Natural Health

vanity ^ | March 19 2019 | little jeremiah

[little jeremiah]

Many FReepers have knowledge to share about improving and maintaining health and would like to share it and learn from others; and others may not know much yet but want to learn. Some of us don't have much money for good insurance or doctors, some want to try other methods besides prescription meds, and some have experience in treating and solving health problems.

More and more "regular" doctors have accepted treatment methods such as the benefits of acupuncture, massage for many conditions, better diet, use of herbs and so on. There are limits, and often side effects, to some standard medical efforts.

My field is Ayurvedic herbalism and related measures, and have a lot of information I can post when I have time. I have seen herbs and sometimes dietary changes help people (including myself) with issues such as rheumatoid arthritis, high BP, gallstones, kidneystones, repeated boils, UTIs, prostate problems, insomnia, allergies, urinary incontinence, and many more. I hope to learn a lot from others with their knowledge and experience.

There are many "old fashioned" home care methods that were in common use a few generations ago that actually work and are cheap, such as castor oil packs, fomentations using alternating hot and cold water, and the like, which are easy to do. I am sure there is a lot of knowledge here on Free Republic that can be shared.

I would like this thread to stay civil without distruption, so my request is that people who think natural health methods are bunkum, make your own thread.

[Oorang]

Mayo Clinic's definition:

An actinic keratosis (ak-TIN-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a rough, scaly patch on the skin that develops from years of sun exposure. It's often found on the face, lips, ears, forearms, scalp, neck or back of the hands.

Also known as a solar keratosis, an actinic keratosis grows slowly and usually first appears in people over 40. You can reduce your risk of this skin condition by minimizing your sun exposure and protecting your skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Left untreated, the risk of actinic keratoses turning into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma is about 5% to 10%.

___________________________________

I have it on my forearms. When first diagnosed I used the very expensive ointment my M.D. prescribed - no effect what so ever. I can across a dermatologist from Australia who's practice included a lot of folks with actinic keratoses. He said what the medical community prescribed was non-effective. He came up with a compound that was eggplant based. Of course he was hounded and harassed by the Australian version of the FDA. I did buy (very expensive) a compound from Australia based on his research (eggplant based) that does help quite a bit.

I was just wondering if you had come across anything in your research.

[little jeremiah]

Aha, now I get it. Is this the kind of sun damage that can lead to sun caused skin cancer? I know a few people that have that due to living in HI for decades. Haoles.

[Oorang]

It can, my doctor that diagnosed it ten years ago said it was a very small chance that it would become cancerous. From Mayo Clinic: “Left untreated, the risk of actinic keratoses turning into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma is about 5% to 10%”.

[little jeremiah]

That’s good news.

[little jeremiah]

Making tinctures is easy to do; some books or websites have info and sometimes it is very complex; for instance the exact proportion of alcohol and water, how long to let it sit, and so on. I do it the simple way and so far everything has worked well.

I use 180 proof grain alcohol, diluted with water so it is the same proof as vodka (iow 50% water and 50% Clear Springs) which a lot of people use if they live where 180 proof can’t be sold. Some tinctures can be made with somewhat less alcohol, depends on plant, I should check into that as water is cheaper than alcohol!

I use quart mason jars and I like the regular mouth jars rather than wide mouth. When I get enough plant material, such as catnip, prunella (self-heal, heal-all are other names) or lemon balm, I collect if possible right when the flowers start. I cut the stems, shake over a piece of old sheet to save the seeds if they have matured yet, and pluck off the leaves and any flowers, and tender tops.

I stuff the jars full but slightly loosely so there’s enough room for the plant material to move around when shaken once the alcohol is in there. Directions often say to fill only 3/4 full of plant material but I like to maximize. As long as the plant stuff is covered, and can move around when shaken, it’s fine.

I use the regular canning lids, and pour the alcohol/water to just cover the plant material, put in a dark cool place, and let sit for 2 weeks to a month. Should be shaken every day or two. I prefer to leave in a month.

When ready to decant, press through a strainer, sieve, or what i use is a cone shaped ricer with a wooden thingie to press it with. Easier to get all the liquid that way. I store in narrow necked bottles in the dark, and LABEL, Very important! so easy to forget what it is and when you made it. Kept in a cool dark place, and brown or blue bottles are good, they should remain potent for quite a few years.

Lasst year I tripled my catnip. I had some from the year before, so I used that as a based for my tincture along with some new alcohol/water. Then after a month or a few weeks, I strained, and used the tincture again in the jars with new catnip, and then did that yet again. I wanted strong stuff and the catnip plants just kept growing. They were so cooperative! I hope to make more this year the same way.

I use prunella for colds/flus/viruses, for cold sores (lemon balm is good cold sores and shingles), for stings, pimples or small infections or bites, and in Chinese medicine it is used for cancer, so I took for more than a year for that after my surgery.

Catnip is said to be good for hysteria (so far neither DH nor I have had hysterics so haven’t tried for that) but is a nervine - so it is calming, helpful for sound sleep, also as it is anti-spasmodic it helps with colic - stomach or intestinal pain, gas, or other digestive disturbances. And for cold or flu symptoms!

The teas can be drunk but prunella tastes horrid and catnip is not my favorite, I much prefer to take as tinctures, which also keep potency longer than dried teas. Lemon balm you can make in the same manner, and it is also a very tasty tea, I had enough a couple of years to make 1/2 gallon jar of dried leaves for tea and some tincture. Lemon balm has some similar uses, good for digestion, calming, and nice for fever or other type cold/flu symptoms. Probably more uses can be looked up.

A good friend loves catnip tea and she usually grows it, so others may like it.

The ricer I have is pretty much like this but made from aluminum, and probably fairly old, DH got at an auction years ago, they’re around.

https://www.amazon.com/New-Star-Foodservice-42566-Perforations/dp/B00GBG8MCA/ref=psdc_13840231_t1_B00004SU1

Hmm, this one looks better, mesh instead of little holes. There seem to be old ones floating around for cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Stainless-Steel-Chinois-Pestle/dp/B0036B9KII/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=cone+strainer+and+pestle&qid=1623629005&s=home-garden&sr=1-5

[AZLiberty]

Not exactly “natural”, but probably more natural than most of the existing cancer treatments out there: https://foundationforhealthresearch.org/a-cancer-cure-has-gotten-out-of-control-and-has-spread-beyond-the-confines-of-modern-medicine/

[numberonepal]

I’ve done this very thing with MgCl (magnesium chloride). I used to do the scratching method, but it left some scars where melanoma were scratched. Then I bought one of those pin rollers and the results were much better.

As an aside, the melanomas were popping up on my outer thigh in exactly the spot where my phone has been in my left pocket for many a year. Further, this spot was where AS CHILD I got sunburned over and over. Lots of folks probably have the line on their thigh where one day you wore shorts that were a little longer and the next a little shorter and got burned. Ladies may have the same problem on their bikini line. If you got second degree sunburn (blistered) as a child, keep an eye on those spots. They will likely be trouble later.

[numberonepal]

If anyone has one of those “no vent” dryers that captures the water and you have to empty it, listen up. I was curious about that water and had a theory that it was pretty close to distilled. So I bought a little TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter to check it. Turns out, I was right.

Container distilled water = 2ppm
From dryer = 10ppm
Fridge filter = 70ppm
PUR filter = 212ppm
Tap = 268ppm

I make my own washing detergent so I know those 10ppm from the dryer are safe.

Bonus of buying the meter is that I can test my colloidal silver for ppm. Current batch 15ppm! Woo hoo. 15ppm CS can run around $10 an ounce. My whole rig (including 2 one ounce silver coins) cost around $50. I've made about 5 gallons so far and only had to buy a new supply of 9 volts once. I reckon the coins will last me lifetime.

For those interested here are some pics of my colloidal silver rig. The only thing missing from these images is the aquarium bubbler I use to keep the water moving during electrolysis. Take note of the line on the silver coins. The water NEVER should be close enough to the alligator clips where the aluminum or steel would be affected by the electrolysis. Click for larger images.

Clean everything with 100% isopropyl or Ever Clear before and after use.

[17strings]

“So I bought a little TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter to check it.”

---

Glad you clarified. I was going to ask how many PPM of Trump Derangement Syndrome did you measure? (Eeeek! It’s in the water!) ;-)

I wonder if that’s the same kind of meter that came with our under-the-sink reverse osmosis system. Probably is. I never though to check my colloidal silver with it. I have one of those ready-made Silver Edge generators. It’s paid for itself in 20 or so years, though.

[17strings]

I guess keeping a phone in a pocket is a bad idea! Never done that, so I wouldn’t know.

I’ve never sunburned badly enough to blister. But there was a period of my much earlier life where I dwelled on islands with remote beaches where I camped out and swam nekkid and was tan without any bathing suit lines! Now that I’m a Floridian, I never quite revert to my au naturel pasty white (on my uncovered areas, that is LOL). So I never really even burn enough to peel anymore. I’m usually fairly tan by late spring just from my routine outdoor chores. That’s part of the reason I wanted all of those moles gone. That and the fact that they were an ugly nuisance. ;)

[numberonepal]

It’s the burns when you are a child that are the concern. Just like the folks who started smoking while they were children (teenagers) are more susceptible to lung cancer.

[AZLiberty]

On another thread, green_eyes posted this article about lysine:

[AZLiberty]

Also from another thread — this one from Melian:

A five-minute workout that scientists call “strength training for your breathing muscles” is proving to lower blood pressure as well as or even better than traditional exercise and prescription drugs. Researchers from the University of Colorado-Boulder say this groundbreaking exercise makes use of a hand-held device which provides resistance as the user breathes. Simply put, as you suck in air, the tube tries to suck it back in.

Researchers call this technique High-Resistance Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST). Although doctors in the past have recommended patients with breathing disorders use these devices at low power for about 30 minutes, the new study finds a five-minute, high-intensity burst can improve cardiovascular health among older adults.

Results show participants in the IMST group saw their systolic blood pressure fall by an average of nine points. That kind of improvement, researchers say, is generally better than what high blood pressure patients see from walking 30 minutes a day five days a week. The study finds the IMST results are even on par with certain blood pressure-lowering drugs prescribed to patients.

https://www.studyfinds.org/5-minute-breathing-workout/

We can use this natural product to strengthen our lungs/bodies while we FReep!

[antceecee]

I use poultices and natural substances just as my grandmother did. Bookmarking this page!

[little jeremiah]

I really need to post a bunch of info, have in notes etc. For my mental health, so I won’t read news!

[little jeremiah]

Oh, and if you have any things you do or know, post ‘em!

[antceecee]

Will do! Thank you for starting this and please add me to your list!

[little jeremiah]

I need to get on this thread more. Thanks for posting how to make CS.

[little jeremiah]

I can’t find my ping list for this thread, have to search through a few usbs, will try later today to find. (and I’ll add you)

Just a bit on making and using turmeric paste and turmeric in general. I’m sure I wrote about some of the benefits of turmeric earlier but I’d like to revisit it.

Turmeric Paste
Put 1/4 cup turmeric powder and 1/2 c. water in a small sauce pan, stirring constantly, until a thick paste is formed. Let it cool a little and store in a small glass jar with lid in the fridge and use up in a few weeks. If you take a cup of golden milk a day, and use in other foods, it won’t even last that long. I think I’ll make some today!

Golden Milk:
I cup milk
1/4-1/2 t. turmeric paste (I use 1/2 t or even a bit more)
pinch of black pepper

Simmer on low heat a few minutes, and then bring to a boil,
`stirring well. Sometimes I add about 1/3 c or so water and simmer so the water boils away and makes the turmeric and pepper more effective.
Add 1 t. sweetener (sugar or honey) offer to Krishna and drink. Yum.

Turmeric Sandwich Filling (never tried, from a book):
1. Make Turmeric Paste and spread thickly on two slices of buttered bread or toast and eat as a sandwich with salt - can add lettuce, cucumber, tomato, etc.
2. This sounds weird but could be adjust, I would never add oil. For me I wouild leave out honey and add salt!
1 cup tahini
2 T sesame oil
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c.. lemon juice (NOT for people with acid reflux!! maybe 1 or 2 spoonfuls at most!)
1/4-1/2 c. turmeric powder
Use on toast or bread as sandwich

Good ways to add turmeric, along with grated fresh turmeric, can be sauteed into food

[antceecee]

Thank you for sharing!