Beneficial Herbs

• Beneficial Herbs

  For quite some time now, my family and I have been trying to incorporate more natural foods and herbs into our lives.
  There are a lot of benefits from using herbs for health and medicinal purposes.
  ALOE will be the first we learn about together!!!  I for one am very interested in its uses.
  
  Aloe, or Aloe vera (Latin), has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years. Ancient Egyptians used aloe to treat skin problems and constipation, and research has proven that aloe is effective as both an anti-inflammatory and laxative.
  
  Today, aloe is often used to treat burns, scalds, scrapes, and sunburn, and is the active ingredient in a number of natural alternative laxatives. Commission E, a group that evaluates herbal medicines for the German government, recommends aloe as a laxative.
  
  Aloe contains carboxypeptidase and bradykininase, compounds that reduce inflammation, swelling, and redness of wounds, as well as the pain and itching experienced as the wound is healing. Aloe can help fight infection in wounds; studies have shown that, like its close relative garlic, aloe helps destroy bacteria and fungi, including E coli and strains of staphylococcus, streptococcus, and candida. In one study, Aloe vera 0.5 % hydrophilic cream was proven to be an effective treatment for genital herpes. However, those with serious injuries should not use aloe; although aloe has been proven to speed the healing of superficial wounds, it actually slows the healing process when applied to deep wounds.
  
  Aloe is an effective treatment for psoriasis, a skin condition that causes red, raised, itchy patches. In one Swedish study, 83 percent of participants using aloe 0.5 % gel experienced significant improvement of their psoriasis symptoms, while only 7 percent of participants using a placebo reported any relief. Another study found lotion containing 30 % aloe to be an effective treatment for seborrheic dermatitis when applied to the affected areas twice daily for four weeks.
  
  Aloe is being studied for its potential as a treatment for certain types of cancer. Alo A, a medically active complex sugar in aloe, may inhibit tumor growth by preventing the inflammation needed for the tumor to develop its own blood supply. Some studies indicate that aloe may protect against liver, lung, and skin cancer as well. Aloe juice has also been studied for its effectiveness as a treatment for diabetes. Initial studies performed with animals showed that aloe juice reduces blood sugar (glucose) levels. It is not certain whether aloe juice provides these same benefits to humans.
  
  Aloe juice has also been suggested as a possible treatment for inflammatory bowel disease and ulcers. It is thought that the anti-inflammatory and bacteria-killing properties of aloe might help keep the digestive tract healthy. Anecdotal reports suggest aloe juice may help ease the symptoms of colitis and Crohn’s disease. The usual dose for aloe juice is 250 milligrams in capsule form or 50 to 200 milligrams of the dried juice per day.
  
  Aloe is also found in its “stabilized” form in gels and many shampoos and skincare products. While these commercial products may provide the user with some benefit, the preserved form of Aloe vera is generally considered less effective than its natural counterpart. If you purchase Aloe vera gel, make sure to get the kind that is 100 percent natural.
  
  Of course, the best way to ensure that you have a supply of fresh, medicinally effective aloe on hand is to buy the plant—it’s easy to grow, and requires very little care. To help soothe wounds, slice a leaf lengthwise, squeeze the gel onto the wound, and let it dry.
  
  Some people report allergic reactions to topical aloe. In addition, you might want to avoid laxatives containing aloe latex, because this substance can cause severe intestinal cramps and diarrhea. Aloe latex, also called cathartic aloe, should be avoided by people that have gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease, peptic ulcers, and colitis, because it has been shown to aggravate these conditions.

A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"

He receives the answer: "Who are you?"

Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"

He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"

The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention." And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!"

Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"

The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions."

If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.

This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it.

• Sowing A Garden

   

  

  Sowing A Garden For Daily Living

      PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS: Peace of mind
  Peace of heart
   Peace of soul
  
      PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH: Squash gossip
  Squash indifference
  Squash grumbling
  Squash selfishness
  
      PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE: Lettuce be faithful
   Lettuce be kind
  Lettuce be patient
  Lettuce really love one another
  
  
      NO GARDEN IS COMPLETE WITHOUT TURNIPS:Turnip for meetings
  Turnip for service
  Turnip to help one another
  
      TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:Thyme for each other
  Thyme for family
  Thyme for friends
  
  
  Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.
  There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.

  ~ Author Unknown ~
  
   

  
   
  
  
  Share the secrets to sowing
  the ultimate garden with your friends!

It's been busy!!!

• It's been busy!

  Last week, Tuesday, I went to the surgeon for the last time.  My wound, almost completely healed, no longer needed to be monitored by the Dr.  Although I still have home health nurses coming in.  This was a major achievement in my recuperation.  I still have quite a ways to go yet!!  I still have my foley cath, and we are trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation with my bladder incontinence.  I am comfortable with the foley, but long term use is not recommended.  So other options have to be looked into.
  
  Starting tomorrow, I will begin physical therapy!!!  Friday, occupational therapy!!   JOY!!!!!!!   It is very much needed.  Since the surgery I have been having issues with the muscles in my leg, thighs and arms.  Sometimes the pain is really unbearable!!  So, hopefully working with the therapists will help with those issues.  My goal is to get back up and walking!!! 
  
  Let's not even talk about the diabetes!!!!  Frustration is all I can say!!
  
  It's hard to explain how one feels when going through illness.  Harder yet, when you are already dealing with several health issues.  It was and still is hard dealing with having to be bedridden for as long as I was.  That was one of my greatest fears throughout my life, being bedridden.  I had several experiences with it while growing up.  Being bedridden in isolation, in the hospital for weeks at a time.  Then at home, confined to your room in bed.  For a child and teen, that is definitely not fun!!!!  To be faced with it again, was very very hard!  It brought back old memories and feelings that I had suppressed. 
  
  It really works on your mentally!!!  I was very thankful to be alive, but at the same time felt like a condemned person.  My jail cell was the hospital bed in my room!!!  When those railings went up, a feeling of being trapped would creep in. Everything you've striven for gone!!!!  Your independence, and your ability to do things for yourself is given over to your care takers.  Now you are on their time schedule!  Everything flows ok till your care interferes with their lives, and then the trouble begins!!!  At times, it would take me back to when I was a child.  Overhearing conversations about how caring for you was ruining their lives.  How it might have been better just to institutionalize her! 
  
  The pain you feel is yours alone, because no one understands.  They have not gone through what you've gone through, so it's hard for them to grasp just what you are feeling and the depth of those feelings.  They are not something to just "get over" and "move on".  Now that I am up (in my power chair) and can do some things for myself, those feelings have receded a bit.  Just to be able to make your own cup of coffee means a lot!!!   I love and appreciate those (my family and nurses) that have made my recovery to this point as comfortable, fast and wondrous as it has been!!!  Thank You all!!!! 
  
  Now, I can say I have been busy with knitting!!!    Since I've been home from the hospital (Feb 6th)  I have knitted 10 hats, 6 wine cozies, 2 toilet paper covers, 2 dish cloths and working on a pair of mittens!  Did not realize just how much I had made till I gathered everything together.  Most of the pics of the items have been posted, but I am going to post the rest soon.  Knitting kept me going!  My hands hurt too bad (from the I.V's) for crocheting, but knitting was easier.  It helped to pass time!! Which I had plenty of!!!  It gave me opportunity to try out stitches and patterns new to me!  The creation process is awesome!!!  Taking a ball of nothing but yarn and making it into something useful is great!! 

Re Post: April 12 th A work in progress!!!

A work in progress!

I have been working on wine bottle cozies for the past several days.  I made two, and they came out very nice!  Got my son to take pics!  They really do not show how nice they really are, but I will show them anyway! 
Today I am working on a different pattern for a wine bottle cozy. It is really working up nice!  It would really look good on a wine bottle too!!  If only I had read the pattern more closely!!  The yarn that was to be used and the size of the needles make all the difference in the world!!!!  Trust me!! They do!  I am knitting along, happy that I am actually knitting a lace pattern.  Then I really take a look at the cozy.  Now this is the first attempt mind u!  I was using the worsted weight yarn (NOOOO!!!!!!)  and size 8 double pointeds.  Held it up and unless someone was going to buy a magnum of champagne, this cozy was way to big!!!!  Looked like the makings of a purse actually!  So this intelligent person goes back and re reads the pattern and notices that she was using the wrong size needles.  Duh!!!!!  Well this intelligent person reads further and realizes that she has the wrong type of yarn also!!!   So what does this mindless person do??  She rips out all the work she has done and starts over again with the same yarn and size 6 double pointeds.  Yes!!!!  Well it did make the cozy a bit smaller, but still not within the range it needed to be.  So it becomes a toilet paper cover!!!!  It fits one of those 1000 sheet rolls perfectly!!!  So all was not lost!!!!!   Here is the pics of the wine cozy that came out nice!!! Will post better pics later with the toilet paper cover too!!!


We like our knitting projects, or anything that you make, we are works in progress!  We work with them till we have a completed item.   BUT, unlike the things we make by hand, we are continually being molded and shaped.  It is an ongoing process!!  Thank goodness for that!!!!  I for one am glad that through the life experiences and time, that I am not who I was when I was younger.  Sometimes, you hear people say that "you've changed"! Like it is a bad thing!!  That is the best thing that could have happened!!  That you have changed, you have grown, you see things differently, you have matured!
Now there are instances when our life experiences have not been good, and taints your outlook on things.  You see and feel the negative in all situations.  It happens!!!!  It happens to the majority of us!!  You feel stuck!!  Like that car stuck in the mud, the more you try to get out the deeper you sink!!  What do you do???????????  Believe it or not, the same thing you would do if you were actually in that car stuck in the mud.  Stop trying to get out of the mud.  Calm your nerves.  Get out of the vehicle or situation.  Look at your situation from this new angle. Notice that you have more than one option to getting yourself out of this situation. Which will you choose???  That is a decision only you can make.  You have the power to decide.  Your situation, your decision!!
You see I keep on knitting, learned that lace pattern, and made something anyway!!!!  A toilet paper cover!!!  Cool!

• Weeds??!!

  We know dandelions as weeds in our yard!!  Something to mow over or to pull out!!!  Eradicating them from our view!
  For some time now I have been taking dandelion for health reasons.  It has some properties that is good for our biological system.  Especially good for our liver!
  Thought I would share this!  A little info about the dandelions positive effects on women especially.
  

  
  

  Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

  Strength building, energizing, enhancing vital life forces, dandelion roots are rich in iron, manganese, phosphorus, protein, and vitamin A. They also contain bone building calcium, nerve soothing niacin, and magnesium, potassium, zinc and vitamin C complex. Consistent use of dandelion roots is said to create a potassium rich, anti cancer environment, help rid free radicals from the blood stream and is considered an excellent choice when dealing with cancer.

  Dandelion roots have traditionally been used to heal breast tissue. Grating the fresh root and applying it externally as a poultice will help heal sores, impacted milk glands and cysts. Infused in oil it is excellent for breast protective massage. Chinese physicians use it this way to treat breast cancer. Ayurvedic healers use dandelion in similar ways. Regular use of dandelion roots lowers cholesterol, reduces high blood pressure and helps prevent arteriosclerosis. Root dug in the fall contains a full quarter of the weight in inulin and will help stabilize blood sugar levels, help reduce hypoglycemia, and prevent adult onset diabetes.

  Rich in phytosterols, the roots are a safe and effective tonic for the reproductive system. Dandelion roots regulate and stabilize hormonal production and also inhibit the growth of the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections (candida albicans). Everyone knows that dandelion leaves are incredibly nourishing and delicious, but did you know the flowers and sap are medicinal also? Dandelion flowers steeped in wine are an apertif said to strengthen the heart, and the sap is a discutient, which means it absorbs and dissolves diseased tissue, tumors and abnormal growths.

• Finally!

  Finally!  I have been able to get some pics of the things I have been working on while recuperating.  It has been a long 2.5 months!  I haven't been just sitting idle!  lol lol    pun intended!  Sitting is all I can really do for now!!
  
  I have knitted 10 hats and a baby sweater! Still working on the bottom half of the sweater set, and just started working on a wine bottle cozy!  Things to keep my mind busy while I mend, and to exercise my hands.  My hands really took a beating while in the hospital. Several I.V.'s in both!  So there is cramping and muscle spasms. Pain!!!!  The more I work with them the better!
  
  Sometimes things happen, or something is said that can be used as a life lesson.  Something that really gives you thinking material.  It can be something so simple!
  
  During a conversation with a friend {we were discussing the gasoline prices} earlier, the discussion turned to the president and why he does not do anything to help.  Several contributors to the conversation (on FB of course!) seemed to feel that it is the government's fault that they cannot afford gasoline!  To a certain extent, I agree!  BUT  On the other hand I don't!  The government can do much better with the money that they are entrusted with.  That is a definite fact!!  But to blame them for all "your" financial woes?  NO!!!!!!   You do have some say in how your income is spent!  {Your take home pay, after taxes that is!}  
  That is something I am learning more and more!! We have more control of our lives than we think or believe!  Sometimes, the choices we make cause our problems.  Every action causes a reaction!  We have to learn to re think our options, because we all have them!  Sometimes we have to move out of our comfort zones!!  Do without some things!  Change our habits!  We have to be willing to do these things for ourselves!  Sometimes we cannot afford gasoline for our car because of the car payment for that said car!!!  Or because we have to eat lunch out every single day!  or because we have all the cable channels and are not home to watch them and when you are at home TV is the last thing on your mind!
  Living on a fixed income teaches you many things!!!  What you can or cannot afford becomes an issue immediately!  We have options, we just have to explore them and experiment with some of them! 
  
  Before my mind goes off in another direction!  lol lol  I am going to post my pics!!!
  
  I decided to make two of each of the hats to really get to know the pattern.  Not that they were hard patterns.  I just needed to learn and make myself follow a pattern!  To follow directions!   Very important!!
  
  What lesson did I learn today????
  
  We are in control of our lives!  It's the decisions that we make that steers the course of our lives!  We have options! We can choose to do things differently!  As much as we'd like to, we cannot blame the government for everything!  lol lol

Well made that pot of coffee and I am on the second cup!! 

So much can be thought out over a cup of coffee.  It used to be cigarettes for me.  They worked, but they were hurting my pocketbook!!   I know my health too!!  Coffee has effectively taken their place! 

Today I think about how to better my existence and that of my family.  What is working for us and what is not!!!  I had decided that 2012 was going to be that year of all years that changes were going to happen!  Good changes!   Well?  There have been changes.  Don't know if you could call them good.    Change takes time!   

I was forced to examine my health.  I got sick!!  I got hospitalized!! I almost died!!  That gave me plenty to think about!  How I had directly caused my health problems, and what I could do to make them better.  It is amazing what a hospital stay in isolation can do for u!!  You have nothing but time!!

Being sick also caused me to have to examine my finances!!  What was I doing with what I got?  Well let's just say this  --  it was not good!!  The picture painted was terrible!!!  Now this situation is a teensy bit harder to deal with.  Why?  Because of my inability to control myself!  I am a spender!!!  I can find something to buy with two pennies!  Not a good thing at all, and not an easy habit to tame.  My goal?  To spend more wisely!  When you spend wisely, you have more to show for it!  I do not need a bigger place, the place I have is great!!  What I need is for my place to reflect my wise choices in life!  To not only show the love and warmth, but to make any and all feel it as well.

My knitting! I really wanted to take my knitting to the next level.  I have everything in place to run this little business!  I needed to get it moving literally!!!  It was not doing anything or going anywhere.   It just existed!  I wanted quality not just quantity.  So I had to sit down and re think my options.  Then to stick with those options!  Most of all -- to do this because this is what is in my heart to do. 

What lesson did I learn today?

Changes are needed, and those changes take time!   There is a thought and a decision process behind each change! You cannot change anyone but you! Every day brings new opportunity!!! 

Coffee!!!!

This cup of coffee looks sooooo good!  Warm and inviting!  I can see myself enjoying it!  About to make me a pot too!!

I know this sounds crazy, but TGIF!  Why crazy?  Because everyday is just like another for me.  I am not a member of the "rat" race out there working 5-6 days a week.

What is it about this particular Friday?  The heck if know!!!!   I woke up!!!  I feel GOOOD!  I am smiling!  Trust u me, that usually does not happen!