Health

Your health is your most important asset, and it is therefore important to maintain it.  Pumping yourself full of expensive meds, however, not only has the potential to have harmful side effects, but often does not fix the root of the problem.  While meds certainly have a place and time, it is often more effective to make targeted lifestyle changes in order to prevent such problems from reoccurring.  While I don't claim to be a doctor (or anything close to it), I have been starting to explore "natural" and gentle ways of helping improve your body's defenses against physiological maladies. Below are some of my discoveries.  Please note that our bodies are all different, so don't be discouraged if they don't all work for you!

Anti-itch Treatment:

Tea tree oil has been said to be a weak topical analgesic (numbing), allow it to provide relief to victims of bug bites.
ingredients:

• tea tree oil
• cotton swab

instructions:

• dip cotton swab into tea tree oil and apply directly to bug bites

NOTE: If bites are on face or in sensitive areas, dilute tea tree before applying, as it DOES STING on areas with thin skin.

Steam Tent (for the common cold or congestion):

Tea tree oil has many interesting properties, including antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic qualities, which is why you will see it popping up all over this blog.  I consider it a panacea of sorts, and encourage readers to research it and experiment with (and report back) additional uses.
 
ingredients:
5-6 drops tea tree oil
large bowl filled with HOT (still steaming) water
towel

instructions:
place the tea tree oil  into the hot water
place the bowl on a table and place your head in a comfortable position so you can breathe in the steam from the bowl without burning yourself
cover your head and the bowl with a towel
breathe under tent for about 10 minutes, taking breaks as necessary