Helpful Hints

Natural Mosquito Repellant

New research indicates that an oil found in catnip can be ten times more effective in repelling mosquitoes than DEET. This oil, known as Nepetalactone, can be easily extracted for use as a mosquito repellant. Herbalist Susan Wittig Albert suggests how:

Mash two cups of catnip leaves until the leaves moisten from the released oils. Place in a jar and pour three to four cups of vinegar over the leaves. Cover the jar and let it sit in darkness for two weeks. Shake the jar as frequently as you can. Strain the leaves from the liquid solution, and pour the liquid in a spray bottle. Spray on your body as you would a traditional mosquito repellant, being sure to keep out of the eyes.

For a quicker solution, try rubbing crushed catnip leaves on your skin. Or wrap a bandana around a few leaves to wear around your neck or forehead.

Recent Study Reveals
Health Benefits of Fasting

The April 29, 2003 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that periodic fasting may have the same health benefits as a 40-percent calorie reduction from the diet, even if the effects of fasting do not lower the overall calorie intake of the subject. Researcher Mark Mattson of the National Institute of Aging hopes the findings in mice will hold true for studies on humans.

The health benefits observed by the researchers included longer health span, reduced levels of stress, and decreased levels of blood sugar and insulin. Mattson reflects on the significance of the results, ‘Overeating is a big problem now in this country. It’s particularly troublesome that a lot of children are overweight.’ Whereas a lot of attention has focused on quantity of calorie intake, this study examines how these calories are consumed. ‘Our study suggests that skipping meals is not bad for you,’ Mattson claims. Other benefits of periodic fasting include reduced risk of diabetes and increased tolerance to nerve damage in the brain similar to Alzheimer’s disease, according to the research.

Mattson concludes that the act of fasting puts stress on the body, and the body responds by increasing its ability to handle more severe stress. ‘It’s sort of analogous to physical effects of exercise on muscle cells,’ according to Mattson.

The Brain

With this visual of the left and right hemispheres of your brain you can reflect and see where things are being generated from in your life.

Headaches

Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately–without the unpleasant side effects.

Achy Muscles

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in ½ cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore Throat

Sore Throat?? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 Tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Skin Blemishes

Honey remedy for skin blemishes……Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Coke Removes Rust

Coca-Cola is a cure for rust… Forget those expensive rust removers! All you need to do is saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca-Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the drink is what gets the job done.