So i brush normally in the morning but instead of the normal brushing at night i started to brush my teeth only with baking soda. It’s not tasty (its pretty salty) but in a couple of days the spots are all gone and they are getting bright again.

A cheap and Eco friendly tip to whiten your teeth

* Note: I’m not sure if this is harmful or not. I got this tip from my grand dad and so far nothing bad has happened to me.

* If you have fair skin, red or blond hair, light-colored eyes you are more prone to being sun burnt.
* Working or playing outside puts you at risk, check for changes in moles, freckles or birthmarks.
* Seek shade when you’re outdoors.
* Wear long sleeves and long pants, making sure they’re made of tightly woven fabrics.
* Avoid indoor sunlamps and tanning beds, since they can be more harmful to your skin than the sun.
* More than 90% of all skin cancers occur on parts of the body exposed to the sun.
* Keep young infants out of the sun. Start using sunscreen on children at 6 months of age and limit their exposure. Sunscreens are not approved for infants younger than 6 months.
* Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours.
* Avoid Direct Sun Exposure: Avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight during midday (generally from 10am to 4pm)
* Use Sunglasses That Block UV Rays: Making certain your sunglasses can block UV rays helps to guard your eyes from serious sun damage. The best constructed sunglasses should have a UV ray absorption rate of 99% to 100%.
* Remember that clouds and water won’t protect you–60% to 80% of the sun’s rays go through clouds and can reach swimmers at least one foot below the surface of the water. The sun’s rays can also reflect off water, snow and white sand.

In order to achieve that healthy, glowing look with your skin, make sure to stay out of the sun, use organic sunscreen and take advantage of a good facial moisturizer, wear sunscreen all year round, make it a part of your daily routine.

Vicky WAU

Its medical use dates back to the Ancient times, when it was considered a “miracle plant”. To cite just some famous examples, Cleopatra used it as a facial rejuvenation gel and Alexander the Great used it to cure his soldiers’ sunburns during his conquest campaigns around the world. Aloe Vera’s beneficial effects are recorded in documents of Roman, Greek, and Arabic origin, among other folks living in warm climates.

The gel extracted from the central part of its leaves is a very popular home-made medicine because it contains components which are very effective against swelling, burns, pain, and also for the stimulation and regeneration of skin.

Currently, there are in the market many Aloe Vera-based products, such as body lotions, shampoos, creams, gels, and toothpaste, among others.

Here are some of its healing properties:

- It is especially effective for skin care and against wrinkles. Its use fortifies flaccid skin and wrinkles become less evident and tend to dissapear.

- In cases of acne, it helps to dry pimples, reduce swelling, and make the marks disappear. It also helps to minimize dark spots in the skin.

- Because it contributes to accelerate the cellular regeneration process, it is recommended to treat irritation, sunburns, insect bites, superficial wounds, and rashes.

- It has high moisturizing properties, which makes it ideal for dry skins, and can be used as a facial cleanser.

- It also can be used to strengthen hair and thus minimize hair loss.

It is also claimed that Aloe Vera has healing or mitigating properties on diseases such as arthritis, hemorrhoids, rheumatic pains, cancer prevention, although further studies are needed to fully support these claimed effects. Therefore, if you are undergoing a treatment for some disease and want to try the Aloe Vera’s curative properties, you should ask your physician first.

You can grow your own aloe vera plant in your garden, although it is not so easy! First of all, you have to separate the “baby plants” that grow around the mother plant when they reach a height of 4 fingers. You must not water them for 2 weeks after putting them in the flowerpots. Before placing them in the flowerpots, do not expose them to sunlight for a couple of weeks. When you want to extract the gel from inside the leaves, choose leaves that have not been in contact with water for 5 days. The best times of the day to obtain the gel are early morning or night time.

Excessive watering must be avoided, as well as exposing the Aloe Vera plant to cold below 0° degrees Celsius. This plant is very resistant to plagues and lack of water.

So, now you know it! If you have experienced Aloe Vera’s beneficial properties and want to share it with us, you can send us your comments!

Ivana WAU Argentina

Menstrual pain is nothing more than cramps in your uterus muscles. Despite being only cramps for some women these are the worst pain they ever felt. Most women had felt these at least once in their lives. Age, pregnancy or birth control pills can make this pain stop although for those who do not use birth control pills and don’t plan on being pregnant here are a few tips.

1. Take a hot shower, try to keep warm or put over your kidneys or belly a hot water bag. This will help you to relax your muscles.

2. Eat vitamin B6, C and E, it will help to relax your uterus. (Useful food: spinach, whole bread, eggs, oranges, olive oil, sea food.)

3. Have sex regularly: Sexual activity will make you to exercise your uterus muscles. Some experts say that having sex at least 4 times a week should be enough to relax the muscles. Also if you are in awful pain and the blood do not bother you or your partner, have sex. The pain will go away right away. This is the most natural away to get rid of these pains and have been reported to be used by ancient women.

4. Avoid eating salt and drink plenty of water so you don’t have any excess salt in your body and do not get so bloated.

5. Avoid getting cold and wear no shoes inside. Don’t go outside with your hair wet or take too long to dry yourself after a shower. This will make your body temperature get lower. If it is winter wear long shirts so your belly and kidneys are warm.

6. Do exercise regularly; even if you feel you cannot move with the pain, go walk and get fresh air, the pain will start to go away slowly although some women rather rest, staying quite in some cases can even make the pain worse.

7. Do not stress, or get angry. This will make your relaxing process stop and probably will make the pain worst.

8. Drink relaxing teas like chamomile. The tea will make you warm and relaxed.

9. Have a massage or ask someone to massage your belly or kidneys. Massaging help to relieve the pain.

Vicky – Ireland

PMS - All the men run for cover at this time of the month, one of the most common reasons for PMS suggests that calcium levels are lower in women with PMS and that calcium supplementation may reduce the severity of symptoms, as we get older we definitely need to make sure our calcium intakes are good anyways, i don’t eat dairy or drink milk so for me i have to take it via a supplement. Try keep active when you are pmsing and keep your body active.

Vicky – Ireland

Tea Tree oil is well known for being antiseptic and healing. Add it to a spray bottle with water. Use a few drops of tea tree oil, 2-3 lemon oil, 2-3 orange oil and 3-4 lavender in a 1 quart spray bottle. You can use it in the kitchen and bathroom to wipe off the counters, toilets, tub, shower, stove and the refrigerator.

Stacey USA

1 cup dried rosemary leaves

1 cup dried lavender flowers

1 cup dried spearmint

1/2 cup dried chamomile

1/4 to 1/2 cup dried cloves

To make:

Blend all herbs thoroughly and store in an airtight container away from heat and light.

Suggested Uses:

-To make tea, use one teaspoon of loose herbs per cup of water. You can prepare the tea in a tea ball, or mix the loose herbs with water in a tea pot and then strain tea into a cup.

-Place a handful of herbs in a muslin bag and add bag to your bathwater for a soothing treat.

Information taken from online sources, author unknown.

2/3 cup cider vinegar

5 drops chamomile essential oil

Pour 1 1/2 pints of boiling water over your chamomile flowers, cover them and infuse overnight. Strain the liquid, add vinegar and oil, then pour the liquid into a stoppered bottle. Use as a final hair rinse. If left in the hair it will lighten hair especially if dried in the sun.

Monika14

A common kitchen spice can stop a case of the spins. Simply drop a pinch of cayenne into a glass of warm water and sip. I got this tip last year and used it during the humid hot summer we had when i felt dizzy and it worked a treat.

Sharon UK

Dry Skin

Almond and grapeseed oil are the quickest fixes for dry skin. They soak into your skin faster than creamy moisturizers.

Maria USA

Headaches

Dull a tension headache by massaging a few drops of peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) into your temples.

Sarah USA

LAWN CARE:

*Why Chemical Pesticides are the Wrong Choice*

- They kill hundreds of insects that are beneficial to lawn and garden care, such as bees, ladybugs, et cetera.

- They are harmful to people, pets, and the environment.

- They are especially harmful to small children.

FACT:

Every year 43,000 children under the age of six are subject to concentrations of pesticides high enough to cause cancer, respiratory illness, and harm the central nervous system. Children have a hard time “bouncing back” from this exposure because their organs are not yet fully developed.

*Fixes*

- Create an equal balance of flora and fauna in your yard, ensuring nature will talk care of itself.

- Attracting beneficial bugs is key, because they will take care of a majority of the “bad” bugs for you. Below are listed three top bug-eating bugs, and the plants/herbs that will attract them.

* LAKE WINGS – Yarrow, Dill, Cosmos, Fennel

* LADYBUGS – Coriander, Marigold, and Tansy

* MINUTE PIRATE BUGS – Caraway, Alfalfa, Spearmint, Goldenrod

- You can also attract birds and bats (they eat 2,000–6,000 bugs a day) by providing water and housing for each. Contrary to popular belief, bats are very clean and only bite in defense. Visit BatCon.org and BirdSource.com for more statistics and info on building their respective housing.

- For a solution you can apply directly to troubled plants: mix 5 oz. sugar water and 1 qt. water, put in a spray bottle, and show those aphids, et cetera, who’s boss!

INDIVIDUAL PESTS:

*Ants*

- Grits are great for combating fire ants. When the ants eat them and then drink some water, they will expand and then explode!

- To keep ants from getting in your house in the first place, sprinkle baby powder around the perimeter. Ants won’t cross it, and it is harmless to kids and pets. Plus it smells nice too!

- Cucumber peels, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon are also good ant barriers.

- Keep a lemon peel in your sugar bowl to deter these menaces.

- Keep them away from your pet’s dish by encircling it with Vaseline.

*Roaches*

- Mix sugar and baking soda 50/50 and place in their pathways. It can take 3–4 days to notice any difference, but after two weeks, they should be gone completely. This works well because roaches’ stomachs are naturally acidic, which is not a good combo with baking soda. Plus, they’re cannibals, so when a “healthy” roach eats an “infected” one, he can take it back to the colony and solve half your problem for you.

- Of course, we know roaches are very good at hiding. An effective way to get them out and into waiting “traps” is by using a steam cleaner.

*Fleas*

- Adding brewer’s yeast, fresh garlic, or flaxseed oil to your pet’s food can be a huge preventative measure against these little hoppers.

- Once your pet is infested, you can wash him in Neem Oil (NeemResource.com) shampoos. You can also find non-toxic flea collars that contain such flea repelling herbs as mint, cedar, rosemary, and lavender (can be found at health food-type stores).

*Mosquitoes*

- Eating garlic (whole or pill form) and/or applying lemon oil to your skin create strong scents that will deter biting insects.

- If that option is a little too strong for you, look for body washes containing oils of lavender, tea tree, and peppermint (The Body Shop is a good place to check out).

- Lay fresh, bruised leaves on your exposed skin while resting outside.

- This one is obvious, but burning citronella candles really does help.

~RECIPE~

3 C. rubbing alcohol

1 ½ C. red cedar wood shavings

½ C. eucalyptus leaves

Mix all together in a bowl, cover, and let stand for five days. Strain the solid ingredients out and save the liquid. Put in a spray bottle, and apply before heading outdoors. Keep any remaining solution tightly sealed.

-ALL these are much safer alternatives to DEET!!!

BORIC ACID

- Boric Acid is effective for getting rid of cockroaches, palmetto bugs, water bugs, ants, termites, and fleas. It works by attacking their nervous system.

- Boric acid is used in diaper rash ointments. EPA tests show it to be more cost effective and a better type of treatment than any monthly spray.

- It is heat and water resistant, but the bugs do not become immune to it.

- It is also odorless and won’t stain surfaces.

*Recipes*

~ANTS~

1 TBSP boric acid

1 TSP sugar

4 oz. water

Cotton balls

Mix boric acid and sugar in a bowl. The mixture can then be poured over cotton balls in another small bowl—make sure to keep them moist. Place individual balls in the areas frequented by ants.

~ROACHES~

8 oz. boric acid

½ C. flour

1/8 C. sugar

½ onion, chopped (optional)

¼ C. cooking oil or bacon drippings

Cream oil/drippings and sugar. Mix boric acid, flour, onion, and add to sugar mix. Blend well, then add more oil/drippings as needed to form soft dough. Mold into marble-sized balls (keep in sandwich baggies to maintain softness). Distribute balls anywhere roaches have been sighted—especially dark, moist areas.

~FLEAS~

Sprinkle boric acid on carpet and brush it down until it settles deep into the fibers. Leave on for one week and then vacuum. You should be completely rid of not only the fleas, but their eggs as well. *NOTE* If you want, you can substitute baking soda for boric acid.

DaughteroftheKingdom

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT – Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA – Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea. (actually, tea suppresses my appetite and keeps the pounds from invading….Green tea is great for our immune system)!

INSOMNIA (CAN’T SLEEP?) HONEY – Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS – Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes. (when I was young, my mother would make onion packs to place on our chest, helped the respiratory ailments and actually made us breathe better).

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH – Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. (fish has omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS and GINGER – Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE - High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE - The manganese in pineapple can prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES – Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS – Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC – Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS - A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage - Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES – A good antidote is beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO- Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES - Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO – Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL- Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS – The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E &fiber. Its Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids, which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits &protect the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you. they’re high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young………blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field…they get rid of all the free radicals that invade our bodies)

Oranges: Sweetest medicine. Eating 2 – 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C &Potassium. (Watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn suv rays)

Guava &Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation.

Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion)

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.