This year I've been striving to do away with the added chemicals in commercial soaps, painkillers, and hygiene products in my life. Being a fairly active person, the most difficult part of this transition has been weaning myself off of acetaminophen. About nine months ago, I broke a few ribs and found myself taking painkillers every few hours to ward off back pain and the pain of the actual broken bones. I am also prone to headaches, vertigo, and nausea. Needless to say, this has been quite an experience testing the limits of my pain threshold. In place of the over-the-counter medications that I used to rely so heavily on, I have found comfort in a few excellent home remedies.
For back pain and/or muscle aches:
-Drink a few cups of peppermint tea every day
-Draw a warm bath and add 1/4 cup baking soda & 2 cups freshly steeped peppermint tea (soak for at least 20 minutes, relaxing all muscles)
For nausea, indigestion, or bloating:
-Slice a few pieces of fresh ginger root & steep for 5 minutes to make tea-- drink a cup every few hours as long as symptoms persist
-Peppermint tea helps digestion as well, but it has a much stronger flavor and can sometimes give the sensation of filling you up before it provides relief
-If severe stomach cramps are a problem, I suggest steeping a teaspoon of caraway seeds in hot water & sipping slowly
For dizziness and/or vertigo:
-I drink ginger tea for my vertigo, usually while lying with a cool cloth over my eyes
And of course, one of my favorite home remedies is daily yoga! I find that doing a few stretches each night and meditating for about 20 minutes before bed helps me to focus on my body and its needs.
Showing posts with label green living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green living. Show all posts
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday Sentiments: A Taste of Living Green
Do you recycle? Absolutely. Recycling is mandatory in my town, but even if it wasn't required, I'd still do my best.
Do you do you laundry with hot or cold water? Cold water. Occasionally I use warm water to deep-clean bedclothes, but only about once a month.
What kind of light bulbs are in your house? I have always used compact florescent or energy efficient bulbs. I also use LED lights whenever possible.
Do you compost? Our family composts nearly everything. We've got three composters for food waste, and at least two for garden debris. I'm sure if we measured it, our weekly compost would amount to more than our weekly garbage for the landfill.
What kind of vehicle do you drive? As a poor college graduate, I had the budget to purchase only a pre-owned car. My personal vehicle is a 1999 Subaru Outback. We live in rural New Hampshire, and unfortunately, there is no public transport. I usually walk when I need to get around town, but if I need a grocery store, a bank, or a pharmacy I have to take my car.
Do you use plastic or reusable bags when grocery shopping? We almost always bring reusable canvas bags when grocery shopping. Occasionally we will run out of bags from home, but I always ask for paper if they need to bag my groceries. That way, we can recycle the paper at home.
What are three ways you conserve energy?
-I limit the frequency of my showers, as well as the length of each shower. With five people in one tiny bathroom, it can run up an energy bill pretty quick!
-Whenever possible, I hang my clothes to dry them. In the summer, I use both the clothesline and my drying rack so that I can dry two loads at a time.
-I walk to work nearly every day. My work is only a block away, so it makes it easy to save gas and the environment.
Do you do you laundry with hot or cold water? Cold water. Occasionally I use warm water to deep-clean bedclothes, but only about once a month.
What kind of light bulbs are in your house? I have always used compact florescent or energy efficient bulbs. I also use LED lights whenever possible.
Do you compost? Our family composts nearly everything. We've got three composters for food waste, and at least two for garden debris. I'm sure if we measured it, our weekly compost would amount to more than our weekly garbage for the landfill.
What kind of vehicle do you drive? As a poor college graduate, I had the budget to purchase only a pre-owned car. My personal vehicle is a 1999 Subaru Outback. We live in rural New Hampshire, and unfortunately, there is no public transport. I usually walk when I need to get around town, but if I need a grocery store, a bank, or a pharmacy I have to take my car.
Do you use plastic or reusable bags when grocery shopping? We almost always bring reusable canvas bags when grocery shopping. Occasionally we will run out of bags from home, but I always ask for paper if they need to bag my groceries. That way, we can recycle the paper at home.
What are three ways you conserve energy?
-I limit the frequency of my showers, as well as the length of each shower. With five people in one tiny bathroom, it can run up an energy bill pretty quick!
-Whenever possible, I hang my clothes to dry them. In the summer, I use both the clothesline and my drying rack so that I can dry two loads at a time.
-I walk to work nearly every day. My work is only a block away, so it makes it easy to save gas and the environment.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Wonderful World of Sodium Bicarbonate
Baking soda is an AMAZING substance. I know I have said this before, but I need to reiterate the true admiration I feel for it. Many do not understand my romance with baking soda, so I've composed a short list of all the things for which I have used it (so far!).
1. BAKING. Self-explanatory.
2. CLEANING
-Drain cleaner. Sprinkle a little down the drain & pour vinegar over it. Wash down with hot water.
-Counter cleaner. Sprinkle a little on a damp sponge or rag & wipe down your kitchen counter.
-Cleansing spray. Mix a little baking soda with a water & vinegar solution. Spray counters, toilets, windows, etc.
-Clean pots and pans. If food clings to pans after baking or cooking, sprinkle a little baking soda over the damp pan. Let sit overnight & scrub clean in the morning!
-Laundry boost. Soak clothes in a tub of hot water with at least 1/4 cup baking soda.
-Powder for the dishwasher. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup Kosher salt, 1/4 cup borax. Use 1 TBL per load of dishes.
-Sink and tub cleaner. If you have tough scum or rings around the bathtub or sink, wipe area with a damp washcloth then sprinkle a little baking soda. You may need to repeat a few times to scrub away all the scum, but it is much more effective than store-bought chemical spray.
-Deodorizer. In the car: Sprinkle dry baking soda on the seats & mats, let sit for a few minutes, then vacuum away. In the fridge: keep an open box in the fridge & change every 30 days to keep the fridge fresh. In the basement, barn, shed, or garage: Sprinkle dry baking soda on areas prone to dampness or mildew, let sit for a day or so, and gently sweep away. Blow a fan on the area to dry it out & keep away other odors. In the home: Keep a bowl of baking soda in any room needing deodorizing. Add a drop or two of essential oil & mix well. Change every month or so.
3. PERSONAL CARE
-Foot bath. Add baking soda to a pan of warm water & soak feet to relieve tiredness, dry skin, and discomfort.
-Dental hygiene. Sprinkle a VERY little amount of baking soda over your toothbrush to add a little boost to your normal dental routine. Helps whiten teeth & discourage tartar buildup. It's salty, so follow up with your normal toothpaste.
-Hair rinse. Put a few tablespoons of baking soda in a water bottle & fill it up with warm water. Close the top & shake well. During bath time, pour over head & massage into scalp in place of shampoo. Helps control natural oils without the nasty chemicals or processing of commercial shampoo.
-Soothing bath. Add baking soda to bathwater to soothe an achy body or irritated skin.
-Hand soap. Grate multiple bars of soap into a large enamel pot. Cover soap with cold water & let simmer on low heat until all soap has dissolved. Add a cup of baking soda to the solution & stir on low heat until creamy & thick. Cool slightly, then pour into glass containers. The baking soda boosts cleaning power and works especially well for removing oil, pine sap, and paint from hard working hands. I add a few drops of fragrance to my hand soap, but the plain scent isn't bad either!
-Facial scrub. In place of normal face wash or face soap, sprinkle a little baking soda into a damp hand and massage over face and neck. Don't rub too hard as it may irritate skin. Rinse with cool water & follow with moisturizer.
1. BAKING. Self-explanatory.
2. CLEANING
-Drain cleaner. Sprinkle a little down the drain & pour vinegar over it. Wash down with hot water.
-Counter cleaner. Sprinkle a little on a damp sponge or rag & wipe down your kitchen counter.
-Cleansing spray. Mix a little baking soda with a water & vinegar solution. Spray counters, toilets, windows, etc.
-Clean pots and pans. If food clings to pans after baking or cooking, sprinkle a little baking soda over the damp pan. Let sit overnight & scrub clean in the morning!
-Laundry boost. Soak clothes in a tub of hot water with at least 1/4 cup baking soda.
-Powder for the dishwasher. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup Kosher salt, 1/4 cup borax. Use 1 TBL per load of dishes.
-Sink and tub cleaner. If you have tough scum or rings around the bathtub or sink, wipe area with a damp washcloth then sprinkle a little baking soda. You may need to repeat a few times to scrub away all the scum, but it is much more effective than store-bought chemical spray.
-Deodorizer. In the car: Sprinkle dry baking soda on the seats & mats, let sit for a few minutes, then vacuum away. In the fridge: keep an open box in the fridge & change every 30 days to keep the fridge fresh. In the basement, barn, shed, or garage: Sprinkle dry baking soda on areas prone to dampness or mildew, let sit for a day or so, and gently sweep away. Blow a fan on the area to dry it out & keep away other odors. In the home: Keep a bowl of baking soda in any room needing deodorizing. Add a drop or two of essential oil & mix well. Change every month or so.
3. PERSONAL CARE
-Foot bath. Add baking soda to a pan of warm water & soak feet to relieve tiredness, dry skin, and discomfort.
-Dental hygiene. Sprinkle a VERY little amount of baking soda over your toothbrush to add a little boost to your normal dental routine. Helps whiten teeth & discourage tartar buildup. It's salty, so follow up with your normal toothpaste.
-Hair rinse. Put a few tablespoons of baking soda in a water bottle & fill it up with warm water. Close the top & shake well. During bath time, pour over head & massage into scalp in place of shampoo. Helps control natural oils without the nasty chemicals or processing of commercial shampoo.
-Soothing bath. Add baking soda to bathwater to soothe an achy body or irritated skin.
-Hand soap. Grate multiple bars of soap into a large enamel pot. Cover soap with cold water & let simmer on low heat until all soap has dissolved. Add a cup of baking soda to the solution & stir on low heat until creamy & thick. Cool slightly, then pour into glass containers. The baking soda boosts cleaning power and works especially well for removing oil, pine sap, and paint from hard working hands. I add a few drops of fragrance to my hand soap, but the plain scent isn't bad either!
-Facial scrub. In place of normal face wash or face soap, sprinkle a little baking soda into a damp hand and massage over face and neck. Don't rub too hard as it may irritate skin. Rinse with cool water & follow with moisturizer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)