.  You can even buy bagged soil amendments made from sewage sludge to top dress your lawn or feed your garden.

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District, a pioneer in this field, has been producing and distributing Milorganite for 85 years.  These heat-dried biosolid pellets are available at garden centers throughout the country.  Other waste facilities have been following Milwaukee’s lead, turning treated solid waste into natural fertilizer and reducing the need to manufacture chemicals or mine minerals to enrich soil.

If flushing proves to be a practical approach for your household, you’ll dispose of fewer plastic bags, divert organic waste from your local landfill, and recycle your dog’s waste – all gifts to the natural world.

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Three Beautiful, Beneficial, Edible Flowers

These three flowers may look beautiful in your garden, but their value is not limited to their ornamental use. They also provide a variety of health benefits.

Pansies Are Antibacterial

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These brightly colored flowers – usually blooming purples and yellows – are characterized by large interloping petals that sometimes remind you of a butterfly and at other times look like a face. But above all, they’ll take you back to your Alice in Wonderland days.

Among a number of health perks of the flower, they are best known for their antimicrobial properties and are commonly used as an ingredient in skin care creams and ointments. They can also be used to counter a number of bacterial infections in the digestive tract.

The flower’s antitussive properties make it a great addition to your diet plan if you’re suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Not to mention, the petals are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids that can help treat cancers and tumors.

The entire flower is edible, but the petal has a milder flavor in contrast to the whole that is more wintergreen-like. An entire flower before a meal is a good idea, especially if thrown into a salad. The flower can also be boiled in water to make pansy tea,  a popular way of taking in the pansy’s nutritional goodness.

Hibiscus and the Heart

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Maybe it’s not a contender in the scent department, but if there’s any flower that can give the rose one hell of a beauty complex,  it’s the hibiscus. Characterized by five wide open petals with the flowering reproductive parts protruding out like the Eiffel tower, these flowers come in an unmatched variety of hues, from stark solids to heavenly melanges. The combinations are breathtaking, but what makes them even more outstanding is their ability to moderate blood pressure and cholesterol.  In addition, the hibiscus flower is a source of Vitamin A and C, thus adding a bit of goodness for the eyes along with cancer preventing and immunity boosting properties.

Hibiscus is best consumed in the form of a tea. The petals can also be added as a garnish to salads and juices in thin strips, but be aware that their distinctively sharp taste tends to overpower other savory flavors.

Marigolds Have Big Cancer-fighting Properties

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While many varieties of marigolds are mostly ornamental, the calendula variety packs nutritional goodness. Marigolds get their bright orange and yellow color from a high concentration of carotenoids in their petals. Carotenoids are very powerful antioxidants known for their ability to counter free radicals in our body and boost our immune system while also significantly reducing the risk of developing cancers in the future.

These big orange beauties have a slightly bitter taste that is followed by a subtle hint of sweetness. The best way to incorporate the nutritional value of their antioxidant content into your diet is by drying their leaves into a spice.

You can also choose to eat the entire flower minus the green base, but avoid this choice if you have breathing difficulties or asthma, as the large amounts of pollen will might make it worse.

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Mercury-free Flu Shot Shortage in California for Pregnant Women and Children

When we lose our rights one tiny step at a time, it’s much like the proverbial frog in a pot of water not realizing he is boiling alive. California government is showing its true colors. The health and safety of California’s children is not their concern. The government’s absolute defense of vaccinations continues to rule the day regardless of irrefutable evidence that vaccines are dangerous.

In 2006, in a progressive move, one we used to associate with the State of California, a law was passed forbidding the use of vaccines with mercury for pregnant women and children under the age of three. It did, however, always included a provision to exempt this law under certain circumstances: “The Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency may exempt the use of a vaccine from this section if the secretary finds, and the Governor concurs, that an actual or potential bioterrorist incident or other actual or potential public health emergency, including an epidemic or shortage of supply of a vaccine that would prevent children under three years of age and knowingly pregnant women from receiving the needed vaccine, including a vaccine shortage…”

The day has come. A vaccine shortage of flu shots without mercury is the reason why California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana S. Dooley stated, “I am granting a temporary exemption from California Health and Safety Code Section 124172 for seasonal influenza vaccine with trace levels of thimerosal to be administered to children younger than three years from October 9, 2015 through December 31, 2015, because the current supply of thimerosal-free vaccine for young children is inadequate.” In addition, she stated she would extend the exemption for as long as necessary.

This decision, even for the pro-vaccine camp, is ludicrous. But the propaganda campaign denying the risks of vaccines, claiming they are both safe an effective, continues on. Meanwhile, the autism rate has jumped to 1 in 50 (according to the CDC).

Mercury is only one of the neurotoxins found in vaccines. While it has been removed from most of the vaccines, other neurotoxins, and toxic matter remain including aluminum, formaldehyde, and polysorbate 80. In addition, Dr. Judy Mikovits recently revealed that 30% or more of the vaccination supply is contaminated with gammaretroviruses, which are associated with autism, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease and the rise of various other diseases over the past few decades.

First California resends personal and religious vaccine exemptions. Then they pass mandatory vaccination laws for childcare workers. Now they are allowing vaccinations with mercury containing vaccines. Can you feel the water starting to boil?

If vaccine damage is a concern of yours, check out How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children. 

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Health and Safety Code SECTION 124172 – Legalinfo.ca.gov

California begins injecting children with mercury – Natural News

Interview with Dr. Judy Mikovits, PhD, 11/22/15 – Vimeo



Vaccines, Retroviruses, DNA, and the Discovery That Destroyed Judy Mikovits’ Career

Judy Mikovits, PhD is a biochemist and molecular biologist with more than 33 years of experience. Internationally known, a veritable “rock star” of the scientific world, she served as the director of the lab of Antiviral Drug Mechanisms at the National Cancer Institute before directing the Cancer Biology program at EpiGenX Pharmaceuticals. She later developed the first neuroimmune institute. Her early work focused on cancer and HIV, her latest on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and autism. She has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles.

In 2011, she made the discovery that destroyed her career. She found that at least 30% of our vaccines are contaminated with gammaretroviruses. Not only is this contamination associated with autism and chronic fatigue syndrome, it is also associated with Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.

When she released this shocking information, she was warned by Dr. Andrew Wakefield that she would become a target, just as he had been. But she assured him that all of her work had been properly reviewed and, of course, she was safe.

She was wrong. She was threatened and told to destroy her data; she refused. She was fired, then arrested for supposedly stealing her data from her worksite. She had been facing charges and was bound by a gag order from the court for the last four years. Recently, charges were dropped and the gag order was lifted. Dr. Mikovits is now free to talk, and boy is she talking.

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

The retroviruses contaminating vaccines originate from mice used for research. Dr. Mikovits asks, “How many new retroviruses have we created through all the mouse research, the vaccine research, gene therapy research? More importantly, how many new diseases have we created?”

“When they destroyed all of our work, and discredited everything I or Frank Ruscetti had ever published, and arranged for the publication of my mug shot in Science, the NIH very deliberately sent the message to researchers everywhere about what would happen to any honest scientist who dared ask those important questions.”

New technology now exists to clean up retroviruses in vaccines and blood. Dr. Mikovits believes we will win this war, that we will eventually clean up vaccines, stop vaccinating infants, and stop injecting our children with multiple vaccines. But she also believes the government will continue to cover up their culpability in the current epidemic of autism and other diseases.

When asked about vaccine-injured children, she says, “Those are the victims. And that’s why, I’m working and why, you know, I’ll never shut up. Because they’re the victims that have been hung out to dry.”

Dr. Mikovits is clearly taking a stand against vaccination with today’s vaccines and the current vaccine schedule. Retroviruses are not her only concern. She talks about the effects of aluminum, mercury, formaldehyde, and polysorbate 80. She believes these neurotoxins play a definite part, along with retrovirus contamination, in the rise of several diseases in this country.

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

Due to the contamination of retroviruses and neurotoxins she doesn’t believe anyone should receive vaccines until vaccines are cleaned up. When that happens, we should only vaccinate for one disease at a time if and when needed. We also should never vaccinate anyone who does not have a healthy immune system, who has a family history of autoimmune diseases, or anyone who is currently ill.

To learn more about Dr. Mikovits’ work and how the government has attempted to silence her, check out her book, Plague, One Scientist’s Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Retroviruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Autism, and Other Diseases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6HPe-s1V2o

The science does not support the statement that vaccines are safe and effective. This is not a scientific finding. This is a marketing slogan taught to doctors in medical school. If vaccine damage is a concern of yours, check out How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children. 

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Why Vaccines Do Not “Cause” Autism

After reading a short bio on biochemist and molecular biologist, Judy Mikovits, PhD, I was shocked to hear her say vaccines don’t cause autism, but what followed was quite enlightening.

When asked, “Now, Judy, do vaccines cause autism?” Judy Mikovits replied,

Ah, no. Vaccines definitely don’t cause autism. And we’ve talked, and we should talk, about this word “cause.” Because in my forty years or so working with cancer and HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases there are two words that we don’t use. We don’t use cause and we don’t use cure. Because in order for something to be causative by the scientific definition that we use, every single case of the disease must have a vaccine origin.

And of course you yourself just said 7 of 10 moms feel that the change in their child’s behavior and health occurred following a vaccination, but that’s still not every case. So what we usually say is associated.

So if you change that question and you ask me are vaccines associated, do they play a role, in the brain damage and the immune damage that results in autism, I would say absolutely, and there is a ton of data to back that up.

Judy Mikovits goes on to explain that autism is the result of several factors: neurotoxins in vaccines, the age of the child when vaccines are administered, the health of the child when vaccines are administered, the health of the child’s immune system, how many vaccines are given at once, the cumulative effect of vaccines, etc. But the greatest factor may be a retrovirus.

In 2011, she revealed her discovery that at least 30% of our vaccines are contaminated with retroviruses and that the retrovirus contamination in vaccines may be the biggest culprit associated with the rise in autism as well as cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, other autoimmune diseases, and Alzheimer’s, and is also associated with Parkinson’s, and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Announcement of this discovery and the link to autism through vaccination led to an all too familiar pattern of corruption from those in power. Dr. Mikovits, an internationally known scientist, lost her job, was arrested, has spent the last four years defending herself against bogus charges, and endured four years of forced silence due to a court-ordered gag order. Recently the charges were dropped “without prejudice,” meaning they could be reinstated at any time, and the gag order was lifted. Her life has been threatened, her career as she knew it has been destroyed. And yet Dr. Mikovits continues to speak the truth.

Click on the first link below to listen to this informative interview and the second for her book detailing her experiences since revealing this information.

https://vimeo.com/146831570

The science does not support the statement that vaccines are safe and effective. This is not a scientific finding. This is a marketing slogan taught to doctors in medical school. If vaccine damage is a concern of yours, check out How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children. 

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5 Natural Remedies for the Common Cold

As soon as the temperature starts trolling down, the common cold returns. While it can’t always be prevented, it can be cured before it turns into severe infections like strep throat, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

A number of over-the-counter medications have proven to be dangerous. Even common medications like Tylenol can be dangerous if taken in high doses. Hence, the best solution is to count on natural treatments. These solutions are highly effective in treating the common cold, and they don’t leave you with any side effects.

Garlic

Garlic

It is the magic of antiseptic properties present in the garlic that help protect your immune system. You can fight back common cold and prevent it from coming back. A number of scientific studies have proved that the ‘allocine’ contained in garlic acts as a stimulator for the white blood cells and the oil in it opens up the respiratory passages. Hence, adding it to your diet in any form helps flush out all the toxins in the system. To prepare garlic soup, boil three to six chopped garlic cloves in one cup of water. You can add salt to it and drink the liquid two to three times a day.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Apple Cider Vinegar

You can use it the way you like. Try an ACV tea or use it to gargle. All you have to do is add 2 tablespoons of ACV, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon honey to a little hot water. If this appears to be too strong for you, dilute it by adding more hot water. You can repeat 3-4 times a day for better results.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus Oil

It is the simplest thing you can do. A quick steam in the shower with few drops of eucalyptus oil can help you fight a cold. And if you have more time, you can go for an intense steam treatment. Pour 4-5 drops of eucalyptus oil in a glass bowl and add boiling water to it. Covering your head with a towel to trap the steam in, lean over the bowl and inhale deeply for 5-10 minutes. Make sure you repeat this twice a day. Basically, the steam opens up the nasal passages and you are free to breathe better.

Honey

Honey

This is another powerful soothing and healing agent that is widely available at home. You can use raw honey from untainted bees to boost immunity and treat several cold symptoms. The presence of an array of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral nutrients, make honey a perfect cold medicine. It can be mixed with other cold remedies, too, like apple cider vinegar and lemon for faster results.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon

The effective healing properties of cinnamon help ease the pain of a dry or a sore throat.  Add one teaspoon of powdered cinnamon to a glass of water, and bring it to a boil. You can also add some pepper powder and honey to this for better results. The other way to use it is to add two to three drops of cinnamon oil to food or drink.

Don’t allow a cold get the best of you. Just take over with some simple natural do-it-yourself treatments and clear up your stuffy nose and soothe your scratchy throat!

Editor’s Note: Here’s a good recipe for anyone with a cold, check out Golden Milk Tea.

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