The festive season is here. It’s time to look your best as you do the rounds of parties and catch up with friends and relatives. Here’s a simple trick to help you put on a winning smile, without burning a hole in your pocket. It may not produce the dazzling results that a dentist can, but I like the fact that it uses natural, safe ingredients. The less chemicals we expose ourselves to, the better.

Strawberry Teeth-Whitening Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ripe strawberry
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)

Method:
1) Crush the strawberry to a pulp and mix in the baking soda.
2) Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture unto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes.
3) Rinse off and brush thoroughly with a safe toothpaste like Neways Ultrashine Radiance to remove the strawberry-baking soda mix.

The active ingredient in strawberries which removes surface discoloration is malic acid, found in sour or tart fruits. Malic acid acts like an astringent. Baking soda combines with the strawberry to produce a natural tooth-cleanser, cleaning away stains from tea, coffee and so on.

The acid can damage the enamel on your teeth if you use this concoction too often, so don’t overdo it.

Posted: December 14th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Beauty Tips, Recipes.
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Chemotherapy for cancer can cause all kinds of side-effects, nausea and vomiting being amongst the most common. There are various ways to minimize these problems, such as by eating several small meals throughout the day rather than attempt to tackle two or three big meals. Eating before one feels hungry is also highly recommended. Nibbling on dry crackers, dry cereal and toast helps as well.

Ginger has traditionally been used by many cultures to treat nausea, and it has been observed that it significantly relieves nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Recently, I shared my recipe for a natural anti-cancer ‘tea’ which uses ingredients like ginger and turmeric. I have found that it also helps to counteract nausea. Here’s the link to the recipe. Ideally, start consuming it daily at least a day before you begin chemotherapy.

Posted: December 7th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Cancer, Healing Foods, Recipes.
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I’ve finally perfected my aloe vera and seaweed salve for wound dressing. Some months ago, I wrote about why aloe vera and seaweed, or agar-agar, make a great natural dressing for wounds and sores, including cancer tumors which have come to the surface. Agar-agar is obtainable from most Asian supermarkets and health food stores. You can read that post here. Here’s my recipe:

Ingredients
1 cup fresh aloe vera gel cubes
1 teaspoon agar-agar powder (fragrance and coloring free)
Rose hip or lavender oil
Mixing oil (if an oily salve is required for easier removal)

Method

1. Wash an aloe vera leaf. Cut away the tough green skin.
2. Cut the gel portion of the leaf into cubes, sufficient to fill two cups. I like to use a glass measuring jug, which can be put into the microwave.
3. Measure two level teaspoons of agar-agar powder. Set aside.
4. Place the aloe vera cubes into a blender. Blend until it becomes a liquid.
5. Pour a little of the aloe vera liquid back into the microwave-proof jug, enough to make a thick, smooth paste with the agar-agar powder. Stir until well-blended.
6. Add one-quarter of the aloe vera liquid into the paste, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
7. Put the aloe vera and agar-agar powder mixture into the microwave. Microwave on high until it begins to boil. This step is essential because it helps the mixture to thicken and set. Be careful not to let it boil over.
8. Remove the jug from the microwave. Stir the mixture and then return it to the microwave. Bring it to boil again.
9. Remove the jug from the microwave and gradually pour in the remaining aloe vera liquid, stirring all the way. You should get a thick, syrupy consistency.
10. Set aside to cool. Stir every 10 minutes or so to prevent lumps from forming.
11. When fully-cooled, transfer to containers and keep in the fridge until required. The mixture will become a thick paste in the fridge.

Application
Rose hip and lavender essential oils are reputed to have healing properties. However, they do evaporate quickly. Just before using the aloe vera and seaweed salve, add a few drops of either oil into the portion you intend to use for wound dressing. I usually put five drops of rosehip oil into every two teaspoons of paste used. When I use Neways Lavender Essential Oil, I just use just one or two drops, because the oil is 100% pure and concentrated. When using essential oils of such purity and high-quality, always use it sparingly and never use it concentrated directly on your skin. It must be mixed with something else, like a mixing oil or, in this case, a paste. Blend well (I use a tiny whisk). The oil also helps to minimize sticking. If you need to make an oily salve for easier removal of the dressing, then add a mixing oil as well.

Spread some of the aloe vera-seaweed-oil paste unto clean gauze, then place over the wounds or sores being treated. Make sure the skin surface has been cleaned in advance. I like to clean with saline solution at the start, finishing off with Neways Eliminator which is antiseptic, gentle and helps to reduce odors.

The gauze usually stays in place easily, without the need to use tape, unless the skin surface is very uneven or subject to considerable movement. The wound dressing should be changed daily, or more frequently depending on the condition of the wound or sore. Standing in the shower makes it easier to remove. If the person using this wound dressing cannot stand in the shower, then add Neways’ Mixing Oil into the salve to make it oily for easier removal. Neways’ Mixing Oil is a healing oil made from pure expelled or cold-pressed oils like grapeseed, primrose, apricot kernels and safflower. Buy it here at wholesale price.

Posted: December 4th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Recipes, Wound Healing.
Comments: 4