Find out what’s in La Chica Organica’s “Little Herbal Stash”
21 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Allergies and Asthma, Baby & Child Health, Beauty and Skin Care, God's Green Herbs Tags: Cayenne pepper, diaper rash, garlic, herbal kit, immunity tincture, Infection, natural antibiotic
If you were to look in my purse right now or look in my office you would find my “little herbal stash” that I use during an emergency. I never know when I am going to encounter an insect bite, wasp sting, upset stomach, vomiting, diaper rash, virus or sore throat.
You parents especially should carry a few things on you that in my experience have proven time and time again to rescue me and others in an emergency.
Just this week alone my little herbal stash helped 9 people not counting our family members.
So what’s in my herbal stash?
Here are just a few things that I try to never leave home without:
- Mom’s Miraculous Salve™which is my own formulation and has turned out to be a favorite by many. It is made with 100% organic ingredients. There are no fillers, carcinogens, petrochemicals, stabilizers or neuro-toxins used. It can be used by the whole family and can be applied to cleaned wounds, sprains, bug bites, stings, sores, diaper rashes, and dry chapped skin. We use this instead of Neosporin. This salve contains herbs that help draw out infection and reduce inflammation so its uses are endless and a must have for any family. It’s also very effective as a diaper rash ointment for our baby and keeps him rash free all the time without the use of toxic creams. A little goes a long way so a small-sized tin can last several months depending on your needs and fits great in diaper bags, pockets, purses and even expandable wallets. Click here for more info.
- Organic Loose Chamomile & muslin bag or a Chamomile tea bag – For irritated eyes, sty’s and pink eye we have used 1 teaspoons of chamomile in 1/4 cup of hot water and after steeping for a few minutes poured it into the muslin bag (a cotton draw string bag) and placed on affected eye for 5 to 10 minutes. I have found that a chamomile tea can also be brewed, strained and placed in a dropper bottle and used inside the eyes for sty’s and pink eye. We have used this remedy successfully on several occasions. At work once when I had a sty I placed the dropper bottle in the fridge (for a cooling effect on the itchy swollen eye) and it felt so good when I placed the drops in my eye.
- Immunity Rescue™ Tincture – I make fresh batches of this organic tincture once every 3 months so we can give away as needed and have enough for us to use. This is an intense immunity booster with over 8 organic herbs possessing anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. For more information click here.
- Cayenne Pepper - I carry a very potent extract in my purse but you can use organic powdered Cayenne as well. This is another miracle herb I never leave home without. It is useful to promote circulation, stop an asthma attack, alleviate a sore throat, aid digestion, regulate blood pressure and stop internal and external bleeding. Just a small amount has been known to stop a heart attack in under a minute. For a recent article I wrote on this click here.
- Bare to Butter™ – Another wonderful product I formulated and make to help with my daughters eczema around her eyes. It’s a special blend of organic unprocessed Shea Butter. It’s also a great quick fix for canker sores, burns and irritated skin.
- Garlic (fresh or in capsule form, but fresh is better) – Crushed and placed in tea for its anti-bacterial properties, garlic can alleviate the nastiest of sore throats and ward off infection. We have used garlic in tea for years as a safe antibiotic alternative for throat infections and bacterial infections. One to two cloves per 8 ounce cup of tea is the minimum I recommend. And if you suffer from high blood pressure garlic boasts as a blood pressure regulator.
- Mullein & Garlic Oil Ear Drops – Itchy ears can usually mean that an infection or inflammation is underway. That is when we grab for these drops which can be made at home or purchased at your local health-food store. We have used them these past couple of years on the entire family to prevent ear infections. Mullein has been treasured for centuries for its anti-inflammatory properties and for killing the bacteria that often leads to earache and infection. As a side note, I have cut a small piece of garlic and wrapped it in gauze and then placed the wrapped garlic into the ear canal. Pain and infection in the ear usually disappear immediately or in a few hours, but be sure not to shove the garlic inside the ear just place it so that it rests in the opening like an ear plug would.
I hope you enjoyed this tidbit about “my little herbal stash”. Remember that God created all things including herbs so that we might benefit from their medicinal uses. In a day when many people do not have insurance its important to know what can be used for everyday ailments and emergencies.
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.. Psalm 104:14
Remember to live life as a gift and give that gift away everyday!™ Blessings – LCO
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Herbal Tea for Colds, Throat Irritation and Infection
14 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: garlic, garlic for infection, garlic in tea, ginger, how to make thyme tea, Immunity tea, make garlic tea, tea, tea for Throat Infection, thyme, thyme tea
Last weekend for about 2 days I had a really bad throat irritation and infection and it was really painful, so much so that I could not even swallow without cringing. I looked inside and my glands were swollen and I could see the back of my throat was red and inflamed.
With children in school, nursing baby full-time, working full-time and everything else I did not have the time to make a 45 minute trip to my doctor so I pulled out my herbal health kit. I started taking concentrated drops of oregano and rosemary oil every 3 hours in addition to my Immunity Boosting Teas. My husband then made me several cups of strong tea with lemon, garlic, thyme, and a bunch of anti-inflammatory herbs.
But the winners in this story are garlic and thyme for their amazing properties. In less than 2 days my painful problem that probably would have turned into a serious infection was gone.
Thyme and garlic unlike what many people are aware of make a great tea to boost immunity, rid the body of infectious bacteria, viruses and has great astringent properties
Thyme is an aromatic herb. It’s antiseptic and used as a circulatory stimulant when taken hot. It’s also a bronchial antispasmodic and expectorant.
Thyme is taken for fevers, colds and flu, coughs, bronchitis, asthma, bronchial spasms, and expectoration of upper respiratory catarrh. It’s also used as As a gargle for sore throat, tonsillitis and laryngitis and to relieve colic, flatulence and diarrhea.
It’s best to use Organic Thyme, you can purchase store-bought fresh Thyme or the dried leaves. If you use the dried leaves make sure to store in a cool dry and dark place.
To make the tea I made just boil some distilled water and pour it over about a teaspoon of dried Thyme and chamomile and 3 mashed cloves of garlic. Let it steep for about 15 minutes strain off the herbs. Add the juice of one lemon and sweeten with honey. If you want you can also add some dried ginger root or the juice of fresh ginger root. Enjoy this tea 3 to 4 times a day and you will see the difference.
La Chica Organica can get you Organic Dried Thyme and many other Organic Herbs at a great price- its available in our winter catalog which you can get by emailing us at LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com
What am I Eating – Is it Poison? Part 2
17 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, cancer, Diet & Weight loss, food inc., God's Green Herbs, Green Living, organic food, Organic Living Video's, Toxic Food Ingredients/Additives Tags: Alfalfa, Big Mac, cancer, cat's claw, chia seeds, Chlorella, Cinnamon, Circadian rhythm, cloves, Eating, flax seeds, food to heal, garlic, ginger, health, high fructose corn syrup, Hippocrates, how to stay healthy, kale, Nutrition, pomegranates and all raw fruits and vegetables, quinoa, raw almonds and other raw nuts and seeds, raw cacao, raw food for healing, raw goat kefir, raw oatmeal, raw spinach, reverse diabetes in 30 days, rosemary, sage, spirulina, sprouted grains like spealt, thyme, tumeric, unrefined coconut oil, what is circadian rhythm, wheatgrass
Keeping little children healthy can become a frustrating task. The same goes for the elderly like my 87-year-old grandma. But let’s face it; staying healthy is an issue for everyone regardless of age. There are many books, articles, classes and reports available on how to be healthy and have a strong immune system but most of them seem to leave out one very important area, and that area is called FOOD.
Food believe it or not plays a VERY important part of our overall health and this goes for babies, teens, adults and grandparents. Unfortunately, most of us have been trained erroneously to think that we must eat and eat and eat some more to satisfy a craving or because food tastes good. Often times those things that taste good are undoubtedly not good for us.
Food, unlike popular belief, should be consumed for the body’s health and overall well-being not just for pleasure, but in America we have this backwards. We consume food mainly for pleasure and rarely for our heath or because we are hungry. And so the vicious cycle begins. We eat because we are happy, we eat because we are sad, we don’t eat because we think we are fat and what we do eat is loaded with trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, msg, artificial food coloring, processed sugar and the list goes on and on…
We treat our cars better than we do our bodies. Then when sickness strikes we run to fill a prescription for the magic pill that will eliminate all of our ailments. Yet, regardless of all the pills and drugs available, developed nations like the US aren’t experiencing better health. Every year the rates of cancer and other diseases increases in the US and I don’t hear anyone talking about FOOD or about Oxidative stress and cellular death.
Every year Americans spend millions and millions of dollars on laxatives because they aren’t getting enough living food in their diets so they have to resort to unnatural means to promote a bodily function that should be automatic. Meanwhile no one is telling people to change their diets. I have on more than one occasion heard about doctor friends of mine telling their patients to take the orange fiber packets for constipation. This type of advice if doing a huge disservice to the person. If I was the doctor and someone came to me sick and suffering with constipation, the first question I would ask is: “Are you getting enough water?” Followed by, “How many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are you eating each day?”
Like Hippocrates said: we should let food be our medicine and medicine be our food. If we lived by that principle we would experience better health. I am a firm believer that food, the right food can and will do away with most sicknesses and diseases. When I say food I don’t mean white rice, French fries, chicken parmesan and twinkies. I mean living food. Food that is loaded with life building properties.
All we have to do is look at the statistics regarding cancer, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. More and more people are suffering from these things; yet in spite of the statistics, people continue on their nutritionally deficient diets which break the body down instead of building it up. Deficient diets are lacking the necessary phytochemicals, nutrients, enzymes, probiotics and minerals the body needs for proper function.
The following lists some organic foods & herbs that help build our bodies instead of promoting cellular death:
Quinoa, alfalfa, spirulina, wheatgrass, kale, raw spinach, raw oatmeal, flax seeds, raw almonds and other raw nuts and seeds, sprouted grains like spealt, unrefined coconut oil, chia seeds, raw cacao, Chlorella, pomegranates and all raw fruits and vegetables, raw goat kefir, cloves, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, sage, tumeric, garlic, ginger, cat’s claw and many other antioxidant rich foods.
I have seen cases of cancer, diabetes, asthma and other sicknesses completely being reversed because of a radical change in diet and the use of medicinal herbs. But in most cases you won’t hear this from your doctor unless they are into nutrition and alternative medicine.
A great majority of medical professionals, nutritionists and health advocates have failed miserably at educating the public about the medicinal properties that some herbs and foods contain, perhaps because they aren’t aware of the benefits themselves. One reason may be, that if we became food and herbal experts we would spend hundred of dollars a year for curing diseases and sicknesses instead of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Instead we have grown up on a diet of fast food burgers, processed meats, sodas, cookies and energy drinks and this has resulted in the rates for obesity in children to increase at an alarming rate with children as early as 2 yrs old are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
It always bothers me when I see toddlers sitting at the Big Mac place with a burger, a soda and a mountain of fries in front of them. It makes me want to stop my car get out and have a word with the parents. But I have come to the realization that having a word with people is not enough. In order to promote change we must care enough to educate others about what nutrition lies we have believed for long, one of them being that we must eat a large breakfast in the morning to have a good day. Don’t you remember your mom saying this to you? “Now honey, eat up all your sausage, potatoes, grits, pancakes, french toast or muffins so you can be big and strong and have a good day at school!’
Why is that? Well for decades people have thought that eating a large breakfast full of refined carbs and sugars was a good thing. But it’s not 100% correct for a few reasons. The most important reason is that when you get up in the morning your body should begin the purging process to get rid of all the food you ate the day before. Your digestive system wants to evacuate but you just shove more processed food into it which is like putting your finger over the end of a hose that is turned on. The only thing you’re accomplishing is a lethal buildup of toxins that will be reabsorbed internally and begin to make you sick. By doing this you are disrupting your body’s Circadian Rhythm.
And why should you care about this? Well for starters, all of our bodies follow predesigned daily cycles known as circadian rhythms. Circadian refers to the regular recurrence of cycles of activity that occur every twenty-four hours. It has been proven that if you eat in line with these rhythms you will enjoy better health and work with your body instead of against it.
This is just one of the misconceptions regarding food that has permeated our brains but as with all things, education is power. The more people learn about their health the more equipped they will be to make wiser choices and stop the vicious cycle of disease.
To watch a great clip from a documentary on people who reversed their diabetes in 30 days click here.
Help me make a difference and share this article with someone you love!
Remember to live life as a gift and give that gift away every day!
Related articles:
What am I Eating – Is it Poison? Part 1
Are You Dead or Alive
Food Inc – A Must See Film – Watch It Now
How to eat when you’re on the road?
Food: The silent killer or healer- What you need to know about healing
Blessings,
LCO
Cold and Flu Cocktails/Remedies – What you Should Have on Hand!
06 Oct 2010 6 Comments
in Allergies and Asthma, Baby & Child Health, Flu & Cold, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, organic food, Preggo Mama, Stress, tea, vitamin d, Vitamins & Supplements Tags: balm, cold, Colostrum, Echinacea., flu, garlic, green, health, Herb, homeopathic, Immune system, immunity, immunity boosting herbs, Influenza, Joe Shmoe, Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, natural cures, olive, organic herbs, Oscillo, Oscillococcinum, Smoothie, thyme, tincture, Vodka, winter
Is there a cold or flu virus lurking around the corner? Did you just go to the store and open up the refrigerated section then a few minutes later rub your eyes?
It’s amazing how easily we are exposed to nasty viruses and bacteria. All it takes is for Joe Shmoe to sneeze and cough right on the handles of the store refrigerators and then you come strolling along completely unaware that the door handles are covered in yuck. You open them, get your goods and go on your merry way. A few minutes later you robotically rub your eyes or nose and whala – the connection is made. Those nasty germs are on their way into your body.
First let me lovingly say that if you are a Joe Shmoe, please do us all a favor and COVER YOUR MOUTH when you cough or sneeze. Carry a pack of tissues with you so you can use and discard as needed. Also be sure to cleanse hands after each explosion of germs. It’s very irresponsible and inconsiderate to know that you’re sick and sneeze and cough all over the place without covering up and washing your hands afterward. You are promoting sickness in the community of pregnant moms, babies, young adults, parents, the elderly and even pets.
So what are some things you can do to reduce your chance of getting sick and or help you if you do get sick? What I am going to say might shock you but it’s often overlooked.
SLEEP.
Yes, if and when your body is under attack you must sleep. Make sure you are getting at least 7 hours of un-interrupted sleep at night although 9 hours is ideal especially when the body is under stress. Your body can survive for days and days without food but your organs can start to shut down after just 5 days without sleep. So please get your rest if you can, it’s very important. Another important factor is water intake. Your body needs water at least 8 to 10 glasses a day in order to function properly. Your brain alone is composed of over 75% water. Not to mention the rest of your body consists of about 60% water.
Just think of a raisin all shriveled up. That could be your brain or your lungs you know. It’s actually been studied that people with asthma that drink more water and stay hydrated were found to have less attacks. So hydration with good old water is very important at all times.
Now to the other stuff.
Before I start giving you what I use let me make it clear that if you want to be healthy you have to act like your trying to get healthy. Yes, organic herbs and supplements can help a body under attack but you must deal with the problem from the inside out and not simply treat a symptom. If you eat a diet mainly of cooked foods and do not take additional enzymes, probiotics and minerals you are going to run your body down and in turn have a weakened immune system that will fall prey to any and every viral or bacterial infection floating in the air. A healthy diet is the key to maintaining a strong immune system.
OK, now that I got that out of the way, lets talk about my health cocktails. I have all kinds of cocktails: bath cocktails, breakfast cocktails, immunity cocktails, you name it I’ve got it.
- Some of the foods, ingredients & herbs I use in my emergency cold and flu cocktails are: Organic Olive Leaf , Organic Lemon Balm, Organic Ginger, Organic Garlic, Organic Thyme, Greens and Grasses in smoothies, Colostrum, Organic Herbal Baths, Organic Powdered Rose hips (Vitamin C), vitamin D3, herbal salts, Organic Cayenne Powder, Organic herbal antiviral antibacterial tinctures & glycerites.
- Want to boost immunity then do a smoothie with Organic Greens. We drink one every morning for breakfast and add in powdered Colostrum and powdered Rose hips. La Chica Organica has a fantastic blend of Greens/Grasses available, please email me for product information and pricing.
- Making pasta be sure to crush lots of fresh garlic. If you have a mortar and pestle make a paste with a pinch of Cayenne and toss it over your cooked pasta with some olive oil. Garlic is a fantastic antiviral and anti-inflammatory herb. Cayenne has been used for years as a nasal decongestant and has been used for centuries to treat asthma, fevers, sore throats, respiratory infections, and digestive problems.
- Take a bath in Thyme or Mama’s Cold & Flu Rescue bath that helps when the body is fighting a cold or flu. Be sure to check out a 2 part audio teaching I did on bathing with Thyme, here.
- Got the stuffy’s and congested? I enjoy using an awesome Organic balm that I make called Mariana’s Winter Balm. It’s gentle but effective for rubbing on a congested chest and feet. I have 3 samples to give away for anyone interested. Please post a comment below by 8pm Friday October 8th 2010. The first 3 comments will be contacted via email and will be mailed a sample within the next 2 weeks. I just ask that you cover $3.99 for packaging and shipping costs. This balm will be available for purchase soon.
- Another fantastic food to keep on hand is Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil. Coconut Oil does not contain Trans-Fats, is Gluten-Free, Non-Toxic, Hypoallergenic, and contains Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal, and Anti-parasitic healing properties. Coconut oil is a fantastic way to aid and support your overall Immune System functions.
If you would like a 10 ounce container of La Chica Organica’s Coconut Oil you can order by emailing me at LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com. Each container is at an affordable price of just $4. I add a teaspoon to my smoothies 2 times a day. It’s so yummy.
- I also have found that drinking a tea several times a day with 1 or more of my immunity boosting herbs is a wonderful way to stay healthy and aid the body during sickness. But if teas are not your thing or you simply don’t have time you might consider making a tincture like the one in the picture below. A tincture is a liquid extract of an herb. It is made by soaking herbs in a drinkable alcohol. Tinctures are super concentrated herbal concoctions. You only need a few drops several times a day. Tinctures work because they are made in a base of alcohol like Vodka or Brandy which breaks down the herbs and pulls out the medicinal qualities.
You can make these with little to no difficulty and have enough bottles on hand to last you all year for just a fraction of the cost for what you pay for just one 2 ounce bottle at the health food store.
I have created a step by step instructional guide with this kit that comes with 2 bags of organic herbs, 2 glass tincture bottles, labels and two organic cotton muslin bags for straining. The only thing you will have to purchase is your vodka or Brandy. You will also need a jar with a lid for steeping the herbs and a jar with lid to store any extra tincture. I find that re-cycling pasta sauce jars works wonderfully.
Grab this kit while it lasts as it is specially priced for winter and will go quickly. Click here to order
Choose from:
Immunity Rescue – Intense immunity booster with over 8 organic herbs possessing anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.$25
Help my Tummy – fantastic blend or organic herbs that help with stomach upset, gas and indigestion. $25
Nighty Night – A mixture of organic herbs to help you unwind and relax. $25
AstraE (Astragalus & Echinacea) – Immunity booster and viral infection fighter. $25
Fever Assist – made with herbs that promote perspiration which in turn cools the body down resulting in a lowering of fever. $25
**You can also purchase additional tincture bottles for $3 each or four tincture bottles for $11** Click here to order
- If you are really miserable with a flu you can take homeopathic meds which are a fabulous alternative to pharmacy drugs. We love Oscillococcinum. Oscillococcinum (Oscillo®), one of the world’s most popular natural flu medicines, it can reduce the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms when taken at the onset of symptoms. Oscillo works without causing side effects, does not interfere with other medications, and is safe for both children (older than 2 years of age) and adults. For $2 coupons you can use at your pharmacy or grocery store click here
- Clinical studies show that Oscillo reduces the severity and duration of flu symptoms
- Great taste and convenient to take
- No side effects or interactions with other medications
- Good for everyone 2 years of age and older
- Weekly consumption of Vitamin D3 is very important during cold a flu season. You can read about which vitamin D3 to take by clicking here.
- One last thing to remember is that green is good. The more green you consume the better your overall health will be.
That’s all for now.
Signing Off! La Chica Organica
May the Green be with You™
Garlic – Nature’s Fever Reducer
22 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, God's Green Herbs Tags: children, fever, garlic, olive oil
I have been using garlic for years to lower fever in our family. But I had never used it on my children before one year of age until recently. Our little baby a few weeks back had a very high persistent fever that seemed to come and go after being treated for an ear infection. He was also teething and although not common some children get very high fevers during the season of teething.
This time the fever was a little over 103 and it wasn’t budging. So I whipped out the garlic and dropped a few cloves in the blender with very little water. Once a paste was made I grabbed the olive oil and set out for what was one of the Stinkiest nights of our life. Because baby was rooming with us, our room smelt like a scene from little Italy just after a few hours. I was waiting for my cumpas to come walking in asking for meatballs and Chianti. LOLOL
So what is the remedy? OK it’s simple. You overly coat the feet with Olive Oil and place a gauze over both soles of each foot then apply sparingly the paste of Garlic on both feet then cover with another piece of gauze. Then you wrap each foot in gauze and cover with saran wrap and put on some socks. This treatment is best when done overnight but should not be left on for more than 6 to 8 hours as garlic is very strong when applied topically and can burn the skin. In most people after just a few minutes their breath will smell like garlic, it’s amazing.
In our case with baby the fever was down to 99.1 in no time and by the next morning baby was alert and happy again and the fever disappeared along with some congestion in the nasal passages.
So in our house when a fever has run its course for a few days and is still high and uncomfortable we run for the garlic not the Tylenol. But be warned your room will stink of garlic, so it’s best to isolate your garlic roll child and place a waterproof liner under the fitted sheet so that the smell does not get into the mattress. Also make sure the fever is not a sign of a more serious illness. In our case we knew what was going on and our holistic pediatrician did as well.
For more on garlic’s healing properties and an interesting book on the subject click here
Who's saying what