Thursday, February 8, 2018

Powerful Cold & Flu Remedy

As the temperature drops, the rate of colds and flu skyrockets. You will most likely be a victim of an attack by these pesky germs this cold season. Rather than instantly reaching for store bought cough syrup, over-the-counter cold pills, or prescription antibiotics, how about downing something a little closer to nature. This amazing cold and flu master tonic is ridiculously easy to make, highly effective, won’t break the bank and will last you for years! This cold and flu tonic is jam packed with natural ingredients with potent therapeutic power.

Ginger

This spicy root warms the body, causing you to sweat and expel toxins. If you’re suffering from an upset stomach, it can even soothe gastrointestinal problems.

Turmeric

This ancient spice is perfect for anyone suffering from a cold. It has immune boosting capabilities, can improve your digestion, possess anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antiviral properties. It’s an all around holy grail of health.

Onions

Onions are a rich source of Quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that has a multitude of wonderful benefits. Including anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.

Apple Cider Vinegar

As you probably already know, this vinegar is a health powerhouse. It helps your body eliminate toxins, soothes a sore throat, promotes healthy digestion, boosts your immune system and relieves sinus infections.

Jalapenos

These flaming hot peppers aren’t just for a little extra flavor kick. Capsaicin, the active ingredients in peppers, works as a potent pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. 

Garlic

Not only does it keep away vampires, it also deters nasty bacteria, functioning as an antiviral, anti-fungal and antibiotic.

Ingredients:

  • 2-inch fresh ginger root
  • 1 tbsp organic turmeric powder
  • 1 whole head of garlic (peeled)
  • 1 organic white onion
  • 16 oz. raw apple cider vinegar
  • 4 jalapenos (stems removed)
  1. Wash ingredients
  2. Chop and place in high powered blender
  3. Add apple cider vinegar and blend on high until smooth
  4. Pour into a glass jar.
  5. Cover with lid.
  6. Cover jar with a towel.
  7. Shake once daily while infusing.
  8. Let sit on the counter for 4 weeks.
  9. Strain through a mesh strainer and put liquid back in a glass container.
  10. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 years! ( Seriously, 2 years)

How to use:

  • Take 2 Tbsp three times daily at the first sign of a cold
  • Gargle and swallow full strength (do not dilute)
  • Take 4 times daily if already sick
  • Mix with a spoonful of honey if you need help getting it down.

Note:

Ginger and garlic can increase blood flow by naturally thinning the blood. Talk with your doctor before consuming large quantities of either of these if you’re already on a blood thinner.

15 Ways To Use Borax You’ve Probably Never Thought Of

1. Remove Clothing Stains

Best for grease, oil, and protein stains, pre-soak discolored and soiled clothes and linens in the washing machine by using a half cup of borax for each gallon of warm water. Allow it to soak for 30 minutes before adding laundry detergent and running the wash through as usual.

2. All-Purpose Cleaner

In lieu of Ajax and other powdered cleansers, sprinkle some all-natural, scratch-free borax on a damp cloth and scrub away at tiles, sinks, faucets, grout, countertops, tubs, toilets, cookware, and appliances for clean and shiny bathroom surfaces and kitchen fixtures. Always rinse each cleaned surface with water when done. You can also pour some borax into the toilet bowl and scour with a scrub brush to clean and disinfect.

3. Boost Dishwasher Detergent

Taking care of those cloudy glasses, hard water spots, and soap stains, borax not only ratchets up the cleaning power of your dishwasher detergent, it also cleans and disinfects the interior of the dishwasher itself. Sprinkle a cup or two of borax into the basin of the dishwasher, add detergent, and run the dishes through as you normally would. You can also make your own powdered dishwasher detergent using borax, here’s how.

4. Neutralize Odors

An eco-friendly alternative to products like Febreze, make an odor neutralizing spray by dissolving a half cup of borax with 1 ½ cups of warm water and transfer to a spray bottle. Feel free to add 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to create a fresh fragrance.

5. Treat Boron Deficiencies in the Garden

If your plants are stunted, their foliage is browning at the leaf tips, or you are unable to get them to bloom (and thus fruit), your garden soil may not have enough of the micronutrient boron. Apples, broccoli, cabbage, onions, pears, carrots, alfalfa, and corn are especially hungry for boron and do well with a foliar spray of 5 tablespoons of borax in 5 gallons of water with a few drops of dish soap as an emulsifier, and spray the leaves and stems evenly on affected plants.

6. Pest Control

The boron in borax is fatal to insects that groom themselves, such as ants, fleas, cockroaches, silverfish, and beetles. Apply a very light dusting of borax to problem areas around the home, or make an insect bait paste by mixing borax with honey or corn syrup.

7. Rust Remover

Combine together borax and lemon juice to form a paste. Apply this mix to rusty objects, allowing it to set for at least 30 minutes, and then scour with a scrub brush. Repeat these steps if necessary, and always rinse clean with water when finished.

8. Unclog Drains

Clogged sinks can be naturally cleared by pouring a half cup of borax down the drain along with two cups of boiling water. Let it sit for 15 minutes or so and flush with hot water.

9. Shine Windows and Mirrors

For streak-free glass, thoroughly mix three cups of warm water with two tablespoons of borax until it is completely dissolved. Dip a clean cloth into this mixture and wipe down windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors. Use a little elbow grease to buff and shine.

10. Kill Weeds

Mix 1 ¼ cups of borax with 2 ½ gallons of water and transfer to a weed sprayer. Since borax doesn’t discriminate, carefully douse the leaves of unwanted plants in your yard while avoiding the ones you wish to keep, and try to only spray the foliage and never the soil itself.

11. Eliminate Black Mold and Mildew

Treat areas affected with mold and mildew with a combination of one cup of borax and one gallon of water. Spray or wipe the solution on to the problem area, scrubbing thoroughly with an old toothbrush. When finished, you don’t need to rinse the solution away – borax will continue to disinfect and inhibit fungal growth long after the initial treatment.

12. Remove Adhesive Residue

Whether it’s taking an old label off a glass jar or removing a pesky price sticker from a recent purchase, you can use borax instead of commercial products like Goo Gone. Dissolve a half cup of borax in ¼ cup of warm water to easily remove glue, gum, tar, and other sticky spots.

13. Clean & Spot Treat Carpets

The next time you use a steam cleaner on your carpets, add a half cup of borax for each gallon of hot water. No steam cleaner? You can also lightly sprinkle borax on your rugs and carpets, wait 30 minutes, and vacuum it up. For stubborn stains, mix a half cup of borax with two cups of warm water and use a cloth to blot the stain thoroughly.

14. Preserve Fresh Flowers

Creating beautiful dried flowers that don’t look sad and wilted is easy, just set aside an airtight container and make a mixture of one part borax to two parts cornmeal. Add some of this dry mix to the container, place your fresh flowers within, and gently cover them with the rest of the borax cornmeal powder. Cover and store in a cool, dry place for two weeks.

15. Better Homemade Candle Wicks

For longer lasting candle wicks that reduce ash and smoke when burned, try bathing heavy twine in a solution of two tablespoons of borax, one tablespoon of salt, and one cup of boiling water, allowing it to soak for 24 hours. Hang wicks to dry for two days before use.