Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today

Recipe Category
Misc Bath

http://www.thesage.com/recipes/recipes.php?.State=ListRecipes&cat=Misc

This scrub is amazing! Those that have tried it rave that it is better than several commercially available salt scrubs, including those from The Body Shop. You will have to make it yourself and decide!

This recipe was made on the blog on February 19th 2009.

Ingredients
1 cup Fine Dead Sea Salt
1 oz Sweet Almond Oil
1 oz Liquid Glycerin
1 oz Colorless Jojoba Oil
1 oz Avocado Oil
1 oz Sunflower Oil
Lime Essential Oil (Scent to your tastes)

Equipment
Scale
Mixing Bucket
Containers to fill with finished product

Weigh liquids into the mixing bucket. Add salt and mix thoroughly. Once mixed, the scrub can be scooped into containers.

The glycerin doesn’t blend with the oils, so don’t worry about the separation because you won’t even notice once the salt has been added. When using, mix well before removing the desired amount of scrub.

Winter Survival Sugar Scrub

Date : 2002-02-28

Introduction
Winter Survival was one of the recipes I created for our most recent addition to the class schedule. Muds & Scrubs was a blast, what more can I say! Thanks to all the great ladies that definitely helped make this a success.

This was made on the blog on December 17th, 2009.

Ingredients
180 gram white sugar
40 grams brown sugar
90 grams Sunflower Oil
5 grams Liquid Glycerin (not Melt & Pour Soap Base)
10 grams Colorless Jojoba Oil
30 drops Satsuma Fragrance Oil
20 drops Honey Almond Fragrance Oil

Equipment
Scale
Mixing Bowl
Transfer pipettes
Jars to place the finished product in.

Instructions
Basic Steps
1. Carefully weigh all dry ingredients into a bowl and remove all lumps.
2. Any additional additives can be incorporated in at this time. For example Ground Apricot Seed, Ground Luffa.
3. Carefully weigh all oils and other liquids once all lumps have been removed and mixture is smooth.
4. Slowly add and blend your oils and glycerin into the dry mixture.
5. Using a transfer pipette measure fragrances and continue blend, making sure all fragrance is evenly distributed through out the mixture.

Comments
I recommend using your scrubs only once per week. Remember too much of a good thing can still become irritating. This recipe makes about 8 fl oz of scrub.

Easy Body Scrub Soaps

Date : 1999-02-06

Create your own textured aromatic soaps that will gently remove unwanted dead skin cells and leave your skin soft and healthy looking, not to mention clean. These are just a few additives you can combine with our Melt and Pour Soap Base to create luxurious soaps that will make you the topic of conversation among all your family and friends. (That’s if you share!)

Instructions:
Add any of the following examples to one pound of Melt and Pour Soap Base.

Almond Scrub
Add 2 tablespoons finely ground almond and 1 teaspoon Apricot Freesia Fragrance oil to the melted Melt and Pour Soap Base.

Honey & Oatmeal
Add 2 tablespoons finely ground oatmeal and 2 tablespoons honey to the Melt and Pour Soap Base. Try 3/4 teaspoon of our Honey Almond Fragrance Oil in this one.

Wheatgerm Scrub
Add 2 tablespoons finely ground wheatgerm, 1 teaspoon Sweet Almond Oil and 3/4 teaspoon Sandalwood Fragrance Oil.

Mint Foot Scrub
Add 1 tablespoon finely crushed dried Peppermint Leaves and 1/2 teaspoon each of our Peppermint Essential Oil and Spearmint Essential Oil.

Rosemary Mint Foot Scrub

Date : 2003-04-09

Introduction
Rosemary Mint has to be my favorite all time essential oil blend. I used it for my feet and for my hands. It is wonderific!

Ingredients
2 cups White Sugar
1/4 cup Liquid Soap Base
3/4 cup Sunflower Oil
1 ml Peppermint Essential Oil
1 ml Spearmint Essential Oil
1/2 ml Rosemary Essential Oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed Grape Seeds or Raspberry Seeds

Instructions
Mix all ingredients together. Pour into jars. And head to the bath!

Comments
Do you ever get callouses in the summer from wearing sandals all the time? Well, fight back with some rosemary mint foot scrub. Your feet will feet cool and rejuvenated.

Yield
Makes about 20 fl oz.

http://www.thesage.com/recipes/recipes.php?.State=Display&id=59

Fizzy Bath Crystals

Date : 1997-11-02

Ingredients:
8 oz wt cornstarch
8 oz wt Citric Acid
16 oz wt baking soda
up to 1 tsp. Fragrance oil

Instructions:
Mix cornstarch and Citric Acid together thoroughly. Add fragrance oil as desired. Blend in baking soda. Package in bags only and label.

Notes & Comments:
Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per bath.
Enjoy!

http://www.thesage.com/recipes/recipes.php?.State=ListRecipes&cat=Lotions

Recipe Category
Lotions, Creams & Other Things

Title
(2009-10-12) Rooibos Body Cream
(2007-08-23) Body Balm
(2007-04-25) Light Facial Cream
(2007-04-25) Whipped Body Butter
(2005-08-08) Coffee Butter Latte Cream
(2005-07-12) Aloe Butter Hand Cream
(2005-03-11) Mary’s Elbow Cream
(2005-03-08) Crazy Daisy’s Massage Lotion
(2005-03-08) Gardener’s Hand Therapy
(2003-12-11) Autumn Moisture Maintenance
(2003-07-17) Cuticle Gelly
(2003-04-09) Honeysuckle Peach Lotion
(2003-04-09) Light & Luscious Body Souffle
(2003-03-26) Energy Body Cream
(2003-03-26) Sparkling Body Butter
(2002-11-05) Tina’s Lanolin Butter
(2002-03-13) Basic Body Butter
(2000-12-18) Chocolate Mousse Magnetism
(2000-12-18) Sun-Flower Power
(2000-08-31) Kailua Bay - June Swap Lotion
(2000-06-20) Karen’s Buttercream
(2000-01-27) Mango Body Cream
(2000-01-26) Special Request Lotion
(1999-10-28) Minty Foot Cream
(1999-04-23) Connie’s Peppermint Foot Cream
(1998-06-16) Sammi Janette’s First Try
(1998-05-14) Light Lotion with Aloe
(1998-04-29) Granny’s Favorite Lotion
(1998-04-22) How to use Germaben II
(1998-03-30) Easy Does It Coconut Cream
(1998-03-14) Connie’s Canadian Cream
(1998-01-30) Tummy and Toe Jam
(1998-01-09) Lotion Bar

[Posted, not as a cure all, but due to the fact I found it interesting....granny]

http://www.motherearthherbs.com/perspective.html

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

The blend known as “essiac” is comprised of plants that are indigenous to both Eastern and Western hemispheres. Out of the book “Healing With Whole Foods: Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition,” we find another way to look at this blend!

Many Eastern cultures look at the body differently than Westerners. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic Medicine (East India), and some Turtle Island Tribes, the body is viewed from the point of subtle energy fields, how each food has a different element to it related to the elements of Nature, and how energy channels are used to diagnose and treat imbalances. TCM allows the properly trained practitioner to get a very good overall picture of someone’s health by observation of indicators of balance—or imbalance—in their patient—pulses, tongue color and condition, the way a person is breathing, the smell of their body, the way they posture or walk, and others. He uses the knowledge he gains from this to decide which treatment will most benefit his patient.

Many times it is a combination of treatments which could comprise (but are not limited to) moxybustion, acupuncture, herbal teas, breathing exercises, and diet. Western culture usually has a difficult time understanding the whole concept of meridians, energy channels, blockages, and the ways of describing imbalance: yin, yang, heat, cold, damp, dry, deficiency, excess. and combinations of these. There are some very good books available today to help you understand these concepts and how to utilize them in your life. You don’t even have to understand it to benefit from it’s positive attributes. To my knowledge, in present time healthcare, it is the Chinese who have the longest recorded historical evidence of successful treatment of a variety of dis-eases. That continues today.

TCM also views the body differently than in Western thinking. An organ mentioned in texts will usually pertain to areas other than the actual organs themselves. This is what confuses those schooled in Western medicine or anatomy.

What does this all have to do with the essiac blend and a tea formulated in Canada? People all over the world take this blend. Out of all the other cultures residing in the U.S., the Asian population here is very strong. More people in America are turning to TCM for help with debilitating and chronic disease. Rene Caisse probably didn’t even know about the five elements, the meridians, or anything of that nature. That doesn’t matter. This blend crosses all cultural lines.

Although the text below is only representative of the information obtained from one book, it will hopefully give the reader some other aspects to consider regarding the blend we call “essiac”. An important note: TCM views the whole person and the patterns that are seen throughout. There can be—and often is—more than one combination of imbalances occurring at once. This is where TCM excels. It takes those combinations seen in that individual person and tailors the treatments specifically to them. You may have what us Westerners call a “cold or flu”. TCM will treat each person differently. I remember the first time I asked my acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist for something “for menstrual cramps”. He just looked at me. He would not offer any suggestions until he had done an assessment on me. Then he told me, “TCM is nothing like Western medicine. It’s not about treating the symptoms, but the imbalances in the entire body.” Lesson learned!

BURDOCK ROOT — Arctium lappa — Bitter herbs such as Burdock can be helpful in controlling candidiasis. Bitter food and herbs help with damp-associated conditions, such as parasites, mucus, growths, tumors, cysts, obesity, edema. Persons who are deficient, cold, weak, thin, nervous and dry should limit bitter intake. Also those with diseases of the bone. Too much bitter flavor in the diet of those with deficient yin of the lungs should limit bitter intake, as it may be too drying. Bitters should be taken gradually in the colder months, building up the amount slowly. The root is beneficial in purging excesses from the body. (Excesses can be from illness, infection—can be excess heat, dampness, coldness and/or wind). Dry dampness in arthritis sufferers responds well to an appropriate diet and burdock. It is one of the herbs suggested for heart and artery renewal.

SORREL: — No Latin name given — Anti-parasitic vegetables are beet, cabbage, carrot, garlic, leek, onion, radish, and sorrel. They have a stronger action when eaten raw.

SLIPPERY ELM: — Ulmus fulva — When a deficiency in the lungs occur, there is chronic lack of yin to cool and nourish the lungs. This is a result of chronic lung infections, inflammation, or long term lung disease. This food/herb also helps with deficient kidney yin (the root of yin in the body). Good for stomach fire, or excess stomach heat, and ulcers. Indicated for mucus-type asthma, which is the most common type in the West. (Asthma indicates disharmony in one or more organ systems: digestive center of spleen-pancreas-stomach-intestines, kidney-adrenals and liver-gallbladder, the heart-lungs.) [In Western herbalism, asthma is considered to be a disease of excess mucous—hence the historical use of lobelia and vomiting to clear the respiratory passages.] Slippery Elm is astringent, which would help to dry up the mucous. Also many persons who suffer from chronic skin conditions have a depletion in the fluids and blood, in which Slippery Elm is indicated.

TURKEY RHUBARB — Rheum palmatum — Reduces excess, constipation, heart and artery renewal, strongest remedy for detoxifying and cooling the liver especially in reducing toxicity from too much meat in the diet, cools heat and increases peristalsis, excess-induced amenorrhea (will promote menses), chronic digestive disturbances related to parasites (Rheum is considered a parasiticide), and helps expel them.

This barely scratches the surface of the wealth of knowledge contained in this book. It also has a section devoted to treatment of cancer.

My area of interest lies more in Native plants, but I also have a little bit of study in Chinese herbs. What struck me is the similar uses and indications for the essiac herbs between East and West. More food for thought.

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

Mother Earth Herbs

Essiac Research Essiac FAQ Brewing Books Links
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http://www.motherearthherbs.com/standardized.html

STANDARDIZED EXTRACTS

As I walk down the aisles of the healthfood store or search the internet, I see standardized extracts growing more and more in availability. As an herbalist, I would like to offer you my viewpoints on these for consideration.

In my studies of herbalism and the traditional use of plants, I find no mention of standardization. This is a modern phenomenon that has been publicly endorsed in the past several years. In my opinion, this newer way of taking herbs stems from an influence of allopathic (modern) medicine. Physicians, nurses, and researchers are trained to expect certain measurable outcomes from chemicals. The key word here is measurable. It follows the belief that if you can measure a substance and it illicits a certain response from the body, then, in order to continue to obtain that response, the chemical must be predictable. This is the basis for the creation of drugs and their use. Pharmaceuticals/drugs are standardized natural plant compounds or synthetic substances. Every year, pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars in testing chemicals on animals and humans in hopes of obtaining a consistent, reproducible response.

Since plants are made up of hundreds (if not thousands) of chemicals, studies are done to isolate a particular chemical, or chemicals, which research deems to be the most “active” component of the plant. It may then be tested in vitro (occuring in laboratory apparatus, ie: petri dish). That chemical then may be tested time and time again in vivo (occuring in a living organism) to ascertain its effects on the human/animal body or particular cells. Modern science bases its acceptance (or not) on predictability, that is, predictable outcomes. This is what clinical trials are used for!

In light of a few herbs being introduced onto the market in the past which were contaminated with other substances, contained different plant materials, or just the whole plant being wrongly identified and mislabeled, it can be a way of checking to be sure that the substances are not adulterated. Although this happens infrequently, it is still a possibility. If you are testing for a certain chemical and it is absent, it is a good sign the wrong plant is being used. Let’s now explore some of the ideas as to why I disagree with standardization of herbal products.

Science has identified many phytochemicals (phyto=plant). There are possibly thousands that are yet unknown to science. We can only test for that which we can identify! Just as humans are complex living organisms, so are plants. Let me begin with one of my favorites to pick on, St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). It is commonly used by those dealing with mild to moderate depression. It exhibits similar properties and actions with the class of drugs called MAOI’s (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors), although less potent. Hypericum is one of the few herbs which only exhibits its most potent actions when used or preserved in the fresh state. (Fresh is always best, since some properties will be greatly reduced, almost nonexistent, in some dried forms of plants. Most supplements are made using the dried form, almost useless with this plant in my opinion!) The most “active” chemical in St. John’s Wort was determined to be hypericin. When a standardized extract is made, it is measured to contain a certain percentage of hypericin. This can be manipulated by extracting only that chemical and adding it to the product.

According to a monograph on this plant provided by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, “Hypericum contains numerous compounds with documented biological activity. Most researchers consider it’s effects to be due to a variety of constituents rather than any single component. Constituents that have stimulated the most interest include the naphthodianthrones hypericin and pseudohypericin, a broad range of flavonoids, including quercetin, quercitrin, amentoflavone and hyperin, the phloroglucinols hyperforin and adyperforin, the essential oil; and xanthones.” All of these chemicals—plus others known and not known—play a role in the plant’s actions. There is a careful balance of phytochemicals inherent in each plant.

At the exclusion of other known chemicals, hypericin is singled out. What role do the other chemicals play in the effectiveness of Hypericum? Depending on the method used to preserve the plant, certain chemicals will also be lost or reduced. This is a concern no matter how the product is prepared, standardized or not. So, we know from looking at the bottle that each tablet or capsule contains a consistent amount of hypericin. This is in conflict with Nature.

A look at Nature gives us some interesting thoughts to ponder. Depending on what type the soil is, the nutrients available to the plant in the soil, the water content, environmental pollution, weather conditions, etc, we find a variation between plants grown in different places, even growing side by side. What if this stand of plants over here contains a high amount of iron, while the one miles away contains little. Each plant is different. So are we! I do not contain ‘standardized’ amounts of anything in my body.

I conducted a little “experiment.” Hoping to prove myself wrong, I tried some standardized extracts. First, I tested St. John’s Wort. I took the suggested dosage of the supplement for 3 months. Nothing. I then switched back to a tincture I had made out of the freshly harvested flower tops. Within a week, my symptoms improved. Thinking I may have mentally sabotaged my little test, I tried it again—this time with Gingko biloba. I purchased the standardized extract, giving some to myself and some to my son. I didn’t tell him I was conducting a “test” of any kind. We both developed rashes within 24 hours. I then tried using leaves I had dried and powdered, placing them in capsules. No rash.

Not to be discouraged, I tried one last test. I had taken aspirin off and on for years, always suffering an upset stomach afterward. I switched to White Willow bark. No upset stomach. This is an extremely limited “test group,” but the results were apparent to me in my experience. I’ve had clients complain to me that they took St. John’s Wort and found it to be totally useless. Upon questioning, they told me they had been taking the standardized extract or dried capsule form. I asked them to try the fresh plant tincture. They all reported back that they had found their depression lifting. Before I go further, let me say this: St. John’s Wort will not work for all types of depression, nor in every person suffering depression. Just as one pharmaceutical antidepressant does not work for all, neither does any one plant.

In order to find justification and acceptance for herbal use, some medical professionals feel that they must have “proof” of a plant’s effectiveness through trials, testing, studies, and predictability, just as is done with drugs. Many of the studies done have validated the historical uses of some plants. A chemical is found and identified which produces a certain physiological response. This coincides, many times, with the anectdotal and historical uses of the plant for that purpose. In my readings though, I have noticed that the greater part of the “herbal” trials are done using standardized preparations. In the summary statements, it may say that the plant was found ineffective or unproven. Remember, this was using a manipulated preparation, not the historical application of intact/whole plant part(s). Even if the study validated the historical use, we are using two different preparations—standardized as a means to prove/disprove non-standardized, traditional (historical) uses. Comparing apples and oranges maybe?

An area of major personal concern to me are the studies lacking on the essiac tea. Some of the agencies I have researched do not appear to want to conduct any trials or investigation into this blend’s validity without standardizing the blend. Since this blend appears to have rather “tonic” qualities, which chemicals do you choose to standardize!? How would that change the actions of the blend? I do not think essiac is a single “cure” for cancer, or any disease for that matter. I have heard enough anecdotal evidence from clients, though, to tell me that it is a wonderful adjunct to people’s overall regimens, enough to deserve closer scrutiny. So shall we toss the baby out with the bathwater because essiac has not been standardized?

Another point to ponder: Pharmaceuticals are primarily (but not always) designed to suppress, or override, a function or response in the body. Many herbs are seen to facilitate the body back to balance, to help alleviate stress on organs or organ systems, replace nutrients lacking in the body, assist with digestion, encourage the elimination of toxins, etc. The actions are very different in many instances than those of drugs. I have yet to see the list of adverse side effects given for most herbs as are included in reference materials for drugs! (They exist, but seem to not be as prounounced. Okay, as always, there are exceptions!) In my opinion, successful use of herbs is in finding the correct combination for that individual, with a goal of working with the body to balance itself.

To label extracts as being “natural” is a gross misrepresentation. Those plant materials have purposely been manipulated chemically! Period! The inherent balance no longer exists. Plant circulation so closely resembles that of a human, it seems that our bodies tend to assimilate these nutrients and chemicals more efficiently. Over much time, we have come to adapt to them.

Yes, we need drugs, but are they the whole answer? Is manipulating nature always in our best interest? Critics site that plants are too variable in constituents to test. Yes, and that can be a positive thing if you use it wisely. I prefer to look at pharmaceuticals with a degree of respect for their actions, knowledge of the side effects, and appreciation of intended goals. I also take into consideration thousands of years of experience from those who have worked with plants and have witnessed firsthand the responses in the human body to the plants given in certain conditions. Both modalities are valid.

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

http://www.motherearthherbs.com/elm.html

SLIPPERY ELM TREE - Ulmus rubra syn. U. fulva

This plant is known by several common names— Red Elm , Indian Elm, Moose Elm, Gray Elm

FAMILY: Ulmaceae—the Elm family—other members include the nettles

PARTS COMMONLY USED: Inner bark

COLLECTION: Inner bark in Spring or Fall. Extreme care must be taken otherwise the tree will die. This tree is at risk and on it’s way to becoming endangered due to overharvesting and the Dutch Elm disease. I do not advise collecting this yourself.

DESCRIPTION & HABITAT: Rubra means “red” referring to reddish-brown bark or the rust color of the buds. This is the only ingredient in the tea that actually is a Native botanical. Dark green leaves are larger than those of the American Elm, are hairy underneath and rough on top. They are broad and toothed. Buds at the branch ends often display orange tips. This tree can reach 60 feet, adapts well to soils which are moist and high in compost. It can be found in moist woodlands and bottomlands, along banks of streams—but will also grow in poor dry soil. Found primarily in the northern and central U.S., it also extends up toward Canada. Relatively adaptable and easy to grow, anyone who has the space would be wise to plant one of these. The inner bark is whitish to pink, and when dried has the faint scent of maple syrup (to me anyway!).

HISTORY & USES: This tree was highly prized and utilized by the Turtle Island People long before settlers came. It was used for making canoes, homes, baskets, kettles, food, preservative for staples that may go rancid, and as a medicine. During the Revolutionary War, the bark was used as a source of survival food. Reportedly, some soldiers who got lost subsisted on elm bark and sassafras for 12 days.

It is safely used for infants, as well as elderly and pregnant women. It’s applications medicinally indicate that the soothing affects are related to it’s high mucilage content. Mucilage is strengthening and healing to most tissues. It seems to “calm down” any irritation to various tissues, soothing it and protecting it so that healing can be obtained. Internally, the intestinal and urinary tracts, throat, and lungs respond favorably to it’s properties It is also as nutritious as oatmeal, can be tolerated when other foods can’t, and is considered a “survival food”. It’s high calcium content helps with nervous and emotional issues. Tannins make it astringent, which acts to shrink skin and mucosa. Externally, it is made into a paste and applied to wounds, burns, boils, ulcers, burns, inflamed surfaces and will reduce pain and inflammation. (I would also add powdered charcoal—from opened capsules.) Indigenous people are reported to have also used it to “draw out the poisons from a bullet wound”. The composition of the inner bark is such that upon adding water/liquid, it will swell to a spongy mass. It is a helpful addition to douches, suppositories, enemas or lozenges.

ORGANS/SYSTEMS AFFECTED: digestive, lung

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine): sweet, bland, cool, moist with secondary qualities of nourishing, thickening and astringing—enters lung and stomach meridicans, influences lungs, stomach and bladder

SOLVENTS: water, alcohol

CONTRAINDICATIONS: none known

CONSIDERATIONS: Use with caution on children under 2 years old. It may difficult for them to swallow the tea or gruel. Must be taken with copious amounts of water. Low doses are anti-diarrhea. High doses are used with constipation, performing almost a bulk laxative type of effect.

THOUGHTS:

I have suggested to many of our clients that they consider taking Slippery elm as a food or drink. In cases where they may be unable to eat due to lack of appetite, nausea or weakness, this may be an option. One to three teaspoons of the powdered inner bark can be added to oatmeal.

An infusion that may benefit those undergoing radiation to the throat, lung or digestive tract: Put 2 –3 Tablespoons of the bark powder in 16 ounces of cold water for 6-8 hours, then heat slowly, being careful not to boil. Stir constantly while heating. Strain and drink.

As this is considered nutritious enough to be a survival food, I find it invaluable in persons undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation. Digestive disorders tend to almost be the norm. Many have diarrhea or constipation. Constipation can come from the sedating effects of pain medication on the digestive tract. Drinking more water, eating fresh fruit and warmed prune juice can help. Loss of appetite during chemo is a major side effect due to nausea, food tasting worse than old gym socks, or like metal, etc. I read many years ago that Slippery Elm bark was given to those coming out of concentration camps, starvation from illness, and when no other food could be found. Many of the problems that develop after chemo can be attributed to the body becoming malnourished. You can mix one teaspoon of the powder and mix well with same amount of honey or syrup. Add one pint of boiling water, soya milk, nut milk, or cow’s milk. Slowly mix as you add the liquid. Try adding a small amount of the bark powder to your daily juicing recipe.

This powder is useful when making any preparation for an enema, douche or suppository. It’s mucilaginous properties are of great benefit for helping the healing process.

Please offer your thanks to what we are using and jeopardizing in our harvest of this tree for the making of essiac. Given my philosophy of always leaving enough plant for the next seven generations, I have been researching a suitable alternative to this inner bark for the essiac blend. As popularity for this tea grows, the available bark we have for use diminishes. Right now things don’t look too good at all for having enough of these trees left for my grandchildren

MISC:

The inner bark of this tree is the medicinal part that has been listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). It is also one of the few herbs that has been listed for a long time in the National Formulary. You will find it as the main ingredient in slippery elm lozenges

Consider this an option. Add 1/4 cup of slippery elm bark powder to 2 cups of cold water. Let stand 30 minutes. Slowly heat mixture for 5 minutes, gently stirring to prevent clumping. Let cool, and add sweetener such as honey (highly nutritious) and any spice that appeals to the person. I add peppermint leaves for their cooling action to lungs, ginger root to increase circulation, apple juice in place of water, rosemary leaves for their antioxidant properties. If constipation is a problem, try adding a pinch of clove, fennel or ginger.

Slippery Elm was one of the ingredients in Rene Caisse’s patented formula called “Kidney Tablets”. She combined prickly ash berries, juniper berries, burdock root, uva ursi and slippery elm.

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

http://www.motherearthherbs.com/semantics.html

SEMANTICS (aka KATHY’s DICTIONARY)

One of the ways in which misunderstandings can occur and clarity can be lost is in the use of certain words. Some of the words I use are not always defined or used by others in the same way. For those who know me well, I have these little quirky ways of looking at things, or defining things, in a style not always understood by the majority. Those of you familiar with Gallagher - my favorite comedian - will understand the way I view the world! :-)

Allopathic — Western, or modern medicine, and it’s healthcare system. Mosby’s medical dictionary definition is: “system of medical therapy in which a disease or abnormal condition is treated by creating an environment that is antagonistic to the disease or condition (ie: antibiotic for infection).” Using an antibiotic can bypass or override the immune system in lieu of strengthening the immune system to increase its function and effectiveness in taking care of the infection. It is antagonistic not only toward the bacteria or microorganism, but also toward the body in some ways (side effects in organs and organ systems). In my opinion, it is not geared toward working with the body and its own “checks and balances”, but overriding or suppressing some aspect of imbalance.

Alternative — Switching to Webster’s dictionary: “the choice between possibilities, one of the possibilites to be chosen, allowing a choice.” Taken literally, that feels appropriate to me, yet the word has taken on many negative connotations in healthcare circles—whether allopathic or non-allopathic. In the context of the way that I have heard this word used, I have a strong dislike for it now. When I have heard it spoken by allopathic professionals, it many times carried a derogatory inflection in the voice that made me very uneasy. The same thing has occured when I have heard it spoken by non-allopathic practioners, as if allopathic medicine is the enemy. The animosity carried many times in the use of this word leaves me disgusted.

Complementary — I like this word. It’s definition (Webster’s) is: “something that completes or makes up the whole.” I see complementary medicine as that which offers an opportunity to meld and blend with the majority of our healthcare options—allopathic—in a complementing fashion, not discounting the validity of either allopathic or non-allopathic. It is an harmonious blending that uses knowledge and tools from both modalities to complement the person’s needs; not in competition with or antagonistic to each other, but working synergistically. The allopathic practioner may prescribe an antibiotic. As a complementary practioner, I would offer the choice of using probiotics and immune stimulating herbs along with the drug (and whatever else presents itself as appropriate to that individual). Bottom line, I see it as a term used to describe that which not only works in complementing allopathic medicine, but most importantly in complementing each individual’s needs.

Traditional — Sometimes used to refer to allopathic modern medicine. Webster’s says: “a time-honored practice or set of such practices—a set of customs and usages transmitted from one generation to another and viewed as a coherent body of precendents influencing the present: heritage.” Well, to me this means something that is much older than modern scientific-based medicine. Considering the mixed-heritage I am blessed with—a large part coming from an ancient culture such as the Turtle Island People (Native Americans)—I hold that traditional means going back hundreds or thousands of years. The same is true with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Modern scientific practices are actually not that old! :-) Okay, so I’m picky!

Wholistic — Sometimes spelled Holistic - Mosby’s again: “of or pertaining to the whole; considering all factors, as holistic medicine.” The implied intent (as I understand it) of those who call themselves wholistic practioners is to assist a person with imbalances by taking into consideration the emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of that individual—mind, body and soul. To look at this in modern terms, it may be like a General Practioner M.D., Psychologist and Spiritual Advisor all rolled into one. Dis-ease, or imbalance, is not viewed as simply a physical phenomenon. It can also include environmental factors—any and all things which may negatively affect health.

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

http://www.motherearthherbs.com/capsules.html

CAPSULES, TINCTURES, TEA

This page is for educational purposes only. It contains the opinions of the author and her research. Perhaps it will help in your choice regarding the form you choose to take for your essiac tea.

CAPSULES: This form is considered the most convenient and seems to be the one many persons will choose in taking herbs or supplements. Convenience is not always the best rationale for taking herbs this way though.

Herbs require either water and/or alcohol to help extract their constituents (chemicals), which in turn will determine the actions you receive from the plant material. In the case of taking capsules, one is bypassing this crucial step. Relying on stomach acids, digestive juices and an adequate intake of water in helping to break down the capsule and assimilate the contents can result in a slower-acting and less potent preparation. Capsules are also composed of dried powdered herbs. Ideally, herbs should not be powdered until just prior to use to avoid the more rapid breakdown of their potency. In the case of commercially prepared capsules, one can never be sure of the age of the herbs, or if any fillers or additives are present.

When traveling, capsules may be more convenient. The best utilization then, would be to open the capsule and add to a cup of boiling hot water, steep for 15 minutes and strain. To be assured of stronger potency, it is simple to make your own capsules from the cut essiac herbs, powder them just prior to capsuling, and take along with you for a cup of tea. Most healthfood stores carry the necessary equipment for making either the -0- or -00- size. To powder the herbs, a coffee bean grinder and fine mesh strainer works well.

For those with cancer, there may very well be a compromise in the digestive tract for the ability to assimilate nutrients - - caused from chemotherapy, candida albicans, or other health issues. Once again, capsules would not be the best option here. What good is convenience if it reduces your chances of getting all you can from the herbs?

TINCTURES: In traditional herbalism, this is the preferred method of storing and preserving herbs - preferably fresh harvested. Broadly termed, tinctures are made using either alcohol, glycerine (glycerite), or vinegar (primarily for external applications), using a base other than water to extract constituents from herbs. Most commonly, it is alcohol that is used. Generally speaking, they are made using 5 parts alcohol to 1 part plant materials, using the highest percent alcohol available. Tinctures should remain potent for several years, if stored in amber bottles.

With this method, you will be extracting not only the water-soluble constituents, but the alcohol-soluble ones as well. It is rather inexpensive and easy to make your own. For those that are alcohol-sensitive, the glycerites can be a substitute, although you will only be extracting those chemicals which are water-soluble.

We do not know how the alcohol in a tincture may affect the properties and constituents of this tea. We also do not have any data on the use of tinctures by Rene Caisse. As the tea is the most common form of preparation in taking this herbal blend, and the one Rene Caisse did the most research on, I have pursued that area more strongly in my research.

I have not utilized this option in taking the essiac tea. I therefore, have no data to provide you on how much tincture is comparable to one ounce of the brewed tea.

TEA: This is made using either a decoction, infusion, or both. The “standard” instructions utilize only the decoction method for brewing essiac. The combination of heat and water is what extracts some of the constituents from the plant materials, breaking them down and releasing certain chemicals. Assimilation of this method also is dependant upon digestive tract health.

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

http://www.motherearthherbs.com/digestive.html

DIGESTIVE TRACT HEALTH & NUTRITION

This section is about a topic I end up discussing with many people. Most, at first, are a bit uneasy—understandably—yet it is probably one of the most important topics we can talk about. The essiac tea blend also affects the digestive system via certain constituents contained in the ingredients.

In order for your cells to receive nourishment, you have to put the right foods into your body. Your whole body’s health depends on the fuel it receives. Your car doesn’t run at its optimum on cheap gas—neither does your body! But, before you run out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of supplements, organic foods, a juicer, water purifier, please hear me out. I’ll try not to be too graphic here! Over many years of eating processed foods, taking antibiotics, eating pounds and pounds of sugar, and all the other wonderful things we can do to ourselves, a coating can build up on the lining of the intestinal tract. This can be from byproducts of foods we didn’t totally digest, candida albicans, parasites, constipation, and a multitude of other reasons.

Imagine all these microscopic nutrients trying to get through an incredible amount of sludge— pushing and screaming to try to get to your cells that are awaiting their arrival to do their jobs properly and efficiently. Now, something must be getting through or we would die from malnutrition. But is it enough? Chances are pretty good that we could all do better. EVERY single cell in our body relies on getting nourishment. Every single body system. We only have reserves of certain chemicals for so long. We also can only produce so many ourselves until that starts to wear down.

I’ve read countless times that about 99% of those with cancer, also suffer from candida albicans. Before you think I’m one of those people who think everything under the sun is caused from candida—I don’t. It is a very serious consideration for people with cancer though—more than any of us. It silently breaks down our ability to get nourishment to the body—or to the immune system. This nasty little yeast seems to thrive in the presence of sugar, yeast used in baking, alcohol consumption, processed foods (which usually contain sugar!), fermented and mold products, peanuts, hard fats (those that are hard at room temperature), processed meats, vinegar, potatoes and yams. Antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs (include chemotherapy here), birth control pills, all kill off the “good bacteria”, letting the candida go unchecked.

So, this yeast lines your intestinal tract, and during it’s phases of growth, throws more toxins into your body. It creates symptoms that are often vague and attributed to many, many other illnesses: fatigue, bloating after eating, headaches, foggy thinking, hypothyroid symptoms, ovarian and low estrogen symptoms, symptoms of testosterone deficiency, recurring infections, decreased absorption of Vitamin B6 and metabolism of beta carotene, diminished red blood cell flexibility leading to impaired circulation, impairment of neurotransmitter function, interference with magnesium and protein metabolism, impaired T-cell response and low blood counts, hypersensitivity to foods, itchy skin, production of antibodies against its own tissues, chemical sensitivity, joint pain, nausea, depression, recurrent vaginal infections, white coating on the tongue, muscle aches, heartburn, gas, anal itching, food intolerances or sensitivities. Do you see yourself anywhere here? I’ve asked people to go look at their tongue in the mirror and tell me what they see. The tongue is the “gateway” to the intestines and can say a lot about its health—or state of imbalance.

How to get rid of candida overgrowth: Stay away from all the foods that “feed” it. Don’t be overly aggressive about killing it off with powerful herbs. This will create a massive “die-off” that will literally leave a person sicker than before they started. It’s going to take some time and commitment, but after you get the candida under control, you can lighten up a bit on the regime. So, here we go!

I have found that almost all of the blends available commercially for killing off candida, contain Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis). This is not good. Not only are you using an at-risk plant, but also one that can build up toxic berberines in your body, decrease your absorption of Vitamin B12, and is also one of the most potent herbs in the plant kingdom. Why use it unless you absolutely have to? It’s really not worth it to me. I save that herb until I really need it. Find a suitable blend without that plant—you are going to have to take it for a few months. Next, consider adding the following to your regime: Grapefruit seed extract (do not confuse with Grape seed extract) about 2000 mgs starting at 500 mg per day and slowly increasing every 2-3 days, eat more fresh garlic, drink Pau d’arco tea (it has anti-candida effects), liquid oxygen supplement, colloidal silver. Do one at a time though so you don’t end up with rapid die off. Rapid die-off can result in very severe consequences to your body. Take it slow!

Now, the crucial part. If you are killing off all that candida, you want to replace it with some “good” bacteria that will rebalance the intestinal flora. In your health food store’s refrigerator section you should find either liquid in brown glass bottles or jars containing capsules that have acidophilus and bifidus live cultures. (If they don’t carry it, request that they do.) Take the maximum dose recommended on the bottle. Yogurt just doesn’t contain enough quality or live bacteria to do the job. Neither does the acidophilus milk. One of the reasons that Rx’s for candida don’t work long term is they do nothing to replace the “good” bacteria needed by your intestine to break down foods. Without replacing that bacteria, the candida will return again, and again, and again the balance is still not there. I have a written assessment you can take to see if you have candida. It’s simple, painless and eye-opening! Request one from me if you are doubtful you have candida, or want to find out for sure.

Did you notice that all of the herbs contained in the essiac blend have properties and actions that involve digestive processes? This isn’t a mistake. Cells and body processes are weakened by poor nutrition. I’ve talked to people who eat only organic foods, stay away from sugar—all the right things. Many still have candida though. And, have you ever seen someone in advanced stages of cancer? They look like they just left a concentration camp where they were fed water and bread for months. The body is literally STARVING. My heart goes out to these people.

Persons with cancer are faced with a big challenge: How to keep nutrition going into their body when they may be undergoing treatments that make them feel nauseated, weak, all food tastes awful, no appetite, and just feeling generally so sick the last thing they want to think about is food. Essiac contains properties to help stimulate appetite—they’re called bitter principles. It also has many other constituents related to digestive processes.

Chemotherapy not only affects cancer cells, but every single cell in the body. It is my understanding that the cells of the digestive tract multiply the quickest. This is why chemotherapy tends to affect the digestive tract so early on in treatment, resulting in nausea, lack of appetite, and many of the other digestive complaints. Along with candida probably being present, nutrition is a major factor for people taking this treatment. One thing I have seen in those who begin taking the tea prior to beginning chemo - they seem to have less nausea, their appetite stays good to moderate, and they seem to have less of the other symptoms. Not always, but enough it caught my attention. Also, they seem to have a greater incidence of remission or slowing of the tumor growth. Perhaps this has nothing to do with the tea, but more with the nutrition that they are taking in. Who knows? As long as there is some progress toward health—that’s the goal.

So, nutrition seems to be more important than what we are led to believe. It, in fact, is one of the major keys. On that note, I hear from many people who are changing their diets to reflect better nutrition once they find out they have cancer. There doesn’t seem to be any one diet that gives greater results than another. It must be high in nutrients, well-rounded and suitable for the individual. It must contain easily digested foods. It is my understanding that Rene Caisse advised her patients to eat a “healthy diet” (in those days a healthy diet was considered different than today!), and to eat only those foods that are easily digested.

Some people are on raw foods. This may be okay for the healthy person, but one who has cancer should keep a couple of things in mind. 1) the body does not need to put it’s energy into the breakdown of the meal, but in it’s absorption and transfer to the cells needing it most. Eating raw foods requires the digestive processes to work very hard. 2) Raw foods can harbor millions of micro-organisms. This insult is the last thing a body needs that has a compromised immune system and digestive system. I suggest lightly steamed instead, saving the water (packed with nutrients) as an addition to soup or taken on it’s own, until your body is stronger and able to divert more energy to digestion and less to the immune system. Be mindful that beef and chicken usually contain antibiotics, growth hormones, and other chemicals that may put stress on your immune system. Also read the section on Body pH. It may give you some other guidelines to help you.

I’ve seen this time and time again: You read a book and decide that this particular diet is going to give you back your health. You are a meat and potatoes kind of person, and going vegetarian sounds like it’s your ticket to health. I know very few people who can stick to that diet, without fail, long term, by switching over completely in one day. If you see or hear something that you want to try, gradually begin to incorporate it into your lifestyle. Then, it won’t feel like you are being held prisoner by your diet, being deprived of things you love, etc. Try taking one thing a week, or one a month, and changing it. The results are longer lasting this way. Also, and very importantly, your body has made it’s own sort of adjustment to your lifelong diet and foods you eat. Anything done drastically will throw your body into a state of imbalance creating more stress on the immune system, and all major systems. Moderation here is crucial - as in all you do. Homeostasis (the body’s balance), is extremely sensitive. It will react in some measure to every single thing you do.

Research is currently being done on the use of digestive enzymes in those with cancer. The preliminary findings look very promising. Use one that is cold-processed or cold-extracted, as heat can destroy many of the enzymes. Make sure they are of high quality. The enzymes you want to look for in a supplement are : pancreatic, lipase, protease, amylase, alpha galactosidase. Bromelain is helpful as well.

Try this tip for those who seem to have a bit of trouble digesting proteins such as those found in meats and bean/rice dishes: Sprinkle a small amount of organic ginger root powder over the meat while cooking or just before serving. You can also add a small amount of grated fresh ginger root to hot or cold dishes, or while cooking. For some reason this helps our body to break down the proteins more easily. Ginger also has the added bonus of increasing circulation, along with calming nausea for many.

Most importantly, begin to be mind-ful of what you are eating. Be consciously aware that each bite you take, is a choice as to whether your cells will be nourished or not. Don’t beat yourself up if you eat a Twinkie, but just be aware that this is a “comfort” food, more than a healthy one.

I’m not a trained dietician, or nutritionist. I do a lot of reading, talking to people, and trying things out for myself. I don’t eat the “perfect” diet. I doubt none of us do. The key is in being mindful.

Many of our clients feel that intestinal parasites may have contributed to their digestive tract imbalances. This aspect of a possible cause for cancer and many illnesses was made popular in a book written by Hulda Clark, PhD, ND entitled “The Cure For All Cancers”. Her focus is on the toxins we add to our bodies, and the role parasites may play in our health. On the first page of her book it states: “I discovered the true cause of cancer. The cause is a certain parasite, for which I have found evidence in every cancer case regardless of the type of cancer.” Although I do not discount that parasites can play a role in our health issues, I find it extremely difficult to believe that it is the sole cause of cancer. We possess highly complicated bodies, and she infers that the complexities of cancer can be caused by one single organism - Fasciolopsis buskii a human intestinal fluke or flatworm.

We can agree to disagree here, but I choose to look at the following: 1) Her book is full of extremes in my opinion. I am uncomfortable with extremes. 2) We were created as highly complicated physical beings, with a multitude of factors ingrained in our bodies to ultimately survive. There are “back-up” mechanisms for almost every function in the body. 3) Could it be possible that through inadequate diet, lifestyle and other aspects, that this fluke was allowed to flourish in our body? What ultimately caused the fluke to supposedly “take over?” By getting rid of this intestinal parasite (without using all of her other extreme recommendations), will a person stay “cured” as she states? I believe it warrants further consideration, but as a part of a larger whole in treatment. Not the end-all, be-all.

As an herbalist, I would like to use a “plant story” to illustrate how important nutrition can be in overall health. Granted, we are not plants, but perhaps this does have some parallels! One year we decided to plant a huge vegetable and herb garden. Our focus was, and is, on growing organically. I watered the plants, watched their miraculous bursting forth from the soil, and continued to think about all that wonderful food we could eat soon. It was not long before insects came in and ravaged my garden to such an extent that absolutely none of the food was edible. The following year, we had the soil tested and found it to be almost completely devoid of nutrients. It was also hardpan clay!

We diligently added all the nutrients recommended to the soil, piled on the compost from our household, and brought sand in to break up the soil. After mixing this all in, we planted, watered, continued to add nutrients and were abundantly rewarded. We had more food than we could possibly consume ourselves, pulled extra plants out and tossed them over the fence for the deer, and gave countless bags of food to our neighbors. No predatory insects bothered our garden. I sat and pondered the drastic differences in both gardens. We had no need for using pesticides (not that we would have anyway!) and despite planting very close together, had healthy flourishing plants. I believe that it was due to the abundant nutrition that we gave our plants, that we “broke up” the soil by adding compost and sand, so our plants were able to thrive. By providing lots of nutrition, the predatory insects no longer were a problem - at all. It seemed that they preyed upon weak plants. There are many parallels here in concept that can be applied to human bodies. Think about it!

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

http://soapnuts.com/lothelp.html

Welcome to the Soapnuts Creating Lotions Workshop

Give the gift of scent this holiday season with discount fragrances from name brand designers! Check out our selection of Juicy Couture perfume or Hugo Boss fragrance for men! Our perfumes are a scent above the rest!

*******************************

Hopefully this may help some of you learn how to create your own lotion at home, if you’ve never done this before, then you’re in for a treat.

continues and has photos....and charts..........granny

http://soapnuts.com/snspecialoils.html

SPECIAL OILS AND INGREDIENTS

Maybe you got a sample of macadamia nut oil in a swap....or you need to know why a recipe calls for castor oil is in your shampoo bar recipe...this chart will help clarify some of the ingredients you come across in recipes.

If you are mainly interested in soapmaking oils, please go to the chart with that information Oil Characteristics Chart

[Excellent chart, maybe the best of them...granny]

LOL, I got side tracked, didn’t forget the question you asked and it should be at this link, several go in the right direction.

http://www.google.com/search?q=save+used+up+lipstick&btnG=Search&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=WdS&sa=2

http://makeup.about.com/od/facefundamentals/qt/ThriftyTips.htm

Thrifty Makeup Tips - Tips for Stretching Your Makeup’s Life

•Lipstick can be used up to 2 years, as long as it doesn’t smell or look funny. So when you are down to the very bottom of your tube and only have that little nub left, don’t toss it out. Instead scrape it into a container for later. A great container to use is an empty lip gloss or single eyeshadow pot, just as long as you clean it first.

So what’s the best way to scrape your lipstick tube clean? Simply take a Q-tip and remove the cotton from the end. Once all traces of cotton are removed you can use it to scrape the remaining lipstick from the tube and place it in the empty pot for later. If you want to get really creative, you could mix different shades to make your own, once you blend them together.

continues with other good information....

>>>Please keep it there and do not send to me.<<<

LOL, we are doing a pretty good job of keeping it here... 27” here - beat the 22.5” record set in 1922. Plus, temperature now at 9:23 am is only 18, up from the 15 degrees overnight.

Wife is camped out at work in the hospital (took her grab bag, sleeping bag and necessities for a week), son-in-law has been at work since Friday (National Guard Emergency Center Coordinator) They have been really really busy - having to send deuce and a half trucks out in teams of 2 or 3 as even they are getting stuck trying to get through some bad drifts as they ferry people to shelters and break trails for fire and ambulance trucks and electric coop repair crews. (power was off for up to 70,000 homes at one point - but now down to about 4,500 homes)

Looks like we are going to get some (1/4-1/2”)icing for our snow cake tomorrow afternoon, changing to snow again as two low pressure areas converge over our area. So far, they are only calling for about 6” more snow, but they caution that that may be revised upward if they track just a few miles further South (North of us they are calling for additional accumulations of 12-18”).

Our road did get plowed yesterday, and with the help of a neighbor and his articulated 4WD dual wheeled tractor with a huge blade, driveway is open and I have been out to take one neighbor to the drug store. (It was just a bit much for my Jeep without that tractor help - 4’ drifts of heavy snow - higher than the hood)

But, all is well, supplies abundant and have not had to go to secondary resources.

So, good day to go through seeds and line them up - see if there is anything new in the catalogs that I want to try and think of nice warm weather in the garden. (Hmmm, wonder if I will have to plow the snow off the garden to plant this spring..... Maybe I will have to order some Siberian garden seeds) Any suggestions?

Has your inverter system worked well or have you put it to the test? I found that approach very interesting.

Free 2010 Calendar Printables {Lovely}

Posted By TipNut On December 31, 2009 @ 4:05 am In Paper Crafts | 1 Comment

Some fantastic freebies here! Many of the designs shown below are just a sample of what each calendar offers and there’s quite an assortment here to suit everyone’s preferences. You’ll find monthly calendars, year-at-a-glance, desktop cd case calendars and even a wall pocket. Don’t miss the bottom section where I have a lot of resources listed for online calendar generators, blank calendar templates and planner pages to download (perfect for updating your household notebooks and binders [1]). You know how this works…just click a picture to visit the freebie source and enjoy the goodies!

Printable 2010 Monthly Calendar By alicecantrell.com
[2]

Free Gleaux Monthly Calendar by loveobsessinspire.typepad.com

2010 Wall Pocket Calendar By creaturecomfortsblog.com

Free 2010 Monthly Calendar by blueantstudio.blogspot.com

Free 2010 Calendar Download By My Wings Are Made Of Faith

Download: Matryoshka Calendar By aprintaday.blogspot.com

Free 2010 Printable Calendar by Barefooted Blessings

12 Months of Cookies Calendar By foodloveswriting.com

2010 CD Case Desk Calendar by ruffledblog.com

2010 Monthly Calendar Pages By sheepdogpd.blogspot.com

CD Case Calendar By collagediva.typepad.com

Free 2010 Planner Pages By brendaarnall.typepad.com
[3]

2010 Dada Calendar By littlebrownpen.blogspot.com

Year At A Glance Calendars:

Printable 2010 Calendar and Template By donteatthepaste.com

2010 Free Printable Calendar (Full Year) by livinglocurto.com

7 Different Designs To Choose From By stylishcorrespondence.com

Mini Print: 2010 Year Calendar By themodernhive.com

Here’s an assortment of online resources that offer calendars and planner pages to print out for free, some offer customization options!

* MyFreeCalendarMaker: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly formats available [4]
* YearlyCalendarMaker [5]: Make & create a free yearly photo calendar
* ePrintableCalendars Create a Free Printable Calendar [6]
* MintPrintables: Blank Day Planners, Weekly Calendars, Monthly [7]
* CalendarLabs: 2009 – 2010 Online Calendars, Blank Calendar, 2009 – 2010 Holidays Calendar & More [8]
* PrintablePaper: Monthly, Weekly, Two-Week, Half Page w/ Notes, & More [9]
* PDFcalendar: Generate Your Own 12-Week-Per-Page Calendar Printout [10]

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* 2009 Calendars: Freebie Printables [11]
* Buncha Cool Free Printable Calendars + DIY Calendar Projects [12]
* Seed Packet Printables & Templates {Free} [13]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/free-2010-calendars/

URLs in this post:

[1] household notebooks and binders: http://tipnut.com/make-a-household-organizer-notebook-buncha-links/

[2]

Printable 2010 Monthly Calendar By alicecantrell.com
: http://www.alicecantrell.com/blog/2009/12/a-gift-for-you.html

[3]

Free 2010 Planner Pages By brendaarnall.typepad.com
: http://brendaarnall.typepad.com/its_a_new_day/2009/11/get-with-the-plan-year-3.html

[4] MyFreeCalendarMaker: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly formats available: http://www.myfreecalendarmaker.com/

[5] YearlyCalendarMaker: http://www.yearlycalendarmaker.net

[6] ePrintableCalendars Create a Free Printable Calendar: http://www.eprintablecalendars.com/

[7] MintPrintables: Blank Day Planners, Weekly Calendars, Monthly: http://www.mintprintables.com/calendars/

[8] CalendarLabs: 2009 – 2010 Online Calendars, Blank Calendar, 2009 – 2010 Holidays Calendar & More: http://www.calendarlabs.com/

[9] PrintablePaper: Monthly, Weekly, Two-Week, Half Page w/ Notes, & More: http://www.printablepaper.net/category/calendar

[10] PDFcalendar: Generate Your Own 12-Week-Per-Page Calendar Printout: http://www.pdfcalendar.com/12-weeks/

[11] 2009 Calendars: Freebie Printables: http://tipnut.com/2009-calendars/

[12] Buncha Cool Free Printable Calendars + DIY Calendar Projects: http://tipnut.com/cool-free-printable-calendars/

[13] Seed Packet Printables & Templates {Free}: http://tipnut.com/seed-packets/

Click here to print.

Vintage Valentines: Free Printables Download (2009)

Posted By TipNut On February 6, 2009 @ 6:21 am In Paper Crafts | 9 Comments

Here are a dozen vintage valentines from my collection of ephemera, I believe these are from the 1940’s and 1950’s. You’re free to download them and print them off to use in scrapbooking, as gift tags or whatever else you like. These are so charmingly retro and although they’re older than I am, they sure do bring back memories .
Vintage Valentines Downloads

*Click on the valentine you’d like then save the larger image to your desktop.

If you choose to use one of these images on your blog or website, please be kind enough to give me credit by linking to Tipnut as the source.

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Free Vintage Valentines: {Printables For 2010} [1]
* Adorable Bookplate Printables: Free Download [2]
* Free Recipe Card Download + Mailing Label: {Printables} [3]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/vintage-valentines/

URLs in this post:

[1] Free Vintage Valentines: {Printables For 2010}: http://tipnut.com/valentines-printables/

[2] Adorable Bookplate Printables: Free Download: http://tipnut.com/adorable-bookplate/

[3] Free Recipe Card Download + Mailing Label: {Printables}: http://tipnut.com/recipe-card-mailing-label/

Click here to print.

Crochet a Recycled Clothes Pin Bag – Free Pattern

Posted By TipNut On September 27, 2007 @ 1:29 pm In Crochet, Repurposing | No Comments

Today’s feature is from My Recycled Bags with the instructions for Crochet a Recycled Clothes Pin Bag [1]:

Free Pattern for Crocheted Clothes Pin “Peg” Bag

Materials needed:

* One large ball of plastic bag yarn “Plarn” (see: Instructions for cutting plastic bags & creating recycled plastic yarn [2])
* One 8”-10” long plastic hanger to fit inside bag
* Hook: “N” size metal hook

Description: Clothes Pin Bag
Bag measures 12” wide and 12” long

Great idea for turning those plastic grocery bags into something useful!

Please visit the site above for complete project details.

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* 11 Free Clothespin Bag Patterns [3]
* Fun & Pretty Tote Bag Pattern: {Crochet} [4]
* Sunscape Throw: Free Crochet Pattern [5]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/crochet-a-recycled-clothes-pin-bag-free-pattern/

URLs in this post:

[1] Crochet a Recycled Clothes Pin Bag: http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2007/08/11/crochet-a-recycled-clothes-pin-bag/

[2] Instructions for cutting plastic bags & creating recycled plastic yarn: http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2007/02/17/instructions-for-cutting-plastic-bags-creating-recycled-plastic-yarn/

[3] 11 Free Clothespin Bag Patterns: http://tipnut.com/11-free-clothespin-bag-patterns/

[4] Fun & Pretty Tote Bag Pattern: {Crochet}: http://tipnut.com/tote-bag-crochet/

[5] Sunscape Throw: Free Crochet Pattern: http://tipnut.com/sunscape-throw/

How to Crochet a Basket

Posted By TipNut On October 28, 2009 @ 1:09 pm In Crochet | 2 Comments

Learn How To Crochet A Basket By diyods.blogspot.com

Today’s feature is from Oh The Cuteness! with How to Crochet a Basket [1]:

If you would like to make a set of nesting baskets, for a smaller one only increase to round 5 in part one, then and just crochet one double crochet around for the rest of the rows. And for a bigger one, use the standard increase pattern I showed you in part one and add two more increase rows, then finish it as usual!

These little baskets are great to hold crafty bits, project supplies and other handy things. The pattern is also good practice for new crocheters to crochet in the round.

Please visit the site above for all the details, cute!

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Felted Scrap Basket: Crochet Pattern Download [2]
* DIY Project: Basket Drawer Unit [3]
* Fun & Pretty Tote Bag Pattern: {Crochet} [4]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/crochet-basket/

URLs in this post:

[1] How to Crochet a Basket: http://diyods.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-crochet-basket-part-one.html

[2] Felted Scrap Basket: Crochet Pattern Download: http://tipnut.com/felted-scrap-basket/

[3] DIY Project: Basket Drawer Unit: http://tipnut.com/basket-drawer/

[4] Fun & Pretty Tote Bag Pattern: {Crochet}: http://tipnut.com/tote-bag-crochet/

Rose Petal Sachet: {Crochet Pattern}

Posted By TipNut On November 20, 2009 @ 6:33 am In Crochet | No Comments

Here’s a little sachet that’s perfect to give as a stocking stuffer for someone who loves frilly, Victorian style pretties. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried my hand at thread crochet but this whipped up in no time for me (although a bit wonky in a spot or two).

Roset Petal Sachet: Crochet
The sample sachet pictured to the right was made with DMC Cebelia size 20 thread and a 1.25 mm crochet hook. Sample sachet measures: 7 inch across (edge to edge). You can use whatever thread and hook size you wish.

Pattern Source: Vintage pattern from around the 1950s.
Rose Petal Sachet: Free Crochet Pattern

Notes: The original pattern had directions for using different colored threads, I’ve kept those instructions as-is below in case you wanted that type of multi-colored sachet. For the finished sachet pictured above, I just used one color.

Abbreviations: Ch (chain); st (stitch); sc (single crochet); dc (double crochet); sl st (slip stitch); lp (loop); hdc (half double crochet)–thread over as for a dc, insert hook in st and pull through, thread over and pull through all 3 lps at once; rnd (round); sp (space); p (picot).

Directions:

Ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch 4 (for a ch 2 and hdc), (hdc in ring, ch 2) 4 times, join last ch 2 in second ch of ch 4 first made.

Round 2: (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) over each of the ch 2 sps.

Round 3: * Ch 4, taking ch behind petals, sc between the next two petals, repeat from * around.

Round 4: (Sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc) over each ch, join and fasten off.

Round 5: Join second color between two petals with a sl st, * ch 7, sl st in center dc of petal, ch 7, sl st between two petals, repeat from * around, join at beginning.

Round 6: * 3 sc over ch lp, (ch-3 for a p, 3 sc) 3 times over lp, repeat from * over each ch lp around. Fasten and cut off.

Round 7: Join yellow to middle p of 3 p group, * ch 7, sl st to center ch 3 p of next group, repeat from * around.

Round 8: Ch 7, * dc in center of ch of preceding rnd, ch 4, dc in joining at lp, ch 4, repeat from * around and join.

Round 9: (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) over each ch 4 around, join and fasten off.

Make two motifs for each sachet. For the sachet pad, cut two circle pieces of satin and sew up partially. Stuff with cotton and sprinkle with your favorite sachet or fill with a homemade potpourri mix [1]. Finish sewing it together.

Place the sachet pad between the two crocheted pieces and thread narrow ribbon through the openings, finishing with a bow.

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Vintage Pincushion Sachet: Crochet Pattern [2]
* Turban Head Scarf: Vintage Crochet Pattern [3]
* Flower Petal Pincushion Pattern: {Crochet} [4]

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URL to article: http://tipnut.com/rose-petal-sachet/

URLs in this post:

[1] homemade potpourri mix: http://tipnut.com/homemade-potpourri-101/

[2] Vintage Pincushion Sachet: Crochet Pattern: http://tipnut.com/pincushion-sachet/

[3] Turban Head Scarf: Vintage Crochet Pattern: http://tipnut.com/turban-scarf/

[4] Flower Petal Pincushion Pattern: {Crochet}: http://tipnut.com/pincushion-pattern-crochet/