Inexpensive Healthy Remedies

These are some natural remedies that I have used successfully...

Pepper stops bleeding. Yes, it really does (as long as you're not gushing blood). It also disinfects. It stings a little.

I sometimes cleanse my face with fresh lime juice, leave it on a few minutes and wash off. It makes my skin glow, brightens and actually cleans without drying the way commercial cleansers do. Be careful around cuts or broken skin (while it kills germs, the sensation will not be pleasant). Don't go out in the sun immediately after. It can have a lightening affect which is good if you want to get rid of red patches or blotches, bad if you're already pale as Casper. Please do a skin patch test first or dilute with water.

I recently got rid of a cold in 3 days. I owe it to Emergen-C and Lime Ginger Tea. If you need the recipe for the tea, just ask me. Emergen-C can be found in health food stores and even some Wal-Marts and drugstores.

Speaking of tea (regular, white, black, green)...it has anti-inflammatory properties. So you can drink it to ease fluid retention or put tea bags on your eyelids to reduce puffiness. For the sake of your heart and nerves, try to choose decaffeinated versions as much as possible. And don't load it up with sugar. Instead, use some honey and/or lemon juice for flavor. Honey is calming and won't spike your blood sugar.

Consider MSM (an organic sulfur compound) which can help those with arthritic and joint pain. My mom takes it for allergies and has noticed a great improvement. I take it for joint pain. And I've also noticed that when I combine it with my Calcium/Magnesium/VitaminD supplement at bedtime, I am able to relax and fall asleep quicker (as with any supplement or meds, buy from a reputable source and follow the instructions on the bottle).

For those of you who like cookies for breakfast or have low blood sugar, add almond butter, peanut butter or nuts to your favorite cookie recipe. You'll still satisfy your craving but with added protein and flavor.

The best thing for healthy skin is not external lotions or oils. It's hydration, plenty of internal good oils like olive oil, and omega 3 fatty acids and exercise...and massage! Had to throw that in :-) Drinking plenty of pure water, walking/massage (anything that promotes circulation and flushes out toxins, and consumption of good oils. Olive oil, jojoba oil and vegetable glycerin can be applied topically, especially during winter months when the cold air has such a wicked drying effect. Just remember not to block your pores with too much oil. Pores are there for a reason.

A tablespoon or 2 of apple cider vinegar in about 8 oz of water makes a great hair conditioner. Leave it on for a couple minutes and don't forget to wash off with lukewarm water unless you want to smell like vinegar all day. Not only does it soften, strengthen and fight dandruff...but at least with my hair, it makes it easier to de-tangle.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more...