Salt Water for Sore Throat

Sore throats are a common symptom that most of us will suffer from time to time. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including viruses (including cold and flu), bacteria (such as streptococcus), sinus drainage, or simply breathing through the mouth due to nasal congestion, but the pain itself is usually a result of inflammation. While certain medications may be required depending on the underlying cause, most sore throats can be soothed in the meantime with simple natural remedies.

Salt Water to Soothe Sore Throat

Method

• Gargle a mixture of 1 teaspoon salt and 1 cup warm water 2-3 times daily. For best results, alter the pitch of the sound you make while gargling (low, to medium, to high) to move the salt water to different areas of your throat.

Why It Works

The salt draws out some of the fluid in the throat that causes the swelling and inflammation, thereby reducing the pain.

Precautions

Do not overdo the salt in your gargle, as it will dry out the tissues in the throat, leading to greater irritation. Please contact your healthcare provider if your sore throat does not improve within 24-48 hours, as this may be a sign of serious illness.

Source:http://www.grannymed.com/remedies/conditions/sore-throat/salt-water-for-sore-throat

Getting a Tan Can Naturally Prevent You From Catching The Flu

Dr. Mercola | Mercola.com

Image: jokeroo.com

Vitamin D is an amazingly effective antimicrobial agent, producing 200 to 300 different antimicrobial peptides in your body that kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi. So optimizing your levels will not only help send a cold or flu virus packing… it will prevent them from invading your body in the first place.

Contrary to flu vaccines, this recommendation has been gaining scientific validation.

For example, in a study published last year, researchers investigated the effect of vitamin D on the incidence of seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. For over a year, they conducted a study comparing the effects of vitamin D3 with placebos. They found that influenza A occurred in just 10.8 percent of the children in the vitamin D group, compared with 18.6 percent children in the placebo group.

According to the authors:

"This study suggests that vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter may reduce the incidence of influenza A, especially in specific subgroups of schoolchildren."

Why getting your vitamin D from sunshine is so important

In a recent interview, Dr. Stephanie Seneff brought the importance of sun exposure to a whole new level. I've consistently recommended getting your vitamin D from regular sun exposure whenever possible, and Dr. Seneff's review of how vitamin D—specifically from sun exposure—is intricately tied to healthy cholesterol and sulfur levels makes this recommendation all the more important. To review the details of the interview, please click here.

However, as a quick summary, when you expose your skin to sunshine, your skin synthesizes vitamin D3 sulfate. This form of vitamin D is water soluble, unlike oral vitamin D3 supplements, which is unsulfated. The water soluble form can travel freely in your blood stream, whereas the unsulfated form needs LDL (the so-called "bad" cholesterol) as a vehicle of transport. Her suspicion is that the oral non-sulfated form of vitamin D likely will not provide the same benefits as the vitamin D created in your skin from sun exposure, because it cannot be converted to vitamin D sulfate.

I believe this is a very compelling reason to make a concerted effort to seek to get your vitamin D requirements from safe exposure to sunshine, or by using a safe tanning bed (one with electronic ballasts rather than magnetic ballasts, to avoid unnecessary exposure to EMF fields). I have maintained my level between 65 and 110 ng/ml with regular sun exposure. This article has much more information about tanning for vitamin D: http://articles.mercola.com/maximizing-vitamin-d-exposure/

The video below shows you how to calculate your sun exposure to see if you get enough from the sun:



I recognize that these options may not be feasible for most people, and certainly an oral vitamin D3 supplement will be much than nothing at all.

Sources:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/26/maximizing-vitamin-d-exposure.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/13/could-a-cup-or-more-of-this-a-day-keep-the-flu-away.aspx

Everyone should make this DIY natural first aid and herbal remedy kit

by Katie “Wellness Mama” | Wellnessmama.com

Image: organicbeet.blogspot.com

Despite our best attempts to live a healthy and toxin free life, there are times when illness or injury strike. In some of these cases (like trauma) conventional medical treatment is certainly warranted and I’m certainly grateful that medical treatment is available if needed.

But what about the times when the illness or injury is not life threatening, but merely uncomfortable or limiting? While our first instinct (especially as parents) may be to get medication to mediate symptoms, there are often natural remedies that don’t interfere with the body’s own immune responses and which can help ease uncomfortable symptoms.

Many of these natural remedies can also be used in the comfort of your own home, rather than having to take yourself or your ill or injured child to a doctor and expose them (and others) to more illness.

The following is a list of what is in my “First Aid Kit” and is a combination of remedies I’ve tested myself, ones suggested by a naturopathic doctor, and ones that I hope to never need! Please note that I am not a doctor and don’t play one on the internet, so this list is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as a replacement when medical attention is needed!

Herbs in My First Aid Kit:

Note: Almost all of the below herbs are available here and are good quality. Since they are just loose herbs, they do take preparation in some cases, but buying them here is a less expensive alternative to capsules or pre-made remedies. I personally get most of my herbs this way and make my own tinctures and salves. If you decide to order through Mountain Rose Herbs, just use the search box in the top right hand corner to find the herbs you’d like to order.

Activated Charcoal- For acute use in food poisoning, intestinal illness, vomiting, diarrhea, ingestion of toxins, etc. Also keep the local poison control number on hand in case a child ingests a toxic substance and immediately take a child to the hospital if he/she has swallowed a battery or magnet!

Arnica- Topical creme used for muscle pain or injury, bruises or any type of trauma. We’ve found that it greatly reduced healing time or bruises and sore muscles when used topically right after injury. Not for internal use or use on open cuts.

Cayenne Powder- Though this is a good addition to many foods, it is even better to have in a medicine cabinet. I keep a few cayenne capsules in my purse as well. Topically, cayenne powder helps stop bleeding rapidly. I’ve read cases of it being taken internally during heart attacks to increase blood flow and help clear blockage, though thankfully, I’ve never had to test this one. It is also a useful remedy to take internally during illness as it increases blood flow and speeds recovery.

Chamomile- I order this in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs (and keep in the freezer). I use it to make a relaxing tincture that helps calm kids if they are ill or just have trouble sleeping. The tincture also works wonders on teething gums. The dried flowers can also be made into a poultice with some gauze and placed on an eye for 15 minutes every hour to reverse pinkeye rapidly (usually works in a couple of hours). Brewed as a tea, chamomile is a relaxing drink at night and the tea can be cooled and rubbed on the stomach of colicky infants to help sooth them. I sometimes add some brewed chamomile tea to the kid’s bath as it is great for the skin and promotes relaxation. I keep the tincture in my purse at all times.

Comfrey-An external herb that promotes healing from injuries and broken bones. A poultice made with plantain and comfrey that is placed on a wound can greatly reduce the healing time and help prevent and reverse infection. I make a homemade “neosporin” with this and other herbs and use it on bug bites, cuts, bruises and poison ivy. It is available here and it is best to keep the dried herb on hand for poultices and homemade salves.

Eucalyptus Herb and Essential Oil- I keep on hand for respiratory type problems. We use eucalyptus herb in a face steam for congestion or sinus troubles and I make a mild (and petroleum free) version of Vapo-Rub for coughing and respiratory illness. The essential oil can be diluted with coconut oil or olive oil and be applied externally to the feet and chest to help open nasal passageways.

Ginger Capsules- Ginger is great for nausea, reflux, stomach trouble and morning sickness. I also keep some in the car for motion sickness. It helps sooth the stomach after a digestive illness or food poisoning.

Echinacea- I keep a homemade echinacea tincture on hand for severe illnesses. I don’t use it as a first resort, but it is helpful in prolonged illnesses.

Peppermint Herb and Essential Oil- Another great digestive herb. For upset stomach or digestive illness, the herb is made into a tea. The tincture can be used internally or externally for headache or digestive troubles and when combine with a few other digestive herbs, it makes a highly effective digestive aid and nausea remedy. The essential oil applied behind the ears and on the feet helps alleviate headache or nausea and a weak tea made from the herb and rubbed on the skin can help sooth a colicky baby. We also use the essential oil in our homemade toothpaste. The herb and oil are both available here.

Plantain-Good to have the loose herb on hand. It actually grows in most places in the summer and looks like the picture at the right. You’ve probably pulled it as a weed without knowing it. It is a natural remedy for poison ivy, cuts, scrapes and bites. In a pinch, I’ve picked some from the ground, chewed and put it on a bee sting… it immediately relieved the pain. I keep the dried herb on hand at all times to make into a poultice for bites, stings, cuts and infection. My most recent use was on a confirmed brown recluse bite and a combination of plantain and comfrey in a poultice kept the bite from eating away the tissue and helped it heal completely.


Slippery Elm-Helpful for sore or irritated throat or when you lose your voice. These lozenges taste great and are helpful for kids with sore throats. The herb itself can be used in tinctures or teas for sore throat relief.

Other Remedies:

Apple Cider Vinegar- I keep a bottle of organic Apple Cider Vinegar with “the mother” on hand for digestive troubles, indigestion, food poisoning and more. Taken in a dose of 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces of water every hour, it helps shorten the duration of any type of illness, though it is tough to get kids to take it willingly.

Vitamin C- Helpful for all illnesses, but especially flu-related illnesses. I keep the powder on hand because it is additive free and can be mixed into food or drinks to get the kids to consume it.

Aloe Vera Plant-We have one growing in the house for burns and blisters.

Epsom Salt-Good as a bath soak for sore muscles. Dissolved in water, it can also be a good soak to help remove splinters.

Hydrogen Peroxide-I keep several bottles on hands at all times. Besides using in my homemade OxyClean and for cleaning out wounds, it can help prevent ear infection and shorten duration of respiratory illness. At the first sign of ear infection or illness a dropperful of Hydrogen PEroxide can be put in the ear. The person then leaves the peroxide in for 15 minutes or until it stops bubbling and repeats on the other side.

Homemade Neosporin (recipe here)- I make my own “Neosporin” Healing Salve (no petroleum needed). I keep it in small tins and in lip chap containers for on-the-go size. This “boo-boo lotion” as my kids call it, is used on cuts, bruises, rashes and anything else antibiotic ointment could be used on.

Witch Hazel- I keep a gallon on hand for use on cuts, scrapes, and in cosmetic uses. It makes a great skin toner and is good for postpartum bottom icon smile Natural First Aid & Illness Kit.

Gelatin- I take gelatin regularly for its health benefits, but I also keep it on hand for first aid and illness. The natural gelatin in homemade chicken soup (from the bones and tissue) is one of the things that makes it so nourishing during illness. During any type of illness, the afflicted gets gelatin in various ways: in food, homemade jello, smoothies, in hot tea, etc. After surgeries or when there especially bad cuts that might scar, I also give gelatin to speed skin healing. There is evidence that it is also effective in improving blood clotting when used externally on a wound, though I have not tested this.

Baking Soda-Also a good remedy to keep on hand. For severe heartburn or urinary track infections, 1/4 tsp can be taken internally to help alleviate quickly. It can also be made into a poultice and used on sider bites.

Probiotics-These are the strongest probiotics I’ve found and we use them during any illness and after the illness to repair gut bacteria. I’ve seen clients improve skin conditions with regular use of probiotics, and I especially recommend them to pregnant mothers, as newborn babies receive their gut bacteria from their mother and this can make a tremendous difference in if baby will get ear infections or illness in the first months. For children who get constant illness and ear infections, probiotics can also really help.

Coconut Oil- I’ve said it before, but I am to coconut oil as the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding is to Windex. From skin salve, to diaper creme, to makeup remover, to antifungal treatment, I use coconut oil for everything. I keep some in the first aid kit to add remedies to to take internally, to use to apply tinctures and help absorption externally and for dry skin and chapped lips. There is also growing evidence that daily consumption of 1/4 cup or more of coconut oil can help protect against Alzheimer’s and nourish the thyroid.

Other Supplies in the kit:

Butterfly Bandages

Gauze

Superglue- On minor to moderate skin cuts (not puncture wounds) use superglue and butterfly bandages. I’ve used this instead of stitches several times and it healed faster and left less scarring than the places I’ve had stitches. Especially good for face and other visible areas that scar easily or in hair where other bandages can be difficult to apply. I’ve also use on fingertips or knuckles (I’m infamous for grating knuckles while cooking) or other places where band aids won’t stay well.

Strips of sterilized muslin cloth in plastic bags for wrapping wounds

Cut off wool sleeves from old sweaters to cover bandages and hold ice packs

Hot water bottle

Enema kit

Bulb syringe and NoseFrida for helping with congestion in children

Assorted bandages and gauze

Homemade ice pack (just freeze liquid dish soap or rubbing alcohol in a double-bagged- ziplock bag and use as an ice pack

Do you use any natural remedies for illness or first aid? Share your tips below!

Source: wellnessmama.com

10 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress that Won’t Stress You Out!

Image: www.ecomarket.com

Here are 10 things you can do to reduce stress without adding more stress:

1. Just say no!  An overloaded and insanely busy schedule is often the main source of our stress.  You should look at all the things on your calendar and find anything that isn’t essential.  Don’t set yourself up for the sense that your life is constantly spinning out of control by over committing yourself.  You can and should decide how much activity is too much and learn to peacefully do less.

2. Focus on just one task at a time.  This simple strategy reduces stress and will also make you more effective.   If you are working on one project, don’t answer the phone or check email in the middle of that task.   Ask family members to respect this focused time of completing a task undisturbed and you will get things done faster without feeling overwhelmed by other projects screaming (sometimes literally) for your attention.

3. Let’s get physical.  There is a definite stress reducing benefit to exercise.  Find something you actually enjoy doing and just get moving.  Even if you can get in a 15 minute walk every day, it can have an impact on your stress levels and your sleeping patterns.

4. Prepare ahead.  If you get stressed in the morning chaos and worry about being late again, get organized the night before.  Feeling more prepared to start the day and getting off without raising your blood pressure will definitely decrease stress.

5. Take care of yourself.  Take a hot bath with soft music, drink a glass of wine by the fire and curl up with a good book.  When the stress of the day is catching up with you, stop and regroup.   Some people like to meditate, take a nature walk or take a nap. Find your calming activity and try to do it as necessary.

6. Take care of your money.  Finances can be a major stressor.  If you haven’t already, you should set up an automatic bill paying system. Look at ways to simplify that will also save you money. Find ways to have fun that don’t involve spending money.

7. Shop Online. Avoid the pushing, shoving, and parking trauma at the mall.  Sit back, pour yourself a nice cup of tea and let your fingers do the shopping. Search for websites that offer free shipping without minimum orders so you not only save on gas but you don’t have the added shipping costs.  Shop around and you’ll save money, time and reduce stress. I always check Amazon for great prices and you can get free 2 Day shipping with  FREE Amazon Prime.

8. Lighten up.  We often take ourselves and life’s surprises too seriously.  Laughter cures many woes.  Watch a good comedy or just find the humor in a crazy moment and laugh out loud.

9. Get rid of stuff.  Less really can be better.  If you get rid of clutter, a feeling of tranquility may enter that space.  For even more stress reduction donate the stuff to a charity and take the tax break. Win-Win.

10. Love the one you're with.  Focusing on relationships is always going to have you come out ahead.  It seems the more we focus on projects, houses or getting more stuff the more miserable, stressed and uptight we become.  Make the decision to spend more quality time and hold deep and meaningful conversations with your loved ones.  The benefits will be priceless.

Get healthier by visiting our blog at http://www.10TopHealthSecrets.com.

Healthy Blessings,

Sandy Scherschligt

Source: naturalnews.com

How to Improve Vision Naturally

by Dr. Ben Kim | Drbenkim.com

Contrary to popular belief, your vision doesn’t have to decline over time. With regular exercise of the muscles that control your eye movements and visual acuity, you can reduce eyestrain and maintain or even improve your vision. Utilization of a few acupressure points can also help your vision by encouraging healthy blood flow to your eyes.

The six muscles that control your eye movements are as follows:

Lateral rectus - Primarily moves your eye outward, away from your nose.

Medial rectus - Primarily moves your eye inward, toward your nose.

Superior rectus - Primarily moves your eye upward.

Inferior rectus - Primarily moves your eye downward.

Superior oblique - Primarily rotates the top of your eye toward your nose.

Inferior oblique – Primarily rotates the top of your eye away from your nose.

Perhaps the single greatest reason why people in today’s society suffer from chronic eyestrain and deteriorating vision is the amount of time that is spent staring at computer monitors and television screens.

Your eyes are designed to move regularly. Frequent movement of your eyes is what promotes optimal blood flow and nerve tone to your eyes and the six muscles that control your eye movements.

What follows are several simple eye exercises that you can do on a regular basis to keep your eyes and vision as healthy as possible:

1. Look as far to your right as possible for 3-5 seconds, then as far to your left as possible for 3-5 seconds. Rest for a few seconds, then repeat this sequence several times.

2. Look as far up as possible for 3-5 seconds, then look as far down as possible for 3-5 seconds. Rest for a few seconds, then repeat this sequence several times.

3. Slowly roll your eyes in a circle, first clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Rest for a few seconds, then repeat this sequence several times. Be sure to roll slowly – it should take at least 3 seconds for you to roll your eyes in a full circle.

4. Hold a pen in front of you, about an arm’s length away. Focus your vision on the tip of your pen for 3-5 seconds, then shift the focus of your vision to an object that is farther away for 3-5 seconds. The greater the distance between your pen and the distant object, the better. If you are indoors, look out a window to find a distant object to focus your vision on. Repeat this sequence of going back and forth between your pen and a distant object several times.

Just for interest’s sake, this exercise is used by some professional baseball players to optimize visual acuity, which is essential for the hand-eye coordination that is needed to play pro ball.

Please note that all of these exercises should be done with your eyes, not your head and neck. With this in mind, keep your head and neck still while you take your eyes through the movements described above.

If you would like more comprehensive guidance on how to improve and protect your vision as you age, I highly recommend that you read:

Relearning to See: Improve Your Eyesight – Naturally!


This is an outstanding book that offers a comprehensive array of exercises and information that can help you support your vision. And if you wear eyeglasses or contacts, following the guidance provided in this book may actually help you do away with your prescription eye wear or at the very least, help prevent deterioration of your visual acuity as you age.

Beyond doing the exercises described above on a regular basis, another way to reduce eyestrain and promote your best vision is to use your fingers to apply gentle pressure to three acupressure points that can help promote healthy blood flow to your eyes and the muscles that surround your eyes.

The best such acupressure points are as follows:

Bladder-2 (BL-2)

BL-2 is located under the innermost section of each of your eyebrows, in the top-inner region of each of your orbital sockets. When pressing on this point, you should feel direct contact with the bony surface of your orbital socket.


Additional pictures of this point and how to apply pressure to it can be found on pages 90 and 91 of Acupressure’s Potent Points: a Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments

For those with knowledge of human anatomy: Application of pressure to BL-2 is meant to stimulate optimal blood flow and nerve function to the tendon of the superior oblique muscle, a number of smaller muscles that surround the orbital cavity, branches of the frontal branch of the trigeminal nerve, and branches of the supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries.

Stomach-2 and Stomach-3 (St-2, St-3)

St-2 and St-3 are located under the mid-line of each of your eyes. St-2 is about one finger-width under each eye, while St-3 is located at the bottom of each of your cheekbones. These points are described together because it is quite simple to apply pressure to both of them at the same time on both sides of your face by using your index and middle fingers.

Additional pictures of these points and how to apply pressure to them can be found on pages 90 and 91 of Acupressure’s Potent Points: a Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments

For those with knowledge of human anatomy: Application of pressure to these points is meant to stimulate optimal blood flow and nerve function to the infraorbital nerve, branches of the facial nerve, and branches of the facial and infraorbital arteries and a number of muscles below and within the orbital sockets.

***
Please note: before self-administering acupressure, it is always best to consult with your doctor to make sure that there are no contraindications to doing so.

If you work with a computer on a daily basis, and you haven’t read through a two-part series that I wrote a while back on how to stay healthy in the computer era, I recommend that you view it here: How to Protect Your Health in the Computer Era – this article provides several practical tips on how to protect your eyesight while working with computers.

Source: : drbenkim.com/

7 Natural Uses For Baking Soda In The Garden

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

Image: plantcaretoday.com

1. Non-Toxic Fungicide
Mix 4 tsp of baking soda and 1 gallon of water. Use to defend against black spot fungus on roses and to protect grapes and other vine plants upon the first fruits appearing.

2. Spray to Treat and Prevent Powdery Mildew
Combine 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 gallon water, 1 tbsp vegetable oil (any variety), 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid. Mix all ingredients and fill a spray bottle the mixture. Spray your at risk plants weekly, being sure to only apply on overcast days or days with no direct Sun to allow the mixture to dry before direct Sunlight returns - or the foliage can become Sun damaged. Powdery mildew typically attacks impatiens, lilacs, cucumbers, squash and zinnias.

3. Discourage Gnats In Soil & Fungus on Leaves
Combine 1 gallon water, 4 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp biodegradable soap. Mix thoroughly, spray infected foliage or soil as needed.

4. Discourage Weeds
Pour or sweep baking soda into cracks in sidewalks and patios. The thicker the amount the better. The baking soda should not only prevent weeds from developing, but it should also kill any small weeds that have already sprouted.

5. Kill Cabbage Worms
Mix equals parts flour and baking soda, then dust your effected plants being attacked by cabbage worms (cabbage, broccoli, kale). They chew the treated leaves and typically die within a day or two. Repeat dusting every couple of days until the cabbage worms are taken care of.

6. Kill Crabgrass
Just wet the crabgrass, pour a heavy dusting of baking soda on the weed. The crabgrass should start dying back in 2 or 3 days. However a word of caution - never apply to grass or other similar plants as it can burn and destroy your normal grass as well.

7. Clean Your Hands
After a day in the garden dirt, clean your hands by rubbing and scrubbing wet hands with baking soda. Rinse thoroughly.

Source: Homesteading Self Sufficiency Survival

How One Man Battles Cancer With Wheatgrass

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

(NaturalNews) When conventional doctors told 74-year-old Danny McDonald of Dunaff, Ireland, that he had stomach cancer so severe that it would likely kill him within three months, he decided to ignore their advice to undergo toxic chemotherapy treatments and instead embrace a nutritional approach to healing. Four years later and Danny is doing great, thanks to daily protocol he adopted that involves juicing and drinking wheatgrass, a nutrient-dense “superfood” with a variety of amazing health benefits.

According to Sunday World, Danny became aware of his condition when an ulcer suddenly burst inside his abdomen one day. After being rushed to a hospital from the farmhouse where he lives, doctors struggled to contain the bleeding, only to discover that Danny actually had a severe form of stomach cancer that had spread throughout his body. They warned him that the only way to get rid of it, in their opinion, was to undergo conventional chemotherapy treatment.

Unlike most people, Danny decided to think for himself by researching other methods of treatment. He later notified his doctors, to their chagrin, that he would be opting for his own homemade treatments involving wheatgrass rather than the poison. Not surprisingly, they were quite angry with his decision, insisting that he would be “dead in a matter of weeks” if he refused to comply with their advice. But Danny stood his ground and chose the wheatgrass instead.

“I told the doctors I wasn’t prepared to undergo the course of treatments they had suggested,” Danny is quoted as saying by Sunday World. “I knew it would kill me. They were furious I had come to that
conclusion. The consultant warned me I’d be dead in three months.”

Defying the advice of conventional doctors could save your life

Far from being a rushed or uninformed decision, Danny’s choice to use wheatgrass as treatment for his cancer was based on numerous accounts he had heard from a friend about the amazing healing capacity of wheatgrass. Over time, Danny became increasingly more convinced that wheatgrass is capable of healing all sorts of health conditions, including CANCER. So he decided to put his 60 years’ worth of farming experience to task by growing his own wheatgrass.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I was determined to give it a go,” recalls Danny. “Within seven days the burning sensation I had in my side was gone and I was beginning to feel a lot better. I stopped taking the tablets which had been prescribed and I haven’t taken one since. A month later the pain had completely disappeared and I knew I was on the mend. The WHEATGRASS was working. I had made the right decision to reject the advice of the doctors.”

Not only was Danny able to discontinue use of the synthetic medications he had been prescribed, but he also gained back all the weight he had lost as a result of using them for his illness. Starting with just one ounce of wheatgrass juice a day and working his way up to seven ounces of wheatgrass a day, Danny effectively cured his cancer and is now a living testament to the life regenerating power of wheatgrass.

“I know a lot of DOCTORS think wheatgrass doesn’t have the qualities to kill cancer, but I am living proof that it does,” he adds. “And although many doctors won’t admit it publicly, gradually they are coming around to see the benefits of wheatgrass. People ask me how I did it and I just say one word, ‘wheatgrass.’”
The following video explains more about how to juice wheatgrass for your own health:


Source: rawforbeauty.com/naturalnews.com

Natural Tonic Remedy To Help Your Blood

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

Are YOU Blood deficient? have you ever had your blood drawn and looked at through a microscope? You will see something quite interesting. Either your red blood cells are plump, round and healthy, or they are distorted, full of parasites or they are not well oxygenated. I am sharing some of the MOST successful green tonics that WILL bring the oxygen back to your blood cells and restore them, creating plump, round, healthy and vibrant. THIS tonic is VERY special. Please try to drink it at least 3 times a week, and daily if you have deficient blood.

(for 2 ~ Organic only)

6 ALFALFA Leaves, fresh
1 SPINACH, (1 cup, packed)
1 PARSLEY, (1 cup, packed)
1 CUCUMBER (unwaxed, English)
6 CELERY (6 ribs from the stalk)
6 DANDELION (leaves)
1 LIME (large with

This is one of the most powerful, super low glycemic TONICS you can take for your blood. We have seen miracles in people’s bloodwork in just weeks. Please SHARE THIS INFORMATION! It is crucial we share this with everyone

via: Jay Kordich

Source: http://rawforbeauty.com/blog/blood-tonics.html

Natural DIY Juices For Cellular Regeneration

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

"Chlorophyll will be the principle protein for the coming light bearing age. When freshly made in a drink, it contains synthesized sunshine, plus the electric current necessary for the revitalization of the body, and it will open areas of the brain that man yet known nothing about."-Dr. Ann Wigmore, 'Let There Be Light'

Image: Live Love Fruit 

The fresh juice of plants is very much like the juice of our cells. Drinking the juice of fresh greens be it herbs or foods is like drinking the nectar of the rejuvenation of youth. The essential elements that may be lacking in your body cells- particularly the live enzymes, bioactive vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and other unknown factors that- can be easily assimilated through daily green sunlight transfusion of fresh green juices that are often destroyed by processing.

Use organic produce as much as possible, and drink immediately after extracting. Be sure to drink slowly and swish around in your mouth for around 30 seconds to activate the enzymes in your mouth and prevent bloating and digestive upset. Be creative with these recipes and use whatever greens and produce you have in your garden and what's in season. When juicing greens balance them with pleasant sweet tasting vegetables such as: carrot, beets, squash, celery or a few apples to give it that familiar taste you are familiar with.

Lemon Water:
Drink lemon water in the morning to help flush out toxins. Squeeze 1 lemon into 1 litre of water to do a full-body flush.

Orange Juice:
A little later in the morning prepare 4 large freshly pressed oranges and 1 cup young thai coconut water (don't drink pasturized orange juice! This is heated to high temperatures so the enzymes are destroyed). Oranges are great for pulling out toxins from our cells and the natural sugars help feed our glucose-hungry brain. Coconut is great for replenishing electrolytes we require throughout the day.

Green Juice:
The chlorophyll molecule closely resembles hemin (a component of hemoglobin), the pigment that combines with protein to form hemoglobin. The latter is present in the red corpuscles of the blood and by carrying oxygen to the tissues makes the production of energy and life possible. The major difference between chlorophyll and hemin is that chlorophyll contains magnesium while hemin contains iron as its central atom.

Fresh green juices used without any additional dietary changes have a great effect on a wide range of diseases. The human being dies from over 250 known diseases, whereas grass-eating animals in the wild, such as the horse, deer, steer or elephant are prone to only five or ten diseases. The only explanation that scientists have been able to come up with is that these animals are living on a diet that is fresh and grown naturally by the earth without the use of chemicals.

You may choose any of the green juices from this blog (or whatever you can come up with). Include some kind of sweeter root vegetable or apple for some sweetness, and at least 1 lemon and ginger or turmeric to add a full-body detox kick. Add a bunch of leafy greens (either kale, romaine, or some other leafy green), and neutral vegetables like celery, cucumber and fennel.

Beet Juice:
Beet juice helps to replenish our blood cells and prevent anemia. There are plenty of juice recipes on this blog that feature beets. Typically, a great beet juice recipe includes 3-4 beets, a handful of carrots, 3-4 inches ginger, 1 lemon and 5-6 stalks celery.

Source: Live Love Fruit

12 Best Anti-Inflammatory Foods

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www.hailmerry.com

Inflammation is largely caused by the foods we put in our bodies. Consuming highly processed canned, frozen and bagged foods are foreign to the natural flora of our bodies and so the body naturally fights against the products in these foods (as a part of the immune response), leading to high levels of inflammation. Effects of chronic inflammation can range from heart disease to dementia, to cancer and arthritis. Most autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease are linked to excessive inflammation in the body.

The good news is that you can control the level of inflammation in your body by simply changing the way you eat. Getting regular sleep, eating well, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake (or quitting altogether), stressing less and engaging in regular exercise will all help make a difference.

Here is a list of 12 amazing foods that help combat inflammation in the body:

(1) Papaya

Papaya contains the enzymes ‘papain’ and ‘chymopapain’ which help reduce inflammation  in the body (and also improve digestion). Papaya has powerful antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamins C and E which combat free radicals in the body that trigger inflammation-related diseases.

(2) Avocado

Avocados are polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFAs). PFAs are mostly present in seaweeds and other ocean plants, and are extremely rare in land plants, so this makes the avocado very unusual in this respect. The PFAs and phytosterols in avocados provide our bodies with anti-inflammatory benefits which help fight a variety of diseases. Particularly, avocado’s phytosterols prevent pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 synthesis by the connective tissue (and thus reducing inflammation in the joints of individuals experiencing arthritis and gout.

(3) Cranberries

Cranberries contain important anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that protect the cardiovascular system and prevent hardening of the arteries. They also prevent inflammation-associated diseases of the urinary tract (urinary tract infections), stomach (ulcers), and mouth (gingivitis).

(4) Broccoli

Broccoli is an incredible anti-inflammatory food, thanks to it’s abundant sulforaphane compounds which help the body get rid of potentially carcinogenic compounds (a cause of a highly inflamed body) and relieve inflammation and oxidative stress. It is also very high in vitamin C which is another powerful anti-inflammatory agent which cuts the levels of inflammation markers by up to 45%!

(5) Red Cabbage

If we do not ingest anti-inflammatory foods, our body cannot regulate the inflammation in our body we acquire from stress and the environment, as well as highly processed foods, wheat, and animal products. Anthocyanins found in red cabbage have been researched numerous times and time and time again they have been found to be one of the best anti-inflammatory vegetables out there!

(6) Hemp seeds

Raw hemp seeds contain an ideal ratio of omega’s 3 and 6. Omega-6 fats contain GLA which works in the body as an anti-inflammatory, decreasing inflammation and helping people suffering from things like asthma, arthritis and other body pain associated from exercising or being bruised. This healthy fat also improves the health of our skin and inhibits cancer cell growth.

(7) Blueberries

Inflammation and damage by free radicals have been linked with pretty much every disease we witness today. Many studies have found that blueberries prevent oxidative stress and inflammation. Blueberries help increase natural killer cell activity which help eradicate free radicals and fight disease. As well, they promote the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the body which leaves us with lower levels of inflammation and thus reduced chance of falling ill.

(8) Chia seeds

Many arthritis sufferers have reported reduced inflammation associated pain after just a few weeks of taking chia seeds. They contain important omega-3 fatty acids which are converted to prostagladins which have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Chia seeds are also a great source of antioxidants (they contain more than blueberries!), and antioxidants help keep the body healthy and reduce pain arising from inflammation in the body.

(9) Ginger

Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols which inhibit the production of nitric oxide (which naturally forms potent and very damaging free radicals called peroxynitrites). Ginger has also been found to suppress pro-inflammatory compounds like cytokines produced by synoviocytes, chrondrocytes and leukocytes, and thus making our immune system and joints stronger.

(10) Walnuts

Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, phytonutrients (tannins, phenolic acids and flavonoids), quinones and other anti-inflammatory nutrients. Consuming walnuts has been linked to decreased markers for blood vessel inflammation (reduced C-reactive protein) for those at risk for heart disease. Including walnuts as a part of your diet will ensure you gain these benefits.

(11) Turmeric

Turmeric, if you haven’t already heard, is one of the best anti-inflammatory foods out there! Thanks to the active ingredient, curcumin, this root can inhibit the activity and synthesis of COX-2 and 5-LOX, two important enzymes involved in the inflammatory response. One study found that osteoarthritis patients had significantly reduced pain and increased mobility when taking just 200 mg of curcumin per day (the control group with no curcumin had no significant improvements). Curcumin has also been found to block inflammatory pathways, and thus prevents proteins from triggering pain and swelling.

(12) Celery

A specific nutrient in celery, called “luteolin”, is particularly effective against inflammation and cancer. This compound is found in smaller amounts in peppers, parsley, thyme, basil and peppermint. It is a biofalvonoid which means that it has double the antioxidant properties of vitamin C! Luteolin essentially prevents the inflammatory pathway in the brain to get switched on, and thus helps reduce the amount of inflammatory responses triggered in the body.

Source: livelovefruit.com

Rate of Chronic Disease Increasing Exponentially

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A growing global epidemic of chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes, will cause at least 35 million deaths this year, costing the world economy billions of dollars, even though medical science has identified the principal causes and knows ways to prevent it, experts said at a AAAS seminar in Washington, D.C.

www.DiscoveryDoodles.com

 Speakers at the first Philip Hauge Abelson Advancing Science Seminar said that twice as many premature deaths are caused worldwide by chronic diseases as by all infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions and nutritional deficiencies combined. And while the toll from infectious diseases is declining globally, deaths from chronic disease are expected to increase by 17 percent in the next 10 years.

The 8 December seminar included speakers from the World Health Organization (WHO), from pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and from university research labs. It was the inaugural event in a series named for Abelson, a researcher in physics, biology and other sciences, and the editor for 22 years of Science, which is published by AAAS. Abelson died last year at the age of 91.

Alan I. Leshner, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of Science, said the seminar series would address major societal challenges and focus on the frontiers of science and technology.
Robert Beaglehole, WHO's director of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, said in the keynote address that the toll of premature death from chronic disease is increasing worldwide principally because of unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and the use of tobacco and the aging of populations in almost all countries.

Diet and the lack of physical activity is contributing to a growing pattern of obesity, a key risk factor for diabetes and early heart disease. And it's not just happening in the rich countries, such as the United States and South Africa, where recent reports show that 75 percent of women aged 30 and over are overweight. A "very frightening statistic," said Beaglehole, is that in countries both rich and poor, about 22 million children worldwide under the age of five are already obese.

"We've done a lot to observe the emergence of this problem," he said. "We have done practically nothing to solve it."

Beaglehole said that common misunderstandings about chronic disease have affected policy decisions and slowed the worldwide response to the emerging epidemic.
 
For instance, he said it's widely believed that premature heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic diseases are mostly a plague among the elderly and among the rich in high-income countries.
Actually, said Beaglehole, 80 percent of deaths from chronic diseases are in low- and middle-income countries. A WHO report found that poor people, in all but the least developed countries, are more likely than the rich to develop chronic diseases and are more likely to die early. And it is not just the elderly who are victims. The WHO report found that almost half of the deaths from chronic diseases occur in people under 70 years old.

"A very dangerous misunderstanding is that chronic disease is the result of unhealthy lifestyles under the control of individuals," Beaglehole said. "The reality is that poor people and children have very limited choices, and it is unfair to blame them for the environmental conditions in which they suffer."
There's also the belief by many that chronic diseases and premature deaths cannot be prevented.
"The reality is that approximately 80 percent of premature heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes is preventable, as are 40 percent of all cancers -- many of which result from tobacco consumption," said Beaglehole. "A few known risk factors explain the vast majority of premature chronic disease deaths."

A global effort to attack the causes of chronic disease could reduce death rates by 2 percent a year and save 36 million lives within a decade, he said. Ninety percent of the lives saved, said Beaglehole, would be in low- and middle-income countries. Slowing the epidemic of premature death from chronic diseases will have to involve policy issues beyond the health field, he said. For instance, farm subsidies often affect the type of food available in some countries. An example: The consumption of full fat milk is encouraged in schools in some European countries because of subsidies, said Beaglehole. Excessive fat, sugar and salt in the diet lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Other specialists at the Abelson seminar reported recent findings that offer new hope for treatment and management of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
Eric J. Topol, provost of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, said studies of families with heart attack have demonstrated specific genes that are causative or induce susceptibility. This will allow strategies of lifestyle and individualized therapy early in life to prevent heart attacks decades later.

The battle against the growing epidemic of obesity will require fundamental changes in attitudes toward food and exercise, said Holly Wyatt, the program director at the Centers for Obesity Research and Education at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In American society, she said, "we've had a lot of pressures to not expend more energy than we have to and we had a lot of pressure to eat more than we need."

To change the behaviors that lead to obesity will require encouragement from virtually every element in society -- employers, schools, churches, community centers and retail stores, she said. Such programs have worked in the past to discourage tobacco use and encourage using seat belts in cars. Without such an effort, Wyatt said that by 2008 about 75 percent of Americans will be at a body weight that negatively affects health.

Basic research on how the kidneys regulate salt in the body has given medical science a new understanding of the causes of high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure, said Rick Lifton, Sterling Professor and chairman of Genetics atYale University School of Medicine. He said there are biological pathways and gene mutations that cause the kidneys to sequester sodium, leading to increases in blood pressure. Drugs to counter these effects could lead to dramatically improved treatments for hypertension, a disorder that affects a billion people world wide and is linked to about 5 million deaths annually.

Dr. Gerald I. Shulman, an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and professor of internal medicine and cellular & molecular physiology at Yale University, said that new, non-invasive studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy have demonstrated that the development of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes is directly related to the build-up of fat inside muscle and liver cells where it disrupts normal insulin signaling and action in these organs. Studies in transgenic and knockout mice as well as in humans have shown that removing this excess intracellular fat can restore insulin sensitivity and cure type 2 diabetes. The results from these studies provide new targets for novel therapies that might be developed to reduce intracellular fat levels and reverse insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes, said Shulman.

Copyright 2005. American Association for the Advancement of Science

Source: oasisadvancedwellness.com

Get Your Vitamin C From Nature, Not The Pharmacy

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Image: The Organic Prepper

The Nature’s Vitamins series

Sometimes the sources for  elemental nutrients are, quite literally, right in your own back yard.  This couldn’t be more true than for Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a vital nutritional component for a healthy diet and is the most recommended supplement in the United States. But skip the often toxic store-bought pills shaped like cartoon characters and turn to the garden for your daily dose!  Store-bought vitamins often contain heavy metals, GMOs, artificial sweeteners, and other poisons.

Rose hips, the seed-filled pods at the base of a rose blossom, contain more than 60 times the dose of Vitamin C than is found in an equal amount of citrus fruit.

wild roses

All rose hips are not created equally.  Wild roses and old fashioned breeds of roses like the Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)  and the Dog Rose (Rosa Canina) have the highest concentration of Vitamin C.  Be sure that the roses were not subject to the spraying of pesticides or other chemicals.  Harvest rose hips after the first frost.  They should be red and yield slightly to the touch.

rose hips on bush

Fresh rose hips have the highest levels of vitamin C, but the best way to store rose hips for the winter is to dry them.  Wash the harvested rose hips and allow them to air dry.  Place them in the dehydrator whole for about 6-8 hours.  When dry they will be shriveled and wrinkly.

rosehips

Using your food processor, pulse the dried rose hips until they are coarse chunks. Don’t over process them.

Using a mesh colander, sift the pulsed rose hips so that the little hairs and seeds fall through, leaving you with a lovely colander full of reddish-brown tangy-tasting bits of Vitamin C.

rosehip tea

As a nutritional bonus, rose hips are also a good source of  vitamins A, B-3, D and E, bioflavonoids, citric acid, flavonoids, fructose, malic acid, tannins and zinc.
How to Make Rose Hip Tea

Rose hips are most commonly used in teas.  Commercially, most fruit or berry flavored teas contain rose hips. They give a tart, tangy flavor due to the naturally occurring ascorbic acid. Always prepare rose hips using non-aluminum cookware – aluminum destroys the vitamin C content.

    To make tea from fresh rose hips, steep 2 tablespoons of rose hips in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes.
    To make tea from dried rose hips, steep 2 teaspoons of rose hips in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.

Rose Hip Jam
Ingredients

    8 cups of washed rose hips
    1/4 cup of lemon juice
    6 cups of water
    5 cups of turbinado sugar
    1 package + 2 tbsp of no-sugar needed pectin

Directions

    With a sharp paring knife, cut the rose hips in half, then remove the seeds and the “hairs” from the inside of the halves.
    Use a food processor to roughly chop the rose hips.  (You’ll end up with about 4-5 cups of rose hip halves.)
    In a large non-aluminum pot, add the water, lemon juice, and rose hips. Bring this to a hard boil, uncovered,  for about 30 minutes to cook down the rose hips.
    In a small bowl, use a fork to mix ¼ cup of the sugar with one packet of pectin.
    Stir the pectin/sugar mixture into the rosehip liquid.
    Boil for 1-3 minutes, then TEST YOUR JAM with a spoon from the freezer.  If it is not the right consistency, add the extra 2 tbsp of pectin and boil for another two minutes, then retest.  Repeat until your jam has reached the desired thickness. (Be sure to skim off and discard foam throughout this step.)
    Ladle the jam carefully into your awaiting (sanitized) jars, wipe the rims and cap your jars with snap lids and rings.
    Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes, making adjustments for your altitude.

Source:The Organic Prepper

Top 30 Flowers For Bees

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Bees are vital. Without them, pollination of crops doesn't occur. Bees work tirelessly to provide us with our food, but are struggling in the wild. In recent years it has become apparent that bees, not just the honeybee, are under threat and some have already gone extinct. Find out on this lens which flowers to grow for pollen and nectar that will feed them and help them to increase their numbers. Insects and plants must now be taken care of by gardeners if they are to survive.The private garden is now a better place than the countryside for wildlife, since much agricultural land is now devoid of the diversity of flowers insects need to give them their 'five a day'. It is now thought by scientists in the field that insects need as much variety in their food as we do to get all the trace minerals and vitamins to keep them healthy, so go on, plant flowers for the bees!

HA= Hardy annual   HHA =Half hardy annual   P = Perennial   HB= Hardy biennial   HS= Hardy shrub

·  1

Cosmos (HHA) is an annual flower easily raised from seed. It’s also one of the very best for the bee. Grow it in groups, making the collection of pollen easier for the bees, who won’t have to fly as far to find their food. Cosmos grows 2-5ft tall, the majority reaching about 2ft. It’s from Mexico, so a half hardy annual. Plant out after all danger of frost has passed, and deadhead to keep them flowering continuously through the summer. These open, flat flowers will delight you as well as giving the bees a feast.

·  2

Aster (HHA) ‘Compostion’ or Michaelmass Daisies. Many modern hybrids have little or no pollen. easy to grow, colorful and late summer to autumn flowering, they provide food late in the season. Important if honeybees are to be well fed to get through the winter months.

·  3

Sunflowers (HA) are a great choice, available in many heights and colours to suit your garden space. Choose yellow or orange over red, which bees don’t like. Varieties exist now for the allergic gardener, containing no pollen. Obviously avoid these when wishing to attract bees.

·  4

Calendulas or marigolds (HA) are great for bees, especially the original single flowered pot marigold. Dead head regularly for a longer flowering period.

·  5

Primulas. (HP) The native primrose, (primula vulgaris), primulas of all kinds, even the drumstick ones are great early food for bees. Cowslips (primula veris) are also good members of this extensive family of perennial plants.

·  6

Rudbekia (HHA) are an extensive group of cone flowers from the aster family. A wide variety of heights, mostly available in yellows and oranges, sure to brighten your border and feed bees. There are also a few hardy perennial ones, of which ‘Goldsturn’ is my personal favourite. All are easy to grow from seed.

·  7

Scabious or cornflowers (HA), another aster family member, are mostly blue flowered and bees adore them. Dead-headed regularly, they’ll flower all summer long.

·  8

Lavender (HHS) There are plenty of lavenders to choose from, all needing plenty of sun and well drained soil, but they’ll reward you with plenty of fragrant flowers for cutting and drying. Just watch them get smothered in bees when they come into flower.

·  9

Bluebells (bulb) Another early food supply. Just a note of caution for UK growers. The native English bluebell in now under threat from the Spanish bluebell, which outcompetes and crosses with it. So please ensure you are planting the native bluebell to ensure you don’t endanger a bluebell woodland near you.

·  10

Hellebores (HP) The Christmas rose! A lovely flower to have in your garden from late winter to early spring, this plant will tolerate some shade and moist conditions, though not wet. When bees emerge from hibernation they need food fast. This one gives them a snack when there’s little else around.

·  11

Clematis (Perennial climber) The majority of clematis will provide pollen, and I’ve watched bees happily moving from flower to flower gathering their crop. Always plant clematis deeper than they were in the container, as this gives more protection against cleamits wilt. These plants are hungry and thirsty, so add good compost to the planting hole. They also like their roots in the cool and heads in the sun, so once planted I place either a thick mulch or a pile of stones or gravel around their roots, keeping them cool and conserving moisture.

·  12

Crocus (bulb) Early flowering, plenty to choose from, and planted in the autumn to flower year after year. These are great value and cheer me up as well as the bees!

·  13

Mint (HP), especially water mint, is loved by bees. It’s great in your cooking, too. Easy to grow, it can be a bit of a thug, so either grow it in a container or prevent its escape around the garden by burying a bucket (with holes in the bottom for drainage) and plant your mint into that.

·  14

Rosemary (HHS) A mediterranean herb, rosemary likes well drained soild and full sun. It flowers around April/May. A great culinary herb, bees will take advantage of the pollen as long as you prune it correctly. This is best done straight after flowering, as most of the flowers will appear on new wood. Don’t prune rosemary back to old, bare wood as these are not likely to regrow. Depending on where you live and soil conditions, rosemary can be short lived, so take some cuttings each year so you can replace the old plant should it dsie or become too leggy.

·  15

Thyme (H to HHS)) There are now quite a few varieties available, tasting slightly different to each other eg lemon thyme. However, I’ve noticed that the wild thyme (thymus serpyllum) attracts a lot of bee visitors and tends to flower more profusely. But they are all worth growing. Give them the same growing conditions as rosemary and lavender.

·  16

Hebe (HH-HS) This extensive group of shrubs have wonderful flowers for bees. Plenty of pollen, all on one flower and plenty of flowers on one shrub. They vary in height, are mosly blue or pink and tolerate most soils. They dislike too much wet, so a well drained soil is best. Water well, though, until established.

·  17

Borage, the bee herb. (HA) Borage is blue flowered, simple to grow and in fact one type grows wild in the UK, though originally from Syria. Easy, prolific and the bees love it.

·  18

Echinacea, the cone flower. (HP) Now available in a variety of colours, all of which will attract bees. Echinacea Tennesseensis will attract birds, bees and butterflies.

·  19

Mignotette. There are HA, HHA and Perennial members of this family. They are sweetly scented and will attract and feed your bees, especially Reseda lutea.

·  20

Thrift, or Sea Pink (HP) is a great plant for a rock garden, trough or wall. Holding its bright pink flowers well above the grass-like foliage, it will cheer your garden and make the bees come back for more! Give it well drained condiitons and lots of sun.

·  21

Sedums are also excellent plants for rock gardens and walls. There are many to choose from, but avoid Sedum Spectabilis Autumn Joy if you’re planting for bees. Biting stonecrop and English stonecrop (sedums acre and anglicum). are natives, and great for bees.

·  22

Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) (HB) are fantastic flowers for bees. An old cottage garden favourite, bees are attracted to the pink or white flowers and we love the perfume! They are members of the dianthus family, as are Pinks and Carnations, all of which are good for the bees.

·  23

Monarda (Bergamot) (HP) This is the herb that flavours Earl Grey tea, but the bees love its flowers for pollen and nectar. Its folk name in the Uk is bee balm. It likes a moist but not wet soil and can cope with a bit of shade. Share it with the bees! Bergamot tea is a herbal treat in itself. Just pour boiling water on the leaves and allow about ten minutes before drinking.

·  24

Cornflower (HA) Easy to grow, cheap and cheerful, cornflowers are another cottage garden favourite. Thier blue flowers act like a bee magnet. Grow in as large a group as you have the space for. This makes it easier for the bees to spot them and saves them flying around more than necessary. It’s easy to save seed from one year to the next, too.

·  25

Poppies (HA-HP) All poppies are attractive to bees, and are laden with pollen in nice open flowers. Very easy to grow, especially the annual kinds, and easy to save seeds to sow next year. Enjoy their delicate petals while your bees enjoy a feast.

·  26

Verbena Bonariensis (HP) a tall, delicate looking perennial with purple/mauve flowers that add a tropical feel to your borders. This is easy to grow from seed and sown early enough will flower in its first year. One not to do without!

·  27

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum) (HHA) Plenty of choice in heights and colours. Have you ever watched a bee enter and leave a snapdragon? Their weight pulls the lower part of the petal down so they can get inside for their food, and you can hear them buzzing while they are in there. Lovely to watch.

·  28

Ageratum (HHA) Easy to grow, with heads of blue flowers and another member of the compositae family, so lots of food on one flower head. This is one of my favorite annuals in the garden. Just don’t plant out until all danger of frost has passed and dead head for more flowers.

·  29

Echinops (globe thistle) (HP) This lovely blue thistle is very ornamental, even when not in flower, standing about 36″ tall. Bees and butterflies love the flowers which provide plenty of nectar. Easy to grow from seed and will come back year after year.

·  30

Digitalis (foxglove) (HB) Foxgloves make great food for bees. As they are poisonous, protect children from them and handle wearing gloves. As long as these precautions are taken these are wonderful plants for the garden and the bees. A woodland plant, they’re useful for a shady spot.

Other articles you may enjoy:

Study: Pesticides Are Leading Cause of Bee Die-Offs

Create a Honeybee Haven with Native Plants and Flowering Herbs