Our Home Cures

I want to document my testimonies of home cures that I have used that have worked well for my family over the years.  You may wish to read these as interesting stories, but please understand that I do not have any conventional medical training and I am not a doctor as recognized in our society and I am not suggesting that you try them.  

I have been investigating and researching ways to use God's medicines for many, many years.  I have bought antique books, visited historic sites, spoken with elderly persons and perused the internet for information concerning natural remedies.  What I love most about God's cures is that if used properly, they do not have damaging side effects.  However, God's medicines are not recognized by the medical community and NO claims can be made about their effectiveness.  Thus I am not making any claims but only telling you what I experienced knowing that every situation is different.

With these posts, I am not giving any advice on what you might do but I am only documenting what I have personally done in various situations for my family:

(Coming soon - I will list a variety of ailments and how I have treated them.  I will start with our testimony on treating ear infections.  We had a lot of practice and I still practice this technique on Jon occasionally when his ear starts to 'feel' full, maybe once a year.  He has not had an actual 'hurting' ear infection since kindergarten, but I will soon tell you all about that in another post.)

$0.00 on Over-the-counter and Prescription Medication



Five years ago when I taught classes, I had said that we had spent $0.00 on over-the-counter and prescription medication in the previous ten years.  This $0.00 amount is for all four of us:  Fred is now 55, I am 53, Tom is 18 and Jon is 15.  I think this fact is as unusual for a family in the USA as our diet of eating only foods created by God. 

Since those classes five years ago, I have spent about $5, so I have spent less than $1 a year now over the past 15 years.  What is your yearly medicine bill?  If you feel you cannot afford the best quality FoodsbyGod, take into consideration the money and time you might be paying in other ways as a consequence of your food choices.

So why did I spend $5?  About 4 years ago (after teaching the last set of classes), I bought one bottle of infant dye-free Tylenol for Tom (who was 14 at the time).  He had his last baby tooth extracted, one that would not fall out and which was preventing a permanent tooth from coming in.  The dentist said he would be in a lot of pain and I needed to give him something.  I chose the infant Tylenol, thinking it would take the edge off the pain.  Though Tom was not in pain yet, I gave him one dose.  I watched him closely and he showed no signs of excess pain (nor did he complain), so no more was needed.  Last month, I threw away the rest of the bottle.  That was a waste of money but I wanted to be a 'good' mom and was scared by the dentist into thinking I needed some man-made pain medicine since Tom was only 14. 

 

I did not give him more because over-the-counter medications do not help one's body heal but only mask symptoms and load the liver with toxins.  Instead I like to use anti-inflammatory healing supplements such as garlic and vitamin C or I increase consumption of anti-inflammatory foods in our diet.  There are many wonderful options, such as pineapples, which contain bromelain, an amazing natural anti-inflammatory healing chemical.  (Be aware that if you are having surgery that some supplements thin the blood and must be stopped a week or two before your surgery.)  I cannot offer you an Advil or Tylenol if you are at my house and have a headache or a Tums if you have a stomachache.  We use none of these things and keep none in the house. 

 

So now I have spent about $5.00 once in the past 15 years on over-the-counter medications and $0.00 on prescription medications.  We use minimal supplements too; I don't know the exact amount but less than $20 (probably less than $10) in supplements for the four of us during the year.  Most of my supplements go past their expiration date before we use them up. 

 

So what is in my medicine cabinet?  

 

Tom just went off to college, and thus we got him my basic 'first aid' supplements in case he needs them.  Since I have just been thinking about what these would be, I thought I would share that information with you. 

 

For stressful time periods (to take daily when immunity is low):

 

Cod liver or fish oil (store in refrigerator, I buy Nordic Naturals or Carlsons)

Probiotic (store in refrigerator, there are many good brands)

 

For first signs of cold/flu (sore throat or chills):

 

Healing chicken soup in freezer (must be homemade)

Chicken stock in freezer (must be homemade)

Echinacea/Goldenseal tablets  (take for only 1 - 2 weeks max at a time)

Vitamin C with Rosehips tablets

Garlic tablets (I like the Kyolic brand, odor-free)

 

For stomach virus/food poisoning:

 

Activated charcoal (causes constipation - only take what is needed for nausea or diarrhea)

 

For skin cuts/infections (topical use instead of antibiotic ointments):

 

Colloidal Silver

Tea Tree Oil (not in photo because I gave my bottle to Tom - I prefer to use the colloidal silver)

 

These are the basics that I like to keep on hand or take with me when traveling.  We take no supplements on a regular basis, though if I were not making our own yogurt and kefir, we would take a daily Probiotic. 

Please note, I do not take the Echinacea/Garlic/VitaminC regimen typically when I start to feel that I might be coming down with something.  Taking supplements does not allow my body to build its own immunity, so these are only for special times when I just can't get sick (such as when on a trip or teaching a class, etc.).  Instead of taking these supplements - I eat nutritionally dense foods, such as healing soup, completely cut out all sweets, and try to rest more to allow my body to fight off the infection.  As I stated in a previous post, we eat the foods God has given us, those that are filled with the nutrients our bodies need, and thus we have no need for extra supplements and medicines on a regular basis.

Queen's Pose for Female Problems



Today's post is geared toward women, but anyone with lower abdominal stagnation or upper respiratory issues can benefit from this restorative pose.  For those with severe monthly female cramps or other female problems, this pose is extremely beneficial.  It allows your upper chest to open and clear, and for your lower abdominal area to open and drain.  How often you do this relaxing exercise is dependent upon your health needs.

I will share one success story with you as an example of how affective this exercise can be.  I recommended doing this exercise daily to a young girl in her early twenties years ago.  She had already changed her diet and was eating well, yet she was incapacitated, unable to get out of bed, one or two days a month at the start of her cycle.  This had been going on since her early teens. 

After doing this pose faithfully for 10 - 15 minutes a day for a month, she had NO cramps or problems at all.  She continued for 4 or 5 months, symptom free.  No more drugs to alleviate symptoms or wasted time in pain!  Cures can really be this simple, but it requires diligence and commitment.  As we all tend to do, after feeling good for several months, she slacked off and stopped.  Within the month, her being incapacitated for a full day or two in bed was back. 

Whether or not you have female monthly symptoms, this is a great exercise for all women, no matter what your age.  For general health purposes, try to do it once or twice a week for 10 to 15 minutes.  It is very good for the spine and for reducing stress.  This is supposed to feel good, so get more blankets for support if you need them.  Also, set up in a peaceful, quiet space.  Turn off the radio and TV.

I have a yoga bolster which I use - this is essential for this exercise because I think is it hard to duplicate with something you have around the house.  I also have a yoga block and blankets, but you could easily substitute a hard block of wood and towels that you have on hand for these.

 

Set up your props as shown in the photo.  It is important to have a strong enough block to hold the bolster up when you are leaning back against it.  The aqua green block in the background in the above photo is too small and topples when I lean back.  The thicker purple block shown works great for me.  A bolster is needed because it is firm enough that it does not collapse when you lie back on it.  The round cylindrical shape is important so that your spine is supported but your shoulders can round back over it.  You need to be on a nonslip surface, such as a yoga mat so the bolster does not slip out from under you.  Towels or blankets provide support under your legs so you can rest in the position.  You will want two additional blankets to support your arms if your elbows do not reach the floor.

 

After you have set up your props, sit on the floor with your buttocks back against the bolster.  Gently lie back and bring the soles of your feet up together with your legs spread apart to the sides as shown.  Place the blankets under your legs for support.  Let your shoulders open back against the bolster and your arms lie on the ground, palms up, as shown.  Place towels or blankets under your arms also, if they need support.  This should be a calming, restful position.  Hold for 5 to 15 minutes.

Treat Poison Ivy with Jewelweed



 

I have heard how effective jewelweed is in treating poison ivy, but this week I had a chance to test it.  I got mad at some poison ivy vines last weekend and was pulling it with gloves that had holes.  So, of course, poison ivy erupted a day later.

There are many different 'jewelweed' products available.  I bought the soap, shown in the photo, to shower with after working with poison ivy, as a preventive treatment.  I bought it to have on hand when needed.  This time, however, I used it as a salve once the poison ivy started.

 

I noticed the poison ivy developing when my hand started itching like crazy and a few bumps appeared.  I was going out to the garden, so decided to do a quick treatment on the way out the door.  I just wet the soap and slathered it on the itchy poison ivy spot.  I did not rinse it off, but left it to dry on my hand.  It immediately took away the itching. 

 

Later that day, after doing dishes, it started to get very itchy again, so I repeated the process.  Again, it immediately took away the itching.  I treated the area this way once or twice a day for about four days.  Sorry I don't have a better photo of the poison ivy, but it never developed (thank goodness). 

 

Now for an amazing fact.  Jewelweed typically grows near poison ivy!  I love to learn of the natural remedies, such as this, that God has provided.  This is not a food but many of the remedies are foods, herbs and spices, and most of which we typically have in our kitchens. 

Jewelweed is a member of the impatience family and does grow in Texas.  You can use the oil that you get by rubbing the stem of a stalk of fresh jewelweed on poison ivy also.  I am going to be on the look out for jewelweed today when in the field working; it likes growing conditions like ditches along roadways if you look for it.

Treating Fire Ant Bites with Raw Honey

 

This is a very important post for those who live in the southern part of the United States, where fire ants are prevalent and menacing.  Put a dab of raw, unfiltered honey on the bite(s).  Last Monday, I was bit by several fire ants on my right hand.  Not only do I always get a red dot where bit, but when I get multiple bites on a hand, my whole hand will be swollen from the poison injected for several days.  I immediately ran into the house and slathered raw honey all over the top of my hand because I knew I had our FoodsbyGod cooking class the next evening.  I did not want my hand swollen and red with white pussy dots all over!  The next day at class, I barely had one small red spot to show.  Truly amazing.



 

Yesterday while working in the garden, I got bit by fire ants in several spots on the back of my leg.  After 5 - 10 minutes, a red bump appears at each bite.  I waited until the red bumps appeared to put on the raw honey so I could get a photo for you.  It is best to apply the honey as soon as possible and not wait.  The honey will neutralize the poison from the bite.  It provides immediate relief from pain and itching and will keep the bite from developing into a white pus spot and itching like crazy. 

 

Treating fire ant bites with honey is also an excellent way to test your honey (though don't get bit on purpose!).  Only raw honey that still has active enzymes will work.  Not only does raw honey draw out poison from bites, is helps heal infections and wounds too.  Of course, it also has numerous benefits with eaten from helping with allergies (if using local raw honey) to aiding in calcium absorption (I always add raw honey to my yogurt).  Raw, unfiltered honey is an essential food to have in every kitchen.