If you're looking for a topical way to support the health of your liver and lymphatic system, consider castor oil. The thick, pale yellow oil, extracted from the seed of the castor bean plant, is native to India and has been used in topical medicinal applications around the world, including Egypt, Japan, China, and India. Today, castor oil is still used by holistic physicians, as well as in commercial products such as cosmetics, soaps, textiles, and massage oils.

Castor oil's healing abilities are derived from its high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, especially ricinoleic acid. It works by way of absorption through the skin and into lymphatic circulation where it stimulates flow of lymph fluid and helps draw out waste products from the cells of the body. This enhances the body's natural detoxification process, while supporting immune system function. Critical Information: Don't use the seed itself -- it can be deadly and is never used medicinally. Also, ingesting castor oil can cause serious health issues including severe diarrhea.
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Only use castor oil topically. A pack is an excellent approach and there are many ways to prepare one. Some methods are more suitable than others for particular needs. For example, for some health conditions, the pack is used with heat; for others, without heat. Castor oil packs are not recommended for women who are pregnant and should not be used by anyone who has recently undergone surgery. Before following random instructions found on the Internet for making a castor oil pack, consult with your natural health practitioner to determine which method is best for your health needs.

Get out of a rut with your salad dressing by making your own and adding turmeric, a wonderful root herb recognized for anti-inflammatory benefits. The lemon and honey provide a tangy flavor while the combination of garlic, mustard and black pepper give this dressing zest. It's such a magical combination for your taste buds you might find yourself using it for much more than just your leafy greens!

Ingredients 

• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons organic oliveoil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 t. raw honey
• 2 t. turmeric
• 1/2 t. stone ground mustard
• 1/8 t. black pepper
• 1/4 t. salt

Instructions 
Food process all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Store in fridge.

A contrast hydrotherapy foot bath (CHFB) is an excellent way to strengthen your immune system, alleviate congestion, soothe sore muscles, and improve circulation. It's also beneficial for individuals with diabetes, as they are prone to a foot problem known as peripheral neuropathy. This condition causes unrelenting burning, stabbing pains, numbness and aching in one or both feet.

Contrast hydrotherapy involves alternating applications of cold and warm compresses or immersion in cold and warm water for specified times. You're probably familiar with using it for muscle injuries such as a sprain. For individuals with diabetes, it can reduce swelling and pain and improve blood flow circulation. Additionally, when under medical observation, if a change in blood flow to the feet is not achieved, it can signal an impairment in circulation that requires further assessment. Adding Epsom Salts to the warm water may help increase circulation and ease pain or discomfort.
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Indulge in a Contrast Foot Bath:

• Purchase two basins and keep them for your foot baths, each one large enough for both feet and sufficient water to cover them.
• Gather up a pair of cozy socks and a supply of towels (water will splash when you move from one basin to another).
• Fill one basin with ice water, and another with warm water. (Test water with your hand to make sure it's not too hot).
• Start with the warm water, from 3-5 minutes.
• Immediately switch to the cold water for 30 seconds to one minute.
• Repeat the process about 3-5 times
• Always end with the cold water.
• Gently dry legs and feet and put on warm socks.
• Rest for 20 minutes

Important: if you have inflammation or open wounds on the legs or feet, varicose veins, thrombosis or phlebitis, consult with your health practitioner before using a foot bath.

Whether you're serving breakfast on the deck or packing a picnic lunch, these muffins add a perfect combination of sweetness and nutrition to your meal. Enjoy them plain or topped with preserves - check out my recipe for blueberry chia seed jam!



Ingredients (Makes 6 muffins)

• 2 medium apples
  
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
  
• 1 1/2 cups flaxseed meal
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup whole flaxseeds

 
Watch the instructional video here

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a six-muffin tin with large paper cups and set aside. Peel and puree the apples in a blender or food processor. Set aside (mixture will turn brown).
                           
In a large bowl, mix flour, flaxseed meal, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well, and slowly pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring. When wet and dry ingredients are combined, add the apple puree; stir to combine.
 
Using a measuring cup or scoop, evenly divide the batter between the muffin cups. (fill nearly all the way to the top; because these are gluten-free, they won't rise very much.) Sprinkle flax seeds on top of each muffin. Bake, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean. Cool in the muffin tin for 5 to 10 minutes.
 
Muffins will keep in an airtight container for 3 days.

It's really quite easy to plant and grow a flourishing organic garden. It all begins thinking of your organic garden as an integrated ecosystem built upon nature's principles, not man's laboratory creations.

The foundation for organic gardening is biodiversity. In the wild, a variety of plants and wildlife exist interdependently-providing shelter, moisture, continual bloom when pollen is available for insects, and support for all the creatures within the system.

You can apply the biodiversity principle at home by following these key steps in organic gardening:

• Build-up the soil
• Use natural fertilizer and pest control
• Choose companion plants for your climate zone
• Arrange plants so they provide a habitat for insects and wildlife that actually benefit garden health.

If you combine these principles with good gardening habits, you'll soon have an organic green thumb (and lots of delicious, good-for-you vegetables to eat)!


It's Not Just Dirt!

What's the difference between how the organic gardener feeds a garden compared to the conventional gardener? The conventional gardener feeds the plant (with chemicals from a lab), while the organic gardener feeds the soil.

Soil is living matter full of as many as 50 billion microscopic plants and organisms! Soil, and the creatures living in it, requires air and water to thrive. If you don't know the condition of your soil, contact your local master gardening organization, or university agriculture department-both will usually test soil for free or a nominal fee. When buying soil, you want it largely composed of organic material (read the package label).

To maintain and protect organic soil:

• Continually feed with organic matter-compost, manure, leaves, straw, and grass clippings.
• Weed regularly
• Incorporate companion plants that naturally tame weed growth.
• Check plant packaging or a regional organic gardening guide to learn how to properly select and space plants to best match the yield you want from your garden.
• Use mulch.

Protect Against Pests and Fertilize, Naturally

Synthetic herbicides and insecticides seep into groundwater, affect the health of wildlife and plants, and can contaminate your food. These chemicals also kill off beneficial insects that are part of nature's pest control system.

Synthetic fertilizers are not recommended for an organic garden because residual chemicals, including salts, can interfere with plant growth and even build-up in lawns. For example, quick-release high nitrogen fertilizers produce lush foliage but damage root structure - a plant's only way to extract nutrients.

Your best defense against pests is preventing a problem to begin with. You can accomplish this in a number of ways, all of which will invite natural enemies of pests into your growing area. Plus, these are great practices for any size garden:

• Carefully select plants for your climate zone, build-up your soil, and plant in appropriate light/shade and space for the growing season.
• Water early in the day. Keep water in the root zone, not aimed at the plant.
• Maintain "plant personal space." Prune plants and weeds to maintain good air circulation and prevent crowding, which can spread disease.
• Use netting or chicken wire to keep out pests that scurry around your yard.
• Learn to properly use botanical poisons, chemicals extracted from plants or minerals that are toxic to plant predatory insects (ex. Neem, certain essential oils).

You can also search online for resources to help you with natural, integrated pest management (IPM). These resources can also help you resolve a pest problem.

Its that time of year to start gardening, if you haven't already. So make your garden organic and have fun with it!

April is Cancer Awareness month and it is also the month where a lot of people start to do their spring cleaning.  With a lot of cleaning products containing known probable or possible carcinogens (chemicals that are linked to cancer) it would be smart to switch to some healthier cleaning products. We spend most of our time indoors so take a preventative approach to cancer and clean up the toxic chemicals in your home by making your own cleaners.  Water, vinegar, and baking soda are the foundation for a lot of cleaners and in the right proportions can handle a lot of common every day messes.  Here are some of my favourite recipes to get that clean sparkle.
 
All Purpose Cleaner:
 1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
Juice from one lemon
Baking soda
 
Mix together the water, vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle.  On surfaces that need a little more work, dust down some baking soda then spray with the solution.  Wipe away!
 
Window Cleaner:
 ½ teaspoon liquid Castile soap
2 cups of water
Vinegar
 
Mix the Castile soap and water together and use this to wash the dirt off of your window.  Follow this with a spray of even proportions of water and vinegar and squeegee away for a streak-free shine!
 
Tub Paste:
 ½ cup baking soda
1-2 drops Eucalyptus oil
½ teaspoon liquid Castile soap
Water
 
Mix together the baking soda, eucalyptus oil and soap.  Add enough water to form a paste. Scrub the paste into your tub and wash away with warm water. Watch as your bathtub sparkles. Eucalyptus oil is antimicrobial. It leaves a strong scent for some time after, but I’d rather breathe that in than nasty bleach.
 
Now you can get started on a cleaner, greener home!  Follow this up with a long soak in your squeaky-clean tub…Doctor’s orders! If you feel that you can’t make these cleaners yourself and want to opt for purchasing a healthier product, check out the Environmental Working Groups (EWG’s) Updated Guide to Healthy Cleaning, Spring 2016.

It’s the return of cold and flu season, I know this because it has made its way to my home! Congestion, lethargy, maybe a headache, and the list of symptoms go on! The most annoying in my opinion is the dreaded cough. It just springs up on you when you least expect it, you could be mid sentence trying to have a normal conversation, or in the middle of chewing something (it doesn’t matter what because it’s not like you can taste it anyways), and just when you lay down for the night to catch some much needed z’s, you feel that tickle deep within your chest and you just know that it is going to be a long night.  And when all of your symptoms are on their way out, guess who is still lingering around like that last party guest who just won’t leave? The dreaded cough!
There are many remedies that help with cough.  Off the top of my head, honey has been shown to reduce night time coughing (Note: do not give honey to children younger than 1 year due to the risk of botulism), and steam inhalations work great to moisten the lungs.  I was able to create a great chest rub that goes deep into the tissues below the skin to increase circulation and decrease any inflammation that could be the cause of irritation and cough.  And I was able to do this with herbs from my kitchen! Here’s the why and how:

Castor Oil:
The oil is extracted from the seed of the castor plant (Ricinus Communis). It has been used for centuries due to its therapeutic properties than mainly stem from ricinoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid that mainly makes up the oil.  It penetrates deep into tissues to increase circulation, promote elimination, and enhance healing. By increasing circulation it increases the mobility and overall effectiveness of white blood cells to better the immune system. Also, because of it’s anti-inflammatory abilities it works great when applied to injured muscles and arthritic joints. NOTE: Do not digest castor oil internally as it can be poisonous in certain doses.
 
Cayenne Pepper:
A very warming herb that works to increase circulation and clear out mucus and phlegm.
 
Ginger:
Also very warming, ginger stimulates circulation, and acts as a diaphoretic, meaning it makes you sweat, which is great for fevers.
 
Garlic:
Garlic is known for it’s antimicrobial abilities, which is great to have around when battling a cold or flu; it can handle bacteria, viruses and parasites.  The volatile oils within garlic are excreted through the lungs, which make this herb very unique and perfect for respiratory infections.
 
Eucalyptus Oil:
Eucalyptus adds more antimicrobial fighting power and works as a decongestant when breathed in.

Now, lets get started!

Ingredients:
 
¼ Cup cold pressed Castor Oil
1 clove Garlic, crushed
½ Tablespoon fresh Ginger, grated
3-4 drops Eucalyptus oil
¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper

Instructions:

• Mix everything in a small jar with a tight fitting lid
• Rub onto chest
• Wear an old shirt over top as this is a pretty sticky mess and the castor oil can stain
• I like to put a hot water bottle on top of that as the added heat helps drive the castor oil deeper into the tissues below
• You can leave it on as you go to bed if you don’t mind the mess (maybe consider using old bed sheets for extra precaution), or leave it on for at least 30 minutes and then shower to wash it off
• Store excess in the fridge. There should be enough for a few applications.
  

I hope you have fun making this easy DIY chest rub. And I hope you start to feel better soon. Remember that if your cough persists after several weeks please seek medical attention from a licensed healthcare practitioner.
 
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