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Kit chen Apot hecary: 25+ Nat ural Remedies

Using Ingredient s From Your Pant ry
By Heat her Dessinger of Mommypot amus.com
Copyright 2016 Heat her Dessinger. All right s reserved.

First Edit ion License Not es

This e- book is licensed f or your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re- sold or given aw ay. Thank you f or
respect ing t he hard w ork of t his aut hor!

Disclaimer And Copyright Inf ormat ion

The inf ormat ion cont ained in t his guide is f or ent ert ainment purposes only. Any advice t hat I give is my opinion based
on my ow n experience, but I am not a healt hcare prof essional. Please consult your ow n qualif ied healt hcare
prof essional bef ore act ing on somet hing t hat I have published or recommended. The mat erial in t his guide may
include inf ormat ion, product s or services by t hird part ies. Third Part y Mat erials comprise of t he product s and
opinions expressed by t heir ow ners. As such, I do not assume responsibilit y or liabilit y f or any Third Part y mat erial or
opinions. The publicat ion of such Third Part y Mat erials does not const it ut e my guarant ee of any inf ormat ion,
inst ruct ion, opinion, product s or services cont ained w it hin t he Third Part y Mat erial. Publicat ion of such Third Part y
Mat erial is simply a recommendat ion and an expression of my ow n opinion of t hat mat erial.

No part of t his publicat ion shall be reproduced, t ransmit t ed, or sold in w hole or in part in any f orm, w it hout t he prior
w rit t en consent of t he aut hor. All t rademarks and regist ered t rademarks appearing in t his guide are t he propert y of
t heir respect ive ow ners. These st at ement s have not been evaluat ed by t he Food & Drug Administ rat ion. Any
product s discussed are not int ended t o diagnose, t reat , cure, or prevent any disease. Users of t his guide are advised
t o do t heir ow n due diligence w hen it comes t o making diet ary decisions and all inf ormat ion, product s and services
t hat have been provided should be independent ly verif ied by your ow n qualif ied prof essionals. I creat ed t his e- book
in order t o share w hat I've learned about nat ural remedies. How ever, I'm a mom - not a healt hcare prof essional. If
you have any quest ions about anyt hing I?ve w rit t en, please seek t he advice of a qualif ied healt hcare prof essional. By
reading t his guide, you agree t hat myself and my company is not responsible f or t he success or f ailure of your
decisions relat ing t o any inf ormat ion present ed in t his guide.

Please be mindf ul of copyright : This ebook is licensed f or your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re- sold
or given aw ay. Thank you f or respect ing t he hard w ork of t his aut hor! If you w ould like permission, please just
cont act me and I am happy t o give permission on a case- by- case basis.

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Hi t here. I'm Heat her, t he Mommypot amus. If you read my previous e- books, DIY Organic
Beaut y Recipes and DIY Non- Toxic Cleaning Recipes, go ahead and skip t o page 4. If you
haven't , t his is w here you read a lit t le about me, so here goes:
I 'm a m o m . I have t hree beaut if ul children w hom I af f ect ionat ely call t he pot ami. The st ory
of how w e got our name can be f ound here.
I 'm a r esear cher . Quest ioning t he st at us quo comes nat urally t o me, w hich is w hy I rely
on evidence- based research t o guide my decisions on f ood, nat ural remedies, birt h and
making my ow n cleaning and personal care product s.
I 'm a ho m est ead er . W ell, sort of . My husband, Daniel, and I recent ly bought some land
t o pursue a dream of long- t erm sust ainabilit y. W e're just get t ing st art ed, but I've got my
boot s and a hat and more barn kit t ies t han I can shake a st ick at .
I 'm a D I Yer . W het her it 's homemade laundry soap, lot ion bars, or lip balm, I can't help but
t inker unt il I've got it f igured out . And w hen it comes t o common complaint s, I love f inding
t ime- honored, research - backed nat ural remedies t hat use everyday ingredient s I hope you
f ind t his guide helpf ul in your w ellness journey,

~ Heather
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 Cont ent s

Remedies By Complaint

Burns/Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Const ipat ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Cough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Dandruf f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Earache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Eczema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Headache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Lice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Indigest ion/Heart burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Insect Bit es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Nausea/ St omach Ache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Pink Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Remedies By Ingredient

Apple Cid er Vinegar

Burns/Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Dandruf f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Eczema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Lice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Indigest ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Insect Bit es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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B ak ing So d a

Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Cayenne

Headache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Co co nut O il

Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Const ipat ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Lice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Ginger

Nausea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

H o ney

Burns/Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Dandruf f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Pink Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

O at m eal

Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

O live O il

Cough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Lice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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O nio n

Earache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Rice

Earache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Salt

Pink Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Earache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Lice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Tea

St omach Aches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Pink Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

W ho le M ilk

Sunburns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Burns/Sunburns
Special not e bef ore w e get t o t he remedies in t his sect ion: Though t he Mayo
Clinic says most f irst and second degree burns can be t reat ed at home,
serious burns should be t reat ed prof essionally. Please do not use any home
remedies on serious burns.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Though t here is not a consensus on w hy t his w orks, t his st udy concluded t hat
apple cider vinegar support s healing af t er a burn. Some say it is because t he
apple cider vinegar rest ores damaged skin?s pH, w hile ot hers say it ?s due t o
t he high percent age of ?pect in, succared, vit amins (B1, B2, B6) (A, E, C), salt ,
mineral[s such as] as (sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, phosphor,
cobber, [and] silicon).? (source) W hit e vinegar is also considered helpf ul.

To Use: Some people add one cup of apple cider vinegar (or w hit e vinegar) t o
a t epid bat h, w hile ot hers pref er t o dilut e it (50% w at er and 50%vinegar) and
spray it on or apply w it h a sof t w ashclot h.
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Baking Soda
For sunburns, Seat t le Children?s Hospit al recommends pouring 1/4 cup of
baking soda in a bat h t o help w it h discomf ort . Soap should be avoided as it
can be irrit at ing. (source)

To use: Add t o t epid w at er and soak f or 15- 20 minut es, t hen allow skin t o air
dry or gent ly pat it dry. Bat he once or t w ice per day as needed. (Personal
not e: Because baking soda is alkaline and healt hy skin has a slight ly acidic pH,
it might be a good idea t o f ollow t he bat h w it h a dilut ed vinegar spray t o
balance skin pH.)

Coconut Oil
W hile usually considered benef icial, moist urizers like coconut oil can t rap
heat and delay healing f or sunburned skin. It is generally recommended t hat it
be avoided unt il t he skin is cool and healing is underw ay, alt hough a small
amount of oil used t o dilut e essent ial oils may be appropriat e. Af t er t he skin
has cooled it is considered helpf ul f or rest oring lost moist ure.

To Use: Apply a t hin layer as needed.

Honey
As I ment ioned in t his burn salve recipe t hat blends honey w it h lavender
essent ial oil, t here is a lot of research t hat support s t he use of honey f or
common kit chen burns, sunburns and more.

The st icky st uf f ?s been used as a t opical burn salve since Egypt ian days.
?St udies suggest it may w ork bet t er t han some ant ibiot ic creams at speeding
up healing, reducing inf ect ion, and minimizing pain,?says Kat hi Kemper, M.D.,
aut hor of The Holist ic Pediat rician.? (source)

It ?s not my f irst choice f or larger body applicat ion simply because it ?s st icky,
but it is an opt ion.

To Use: Apply honey t o t he af f ect ed area and dress w it h gauze if desired.

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Oat meal
Soaking in a cool oat meal bat h can soot he skin and help w it h it ching
associat ed w it h sunburns, says Pat ricia K. Farris, M.D., prof essor of
dermat ology at Tulane Universit y in New Orleans.
(source)

To use: Grind one cup of oat meal in a f ood processor or cof f ee grinder. Add
t o a t epid bat h and soak f or 15- 20 minut es. If sensit ive t o glut en, make sure
t o use glut en- f ree oat meal.

Tea - Black or Green

Green t ea cont ains cat echins and black t ea cont ains t annins, bot h of w hich
are considered cooling f or sunburns. They also cont ain t heobromine, w hich
may help ease discomf ort and support healing. (source)

Peppermint t ea ? w hich cont ains essent ial oils high in ment hol ? can also
creat e a gent le cooling sensat ion.

To use: Brew a st rong cup of t ea and allow t o cool. Apply using a sof t
w ashclot h or cot t on balls.

W hole Milk
According t o John F. Romano, M.D., clinical assist ant prof essor of
dermat ology at New York Hospit al- Cornell Medical Cent er, t he f at cont ent of
w hole milk ?makes it a great compress f or sunburn pain.? (source)

To use: ?Dip some gauze in w hole milk and apply it t o sunburned areas f or
about 20 minut es, repeat ing t his process every t w o t o f our hours. Be sure t o
w ash of f t he milk t o avoid having your skin smell sour.? (source)

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Const ipat ion
Bef ore w e get t o t his remedy, let ?s t alk about t he import ant dif f erence
bet w een occasional bout s of const ipat ion and chronic issues.

Const ipat ion can occur f or a variet y of reasons, such as holding a bow el
movement because you?re f eeling shy in a public rest room, a change in diet ,
st ress, dehydrat ion, et c. How ever, research suggest s t hat chronic
const ipat ion may indicat e a more serious underlying issue such as gut f lora
imbalance, inadequat e levels of t race minerals, allergies, or hypot hyroidism.
(source 1, source 2, source 3)

If someone in my f amily w ere experiencing chronic const ipat ion, I?d t ake t hem
t o a know ledgeable pract it ioner f or help. How ever, f or t he occasional bout of
const ipat ion t here are w ays t o encourage normal bow el f unct ion. My f riend
Robyn shared t he recipe below f or "const ipat ion candy" w it h me af t er f inding
it helpf ul f or her son.
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According t o Robyn, ?The t heory is t hat since t he medium chain t riglycerides
t hat make up coconut oil don?t cause a person t o st ore f at , t hey have limit ed
absorpt ion in t he small int est ine and t end t o pass right t hrough t he digest ive
t ract .? This unique f eat ure of coconut oil is t hought t o support f unct ion and
ef f iciency in t he digest ive t ract .

?Just t w o ?const ipat ion candies?and t hen anyw here bet w een 8 t o 18 hours
lat er, t ot al relief w it hout t ears,? says Robyn, adding t hat ?For kids I?d st ick
w it h 2 pieces and w ait a day bef ore increasing how much t hey can have. For
adult s I?d st art w it h 4 and t ry adding an ext ra each day t o see w hat your body
likes t he most . ?

Const ipat ion Candy Recipe

Ingredient s:
- 1 cup organic ext ra virgin coconut oil, melt ed
- 1/4 t o 1/3 cup of lemon juice (mix and t ast e as you go along)*
- 2 t ablespoons honey, maple syrup, sucanat or coconut sugar
- 1/4 t easpoon pink Himalayan salt

Equipment :

1- 2 f ood grade silicone ice cube molds

Food processor or immersion blender

Inst ruct ions:

Combine all ingredient s in a f ood processor or w it h a handheld mixer and

pour int o t he candy molds. Tast e as you go along and make it as sw eet or
sour as you like. Everyt hing has t o be very w ell mixed int o t he oil, so make
sure as you?re pouring t he last bit in t hat it ?s not sugar or honey- heavy.

* Tip: My f irst bat ch separat ed, so t he second t ime I made t hem I put my
silicone mold in t he f reezer f or about 10 minut es prior t o pouring. W hen it
w as t ime, I let t he mixt ure w hir in my f ood processor f or sixt y f ull seconds
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bef ore pouring it int o t he molds, t hen set it in t he f reezer f or an hour.

To Use

St ore in t he f ridge and enjoy as needed.

Cough/Sore Throat Syrup

Got a sore, it chy t hroat ? According t o a st udy published in Archives of
Pediat rics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers concluded t hat buckw heat
honey w orks bet t er t han dext romet horphan (t he act ive ingredient in
st ore- bought cough syrup) at reducing t he f requency and severit y of
coughing episodes f or children. In t he st udy, bot h t he children and t heir
parent s got more sleep w it h t his simple home remedy t han any ot her w ay -
w ho doesn't need t hat ? (source)
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So w hat 's so special about buckw heat honey? Made by bees w ho gat her
primarily f rom w hit e buckw heat blossoms, t his unique, molasses colored
honey is incredibly rich in ant ioxidant s and ant i- bact erial/viral subst ances
w hich promot e healing. (source) How ever, ot her t ypes may be benef icial as
w ell - in f olk medicine all variet ies are considered t o be helpf ul. I've
personally used several t ypes of honey and f ound t hem all t o have t he same
ef f ect .

W hen blended w it h t he soot hing qualit iesof ext ra- virgin olive oil and
ast ringent lemon juice/apple cider vinegar,honey ismy "go- t o" f or dry,scrat chy
t hroat s and coughs. It 's so easy t o make, t oo!
- 3/ 4 cup organic buckw heat honey, raw honey, or local honey
- 1/4cup ext ra virgin olive oil
- 2- 4 t ablespoons organic lemon juice or raw apple cider vinegar
- cayenne pepper (Opt ional - Cayenne cont ains capsaicin, w hich is a
w arming and circulat ion enhancing pain reliever)
Combine all ingredient s and serve by t he spoonf ul eit her room t emperat ure or
gent ly w armed.

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Dandruf f
Though it sounds like a t ropical island, Malassezia is act ually a t ype of f ungus
t hat causes dandruf f . (source) Usually it 's pret t y harmless, but w hen immune
def enses are dow n it can become an opport unist ic pat hogen. (source)

Unf ort unat ely, st ore- bought dandruf f shampoos usually cont ain highly t oxic
ingredient s. Coal t ar, f or example, carries a level 10 hazard w arning f rom t he
Environment al W orking Group - t he highest possible. (source)

Anot her common ingredient - recorcinol - may cause t hyroid problems

(including goit er) and have ef f ect s on t he cent ral nervous syst em. (source)
And of course, several ot her ingredient s are t hought t o be t oxic t o us and/or
t he environment : polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), ket oconazole, f ormaldehyde,
selenium sulf ide, zinc pyrit hione, sodium lauryl sulf at e, det ergent s, art if icial
colors, and f ragrance.

Fort unat ely, research suggest s t hat a common pant ry it em may be helpf ul in
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reducing dandruf f .

Honey

Raw honey is a nat ural humect ant t hat helps hair hold ont o moist ure w hile
delivering a pow erf ul inf usion of vit amins A, C, D, E, B- complex,
bet a- carot ene and t ons of minerals including iron, magnesium, pot assium,
manganese, calcium, and phosphorous. Grandmas have long recommended it
t o prevent t hinning hair, w hich makes sense if you t hink about it . Dandruf f
can plug hair f ollicles and prevent new hair f rom grow ing in, so a reduct ion in
dandruf f may make it easier f or hair t o grow normally.

In one st udy, t hirt y pat ient s w it h seborrheic dermat it is and dandruf f w ere
asked t o rub dilut ed honey on t heir scalp and massage f or 2- 3 minut es every
ot her day, t hen leave it on f or 3 hours. It ching w as relieved and scaling
disappeared w it hin one w eek, w hile skin lesions w ere healed and disappeared
complet ely w it hin 2 w eeks - t hose w ho cont inued t he t reat ment once per
w eek had no relapses. Tw elve of t he 15 pat ient s w ho did not cont inue t he
honey regimen relapsed w it hin 2- 4 mont hs. (source)

To Use: W et hair, apply dilut ed raw honey (90% honey and 10% w at er).
Massage int o scalp f or 2- 3 minut es, t hen let it sit f or t hree hours w hile you
cat ch up on your f avorit e show , read, or f old laundry. Rinse w it h w arm w at er.
If desired, f ollow w it h 1/4 cup vinegar and 3/4 cup w at er t o seal t he hair
cut icle and make hair shiny.

Repeat every ot her day f or about t w o w eeks. In t he st udy, part icipant s

report ed t hat t heir dandruf f w as gone w it hin t w o w eeks. Those w ho
cont inued t he honey t reat ment once a w eek af t er t hat had no relapses, w hile
t hose w ho did not relapsed in 2- 4 mont hs.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Though t here's not a st udy t o explain w hy, vinegar has long been

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recommended f or a healt hy scalp and shiny hair. According t o t his art icle, t he
"acidit y of apple cider vinegar changes t he pH of your scalp, so it ?s not an
ideal environment f or yeast [a t ype of f ungus] t o grow ." W hile t hat 's t rue, t he
reason it w orks may also have t o do w it h t he nat ural probiot ics cont ained in
raw apple cider vinegar, w hich help f ight bact eria and f ungi. It also cont ains
enzymes t hat may help open clogged hair f ollicles.

W hat ever t he reason, t he part icipant in t his inf ormal experiment rat ed apple
cider vinegar as one of t he most ef f ect ive home remedies f or dandruf f . The
ot her w inner - baking soda - is not one I pref er due t o t he pot ent ial f or
causing hair breakage. (W hen used inf requent ly as part of t he 'no poo"
met hod it may not cause a problem, w hen used f requent ly t o manage
dandruf f it might .)

To Use: Mix equal part s apple cider vinegar and w at er t oget her. Pour mixt ure
int o a spray bot t le and apply t o f reshly w ashed scalp and hair. Make sure not
t o get in in your eyes - ouch! Put on a show er cap and allow t he mixt ure t o sit
f or 15 minut es t o t w o hours, t hen rinse w it h w arm w at er. Repeat t w ice per
w eek unt il dandruf f is gone, t hen use as needed.

Not e: W hile honey and apple cider vinegar are very ef f ect ive at eliminat ing
dandruf f , t hey do not address possible imbalances t hat could be t he cause of
dandruf f . In one small st udy, supplement at ion w it h probiot ics provided a 70%
reduct ion in dandruf f af t er 4- 5 w eeks. (source)

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Earache
Salt or Rice Sock
As a comf ort measure, a w hit e cot t on sock can be f illed w it h coarse sea salt
or rice , heat ed, and t hen placed over t he ear. In addit ion t o it s soot hing
propert ies, unref ined salt s such as Himalayan salt may also have ot her
t herapeut ic propert ies.
According t o Alex Eingorn, a New York- based chiropract or, "Himalayan salt
rocks emit negat ive ions. As he explains it , injured and diseased cells are
elect ron- def icient , so submit t ing t he body t o an elect ron- rich environment
benef it s and heals cells by absorpt ion. Second, salt in it s microcryst alline
f orm has ant isept ic, ant ibact erial, ant if ungal, and ant iviral ef f ect s on t he
epit helial cells (one of t he body?s most import ant f or prot ect ion and
secret ion). The salt helps your cells consolidat e inf lammat ion and mucus, so
your body can get rid of it . " (source)
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To use: Add 1 - 1.5 cups coarse sea salt t o a clean, w hit e cot t on sock. Longer
socks are bet t er because you'll need t o t ie t he ankle sect ion in a knot in order
t o keep t he salt in. Af t er you have done t hat , heat t he f illed sock in a clean
skillet over low /medium heat , f lipping of t en t o ensure t hat t he salt /rice is
w arming evenly. W hen it is very w arm (but not so hot t hat it w ill be
uncomf ort able), place it on t he ear and allow it t o sit t here f or as long as you
w ish. Repeat t he process if desired.

Onion

The w armt h of a f resh onion poult ice is said t o provide comf ort and assist
w it h circulat ion. Onion is also believed t o have ant ibact erial and ant iviral
propert ies, w hich may be helpf ul depending on t he reason f or t he discomf ort .

This art icle explains how t o make t he poult ice:

?Use one brow n or yellow onion, chopped in half . Bake it f ace dow n on t he
oven rack at 350 degrees unt il you can just st art t o smell t he onion, and it ?s
just beginning t o recede. You w ant it t o be just hot enough t hat you w on?t
burn t he ears ? t est by t ouching as you w ould f ormula. Have t he person lie
dow n on t heir back w it h t heir head support ed by a pillow . Place t he onions
over t he ears like ear muf f s, and t hen w rap t hem complet ely using a nat ural
clot h such as a 100% cot t on t ow el, or 100% w ool scarf . You do NOT w ant
t o have t he chemical f umes f rom an acrylic f abric going int o t he ear canal.
W hat you are doing is w rapping t he t op of t he head, covering t he onions,
and t hen keeping it sealed by w rapping it loosely around t he neck. This is
w hy a w ool scarf (if you or t hey are not allergic) w orks really w ell. Leave
on f or about 10- 15 minut es, or unt il onion cools. Repeat again as needed."

18
Placeh older

Eczema

Apple Cider Vinegar

Ast ringent s such as apple cider vinegar can somet imes be helpf ul f or
w eeping eczema. For apple cider vinegar, it is usually suggest ed t hat
individuals dilut e it by applying 1 part purif ied w at er and 1 part apple cider
vinegar t o t he skin, eit her as a compress or spray. Those w it h very sensit ive
skin may need t o dilut e t he mixt ure more.

19
Headache

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne st imulat es circulat ion and increases blood f low t o t he af f ect ed area,
w hich support s healing. It also cont ains capsaicin, w hich reduces t he amount
of Subst ance P - a chemical pain t ransmit t er in t he body. (source 1, source
2)

20
Lice
Lice are super t hese days. And by super I don't mean aw esome, I mean
resist ant t o pest icides.

"The manuf act urers w on?t t ell you t hat , and your child?s doct or probably
w on?t eit her," w rit es Melanie Haiken of Takepart. "But research published
t his spring in t he Journal of Medical Ent omology revealed t hat 99.6 percent
of t he lice f ound in t he Unit ed St at es are 'super lice' resist ant t o pyret hrins
and permet hrin. It makes sense: Just as bact eria mut at e t o make an end run
around an ant ibiot ic, so t oo do f ast - reproducing head lice, w hich mut at e t o
survive t he neurot oxic onslaught ."

Yikes. If you're scrat ching your head about w hat t o do inst ead, I've got some
suggest ions f or you.

21
In general, t he f our basic w ays t o get rid of lice are:

1. Physical removal w it h a nit comb - Prof essional "nit pickers" most of t en

use t he Nit Free Terminat or Lice Comb t o remove lice and nit s (lice eggs).
W e'll cover how t o use it w it h ot her remedies in t he sect ion below .

2. Suf f ocat ion - One st udy f ound t hat coat ing t he hair/scalp w it h a blend of
mineral oil and ot her chemicals t o suf f ocat e t he lice w as 97.6%ef f ect ive.
(source) Personally, I w ouldn't use mineral oil, polysorbat e 80, et c., but I
w ould def init ely t ry oils such as coconut or olive. Many parent s have
report ed great success w it h t his met hod. How ever, because t he lit t le
buggers "can hold t heir breat h f or up t o 8 hours," you'll need t o put on a
show er cap and let t he oil sit overnight . And because nit s don't die f rom
suf f ocat ion, you'll have t o repeat t he process or comb t hem out . (source)

3. Pest icides - As I ment ioned earlier, about 99% of t he lice f ound in t he U.S.
are resist ant t o one or more pest icides. For t hat reason - and because
t hey're likely t o be t oxic - I w ouldn't use most st ore bought or prescript ion
t reat ment s. How ever, t he st udy I ment ioned in # 2 t hat examined t he
suf f ocat ion met hod also f ound t hat t hat bot anical pest icides - also know n as
essent ial oils - seem t o be very ef f ect ive at killing lice. More on t hat below .

4. Degreasers - Cert ain enzyme soaps and subst ances like diat omaceous
eart h act ually break dow n t he exoskelet ons of lice.

Opt ion 1: The Nit Comb

In t his video, a prof essional "nit picker" w alks you t hrough ef f ect ive combing
t echniques f or removing lice and nit s. Quick not e: I personally w ould
probably use coconut oil or olive oil inst ead of cream condit ioner.

Pros: No t oxins and it 's very af f ordable. (About $11)

Cons: You cannot miss even one egg, ot herw ise you'll have anot her out break.
Personally, I t hink t his met hod is most ef f ect ive if used in combinat ion w it h
one of t he ot hers below .
22
Opt ion # 2: Apple Cider Vinegar and Olive or Coconut Oil
In t his met hod, you f irst rinse t he hair w it h apple cider vinegar t o loosen t he
glue t hat holds t he nit s in place. Allow t he vinegar t o sit unt il t he hair is f ully
dry, t hen coat t he scalp and hair complet ely w it h coconut or olive oil t o
suf f ocat e t he lice. Pull all t he hair int o a show er cap and let t he oil sit f or at
least eight hours. Remember, t he lit t le buggers can hold t heir breat h f or a
long t ime.

W hen t he t ime is up, you have t he opt ion of eit her shampooing t o remove
t he oil, or combing t he hair w it h a nit comb and t hen w ashing. You may need
t o shampoo more t han once t o get all t he oil out . Make sure t o w ash and dry
all t he t ow els and clean out your comb. Also t hrow any sheet s/pillow cases
t hat have been slept on in t he dryer f or 20 minut es.

Pros: It ?s non- t oxic, and your hair w ill be except ionally w ell- condit ioned
w hen t he process is over.

Cons: Suf f ocat ion w ill kill t he act ive lice, but it doesn?t af f ect nit s, so you
have t o do it once per w eek f or t hree w eeks. This w orks because lice don?t
lay eggs unt il t hey are about 10 days old, so if you t reat every 7 days you?re
eliminat ing t heir abilit y t o reproduce. Af t er t he init ial t reat ment , t w o more
t reat ment s spaced a w eek apart should do t he t rick. Just make sure t o put
pillow cases, sheet s, t ow els, et c. in t he dryer f or 20 minut es af t er each use.

Opt ion # 3: Salt , Vinegar and Olive or Coconut Oil

Salt and vinegar may w ork t oget her t o dehydrat e and kill lice/nit s. (source 1,
source 2) To use, apply as a spray (1/4 cup salt dissolved in 1/4 cup w arm
vinegar) unt il t he scalp/hair is w et . Allow t he mixt ure t o sit unt il t he hair is
f ully dry, t hen coat t he scalp and hair complet ely w it h coconut or olive oil. At
t his point , you can eit her leave it on f or eight hours t o suf f ocat e and
remaining living lice, or you can comb out t he lice t hat have died f rom t he
salt w at er solut ion immediat ely.

Af t er combing, w ash w it h shampoo as many t imes as needed t o remove t he

oil, t hen w ash and dry all t he t ow els and clean out your comb. Also t hrow
any sheet s/pillow cases t hat have been slept on in t he dryer f or 20 minut es.

Pros: It ?s non- t oxic and may be f ast er t han t han t he suf f ocat ion met hod (or
you can use t he t w o t oget her).
23
Cons: There isn?t any f ormal research t hat backs t his met hod, only st ories
f rom parent s. How ever, it may be w ort h a shot .
Af t er combing, w ash w it h shampoo as many t imes as needed t o remove t he
oil, t hen w ash and dry all t he t ow els and clean out your comb. Also t hrow
any sheet s/pillow cases t hat have been slept on in t he dryer f or 20 minut es.

Pros: It 's non- t oxic and may be f ast er t han t han t he suf f ocat ion met hod (or
you can use t he t w o t oget her).

Cons: There isn't any f ormal research t hat backs t his met hod, only st ories
f rom parent s. How ever, it may be w ort h a shot .

Bonus Tip

Tea t ree essent ial oil may or may not be in your pant ry, but just in case it
might be helpf ul I w ant ed t o pass t his inf o along. In one st udy, a lot ion t hat
included 10%t ea t ree and 1% lavender oil w as 97.6% ef f ect ive in eliminat ing
lice, w hile insect icides like pyret hrins and piperonyl but oxide w ere only 25%
ef f ect ive. (source) If I w ere t o t ry t o use a similar met hod at home, I w ould
put 20 drops of t ea t ree oil in 2 t easpoons of shampoo (t hat 's a 10%
dilut ion), lat her and let sit f or 15 minut es, t hen rinse and comb w it h a nit
comb.

24
Indigest ion/Heart burn

Apple Cider Vinegar

It ?s est imat ed t hat about 60 million Americans st ruggle w it h acid ref lux. I
used t o be one of t hem, and I used t o t ake prescript ion medicat ion f or it .
Though medicat ions do reduce sympt oms, t hey can also cont ribut e t o t he
problem by low ering st omach acid levels. Yep, t hough it sounds
count erint uit ive, heart burn is of t en a result of t oo lit t le st omach acid, not t oo
much, In The 30 Day Heart burn Solut ion, Craig Fear, NTP, explains it t his
w ay:

"Now remember, our st omach is a w arm, moist environment . It ?s almost

100 degrees in t here. Ferment at ion, t he process by w hich sugars get
broken dow n, produces gas as a byproduct . Ferment at ion likes w armt h as
it happens quicker and more ef f icient ly in it s presence. If you?ve ever
f erment ed veget ables, you know t hey f erment quicker in t he summer t han
25
 in t he w int er.

In t he presence of low st omach acid, t he sugars in carbohydrat es can

f erment and lead t o t he product ion of excess gas. Bloat ing, belching and
bad breat h are some of t he sympt oms t hat result . The maldigest ed mass
of f ood and t he gas t hat result s builds up in t he st omach and can st art t o
put pressure on t he low er esophageal sphinct er (LES), t he valve t hat
keeps t he st omach separat e f rom t he esophagus. Over t ime, t he LES can
w eaken t hrough t his cont inuous increased pressure.

As pressure builds, some of t he acidic cont ent s of t he st omach can ref lux
back int o t he esophagus. And as w e?ve seen, unlike t he st omach, t he lining
of t he esophagus is not meant f or acid so it burns. As previously
described, t his burning of t he lining of t he esophagus is know n as
heart burn. So t he root cause of heart burn is t he under product ion of
st omach acid."

If low acid is t he issue, an alt ernat ive approach is t o support proper digest ion
by raising acid levels in t he st omach. Apple cider vinegar has long been used
as a f olk remedy f or indigest ion, and many people t hink it 's abilit y t o alt er pH
is t he reason so many people f ind it helpf ul.

To Use: Mix 1- 2 t easpoons apple cider vinegar in a lit t le w at er and drink just
bef ore meals.

26
Insect Bit es

Apple Cider Vinegar

Undilut ed apple cider vinegar helps w it h it ching and discomf ort associat ed
w it h bug bit es.

To Use. Soak a cot t on ball w it h apple cider vinegar - raw , unpast eurized is
pref erable - and apply t o t he af f ect ed area f or several minut es.

Baking Soda

Also helpf ul f or relieving it ching, baking soda w orks by drying out t he

af f ect ed area.

27
To use: Add a lit t le w at er t o baking soda unt il a t hick past e is f ormed. Apply,

Nausea / St omach Ache

Ginger Syrup

W e all know about t he rock st ars of cold and f lu season ? elderberry syrup
and f ire cider ? but have you ever heard of t heir less f amous band mat e,
ginger syrup?

This member of t he Zingiberaceae f amily (t o w hich t urmeric also belongs) has

been used in Chinese medicine f or t housands of years t o soot he t ummy
complaint s such as nausea, morning sickness, gas, and indigest ion. And
according t o t he Universit y of Maryland Medical Cent er, it has also hist ory of
28
painf ul menst rual periods.? (source)

W hile hist orically it w as very expensive ? one pound cost as much as a

w hole sheep in t he Middle Ages ? t hese days it ?s w idely cult ivat ed and very
af f ordable. I like t o keep it on hand during t he cold w int er mont hs along
w it h ot her syrups, t inct ures and t eas t hat support t he immune syst em.
This w arming ginger syrup is incredibly versat ile ? if you?d like t o give it a
t ry but are not quit e sure w hat t o do w it h it , here are some ideas:

D elicio us W ays To U se Ginger Syr up

- Mix it w it h homemade w at er kef ir or sparkling w at er and a sprit z of

lime t o make ginger ale
- For a drink t hat w ill w ake you ? and your sinuses ? up, add it t o a cup
of hot w at er w it h f reshly squeezed lemon and a pinch of cayenne
- St ir it int o homemade Sw eet Dreams Tea, or any t ea you pref er
- St raight of f t he spoon (Tast e a small amount f irst ? spiciness varies
f rom bat ch t o bat ch depending on t he int ensit y of t he root )
- Drizzled over asian- st yle st ir f ry?s
- St irred int o oat meal

Ginger Syr up Recipe

Ingredient s

- ½ cup dried ginger 1 cup f resh ginger (peeled and chopped)

- 2 cups w at er
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cinnamon st ick (opt ional)

Inst ruct ions

1. Add w at er, ginger and cinnamon st ick (if you?re using it ) t o a pot and
bring t o a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half. This should take
29
2. Reduce heat and simmer unt il liquid is reduced by half . This should t ake
around 45 minut es.
3. St rain t o remove ginger. Allow liquid t o cool t o room t emperat ure, t hen st ir
in honey.
4. Transf er ginger syrup t o a jar and st ore in t he f ridge.

Not es

Because t his recipe cont ains honey, it should not be used in children under
one.

According t o Rosemary Gladst ar, t he syrup should st ay good f rom several

w eeks t o mont hs. If you are concerned t hat you might not be able t o use it all
in t ime, you may w ant t o cut t he recipe in half or f reeze some in an ice cube
t ray f or lat er.

Tea

Due t o t heir abilit y t o support digest ion and overall soot hing ef f ect , several
herbal t eas t hat have been t radit ionally used f or nausea.

Cham o m ile ? According t o one analysis, ?Chamomile is especially helpf ul in

dispelling gas, soot hing t he st omach, and relaxing t he muscles t hat move
f ood t hrough t he int est ines.? The researchers also not ed t hat it may have a
calming, sedat ive ef f ect as w ell. (source)

To Use: Brew a chamomile t ea bag according t o t he inst ruct ions provided

w it h it .

Ginger ? According t o t he Universit y of Maryland Medical Cent er, ?Children

over 2 make t ake ginger t o t reat nausea, st omach cramping, and headaches.
Ask your doct or t o help you f ind t he right dose.? (source)

30
To Use: I personally use about 1/2- 1 t ablespoon f resh, grat ed ginger or
1/2- 1 t easpoon pow dered ginger per cup of boiling w at er, st eeped f or 10
minut es bef ore drinking.

Pepper m int ? The Universit y of Maryland Medical Cent er also st at es t hat

?Peppermint (Ment ha piperit a), a popular f lavoring f or gum, t oot hpast e, and
t ea, is also used t o soot he an upset st omach or t o aid digest ion. Because it
has a calming and numbing ef f ect , it has been used t o t reat headaches, skin
irrit at ions, anxiet y associat ed w it h depression, nausea, diarrhea, menst rual
cramps, and f lat ulence.? The art icle also caut ions t hat peppermint should not
be given t o babies or small children. (source)

To Use: Brew a peppermint t ea bag according t o t he inst ruct ions provided

w it h it . Or, if you have f resh peppermint leaves, add a handf ul t o 2 cups
boiling w at er and allow t o st eep f or 10- 15 minut es.

Car aw ay Seed ? According t o W ebMD, ?Caraw ay is used f or digest ive

problems including heart burn, bloat ing, gas, loss of appet it e, and mild
spasms of t he st omach and int est ines.? (source)
To Use: Add 1- 2 t easpoons of caraw ay seeds t o a cup and pour in once cup
of boiling w at er. Allow t o st eep f or 10- 15 minut es, t hen st rain out t he seeds
and serve.

Fennel Seed s ? These seeds have been t radit ionally used f or ?various
digest ive problems including heart burn, int est inal gas, bloat ing, loss of
appet it e, and colic in inf ant s.? (source)

To Use: Add 1- 2 t easpoons of f ennel seeds t o a cup and pour in once cup of
boiling w at er. Allow t o st eep f or 10- 15 minut es, t hen st rain out t he seeds
and serve.

31
Pink Eye
Like ear inf ect ions, most cases of pinkeye are viral in nat ure. How ever, some
are bact erial and ot hers are act ually an allergic response.

Viral Pink Eye Is . . .

- Typically marked by clear, w at ery drainage

- Cont agious
- Likely t o st art in one eye and move t o t he ot her
- Not t reat able w it h ant ibiot ics. ?Most viral pinkeye cases have no specif ic
t reat ment ? you just have t o let t he virus run it s course, w hich is usually
f our t o seven days? (source)
- Of t en somew hat alleviat ed by some of t he comf ort measures list ed
below . Immune syst em support may also be helpf ul.
- Of t en dif f icult t o discern f rom bact erial pink eye (source 1) (source 2)
32
Bact erial Pink Eye Is . . .

- Typically marked by greenish yellow drainage

- Cont agious
- Likely t o st art in one eye and move t o t he ot her
- Usually t reat ed w it h ant ibiot ic eye drops. Some w ho pref er t o avoid
ant ibiot ics use some of t he nat ural approaches below .
- Of t en dif f icult t o discern f rom viral pink eye (source 1) (source 2)

Allergic Pink Eye Is . . .

- ?Allergic pinkeye (caused by seasonal pollens, animal dander, cosmet ics

and perf umes) and chemical pinkeye (f rom chemicals or liquids,
including bleach and f urnit ure polish) are not cont agious.? (source)
- Clear, w at ery drainage is t ypical
- Usually involves bot h eyes

?Allergic pinkeye sympt oms should improve once t he allergen source is

removed and t he allergy is t reat ed. Chemical pinkeye requires prompt
w ashing of t he af f ect ed eye(s) f or f ive minut es and an immediat e call t o t he
doct or.? (source) Treat ment s f or t he allergy may include an ant ihist amine.
Net t le capsules or t ea are considered by many t o be a nat ural ant ihist amine,
and preliminary st udies suggest t hat t his may indeed be t he case. (source)

Because pink eye can be highly cont agious, it is usually recommended t hat
individuals address bot h eyes even if only one has irrit at ion.

Honey

Frank Dougan of Glasgow spent eight years searching f or relief f rom

blepharit is, a chronic bact erial inf ect ion of t he eyelid. ?Lot s of doct ors gave
me eyes [sic] drops, I have a w hole f ridge f ull and I have spent a f ort une but
not hing w orked,?he t old t he UK- based Daily Mail. (source)

So w hat did f inally w ork? According t o Frank, it w as a jar of honey f rom t he

local Tesco. His opt ician conf irmed t hat she w as no longer able t o f ind any
33
t races of blephart is.

Count less st udies have af f irmed honey?s benef icial propert ies. In f act ,
according t o a Cochrane analysis of 19 clinical t rials, t his pant ry st aple may
w ork bet t er t han ant ibiot ic creams f or burns. (source)

So w hat do w e know about it s ef f ect iveness w it h pink eye? I am not aw are of

any st udies t hat have direct ly looked at t his issue, how ever t here are a f ew
st udies t hat have explored t he use of honey f or various eye irrit at ions. Here?s
w hat t hey concluded:

St ud ies t hat m ay suppo r t t he use o f ho ney f o r so m e k ind s o f eye

ir r it at io n

In one st udy, t he applicat ion of honey signif icant ly reduced t he amount of

bact eria f ound on and around t he eye in pat ient s t hat suf f er f rom dry eyes.
(source)

Anot her analysis not es t hat honey is being ? ?rediscovered?by t he medical

prof ession, part icularly w here convent ional modern t herapeut ic agent s have
f ailed. Recent published report s describe t he ef f ect iveness of honey in rapidly
clearing w ound inf ect ion w it h minimal adverse ef f ect s, and also possible in
promot ing healing w it h minimal scar f ormat ion. Honey also has ant imicrobial
act ion against a broad spect rum of bact eria and f ungi, bot h in laborat ory
st udies and in humans. It s use in t he eye ranges f rom t reat ing post - herpet ic
corneal opacit ies, local conjunct ival lesions and corneal edema w it h variable
result s.? (source)

Also, t hough it is not not a st udy, ?t here is evidence t hat t he ancient

Egypt ians used honey t o t reat eye diseases, t he Greek philosopher Arist ot le is
credit ed w it h being among t he f irst t o record medicinal use of honey f or t he
eyes as f ar back as 350 B.C. Honey w as also w idely used in India t o t reat eye
disease and has been used by t radit ional healers in Mali t o prevent scarring of
t he cornea in cases of measles. There is also evidence t hat honey w as used by
t he medieval English t o t reat eye diseases.? (source 1) (source 2)

34
W hat k ind o f ho ney is b est ?

The exact t ype of honey used in t he st udies ment ioned above w as not
specif ied. How ever, in t he w orld of nat ural remedies I know manuka honey is
of t en sought because it cont ains high levels of t he compound
dihydroxyacet one. How ever, I didn?t have any on hand w hen I w oke up w it h
pink, irrit at ed eyes last year so I used plain, organic honey inst ead.

Ingredient s

- 1/4 t easpoon raw honey

- 1/4 cup dist illed or reverse osmosis w at er (or w at er t hat has been boiled
f or 5 minut es and allow ed t o cool)
- pinch of sea salt

Dissolve raw honey and opt ional salt in pure w arm w at er. Don?t get t he w at er
t oo hot or it may alt er some of t he benef icial propert ies of t he w at er. Using a
clean dropper, place a 1- 2 drops in each eye every f ew hours as needed.

Herbal Tea Poult ices

According t o Prescript ion For Nut rit ional Healing, ?Calendula, chamomile,
f ennel and/or eyebright t eas can be used t o make hot compresses. Eyebright
can also be t aken orally in capsule or t ea f orm. It is good f or any eye irrit at ion
or inf lammat ion. The t ea can also be used t o rinse t he eyes.?

Caut ion: Do not use chamomile or calendula if you are allergic t o ragw eed.
Some sources, such as Prescript ion For Nut rit ional Healing, say not t o use
during pregnancy or nursing. (p. 421) How ever, many herbalist s and
OB- GYN?s say chamomile is perf ect ly f ine during pregnancy and w hile
nursing. (source)

To Use: According t o some sources, dist illed w at er is recommended because

any impurit ies in w at er could exacerbat e t he inf ect ion. You can f ind
inst ruct ions f or making chamomile and calendula eye soot hers at Mot her
35
Eart h New s. Some individuals add a pinch of salt t o t heir t ea as it brew s t o
boost t he ast ringent qualit y of t he poult ice.

In Prescript ion f or Nat ural Cures: A Self - Care Guide For Treat ing Healt h
Problems W it h Nat ural Remedies, w hich w as also w rit t en James F. Balch,
M.D., along w it h Mark St engler N.M.D, and Robin Young Balch, N.M.D,
eyebright is ment ioned again w it h a lit t le more clarif icat ion. It is recommended
f or bot h pink eye and irrit at ion due t o allergies. In t he sect ion on allergies, it is
suggest ed t hat readers ?apply as a solut ion t o irrit at ed eyes by adding 3- 5
drops of eyebright t inct ure t o an ounce of cont act lens (saline) solut ion in a
disposable cup. Rinse each eye w it h separat e cups and t oss t he cups af t er use.
Do t his once or t w ice a day t o relieve irrit at ed eyes and remove redness.?

Salt W at er W ash

The exact t ype of honey used in t he st udies ment ioned above w as not
specif ied. How ever, in t he w orld of nat ural remedies I know manuka honey is
of t en sought because it cont ains high levels of t he compound
dihydroxyacet one. How ever, I didn?t have any on hand w hen I w oke up w it h
pink, irrit at ed eyes last year so I used plain, organic honey inst ead.

Ingredient s

- 1/4 t easpoon raw honey

- 1/4 cup dist illed or reverse osmosis w at er (or w at er t hat has been boiled
f or 5 minut es and allow ed t o cool)
- pinch of sea salt

Dissolve raw honey and opt ional salt in pure w arm w at er. Don?t get t he w at er
t oo hot or it may alt er some of t he benef icial propert ies of t he w at er. Using a
clean dropper, place a 1- 2 drops in each eye every f ew hours as needed.

Herbal Tea Poult ices

According t o Prescript ion For Nut rit ional Healing, ?Calendula, chamomile,
f ennel and/or eyebright t eas can be used t o make hot compresses. Eyebright
36
can also be t aken orally in capsule or t ea f orm. It is good f or any eye irrit at ion
or inf lammat ion. The t ea can also be used t o rinse t he eyes.?

Caut ion: Do not use chamomile or calendula if you are allergic t o ragw eed.
Some sources, such as Prescript ion For Nut rit ional Healing, say not t o use
during pregnancy or nursing. (p. 421) How ever, many herbalist s and
OB- GYN?s say chamomile is perf ect ly f ine during pregnancy and w hile
nursing. (source)

To Use: According t o some sources, dist illed w at er is recommended because

any impurit ies in w at er could exacerbat e t he inf ect ion. You can f ind
inst ruct ions f or making chamomile and calendula eye soot hers at Mot her
Eart h New s. Some individuals add a pinch of salt t o t heir t ea as it brew s t o
boost t he ast ringent qualit y of t he poult ice.

In Prescript ion f or Nat ural Cures: A Self - Care Guide For Treat ing Healt h
Problems W it h Nat ural Remedies, w hich w as also w rit t en James F. Balch,
M.D., along w it h Mark St engler N.M.D, and Robin Young Balch, N.M.D,
eyebright is ment ioned again w it h a lit t le more clarif icat ion. It is
recommended f or bot h pink eye and irrit at ion due t o allergies. In t he sect ion
on allergies, it is suggest ed t hat readers ?apply as a solut ion t o irrit at ed eyes
by adding 3- 5 drops of eyebright t inct ure t o an ounce of cont act lens (saline)
solut ion in a disposable cup. Rinse each eye w it h separat e cups and t oss t he
cups af t er use. Do t his once or t w ice a day t o relieve irrit at ed eyes and
remove redness.?

Salt W at er W ash

According t o Chris A Knobbe, M.D., irrigat ing t he eye?s surf ace w it h a st erile
salt w at er (saline) solut ion several t imes daily may give addit ional relief .
(source)
Some eye drops cont ain lubricant s and ot her medicat ions f or various
condit ions, but t here are opt ions out t here ? like Clearinse ? t hat just cont ain
salt and st erilized w at er.

W ondering if it ?s possible t o make your ow n saline solut ion? Just like w it h t he

t eas, using w at er t hat has not been boiled or st erilized in some w ay is not
recommended. How ever, according t o Chemist ry expert Anne Marie
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Helmenst ine, PhD, it is possible t o make - she explains how here.

Comf ort Measures

W arm Or Cold Compress

?To reduce pain and t o remove t he discharge of bact erial or viral pinkeye, use
a cold or w arm compress on t he eyes. Make sure t o use a dif f erent w ashclot h
f or each eye t o prevent spreading any inf ect ion. And use clean w ashclot hs
each t ime. Clean t he eye f rom drainage by w iping f rom t he inside t o t he
out side of t he eye area.? (source)

Raw Pot at oes

Fresh slices of cold, raw pot at o are also said t o be soot hing.

Pink Eye Prevent ion

Recurring pink eye inf ect ions may be associat ed w it h vit amins A and B
(especially B2) def iciencies, so it may be w ort h exploring supplement at ion if
inf ect ions cont inue t o occur. (source 1) (source 2)
Cod liver oil is a source of nat urally occurring vit amin A. You can f ind t he
brand I buy on my shopping page under Superf oods & Supplement s.

W hen To See A Doct or

According t o t he CDC, ?Most cases of pink eye are mild and get bet t er
w it hout t reat ment . How ever, some f orms are more severe. Severe cases need
t o be looked at by a healt h care provider and may require specif ic t reat ment
and close f ollow - up. If you have pink eye, you should see your healt h care
provider if you have?

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 - Moderat e t o severe pain in your eye(s)
- Blurred vision or increased sensit ivit y t o light
- Int ense redness in t he eye(s)
- A w eakened immune syst em, f or example, f rom HIV or cancer
t reat ment
- Bact erial pink eye t hat does not improve af t er 24 hours of ant ibiot ic
use
- Sympt oms t hat get w orse or don?t improve
- Pre- exist ing eye condit ions t hat may put you at risk f or complicat ions
or severe inf ect ion?

The CDC also recommends t hat all babies w it h pink eye sympt oms be seen
by a healt h care provider.

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Let 's St ay Con n ect ed!
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