These multi-purpose tools hold an assortment of tools and fold up into a compact package.  The Swiss Army Knife was popularized in the MacGyver TV series from 1980's, where MacGyver is constantly using his Swiss Army Knife to solve all sorts of problems.

When I think of essential oils, Lemon is the one that comes to my mind as the all-purpose "Swiss Army Knife" of oils.

Here are just some of the many things you can do with Lemon Essential Oil...

Uses For Lemon Essential Oil

Click To Enlarge

• Removes all sorts of sticky residues (including pine sap!!!)
• Improves your mood / brighten your day (especially if you are feeling depressed)
• Makes a non-toxic furniture polish
• Makes a great fruit/vegetable wash
• Aids in digestion
• Supports your body's respiratory system when taken internally (having seasonal respiratory difficulties?)
• Makes your laundry smell fabulous (and helps front loading washers with their chronic moldy issues)
• Improves the grease cutting capability of your natural (or homemade) dish soap
• Helps to cleanse the air when diffused in your home
• Can be used as an awesome ingredient in food to add some "zip" to it
• Helps remove the early stages of tarnishing on silver
• I could go on and on and on...

Pretty amazing, right?

How We Use It The Most

• 1-2 drops of Lemon Oil in a quart of water to flavor the water, support the body's metabolism, and aid in digestion.  Sometimes we also use Wild Orange, Grapefruit, or other citrus oils.
• As an ingredient in our wonderful all-purpose cleaning spray
• As an ingredient in our Non-Toxic Deep Clean Toilet Scrub
• Diffuse to purify the air in your home while cleaning.  I usually mix 2-3 drops of Lemon with 2-3 drops of Melaleuca to help with purifying the air and decrease allergies, etc.
• Use lemon to remove the impossible adhesive from removed labels on jars.  We use it straight (not diluted) for this job.  Usually, a few drops does the trick.
• Add 3-5 drops of lemon oil to your wash load (the laundry smells amazing and it helps kill mold).  Just drop the oil in the same place your laundry detergent goes.
• We've been known to add 2-3 drops in the blender when making a fruit smoothie.
• Add 5 drops to our Raspberry-Lemon muffin recipe
• Several drops in hands or on clothes to "cut" pine sap.  Previously, the only thing I found capable of that impossible job, was gasoline.  But Lemon Oil works great and is a super healthy alternative.  And hey, it also cuts grease.  So now you have a healthy hand cleaner to remove grease and grime.

Cleaning Recipes With Lemon Essential Oil

Produce Wash (for hard-skinned fruits and veggies like apples, oranges & carrots)

• 1.5 cups of water
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 10 drops of Lemon essential oil

Makes 16 oz. (a spray bottle works best).  Spray on produce, let it soak for a few minutes and rinse.

Produce Soak (best for thin-skinned fruits & veggies like lettuce and berries)

• Sink full of water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 10 drops of Lemon essential oil

Soak produce for 5-10 minutes then rinse.

Natural Dish Soap Recipe

Non-Toxic Deep Clean Toilet Scrub

Non-Toxic All Purpose Cleaner 

Cooking Recipes With Lemon Essential Oil

• Lemon Kale Chips
• Rosemary Lemon Hummus
• Sautéed Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus

Where To Get Lemon Essential Oil

So many of the "essential oils" on the market today are diluted and contain impurities.  Unless you have the time and money to have them tested at a lab, how would you know?

doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil (as well as all of their other oils) goes through a battery of tests, including 3rd party tests that are made public to you.  Each bottle of oil contains a tracking number that you can use to download the lab test results from that particular lot of oil.  Talk about transparency!

This purity issue is critical.  In so many oils, you have no idea how pure it is and what other constituents are added.  Those unknown substances can affect your health.

A friend of ours told us she was allergic to Lavender Oil.  We were skeptical about whether she really truly was reacting to Lavender or whether she was reacting to some additive or contaminate in the oil.  So we asked her to try doTERRA's Lavender Oil.  You know what?  Zero issues!  Isn't that amazing!

And as far as the strength of the oil, we have personally experienced the difference between the real thing and cheap knock-offs.  If you need repeatable results, you need to know that each bottle will be the same--time after time.  And that's a priority with doTERRA essential oils.

So if you'd like to get ahold of the finest Lemon Oil in the industry, go here to get it individually.  I recommend starting out with one of their excellent kits that are seriously discounted and come with a free membership for a wholesale discount.  Here are our 2 favorite kits.  And if you sign up through one of our links, you'll also get the help and support of our team in learning how to use your oils safely and effectively.

Other Uses

The post Lemon Oil - Swiss Army Knife Of Oils appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

Hearing much of that lately?  Bless you… or Gesundheit!

Sneezing is actually one of the body's defense mechanisms against airborne pathogens (translation: cold and flu bugs that float around in the air). The force of the sneeze expels those nasty little ‘bugs’ and sends them on their way… hopefully.

But just in case, we like to jump right in and help support our bodies defense system. It’s called the Immune system, and it’s an amazing network of many different little ‘good guys’ that work hard to protect us. But sometimes we need a little ‘help’ to support that amazing defense system.

Let me introduce you to one of our friends: Oregano Oil

I actually have a little bit of a Love/Hate relationship with Oregano. I don’t like the smell. Honestly. Maybe you do, but I don’t. It’s pretty strong, especially when you get some really pure, really potent stuff (like what I use). But I’ll have to admit, the stuff just plain works, and works well. Here’s a little bit about Oregano Oil.

Click to enlarge

Benefits of Oregano Oil

Due to its high concentration of carvacol and thymol, two phenol chemicals that possess cleansing properties, Oregano is commonly used as a household cleansing agent.

Oregano oil can be taken internally to help support a healthy immune system, healthy digestion, and respiratory function. Also, it just happens to be an excellent source of antioxidants.

As you are probably aware, MRSA has become a serious issue, especially in hospital settings.  A 2008 study looked at the susceptibility of MRSA to Oregano Oil.  Here is what the researchers had to say:  "In conclusion, the findings of the present study indicate that oregano oil, in addition to other properties, has potential as a topical antibacterial agent against MRS strains." (source -PubMed abstract or full text)

In a recent (2018) study, researchers compared the effect of Oregano essential oil with conventional antibiotic treatment for acne.  Here was their conclusion:  "Oregano, the most effective EO [essential oil], was formulated and tested as a nanoemulsion in an acne animal mouse model. The formulation showed superior healing and antimicrobial effects compared to the reference antibiotic. Collectively, our data suggested that oregano oil nanoemulsion is a potential natural and effective alternative for treating acne and overcoming the emerging antibiotic resistance."  (source)

Other benefits of Oregano oil can be found when preparing and eating culinary dishes. Oregano’s herbaceous flavoring can be added to appetizers, entrees, and sauces to enhance an array of savory meals.

Oregano Oil Uses

Oregano oil is incredibly powerful and there has been a tremendous amount of research done on this topic.  Here are some household uses as well as studies that have been conducted with Oregano, testing it's potential as a treatment for various conditions.

For a quick and easy household cleaner, put 10 drops of Oregano essential oil into a spray bottle with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of vinegar. Due to Oregano’s chemical makeup, Oregano oil is a powerful cleansing and purifying agent. This simple spray is great for surfaces and countertops. But you really have to like the smell!

When we feel our immune system needs extra support, we like to apply diluted Oregano Oil to the bottoms of our feet.  10 ml roller bottles work very nicely for this. We put 20-30 drops of Oregano into a 10 ml roller bottle, then top off with fractionated coconut oil or olive oil.  This is roughly 7-10% dilution.  If a skin test proves that this is too strong for you, try backing off to 5% (15 drops) or even 3% (9 drops).  Mix thoroughly. Then apply to the bottoms of your feet, put on socks and head to bed!

One drop taken daily can help maintain healthy immune function. Oregano can be taken more frequently when seasonal threats are high or as needed to further boost immunity. You can also put two drops of Oregano essential oil in a veggie capsule, then add a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil. Then close the capsule and swallow right away to help support immune function.

Add a little flavor to your favorite Italian cuisine with some Oregano essential oil. Oregano oil is spicy and herbaceous and will add the perfect hint of flavor to spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, roasts, and much more. One drop of Oregano essential oil can replace one tablespoon of ground oregano.

Not only does Oregano promote healthy immune and respiratory function, but it also supports healthy digestion. Oregano oil supports healthy digestion by promoting the secretion of digestive juices. When experiencing occasional digestive issues, take Oregano oil internally by putting two drops into a veggie capsule and adding a carrier oil.

Better Off Together

Have you ever heard the phrase “we’re better off together?” In Oregano and Peppermint oil’s case, it’s true! In a recent study, a group of Brazilian researchers reported that in the cases they were looking at, Oregano and Peppermint oil worked better when used together. When two different substances like Oregano and Peppermint oil work to create a combined effect that is greater than the effects of the individual substance on their own, the result is called synergism. When using Oregano essential oil, use it alongside Peppermint oil for a more powerful result.

Oregano Oil Safety

Oregano Oil is powerful stuff!  That's a wonderful thing if used properly.  But it can also have negative effects if you use it carelessly.

Because of Oregano oil’s high phenol content, caution should be taken when diffusing or inhaling—only one to two drops are needed.

When applied topically, Oregano Oil must be diluted with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil.  The percentage of dilution is a topic of much debate.  Some experts advocate diluting so heavily that it's hardly there, and others endorse as little dilution as possible.  We personally take a middle of the road position on dilution.

We believe that each person is different, each condition is different, and the goal for each usage of the essential oil is different as well.  So each of these things must be taken into account.  For a "hot" oil like Oregano, our practice is to dilute at 5-10% for topical application on tough skin like the bottoms of feet.  For use elsewhere, we might dilute it a little more, such as 2-5%.  But honestly, feet are the primary location that we use Oregano, due to the strong smell :-).

One good practice when using a new oil for the first time is to do a skin test.  Try a little of the particular oil (at the dilution you are using) on a small area of skin such as the inside of the elbow.  Wait several hours to see if there are any signs of irritation or sensitivity.  If symptoms appear, dilute the oil more heavily.  If even a heavily diluted portion causes irritation or sensitivity, it may be that you should avoid that particular oil.  Once again, everyone's body is different and you need to listen to what it's telling you.  Contrary to popular opinion, it has been proven that rashes from the application of oils are generally NOT a sign of the body detoxing.

If you happen to get Oregano Oil on any sensitive areas of skin, or if you happen to experience skin sensitivity, you'll want to "cut" it with a carrier oil.  Liberally apply a carrier oil such as Coconut Oil or a vegetable oil on the affected area.  DO NOT use water, as this will make the experience worse.  Believe it or not, using oil on the affected area will bring the most relief in the shortest period of time.

Quality Oregano Oil

Oregano 15ml Bottle

When using essential oils like Oregano, we've found a huge difference between a pure high-quality oil and the "cheapos" that you find at chain stores.

Previously, we had used run-of-the-mill Oregano Oil under our tongue.  Nick would even do an entire dropper full--undiluted!

Then we discovered "real" essential oils and got ahold of a bottle of doTERRA Oregano Oil.  I tried 1 drop of it under my tongue...BIG MISTAKE!  The power of it nearly knocked me off my feet!  Later on we discovered that Oregano Oil is a "hot" oil and should always be diluted.  But it demonstrated to us the dramatic difference between "100% pure" Oregano from a cheap company versus doTERRA's Oregano.  It was like night and day!

In addition, the purity issue is critical.  In so many oils, you have no idea how pure it is and what other constituents are added.  Those unknown substances can affect your health.

A friend of mine told me she was allergic to Lavender Oil.  I was skeptical about whether she really truly was reacting to Lavender or whether she was reacting to some additive or contaminate in the oil.  So I asked her to try doTERRA's Lavender Oil.  You know what?  Zero issues!  Isn't that amazing!

If you need repeatable results, you need to know that each bottle will be the same--time after time.  And that's a priority with doTERRA essential oils.  In fact...

doTERRA oils go through a battery of tests, including 3rd party tests that are made public to you.  Each bottle of oil contains a tracking number that you can use to download the lab test results from that particular lot of oil.  Talk about transparency!

So if you'd like to get ahold of the finest Oregano Oil in the industry, go here to get it individually.  I recommend starting out with one of their excellent kits that are seriously discounted and come with a free membership for a wholesale discount.  Here are our 2 favorite kits.  And if you sign up through one of our links, you'll also get the help and support of our team in learning how to use your oils safely and effectively.

Any Questions Or Comments?

The post Oregano - The Herb For This Season appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

When it was just me cleaning my house, I could find excuses for using toxic, chemical-laden house cleaners.  But the last straw for me was once I had little hands and feet with curious eyes wanting desperately to help their Mama.

So I went on a hunt for healthy, natural alternatives.

At first, I went to the store in town.  “Natural and hypoallergenic,” the label said, so I purchased it.  After using the popular “Non-toxic” cleaner, we all ended up with rashes.  Just imagine the damage our livers are sustaining from toxins like that.  Nope.  Not healthy.

So I started searching for DIY home cleaners.  Do you have any idea how many different recipes there are out there???!!!  So I started trying them, one at a time, until I found a few that I really liked.

These recipes work exceptionally well to clean the tougher jobs in my home (and I have two toddlers—need I say more?).  And it feels so good to keep toxic chemicals out of our home with these simple “liver-friendly” options.

So here are my 3 favorite recipes (the ones we use in our home):

Non-Toxic Window spray:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

Combine the ingredients together in a spray bottle. Spray on the glass and wipe clean with a lint-free cloth or newspaper.

Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner

I use this for just about everything!

• 2 cups white vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon natural dish soap (NOT Castile soap)
• 30 drops lemon essential oil
• 20 drops melaleuca essential oil

Mix all ingredients in a quart-sized spray bottle. Shake to combine. Spray and wipe on counters, cabinets, sinks, toilets, and anywhere else.

Non-Toxic Deep Clean Toilet Scrub

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/3 cup liquid dishwashing soap
• 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 30 drops essential oils of choice (lemon, Tea Tree, On Guard blend, etc)
• 3/4 cup water

Mix together in a squeeze-type bottle, then squirt into the toilet. Scrub and let stand 20 minutes.

What are your favorite DIY home cleaners?
Share in the comments below
(because we all still have lots to learn!!)

The post Non-Toxic Cleaners for a Healthy Homestead appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

In this video, Lisa will demonstrate the 3 methods that we use for applying charcoal, and a bunch of extra info from her years of personal experience and work at health centers.

If you don't have a source for charcoal, you can find activated charcoal on Amazon and help our blog (without it costing you a penny).

Also, you can read about using charcoal with stomach bugs here.

What Have You Successfully Used Charcoal For?
Please Comment Below:

The post How We Use Charcoal At Our Homestead appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

As terrible as the fires are, their effects filter throughout huge areas of the nation, leaving polluted air for millions of people to breathe.  And unlike city pollution, heading out of town won't save you from this stuff.

We live in a remote area, and at one time the smoke was so bad that it would burn your nose within less than a minute of being outside! And for weeks we have hardly been able to let the kids play outside. Every now and then the air quality improves for a day or two and then it gets bad again.

Time To Take Action

Our oldest child was sneezing and coughing more and more, alerting us that this air quality issue is not a figment of our imaginations. And with the specter of more fires in the future, we finally decided to clean up the air in our home.

After much research, I zeroed in on an air purifier that does a good job, is reasonably priced, and is SUPER efficient for running off the grid.

My Favorite Off Grid Air Purifier

My criteria for an air purifier were as follows:

• Has a true HEPA air filter
• Has a good CADR (clean air delivery rate) rating for smoke (200 or better)
• Is extremely energy efficient
• Is reasonably priced

The energy efficiency part is important to us since we live off the grid and are conscious of our power usage. When an appliance is running 24/7, I take a very close look at finding the most efficient model that I can. The power usage is far more important for a 24/7 appliance than it is for something you only run for a few minutes per day.

The model I finally settled on is the Winix 5300-2. It has a true HEPA air filter and a carbon filter for absorbing smells, as well as a cleanable prefilter.

In addition, the Winix 5300-2 boasts a CADR of 232 for smoke, which is impressive considering its size, cost, and power usage.

The power usage of the Winix is what really sold me. Our air purifier uses 5-8 watts on the first 3 settings and around 45 watts on the 4th "turbo" setting. We generally run it on the 3rd setting when the smoke is bad, as it filters a lot of air and only uses 8 watts. If I want to clean up a room very quickly, I'll turn it on turbo for a few minutes and it is amazing how much air is moving at that point!

The Winix is extremely quiet unless you have it in turbo mode. I was very impressed with the low noise level. You can have it right next to you on setting 3 and it doesn't even disturb a quiet conversation.

Finally, at the current price of $120-130 (as of this writing), I feel it is a great deal for what you are getting.

Here's the link for the Winix 5300-2 air purifier on Amazon (a great price and you are helping our blog at no cost to you):

Winix 5300-2

I ended up getting some really nice extra features that I hadn't bargained on...

Air Quality Sensor

The Winix has an air quality sensor that samples the air in your home. After about 5 minutes of running, it will settle down and display either a blue, orange, or red light. Blue is good, orange is for moderate quality, and red indicates bad air. This is a VERY helpful feature and really helps to know if you need to clean up a particular room. My son's room is in the back of the house, away from the main area where we generally run the purifier all day. We find that on smoky days, the air in his room usually needs to be cleaned up at bedtime. But we wouldn't know without the sensor on the purifier. Within 15 minutes or so, the air in his room is all cleaned up.

Auto Fan Mode

If you turn the air purifier to auto mode, it will use the built-in sensor to adjust the fan based on the current quality of the air in your home. Poor air quality will trigger it to run faster, and better air quality will slow it down (saving you power). This is an extremely nice feature that we will use in the future, but for now, when the smoke is so bad, we leave it on 3rd speed all the time.

Night mode

You can even turn the unit onto night mode where it will turn all the lights off and slow down to a very slow and quiet speed that seems even lower than the 1st-speed setting.

Change Filter Alert

Finally, the Winix will let you know when the filter needs to be changed. They say the HEPA filter should be changed annually and the charcoal filter should be changed every 3 months. Since it came with the HEPA filter and 3 charcoal filters, we should be good for at least 9 months. And my understanding is that you don't have to use the charcoal filter if you don't want to, but it can help a lot with removing odors.

Conclusion

I'm really happy with our purchase and we have noticed a big difference with sneezing and coughing in our home--even while dealing with the worst smoke we have seen in years. I think it was worth every penny and then some!

Another Option

If you can't find the Winix 5300-2, you might look at the slightly more expensive Winix 5500-2. It is almost exactly the same purifier except it has a remote control and the odor remover filter is washable. I think it's another great option.

Any Comments or Questions About Air Purifiers?
Comment Below...

*This page may contain affiliate links which help to support this site without costing you a penny more.  We only recommend items that we honestly believe in.

The post Smoked Out? Here's My #1 Favorite Off Grid Air Purifier appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

And I'll share the most amazing option for dealing with stomach bugs when they strike.

I was a twenty-something bachelor at the time.  Having presented dozens of seminars at small to medium-sized venues, this was my first time to speak at a large location with potentially thousands of attendees.

I was excited and intimidated at the same time.  It was exciting to help folks learn about things that I am super passionate about.  You know, things like off-grid power, country living, and independent living.

In the middle of sharing the most valuable tips that I could pack into one-hour slots, it happened.  If memory serves me right, it was the third day out of 5.

While presenting from the front of the large auditorium, my stomach started feeling very strange and very bad.  It had been coming on slowly for hours.

Confused, I couldn’t figure out what was happening.  I fought valiantly against this unknown foe, but at last, I was overcome.  I collapsed into a chair at the front and expected to pass out.

Instead, I emptied my stomach on the floor in front of the entire audience.

As far as I know, it was the first time in my life to have ever thrown up.  I couldn’t have asked for a more prestigious introduction to the wonderful world of upchucking :-).

The Aftermath

What proceeded was a confusing blur of events that taught me how to deal with a stomach bug naturally at home.

I was rushed to the on-site doctor and examined (while throwing up a couple more times).   The doctor’s order was to go to the emergency room and get an I.V. for possible dehydration (even though I had no symptoms of dehydration).

While I’m not a medical expert, I have many family members who are and I was trained as an EMT.  I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday and I wasn’t buying it.  Go to the E.R. because I had thrown up a few times???

Unfortunately, I was all by myself and had no transportation, so I was at the mercy of those around me.  I plead and plead for charcoal until a kind soul found some capsules, but the doctor wouldn’t allow me to take more than 1 or 2 of them.  She treated the charcoal as if it was some kind of dangerous drug.

I finally put my foot down and said “No” to the E.R. trip.  “Just take me back to my motel room and let me sleep, please.”  Finally, the person that invited me to speak said: “If the man wants to go back to his room, I think we should let him.”  So after signing my life away on a medical release form, I finally made it back to my motel room and crawled into bed.

It was a rough night with continued bouts of throwing up every time I tried drinking liquids.  Now I was starting to get concerned about dehydration since I wasn’t able to drink.

The Mediocre Stomach Bug Protocol

A quick call to a doctor friend gave me the tip I needed to limp through the night.  Just take a tiny sip of ginger ale every once in a while.  The upchucking finally stopped and I slept that night and stayed mostly in bed the next day while recovering slowly.

It worked since the stomach bug wasn’t extremely bad, but I think I would have run into trouble if it had been more violent.

When to Go To The Doctor

The on-site doctor in my story was being rather ridiculous.  She insisted that I go to the ER after throwing up a few times in a half hour, which was way overkill in my situation.  But there are times when you should.

The Mayo Clinic lists several situations in which you should be seen by a doctor if suffering from Viral Gastroenteritis (which is what I had).  They say you should see a doctor if you are:

• Unable to keep liquids down for more than 24 hours
• Vomiting for more than 2 days
• Vomiting blood
• Showing signs of dehydration (such as excessive thirst, deep yellow or no urine, etc)
• Have blood in bowel movements
• Have a fever above 104°F (40°C)
• Have an infant or child with a fever over 102°F (38.9°C) or who shows any signs of dehydration, among other things (see source for more details)

Modern medicine has no effective treatment for Viral gastroenteritis, so you will probably receive supportive treatment only.  This consists of medication to help reduce symptoms (nausea, vomiting, etc) and perhaps an IV to prevent dehydration.  If your stomach bug is of an acute bacterial variety, you may be given antibiotics.  But generally, it's simply a matter of keeping you hydrated and comfortable while your body takes care of the bug itself.

However, after I got home, a doctor shared a remarkable natural treatment for stomach bugs that leaves modern medicine's approach in the dust.  And it's so simple!

The Amazingly Effective Stomach Bug Protocol

When I got home, another doctor friend who treats patients naturally gave me a different protocol to follow (in case I ever catch that terrible stomach bug again).  And while I haven’t had the opportunity to try it myself (YAY!), both of my children have.

And wow!  I am simply amazed at its effectiveness and simplicity!  As soon as you realize it’s a stomach bug (for instance, vomiting every time you drink anything), start this protocol.  It’s really simple.

The only item required is activated charcoal (that link and future one are for a great charcoal powder on Amazon that helps our blog without costing you a penny).

Here’s what the doctor said…

7 Steps

1. Mix a quarter teaspoon of activated charcoal powder in a small glass of water or other liquid.  If you wanted, you could take charcoal capsules, but we like the powdered charcoal mixed with liquids as it gets into the stomach and starts working right away rather than waiting for the gel cap to dissolve.
2. Take a small sip of that charcoal drink.  Start very small and wait several minutes before taking another sip.
3. You will likely throw up that first sip of charcoal drink.  That’s okay.  The charcoal made it in your tummy and attached to some of the bad guys and took them out when you threw up.  If you do throw up, wait several minutes and then take another sip.
4. You’ll likely throw that sip up as well.  Once again that’s okay.  Just keep sipping a little bit at a time as you can handle it.
5. Generally, after 3 or 4 bouts of the above (sipping and throwing up), the throwing up will subside and you’ll be able to sip without unloading your stomach.  Keep at the sipping but don’t overdo it.
6. After it seems you are finished with throwing up, start working on getting a good amount of fluids (without charcoal) in your system.  Preferably it should be fluids that will replace electrolytes that were lost from all the throwing up.  You know, things like coconut water, watered down grape juice with salt added, or Gatorade (yes, I know it’s ingredients are not ideal, but you NEED those electrolytes).
7. If you find that your vomiting is continuing even after several sessions with the charcoal, you might want to take a quick trip to the doctor for something to stop the vomiting and perhaps an IV if you have lost enough fluids.

We recently got a chance to try out this advice with our small children.

They both came down with a fairly violent stomach bug and were throwing up.  We followed the above protocol and both of them stopped vomiting after the 3rd sip of charcoal drink.  And get this…they were feeling better in a couple hours and were pretty much back to normal by the end of the day!  Pretty amazing stuff!

More Details

Want more info on activated charcoal?  Check out the post below with more info on how we use it on our homestead:

How We Use Charcoal At Our Homestead

How do you handle stomach bugs?
↓↓Comment Below And Share↓↓

The post Stomach Bugs & The Most Embarrassing Day Of My Life appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

Each spring, just before they arrive, Nick and I always seem to have the same conversation: "Hey, the mosquitos aren't here yet. Maybe, just maybe they won't be bad this year..." Then they show up with a vengeance.

And again we wage battle, striving to find ways to minimize their impact.

In an upcoming post we plan on sharing some great tips for keeping mosquitoes away, but right now we are focusing on how to deal with those painful bites--naturally.

So here are just a few of the home remedies for insect bites that we have found to really help in our family...

By the way, here's where I get the TerraShield spray that's in the video

Plantain (by Nancy Meissner)

Yesterday I was working for a very brief time in our garden. It's "bug season" here for another few weeks, so I was doing my chores as quickly as possible.

However, much to my dismay, I was attacked ferociously by a number of insects. As a result I received quite a few bites on my face and neck.

The itching soon became very miserable, and I ended up taking an antihistamine just to get some relief. I received temporary relief.  But it didn't take long before the bites were swelling even larger. And once again I was miserable, itchy, and uncomfortable. I even woke up during the night in misery.

By the morning, it had been about 18 hours since I'd gotten the bites and I was still miserable. Craig asked me, "Did you try plantain?" I had totally forgotten about the wonderful effects I'd had in the past using a simple natural remedy--the leaves of the plantain plant!

What is Plantain?

According to Wikipedia, plantain, is from the genus Plantago. It's a very common weed that grows all over the world including America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Europe.

Plantain can be found in many different habitats--I've typically found it in lawns, driveways, and places like that. There are broad leaf plantain plants, and narrow leaf plantain plants, however I understand that both will work. You can identify plantain by the 3 - 5 parallel veins that run the length of each leaf. One article I read said that plantain is also called ribwort, pig's ear, and band-aid plant.

Wikipedia states that Plantago species is an herb that has been used as an astringent, anti-toxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine and many other uses.

Making a poultice of the leaves is useful for insect bites, poison ivy rashes, minor sores, and boils. Personally I've found that it's easier to just pick the plant and squeeze the juices of the leaf right onto the bit. The sooner I do it, the better the results.

So I found some Plantain...

Right after Craig reminded me about plantain, I went outside to find some. Within 10 feet of our front door I found a number of small plantain plants. They're super easy to use--many people just chew them for a minute then apply this to the bug bite. I just tear the leaves, then rub my bites vigorously with the torn leaves so that the juice from the torn leaves can get on the bug bite.

Some folks will make a poultice in their blender. And I read in another article this morning that you can make a plantain oil for winter use. Just place the leaves in a clean pint jar and cover them with 1 - 2 inches of olive oil. You can strain the oil off after a couple of weeks, and save the oil to use as needed.

Within seconds of the time I applied the torn leaves to my bites, I received such relief! Far better than any antihistamine. The swelling went down and there was very little itching in less than an hour. It's just plain dramatic how effective this remedy is!

Essential Oils (back to Lisa here)

There are a number of essential oils that people like to use. Some of the most popular are Melaleuca, Lavender, Peppermint, and I even heard of someone who recommended Clove. Melaleuca is probably our favorite and the one we turn to the most when we don't have plantain on hand. I don't usually dilute it when using it on bites, cuts, scratches, burns, and other skin issues.

So those are our recommendations for dealing with bug bites. What are ways that you deal with bug bites? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.

The post Home Remedies for Insect Bites appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

Hormones can be really frustrating and a huge blessing also (when they are balanced properly). And I’m sure you’re all familiar with the saying, ‘If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.’

My Story...

When I went through puberty at age 13, it was painful. Periods were very heavy, cramping was unbearable, very irregular, and I developed Fibrocystic Breast disease while I blossomed into a young woman. Once a romping tom-boy, I now avoided hugs, running, and riding horseback due to the pain.  I was told it was ‘normal’ until I worked alongside of a doctor and helped examine a patient who had all my symptoms. That’s when I scheduled an appointment and found out what I actually had. I wanted to deal with it naturally. After a lot of research here is what I did that turned my life (or, shall I say, hormones) around:

Detox was Key!

Detox was the first thing I started off doing. I had access to an infrared sauna that I used every single day. If you don’t have access to something similar, there are some other ways to accomplish the same thing (like contrast showers, dry/steam saunas, etc). The goal is to improve cardiovascular circulation. Also, herbs are another great way to detox. Find a green drink or a supplement with cilantro in it. Cilantro is a powerful herb that helps the body dump heavy metals and toxins that have accumulated.

There are other herbs as well—that’s just one of the best. And EAT YOUR GREENS! I’m serious, I ate greens (baby spinach, salads, avocado, arugula, kale, you name it, I ate it), vegetables, beans, some fruits (the ones that are lower in sugar such as berries, grapefruit, Granny Smith apples, etc) and limited grains (I might have gone over the top a little, but I was desperate). Also, I was eating yogurt every day (for the probiotics to improve gut health - really important).

Herbs & Greens...

Balancing my hormones (estrogen/progesterone): So there are a number of different herbs that do this naturally (in other words whether you are estrogen dominant or progesterone dominant, it will balance them into their proper sphere). Each person’s constitution is different, so where one herb works REALLY great for one person it may not work as well for the next. So this may take a little bit of experimenting. The herb I found to work REALLY well for me is Chaste Tree Berry (also known as Vitex). What I ended up doing was making an herbal tea with Chaste Tree Berry, Red Raspberry herb, Red Clover, along with 2 herbs  to help boost my immune system - Pau ‘d Arco, and Astragalus.

Ok, so a bit of honesty - it tasted DOWNRIGHT NASTY. But it worked. However, if I had it to do over again, I would use a MUCH easier way of getting many of the same herbs to accomplish the same thing.  It’s a blend of essential herbal oils called Clary Calm from doTERRA. It’s my husbands favorite herbal oil blend because anytime my hormones get a little wacky and affect my mood, the Clary Calm brings me back into balance quickly.

Get rid of the No-no's

Eliminating Zeno-estrogens from my lifestyle. These are chemically synthesized estrogen preservatives and ingredients that have found their way into most of our beauty care products and plastics. They affect the body negatively by causing an imbalanced of hormones and creating all kinds of problems. So I did my best to try and eliminate or decrease the amount of Zeno-estrogens I exposed myself to by switching to more natural beauty care products or simply not using them as much. I also tried to not use plastic products in my kitchen as much (switched my leftover containers to glass and avoided teflon pans like the plague). This is really huge because toxicity in our environment keeps our hormones just a little off balance, making it very difficult to keep them where they should be.

The Results?

So in a nutshell, I did the detox, a quart of tea, and the restrictive diet for somewhere between 2-3 months. After that I stuck closely with a healthy balanced diet, and only drank the tea for about a week leading up to my regular monthly period. When I got lazy and didn’t drink the tea before my period, I almost always ended up with emotional swings and maybe slight discomfort just prior to my period. But if I was faithful, I’d breeze right through with no problem at all.

So… fast forward to several years ago. My dear sweetheart (Nick) became my most faithful partner in making the tea. He immediately noticed a big difference between when I did drink the tea and when I didn’t. But it was soooo nasty. After about 3 years of that we discovered a much easier way to get many of the same herbs easier and quicker. It’s called doTERRA Clary Calm essential oil blend. I use just a little of that each day and have absolutely no symptoms all month long. Learn more about how to use herbs as an oil.

How to use Bulk Herbs:

In order to get the herbs I wanted to use I had to order them in bulk. First, here’s a little bit about making a tea with bulk herbs:

Bulk herbs come in a number of different forms: Leaves, Flowers, Roots, Seeds, Barks, and powdered herbs (I usually avoid this unless I need them for a poultice). Unless special instructions come with the tea or tea combination you are using, then use the following directions:

For Leaves or Flowers (dried, of course) -
1. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
2. Add 1 tsp of the leaves or flowers, then immediately cover and remove from hot surface.
3. Let it steep for 15 to 30 minutes.
4. Strain and drink fresh.

For Roots, Seeds, and Barks -
1. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
2. Add 1 Tbs  of roots, seeds or barks.
3. Let gently boil for 15 minutes.
4. Then steep for 15-30 min.
5. Strain and drink!

My Hormone Balancing Tea

Now you can combine any of the herbs and do them altogether. For example, the tea that I made for balancing my hormones has Leaves, Flowers, and Seeds all in the same tea. Instead of making two different pots of tea (one for the leaves and flowers and another for the seeds), I do it this way:

1. Bring 2-3 cups of water to boil.
2. Add the 1 Tbs Chaste Tree Berry (seeds), 1 Tbs Astragalus (root), and 1 Tbs Pau d' Arco and let it gently boil for another 15 minutes.
3. Once the 15 minutes are up, remove from the heat and add 2-3 tsp of a mixture of Red Clover (flowers) and Red Raspberry (leaves).
4. Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Strain the herbs off of the liquid, let cool.
5. Then I like to dilute it with another 1-2 cups of water (so it's not so strong) and add a hint of lemon juice, honey (to sweeten), and salt (helps with electrolytes, and surprisingly makes it much more palatable) to taste. So give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

Herbal Blend of Oils

You know, in my experience I’ve found that a lot of people (including myself) put essential oils into it’s own category - but it’s not - Its just a different form of the same herbs that we all use. And it happens to be the most effective and potent form of all the different ways that we can use herbs. Not that we don’t drink herbal tea’s any longer, or make poultices - because we still do. But using essential oils has made it so much easier to experience the benefit because it’s not as labor intensive. And because it’s so concentrated it makes essential oils the most potent and effective method of using herbs.

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The post Naturally Balance Your Hormones appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

But we find it's often a good idea to use a number of remedies simultaneously.  Very often we'll also use hydrotherapy treatments as well, with excellent results.

But I'll have to say that one of our favorite (and tastiest) remedies is what we call "rocket fuel".  This is NOT a nasty concoction like you may have tried in the past (does "Russian Penicillin" come to mind?).  You actually make this drink taste good.  If it doesn't taste good then you either added too much cayenne/ginger/garlic or you didn't add enough honey (the more likely problem).  Raw honey is good for you and will soothe your throat, so don't be too stingy with it.

So here is what goes in this awesome drink...

• 8-9 Lemons juiced
• 5-6 Cloves of Garlic
• Dash of Ginger (optional)
• Dash of Cayenne
• Honey to taste (raw honey is preferred)

Blend all the ingredients in the blender and strain if necessary. Then pour into a quart jar and fill with water to the top.

You can sip on it throughout the day as much as needed, but since it is a little strong, I wouldn't put too much of it on an empty stomach.

Give this a try and see if you like it as much as we do.  It's so soothing to the throat and is a real boost to the immune system.  And did I mention that is tastes really good (if you do it right)?

How do you like this Rocket Fuel recipe?

The post Simple Natural Remedy - Rocket Fuel appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.

The one thing that I have seen work, albeit slowly, is sea water. One person that I know had awful athletes foot, but after a vacation where the feet were almost always in the water, they almost completely healed up. Really, he needed an extra week or two to completely get rid of it. I think all of us would like that cure- a month vacation on a warm beach!

But for those of us who aren't able to enjoy that luxury, here is another simple recipe that has worked for some...

Natural Fungal Nail Recipe

2 cups Vinegar
½ oz. Calendula
½ oz. Myrrh
½ oz. Black Walnut

Combine in a jar with a tight lid and soak in dark place for three weeks.  Shake jar daily.  After three weeks, strain, rinse jar, and return liquid to jar, discarding herb solids. Apply one drop to base of nail twice a day.

  Have you tried something successfully for your fungal nail problem? What was it?

The post Natural Fungal Toe Nail Recipe appeared first on Sustainable Preparedness.