Category: Health

Posted on by

No More Pink Eye – Calendula Tea Instead

Pink Eye can be a bit of a nuisance on a dairy farm.  What makes it even more annoying is that it’s zoonotic.  That simply means that it can be transferred between animals and humans.  Several years ago, I developed a severe case of pink eye and went to the clinic to try to get rid of it.  They gave me some eye drops, and I was quite happy to use them as I was desperate for relief.  My eyes, however, just continued to worsen as the whites started to swell out past the iris.  I just kept using the drops thinking it would eventually help but to no avail.  After a quick call to the local clinic, I was advised to discontinue the use of the drops as I was having an allergic reaction to the sulfa in them.  That’s when I began my quest for a more natural remedy.

My herb of choice is Calendula, also known as Pot Marigold.  It does not grow wild in Wisconsin so I grow my own. However, it can be purchased at many health food stores.  The flower petals are known to have healing properties and can be used for many ailments both internally and externally.

Calendula Wash Recipe: Put one handful of Calendula petals in a low wide bowl.  Pour boiled water over and let steep for about 1 minute.  Strain.  Let water cool to room temperature and bathe your eyes in the solution as needed.  For small children it may be necessary to use an eye dropper to get it in their eyes.

I’d like to mention that whenever we’ve used this remedy the pink eye appears to be gone overnight.  I would recommend using the wash for a couple extra days just to be sure that it’s gone for good.

Resources:

Posted on by

Nettles…Not Just A Pesky Weed

Homestead Bootcamp Nettles

If you’ve ever brushed up against a nettles plant you probably consider it a very memorable experience! Some people think they are allergic to nettles. That, however, is most likely incorrect. Unlike poison ivy, which has an oil that causes an allergic reaction in many people, nettles has tiny hair like follicles on the leaves and stems that embed themselves into any tender skin that touches them. It almost immediately causes a burning and itching sensation, thus giving it the name “stinging nettles”. It is possible to tame the beast. The hair like follicles soften when placed in very hot water and they are also rendered helpless when they are completely dried.

So why do we care about this seemingly pesky weed? It just happens to be one of the most important medicinal plants! A great use for dried nettles is for making tea. It has blood purifying properties and is wonderful for helping to detox your liver. It’s also good for acne, allergies, colds, constipation, eczema, headaches, iron deficiencies, joint inflammation, arthritis, gallbladder issues, stomach ulcers and stimulating hair growth, just to name a few.

The fresh nettles are said to be useful in helping with arthritis by touching the arthritic area with the fresh nettle leaf. I realize that this doesn’t sound pleasant, but the flow of blood to that area will help with inflammation that causes pain. It is even listed on the Arthritis Foundation website as a supplemental herb.

This gives you an idea how valuable it really is. Hopefully, you’ll never look at it as just a pesky weed ever again.

Here’s the tea recipe: (I would suggest using a tea ball but you can just strain them off if necessary.)

Place one heaping teaspoon dried nettles in tea ball or cup. Pour boiling water over herbs (never place herbs in boiling water) let herbs steep for 30 seconds to 1 minute before straining them off or removing tea ball. Drink as hot as possible.

Do not drink more than 3 cups per day to avoid irritation of the kidneys. Do not drink while pregnant! You don’t need to do it every day, but try it for a continuous 2 weeks every now and then and see how much better it can make you feel.

Resources:

Posted on by

Dehydrating: Drying Foods for Long Term Storage

When planning and planting your garden, consider how much produce you can use and how much you need. You don’t want to plant rows and rows of spinach only to have most of it go to waste because you can’t eat it fast enough and you find that you only enjoy it fresh. Most produce can be frozen, canned, dehydrated or otherwise stored to be used throughout the winter months when nothing is growing. Due to a variety of reasons (some more practical than others), our clan has been slowly moving away from freezing and focusing instead on canning and drying.

Our garden covers about 8,000 square feet. This means that there is a lot of produce to store away. That may seem like an extreme amount of garden space for one couple, but our clan consists of 18 people.

We have three identical dehydrators belonging to various clan members that tend to rotate between who needs them at the time. Growing and drying your own herbs is another popular choice. You can make your own Italian seasoning or chili powder. One of our daughters likes to grow hot peppers, dry, and grind them up for red pepper flakes to use in homemade chili powder and to sprinkle on pizzas. Onions and garlic can be dried and ground to make powders, as well. Imagine a spice rack where everything came from your garden!

In the fall, everyone will be drying apples. Dried apples are often used as snacks, but you can also use them for baking. Simply re-hydrate and use as normal. They won’t be crisp, but baking will make them soft anyway. You can also dry strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, and cherries. Granola is a wonderful way to use dried fruit.

We don’t eat commercial cereal, but our grandkids like granola cereal. The kids enjoy selecting their own dried fruits to add to their cereal. It is something like a buffet. And what kid doesn’t like making some of their own decisions when it comes to food?

Beef jerky is another popular dehydrator snack. We occasionally get paid in beef from a relative’s farm, so jerky is a good way to use up some extra beef! Jerky sticks are perfect for road trips or camping trips. They are easy and delicious, and everyone loves them. We also dry kale for kale chips and add some homemade garlic powder.

For specific drying times, recipes, and tips for use, look at the manual for your dehydrator. If you can’t find your manual or need a quick reference, you can check out the Nesco dehydrator manual PDF.

Resources:

Posted on by

Healthy Cough Syrup Recipe

In the winter (which lasts quite a while in Wisconsin), many people get hit with the winter colds or flu. We don’t very often get a cough that goes through our clan, but when it does, it can keep an entire household awake at night with just one person coughing constantly.

Store bought cough syrup tastes terrible (unless it is loaded with fake chemical flavors), and who knows what is really in it!

We opt instead to make our own cough syrup with ingredients that we know are beneficial and healthy.

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tablespoons Lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup Honey (local if possible)
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon

Directions:

Mix the ingredients together and warm in either a saucepan or in the microwave before using. Drink a spoonful or add a spoonful to a cup of herbal tea or warm water.
Store in the refrigerator.

Resources: