tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866639887376570292024-03-13T22:41:01.306+08:00We Are Practical MomsWe DIY because we are FLY.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-32919986427331931102015-07-21T03:57:00.001+08:002015-07-21T04:32:37.660+08:00How to Use Castile Soap as Dishwashing Soap and Detergent<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hand wash dishes and, at times, our clothes,
and I am rather concerned of these harsh chemicals that my skin absorbs while doing
these chores. Some of the issues I have with the usual commercial dishwashing
liquid or paste and detergents are: (1) they have numerous chemicals that can
cause skin allergies; (2) my hands get dried up after washing; (3) they are harming
the environment, and (4) who knows what these chemicals are doing to my skin
that absorbs it?! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Case de Lorenzo’s Calamansi Castile Soap and
Palm Oil Castile Soap</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did research on using Castile soap to
address my concerns and decided to try it because it is more environmentally-friendly
and less skin damaging. Since I already order some of my castile soaps and
essential oils from Case de Lorenzo, I asked them about the effectiveness of
their liquid Castile soaps in cleaning dishes and clothes. The company generously
offered to send a liter each of their <a href="http://www.thecasadelorenzo.com/p/manila-castile-soap.html#">Calamansi and Palm Oil Soap</a> to conduct my
experiments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This picture below is bigger than what was sent to me obviously haha. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the link for their website for those who want to order: </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.thecasadelorenzo.com/</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_B3U_Koz-nc/Va1Q7rSartI/AAAAAAAAA1w/tPcnERZ3S78/s1600/Calamansi%2BManila%2BCastile%2BSoap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_B3U_Koz-nc/Va1Q7rSartI/AAAAAAAAA1w/tPcnERZ3S78/s400/Calamansi%2BManila%2BCastile%2BSoap.jpg" title="calamansi castile soap for dishwashing and detergent" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UUem9DYtLw0/Uar8ayhDzNI/AAAAAAAACgI/t6HLRutCDuE/s1600/Calamansi+Manila+Castile+Soap.jpg">Calamansi Castile Soap</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Results</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I tried both <a href="http://www.thecasadelorenzo.com/">Case de Lorenzo’s CalamansiCastile Soap and Palm Oil Castile Soap</a> as dishwashing liquid and as laundry
detergent. I used a 1:1 ratio (example, one tablespoon of Castile soap for one
tablespoon of water) for the dishwashing liquid. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It worked quite well in
washing not-so-oily dishes. When we ate oily food, I added a bit of baking soda
and I let it stay for ten minutes. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have hard water, so sometimes, I add a
bit more of Castile soap, if I don’t get enough cleaning effect.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Among the two,
I prefer the Calamansi Castile Soap for its cleaning ability and scent. In
terms of washing clothes, I think Palm Oil does a better job, but my hubby does
not like its scent, so I decided to stay with Calamansi Castile Soap.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For both variants, I like how my hands do
not feel dry after washing. I also especially enjoy that I have reduced the
amount of factory-made chemicals that my skin is absorbing and that are being
thrown into our water resources.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below are the recipes for the Homemade Castile
Soap Dishwashing Liquid and Homemade Castile Laundry Detergent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Homemade Castile Soap Dishwashing Liquid </span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Castile soap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Baking soda (optional)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Instructions</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">1) Mix Castile Soap with water at
1:1 ratio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">2) Scrape food bits off first before using the soap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">3) Add baking soda for oily
dishes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">4) Let the dishes stay for 10 minutes or more, depending on how oily/dirty your dishes are. Some bloggers say
they let the dishes soak overnight or an hour. They use dishwashers.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for the liquid laundry detergent, I used
the recipe from <a href="http://www.naturallivingideas.com/replace-10-household-products-with-castile-soap/">Natural Living Ideas</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Homemade Castile Laundry Detergent</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 cup liquid Castile soap<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 cup baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 cups water<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Instructions</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">1) You have to dissolve the baking
soda in warm water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">2) Pour everything in a gallon container
and mix it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">3) Use 1/4 of a cup or more for
every washing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I find this soap effective in cleaning
different kinds of clothes. For really soiled ones, I still use what we
Filipinos call Zonrox (bleach). I
definitely want to replace this one, but so far, I have not tried other green alternatives.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My only concern in using Castile soap for
many household purposes is the price. Castile soap is expensive in my country. I
do hope prices will go down once demand picks up. For now, I use it as often as my budget permits me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Skin and Earthy Goodness</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Castile soap is not only good for your
face, but also your hands that wash dishes and do the laundry. Mother Earth
will thank you too for choosing green alternatives over harmful dishwashing soaps
and detergents. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you tried switching to Castile soap for something other than washing your face/body? How did it go for you?</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-16966322665460894172014-11-16T02:53:00.001+08:002014-11-16T02:55:02.610+08:00One Ingredient to Banish Toothache<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If right after the sweets, your teeth screams, "It HUUURTS!" What do you do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I use one simple natural ingredient: Bentonite Clay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I use Bentonite Clay as <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5915/benefits-of-healing-clays/">face mask</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">S</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ince I also mix it in with my baking soda toothpaste as a remineralizing and whitening ingredient (you can add Bentonite Clay to my </span><a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/10/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">remineralizing toothpaste recipe</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">), I tested it for another remedy- </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">as a natural cure for toothache-and it worked!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've eaten too much sweets for my own good today, so my tooth ached a bit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just put some Bentonite Clay directly on the ailing (wailing) tooth and let it stay for 10 minutes or more until the pain is gone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If the pain returns, I just put some more clay on it and let it stay longer. Gargle with warm water after. This clay is safe by the way to eat, although in small amounts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm so loving these natural solutions that work! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's what I use:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGI2yDkYMhY/VGeaTTaEkkI/AAAAAAAAAy0/VEMOh3eUl-w/s1600/bentonite.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="face mask and cures toothache bentonite clay" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGI2yDkYMhY/VGeaTTaEkkI/AAAAAAAAAy0/VEMOh3eUl-w/s1600/bentonite.png" title="face mask and cures toothache" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For Face Mask AND Curing Toothaches!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Ingredient</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bentonite Clay (the amount depends on how much you need for your aching tooth/teeth)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Instructions</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Put some Bentonite Clay on your painful teeth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Wait for 10 minutes or more until the pain is gone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) Gargle with warm water afterwards.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What Witchcraft is This?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bentonite clay may remineralize teeth, since it is made from calcium. Its calcium may be helping our teeth remove all that horrible sugar acid stuck on our teeth too, if we have not brushed well, or if our toothpaste does not exactly clean our teeth the way we expect it too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you want to know more why your commercial toothpaste may not be cleaning your teeth well and may even be harming your health, you can read this article of mine. Here's the <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html">link</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It also helps to brush first with my <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/10/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste.html">homemade remineralizing toothpaste</a> recipe that has antibacterial and natural cleaning ingredients. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brush for two minutes (and not more because too long of a brushing might damage your teeth). Gargle with warm water after because warm water washes it faster, although you can use tap water too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Some Reminders in Using Bentonite Clay</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't let this clay come in contact with metal things because it will decrease its effectiveness. This clay will not stain your teeth, but will muddy your white clothes, so be careful if in white or other light colored clothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Toothaches are no fun, but having a simple, one-ingredient natural solution is fun! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What natural toothache solutions have you tried?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-74046352396576668992014-11-08T00:37:00.001+08:002014-11-14T20:50:38.101+08:00I'm Still Alive!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry, I've been too busy lately. It hurts me to not blog anymore about the things I love, i.e. finding ways to make natural living more practical and fun for me and my family, and motivating others to follow this way of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nevertheless, I am on still on this crunchy path to being a mother who does not have to buy artificial chemicals for many of our everyday beauty, hygiene, and cleaning needs. I'm proud that I have maintained the good habit of using these recipes on my blog, depending on the hecticness of my schedule. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are a lot of setbacks in turning the leaf of natural existence. Costs, time, research, people who do not believe in you and would rather believe in commercial products that have questionable ingredients and so on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I will not be daunted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will persevere in my own ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My six-year-old daughter Zoe is the biggest fan of my homemade products and she uplifts me so much with her support. We both use my <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html">baking soda toothpaste</a> recipe by the way. Check out her beautiful white teeth, thanks to baking soda.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She is my inspiration, and I hope that Achilles, my three-year-old son, will soon get into my bandwagon too when he's old enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My husband supports me as well, but he's hesitant in using my recipes. That's okay. I never force anything on anyone. I will just keep on doing what makes me happy :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this. T</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his feeling of freedom from buying many things.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This feeling of empowerment for knowing that food and natural products are my beauty and personal cleaning products. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That feeling that I nourish my soul too for being more connected with nature.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is all I have for now :) See you around! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-89918147038628453002014-06-26T19:57:00.000+08:002015-05-18T18:28:21.822+08:00Earthquake Safety and Survival Tips: Preparing Our Homes, Ourselves, and Our Kids for Earthquakes<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ground shakes suddenly and violently. W</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hat should you do when you're with your kids? What should you teach your kids to do during earthquakes?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, what should you when you're at home? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the workplace? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">School and other buildings? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Car? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beach? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are many places where you might be, and some actions and responses are more appropriate than others, in order to help reduce the possibilities of being injured, and, more importantly, to help save your life and your family's lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Philippine Earthquake, June 25, 2014: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>No to Extinction</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Several parts in the Philippines just experienced an earthquake last night. See this news article for an <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/614346/quake-hits-parts-of-metro-manila-southern-tagalog-provinces">update</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During this time, my husband and I were watching <i>Transformers: Age of Extinction </i>in an IMAX theater. I know, what an ill-timed title. I don't plan to get extinct yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first, I thought someone kicked the back of my seat. When the shaking movement continued, I turned around slowly to my right to look with scorn at the offender, only to see all seats and the people in them swaying sideways. There's an earthquake!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I clutched my husband' arm and looked at him and around us. I didn't even have to take off that dark 3D glasses to know that my husband looked calm in his. I could hear him saying: "Relax lang Mahal (Relax my love)."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked around us. I could see people strained in their seats, clenching the arms of their chairs, ready for flight. They looked around too. In their 3D glasses. It seemed like we're watching a disaster movie with us in it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The shaking strengthened for a few seconds, stayed strong for several seconds, then weakened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some left the movie after the earthquake. The majority did not want to let their tickets go to waste. Us included. (Sheepish look). Not because our tickets are more important than our lives, but because we felt the worst was over. (Indignant, defensive look).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the earthquake, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I called my mother where my kids were at the time. They did not even notice the quake at the first floor. My brother felt his chair and things shaking in the second floor though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So there, when you've just experienced an earthquake, you're reminded that you're a mere crushable mortal and that you need to prepare for future disasters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of my preparations is to write this article for my kids and to share accumulated information from various sources, which are credible for me, like emergency response, health care, and other government organizations, with all of you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Earthquake Safety and Survival Tips</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Earthquake preparedness is a mindset. It's knowing what to do when an earthquake strikes because you've practiced it before. It's staying calm because you know your kids also know what to do, even when you're not there for and with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Explaining the nature, causes, and effects of disasters is hard to do with young kids, but it is essential because it will help them understand why they should take disaster preparedness seriously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The links in this article will bring you to the sources I used. These sources also offer additional information at times, although many of them give similar knowledge that I've merged into this article. I am no expert, but I am a civilian who is willing to do research and to share these results to all, in order to raise our preparedness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>BEFORE AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURS</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>At Home: Determining Potential Hazards and Increasing the Earthquake-Proof Quality of Your Homes</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Prepare not just your family, but also your <a href="http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/EmergencyPreparedness/Pages/Earthquakes.aspx">home</a>. Make sure that heavy, bulky appliances and furniture, like refrigerators and cabinets, are attached or strapped to the walls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Store heavy items and breakables at <a href="http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/EmergencyPreparedness/Pages/Earthquakes.aspx">lower shelves</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Put only light art and other materials on your walls, so that if they fall during earthquakes, they will not greatly harm those they fall on to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. Repair parts of the house that are infested with termites.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. If possible, light materials should make up the roof and ceiling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit. The kit should be easily accessible. If your house has several floors, prepare a kit for every floor. Make sure that everyone, kids and helpers included, know where the kit is. The Disaster Supplies Kit should include these basics, though you can add more, depending on your personal and medical needs:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First aid kit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flashlight and extra batteries</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cash and credit/debit cards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">IDs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whistle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Waterproof match or match in waterproof containers, or lighter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Map of the community area that show the locations of hospitals, fire station, police station, and local government centers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Important phone numbers of loved ones, police station, fire station, local government, and medical centers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First-aid assistance manual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember to <b>consider the needs of very young and older family members, such as <a href="http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/kit.html">infants and elderly or disabled persons.</a></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For babies: Formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk, medications.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For adults: Heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin, prescription drugs, denture needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's the <a href="http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/supplies.asp">link</a> for a more complete list of emergency supplies for emergency preparedness.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. Know how to render first-aid assistance to family members. Here are some links for providing first-aid assistance. This <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid">link</a> is from Mayo Clinic and this <a href="http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240170_Adult_ready_reference.pdf">link </a>is from Red Cross.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8. Know where the main switch of electricity is located. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9. Gather and store important documents in a fire-proof safe. Here's a <a href="http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/prepared.asp">link</a> for some documents we should store.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. Here's a <a href="http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/food.asp">link</a> for emergency water and food issues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">11. For more information on inspecting your houses for home hazards, this is the <a href="http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/inspecting.asp">link</a> from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UsQGCmkTeas/U6wJmAfztWI/AAAAAAAAAwk/uTq41Y8OyoI/s1600/01qhacer_en.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Before earthquake tips habits checklist" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UsQGCmkTeas/U6wJmAfztWI/AAAAAAAAAwk/uTq41Y8OyoI/s1600/01qhacer_en.png" title="What to do before an earthquake" width="458" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.malagaweather.com/earthquake.html">Malaga Weather</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>At School and Workplace: The Role of Disaster Preparedness Plans and Disaster Drills</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Oblige the school administration to set up prevention and awareness dissemination programs like earthquake drills to minimize danger and casualty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. If your company does not have any disaster preparedness plan and disaster drills, make a formal request by letter to decrease danger and casualty to everyone inside and outside the premises, and damage to company property.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. The building's evacuation plan should be visible to all at every floor. Mark where first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and emergency food and water are located. See below for an example of an evacuation plan. Take time to look at the evacuation plans of every building you visit or work in.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRpS6c9yQao/U6wIFiL0nMI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/qvgZ2cgSa60/s1600/sample-evacuation-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="evacuation map with images of fire extinguisher first aid " border="0" height="386" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRpS6c9yQao/U6wIFiL0nMI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/qvgZ2cgSa60/s1600/sample-evacuation-map.jpg" title="Example of an evacuation map" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.steamwire.com/how-to-create-an-emergency-evacuation-map-for-your-business/">Steamwire.com</a></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note on sources of information: Many statements</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are copied verbatim from the</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/phredcross" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philippine Red Cross.</a></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>WHILE AN EARTHQUAKE IS HAPPENING</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Don’t panic. Don’t even run outside if you are inside a building and the shaking has already started because things might fall on you and you'll get hurt even more. At this time, shield yourself from falling debris by ducking under a table, or other similar furniture and fixtures. Move away from glass windows. Here's the drop, cover, hold on strategy that is helpful to remember and to do during earthquakes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, some question this strategy because it cannot protect oneself during strong earthquakes. Tables can be crushed, as well as those underneath it. If possible, cover your head as you try to make way outside the building. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaJHrIYxmmU/U6v7VjlSnPI/AAAAAAAAAv4/4UzYvlgNR60/s1600/dropcoverholdon-481px.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="drop cover hold strategy earthquake tip" border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaJHrIYxmmU/U6v7VjlSnPI/AAAAAAAAAv4/4UzYvlgNR60/s1600/dropcoverholdon-481px.png" title="Drop cover hold on strategy during eathquakes" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/during.asp">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Once the shaking has stopped, access your Disaster Supplies kit and find a safe place to stay.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37IGSHYV_fg/U6wHgUQ_CoI/AAAAAAAAAwI/E5xAUGnOowg/s1600/be_red_cross_ready_horizontal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="get a kit make a plan be informed" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37IGSHYV_fg/U6wHgUQ_CoI/AAAAAAAAAwI/E5xAUGnOowg/s1600/be_red_cross_ready_horizontal.jpg" title="being red cross ready diagram" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="https://redcrossnca.wordpress.com/tag/plan/">Red Cross</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. If you find yourself outside a building, calmly find a safe spot where you are far from electric posts, trees and collapsing walls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. If you are near tall buildings, windows, building surfaces and architectural details are frequently the <a href="http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/EmergencyPreparedness/Pages/Earthquakes.aspx">first parts of buildings</a> to collapse in a quake. Get away from this danger zone when shaking starts. Take refuge in a safe building or move to an open area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. Don’t light anything when a gas tank is leaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. Take the stairs instead of using the elevator. Sudden loss of electricity might get you stuck in an elevator.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. When inside a car, avoid passing under flyovers and bridges. Park the car away from structures that could fall down, and remain inside the car until help arrives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8. When you are on a beach, run at once to a high place, in case the earthquake causes a tsunami. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9. When inside a crowded building like a movie house, don’t shove and push your way outside. Calm yourself and make sure to avoid structures that may topple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. When in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes and cliffs, be aware of falling rocks and debris.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: </span><a href="http://www.malagaweather.com/earthquake.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Malaga Weather</a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note on sources of information: Many statements</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are copied verbatim from the</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/phredcross" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philippine Red Cross.</a></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Check yourself and your companions if someone is hurt and/or unconscious, and then perform first aid when needed. Again, h</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ere are some links for providing first-aid assistance. This</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">link</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">is from Mayo Clinic and this</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240170_Adult_ready_reference.pdf" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">link </a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">is from Red Cross.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Inspect sources of gas and electricity. Make sure to repair them as soon as possible when damaged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Wear shoes and boots, or anything that would protect your feet from broken pieces of glass that may cause wounds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. Check electric posts. Report to the authority if you see fallen or broken posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. Avoid staying by the seashore. Tsunami may strike anytime after earthquake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. Use your cellular phone only for emergency to preserve batteries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. Prepare yourself for aftershocks. Avoid dangerous infrastructures because these may topple and collapse anytime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8. Follow the emergency plan of your local government. If you are not aware of any, it's time to familiarize yourself on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9. If you wish to vacate your area, leave a note that would specify your destination. Bring tools for emergency such as flashlight, candle, clothes, blanket, food and water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. Turn off the main switch of your electricity to avoid fires when there are aftershocks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">11. Listen to the radio for any updates regarding the disaster.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuJsovtYFkw/U6wI4qai-rI/AAAAAAAAAwc/JTKmi26n4fg/s1600/03qhacer_en.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="earthquake tips stay calm" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuJsovtYFkw/U6wI4qai-rI/AAAAAAAAAwc/JTKmi26n4fg/s1600/03qhacer_en.png" title="what to do after an earthquake" width="458" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.malagaweather.com/earthquake.html">Malaga Weather</a></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note on sources of information: Many statements</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are copied verbatim from the</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/phredcross" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philippine Red Cross.</a></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Disaster Preparedness and Saving Lives</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have to know how to prepare ourselves and our kids, mentally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically (and spiritually to those who believe in God or spiritual entities), so that when disaster occurs, instead of panicking, we have the presence</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> of mind to do what we have to do before, during, and after earthquakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's prepare our disaster kits and evacuation plans now and make sure our communities are also disaster-ready.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We can't predict or stop disasters, but we can do something to stop ignorance on disaster preparedness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What other tips and habits can you recommend for disaster preparedness? Do you already have a disaster preparedness plan and kit at home? Have you conducted your own earthquake and other disaster drills at home with your kids? </b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-6237691545042261012014-06-24T23:46:00.000+08:002014-06-28T10:54:39.759+08:00Habits and Exercises to Ease or Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Carpal Tunnel Syndrome showing hand parts that get affected" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdCMSBQaz4Y/U6mVM--qJ2I/AAAAAAAAAvU/VFk2Z-GMKyo/s1600/carpal_tunnel.jpg" height="303" title="Carpal Tunnel Syndrome " width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fighting Against the Future of Failing Fingers</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of us do it all the time- overworking our fingers, hands, and wrists to the point that we have "invented" a new illness among us frequent computer and other communication devices users. I'm referring to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/archives/carpal.php">CTS</a> is a "personal illness categorized under cumulative trauma disorder or repetitive motion trauma," and it is the "fastest growing occupational illness in the United States."</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdCMSBQaz4Y/U6mVM--qJ2I/AAAAAAAAAvU/VFk2Z-GMKyo/s1600/carpal_tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/carpal_tunnel_syndrome/page2.htm">Medicine.net</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm in the Philippines, and with my country having the reputation of being one of the heaviest texters in the world (heaviest texter means we send the most text messages each day in the world; yeah, well, we like connecting to our loved ones, even when they're in the same house, or we're going to meet them the next day), I won't be surprised that, aside from being the "<a href="http://jatps.hubpages.com/hub/The-Philippines-is-Still-the-Undisputed-Text-Capital-of-the-World">text capital of the world</a>," we'll have pretty soon some of the most cases of young people with </span><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome</span><span style="font-size: large;">. Not a good future world record at all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then again, with the widespread use of tabs, smartphones, and laptops, among many other devices where we use our hands, in many developed and developing countries, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome</span><span style="font-size: large;"> might be one of the next most extensive lifestyle diseases of the modern world. Again, not also a good future world record. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Prevalence of CTS in Certain Industries</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome</span><span style="font-size: large;"> has been around for some time, wherein most of those who develop it are in the <a href="http://jatps.hubpages.com/hub/The-Philippines-is-Still-the-Undisputed-Text-Capital-of-the-World">mail service, health care, construction, assembly line, and fabrication industries</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before, CTS afflicts mainly the manual labor industry, but now, it is spreading in the <a href="http://jatps.hubpages.com/hub/The-Philippines-is-Still-the-Undisputed-Text-Capital-of-the-World">computer industry</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of us use our keyboards daily, whether for work, gaming, or other purposes, and we're at also at <a href="http://jatps.hubpages.com/hub/The-Philippines-is-Still-the-Undisputed-Text-Capital-of-the-World">risk</a> for developing CTS, though <a href="http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome">lifestyle, and other biological and environmental factors further increase CTS risks</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Symptoms of CTS: Weak in the Hands</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the <a href="http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/archives/carpal.php">common symptoms</a> of </span><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome </span><span style="font-size: large;">are "burning, prickling, and tingling within the wrist or first three fingers and thumb." <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/basics/symptoms/con-20030332">Other symptoms</a> are weakness in the hand and the tendency to drop objects because of numbness or weakness in pinching/grasping things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Natural Ways to Prevent CTS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We can make changes in how we use our computer/devices to naturally prevent CTS. Let's make these changes our new habits from now on.</span></div>
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<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<li>Have <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20030332">quick breaks</a> from repetitive activities where you use your hands. <a href="http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome">These breaks</a> may include the following:</li>
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<li>Shaking or stretching the limbs.</li>
<li>Leaning back in the chair.</li>
<li>Squeezing the shoulder blades together.</li>
<li>Taking deep breaths.</li>
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<li>Practice <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20030332">hand exercises</a> with every break, which are discussed below with pictures.</li>
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<li>Observe good posture while sitting. I know some would say that good posture is natural, but bad habits can make us forget what good posture is. Here are some reminders on what "good posture" means:</li>
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<li>You should sit with your spine at the back of your chair with your shoulders relaxed.</li>
<li>You should rest your elbows at the sides of your body when reading or watching something and with your wrists straight on your sides or lap.</li>
<li>Your feet should be firmly on the floor or footrest.</li>
<li>When typing, your typing materials should be at eye level, to prevent the neck from bending down when working.</li>
<li>You should keep your neck flexible and the head upright to help maintain good circulation and nerve function for arms and hands.</li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Are You Sitting and Typing Wrong?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some images to help us imagine how to sit and type properly. Basically, how to work (or play games, socialize et al.) without ruining our precious hands and backs (even our eyes and necks).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>When Working on a Laptop</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Abk9ix3ou9Q/U6mRyLEbThI/AAAAAAAAAuo/GiKYBumUNr0/s1600/9976366_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="How to sit right in front of a laptop to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and for proper posture" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Abk9ix3ou9Q/U6mRyLEbThI/AAAAAAAAAuo/GiKYBumUNr0/s1600/9976366_orig.jpg" height="298" title="How to sit right in front of a laptop to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and for proper posture" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://daeco.weebly.com/use-of-whs-signs-and-symbols.html">Daeco</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>When Working in Front of Computers</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ab6CopVCFA/U6mSDh4uHDI/AAAAAAAAAu4/qxnHq6gsqyk/s1600/posture21.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="How to sit right in front of a computer to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and for proper posture" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ab6CopVCFA/U6mSDh4uHDI/AAAAAAAAAu4/qxnHq6gsqyk/s1600/posture21.gif" height="640" title="How to sit right in front of a computer to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and for proper posture" width="220" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/correct-posture">Women's Health</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can print these images and put them in front of your PCs or where you usually use your devices. They are great reminders on how to sit and type right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Treatment and Prevention Exercises for CTS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These exercises are from different health departments. All links lead to these websites where they came from. These exercises can prevent </span><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome </span><span style="font-size: large;">, but of course, not 100%, since <a href="http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome">many other factors can lead to it</a>. At least, there's something we can do to continue our work and pleasures without increasing CTS risks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These exercises can also treat </span><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome </span><span style="font-size: large;"> because they can <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/basics/treatment/con-20030332">treat symptoms</a> and reduce the further deterioration of our hands.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, do remember that you must consult your physician for further advice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Some Carpal Tunnel Syndrome <a href="http://artists-help.tumblr.com/post/32006324726/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-exercises">Exercises</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvUY_ChBjWw/U6mUoY2MTsI/AAAAAAAAAvE/oOTuyr7xl70/s1600/tumblr_mahqt6cmwC1qm5bk4o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercises" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvUY_ChBjWw/U6mUoY2MTsI/AAAAAAAAAvE/oOTuyr7xl70/s1600/tumblr_mahqt6cmwC1qm5bk4o1_500.gif" height="640" title="Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercises" width="442" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following are exercises copied verbatim from the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Wrist Exercises</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Exercise 1</b></span></div>
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<ol><ol><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make a loose right fist, palm up, and use your left hand to press gently down against the clenched hand.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Resist the force with the closed right hand for 5 seconds. Be sure to keep your wrist straight.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Turn your right fist palm down, and press the knuckles against the left open palm for 5 seconds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, turn your right palm so the thumb-side of the fist is up, and press down again for 5 seconds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Repeat with your left hand.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Exercise 2</span></b></span></div>
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<ol><ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hold one hand straight up shoulder-high with your fingers together and palm facing outward. (The position looks like a shoulder-high salute.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">With the other hand, bend the hand you are exercising backward with the fingers still held together and hold for 5 seconds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spread your fingers and thumb open while your hand is still bent back and hold for 5 seconds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Repeat five times with each hand.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Exercise 3 (Wrist Circle)</span></b></div>
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<ol><ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hold your second and third fingers up, and close the others.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Draw five clockwise circles in the air with the two fingertips.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Draw five more counterclockwise circles.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Repeat with your other hand.</span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Fingers and Hand Exercises</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Exercise 1</span></b></div>
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<ol><ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Clench the fingers of one hand into a tight fist.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Release, fanning out your fingers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Do this five times. Repeat with the other hand.</span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Exercise 2</span></b></div>
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<ol><ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To exercise your thumb, bend it against the palm beneath the little finger, and hold for 5 seconds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spread the fingers apart, palm up, and hold for 5 seconds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Repeat five to 10 times with each hand.</span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Exercise 3</span></b></div>
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<ol><ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Gently pull your thumb out and back and hold for 5 seconds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Repeat five to 10 times with each hand.</span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">No Time for Hand Exercises?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And if you think these exercises are too much of a trouble, think again. Perhaps this image of standard surgery procedures for treating </span><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will change your mind. Ouch! I can almost feel that knife slicing into my wrist... </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EUjJDT-OzY0/U6mX6KiyqOI/AAAAAAAAAvo/zW7u9VBzdmU/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients Prevent through Right Exercises" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EUjJDT-OzY0/U6mX6KiyqOI/AAAAAAAAAvo/zW7u9VBzdmU/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" height="240" title="Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome">University of Maryland Medical Center</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Make Time and Save Your Hands</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These exercises and changes in habits are simple and easy to do. They just need to be done and we're already doing something actively to prevent </span><span style="font-size: large;">Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you felt any numbness in your hands lately? What do you when your hands feel tired?</span></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-35063415132331098562014-06-19T12:50:00.001+08:002014-06-28T10:56:01.560+08:00Beautiful Desserts: Eye Candy and Healthy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tired of baking desserts? Or do you simply want to try something fresh? These ones you only have to carve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beautiful, body-nourishing, and biodegradable, no-wash dishes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What more can you ask for?</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItYwwRW82Ok/U6JrGIOtOmI/AAAAAAAAAt4/AEz3VdPkMA4/s1600/watermelon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fruits Galore in Beautiful Watermelon Dish Tasty Fresh and Healthy" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItYwwRW82Ok/U6JrGIOtOmI/AAAAAAAAAt4/AEz3VdPkMA4/s1600/watermelon.jpg" height="640" title="Fruits Galore in Beautiful Watermelon Dish" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouth-watering. Photo not mine though :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks to Coconut Mama for sharing this (including the photo).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And another one. Berry appetizing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n3pMPB2I9Ng/U6JuMDFvxEI/AAAAAAAAAuI/JJiaJk6QHP0/s1600/fruit-dessert-with-pineapple-and-strawberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simple, healthy, no wash after desserts" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n3pMPB2I9Ng/U6JuMDFvxEI/AAAAAAAAAuI/JJiaJk6QHP0/s1600/fruit-dessert-with-pineapple-and-strawberry.jpg" height="241" title="Berries in Pineapple Dessert" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Any fresh ideas for desserts you'd like to share? </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-82467294170053642152014-01-10T17:06:00.000+08:002014-06-28T10:56:51.463+08:00Knocking Out the Harsh Season with Four Tested Natural Remedies to Colds and Cough<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Snow Storm winter cold season tested natural homemade remedies to colds and cough" src="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/snow-storm-4030314.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="tested natural homemade remedies to colds and cough" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Colds, Cough and You: Who Gets Knocked Down?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't let the cold season beat you out of your senses (pun intended) because of colds and cough. Knock them out, not the other way around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cold season in some parts of the world right now are beating people relentlessly. On my end, it's a bit cold too, (though it's definitely not snowing in my tropical country, the Philippines) and I'm down with colds and cough myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, through several tested natural remedies, I've reduced the time that I usually have these horrible illnesses and stopped them from escalating to fever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why combine remedies to colds and cough, some of you ask? Usually these sicknesses go together, and some of these tested remedies can beat, not just colds, but cough too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These are "tested" remedies because I've tried them on various occasions on my kids and myself and they have helped ease the symptoms and clear these illnesses faster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Tested Natural Remedies to Colds and Cough</b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following are four tested natural remedies to colds and cough. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go for these natural and practical solutions, but make sure you're not allergic to any of these ingredients though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Lime that Killed the Colds with Sour-Sweetness</b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first natural remedy is quite popular, simple, and easy to make. It is even seen as a pre-colds remedy, or that time when you feel that your throat is itching before the full-blown colds sets in. As a pre-colds remedy, you can take it to help prevent colds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The usual online recipe uses lemon. Lemon, however, is quite expensive in the Philippines, but calamansi or lime is much more affordable here. My sense of practicality demands changes in the usual apple cider vinegar-honey-lemon remedy to colds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients </b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (ACV)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 tablespoon of raw honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 tablespoon of lime (or lemon if you have that instead)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>One Simple Procedure</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mix them up and drink them two to three times a day. The taste is alright. Honey masks the vinegar's sour taste. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Effects</b></span></h4>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Relieves dryness and itchiness of throat for dry cough.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Helps phlegm to be coughed out easily after a day or two for those with phlegm.</span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNklVPdZ430/UuPTEclUrfI/AAAAAAAAAUI/09Xj96JJ6-Q/s1600/lime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lime's Health Benefits" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNklVPdZ430/UuPTEclUrfI/AAAAAAAAAUI/09Xj96JJ6-Q/s1600/lime.jpg" height="590" title="Lime's Health Benefits" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lime's Health Benefits</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Super Fruit that Stole the Soul of Colds </b></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second natural remedy is eating a cup of fresh guava or drinking a glass of pure guava juice twice a day. </span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Effects</b></span></h4>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I noticed that guava fruit/juice heals my colds and cough faster than other fruits rich in vitamin C. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Though of course, every case might be different. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ended my kids' colds in a day too several times because they drank two glasses of guava juice the day before, while also taking the lime remedy.</span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Widj2LJTxls/UuPSjjqZK3I/AAAAAAAAAUA/ihVldLVY2Tw/s1600/guava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Guava's Health Benefits" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Widj2LJTxls/UuPSjjqZK3I/AAAAAAAAAUA/ihVldLVY2Tw/s1600/guava.jpg" height="304" title="Guava's Health Benefits" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Guava's Health Benefits</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Green Tea's Gingered Solution to Colds</b></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The third natural remedy is green tea with a teaspoon of ginger juice. You can juice fresh ginger or boil ginger and add a green tea bag to your cup of ginger tea. Double greatness for a gingered approach to beating colds and cough. The taste is quite zingy-spicy, and to some, bitter. You can add a teaspoon of honey for sweetness and to triple its nutritional goodness.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sourness is quite good for itchy throat though.</span></div>
<div>
<h4>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Effects</b></h4>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Relieves itchy throat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Loosens and moves mucus.</span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5OuCJ89gbXE/UuPR8R43SMI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Gv24yaIX-bQ/s1600/ginger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="benefits of ginger flu and colds treatment and prevention" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5OuCJ89gbXE/UuPR8R43SMI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Gv24yaIX-bQ/s1600/ginger.jpg" height="640" title="benefits of ginger flu and colds treatment and prevention" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Benefits of Ginger, One of Which is Cold and Flu Prevention and Treatment</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dr. Oz Natural, Homemade Cough Syrup </b></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fourth natural remedy is from <a href="http://www.recapo.com/dr-oz/dr-oz-recipes/dr-ozs-homemade-cough-syrup-recipe-colloidal-silver-spray-review/">Dr. Oz</a>. It is a natural homemade cough syrup. I tried this and it helped ease the itchiness of my throat because of phlegmatic cough.</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 tablespoon ACV</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 tablespoon honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/4 teaspoon ginger</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Two Simple Steps</b></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mix ingredients in 2 tablespoons of water. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gargle before swallowing.</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Effects</b></span></h4>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Relieves itchy throat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Loosens and moves then removes mucus.</span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3R9JY-W96s/UuPTs0J-KiI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/GvZdUPOFXfc/s1600/cayenne-pepper-health-benefits1-577027_650x488.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cayenne Pepper's Health Benefits" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3R9JY-W96s/UuPTs0J-KiI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/GvZdUPOFXfc/s1600/cayenne-pepper-health-benefits1-577027_650x488.png" height="480" title="Cayenne Pepper's Health Benefits" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cayenne Pepper's Health Benefits</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>How Do These Remedies Achieve Their Benefits?</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Cranks up the immune system. </b><a href="http://www.anyvitamins.com/apple-cider-vinegar-info.htm">ACV</a>, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/medicinal-uses-of-honey">honey</a>, <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/439728-foods-that-are-antiviral-antibacterial-and-antifungal/">ginger</a>, and <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/12/08/top-12-foods-for-healthy-immune-response.aspx">green tea</a>, and <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27">lime</a>, based on anecdotal evidence and several studies (<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-1097.1999.tb03267.x/abstract">green tea</a>), can boost the immune system. In turn, they promote vitality and energy that can help you defeat these viruses plaguing your body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Vitamin C sources. </i>One of the reasons that </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.anyvitamins.com/apple-cider-vinegar-info.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ACV</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, <a href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&ved=0CGoQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutrition-and-you.com%2Fguava.html&ei=Ka3PUs22IIiGrQfOnoHgCA&usg=AFQjCNHFlPPUjVIT8P8B_8JPreYhm448aQ&sig2=u75C68SLDp7cNrb7Wi_XSg&bvm=bv.59026428,d.bmk">guava</a>, </span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/medicinal-uses-of-honey" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">honey</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and </span><a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lime</a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">can improve the immune system is that they are good sources of Vitamin C. Some <a href="http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/Vitamin-C-Fights-Colds/2013/02/14/id/490473">studies</a> showed that eating/drinking foods and liquids that are rich with Vitamin C can help decrease the duration and severity of cold symptoms.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Anti-viral and antibacterial.</i></b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.anyvitamins.com/apple-cider-vinegar-info.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ACV</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/medicinal-uses-of-honey" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">honey</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/439728-foods-that-are-antiviral-antibacterial-and-antifungal/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ginger</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/12/08/top-12-foods-for-healthy-immune-response.aspx" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">green tea</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lime</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, based on anecdotal evidence and some studies (<a href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpubmed%2F16137775&ei=Ea_PUqHQMqmaiAe684CYBw&usg=AFQjCNEjGDoghtMArwRD7udXf3WhN1nkEA&sig2=SxtQgAsRRSL9YAdNe7M1rg&bvm=bv.59026428,d.aGc">green tea</a>)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, have anti-viral and antibacterial properties. These properties make them potent against colds and cough.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Mucus buster. </i></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-cayenne-pepper/">Cayenne pepper</a> can break up and move mucus.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Knock-out Win against Colds and Cough</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These four natural remedies to colds and cough are only some of the traditional cures to these illnesses. You can check out and try more colds-and-cough-busting recipes from other sites, such as <a href="http://www.diynatural.com/common-cold-treatment-natural/">DIY Natural</a>, one of my favorite natural health websites. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The important thing is that you are now aware that you are not limited to over-the-counter colds and cough syrups/tablets anymore for you and your family. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These natural remedies are kid-friendly too, except the one with cayenne, because my kids dislike spicy foods. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nature offers us awesome fighting gloves through homemade natural medicine that can beat colds and cough naturally and practically. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Arm yourself now. And give those viruses the knockout they deserve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-77071381388173936832014-01-06T23:09:00.001+08:002014-01-25T23:11:27.825+08:00Nightmare at Epilin Street: Homemade, Natural Remedies to Horrible Skin Allergy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red, itchy blisters that ache to be scratched until they are sore and pus-filled. Anxiety attack from the sight of them and the horrible itchy feeling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eew, what a nightmare!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But they're all too real for me before when I had them all over my underarms and legs a few weeks ago. (No, I will not post pictures at all!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But why you say? It's because I tried this Epilin hair-removing wax, which seemed natural enough for me because it has very few natural ingredients, and then around 24 hours later, I got severe allergic reaction to it. My skin developed red, itchy red rashes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was tempted to go to a dermatologist but stopped myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know it's wrong (at least for others, but not so much to me anymore) to not consult a medical practitioner on these matters. But since I've gone DIY and natural living, I've realized that nature offers the best medicine already and people in my circles have helpful advices and insights on self-healing through nutrition and natural homemade remedies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, I didn't want to put ointments with chemicals I am not familiar with anymore on my skin, which I am sure a dermatologist will recommend. After going no 'poo, it seemed to me that I'd be taking a two steps back if I put a whole new set of expensive, manufactured products on my skin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plus, derma products are stupendously expensive. Not to mention derma fees. Whew. Just thinking about the money that flows out of my palms make these palms sweat. In other words, I don't find it practical to fully rely on dermatologists and their products for my skin needs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, leaving these usual options behind, I had to rely on two doctors: Nature and my immune system. Natural remedies summoned me, and running to them I did!</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Homemade Remedies to Skin Allergy</b></span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Virgin Coconut Oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) Oatmeal and honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4) Garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5) Tea Tree Castile Soap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6) Boiled water, still warm</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And what are these ingredients for?</b></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Virgin Coconut Oil- Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-itch. It soothes the burning feeling of scratching allergies. It also heals the rashes and renews the skin, as least in my experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Baking soda- Anti-itch and for giving that beautiful relief to soreness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) Oatmeal and honey- A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ntibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-itch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4) Garlic- Antibacterial for any infection that I have enhanced because of my scratching.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5) Tea Tree Castile</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Soap- Antibacterial.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Boiled water, still warm- For washing and making baking soda paste.</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Self-treatment Procedures</b></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Don't panic and have the ingredients ready. Be well-armed with these supplies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Wash the allergic skin portions with Castile soap with hands only and using warm water. Warm water feels good and removes wax residue, if still present. Pat dry afterwards, not scrub, with towel. Resist the urge to rub or scratch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) Put baking soda paste on allergic skin. Just mix baking soda powder with distilled or filtered water or boiled water. Let it stay for ten minutes. This will sting. You can also try cooking oatmeal and adding honey, and then put this on your skin for ten minutes too. I tried this after using the baking soda paste, but only once though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4) Wash again with warm water. Pat dry. Put generous VCO on the affected areas. Let the skin absorb it for 10 minutes before even considering scratching it again. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">VCO can relieve itching and burning and will heal the allergy slowly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5) Mince half a teaspoon of garlic and drink it up with water once a day for its antibacterial properties that can help heal the itchiness and infection from within. Do this until the itchiness goes away and the rashes are completely dry.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Treatment Time</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the rashes to dry using this treatment procedure, it took me four days. Just continue washing with castile soap and putting VCO until the itchiness and redness of rashes are completely gone. This phase took six days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Commercial products can promise instant or faster results, but they are loaded with many chemicals you may not want on your skin. I chose natural over manufactured treatment and everything is find on my end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for the black scars from the skin rashes, oh the scars... You will know why you should not scratch these rashes hard and long because of these horrible dark scars...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am using Dr. Wood's exfoliating soap and vitamin E soap for now to renew my skin. Some people say raw 100% cocoa butter will help decrease the darkness of the scars, so I will buy and use that when the budget permits.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Nightmare Ends</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not a doctor but I healed myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No, nature healed me and helped me heal myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The nightmare at Epilin Street is all over now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Homemade remedies to skin allergy worked for me. You can try it, but make sure you are not allergic to these materials that I used. Otherwise, the nightmare will be extended.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fear not. Nature has multiple answers. And the Internet offers many solutions. Just make sure to find reliable websites and always test something on a small part of your skin to check for allergic reactions (ugh, that allergic word again).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nature and the human immune system are awesome healing partners. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let them end even the worst skin nightmares for you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What are some products that gave you skin allergies? What natural remedies did you try that worked and did not work?</b></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-55333026427398030152013-11-07T22:14:00.004+08:002014-01-10T19:25:26.854+08:00No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I never knew it was possible to make cookies without baking them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just remembered seeing a recipe for no-bake goodies before because of the past Halloween season, and I thought, I needed something quick, healthy, and delicious for my daughter's school snacks tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So browsing the web I went.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/no-bake-cookies/3f607d5e-b59d-4072-9812-aed8df3241f5">Betty Crocker</a>'s inspiration, I now have my own no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie recipe with less sugar and more coconut oil goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't like my cookies too sweet so I made changes in her recipe. I used only a cup of brown sugar, instead of two. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also used coconut oil because it tastes good with chocolate and I love it for its health benefits. It also replaces the need for butter. But I know there's a grass-fed butter revolution going on, so you can use butter as you wish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also know that 1/4 cup of butter (in usual <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/no-bake-cookies/3f607d5e-b59d-4072-9812-aed8df3241f5">no-bake oatmeal recipes</a>) means 8 tablespoons of butter or oil, but 4 tablespoons of coconut oil worked fine for me. You can make it 8 tablespoons of oil if you want. </span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 cup brown sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4 tablespoons virgin coconut oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 teaspoon vanilla</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup fresh milk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Instructions</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Combine sugar, cocoa, oil and milk in a saucepan. Boil for a minute in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">medium heat or until everything is fully dissolved.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Remove from heat and add oatmeal and vanilla. Stir well.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) Put spoonfuls on a plate and let it cool. </span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>No-Bake Deliciousness</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Easy, practical, delicious no-bake cookies! Healthy too!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They're not just as solid as other baked cookies though. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They're more like soft, chewy cookie goodness.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My kids and husband love these No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal C</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ookies and I make them regularly nowadays. I can't wait to try other no-bake goodies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Practicality is simplicity after all, and no-bake is pretty and sweetly simple enough for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What's your idea of a healthy no-bake cookie? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-89728845541687690252013-10-20T16:12:00.001+08:002014-01-10T21:06:44.059+08:00Why Oil Pulling Should Be A Part Of Your Daily Routine: Benefits Of Oil Pulling<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't pull legs to have an impact on people. Pull oil instead!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oil pulling is the process of swishing vegetable-based oil in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. It</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is more than just a passing fad because it has been practiced as an </span><a href="http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=ayurveda" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ayurvedic</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> body-detoxifying therapy for thousands of years. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling can have a number of surprising benefits for those not familiar with it. I have personally tried it and I have experienced several dental and health benefits. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxjkLWZ1ah4/UmOIxyal85I/AAAAAAAAANk/EP7oChc0PWc/s1600/coconut_oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="benefits of oil pulling" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxjkLWZ1ah4/UmOIxyal85I/AAAAAAAAANk/EP7oChc0PWc/s400/coconut_oil.jpg" height="400" title="benefits of oil pulling" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Benefits of Oil Pulling<br />Photo credit: <a href="http://firstdescents.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/coconut_oil.jpg">First Descents Organization</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Benefits of Oil Pulling</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the direct benefits of oil pulling is the improvement of dental health. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">he benefits of oil pulling, however, can go beyond dental health because it may even improve overall health. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of the evidence presented here to support oil pulling's advantages are anecdotal, or from the testimonies of others, though <a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article%20oil%20pulling.htm">some doctors </a> and <a href="http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/aiaamc/2013/00000012/00000002/art00007">studies</a> support the <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/08/coconut-oil-combats-tooth-decay.aspx">various positive effects of oil pulling.</a></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dental Health Benefits</b></span></h3>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Less <a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/10-biggest-causes-of-tooth-sensitivity.aspx">sensitive teeth</a>.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Oil pulling can decrease the sensitivity of your teeth by reducing <a href="http://www.sharecare.com/health/cavities/plaque-cause-tooth-decay">plaque</a> that causes tooth decay and by restoring the natural ph levels of your mouth. On <a href="http://www.curetoothdecay.com/Tooth_Decay/pH_tooth_decay_acid_base.htm">ph levels</a>: "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the mouth pH is 7.1 or higher, there is no tooth decay. Corresponding to the healthier mouth environment, not conducive to tooth decay, is a lesser number of bacteria in the mouth."</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whiter teeth. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Testimonials, such as from </span><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/08/coconut-oil-combats-tooth-decay.aspx" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Mercola</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/7866/oil-pulling-for-oral-health/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wellness Mama</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, show that oil pulling has whitened their teeth. A more specific and direct explanation for the teeth-whitening effect of oil pulling remains under-researched, however. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stronger gums. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oil pulling can improve the health of your gums through</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article%20oil%20pulling.htm">curbing bacterial growth</a> that can weaken it.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reduces plaque.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Several types of vegetable oil (such as<a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/08/coconut-oil-combats-tooth-decay.aspx"> coconut oil</a>) have antibacterial properties that can kill bacteria which cause plaque buildup.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cure gingivitis.</b> Strengthening gums and teeth through <a href="http://www.ispcd.org/~cmsdev/userfiles/rishabh/jioh-02-04-010.pdf">oil pulling can cure</a> <a href="http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-10/gums-problems-gingivitis">gingivitis</a>.</span></li>
</ol>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Other Health Benefits</b></span></h3>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Detoxifies the body. </b>Oil pulling can clean the body's toxins. <a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article%20oil%20pulling.htm">Dr. Bruce Fife </a>offers an interesting metaphor for oil pulling: "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The oil acts like a cleanser. When you put it in your mouth and work it around your teeth and gums it 'pulls' out bacteria and other debris. It acts much like the oil you put in your car engine. The oil picks up dirt and grime. When you drain the oil, it pulls out the dirt and grime with it, leaving the engine relatively clean. Consequently, the engine runs smoother and lasts longer. Likewise, when we expel harmful substances from our bodies our health is improved and we run smoother and last longer."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alleviates <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/040293_oil_pulling_cognitive_decline_home_remedies.html#">pain and other symptoms</a> </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">related to several illnesses. <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/040293_oil_pulling_cognitive_decline_home_remedies.html#">Some sources</a> showed that oil pulling can alleviate pain and other symptoms related to asthma, allergies, chronic fatigue, diabetes, migraine headaches, PMS, and chronic skin problems, among other illnesses. A possible explanation is that when the body is cleansed through oil pulling, </span><a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article%20oil%20pulling.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bacterial and stress-related causes</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of these illnesses may be removed.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>How to do Oil Pulling</b></span></h2>
</div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredient:</b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Any type of vegetable oil: </b>Sunflower and sesame seed oils are some of the most widely used oils for oil pulling, but some people prefer olive, coconut, almond, and other oils. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Note: I prefer virgin coconut oil because it is a local Philippine product and cheaper and more accessible than sunflower and sesame seed oil. I like the taste of virgin coconut oil better than other oils too. Also, virgin coconut oil has <a href="http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/aiaamc/2013/00000012/00000002/art00007">antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal benefits.</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Instructions: How to do Oil Pulling</b></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of oil.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Swish the oil around your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. The <a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article%20oil%20pulling.htm">duration</a> of oil pulling is important because it takes 15 to 20 minutes for the oil to break plaque and bacteria, but not long enough for them to be re-absorbed into the mouth. Do not swallow or gargle the oil because it is full of toxins and bacteria. Swish the oil, pulling from and drawing it to your teeth, tongue, and gums. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spit the oil after into your trash can or outside (soil in your garden) to avoid clogging sinks or drains, especially when you live in areas with cold climates. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rinse with warm water very well. You can brush your teeth after oil pulling too if you want.</span></li>
</ol>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Best Time for Oil Pulling</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to Dr. Fife, oil pulling is best done <a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article%20oil%20pulling.htm">before eating </a>or drinking anytime of the day. It can be done once or thrice a day on an empty stomach.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Passing Time: Twenty-Minute Habits</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Multitaskers might have a hard time accepting that 20 minutes of mere oil swishing is worth it. On my part, I do something else while oil pulling. Some suggested activities are:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling while watching the news.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling while preparing food.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling while taking a shower.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling while reading news online.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling while reading and commenting to news feeds in G+, Facebook, Twitter and the like.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling while doing research for our blogs.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When oil pulling is done with other activities, time will fly faster. </span></div>
<div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Some Possible Initial Side Effects</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article%20oil%20pulling.htm">Dr. Fife</a> and some <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/7866/oil-pulling-for-oral-health/">testimonials</a> say that they have experienced these side effects:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">mild congestion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">headache</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">mucus</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> drainage </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dr. Fife explains that these effects may be some of the initial effects of detoxification: "These symptoms will subside as your body becomes cleaner and you become more comfortable with oil pulling."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have actually experienced a slight headache during my first oil pulling, but I no longer experience it. Some family members have allergies, so they experienced mucus buildup during oil pulling, but these effects subsided after continued use. They attest that they experience fewer symptoms of their allergies when oil pulling.</span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Oil Pulling: Swishing towards Health and Confidence</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oil pulling is now a part of my morning routine, especially since my mother already knows how to make coconut oil, and I'm feeling the benefits of oil pulling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pull oil, not legs, and the impact is the same- a better effect on people you are talking with because of the confidence and good feeling that come from a bright smile, fresh breath, and detoxified body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Have you tried oil pulling? What do you do to kill time while killing bacteria and toxins through oil pulling?</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-5194064975344435612013-10-14T07:57:00.001+08:002014-01-10T19:29:27.766+08:00Reflexology: Quack or Smack On?<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your health is in your hands, I mean, your feet.</span></div>
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Whether you are an athlete suffering from muscle pain because of a good run, or an individual who feels the burn of a high-intensity cardio workout or lower body pains from an awesome leg/thigh exercises, or someone in pain because of various illnesses, reflexology might help you deal with the pain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reflexology is basically about applying pressure on certain parts of the feet that are connected to a body organ in pain. Massaging these parts are believed to reduce stress and pain by balancing energy levels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">People who grew up drinking medicine tend to be wary when they hear alternative medicine. For them, reflexology, acupuncture and the like smell as fishy as a quack doctor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But if you want to try a different therapy, something easy to do, and at the same time, something that may provide immediate benefits, if not long-term when continued, reflexology can offer something for everyone in pain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Reflexology: Pressure that Ends Pain </b></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology">Reflexology </a>is "the application of appropriate pressure to specific points and areas on the feet, hands, or ears." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reflexologists assert that these areas and reflex points are connected to different body organs and systems, and pressing or rubbing them can have a positive effect on that organ, as well as the individual's general health (1). The positive effect may be alleviation of pain or curing of that illness (2).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another simple explanation of the impact of reflexology is that for those who feel pain in different parts of their body, pressure on those reflex points can relieve their pain. If you look at the reflexology chart below, number 1 refer to the sinus, so if you have sinusitis, massaging those places can help relieve it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reflexology is not officially recognized as an acceptable medical procedure for diagnosing or curing health problems, but millions of people use it because it helps them treat their illnesses, or it complements other medications or other set of alternative therapies, such as acupressure and acupuncture (3).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Several studies showed that reflexology can treat pain and anxiety that go with these health conditions: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">asthma (4), cancer (5), cardiovascular issues (6), diabetes (7), headaches (8), kidney function (9), PMS (10), and sinusitis (11). See also the Howcast video below for relieving pain from menstrual cramps.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDFok8cxc9I/UlsfemJC_2I/AAAAAAAAANE/wh_hJrh0JRo/s1600/reflexology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Reflexology Quack or Smack On" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDFok8cxc9I/UlsfemJC_2I/AAAAAAAAANE/wh_hJrh0JRo/s400/reflexology.jpg" height="382" title="Reflexology Quack or Smack On" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Reflexology Chart: Health in Terms of Feet</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to Relieve PMS and Menstrual Cramps through Reflexology</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Reflexology Points and Areas</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maps of reflex points are used by practitioners all over the world, but not all of them agree on the exact location of every point (12). General agreement has been established, nonetheless, on primary reflex points (13).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reflexology charts or reflexology maps are representations of the human body. Each foot refers to the "vertical half of the body" (14). The left foot stands for the left side of the body, while the right foot refers to the right side of the body. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some reflexologists massage the hands or ears too. Though they may have different approaches, their main goal is to release the stress from the nervous system and to balance energy levels (15).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Take Caution</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You do have to be mindful of your health conditions before trying reflexology. For example, reflexology may not be advisable for you, if you have diabetes and you're just healing from wounds and gout flares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You also have to be cautious if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have severe vascular disease of the legs or feet or heart conditions, reflexology may not be advisable for you. Though some people with heart conditions might claim that reflexology helped them, it's not always something that safely and effectively applies to everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In other words, like pharmaceutical medicine, reflexology has its limits and it may have drawbacks for certain people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Reflexology: Quack or Smack On?</b></span></h2>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not claiming that reflexology is the best and only treatment for you. I'm just offering an alternative. Something else that you can do on your own or ask others to do for your without popping pills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I honestly prefer alternative therapies and food as medicine compared to drinking pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have any serious illness though so my case is different. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is quack to others <i>might</i> be smack on effective for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All I know is that I hope that if you try reflexology for your different health needs, it will work for you, so you don't have to drink pain or anxiety medications.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All I know is that our body can heal itself. That we can manage our own pain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All I know is that your foot is your health too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What alternative therapies have you tried when treating pain and other illnesses? Did they work or they worked only in combination with other therapies or medicine?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">References</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Teagarden, K. (n.d.). "Reflexology." <i>University of Minnesota</i>. Retrieved from http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Ibid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) Ibid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ng,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">T.P., </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wong, M.L., Hong, C.Y., Koh, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">K.T.C.,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> & Goh, L.G. (2003). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The use of complementary and alternative medicine by asthma patients. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>QJM, 96</i>(10), 747-754. Retrieved from http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/96/10/747.short</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5) Stephenson, N.L., Weinrich, S.P., & Tavakoli, A.S. (2000). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Oncology Nursing Forum, 27</i>(1), 67-72. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Retrieved from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10660924</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hodgson, H. (2000). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does reflexology impact on cancer patients' quality of life? <i>Nursing Standard, 14</i>(31), 33-38. Retrieved from http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/11973949/reload=0;jsessionid=54sj8hr5Y8m5IIy0OIRE.40</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Padial, E.R., López, N.T., Bujaldón, J.L., Villanueva, I.E., & del Paso, G.R. (2012). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cardiovascular effects of reflexology in healthy individuals: Evidence for a specific increase in blood pressure. <i>Alternative Medicine Studies</i>. Retrieved from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/ams/article/view/3589</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ulbricht, C. (2009).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Diabetes: An integrative approach: a natural standard monograph. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A<i>lternative & Complementary Therapies, 15</i> (6), 311.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8) Stone, P.S. (20110. Reflexology & headaches: Opening the door to relief. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Massage & Bodywork, 26</i>(4), 34.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9) Markell, M.S. (2005). Potential benefits of complementary medicine modalities in patients with chronic kidney disease. <i>Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, 12</i>(3),</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> 292–299. Retrieved from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1548559505000704</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steiner, M. (2000).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: guidelines for management. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience,</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> 25</i>(5): 459–468.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">11) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gunter, A., Van Eeden, V., & De Jager, L. (2007). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reflexology versus reflexology and colour therapy combined for treating chronic sinusitis. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Interim : Interdisciplinary Journal, 6</i>(1), </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">24-36.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">12) Teagarden</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">13) Ibid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">14) Ibid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">15) Ibid.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-59986792585045467902013-10-13T01:54:00.005+08:002014-01-22T19:21:45.983+08:00Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I tell you that there's a <i>possibility</i> that a combination of the right nutrition and the right remineralizing toothpaste <i>can</i> cure your tooth decay by initiating a self-repair process for your teeth, would you believe it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was skeptical at first. I already have a couple of pasta-filled teeth, so in my mind I was thinking, well, how controversial is that! A tooth-cavity-busting-teeth-healing toothpaste for real? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mean, if you have a tooth cavity already, some dentists would immediately recommend pasta-filling. Drill the tooth, fill it with pasta, and there you have it, a repaired tooth that would need refilling every now and then. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's how it's done. That's how people usually fix decaying teeth. That's how I knew it could <i>only</i> be done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apparently, I was so wrong. It is <i>possible </i>for our teeth to repair itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the past fifteen years, studies, such as from <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10686861" target="_blank">Kaufman et al.</a> (1999), <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10686854" target="_blank">Munoz et al.</a> (1999), <a href="http://www.scientific.net/KEM.330-332.267" target="_blank">Zhang et al. </a>(2007) and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17131712" target="_blank">Fowler et al.</a> (2006), are showing positive benefits from using remineralizing toothpaste. These benefits include rehardening broken or damaged enamel and decreasing tooth sensitivity to acidic products. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you want to read more on the process of remineralizing teeth, continue with this article, or you can go ahead to the Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> recipe below </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">because you </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">already </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">believe that we can self-heal many of our illnesses through a healthy diet and using natural products. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, to read more about homemade toothpaste's benefits, and why commercial toothpaste <i>may </i>actually be bad for you, you can read "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">Commercial Toothpaste's Ingredients: Are They Safe</a>?" from my post "<a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">Three Easy Steps for Baking Soda Toothpaste (Safe for Kids</a>)"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Remineralizing: Activating the Ability of Your Teeth to Self-Heal Tooth Decay</b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1834-7819.2008.00061.x/full" target="_blank">Remineralizing</a> our teeth is the process of delivering calcium and phosphate ions to the teeth, where these ions, in turn, can rebuild enamel through remineralizing the teeth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remineralizing, with its ability to deliver natural tooth-building ingredients to our teeth, can activate their </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">natural self-repair process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sounds freaky? It's not if you think that it's possible for our bodies to self-heal with the right mindset, diet, lifestyle, and natural products.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me, remineralizing offers a natural way of curing dental cavities. It's our teeth rebuilding itself with the right tools.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste</b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used the recipe for our homemade remineralizing toothpaste from </span><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, being a fan of Katie and all that, and because I find her recipe very easy to make. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTEDnCz6wYE/Ull-F6BtMiI/AAAAAAAAAMc/cSIyqtvehgM/s1600/remineralizing+tp+ingre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ingredients for homemade remineralizing toothpaste" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTEDnCz6wYE/Ull-F6BtMiI/AAAAAAAAAMc/cSIyqtvehgM/s400/remineralizing+tp+ingre.jpg" height="400" title="Ingredients for homemade remineralizing toothpaste" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ingredients for homemade remineralizing toothpaste</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></b></h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5 parts Calcium powder or Calcium Magnesium Powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 parts Baking Soda</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3-5 parts virgin coconut oil to achieved the desired consistency and texture</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Note: By 5 parts, you can refer to it as 5 tablespoons or teaspoons as you wish. You can try coconut oil (the one used for cooking), though I've personally used only virgin coconut oil. You can also just make fresh small batches to use for the day and combine the mentioned ingredients according to the consistency you want. </span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Optional Ingredients</b></span></h3>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3 parts Xylitol Powder (Note: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may want to include this though because the study of <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/josnusd/49/1/49_1_67/_article" target="_blank">Sano et al.</a> in 2007 showed that xylitol helped enhance the remineralizing process).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Essential oils for flavor (mint, cinnamon, and orange are all good), Grapefruit Seed Extract, Myrrh and Trace Minerals (Note: I used 5 drops of Peppermint oil. Be careful of using essential oils when nursing and when pregnant though. You have to do research/consult health professionals on these essential oils that may not be good for nursing/pregnant mommies).</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How to Make Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste</b></span></h3>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Mix all calcium powder, baking soda, and xylitol (if using) well in a bowl. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I crushed the calcium tablets we have. I did not use xylitol because I don't have it on my end.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Add coconut oil slowly so that you can easily manage the process of getting the right consistency.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Include any optional ingredients, such as essential oils.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. Keep your homemade remineralizing toothpaste in a small container. You can use a clean spoon to scoop it out, especially when the oil has hardened.</span><br />
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</div>
</div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Eight Exciting Benefits Of Making Your Own Remineralizing Toothpaste</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U8dlGP6ARio/Ut-opWgyoyI/AAAAAAAAAS0/p0CCMTZ87mw/s1600/777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eight Exciting Benefits Of Making Your Own Remineralizing Toothpaste" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U8dlGP6ARio/Ut-opWgyoyI/AAAAAAAAAS0/p0CCMTZ87mw/s1600/777.jpg" height="480" title="Eight Exciting Benefits Of Making Your Own Remineralizing Toothpaste" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These are the benefits of remineralizing toothpaste according to my experience and some anecdotal and scientific studies:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Cleans and whitens teeth better than commercial toothpaste brands.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Freshens breath.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) Decreases <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10686861" target="_blank">teeth sensitivity</a> to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10686854" target="_blank">coldness</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4) <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10686854" target="_blank">Protects our teeth from acidic products</a> like soft drinks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5) Reduces plaque.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6) Cures toothache. In my case, I have this tooth ache from tooth decay, but since I've been using my homemade remineralizing toothpaste, the pain is gone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7) Heals tooth decay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8) Gives an opportunity for great family bonding time.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> If you make your </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">homemade remineralizing toothpaste </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">with your kids, they'll have fun making it (at least in my case) </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> they'll have fun in actually using it too, even if baking soda tastes salty. Let's call that pride in DIY.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My daughter prefers our homemade toothpaste because she dislikes the strong mint taste of commercial toothpaste.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also made this with my sis-in-law <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/115415476746341029229" target="_blank">+Hennidyn Portem</a> and it was so much fun pounding and mixing stuff :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rujE4rtF-98/UlmBfKfBFYI/AAAAAAAAAMo/X6zYXVl98jc/s1600/zoe+remineralizing+tp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="children helping parents in preparing ingredients for homemade toothpaste" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rujE4rtF-98/UlmBfKfBFYI/AAAAAAAAAMo/X6zYXVl98jc/s400/zoe+remineralizing+tp.jpeg" height="400" title="children helping parents in preparing ingredients for homemade toothpaste" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My five-year-old helping mama make our homemade remineralizing toothpaste</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>
The Downsides and Limitations of Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) It does not have the smooth, foamy feeling like other toothpastes do. If you want some bubble action, you can add one part of natural castile soap to it, which Wellness Mama used in her previous toothpaste recipe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) It does not automatically cure tooth decay if you don't change your eating and dental hygiene habits. It means that it won't work if you don't brush at least twice a day and you eat too many sweet/acidic food products daily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Why Baking Soda?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Contrary to (somewhat) popular (mis)belief, baking soda does not erode tooth enamel, according to the study of <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00784-004-0262-7#page-1" target="_blank">Menezes et al.</a> (2004). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Baking soda can also be used to <a href="http://oralcarepro.com/pdfs/articles/JCD-20-7_Ghassemi.pdf" target="_blank">effectively deliver calcium and phosphate ions</a> to our teeth, which is what remineralizing toothpaste exactly aims to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Furthermore, baking soda, based on <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">my experience</a> and anecdotal evidence, can <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/" target="_blank">clean teeth better</a> and freshen breath than commercial toothpaste brands and can result to strong, white, healthy teeth and gums because it can <a href="http://oralcarepro.com/pdfs/articles/JCD-19-4_Ghassemi.pdf" target="_blank">effectively remove plaque</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, baking soda has no fluoride, so it's safe for babies and young kids. Although for my toddler, I just use virgin coconut oil as his toothpaste (it has <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties</a>) because he does not like baking soda's salty taste.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Expiration Date</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Based on users' comments from Wellness Mama, our homemade remineralizing toothpaste can last for six months, although it will be consumed much faster for large households. Probably because of the heat in the Philippines, I noticed that mine lasted for two months only. So if it's pretty hot in your area, I think it's best to make small batches. </span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Where's the Fluoride?</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, I am sure my dentist will hate me for saying this, but fluoride is not exactly needed to have clean and healthy teeth and gums. I will make a separate blog entry for that. Also, we can regularly eat food with fluoride, so that we won't need it in our toothpaste. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to the <a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/content/fresh_foods/" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>, these are several fruits that have some fluoride in them: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apple </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Avocado </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Banana </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cantaloupe </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cherries </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grapefruit </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peaches </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pears </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plums </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Strawberries </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Watermelon</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bananas are mainstays in our diet, while we also eat avocados, watermelon, and strawberries, when they are in season and less expensive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Practical Solutions to Dental Frustrations</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remineralize your teeth in the most natural and practical way by making your own remineralizing toothpaste. Free yourself from the expenses of tooth extraction, pasta filling, or worse, root canal because of cavities!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The solution to some of your dental frustrations is waiting to be made.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Add that frugal homemade toothpaste that heals teeth cavities in your life. And let's face the world with less chipped smiles. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Have you tried making your own remineralizing toothpaste? How was the experience? How long did it take to cure your dental cavity?</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-11585455534401427232013-10-12T23:33:00.001+08:002014-01-10T20:49:42.959+08:00The Green DIY Mama's Materials Checklist<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turning green, or pursuing an alternative lifestyle using eco-friendly, natural products, is not entirely inexpensive, as I already talked about in "<a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/some-challenges-of-going-ecobeauty-in.html" target="_blank">The High Price of Natural Beauty in The Philippines</a>." Apparently, being a green DIY mama (papa/person) is not as frugal now as it used to be in olden times when commercial brands were not yet existent and people can make their own oils from their gardens.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To help you out, I prepared a checklist of materials to help parents or people like me who want to invest on natural materials for their homemade products. This list is especially cut out for those who live in the Philippines or countries where some of the natural ingredients used in Western DIY or homemade-centered websites are not available locally.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/22/home-4/" target="_blank">Baking soda,</a> for instance, is not a locally-available product and bulk amounts are not accessible in the Philippines, or at least where I live, which is Metro Manila. Buying small boxes of baking soda may be expensive for those who cannot fully adapt to using it for many health and beauty <a href="http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/22/home-4/" target="_blank">uses</a>. <a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-227-WITCH%20HAZEL.aspx?activeIngredientId=227&activeIngredientName=WITCH%20HAZEL">Witch hazel</a> is an imported product too, as well as <a href="http://www.livescience.com/36626-cocoa-butter-chocolate-lotion-benefits.html">cocoa butter </a>and beeswax pastilles. Again, they're expensive when their U.S. dollar prices are converted to Philippine peso.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nevertheless, despite these expensive natural materials, I've been doing some computations and I realized, that, though the initial expenses for the investment in natural products are expensive, I can still save money in the long run as long as I stick to local products or make some of them on my own. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Furthermore, nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing that I'm making safer, natural, healthier, homemade products for my family, especially my kids, such as the DEET-free <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-natural-bug-repellent.html" target="_blank">Homemade Natural Bug Repellent Spray that are safe for babies</a>. Homemade products do not have <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">artificial preservatives and coloring</a> that other commercial brands have, which make them the best everyday products for me and my family.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Right now, I'm following homemade recipes from <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a>, <a href="http://simplemom.net/" target="_blank">Simple Mom</a>, and <a href="http://www.crunchybetty.com/" target="_blank">Crunchy Betty</a>, among others, making some variations along the way, because local products are different from Western ones and I can't always buy or access some of their materials. </span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A Checklist of Natural Ingredients for Different Homemade Products</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At present, I've invested on the following products, while some of them are already staple kitchen products:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eLRqwvGbxU/UjTsAYGTD4I/AAAAAAAAADo/-4ITFUlk6jg/s1600/healthy+options.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Some natural ingredients for many DIY products that will replace commercial brands" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eLRqwvGbxU/UjTsAYGTD4I/AAAAAAAAADo/-4ITFUlk6jg/s400/healthy+options.jpg" height="300" title="Some natural ingredients for many DIY products that will replace commercial brands" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some natural ingredients for many DIY products that will replace commercial brands</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/22/home-4/" target="_blank">Baking soda</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://thebeautydepartment.com/2011/11/hey-sugar/" target="_blank">Brown sugar</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/16/apple-cider-vinegar-beauty-benefits_n_3589264.html" target="_blank">Apple cider vinegar</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/3628/luxurious-sugar-scrub-recipe-easy/" target="_blank">White sugar</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Raw honey</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1092-COCONUT%20OIL.aspx?activeIngredientId=1092&activeIngredientName=COCONUT%20OIL">Virgin coconut oil</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/12-great-ways-to-use-castile-soap.html">Castile soap</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-781-CALCIUM.aspx?activeIngredientId=781&activeIngredientName=CALCIUM">Calcium</a> tablets </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bentonite clay</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-227-WITCH%20HAZEL.aspx?activeIngredientId=227&activeIngredientName=WITCH%20HAZEL">Witch hazel </a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vitamin E oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Essential oils: Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spent around Php 4,000 for these materials. I bought my essential oils from <a href="http://www.thecasadelorenzo.com/" target="_blank">Casa de Lorenzo</a>, and the rest are from supermarkets and <a href="http://www.healthyoptions.com.ph/2010/store_mall_of_asia.php" target="_blank">Healthy Options</a> at SM Mall of Asia (my source of Castile Soap, Bentonite Clay, Witch Hazel, and Vitamin E oil).</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just learned that you can buy very cheap baking soda from Divisoria at Tabora Street. Only Php 25 to Php 30 per kilo! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following below are the rest of the materials that I plan to buy. I'm hoping I can get them from local stores, before finally buying from an online site that sells imported products, <a href="http://www.galleon.ph/" target="_blank">Galleon</a>. The products below are for making natural <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/4901/deodorant-bar-recipe/" target="_blank">deodorants</a>, <a href="http://ourlittlegreendot.com/homemade-body-butter-recipe/" target="_blank">lotions</a>, <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5830/homemade-natural-lipstick-recipe/" target="_blank">beauty products</a><span id="goog_1367970974"></span><span id="goog_1367970975"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>, and several other <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5859/healing-lip-salve-recipe/" target="_blank">DIY natural products</a>.</span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">100% raw cocoa butter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beeswax pastilles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Arrowroot powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beetroot powder</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These products can reach Php 5000 to Php 6500 depending on the amount and brands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Transition to Green DIY Living</b></span></h2>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being a green DIY mama doesn't have to be expensive or difficult, but there is a transition stage. Transitioning includes believing in these products and being aware that they take time to make and getting used to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition, the transition stage also means being aware of some of the essential oils and materials that you may be allergic too (or your kids and other family members) and taking note of pregnancy, because </span><a href="http://www.babycentre.co.uk/x536449/is-it-safe-to-use-essential-oils-while-im-pregnant" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">not all essential oils</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> are safe for pregnant people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Transitioning also includes preparing the mindset and changing the habits of our family members who are used to manufactured products and who, sometimes, believe in these products laden with toxic materials <i>more</i> than our own homemade natural products.</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, we have to be aware of the time involved in homemade DIY living. Some of our homemade products are as easy as two general steps, (i.e. <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/baking-soda-soak-for-kids-and-you-too.html" target="_blank">Baking soda soak</a> for curing/preventing rashes for babies and kids), while others may take ten minutes or so, depending on the amount of product you intend to make and if you're making some of the natural ingredients yourself. This means that DIY is "effort-full" too because every minute preparing them adds up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These transitions can be quite emotionally and time-management difficult at first, but we must not give up. Who else will champion natural DIY living if not us?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Life of a DIY Natural-Living Mama</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It will be almost two months since I've ventured into the green, DIY world of natural living. So far, it's been an exciting and mind-expanding experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My creativity and resourcefulness are tested, as well as my time-management skills, because I'm blogging about it, while doing my usual research work and family duties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It helps that I have an eldest five-year old daughter who supports me in some of my DIY tasks and a husband who is also supportive, but who have yet to embrace the natural scents and texture (literally and figuratively) of health and beauty that he's not used to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All in all, I'm so happy in finding new knowledge and developing new skills by doing DIY natural products. Hopefully, I can contribute more directly to it by finding local alternatives to imported natural ingredients.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My first love has always been God and my family, and writing and DIY natural living are tied in the second spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope this journey to a green, DIY lifestyle becomes as satisfying and energizing as yours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How is your pursuit of DIY natural living? Do you also find it overwhelming, but satisfying?</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-48728278238419938682013-10-04T16:06:00.000+08:002014-01-10T21:02:10.701+08:00Five Simple, Natural Homemade Facial and Body Scrubs for Men and Women<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Break that dull, uneven-toned skin without breaking the bank!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rejuvenate your skin through trying any of these five inexpensive, natural, easy-to-make homemade scrubs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whether you have oily, dry, or mixed/combination dry-oily face, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-care-11/lifestyle?page=2" target="_blank">exfoliating</a> once or twice a week can do wonders in <a href="http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-care-11/lifestyle?page=2" target="_blank">reducing breakouts</a> and giving you <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/exfoliate-face-how-to_n_2528493.html" target="_blank">soft, smooth skin</a> that glows like summer.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Why Exfoliate? Some Beautiful Benefits</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Facial and body scrubs are great ways to exfoliate the skin. But why exfoliate? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Skin cleansing has evident benefits of removing dirt, while exfoliating has some additional advantages too. Exfoliating once or twice a week can enhance the results of your skin care routine by <a href="http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-care-11/lifestyle?page=2" target="_blank">deeply cleaning</a> your skin. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/tips/what-is-exfoliation1.htm" target="_blank">Exfoliation</a> removes dry skin by scrubbing out dead skin cells from the epidermis. Without these dead cells, your skin will feel refreshed and cleaned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You need to prevent clogged pores through regular (NOT daily) exfoliation because blocked pores can cause some of the most hateful <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/tips/what-is-exfoliation1.htm" target="_blank">skin problems</a>- acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clogged pores can also make your pore size bigger. You can <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/tips/what-is-exfoliation1.htm" target="_blank">lessen the size</a> of your pores through exfoliation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Furthermore, removing dead skin cells can hasten the process of <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/tips/what-is-exfoliation1.htm" target="_blank">skin renewal</a>, helping your skin replace dull cells with healthy new skin. Skin renewal can ease the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/tips/what-is-exfoliation1.htm" target="_blank">prevent skin discoloration too.</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These benefits are not just for women, they're good enough reasons for men to exfoliate too. </span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Five Natural, Simple Homemade Scrubs</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are numerous natural homemade scrubs, but these are the ones I've tried so far and they all worked well with my mixed dry-oily, sensitive skin. They are practical because you can usually find the ingredients in your kitchen. They are also safe because they come from natural ingredients. </span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Virgin Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub</b></span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_3Z_ucCGNno/Uk5vkCyoMEI/AAAAAAAAAKM/CmleUGWjTTM/s1600/vco.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="coconut oil homemad scrub natural effective" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_3Z_ucCGNno/Uk5vkCyoMEI/AAAAAAAAAKM/CmleUGWjTTM/s1600/vco.jpeg" height="200" title="coconut oil homemad scrub natural effective" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Virgin coconut oil is good for the skin because of its <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/" target="_blank">moisturizing, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.</a> Like sugar, it can<a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/" target="_blank"> lighten age spots and skin discoloration</a>. Virgin coconut oil can also help infected skin <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/" target="_blank">heal faster</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UA73bsYhegc/Uk5ufImQfRI/AAAAAAAAAKA/_znYIz6UHao/s1600/9625457-brown-sugar-in-a-wooden-spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UA73bsYhegc/Uk5ufImQfRI/AAAAAAAAAKA/_znYIz6UHao/s1600/9625457-brown-sugar-in-a-wooden-spoon.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sugar naturally exfoliates the skin. It has <a href="https://essensuallysmooth.com/benefits.html" target="_blank">Al</a><a href="https://essensuallysmooth.com/benefits.html" target="_blank">pha-Hydroxy</a> that can help produce glowing skin. <a href="https://essensuallysmooth.com/benefits.html" target="_blank">Repeated use of sugar scrubs</a> can result to healthier and uniformly textured and colored skin.</span></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 parts (example, two teaspoons) of brown or white sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 part of virgin coconut oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Optional: 1/2 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Instructions</b></span></h4>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mix 2 parts of sugar (regular white or brown sugar) with 1 part of coconut oil (you can also use almond and olive oil). Add Vitamin E oil if using. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scrub gently on your face. You can also use this as a body scrub.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rinse thoroughly. I noticed that warm water rinses it better, though cold water would do.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Note: Using natural oils might seem oily at first after washing them with water, but after patting your skin dry, what's left is non-oily soft skin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Olive Oil </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Oatmeal Scrub</b></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This recipe is based on the <a href="http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/3-homemade-salt-scrub-recipes-to-try" target="_blank">oatmeal scrub</a> of Jennifer Nelson of Mother Nature Network.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxK6BZpVUGQ/Uk5w5t_7bEI/AAAAAAAAAKU/LA4d4rOyzx0/s1600/oatmeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="oatmeal scrub homemade effective oily skin heal acne prevent easy natural" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxK6BZpVUGQ/Uk5w5t_7bEI/AAAAAAAAAKU/LA4d4rOyzx0/s1600/oatmeal.jpg" height="165" title="oatmeal scrub homemade effective oily skin heal acne prevent easy natural" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com/od/Skincare/a/10-Oatmeal-Facial-Masks.htm" target="_blank">Oatmeal</a> has avenanthramides, which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that heal itchy, dry and irritated skin. Oatmeal can do wonders for <a href="http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com/od/Skincare/a/10-Oatmeal-Facial-Masks.htm" target="_blank">acne-prone skin</a> because it can absorb extra oil from the skin.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtba-QxBfFk/Uk5x-3YGmTI/AAAAAAAAAKg/KIl9N9tEHTE/s1600/olive-oil-fingers-md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="olive oil skin scrub good for the skin anti-aging" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtba-QxBfFk/Uk5x-3YGmTI/AAAAAAAAAKg/KIl9N9tEHTE/s1600/olive-oil-fingers-md.jpg" title="olive oil skin scrub good for the skin anti-aging" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: right;">Olive oil has four different antioxidants, which can help "</span><a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/olive-oil-benefits-uses-460609" style="text-align: right;" target="_blank">neutralize damaging free radicals that can lead to skin aging and skin cancer.</a><span style="text-align: right;">" </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup of ground, uncooked oatmeal</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup of olive oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup of sea salt</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Instructions</b></span></span></h4>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mix oatmeal, olive oil, and sea salt.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Use as facial and body scrub.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rinse thoroughly.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Coffee Grounds Scrub</b></span></h3>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vFgF9fbpZcE/Uk5tZwfiFBI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/Q9kHjNroawY/s1600/honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="honey scrub homemade natural DIY good skin beautiful smooth clean soft anti-acne" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vFgF9fbpZcE/Uk5tZwfiFBI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/Q9kHjNroawY/s1600/honey.jpg" height="199" title="honey scrub homemade natural DIY good skin beautiful smooth clean soft anti-acne" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crunchybetty.com/food-on-your-face-honey" target="_blank">Honey</a> is a natural moisturizer. It can also <a href="http://www.crunchybetty.com/food-on-your-face-honey" target="_blank">prevent acne and reduce wrinkles</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T9PMEBKvxNA/Uk5ytfYF5VI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Ti2vl7NH-K0/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="coffee scrub exfoliant natural homemade beauty" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T9PMEBKvxNA/Uk5ytfYF5VI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Ti2vl7NH-K0/s1600/coffee.jpg" title="coffee scrub exfoliant natural homemade beauty" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.glamour.com/images/beauty/2013/04/cellulite-coffee-scrub-w724.jpg" target="_blank">Coffee scrubs</a> can <a href="http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/4-ways-to-use-coffee-grounds-in-your-beauty-routine.html" target="_blank">naturally exfoliate</a> skin.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span></h4>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 parts of coffee grounds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 part of virgin coconut oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 teaspoon raw honey</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Instructions</b></span></span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mix coffee grounds, oil, and honey until well-blended.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Use as facial and body scrub.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rinse thoroughly.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub</span></b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This recipe is from <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/3628/luxurious-sugar-scrub-recipe-easy/#stq=&stp=0" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QEdyHHn3fmE/Uk5ziUGwEwI/AAAAAAAAAKw/4sD_UjET9C0/s1600/vanilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QEdyHHn3fmE/Uk5ziUGwEwI/AAAAAAAAAKw/4sD_UjET9C0/s1600/vanilla.jpg" height="211" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes/images/i-vanilla-ext.jpg" target="_blank">Vanilla extract</a> can help your skin feel <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/health-and-beauty-with-vanilla" target="_blank">smooth and soft.</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup brown sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup almond oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon real vanilla extract</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Instructions</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mix sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and Vitamin E oil.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Use as facial and body scrub.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rinse thoroughly.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Vanilla Lavender Relaxing Facial Scrub</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This recipe is from <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/3628/luxurious-sugar-scrub-recipe-easy/#stq=&stp=0" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></h4>
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<li>1 cup white sugar</li>
<li>1/2 cup almond oil</li>
<li>1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil</li>
<li>1/2 tsp real vanilla extract</li>
<li>15 drops lavender essential oil</li>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Instructions</b></h4>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mix sugar, almond oil, vanilla extract, and Vitamin E oil.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Add lavender drops.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Use as facial and body scrub.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rinse thoroughly.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Expiration Date</b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because of the oils in these recipes, these homemade scrubs can last on the counter (dry location and far from sunlight) for <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/3628/luxurious-sugar-scrub-recipe-easy/#stq=&stp=0" target="_blank">two months</a>, sometimes even less depending on the weather/climate of your location. You can make smaller batches if you want them fresh every time you use them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Scrubbed Goodness</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These homemade scrubs are so natural that you can even eat them, but of course, don't do it! Save it for your skin, so that you can save your bellies!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These are just some of the natural, simple homemade</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> scrubs we can make at home using basic food materials. They are great exfoliators for men and women with different skin types. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reminders: </b>Every skin is different, so you have to test what is best for your skin. You can manipulate the ratio of the ingredients until you find out the best natural homemade scrub recipe for your delicate skin. You can also try different natural ingredients. Also, be mindful of your allergies, and if you're pregnant, make sure you avoid essential oils that are <a href="http://www.babycentre.co.uk/x536449/is-it-safe-to-use-essential-oils-while-im-pregnant" target="_blank">not good for you</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CFsQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bellybelly.com.au%2Fpregnancy%2Fessential-oils-in-pregnancy-which-essential-oils-are-safe-to-use&ei=mRNaUtrjIIqFiAfs0YDIBg&usg=AFQjCNGMre1PTCw_-4H0BQoMN-x3VB2xGQ&sig2=xrGtpzI--ubE0HQn7VOKKQ&bvm=bv.53899372,d.aGc" target="_blank">your baby</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What's your favorite homemade scrub?</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-58051455492743236752013-10-04T11:25:00.000+08:002014-01-10T20:59:23.678+08:00Baking Soda Wars: The First Battle at Chapel Hill <h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The First Battle at Chapel Hill </b></span></h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqa62CEGaOE/Uk-H91G6PUI/AAAAAAAAALQ/pjN2VQw1UTI/s1600/bigpreview_Garda+and+the+Hilt+of+the+Sword.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Baking soda wars chapel hill " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqa62CEGaOE/Uk-H91G6PUI/AAAAAAAAALQ/pjN2VQw1UTI/s1600/bigpreview_Garda+and+the+Hilt+of+the+Sword.jpg" height="200" title="Baking soda wars chapel hill " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Photo credit: <a href="http://good-wallpapers.com/misc/16106" target="_blank">Sheldon</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clouds of dust mushroom in the battle-torn field. Clashes of spears and swords strike like lightning in a heavy thunderstorm. Groans of men with sliced arms and legs and heads abound.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prince Theo, seventeen in form but thirty in war experience, draws his sword. He launches himself to his enemy, Duke Archibald, who has stolen his crown from him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny turns the TV off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She is so fed up. Not with Prince Theo of <i>Soda Wars</i>. He's pretty cute, though her hubby is much more gallant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny's 31 years old with two lovely kids, one five, the other is two, and a loving husband in the army, and it's a good life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She works at home, which is great, but not perfect. Not that she wants it perfect. What is perfect anyway? It's too much defined by other people, and she doesn't care for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She's just happy she has the skills that allow her to work at home and be with her children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She's trying hard to be a hands-on mom, but to work enough, she needs a nanny. She once had one, but her nanny already retired, and so far, she's testing if she can survive for long without one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, Jenny is so fed up. At least when it comes to herself and the products she buys for her and her family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She's got sensitive body skin, combination of oily-dry facial skin, and dandruff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her kids have rashes every now and then because of heat and sweat. Or perhaps also because of artificial chemicals in all these baby and kid products, as well as cleaning products. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One time, Jenny checked the ingredients of <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">toothpaste</a> and <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-natural-bug-repellent.html" target="_blank">insect repellent lotion</a> she uses for her kids, and she is disgusted with the chemicals she found. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How ironic. What's kid-friendly is not kid-friendly at all after knowing more about these chemicals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She's disgusted with herself the most. She should be more careful in what she uses for her family. She's got to learn more about harsh chemicals in everyday products and find natural alternatives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to her kiddos' skin rashes, the Philippines is a tropical country, so it's hot most of the time, and rashes are expected. But there must be some form of damage control.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for Mama Jenny, dandruff gets her really bad. When she's particularly stressed, she just wants to take off her scalp and beat it up like a carpet to take out the flakes. If only that's possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a home-based researcher, Jenny's ready to delve into new knowledge. Being tired from writing for her research work, she sleeps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Call and Multiple Personalities</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny's talking over the phone with her husband who's in a conflict-ridden zone somewhere in the south.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Yeah, the kids are fine- ZOE DON'T LICK THAT- okay, so when are you coming home? -ACHI THAT'S DIRTY- I see. Well, we'll pray for you my love. ZOE! YOU'LL GET YOURSELF HURT! I'll check air fares later."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The call lasts for an hour. Jenny prepares for her bath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>No 'Poo Battle: Rough on Dandruff</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KY6E_Mj_kSU/UjTtUidaQ3I/AAAAAAAAADw/mOPp5GDrlAQ/s1600/baking+soda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KY6E_Mj_kSU/UjTtUidaQ3I/AAAAAAAAADw/mOPp5GDrlAQ/s1600/baking+soda.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny is ready for battle. She's going to fight the mainstream filled with commercial shampoo and soap with harsh chemicals. If <a href="http://simplemom.net/?s=no+poo+" target="_blank">Tsh</a> can go no 'poo and reap its benefits, she needs a good reaping herself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's bath time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny dissolves some baking soda in warm water and pours it into her old shampoo bottle She shakes it up, and she uses that for shampoo. It doesn't lather, but she doesn't care. She just wants a simple way to clean her hair. Really clean her hair without the chemicals she researched were bad for her scalp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She massages baking soda shampoo from her scalp down to her hair's tips. After a few minutes, she rinses everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny follows up her shampoo with apple cider vinegar (ACV) wash. She puts one tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of water. She stores her new conditioner in her old conditioner bottle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her ACV wash does good for her scalp. One time, she'll try this dandruff remedy from Katie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Apple Cider Vinegar can be very effective against dandruff. Mix with equal parts water and apply to scalp with spray bottle or cloth. Leave on for 1-2 hours with a shower cap and rinse. This can be done 1-2 times a week for best results. <a href="http://simplemom.net/how-to-clean-your-hair-without-shampoo/#more-3894" target="_blank">Katie of Wellness Mama</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny washes her hair well after.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nowadays, she frequently does away with baking soda/ACV and just scrubs her itchy scalp with Dr. Wood's soap and then conditions her hair later while it's drying up with virgin coconut oil. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For facial and body soap, she uses virgin coconut oil as soap sometimes, or baking soda in water, like the <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/baking-soda-soak-for-kids-and-you-too.html" target="_blank">baking soda wash</a> she uses for her kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When she uses body scrubs, she usually uses <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/10/five-natural-simple-homemade-facial-and.html" target="_blank">coffee grounds scrub</a> or <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/10/five-natural-simple-homemade-facial-and.html" target="_blank">sugar scrub</a>. She uses the same for her face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny has won this battle round. No more commercial soap and shampoo for her with different harsh chemicals she is not comfortable with. She's got the fate of her skin and family's skin on her hands. She is ready for the next battle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Battle at Face Value</b></span></h2>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vFgF9fbpZcE/Uk5tZwfiFBI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/D-a3vlCdmcM/s1600/honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vFgF9fbpZcE/Uk5tZwfiFBI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/D-a3vlCdmcM/s1600/honey.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny's got a new facial routine. She washes her face twice a day, if she remembers or if time allows her, <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/simple-natural-no-squeeze-remedy-to.html" target="_blank">to avoid pimples</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When she wakes up, she washes her face with warm water that has a teaspoon of baking soda. If it's facial scrub day, she uses her <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/10/five-natural-simple-homemade-facial-and.html" target="_blank">sugar scrub</a> or <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/10/five-natural-simple-homemade-facial-and.html" target="_blank">coffee ground scrub</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If there's some time, she mixes her facial mask day with reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her facial mask is just egg white mixed with a teaspoon of honey and lime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She'd let the mask stay for 15 to 30 minutes on her face as she reads for pleasure or work on her phone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She washes everything with warm water afterwards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny follows the mask up with apple cider vinegar toner. That's one teaspoon of vinegar for a cup of warm water. She doesn't wash after. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She dabs virgin coconut oil on her fingers and swirls it on her face as moisturizer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She doesn't buy soap and shampoo anymore. She stops buying lotion and moisturizer too. And she feels so free. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Practicality beats hyper-materialism. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jenny yells FREEEEDOOOOM! the way </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">William Wallace (Mel Gibson) does in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Braveheart.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She does it in her mind though because Achilles is asleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Onward to natural living! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fighting for new mindsets on natural, homemade products! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let the slaughter of old habits begin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-46425413865695517152013-10-04T05:06:00.000+08:002014-01-10T20:58:50.667+08:00Healthy Homemade Energy Drink <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you want a healthier and more natural energy drink, you can always depend on the best manufacturer in the world for the best ingredients- Nature. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And you can also rely on the best owner and maker of that amazing sports drink- Yourself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You don't need to buy commercial energy sports drink anymore for your kids or yourself that has too many ingredients that you don't want (i.e. artificial sweeteners, colors, and preservatives). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You don't need to because you can make one, and turn it into any flavor you desire. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Excited much? I sure am! Just hearing (actually reading) about natural homemade energy drinks pumped up my energy!</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>One of the Best Natural Sports Drinks--- Coconut Water! </b></span></h2>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nS2ZAx6Te0U/Uk3brrqRB_I/AAAAAAAAAJA/L3AvAFrF9eo/s1600/coconut-water-6f51be99d73fb9aacd1358747aea2de85aa4d2ff-s6-c30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="coconut water best natural sports drink energy drink DIY homemade " border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nS2ZAx6Te0U/Uk3brrqRB_I/AAAAAAAAAJA/L3AvAFrF9eo/s1600/coconut-water-6f51be99d73fb9aacd1358747aea2de85aa4d2ff-s6-c30.jpg" height="300" title="coconut water best natural sports drink energy drink DIY homemade " width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Coconut water has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did some research on <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/27/coconut-water-ultimate-rehydrator.aspx" target="_blank">natural sports drinks</a> and several websites confirmed the effectiveness of <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2575/natural-sports-drink-alternatives-recipe/" target="_blank">plain coconut water</a> plus a tablespoon of lime or lemon juice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coconut water is considered better than commercial sports drinks because it has "</span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-about-coconut-water" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">." </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The best coconut water would be one that just came right out of the coconut, not commercially-packaged coconut water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, coconut water is different from coconut milk which is squeezed from the inside pulp and used as a common ingredient in coconut-milk based recipes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coconut water is from young, green coconuts. Coconut water is "<a href="http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html" target="_blank">low in calories and a natural source of electrolytes including sodium and potassium</a>." The electrolyte content of coconut water is more than double that of traditional sports drinks with<a href="http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html" target="_blank"> only half of the carbohydrates</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jennifer Koslo, a full-time faculty member with Kaplan University’s School of Health Sciences and a teacher of courses on Vitamins, Herbs, and Nutritional Supplements, Sports Nutrition, and Contemporary Diet and Nutrition, reviewed two studies on the use of coconut water as a <a href="http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html" target="_blank">fluid replacement drink. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One study compared rehydration after exercise using </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">young coconut water, a carbohydrate electrolyte beverage, and plain water. <a href="http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html" target="_blank">Results </a>showed that drinking coconut water post-workout resulted to the same recovery level as </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the carbohydrate electrolyte beverage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second study confirmed the results with some variation: "<a href="http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html" target="_blank">the </a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html" target="_blank">sodium enriched coconut water was as effective as the sports drink in whole body rehydration</a>."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clearly, fresh coconut water with added sodium is a great energy drink, and I've tested it as an effective pre-, during, and post-workout drink.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my country, the Philippines, coconut water is affordable and it is fairly accessible too. If coconut water is not available or too expensive in your area, you can whip up an alternative healthy sports energy substitute with the extra sodium needed for intense workout sessions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Nutritious Homemade Natural Energy Drink</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's an example of a nutritious, natural sports drink recipe without artificial flavors or ingredients from <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2575/natural-sports-drink-alternatives-recipe/" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a>.</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 quart of liquid (options: green tea, herbal teas, or plain water)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">⅛-1/4 tsp <a href="http://products.mercola.com/himalayan-salt/" target="_blank">Himalayan Sea Salt</a> (regular table salt will be alright, but it will not have the same trace minerals as Himalayan Sea Salt)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">¼ to ½ tsp crushed <a href="http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Living/2013-05-21/article-3252943/Calcium,-magnesium-both-have-important-roles-to-play/1" target="_blank">Calcium magnesium</a> tablets or powder (optional)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">¼ cup or more of juice (optional. Some examples are: grape, apple, lemon, lime, pineapple, etc)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1-2 tablespoon sweetener (optional, such as honey and stevia)</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Instructions</b></span></h3>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brew tea if you chose that option or prepare a slightly warm base liquid (aka water).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Add sea salt and calcium magnesium (if you want that in your drink).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Add juice and mix well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cool in the fridge until ready to use.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Example</b></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My recipe is 1 quart of green tea, 1 fourth teaspoon of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of honey, and one fourth cup of apple juice. A practical combination for practical exercisers!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ccwuaFJ431Q/Uk90tFqM9aI/AAAAAAAAALA/cS6yf3NCquM/s1600/energy+drink.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homemade Honey Lemon Energy Drink simple easy effective natural healthy" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ccwuaFJ431Q/Uk90tFqM9aI/AAAAAAAAALA/cS6yf3NCquM/s1600/energy+drink.jpeg" height="400" title="Homemade Honey Lemon Energy Drink" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Homemade Honey Lemon Energy Drink</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Another Thrifty Energy Drink </b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the most frugal energy drink, you can do away with the fruit juices. I made it with just salt, honey and water and it tasted fine. Not sweet like commercial energy drinks, but healthy-goodness fine for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Simple, Healthy Energy Drinks </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's that simple because healthy options should be simple! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plus, you'll love the taste of your natural sports drink too. Why? Because you'll be choosing the right mix for your specific taste! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sweat it out and drink natural goodness afterwards with your healthy homemade energy drink! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What homemade energy drinks have you tried? Any natural homemade energy drink recipes you can share?</b></span></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-60471228945521406112013-09-27T10:58:00.000+08:002014-01-10T20:56:48.508+08:00Kid-Approved Homemade Natural Bug Repellent Spray <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mosquitoes are extra hateful when they bite our precious kids! It seems so easy to just buy commercial insect repellent lotion, but think again. You can make your own homemade natural bug repellent spray in just three easy steps!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before we begin, you have to understand why you must make your own repellent lotion or spray.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you have your insect repellent spray or lotion right now? Check its ingredients. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What does it have? </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InAF5l_qDqw/UkT3N77N2JI/AAAAAAAAAHY/RWWLngOvxrQ/s1600/off.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="insect repellent commercial deet unsafe " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InAF5l_qDqw/UkT3N77N2JI/AAAAAAAAAHY/RWWLngOvxrQ/s400/off.jpeg" height="400" title="insect repellent commercial deet unsafe " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For Kids, but "Keep out of reach of children"? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mine has N-diethyl-meta-toluamide 7.5%, or DEET. Studies are mixed on whether DEET is <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11693870" target="_blank">safe</a> or toxic. One study, however, showed that deet can lead to "rashes, skin or mucous membrane irritation, transient numb or burning lips, dizziness, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating," while another study by <a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/deet/health-effects.html" target="_blank">Velri et al.</a> (1994) stressed that: "Children were not more likely to develop side effects from DEET exposure when compared to an adult population."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apart from these side effects, some researchers learned that DEET can "<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804193230.htm" target="_blank">be toxic to the central nervous system.</a>" Researchers noted that additional studies must be done to verify the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">neurotoxicity of DEET to humans, "<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804193230.htm" target="_blank">especially when deet-based repellents are used in combination with other neurotoxic insecticides.</a>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DEET is potentially toxic to the central nervous system? And why are we even putting lotions with DEET on our children with their developing bodies?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No wonder my insect repellent lotion also says: "Keep out of reach of children." It's crazy that it's made for kids, but it's also not entirely safe for kids! Of course I know that this warning means that this product is not safe to be eaten, but still...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So are you still going to use that DEET-based insect repellent stuff for your kids? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I won't because I found this safe, natural, and homemade recipe for a bug repellent from <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-natural-bug-spray-recipes-that-work/" target="_blank">Katie of Wellness Mama.</a> She actually has several natural insect repellent recipes and they all sound so easy to make, but I'll just focus on the one I tried.</span><br />
<h2>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Natural Insect Repellent Spray Ingredients</span></b></h2>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Essential oils: You can choose from <a href="http://citronella-oil.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Citronella</a>, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/list/how-to-prepare-orange-and-spice-insect-repellent-from-foods-for-dogs-or-people" target="_blank">Clove</a>, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/grow-lemongrass-to-repel-mosquitoes" target="_blank">Lemongrass,</a> <a href="http://www.ahamodernliving.com/blog/garden/five-plants-that-keep-mosquitoes-from-buzzing-in-your-ears/" target="_blank">Rosemary</a>, <a href="http://www.ahamodernliving.com/blog/garden/five-plants-that-keep-mosquitoes-from-buzzing-in-your-ears/" target="_blank">Tea Tree</a>, <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-natural-bug-spray-recipes-that-work/" target="_blank">Cajeput</a>, <a href="http://www.ahamodernliving.com/blog/garden/five-plants-that-keep-mosquitoes-from-buzzing-in-your-ears/" target="_blank">Eucalyptus</a>, <a href="http://homeguides.sfgate.com/mulch-repelling-bugs-53541.html" target="_blank">Cedar</a>, <a href="http://www.ahamodernliving.com/blog/garden/five-plants-that-keep-mosquitoes-from-buzzing-in-your-ears/" target="_blank">Catnip</a>, <a href="http://www.ahamodernliving.com/blog/garden/five-plants-that-keep-mosquitoes-from-buzzing-in-your-ears/" target="_blank">Lavender</a>, <a href="http://www.doityourself.com/stry/mint-a-natural-insect-repellent" target="_blank">Mint</a>. These essential oils can repel insects.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/15-wonderful-uses-for-witch-hazel" target="_blank">Natural Witch Hazel</a></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Distilled or boiled water</span> </li>
</ul>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to Make DIY </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Natural Insect Repellent Spray</span></span></b></h2>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fill spray bottle half-full with distilled or boiled water.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pour witch hazel to fill the rest of the bottle, but leave some space for your essential oils.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Add 30 drops of essential oils. I mixed the following: Lavender, Lemongrass, and Eucalyptus, 10 drops each.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQX1M_TxOLw/UkTzC1EVNmI/AAAAAAAAAHA/-VHQ641YYck/s1600/PaperArtist_2013-09-27_10-35-31.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="natural insect repellent homemade DIY natural deet-free" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQX1M_TxOLw/UkTzC1EVNmI/AAAAAAAAAHA/-VHQ641YYck/s400/PaperArtist_2013-09-27_10-35-31.jpeg" height="400" title="natural insect repellent homemade DIY natural deet-free" width="207" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Homemade Natural Insect Repellent from Lavender, Lemongrass, and Eucalyptus Oils</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Warning for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not all essential oils are safe to handle for pregnant and breastfeeding women. I'm copying the text in italics below verbatim from this <a href="http://modernalternativepregnancy.com/2013/02/16/what-essential-oils-should-i-avoid-in-pregnancy-and-weekend-links/#">article</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Essential Oil Guide for Pregnancy</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The following list is from Everything Essential as a guide for using essential oils for pregnancy. If you have any question about using essential oils, seek out the guidance of a holistic healthcare practitioner.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Oils that are generally okay: </i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Bergamot</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Coriander</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Frankincense</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Geranium</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Grapefruit</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Lavender</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Lemon</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Sandalwood</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Wild Orange</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ylang Ylang</i></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Oils that for some would be better used diluted with a carrier oil (i.e. coconut oil): </i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Clove</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Cypress</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Eucalyptus</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ginger</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Helichrysum</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Marjoram</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Melaleuca</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Myrrh</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Oregano</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Peppermint</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Roman Chamomile</i></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Consult with your healthcare practitioner before using these oils: </i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Basil</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Cassia</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Cinnamon bark</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Clary Sage</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Lemongrass</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Rosemary</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Thyme</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Vetiver</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Wintergreen</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">White Fir</i></li>
</ul>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>* Use peppermint essential oil sparingly near the end of your pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Mint is known to decrease milk production.</i></span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Expiration Date</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I make a 60 ml natural insect repellent spray that gets consumed in a month, and so far, it's good enough to work and to not have any negative effect on my kids. If you think you won't be using too much, make your insect repellent spray in smaller batches (lesser essential oils needed), so you can have it fresh every week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Your Natural Insect Repellent: Your Brand of Loving</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There you go, your very own DEET-free, natural, homemade bug repellent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now you can spray this on your kids without worrying of DEET. You'll love how it smells. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another great thing about this natural insect repellent spray is that it truly works. We have mosquito invaders every now and then, especially now that it's the rainy season, and after spraying this on my skin, I don't get any mosquito bite anymore!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't forget to <b>shake well</b> before every spraying because the oils float on top of the water after some time and to ensure that you dilute the oils well too. Also, you have to reapply if you have washed your skin or you have sweated a lot already.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go ahead, try it and enjoy the scent of your DEET-free natural bug protection. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your skin will love you for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your kids will come running for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But insects will hate you for being so vile to them with your </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">natural insect repellent spray.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Have you tried any natural bug repellent product? What's your favorite combination of oils? </b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-47352684767829180832013-09-25T07:57:00.002+08:002014-01-10T20:55:33.018+08:00Simple, Natural, No-Squeeze Remedy to Pimples<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LgCPtSShTjA/UkIiI4lY-SI/AAAAAAAAAGU/hpfLltxJdWo/s1600/picking-pimples1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pimple squeeze pop natural remedy DIY we are practical moms" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LgCPtSShTjA/UkIiI4lY-SI/AAAAAAAAAGU/hpfLltxJdWo/s400/picking-pimples1.png" height="300" title="pimple squeeze pop natural remedy " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To Pop or Not to Pop?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pimples beg for a squeeze, but do not give in too easily!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Popping your pimples can lead to <a href="http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/acne.cfm" target="_blank">scarring and infection</a>. It</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> can result to a painful </span><a href="http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/acne.cfm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">blemish or a cyst</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and you don't want any cysts at all because you'd need a physician for that, and that makes pimples doubly stressful (cyst plus expenses). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are homemade, natural, and practical remedies for pimples that you can try. American make-up artist, entrepreneur, and blogger Michelle Phan have <a href="http://michellephan.com/blog/post/squeeze-free-pimple-problem-solvers" target="_blank">several tips.</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm going to share with you only what I've tried because it worked for me.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Simple, Natural, and No-Squeeze Remedy to Pimples</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Probably because of stress, I got a pimple yesterday. It's most conveniently located at that corner of my nose, where my nose meets my cheek, right there at the corner. Just by seeing it, I feel so stressful I could imagine it inflating from additional emotional stress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead of popping it, I figured that since I love natural products, I'd research it first. I found out that baking soda paste can dry it instantly. By instantly, I'm not saying you just put it there and voila, the pimple is gone in a second, not even three seconds. By instant, I'm saying it's simple and easy to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do I see after trying my DIY solution? You got that right, no more pimple! The pus is gone! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hurrah baking soda and water! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>What to Do to Annihilate that Zit</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, you need baking soda and a bit of warm water. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You have to make a paste out of the water and baking soda. J</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ust put a little baking soda and add some warm water (the warmer the better, but definitely not scalding hot) on a saucer and mix them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't add too much water because it will make it runny. You need the paste hard enough to stick on that nasty zit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the paste is ready, put it on your zit. You can feel a sting because baking soda is salty. Let it stay there for 30 minutes (I was cleaning our car while waiting for it to dry, so just do your own thing). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After that, wash the baking soda paste out with warm water well. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Simple, natural, no need to pop. Practical solutions are right there in your kitchen. It's that easy to make your own simple, natural, no-squeeze pimple solution.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cheers to one more reason to love baking soda!</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A Lifestyle that Fends off Pimples</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apart from quick and easy solutions, there are ways to help prevent pimples through making lifestyle changes (unless you already have this kind of lifestyle).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ayren Jackson-Cannady of WebMD wrote the article "<a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need" target="_blank">10 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Deal With Acne</a>" that I will summarize for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some important habits that can clear acne the natural way:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1) Get enough sleep.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“<a href="http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-care-11/lifestyle" target="_blank">Stress</a> increases glucocorticoid production, which can lead to abnormalities in skin structure and function, exacerbating conditions like acne,” says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist in Danville, Calif. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sleep helps us manage stress, so getting enough sleep can diminish stress, and with reduced stress, the less prone you will be to acne.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>What is the meaning of <a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need" target="_blank">enough sleep</a>?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<img alt="How Much Sleep Do You Really Need" src="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/sites/default/files/how_much_large.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2) Cut back the sugar.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some kinds of foods result to higher blood glucose which stimulates an insulin boost and produces inflammation on a cellular level, says <a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need" target="_blank">Badreshia-Bansal</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Too much insulin can can result to hormonal changes that can lead to an "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need" target="_blank">overactive oil gland activity.</a>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eat more whole grains, beans, and vegetables to have <a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need" target="_blank">fewer breakouts.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>3) Exercise.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need" target="_blank">Exercise</a> reduces stress, improves circulation that pumps up oxygen to our skin cells and removes cellular wastes, and boosts our immune system.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need" target="_blank">Shower after workouts</a> though to remove perspiration that can cause breakouts. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4) Drink enough H2O.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A study from the University of Missouri-Columbia showed that water enhances blood flow throughout the body and skin. Your skin must have enough water to remove waste materials that cause breakouts and drinking water greatly helps the waste-removing process.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How much water do you need?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. From <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>5) Consume Omega-3 Fatty Acids.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/Become%20a%20Fan%20of%20Omega-3%20Fatty%20Acids%20%20It%20seems%20like%20there%E2%80%99s%20no%20end%20to%20the%20benefits%20of%20omega-3%20fatty%20acids%20(aka%20%E2%80%9Cgood%20fats%E2%80%9D).%20And%20here%E2%80%99s%20one%20more%20for%20you:%20Omega-3s%20have%20been%20shown%20to%20control%20the%20production%20of%20leukotriene%20B4,%20a%20molecule%20that%20can%20increase%20sebum%20and%20cause%20inflammatory%20acne.%20To%20reap%20the%20benefits%20of%20the%20complexion-perfecting%20nutrient,%20pop%20a%20daily%20omega-3%20supplement,%20or%20add%20foods%20like%20walnuts,%20avocados,%20flaxseed%20oil,%20and%20salmon%20into%20your%20diet.%20%20%20%20%20Skin-Saving%20Change%20No.%207:%20Cleanse%20Twice%20a%20Day%20%20The%20face%20has%20more%20oil-producing%20glands%20than%20any%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20body,%20says%20Carolyn%20Jacob,%20MD,%20a%20Chicago-based%20dermatologist.%20Top%20that%20with%20a%20day%E2%80%99s%20worth%20of%20makeup,%20sweat,%20smog,%20dust,%20and%20dirt,%20and%20you%E2%80%99re%20left%20with%20a%20pore-clogging%20concoction%20that,%20if%20not%20washed%20away%20regularly,%20will%20seep%20into%20and%20clog%20pores,%20resulting%20in%20blackheads%20and%20pimples.%20Even%20if%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20shower%20twice%20a%20day,%20it%E2%80%99s%20important%20to%20cleanse%20your%20face%20in%20the%20morning%20and%20at%20night.%20Look%20for%20cleansers%20that%20say%20%E2%80%9Cnoncomedogenic%E2%80%9D%20on%20the%20bottle%20and%20wash%20your%20face%20thoroughly%20--%20and%20gently%20--%20every%20a.m.%20and%20p.m.%20%20%20%20%20Skin-Saving%20Change%20No.%208:%20Exfoliate%20%20Sure,%20overzealous%20oil%20glands%20can%20lead%20to%20breakouts,%20but%20so%20can%20under-performing%20oil%20glands.%20Dry%20skin%20has%20tiny%20cracks%20in%20which%20bacteria%20can%20breed,%20plus%20excessive%20flaking%20can%20lead%20to%20clogged%20pores.%20The%20fix:%20Gently%20exfoliate%20skin%20a%20few%20times%20a%20week%20with%20a%20scrub%20designed%20for%20the%20face,%20and%20follow%20up%20with%20a%20noncomedogenic%20(there%E2%80%99s%20that%20word%20again)%20moisturizer.%20%20Skin-Saving%20Change%20No.%209:%20De-Germ%20Your%20Cell%20Phone%20%20Several%20studies%20have%20shown%20that%20cell%20phones%20are%20hotbeds%20for%20germs.%20Throughout%20any%20given%20day%20your%20phone%20can%20be%20exposed%20to%20thousands%20of%20bacteria,%20which%20spread%20from%20your%20fingers%20(via%20texting)%20to%20your%20face%20(via%20talking)%20and%20vice%20versa.%20In%20addition,%20the%20heat%20produced%20by%20your%20phone%20can%20aid%20in%20the%20multiplication%20of%20bacteria.%20Yuck!%20To%20keep%20the%20germs%20from%20landing%20on%20your%20face,%20wipe%20the%20surface%20of%20your%20phone%20with%20a%20little%20hand%20sanitizer%20each%20day." target="_blank">Omega-3s</a> can reduce the production of leukotriene B4, a molecule that can make sebum and create inflammatory acne. Foods that are rich in Omega-3 are walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil, and salmon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>6) Clean your face twice a day.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/Become%20a%20Fan%20of%20Omega-3%20Fatty%20Acids%20%20It%20seems%20like%20there%E2%80%99s%20no%20end%20to%20the%20benefits%20of%20omega-3%20fatty%20acids%20(aka%20%E2%80%9Cgood%20fats%E2%80%9D).%20And%20here%E2%80%99s%20one%20more%20for%20you:%20Omega-3s%20have%20been%20shown%20to%20control%20the%20production%20of%20leukotriene%20B4,%20a%20molecule%20that%20can%20increase%20sebum%20and%20cause%20inflammatory%20acne.%20To%20reap%20the%20benefits%20of%20the%20complexion-perfecting%20nutrient,%20pop%20a%20daily%20omega-3%20supplement,%20or%20add%20foods%20like%20walnuts,%20avocados,%20flaxseed%20oil,%20and%20salmon%20into%20your%20diet.%20%20%20%20%20Skin-Saving%20Change%20No.%207:%20Cleanse%20Twice%20a%20Day%20%20The%20face%20has%20more%20oil-producing%20glands%20than%20any%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20body,%20says%20Carolyn%20Jacob,%20MD,%20a%20Chicago-based%20dermatologist.%20Top%20that%20with%20a%20day%E2%80%99s%20worth%20of%20makeup,%20sweat,%20smog,%20dust,%20and%20dirt,%20and%20you%E2%80%99re%20left%20with%20a%20pore-clogging%20concoction%20that,%20if%20not%20washed%20away%20regularly,%20will%20seep%20into%20and%20clog%20pores,%20resulting%20in%20blackheads%20and%20pimples.%20Even%20if%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20shower%20twice%20a%20day,%20it%E2%80%99s%20important%20to%20cleanse%20your%20face%20in%20the%20morning%20and%20at%20night.%20Look%20for%20cleansers%20that%20say%20%E2%80%9Cnoncomedogenic%E2%80%9D%20on%20the%20bottle%20and%20wash%20your%20face%20thoroughly%20--%20and%20gently%20--%20every%20a.m.%20and%20p.m.%20%20%20%20%20Skin-Saving%20Change%20No.%208:%20Exfoliate%20%20Sure,%20overzealous%20oil%20glands%20can%20lead%20to%20breakouts,%20but%20so%20can%20under-performing%20oil%20glands.%20Dry%20skin%20has%20tiny%20cracks%20in%20which%20bacteria%20can%20breed,%20plus%20excessive%20flaking%20can%20lead%20to%20clogged%20pores.%20The%20fix:%20Gently%20exfoliate%20skin%20a%20few%20times%20a%20week%20with%20a%20scrub%20designed%20for%20the%20face,%20and%20follow%20up%20with%20a%20noncomedogenic%20(there%E2%80%99s%20that%20word%20again)%20moisturizer.%20%20Skin-Saving%20Change%20No.%209:%20De-Germ%20Your%20Cell%20Phone%20%20Several%20studies%20have%20shown%20that%20cell%20phones%20are%20hotbeds%20for%20germs.%20Throughout%20any%20given%20day%20your%20phone%20can%20be%20exposed%20to%20thousands%20of%20bacteria,%20which%20spread%20from%20your%20fingers%20(via%20texting)%20to%20your%20face%20(via%20talking)%20and%20vice%20versa.%20In%20addition,%20the%20heat%20produced%20by%20your%20phone%20can%20aid%20in%20the%20multiplication%20of%20bacteria.%20Yuck!%20To%20keep%20the%20germs%20from%20landing%20on%20your%20face,%20wipe%20the%20surface%20of%20your%20phone%20with%20a%20little%20hand%20sanitizer%20each%20day." target="_blank">Clean your face twice a day</a>, morning and evening, to remove the buildup of dirt and toxins that block your pores. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I use baking soda (I put a dash of baking soda on warm water) to wash my face, and I follow it up with raw honey and let it soak in my skin for two to five minutes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After that, I use <a href="http://theskinnyconfidential.com/2013/04/18/applecidervinegarbenefits/" target="_blank">apple cider vinegar</a> rinse for toning (1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water). I then put light virgin coconut oil (VCO) for moisturizing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Moisturizing is still important even if your face is oily because it helps to <a href="http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/effective-homemade-moisturizers-for-oily-skin/" target="_blank">naturally hydrate</a> the skin, which can help control oil production. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>7) Exfoliate.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/tips/what-is-exfoliation1.htm" target="_blank">Exfoliating</a> a few days a week followed by a natural moisturizer can help manage oil glands. I exfoliate every three to four days. Here are <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/10/five-natural-simple-homemade-facial-and.html" target="_blank">some natural exfoliating facial scrubs.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>8) Clean your cellphones.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the causes of your breakouts might be your "dirty" cellphone. Wipe your cellphones clean with a sanitizer daily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Basically, making your own </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">simple, natural, no-squeeze remedy recipe is just a short-term fix. It's better to have a lifestyle that can help you avoid breakouts in the first place.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Reminder: Some Limitations</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used this remedy for a small zit, the one that has some pus in it. This remedy does not have a fast effect on larger pimples. For bigger pimples, keep your face clean by washing twice daily with any DIY face wash, and you can also try oil cleansing. Also, keep in mind that a healthy diet and natural-living lifestyle are also staples to removing pimples.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Bust that Zit</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bust that zit without popping it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scar, not your face, but the habits and food that you think contribute to it.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Have you tried this simple, natural, no-squeeze remedy to pimples? </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What are the natural ways you do to remove your pimple? </b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-60645534683419231762013-09-19T01:51:00.002+08:002013-09-20T03:14:00.572+08:00Full <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">To live to work is to be a fool,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">money and things deserve no drool.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Working to live, now that's a full.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">People don't need to empty their pockets,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">to earn a full life, it's not in the moneyed sockets,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">but in the hands that are full</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">with works of love, so beautiful,</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br />a soul that knows it's bountiful.<br /><br />Let's be full, not fools.<br />Empty out the weight,<br />run to our destiny, claim our fate!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTQkNeDKOkA/UjnnwROkpcI/AAAAAAAAAFc/_7M7Ie8kGzk/s1600/some+people+are+so+poor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="poem mom mother writing simple simplicity natural living dreams love family full life spirituality DIY " border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTQkNeDKOkA/UjnnwROkpcI/AAAAAAAAAFc/_7M7Ie8kGzk/s320/some+people+are+so+poor.jpg" height="195" title="poem mom mother writing simple simplicity natural living dreams love family full life spirituality DIY " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Money is good, but to pursue a full soul and life is even better.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-88948977259670036332013-09-19T01:44:00.000+08:002013-09-20T03:12:41.060+08:00The Thunder<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">It peels the sky,</span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">smites with power, the silent fly,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">but all rage and rapidity</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">is gone</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /><br />when the rain comes,<br />the thunder sighs.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_rODRittWU/UjnmCGw7f9I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/eXaN63vJv5Q/s1600/raise+your+words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="poet mother writer DIY parenting discipline love silence " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_rODRittWU/UjnmCGw7f9I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/eXaN63vJv5Q/s320/raise+your+words.jpg" height="320" title="poet mother writer DIY parenting discipline love silence " width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rain Mothers</span></td></tr>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-12172322889521008612013-09-19T01:38:00.001+08:002013-09-22T02:06:56.422+08:00Practical Moms, Practicing Poets<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is no frigate like a book (1263)</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">by Emily Dickinson<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is no Frigate like a Book </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To take us Lands away, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nor any Coursers like a Page </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of prancing Poetry – </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This Traverse may the poorest take </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without oppress of Toll – </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How frugal is the Chariot </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That bears a Human soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who says practical, work-at-home moms can't be poets? Novelists? Writers? We are definitely scientists because of our systematic methods of finding inexpensive (relatively inexpensive at times because some organic products can be remarkably expensive) natural products for us and our family, and I say we can be poets too! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfV_mZYHatc/UjnkxzdZxRI/AAAAAAAAAFI/b_opBoqqa5E/s1600/thoughtful-pen-writing-24581037-2560-1702+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="writing moms DI writer blogger soulful family " border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfV_mZYHatc/UjnkxzdZxRI/AAAAAAAAAFI/b_opBoqqa5E/s320/thoughtful-pen-writing-24581037-2560-1702+(1).jpg" height="212" title="writing moms DI writer blogger soulful family " width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mom Writers in a Digital World</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dickinson is right on. We'll ride our Frigates and Prance our poetry. Let's have our Chariots running wild. We practical moms can ride them manically! Human souls, passing-by!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's write about poohs, poo-poo, and no 'poo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">about beauty, lifestyle, health, and stealth,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">sex, money, or the lack thereof,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">silly things, happy things, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">nothing that means something,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and nothing that means everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Women issues, parent issues,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">marriage, global warming, and inner wars,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">epic battles won, others still ongoing,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">poems and novels, blogs and tweets,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Frigates and Chariots, fearless and free!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do you write poems too? What's your inspiration in writing them?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#mompoets #writingmoms #momsathome #practicingpoets #literature #momwriters #chariots #dickinson #humansoul</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-50555154149882530932013-09-19T01:28:00.002+08:002014-01-08T16:23:54.298+08:00The Future of DIY in WeArePracticalMoms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So many topics, so little time to do them all! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wish I don't need to sleep, so I can work on some of my DIY projects while my kids are asleep! I also yearn to read and learn more on DIY and homemade products! Aaaarrgh, sleep, why do you have to exist! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, h</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ere are some of the DIY natural products I plan to do in the future, hopefully the nearest future:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Oregano oil- Because we have oregano plants and they are just wilting so needlessly. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="oregano DIY homemade oil remedies natural medicine" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmULxW0P1HM/UjnhxmRTDMI/AAAAAAAAAE8/d7l3hIOGKog/s320/oregano1.jpg" height="239" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="oregano DIY homemade oil remedies natural medicine" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Oregano is used for respiratory tract disorders such as coughs, asthma, croup, and bronchitis." <a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-644-OREGANO.aspx?activeIngredientId=644&activeIngredientName=OREGANO" target="_blank">Web MD</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) A more intensive and extensive discussion of baking soda's uses and risks/limitations</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KY6E_Mj_kSU/UjTtUidaQ3I/AAAAAAAAADw/mOPp5GDrlAQ/s1600/baking+soda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="DIY baking soda uses homemade remedies natural beauty organic living safe useful " border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KY6E_Mj_kSU/UjTtUidaQ3I/AAAAAAAAADw/mOPp5GDrlAQ/s1600/baking+soda.jpg" title="DIY baking soda uses homemade remedies natural beauty organic living safe useful " /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Is Baking Soda Truly Natural?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Making my own <strike>natural shampoo, soap, and insect repellent spray </strike></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(done).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4) Making DIY products for Christmas (not done- sadly).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5) Writing about fluoride, do we really need it to have healthy gums and teeth? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any other suggestions? I am quite busy with family and research work, so I may not be as blog-productive as I want to be. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I will continue writing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the name of DIY love, natural beauty, natural living, organic products, healthy lifestyle, and practical, positive parenting.</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-15840565106936864892013-09-18T07:04:00.001+08:002014-01-22T18:01:11.948+08:00Three Easy Steps for Baking Soda Toothpaste (Safe for Kids)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Toothpaste is supposed to clean your teeth, leaving it smelling fresh and healthy. <i>Supposedly. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is also supposed to be safe for kids, if it's made for kids. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Supposedly</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But is it just me or do I sometimes feel that my mouth is still not clean enough after brushing with toothpaste? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about those chemicals I can hardly pronounce in my baby's toothpaste? Are they <i>really</i> safe?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you want to know more on why you should be making DIY toothpaste for your kids and yourself, read on, if not, meaning you're convinced you want to make a homemade toothpaste, you can proceed to the recipe at the end.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Commercial Toothpaste's Ingredients: Are They Safe? </b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the first time in my life, I checked the ingredients of my toothpaste (a local brand). I researched on what they are for and their risks/disadvantages. Below is a snapshot of my toothpaste's ingredients.</span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxgg8u-n11I/UjjFZvNtK1I/AAAAAAAAAEs/giYet_UOGIE/s1600/toothpaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><img alt="toothpaste ingredients DIY homemade toothpaste" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxgg8u-n11I/UjjFZvNtK1I/AAAAAAAAAEs/giYet_UOGIE/s400/toothpaste.jpg" height="180" title="toothpaste ingredients DIY homemade toothpaste" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What My Toothpaste Contains (Kind of murky-looking because of the shadows, and also perhaps because the murkiness foreshadows its deep dark secrets, scary musical background added)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Flouride</b>, aka </span><a href="http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/sodium_monofluorophosphate.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">sodium monoflurophosphate</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, in my toothpaste, check. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorbitol</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. What is this? I checked and when consumed in large amounts, it can lead to "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a range of gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating," according to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://cspinet.org/foodsafety/labeling_sorbitol.html" target="_blank">The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)</a> and "</span><a chronic_id="091e9c5e800079b6" crosslinkid="5629" directive="friendlyurl" externalid="091e9c5e800079b6" href="http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomiting" keywordid="38405" keywordsetid="9410" object_type="wbmd_pb_page" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Nausea</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, gas, </span><a chronic_id="091e9c5e80007ea0" crosslinkid="5461" directive="friendlyurl" externalid="091e9c5e80007ea0" href="http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-diarrhea" keywordid="7253" keywordsetid="1090" object_type="wbmd_pb_page" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">diarrhea</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a chronic_id="091e9c5e8035ee80" crosslinkid="70401" directive="friendlyurl" externalid="091e9c5e8035ee80" href="http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-stomach" keywordid="58694" keywordsetid="25972" object_type="wbmd_pb_page" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">stomach</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> cramps or anal irritation" said the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-10305-sorbitol+misc.aspx?drugid=10305&drugname=sorbitol+misc" target="_blank">WebMD</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I wonder how much sorbitol is in my toothpaste, hopefully not <a href="http://cspinet.org/foodsafety/labeling_sorbitol.html" target="_blank">10 grams or more</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Okay, I am learning more about the science of making toothpaste.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/hydrated_silica.html" target="_blank">Hydrate silica</a>.</b> It seems <a href="http://www.goodguide.com/ingredients/104385-hydrated-silica" target="_blank">safe</a>, as a <a href="http://www.ask.com/question/what-is-hydrated-silica" target="_blank">mild abrasive to clean teeth and to provide a gel-like quality to toothpaste.</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Water is another ingredient of my toothpaste.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/13/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.aspx" target="_blank">Sodium Lauryl Sulfate</a>. </b>Another unknown entity for me. It is added to toothpaste because it serves as a<a href="http://www.chemistry.co.nz/surfactants.htm" target="_blank"> surfactant</a>. Sources are mixed on the safety level of this chemical. Some say it's carcinogenic, while others say it is <a href="http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/SLS/" target="_blank">not, although higher usage may lead to some problems</a>, such as <a href="http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/3-540-31294-3_30#page-1" target="_blank">skin irritation</a>. Okay, knowing that it can be an irritant and it may be carcinogenic just makes my toothpaste a lot less appealing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.clearcoproducts.com/pdf/cosmetic/NP-PEG-12-Dimethicone.pdf" target="_blank"><b>PEG-12.</b> </a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><a href="http://www.clearcoproducts.com/pdf/cosmetic/NP-PEG-12-Dimethicone.pdf" target="_blank">Polyethylene glycol (PEG)</a> lets the toothpaste foam and produces the smooth feeling after brushing. Is it safe? Not proven to be carcinogenic but it may <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/704504/PEG-12_DIMETHICONE/#" target="_blank">"</a></span><span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/704504/PEG-12_DIMETHICONE/#" target="_blank">contain potentially toxic manufacturing impurities such as 1,4-dioxane."</a> Manufacturing impurities. Interesting in a mood-deflating sense.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701190/CELLULOSE_GUM/" target="_blank">Cellulose Gum</a>. </b>Gum seems nice, while cellulose sounds greenish and natural. Cellulose gum is a "<span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701190/CELLULOSE_GUM/" target="_blank">a chemically-treated cellulose derivative</a>" that comes from "</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/448293-is-cellulose-gum-harmful/" target="_blank">cell walls of woody plants, most often trees and cotton</a>." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rates cellulose gum as GRAS/FS, or "<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/448293-is-cellulose-gum-harmful/" target="_blank">generally</a> </span></span><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/448293-is-cellulose-gum-harmful/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13px;" target="_blank">regarded as safe, but subject to limitations in some foods."</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13px;">This means consumption must be limited and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13px;">"<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/448293-is-cellulose-gum-harmful/" target="_blank">in accordance with good manufacturing practices."</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cellulose gum is used in both edible and non-edible products. It does not really harm humans, but <a href="http://myths-made-real.blogspot.com/2012/10/they-actually-eat-that-cellulose-gum.html?showComment=1379454253489#c6825967215492564533" target="_blank">it cannot be digested</a>, so it just goes out of our system as it is. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13px;">It is in toothpaste because as a polymer, it lets different things that don't mix well to mix well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sodium Saccharin. </b>It's an artificial sweetener. It has been linked to <a href="http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/sodium-saccharin-1859.html" target="_blank">bladder cancer in rats</a>, although one academic<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2202324" target="_blank"> journal article </a>suggested that it does not translate to bladder cancer among humans. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><b>Methylparaben</b>. </span></span><span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703937/METHYLPARABEN/#" target="_blank">Methylparaben</a> belongs to the paraben family of preservatives that is commonly used in food, pharmaceutical, and personal care products. Parabens act like estrogen, so it may possibly <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703937/METHYLPARABEN/#" target="_blank">disrupt the hormone (endocrine) system.</a> Parabens have been linked to <a href="http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=291" target="_blank">breast cancer and toxicity issues</a>, though <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19101832" target="_blank">other </a><a href="http://ijt.sagepub.com/content/3/5/147.short" target="_blank">studies</a> do not find a connection between methylparaben and cancer.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Propylparaben</b>. It is a fragrance ingredient that has the same <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705335/PROPYLPARABEN/#" target="_blank">risks </a>as methyparaben.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mica. <a href="http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/toothpaste/project.htm" target="_blank">Mica</a> </b>is a mineral that acts as an abrasive that cleans teeth and it gives a shimmering effect to toothpaste.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fffbf7;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>CI 42090. </b>It gives my toothpaste its <a href="http://www.cosmeticanalysis.com/cosmetic-ingredients/ci-42090.html" target="_blank">bluish</a> color. It is <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/717787/CI_42090/" target="_blank">not potentially toxic or harmful</a> to people.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border: 0px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basically, my reaction after doing my research is, whoa. That makes my toothpaste not exactly safe to use and healthy to me and my kids. It's definitely better to just make my own homemade toothpaste!</span></span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Enter, the Baking Soda</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These chemicals that seek to clean my teeth and protect it from cavities have some health risks involved (not so kid-friendly!), so what should I do? What can I use as toothpaste?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BS. Yes, Baking soda! Baking soda will be my new toothpaste.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Why Baking Soda?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Contrary to (somewhat) popular (mis)belief, baking soda does not erode tooth enamel, according to the study of <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00784-004-0262-7#page-1" target="_blank">Menezes et al.</a> (2004). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Furthermore, baking soda, based on <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">my experience</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&ved=0CG4QFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fbrowse%2Fanecdotal&ei=641ZUvqeIJChiQfYyIG4Bw&usg=AFQjCNGQIFjpX00mIBiC3Que4X5BRMHp3w&sig2=f5McOKwaA_efEvz0Izs1kA&bvm=bv.53899372,d.aGc" target="_blank">anecdotal</a> evidence (<a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/" target="_blank">users comments</a> from Wellness Mama, for instance), can <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/" target="_blank">clean teeth</a> and freshen breath better than commercial toothpaste brands and can result to strong, white, healthy teeth and gums because it can <a href="http://oralcarepro.com/pdfs/articles/JCD-19-4_Ghassemi.pdf" target="_blank">effectively remove plaque</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, baking soda has no fluoride, so it's safe for babies and young kids. Although for my toddler, I just use virgin coconut oil as his toothpaste (it has <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste.html" target="_blank">antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties</a>) because he might not like baking soda's salty taste.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Homemade Baking Soda Toothpaste Recipe</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I searched for baking soda toothpaste recipes online and the one from <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/1772/how-to-make-natural-toothpaste/" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a> appealed the most to me because it is so easy to do and I have most of the ingredients at home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have the simplest version, which is found below. That's my daughter, my toothpaste model :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jtZwQLRHuqw/Ut-TWwZedtI/AAAAAAAAARg/-y2qCRI4rQo/s1600/How+to+Make+Your+Own+Baking+Soda+Toothpaste+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="how to make your own baking soda toothpaste that is non-toxic, natural, easy, and affordable" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jtZwQLRHuqw/Ut-TWwZedtI/AAAAAAAAARg/-y2qCRI4rQo/s1600/How+to+Make+Your+Own+Baking+Soda+Toothpaste+final.jpg" height="418" title="how to make your own baking soda toothpaste" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's another version of homemade baking soda toothpaste, as adapted from </span><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/1772/how-to-make-natural-toothpaste/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span></h3>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6 teaspoons baking soda</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 tablespoons coconut oil (warm enough to be liquid, which means above 76 degrees F)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Calamansi (lime) or lemon extract</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10 drops orange oil or other oils you think your babies would prefer (for babies and kids to like the taste)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/1772/how-to-make-natural-toothpaste/" target="_blank">Wellness Mama</a> had the following additional ingredients in her toothpaste.</span></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 small packets of stevia powder (for sweeter taste because baking soda is salty)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">15-20 drops of peppermint or cinnamon essential oil </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(optional for taste)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract (optional)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10 drops myrhh extract (optional)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What To Do: Three Easy Steps to Make Baking Soda Toothpaste</span></b></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">1) Melt the coconut oil if it has hardened. Combine and manipulate all ingredients, including essential oils, according to the taste and consistency you want. If it's too runny, add more baking soda. Too hard? Add more oil. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">2) After mixing everything, put your toothpaste into a small glass jar. Let it cool if hot. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">3) Dip your clean toothbrush into it every time you need it or use a small spoon to take out the toothpaste. It's important to keep your toothpaste clean because since it is natural-made, it can spoil if you put in something dirty. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">Brush like ordinary toothpaste, but limit it to <a href="http://www.draxe.com/6-ways-to-naturally-whiten-your-teeth/" target="_blank">two minutes</a> at the most because baking soda can affect tooth enamel according to some users. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">Rinse mouth with water after. Rinse again if you still taste something salty on your mouth. Baking soda is salty by the way, so your toothpaste will taste <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/021618_baking_soda_home_remedies.html" target="_blank">salty</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">Babies cannot gargle yet, but with a small amount of this toothpaste, you can be sure it's <i>safer</i> because it does not have all those questionable manufactured chemicals in them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">If your toothpaste has hardened, you can add a little more coconut oil to soften it or just get a spoon and scoop it out and press and spread it on your brush.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><b>Expiration Date</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">The mixture may be enough to last a month or so, depending on how many are using it. Wellness Mama says hers lasted for six months without spoiling. Virgin Coconut Oil acts as a natural preservative, so your toothpaste should last long enough until you fully consume it. Make sure you mix well for the baking soda to absorb the oil well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 20px;"><b>After You Baking-Soda Your Dental Care, What Happens?</b></span></span></h2>
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<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CDstuuRDSm0/Ut-VxentZAI/AAAAAAAAARs/1o7oEngJmEM/s1600/seven+surprising+benefits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="seven surprising benefits of baking soda toothpaste " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CDstuuRDSm0/Ut-VxentZAI/AAAAAAAAARs/1o7oEngJmEM/s1600/seven+surprising+benefits.jpg" height="480" title="seven surprising benefits of baking soda toothpaste " width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">After I brush, my teeth and gums feel cleaner and my breath is a lot fresher. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">So far, I've personally experienced seven benefits of using baking soda toothpaste: 1) clean teeth, 2) fresh breath, 3) safe because of the absence of toxic chemicals, 4) kid-friendly because it has no fluoride, 5) decreases teeth sensitivity to coldness, 6) reduces plaque, and 7) so much affordable to store-bought brands.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">I simply love my Homemade Baking Soda Toothpaste, enough said. It's an effective, safe, and practical alternative, especially when compared to more expensive toothpastes. </span><br />
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Baby-Friendly Toothpaste</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">This toothpaste is baby-friendly because it does not have fluoride</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">. In order to be more palatable to your kids, you can add orange oil or any other oil you think will make this natural toothpaste taste better for them. Or you can just use virgin coconut oil on your baby.</span></div>
<div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 20px;">Where's the Fluoride?</span></b></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Well, some dentists will hate me for saying this but it is not exactly needed to have clean and healthy teeth and gums. I will make a separate blog entry for that. Also, we regularly eat food with fluoride. </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to the <a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/content/fresh_foods/" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>, these are several fruits that have some fluoride in them:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apple</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Avocado</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Banana</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cantaloupe</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cherries</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grapefruit</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peaches</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pears</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plums</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Strawberries</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Watermelon</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bananas are mainstays in our diet, while we eat avocados, watermelon, and strawberries, when they are in season and less expensive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Toothpaste Heaven</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heaven feels safe. Good. Natural.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's what baking soda toothpaste is for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Toothpaste heaven without added artificial preservatives, colors, and other chemicals that are not needed to clean our teeth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Toothpaste heaven to share with you all.</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><b>Have you checked what your toothpaste has too? What are some chemicals in it that surprised you? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><b>Have you tried making your own toothpaste? How was the experience?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-84137999858103401262013-09-15T07:15:00.005+08:002014-01-10T20:54:26.081+08:00Two Ridiculously Easy Steps to Heal Skin Rashes: Baking Soda Bath for Kids (And You Too!)<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is your baby crying because of diaper rash or any other skin rashes? Help is on the way!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you hate the idea of harsh chemicals found in baby soap and shampoo touching the skin of your most precious creation? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Help is on the way!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What if I tell you that you can use something that is so </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ridiculously </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">simple, it seems fake?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Help is on the way!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You don't need to buy expensive baby shampoo and soap, as well as diaper rash ointments, because you can use one product only!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm talking about <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/baking-soda-alkalizing-bath-balances-over-acid-system" target="_blank">baking soda bath</a> (also called baking soda soak) that can heal skin rashes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have tried it too and it feels great! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My kids love it, especially my 5-year-old Zoe who uses it everyday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My children tend to have <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/heat_rash/article.htm" target="_blank">skin rashes</a> because of heat and sweat and sometimes they have insect bites too, and baking soda soak helps in <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/471995-baking-soda-water-for-a-skin-rash/" target="_blank">relieving</a> and curing them. My toddler sometimes have diaper rash also and baking soda bath cured it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is natural, DIY baking soda bath a magical rash treatment? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is for me! I don't need to buy any of those expensive diaper rash creams anymore that I used to buy for them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Baking soda bath is magically practical. Seriously DIY. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Things you need:</span></b></h2>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup of baking soda</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bathtub or basin</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Microfiber/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luffa" target="_blank">loofah</a></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Optional: Fresh kalamansi (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_(fruit)" target="_blank">lime</a>) or lemon extract</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Optional: </span><a href="http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oil.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Essential oil</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> like lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus, for instance, as long as you and your kids are not allergic to it. You'd want this if you want a specific scent. </span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KY6E_Mj_kSU/UjTtUidaQ3I/AAAAAAAAADs/ih6jufNX88w/s1600/baking+soda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="baking soda DIY mama parent natural" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KY6E_Mj_kSU/UjTtUidaQ3I/AAAAAAAAADs/ih6jufNX88w/s1600/baking+soda.jpg" title="baking soda DIY mama parent natural" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Baking soda is good for many things. Taking a bath with baking soda in the water can do everything from detoxify your body to help with diaper rash and infections. Try out these various baking soda bath ideas to find the one that suits your needs." <a href="http://www.expertclinic.org/Baking-Soda-Bath.html" target="_blank">Expert Clinic</a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-8HwchSFlg/UjTtlR2hAgI/AAAAAAAAAD0/e6DI9ovvilY/s1600/microfiber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="microfiber cleaning natural " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-8HwchSFlg/UjTtlR2hAgI/AAAAAAAAAD0/e6DI9ovvilY/s320/microfiber.jpg" height="184" title="microfiber cleaning natural " width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/4697/microfiber-for-natural-cleaning/" target="_blank">Microfiber </a>can be used to clean a lot of things, including our face and bodies. Some people have completely forgone soap to use microfiber cloth and water only :)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What to do:</span></b></h3>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">1) Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to warm water in a tub that has fresh kalamansi/lime/lemon extract (and 3-5 drops of essential oil if you want) and mix, mix, mix. (Note: Since we don't have a bathtub we use a large basin.) </span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) I let Zoe stay there for 10 minutes and she cleans her body using loofah. You can use microfiber cloth for the body and face (microfiber facial cloth) too. </span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's it, soap and soak in one. No need to rinse after, or you can also rinse afterwards if you want.</span><br />
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<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Good Baking Soda Does</span></b></h2>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Zoe's and Achi's skin allergies and "bungang-araw" or <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/rash/article.htm" target="_blank">rashes</a> dried up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Baking soda can<a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34169817.tip.html" target="_blank"> exfoliate skin</a>, so it leaves soft and smooth skin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) This bath <a href="http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/" target="_blank">conserves water</a>. Since baking soda does not lather, washing with water after to remove the soapiness is not needed. Practical Moms hurrah!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4) No need for soap and shampoo that tend to have harsh chemicals, which strip off skin's/hair's natural oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5) Baking soda bath relieves itchy insect <a href="http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/07/homemade-remedies-for-the-relief-of-insect-stings-and-bites/" target="_blank">bites and burns</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baking soda soaking </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">can cure<a href="http://children.webmd.com/tc/diaper-rash-home-treatment" target="_blank"> diaper rash</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baking soda</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> bath can also relieve <a href="http://www.healthcareveda.com/post/Baking-Soda-Yeast-Infections.aspx" target="_blank">yeast infection</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8) Natural Happiness! Zoe enjoys soaking and playing in the water and loves the warm, clean feeling afterwards. </span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">9) You have just successfully made your DIY bath soak. Independence from commercial baby and rash soap, shampoo, and ointments!</span></span></span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Some Downsides</b></span></h2>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) No suds for suds lovers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) If you feel that your kid's skin dried up too much, decrease baking soda's amount. Too oily? Increase baking soda a little. A different problem? Check with your doctor. This baking soda soak works only for my and my children's specific skin concerns and my practical needs, so it's not a cure-all for every skin rash problem.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Practical and Easy Bathing for Kids</b></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We practical folks want bathing simple and practical. Baking soda is one of the simplest, safest, natural ways of cleaning our bodies, next to water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes, it's hard to believe that something so ridiculously simple is true, but this time, IT IS TRUE. You just have to try it. What have you got to lose? Some inexpensive baking soda that can heal skin rashes?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Have you tried cleaning your body and your children's with baking soda? What's the experience like? Do you think baking soda can cure rashes and prevent them?</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586663988737657029.post-52709704344710213902013-09-13T06:44:00.003+08:002014-01-10T20:50:58.908+08:00Three Super-Easy Steps to Healthy Oven-Roasted Sweet-Potato Wedges<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sweet potatoes, you gotta love 'em for being a rich source of <a href="http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/sweet_potato.html" target="_blank">antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.</a> Unless you're completely a newbie to the wonders of sweet potatoes, now that's another matter. You have a lot of enlightening to go through just yet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the Philippines, we call sweet potatoes, "kamote." It's a super food for me because it's cheap, filling, and amazingly nutritious. Assuredly, practical parents w</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">on't fret on the price of this super food.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Usually, in cooking sweet potato, I just boil it in water without adding anything. I got tired of the taste, so I wanted to try a new recipe. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got the Oven-Roasted Sweet-Potato Wedges from Health's <a href="http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,10000000522028,00.html" target="_blank">website</a>, but I did not follow everything because I don't have all of the ingredients. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is the one I tried and to make it more interesting, I asked my 5-year-old daughter to help me. She's not much of an eating person. I always have to force her to eat, almost always (quite her mother's opposite!). I decided to have her help me with the preparations to increase her interest in food. Maybe if she helped me cook it, she will be more interested in eating it!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">I woke my daughter up earlier than usual, and she woke pretty fast when she learned she'd be cooking. That's one of her fastest waking-up rates, second to the times when her military father is around.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Let's get to work. It's baking time!</span></span><br />
<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Oven-Roasted Sweet-Potato Wedges Recipe</b></span></h2>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span></h3>
<br />
<ul><span itemprop="amount" style="line-height: 1.75em;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span itemprop="amount" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.75em;">2 </span><span itemprop="name" style="line-height: 1.75em;"><span style="font-size: large;">small sweet potatoes </span>(<i>Note: I would have wanted it unpeeled and brushed well to clean the skin, but the skin was not so nice, so I had to peel it.</i>)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span itemprop="amount" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.75em;">1 tablespoon</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.75em;"> </span><span itemprop="name" style="line-height: 1.75em;"><span style="font-size: large;">garlic-flavored olive oil </span>(<i>Note: I don't have garlic-flavored olive oil so I just added some minced garlic on the olive oil.</i>)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span itemprop="amount" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.75em;">1/2 teaspoon</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.75em;"> </span><span itemprop="name" style="line-height: 1.75em;"><span style="font-size: large;">salt </span></span></span></li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span itemprop="amount" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.75em;">
</span></ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 28px;"><b>Preparations</b></span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<ol><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<li>Preheat oven to 450°. (I don't have an oven yet, so I used my roaster).</li>
<li>Peel sweet potatoes; cut each potato lengthwise into 8 wedges. In a large bowl, combine sweet potatoes and remaining ingredients; toss well to coat.</li>
<li>Arrange potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet or the grill. Bake potatoes at 450° for 30 minutes or until soft and lightly browned, turning wedges after the first 15 minutes. Serve immediately.</li>
</span></ol>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span itemprop="instructions" style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2EwO2bBXqM/UjIyWbJ8r9I/AAAAAAAAAC0/HNcJDs8BlAI/s1600/sweet+potato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="healthy oven roasted sweet potato wedges " border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2EwO2bBXqM/UjIyWbJ8r9I/AAAAAAAAAC0/HNcJDs8BlAI/s400/sweet+potato.jpg" height="300" title="healthy oven roasted sweet potato wedges " width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My daughter patiently waits for her <a href="http://wearepracticalmoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/oven-roasted-sweet-potato-wedges.html" target="_blank">breakfast</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Testing, Testing</b></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, so the sweet potatoes cooked in only 13 minutes, maybe because the preheating took too long, Or so I thought. I put the temperature incorrectly, actually. Toinks! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, probably becaus of the hurried cooking, it's a bit dry and not enough saltiness for me. I would add a little more than a dash. Zoe loved it though. I mean, chef Zoe loved it. We dipped it in tomato ketchup. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yummy mother-child bonding. Hurrah to healthy living!</span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biqleQfQnkE/UjJBgKQUBEI/AAAAAAAAADE/fjm0edfJP8Q/s1600/20130913_054324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Healthy oven roasted sweet-potato wedges" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biqleQfQnkE/UjJBgKQUBEI/AAAAAAAAADE/fjm0edfJP8Q/s400/20130913_054324.jpg" height="400" title="Healthy oven roasted sweet-potato wedges" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ready to eat! Healthy sweet potatoes! (Sorry for the poor lighting. I'm still getting used to taking photos of food in our seemingly-underground kitchen hehe)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How did this recipe go for you? What sweet potato recipes have you tried already? </span></span>
</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10832369244606034644noreply@blogger.com0