Healthful Living

Are GERMS bugging you and your health?

Do you know some cold and flu germs live up to 18 hours on surfaces, according to the Journal of Medical Virology. Do you know an average adult touches about 30 objects within a 30 minute time period?  This isn’t to scare you, but just make you aware of the germs around us that have the potential to make us sick.  Don’t over-react and become a “Germaphobe.”
 
Where are these hidden germs we don’t even think about?  Here’s the list of some of the top germs we touch almost daily.  Door knobs, light switches, keyboards, telephones, cell phones, remote controls, the INSIDE of your PURSE, RESTAURANT menus and salt/pepper shakers/other table items, LEMON WEDGES put into your drinks often have germs and bacteria on them, restroom door handles and locks,  bar soap, SOAP DISPENSERS in public restrooms, shopping carts, free-food samples, all parts of airplane bathrooms-inside and out, doctor offices and hospitals.  (Take your own reading material.)  Please don’t leave your toothbrush on the counter in the bathroom.  When you flush there is a fine mist spray that is emitted from the toilet and invades your bathroom!  Where do you store your toothbrush?

What can you do to avoid germs?  Germs will be everywhere but since we don’t live in a bubble we need to be aware and take preventive action.

WASH YOUR HANDS, PROPERLY.  What does that mean?  Use warm running water, add soap and vigorously wash your hands/fingers/under the fingernails/ palm of hand/top of hand/between fingers up to the wrist.  Continue washing with the soap for about 20 seconds – sing Happy Birthday TWO times.  Rinse well under running water.  Be sure to dry your hands well.  Wet hands pick up more bacteria!  Paper Towel is best to dry hands with.  It doesn’t harbor bacteria and you promptly dispose of it.  Use a paper towel, when possible, to open the door handle to leave the restroom.

ESSENTIAL OILS are antiviral, antibacterial and antimicrobial. In other words a drop or two of an essential oil will  help “decontaminate” your hands, without side effects.  Lemon or Lavender essential oils are oils most people like and enjoy the uplifting aroma as well.

ASAP OTC WOUND CARE GEL, which is actually FDA approved to work…What does it do?  It kills E coli, Staff, MRSA, VRE, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Pseudomonal aeruginosa…and more within a matter of minutes, with NO SIDE EFFECTS.  You just apply a tiny bit of this gel, the size of a pea for adults, and your hands remain GERM FREE for up to 4 hours/even after washing!!!  Contact me for more information or if you would like to purchase this amazing gel.  It has a multitude of uses including help for acne, boils, fine lines, blisters, splinters, open wounds, sunburns, burns, paper cuts and scrapes and more. I carry a full line of incredible products at www.thehealersgarden.com.  My prices are greatly reduced.

WHAT ABOUT ANTIBACTERIAL GELS/SOAPS on the market??? READ THE LABEL!  If they have TRICLOSAN, don’t use it.  According to the US government MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet) for triclosan:  Avoid skin, eye and clothing contact, do not taste or swallow, do not inhale, use only with adequate ventilation, potential kidney and liver damage in laboratory research!  WHOA!!

SODIUM LAURYL and SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE should be avoided if possible.  These are in almost everything.  They are added to hand and body soaps and personal care items.  According to the MSDS and Journal of the American College of Toxicology:  these are potential carcinogens, should not come into contact with the skin, eyes, respiratory system, or clothing.  Tests on lab animals indicate material may cause mutagenic effects, may cause permanent damage to the eyes, even when not introduced directly to the eyes, skin penetration may occur even at low-use concentrations!  READ THE LABELS!!!

I carry a wide variety of essential oils, liquid colloidal silver and ASAP WOUND CARE gels on my website and in my office.  If you don’t live near Gilbert AZ, I will be glad to ship to anywhere in the US.  My prices are lower than most anyplace you will find.

Dark Chocolate…..

Did you know DARK CHOCOLATE can quiet down a bad cough up to 33 percent better than prescription cough suppressants…and will even last up to 6 hours? The theobromine in the cocoa, helps calm the vagus nerve which causes the cough. Cocoa is loaded with flavonoids which are natural compounds that double the body’s production of germ-killing antibodies, according to Joseph Maroon, M.D., author of The Longevity Factor. Researchers found that enjoying 1oz (about the size of a small matchbox) is all you need to calm down that cough. Swimming in chocolate might not be truly healthy…just a hint.

Smoothies using essential oils

Did you know you could use essential oils in any of your daily recipes? Only use the highest quality essential oils, if you are planning on ingesting them!  Not all oils are created equal.  Try making a delicious smoothie recipe below!

BERRY BERRY ORANGE Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • ¼ cup vanilla almond milk
  • ½ cup vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup frozen mixed berries
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 3-4 drops of Orange Essential Oil

Directions: Blend all ingredients together until smooth and enjoy!

TROPICAL DELIGHT Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 1 cup mango (can be frozen)
  • 1 cup pineapple (can be frozen)
  • 2 frozen bananas
  • 2-4 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

Directions: Blend all ingredients together until smooth and enjoy!

Some uses for FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL

Add 3-4 drops of lemon or lavender essential oil to Fractionated Coconut Oil and use as an all-natural hand soap • Add Bergamot oil to  Fractionated Coconut Oil and apply to minor cuts and scrapes • Add 8-10 drops of Clove oil to 2 oz of Fractionated Coconut Oil and massage into troubled areas to help soothe sore and achy muscles • Mix 2 drops of Myrtle oil with 2 drops of Fractionated Coconut Oil and apply to temples to relieve pressure • Add 2-3 drops of Orange oil to 1 oz of Fractionated Coconut Oil and massage into the lower back area to help support healthy digestion • Add Peppermint oil to Fractionated Coconut Oil and apply gently to sunburned skin to reduce redness and cool the affected area

Non-Toxic Cleaning Ideas

Squeaky Clean

1 tsp borax, powdered 2 TB white vinegar 2 C hot water 10 drops Tea Tree essential oil 10 drops Lavender OR 10 drops Lemon essential oil Mix and stir until the borax is dissolved.  Spray on surface to be cleaned.  Scrub if needed. Wipe off with a damp cloth.  This is NOT for glass surfaces or mirrors.

Lorrain’s Favorite Household Scrub and it’s non-toxic!

1 2/3 C Baking Soda ½ C liquid soap (I prefer Castile but you may use any) ½ C (or a bit more) water 4 or 5 drops essential oil (optional) like Tea Tree, Lemon or whatever you like Mix together and store in a jar or a squirt bottle.  I usually keep it in a jar and use a sponge or soft cloth to clean with.  This will thicken as it sits.  Just add some water to thin to desired consistency.  You will love this.  Use it on counters and stovetops in the kitchen and most anywhere in the bathroom.  It is non-abrasive.  Don’t use too much because a little goes a long way.

STAIN REMOVER and WHITENER:  SUNSHINE works wonders when removing stains from white fabric, especially if the item is placed on green grass.  The chlorophyll in the grass aids in removing stains.!  Wash, or wet, the fabric and set onto green grass, in the sunshine.  The chlorophyll in the grass works with the sun to brighten whites and remove many stains, safely.  Depending upon how old and how bad the stain is, this may take several days.  Wet the item several times per day.  The moisture along with the grass and sunshine is the key to removing stains, especially on delicate items.

Plant pests: Add 1 tablespoon of Dr. Bronner’s peppermint scented liquid soap to a ½ gallon of water. Shake well and spray onto plants to kill aphids and other pests.

Wood grain Countertop Spray (Alexandria Brighton) 4 oz distilled water 20-30 drops Lemon essential oil Mix distilled water and lemon essential oil in a spray bottle, preferably a dark colored glass bottle.  Shake well.  Shake bottle before each use. Lemon essential oil is not only a great antibacterial, but also a “mood lifter.”  Why not clean your home and enjoy it?

Wood countertops or cutting boards:  when squeezing your lemons,  save the “meat”(pulp) of the lemon.  Spread across your wood counters or cutting board and allow to sit a few hours.  Wipe clean and enjoy a fresh, newer looking wood, free of bacteria and the great fragrance of lemon!  You can also use 2-3 drops of Lemon oil and water to wipe off the counters.

Countertops may be wiped with Lemon, Eucalyptus globulus, Lavender, Grapefruit, Cypress or Lemongrass essential oils.  Be careful with citrus oils on granite though as it could cause damage if overused.  

DISCLAIMER:  The information presented here is intended for informational purposes only.  The statements contained herein have not been evaluated nor approved by the Food and Drug Administration.  Any advice and/or products mentioned should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Always consult your healthcare professional if you are currently taking medication, pregnant, trying to get pregnant, nursing, or if you have any other health condition before taking any products mentioned or applying any information contained herein