SIMPLE DIRECTIONS FOR USING HERBS TO MAKE INFUSIONS, DECOCTIONS AND OINTMENTS

SIMPLE DIRECTIONS FOR USING HERBS TO MAKE INFUSIONS, DECOCTIONS AND OINTMENTS

It seems that many health conscious people these days are

turning away from prescription drugs and turning to making their

own medicines. Healing with herbs and other natural remedies is

becoming popular and making your own medicines is quite an art.

Some popular methods of natural healing involve the use of

making infusions, steeping to extract various properties,

decoctions, the extraction of an essence by boiling and

ointments.

Always remember when you are creating your own herbal remedies

to use an enamel or nonmetal pot.

HERBAL TEAS

To make a cup of herbal tea, for drinking or as a face wash,

boil 10 ounces of water. Prewarm your teapot, put in 1 tbsp. or

less of dried herbs or a large pinch of fresh herbs and pour the

boiling water over them. Add honey, if you like. cover and

steep to taste, 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and drink.

INFUSIONS

To make an infusion, fill a teapot with one quart of boiling

water. Then throw in a large handful of fresh herbs or an ounce

or more of dried herbs. Add some honey, if desired, and let the

mixture steep for ten to twenty minutes. Now strain and drink.

DECOCTIONS

Making a decoction involves boiling your mixture. It is usually

made from the tougher parts of a plant, the roots, seeds or the

bark. Put one ounce or more of the herb parts in a quart of

water and cover the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer

for about twenty minutes. Steep and strain the mixture. Drink

or apply externally.

OINTMENTS

An ointment, unguent or salve is made by combining the decoction

of a herb with olive oil and simmering it until the water has

completely evaporated. A little beeswax is then added to get a

firm consistency. Some gum benzoin or a drop of tincture of

benzoin per ounce of fat will help preserve the ointment.

SENSIBLE DIET TIPS

SENSIBLE DIET TIPS

Start your diet with a food diary, record everything you eat, what you were doing at the time, and how you felt. That tells you about yourself, your temptation, the emotional states that encourage you to snack and may help you lose once you see how much you eat.

Instead of eating the forbidden piece of candy, brush your teeth. If you're about to cheat, allow yourself a treat, then eat only half a bite and throw the other half away.When hunger hits, wait 10 minutes before eating and see if it passes. Set attainable goals. Don't say, "I want to lose 50 pounds." Say, "I want to lose 5 pounds a month." Get enough sleep but not too much. Try to avoid sugar. Highly sweetened foods tend to make you crave more.

Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Water itself helps cut down on water retention because it acts as a diuretic. Taken before meals, it dulls the appetite by giving you that "full feeling." Diet with a buddy. Support groups are important, and caring people can help one another succeed. Start your own, even with just one other person.

Substitute activity for eating. When the cravings hit, go to the "Y" or health club if possible; or dust, or walk around the block. This is especially helpful if you eat out of anger.

If the pie on the counter is just too great a temptation and you don't want to throw it away, freeze it. If you're a late-night eater, have a carbohydrate, such as a slice of bread of a cracker, before bedtime to cut down on cravings. Keep an orange slice or a glass of water by your bed to quiet the hunger pangs that wake you up.

If you use food as a reward, establish a new reward system. Buy yourself a non-edible reward. Write down everything you eat - - everything - including what you taste when you cook. If you monitor what you eat, you can't go off your diet.

Weigh yourself once a week at the same time. Your weight fluctuates constantly and you can weigh more at night than you did in the morning, a downer if you stuck to your diet all day. Make dining an event. East from your own special plate, on your own special placemat, and borrow the Japanese art of food arranging to make your meal, no matter how meager, look lovely. This is a trick that helps chronic over-eaters and bingers pay attention to their food instead of consuming it unconsciously.

Don't shop when you're hungry. You'll only buy more fattening food. Avoid finger foods that are easy to eat in large amounts. Avoid consuming large quantities of fattening liquids, which are so easy to overdo. And this includes alcoholic beverages.Keep plenty of crunchy foods like raw vegetables and air-popped fat-free popcorn on hand. They're high in fiber, satisfying and filling. Leave something on your plate, even if you are a charter member of the Clean The Plate Club. It's a good sign that you can stop eating when you want to, not just when your plate is empty.

Lose weight for yourself, not to please your husband, your parents or your friends. Make the kitchen off-limits at any time other than mealtime. Always eat at the table, never in front of the TV set or with the radio on. Concentrate on eating every mouthful slowly and savoring each morsel. Chew everything from 10 to 20 times and count! Never skip meals.

HANDY FIRST AID TIPS

HANDY FIRST AID TIPS

When someone is injured or suddenly becomes ill, there is usually a critical period before you can get medical treatment and it is this period that is of the utmost importance to the victim. What you do, or what you don't do, in that interval can mean the difference between life and death. You owe it to yourself, your family and your neighbors to know and to understand procedures that you can apply quickly and intelligently in an emergency.Every household should have some type of first aid kit, and if you do not already have one, assemble your supplies now. Tailor the contents to fit your family's particular needs. Don't add first aid supplies to the jumble of toothpaste and cosmetics in the medicine cabinet. Instead, assenble them in a suitable, labeled box (such as a fishing tackle box or small took chest with hinged cover), so that everything will be handy when needed. Label everything in the kit clearly, and indicate what it is used for.

Be sure not to lock the box - otherwise you may be hunting for the key when that emergency occurs. Place the box on a shelf beyond the reach of small children, and check it periodically and always restock items as soon as they are used up.

Keep all medications, including non-prescription drugs such as aspitin, out of reach of children. When discarding drugs, be sure to dispose of them where they cannot be retrieved by children or pets.

When an emergency occurs, make sure the injured victim's airway is not blocked by the tongue and that the mouth is free of any secretions and foreign objects. It is extremely important that the person is breathing freely. And if not, you need to administer artificial respiration promptly.

See that the victim has a pulse and good blood circulation as you check for signs of bleeding. Act fast if the victim is bleeding severly or if he has swallowed poison or if his heart or breathing has stopped. Remember every second counts.

Although most injured persons can be safely moved, it is vitally important not to move a person with serious neck or back injuries unless you have to save hime from further danger. Keep the patient lying down and quiet. If he has vomited and there is no danger that his neck is broken, turn hin on his side to prevent choking and keep him warn by covering him with blankets or coats.

Have someone call for medical assistance while you apply first aid. The person who summons help should explain the nature of the emergency and ask what should be done pending the arrival of the ambulance. Reassure the victim, and try to remain calm yourself. Your calmness can allay the feat and panic of the patient.

Don't give fluids to an unconscious or semiconscious person; fluids may enter his windpipe and cause suffocation. Don't try to arouse an unconscious person by slapping or shaking.

Look for an emergency medical identification card or an emblematic device that the victim may be wearing to alert you to any health problems, allergies or diseases that may require special care.

FIFTY USEFUL TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP

FIFTY USEFUL TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP

You can sleep without pills and still beat insomnia

The fifty following tips will help you to have a better night's sleep

1. Try to relax before bedtime; take a walk or read a newspaper;

just do something which is not stressful.

2. Do your paperwork or other work-related activities early in

the evening.

3. Make sure your bedroom is not noisy.

4. If your bedroom is noisy and you can't correct it, wear earplugs.

5. Think of places you fell asleep easily and try to copy those

places; set your room up the same way.

6. Check the medicines you are taking to see that they aren't

nervous system stimulants.

7. Make sure your bedroom is well-ventilated but not too cold.

8. Don't use too many or too few blankets.

9. Don't tuck your sheets in too tight at the bottom of the bed;

your feet should feel free and unrestricted.

10. Your mattress should not sag.

11. Have a big enough bed for yourself; if you're 6'8", don't try

sleeping in a single bed.

12. Your pajamas or nightgown should be comfortable, not too tight.

13. Use a pillow that suits you, soft or firm, whichever you

prefer; or not at all, if that's what you prefer.

14. If you like a soft light on while you sleep, have one on.

15. If you prefer to sleep in darkness make sure your blinds are

thick.

16. Rise at the same time seven days a week, no matter what.

17. Do not linger in bed when you wake up; instead, get up right

away and start moving on with your morning routine.

18. Avoid napping in the afternoon.

19. Do some sort of physical exercise each day which will tire

you out.

20. Cut down on smoking and drinking alcohol at least two hours

before bedtime.

21. Don't drink coffee or soft drinks containing caffeine after

dinner.

22. If you like to watch TV before going to bed, keep it light;

watch a comedy instead of a drama.

23. If you like to read before going to bed, keep it light. Read

to a logical stopping point, so you won't lie awake wondering

what's going to happen.

24. Don't socialize with friends with whom you are likely to

argue in the evening. Nighttime arguments are like poison to an

insomniac.

25. Establish a regular bed-time.

26. Avoid eating too much salt with your dinner and in any

after-dinner snacks.

27. Try eating snacks high in calcium and protein before

retiring; small amounts of cheese and nuts contain Tryptophan,

an amino acid which promotes sleep.

28. Take bone meal tablets or some other form of calcium

regularly after dinner.

29. Herbal teas such as camomile and valerian induce sleep.

30. Try a teaspoon of brewer's yeast and a tablespoon of molasses

in a glass of milk.

31. Don't forget about a glass of warm milk before bed; it does

work.

32. A teaspoon of honey in a cup of hot water is said to induce

sleep.

33. Another old-fashioned remedy is to take two teaspoons of cider

vinegar with two teaspoons honey in a glass of warm water.

34. Ask your spouse which sleeping position you sleep most

soundly in; try to assume that position upon retiring.

35. Don't go for 8 hours of sleep; you may only need 4 to 6 hours.

36. Spend no more than 3 minutes thinking about the day's

problems when you are in bed.

37. If you find it difficult to sleep with your spouse, try getting

twin beds or separate bedrooms.

38. The optimum temperature for sleep is 60 to 64 degrees F.

39. Relax before bed in a warm bath.

40. Buy a humidifier to keep your room warm in the winter without

drying out the air too much.

41. Add a tablespoon of dry mustard powder to your before-bed

bath.

42. Add baking soda to the bath water.

43. Footbaths before bed help.

44. Before bed, listen to relaxing music.

45. When you are in bed, recall the happiest experiences of your

life.

46. Ask someone to read aloud to you in bed before you go to

sleep.

47. Lie on your back in bed and relax each muscle in your body.

48. Visualize various parts of your body relaxing.

49. Concentrate on doing some deep breathing as you lie in bed.

50. If all else fails, try counting sheep; it's an age-old cure and

has helped many an insomniac get a good night's sleep.