Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Healthy Yummy Pomegranate Truffles

If  found this wonderful healthy truffle recipe. I was already to make it and the...no applesauce. How ate the applesauce. I was mifted. Then I realized I ate the applesauce. Oops. So I needed to find an oil substitute. That is what the apple sauce would have been. My lands on  a jar of creamy peanut butter.

This would work. It had to. So I got down to business and start to make these truffles. I also omitted the vanilla that would have normally been called for. This did not have any cooking and took a bout 10 minutes.


Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Truffles
Yield: 16 truffles
Serving Size: 1 truffle




1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
½ cup creamy peanut butter
3 tbsp honey
96 pomegranate arils (“seeds”)
  1. In a small  to medium bowl  mix the cocoa, peanut butter and honey together. To get this smooth  it might be necessary to heat the peanut butter in the microwave for a few seconds. 
  2. The mixture should from a ball, just like a dough. 
  3.  This chocolate dough dose not need to rest in the refrigerator but you can place in in there for a few minutes to firm up. Divide the chocolate mixture into 16 pieces. Work with on piece at a time,. Make a small circle and place between 4-6 arils in the center. the fold the size over and roll into your hands. This will make it ball shape.
  4.  Repeat with the remaining chocolate and pomegranate arils. Chill until ready to serve.




Monday, November 17, 2014

Herb of the week: Pomegranate

This ancient fruit has been found in myth a legend. It ply a part in Persephone stay in the underworld. It is part of the we have winter and the season change, according to the legend  .


THis fuirt has powerful  antioxidants like punicalagin than other superfoods like acai berry juice or green tea. It is also high in vitamin C, with 100 ml containing 16 percent of a person’s daily requirement. It also contains  vitamin Kand  vitamin B5 that helps to support bone health and that helps the body metabolize, protein, carbohydrates and fats. The pomegranate is also filled with manganese another bone supporter.The fruit is also high in phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron. There is very little fat in a pomegranate and it does not contain cholesterol.

There is only about 130 to 150 calories in the fruit.


Thursday, November 13, 2014

Cayenne salve

So cayenne is particularly effective when used topically. It has been show in studies to reduce pain in diabetic neuropathy, shingles, migraine headaches, back aches, muscle aches,  arthritis, menstrual cramps and bruises.   This salve can also stop a wound from bleeding. It will sting a little but it worry. I find that it is best to apply the slave with gloves on or  cotton swab. 

This topical pain relief action is thought to be from selective stimulation of afferent C fibers, which act as thermoreceptors and nociceptors, and release of substance P, a sensory neurotransmitter that mediates pain (NSD).

cayenne-salve-1-300x168
This is very quick and easy to make. Just three simple ingredients and a little time and you have another item to add to your herbal first aid kit.

 Ingredients 

1/2 cup oil (grapeseed, olive or cocnut) 
2 TBP of Cayenne powder. 
1/2 oz of beeswax 
Double boiler
Cheesecloth/ coffee filters
Makes roughly 4 ounces

Directions:

Heat the oil and cayenne until it is warm. Once warm turn off the heat and let it sit on the eye for about 20 minutes, then turn the heat on again. 
This should be done a few times, well about 3 times in one hour. This will allow the herb to infuse in to the oil. 
At this point strain  the powder through a cheesecloth or a coffee filter. 
Keep the oil. 
In your clean double boiler heat the beeswax until it is melted.
 Stir in the infused oil until the beeswax and oil have been thoroughly melted together and combined. Pour this mixture into jars or tins.
 Let it cool and then label it.


After apply the salve wash your hands not with water. Not only water but with vinegar a water. The diluted vinegar solution will remove the capsaicin form the hands.  The active constituent, is not water washable. Warning  do not use capsaicin preparations near the eyes or on sensitive skin.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Lest We Forget.



In Flanders Fields


by John McCrae, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The Great War 1914-1918 

Adding Cayenne to drink and to gargle.

A step up form last weeks Ginger Honey Syrup so this week we are going to added apple cider vinegar and cayenne. Now the a reason we are adding these is how each herb work with one another and complement each other.


Cayenne on it own is a great herb. It benefits the digestive system by stimulating the production of gastric juices and the peristaltic motion of the intestines, thus stimulating digestion, assimilation, and elimination. Taken orally, it may stimulate the release of endorphins in the brain that act as the body's natural sedatives. Cayenne is extremely beneficial as a whole circulatory system tonic. Used over a period of time and in the correct dose, it is used to balance blood pressure, improve circulation, and assist arteries, veins, and capillaries to regain elasticity. Also when used topically it stimulates the surface capillaries and brings blood to the skin surface. This assist circulation in the area and flush out the buildup of uric acid and calcium deposits around the joints and in the tissues.  It is  useful addition to many herbal formulae because of its ability to aid the distribution of other herbs throughout the body.

Cayenne Ginger Drink 
To make this drink it very simple if you made the ginger honey syrup just pull that out and add 2 TBSP of Cayenne to it and you are done.

To drink, please mix everything together and then add a teaspoon to hot water or 2 teaspoons to cold water. At lest 8 ozs and drink. IT might taste odd but it great for the body and helping flush out toxins and tone the internal oragens. Just be careful with the dosages.

Now another method if you do not wish to drink it is to gargle it.

Throat Support Formula

1-t cayenne Capsicum frutescens powder
½-pt sage Salvia officinalis infusion
2-T apple cider vinegar
2-T honey
Steep the cayenne with the sage infusion, and then mix in the remaining ingredients. Use 1-t to 1-T according to age or use as a gargle as often as necessary. Do not use for children younger than two.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Herb of the week: Cayenne

This week we are going to look at a member of the Solanaceae  family. This family of herbs is most well know for the deadly nightshade. But it is also the most prolific herb on the planet with over 73, 000  species to the family. This family includes: potatoes, eggplant, all peppers and many other plants both eatable of ornamental. 


Cyaenne is Latin name is Capsicum annuum var frutescens . This plant is cultivated in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. The part of the plant that is use in culinary and medical practices is the the fruit or the pod. The pods or the fruit are collected when ripe and dried slowly in the shade. The can be spread on racks or the tops threaded with fine string and hing in a cool, dry and airy position.

This herb can be used to make infusions, oi, ointments, powders and tinctures. It can also be taken orally as a liniment.In powder from it can be rub in a the  gums to reduce inflammation. A cotton ball or wool saturated with a tincture can be placed against the tooth to help with a toothache.

The main active constituent is a potent alkaloid  called capsaicinn. The alkaloid content is highest in Capsicum frutescens and varies considerably depending on environmental factors. It also contains a number of volatile oils, capsacutin, capsico, flavonoid glycosides, and red coloring matter. Cayenne is high in vitamins C and A, magnesium, and potassium, and contains some B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, fats, and protein(Natural Standers. 2014) .


This herb has been used for: Arthritis, asthma, bleeding, burning sensations, chilblains, chills, circulatory system tonic and moderator, colds, cold extremities, colic, constipation, cough, cramps, dyspepsia, erythema, fibromyalgia, gums (inflamed), heart irregularities, hemorrhoids, lethargy, mucus (accumulation), neuralgias including shingles and diabetic neuropathy, osteoarthritis, pruritus, psoriasis, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, shock, skin lesions, toothache, throat (sore), ulcers (mouth), varicose veins, vomiting, and wounds
It combines well with marshmallow Althaea officinalis and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria for flatulence or spasms in the digestive tract. For use as an antiseptic, combine with myrrh Commiphora myrrha.(Natural Standers. 2014) .


ti is beneficial to the circulatory system as a tonic.  Used over a period of time and in the correct dose, it is used to balance blood pressure, improve circulation, and assist arteries, veins, and capillaries to regain elasticity.(Natural Standers. 2014) .

The alkaloid capsaicin actually enlarges blood vessels, which enhances the flow of nutrients to the cells and the removal of waste products at a cellular level. It also appears to have antiplatelet effects.(Natural Standers. 2014) .

When cayenne is applied topically it does not irritate the skin but it can cause itching, burning, or pricking when first applied as cayenne actually stimulates the surface capillaries and brings blood to the skin surface. This may assist circulation in the area and flush out the buildup of uric acid and calcium deposits around the joints and in the tissues.(Natural Standers. 2014) .
Cayenne is a useful addition to many herbal formulae because of its ability to aid the distribution of other herbs throughout the body.

Used as a pain killer, well more of a pain relief, it son often applied topically.  It has been used to reeve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, and neuralgias including shingles and diabetic neuropathy. Capsaicin used in topical preparations is FDA-approved for these uses.

Always use the minimum dose and increase dosage slowly, if necessary. Cayenne can be taken with food if nausea and burning occur.

Please consult your doctor before using any herb. 

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Ginger Lemon honey Syrup

So it is getting up on cold a flu season. This is something I am worried about because if I get sick I cannot see my family. I live with some who is on immune suppressant medication so, no getting sick. Because if I get sick I could get them sick and the last time one of us got them sick they were in the hospital for a week. So yeah...I got my flu shot and I am stocking up on my herbal remedies. 

This a lovely mixture that you can make and forget about it. It can go in your fridge or in you pantry.  This honey lemon ginger syrup is wonderful. I use it once day  not for the cold fighting ability but to help relive my dizzy spells. 

So some information about the herb. Honey is a natural antibiotic, it has soothing proprieties and it is raw (unpasteurized)  it also is any allergy fighter.  Lemon is a great fruit that is an immune booster, due tot he vitamin C, antibacterial. It is the simplest of all the remedies and improves glucose levels inside your body, quite effectively and quickly. Just squeeze ½ a lemon in a glass of water and mix 2 tsp sugar in it. Drink it. Ginger is use in many different ways to cure the body. It is an anti viral, anti inflammatory, it will settle an upset stomach.  It works well by improving the blood circulation throughout the body and thus, an effective cure for dizziness.

Ingredients 
1 Lemon (scrub clean, keep peel on the lemon)
1 cup of honey 
1 small ginger root

A jar with a lid 

Direction
Scrub the lemon clean under warm water. We are going to keep peel, this is were most of the nutrients are located. Slice the lemon in to rings and set aside. Then clean and peel the ginger root. slice thinly. layer the lemon and ginger together in the jar. Fill the jar with honey. Let the mixture it for a few hours so the favor can meld. 

To use add a teaspoon to hot water and drink .

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

DIY Homemade coffee Oil


If you love coffee or at lest the smelling of coffee this is id for you.  Coffee is a wonderful beauty aid, it is full of antioxidants and great for the skin and hair.  The caffeine help to increase blood flow and to treat cellulite, dark circles, tighten and brighten the skin. It also helps to promote hair growth, adding natural highlights and shine to dark hair.

Coffee oil is simple and easy to make at home. 

To Make Coffee Infused Oil (Hot infusion method)
  1. Combine 4 Tablespoons of ground coffee beans with 8 Tablespoons of pure olive oil or coconut oil in a pan.
  2. Heat it on over low heat for about 30mins or few hours, stirring occasionally.
  3. You can also use a small crockpot and heat it on low for few hours, stirring occasionally
  4. Strain the oil using either cheesecloth or a coffee filter.
This oil can be used as a light and moisturizing face or body oil, a nourishing hair treatment to add shine or a delightful massage oil to treat stretch marks and cellulite. Use it as an eye oil to lighten dark circles, brighten and firm the under eye area. According to your preference it can be refrigerated or warmed before use.



Ginger Detox Bath soak.

So as we are getting in the cooler, well cold weather people in my house get sick. So I was flicking around the internet and saw a lot of wonderful bath soaks. Bath are great for the body, as they relax the muscles and open up the lungs. This soak is to help boost the immune system and pull out toxins.

This soak call for a quite a bit of ginger  so stock out for cold weather season.


 So I just measured out everything in to a cup measure.

Then to mix I poured everything in to a jar with a lid and shook. It was a little faster and I did not have to worry about the powder getting everywhere.

Now to use this, mix with apple cider vinger soak. If you have Brigg's apple cider vinger with the "mother" in it, that is the best to use. If not know worry, just added a cup of apple cider vinger  and the dry mixture to your water and relax. Now this soak will dehydrate you. So plenty of water, before, during and after. You more then likely will be tired so rest or sleep afterwards and feel better in the morning. 

Monday, November 3, 2014

Herb of the week: Ginger

 I do apologize for a lack of marigold DIY's. The flower I sourced  for the second half of the week had bugs in it. It was not safe to use and there was very little I could do wit hit it was just not meant to be.

So for this This week we are going to look at ginger.



Ginger if form the family Zingiberaceae. Ginger, Zingiber officinale,  grows about 2 to 4 feet in height. It is a perennial reed-like plant with annual leafy stems. Ginger produces clusters of white and pink flower buds that bloom into yellow flowers.The rhizome is light-brown to grey. It is gathered when the stalk withers. It should be immediately scalded, or washed and scraped, to kill it and prevent sprouting.

Ginger is native to southern China, and form there it spread to the Spice Islands and other parts of Asia, and subsequently to West Africa and the Caribbean. In the first century AD, the spice made an appearance in Europe.

Ginger contains the compound gingerols. Two clinical studies show patients responding to ginger. 75% of Arthritis patients and 100% of patients with muscular discomfort experienced relief of and/or swelling(whfoods, 2014). This herb dose need to be take daily to see these types of results. In studies done it 2003 and 2005 research showed that ginger suppress the pro-inflammatory compounds (cytokines and chemokines) produced by synoviocytes (cells comprising the synovial lining of the joints), chrondrocytes (cells comprising joint cartilage) and leukocytes (immune cells) (whfoods, 2014).


Z. officinale’s anti-inflammatory action not as easily understood. IT is  contributed to antioxidant effects. Ginger has the ability to block or inhibit the production of prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotriene, and a protease it contains that generates anti-inflammatory effects. While an anti-inflammatory it is often used in aliments of the digestive tract. Is considered safe to use while pregnant. anti-tumor effects, and it also may have the ability to stop platelets from sticking together. This would be useful in  preventing and treating atherosclerosis.

Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of “stomach problems,” including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.

Other uses include pain relief from arthritis or muscle soreness, menstrual pain, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, and bronchitis. Ginger is also sometimes used for chest pain, low back pain, and stomach pain.

Some people pour the fresh juice on their skin to treat burns. The oil made from ginger is sometimes applied to the skin to relieve pain.

In foods and beverages, ginger is used as a flavoring agent.

In manufacturing, ginger is used as for fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.


Please consulate your doctor before starting any regiment. 

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72