BACK PAIN SURVIVAL GUIDE

When your back muscles are spasming in pain, it's difficult to think. The pain can become so severe, that it leaves you nauseous. In some cases, the event can go on for days, leaving a sufferer feeling as though he is recovering from a bad case of the flu.

These are my best recommendations for stopping back pain in its tracks.

FIRST
Don't ignore your pain! As soon as you start hurting, acknowledge that something is wrong and take steps to remedy the situation. Ignoring a painful back, or trying to 'work through the pain,' can lead to further injury and greater pain. This leads to more down time which will keep you away from the things you most enjoy doing or tasks that require your attention.

Use alternating cold and hot water. This gives immediate relief. Use your shower and work on it for at least 15 minutes, starting with cold and ending with cold. The longer you can keep this up, the better. This settles things down right away.

This article offers a more detailed description of this method: Remedy for Inflammatory Pain
This article explains why cold and hot applications help relieve pain: Treatment for Swollen Feet and Hands

NEXT
Keep hydrated! Drink lots of WATER! Water helps flush your system of toxins that have accumulated in your painful muscles and joints. It's easy to forget to drink when you are hurting. You may even avoihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifd fluids thinking that it's so painful to move, you don't want a full bladder with which to contend. However, water is your friend in the journey to stop an aching back. Dehydration can even make the pain worse by leading to constipation, which can actually cause additional back pain. To determine how much water you should be drinking, read this post: Healthy Hydration -- How Much Water Should You Drink?

Add ginger to your water. Drinking ginger tea can help ease the pain. If you can't find this, a well made ginger ale can help. Ginger root helps reduce spasms and pain. Read more about ginger's properties here.
Benefits of Ginger Root

FOLLOW THROUGH
After you've reduced the pain, use a cabbage leaf wrap overnight. Seriously, put a cabbage leaf on the area and go to bed. I know it sounds strange, but you'll be amazed by how well it works. One man could barely walk with knee pain before he was willing to give this a try. His tired stiff knee felt like new after being wrapped in cabbage. Here's an article on how to use cabbage leaves: Cabbage Leaves Relieve Pain and Swelling

An additional thing you can do that can really help relieve the pain is to take a good quality cod liver oil. We like to purchase Nature's Answer, Liquid Norwegian Cod Liver Oil, Natural Lemon-Lime Flavor from iHerb as my husband doesn't care for those that taste of fish. Fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory. Read your labels and use care in your selection. When hurting, we simply take a couple of tablespoons and repeat every 2 hours or so until the pain subsides. This works well for other inflammatory conditions as well, including things like mild allergic reactions.

DISCLAIMER: As always, use your own judgment and common sense when applying these remedies. These are methods that have worked in my own home and for others. This article presents ideas and information designed to enrich the reader. This is not offered in lieu of sound medical advice. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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DANDELION REMEDIES AND USES

Dandelion can be used liberally as it is non-poisonous. The roots, leaves and blooms of the plant are edible. Dandelion supports a healthy urinary tract, kidneys and liver function. When harvesting, be careful to select plants that have not been exposed to toxins or chemicals. For more information, click here.

This plant is traditionally used to support healthy liver function. Dandelion is rich in vitamin C and is useful in the treatment and prevention of scurvy. It is also useful in the treatment of skin eruptions and warts. The milky white juice that flows from the stalk can be applied directly to spots on the skin as a treatment.

Dandelion is useful in the treatment of excess fluid buildup in soft tissues. Because it replaces the nutrients lost as water passes from the body, there is not the mineral depletion associated with pharmaceutical diuretics. Dandelion is also consumed as a treatment for lung disease that is marked with wasting of the body.

Classified as a bitter herb, Dandelion is useful in the treatment of acid stomach or heartburn brought on by a lack of muscle tone. It works as a mild laxative in habitual constipation. A decoction or extract of Dandelion administered three or four times a day can help with an irritated stomach. It has a good effect in increasing the appetite and promoting digestion.

INFUSION/TEA
Pour 1 pint of boiling water over 1 ounce of Dandelion and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
Strain and sweeten with honey. Drink several glasses in the course of the day. The use of this tea is efficacious in the treatment of nausea and edema.

DECOCTIONS
This method of herbal preparation involves gently simmering an herb until the water is reduced to a specific amount.

Version 1
Place 1 pint of the sliced root in 20 parts of water and gently boil for 15 minutes. When cooled, strain the liquid and sweeten with honey. A small teacupful may be taken once or twice a day.

Version 2
Simmer 2 ounces of the herb or root in 1 quart of water until the volume is reduced to a pint.
Take this in 6 ounce doses every three hours for scurvy (caused by too little vitamin C), scrofula (lymph gland tuberculosis usually of the neck), eczema and all eruptions on the surface of the body.

Version 3
Decoction for jaundice in young children:
1 ounce Dandelion root
½ ounce of each of Ginger root, Caraway seed & Cinnamon bark
¼ ounce Senna leaves
Gently boil in 3 pints of water until reduced in volume to 1 1/2 pint. Strain. Dissolve ¾ cup honey into the hot liquid and bring to a boil again. Skim all the impurities that come to the surface when clear. Allow to cool. Give frequently in teaspoonful doses.

Version 4
Decoction for Gall Stones
1 ounce each of: Dandelion root, Parsley root, and Balm herb
One half ounce each of Ginger root and Liquorice root
Place in 2 quarts of water and gently simmer down to 1 quart
Strain. Drink six ounces every two hours.

DANDELION TINCTURE
Collect Dandelion plants (including roots and tops) from a pesticide and herbicide free zone.
Good-quality dried Dandelion may be substituted. It is best to collect more than you think you'll need because the plant does wilt during preparation. Clean the plants according to instructions found here.

Slice the roots thinly. Fill a quarter to two-thirds of a canning jar with dandelion root. Pour just enough boiling water over the herbs to cover. Then fill the rest of the jar with 100-proof vodka. Seal the jar tightly and shake to mix thoroughly.

Set the jar in a warm sunny area. The sun will not harm the tincture. Shake the jar twice daily. The tincture will be ready in two weeks. Strain the liquid through a clean cotton cloth or coffee filter. Squeeze the solid matter to express all of the liquid. Pour the tincture into a dark amber glass bottle, filling to close to the top to eliminate air exposure during storage. Cap tightly. Store in a cool, dark cabinet until needed.

Take a spoonful of the tincture every day to help with health issues.

Some individuals include the dandelion leaf as well as the root in the tincture. A tincture made from the leaves may be taken three times daily by placing 10 to 15 drops in a spoonful of water.

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This article is not meant to be taken as medical advice. The information provided is for the enrichment of the reader and is not offered as a substitute for the care of a health professional. The reader assumes all liability and should use common sense and discretion when utilizing this information.

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MUSTARD PLASTER

Mustard plasters are a simple and effective way to treat congestion and coughs. These can also be used to alleviate aches and pains associated with inflammation. The vapor from a mustard plaster helps to break up congestion. The plaster also increases circulation and oxygenates the area of contact.

HOW TO MAKE A MUSTARD PLASTER
Place 2 cups of flour and 4 tablespoons of dry mustard into a small bowl and blend with a fork. You can use prepared mustard if that’s all you have on hand. Continue stirring and add a small amount of warm water until the mixture is the consistency of paste. Spread this onto half of a flannel or cotton cloth that is sized at least 1 foot by 6 inches. Fold the cloth over onto itself. Lay this onto a baking sheet in your oven on its lowest setting and leave it for 5 minutes. If you leave it too long, it will overheat and harden. Remove the plaster from the oven. DO NOT MICROWAVE YOUR PLASTER.

THE APPLICATION
To use the plaster, wear a thin t-shirt and place the warmed plaster on top of your chest. Don’t apply the plaster directly to your skin. Plasters can be applied to the back and the chest at the same time. Cover the plaster with a warm blanket and relax for 15 to 20 minutes.

PRECAUTIONS
If the skin becomes irritated, blistered, reddened or otherwise painful, remove the plaster. It is not recommended to leave the treatment in place longer than thirty minutes. For small children, you can halve the recipe and only apply the plaster for 10 to 15 minutes, checking to make sure the skin has not become irritated. It is not recommended to use the plaster on children younger than 6 years or on frail elderly persons.

This treatment can be re-applied every 4 hours until the condition improves.

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DISCLAIMER
This article is for information purposes only. Readers that incorporate these methods do so at their own risk. None of these guidelines are a substitute for the care of a trained healthcare professional.

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HERBS AS INCENSE

In the past, certain herbs such as sage and rosemary were burned to cleanse sick rooms. Cedar is a fragrant wood known to have antiviral, antifungal, expectorant, and lymphatic cleansing properties. Pine, Spruce and Fir needles contain shikimic acid, the main ingredient in Tamiflu, which is used to fight the bird flu. Frankincense is also a known to be very effective incense in the treatment of respiratory ailments. Mullein and Eucalyptus leaves are also beneficial herbs that can be used in this manner.

By slowly burning herbs, the essential oils are released into the smoke and carried into the lungs of those that inhale it. If a person is suffering from bronchial inflammation, the beneficial properties of the herb are applied directly to the inflamed tissue.

I know of one woman that had been dealing with such a strong cytokine response during a bout with the flu that she was choking, vomiting and struggling for air. Her husband closed the damper on their wood stove and tossed some Cedar into the fire, filling the house with smoke. Immediately, the cytokine storm stopped. Within 20 minutes, there was no mucus and she felt as though she hadn’t had the flu at all. They have repeated this remedy with the same result on other family members, airing the house afterwards.

American Indian tribes regularly used Cedar to smoke and cleanse their homes. In rustic conditions, smoke can be used to cleanse a person, clothing, bedding or shelter of vermin, molds, etc. Cedar smoke was one of the ways that priests were instructed to cleanse a house where there had been a plague (cf. end of chapter 14 of Leviticus).

HOW TO BURN HERBS AS INCENSE
Using tongs, place a hot coal or ember from a hard wood fire onto a heatproof dish. Place the herbs onto the hot coal and allow the herbs to smolder. Inhale the resulting smoke. The goal is to encourage the plant material to produce smoke, not to ignite into an open flame. This can be accomplished by only using hot coals (rather than fire) and/or by binding the plant material into a tight bundle.

Tightly bundled herbs are called smudge sticks. Some branches, twigs or leaves are supple enough to form into tight braids. Dried leaves can be secured with twine and unbleached paper. To use a smudge stick, hold one end of it to a flame until it ignites. Then the flame is gently blown out leaving the plant material to smolder and smoke. Smudge sticks are handy as it is easy to direct the smoke and they will tend to burn for a longer period of time.

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CAUTION
Do not inhale the smoke of any herb or plant material to which you have known allergies. This article is for information purposes only. Readers that incorporate these methods do so at their own risk and should utilize safety precautions. None of this information is a substitute for professional health care.

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FRANKINCENSE, THE GIFT OF HEALING

Frankincense is an amazing healer. It’s one of the items I would select for an emergency survival pack. I make that statement because this gum resin can make a huge difference when you are fighting a fast-moving infection.

Frankincense is sold as little pebbles of hardened gum, powder and/or essential oil. The powder and gum granules are light-weight. The granules are easier to handle (in my opinion) than the powder and can be ground to smaller bits if needed.

Frankincense can be used for steam inhalation or aromatherapy if you are dealing with bronchitis, colds, and other respiratory ailments. I’ve seen it used to great benefit as part of a regimen for recovery from pneumonia. I place several granules of Frankincense in combination with dried mullein and eucalyptus leaves in a crock pot with filtered water to steam the air in a room. In rustic conditions, you can burn Frankincense with hot embers placed into a fireproof container (or on a rock) as incense.

As a topical wound dressing, Frankincense is regenerating, restorative and a skin rejuvenator. Because its properties are somewhat astringent, oil infused with Frankincense has been used as a uterine tonic and massage oil following childbirth. By easing inflammations, Frankincense promotes the healing of blemishes, sores, scars, skin ulcers and wounds. In some places it is used as a treatment for leprosy. (See "HOW TO INFUSE OILS")

I know of a case where a patient had a weeping leg wound that had a foul odor. Red streaks and swelling warned that the infection was advancing. Good wound care was followed, but the infection persisted. Frankincense was applied after all else was tried. The leg immediately responded. Upon examination by a physician, he was surprised that the wound only required stitches and that the leg did not need amputation. It had been his experience that such severe cases resulted in loss of the limb.

I witnessed an instance where an arm was branded on a hot oven rack. At the time of injury, all that was available to dress the wound was honey and a very old batch of plantain infused olive oil. Later, the area was gently cleaned and a proper dressing applied. The wound was an inch long and (at its worst) about one quarter of an inch deep. Although the burn was 2nd degree, there was only faint blistering. Early indications were that the wound was healing quickly, but it became infected. The arm became swollen; the wrist and arm painful to use; red streaks began to appear. The inflammation reduced upon application of a garlic poultice, but did not fully retreat. Upon application of olive oil infused with Frankincense, the inflammation and pain retreated in less than 12 hours. Within 24 hours, the pain ceased and the wound began to heal from the inside. Within 48 hours there was no more swelling, the wound had closed with a healthy pink, and the wound was filling in from the bottom layers of the skin. Within the week, it appeared to be a faint scar from a long-forgotten injury.

If available, Frankincense can be an invaluable tool in effective wound care. If you utilize an essential oil of Frankincense for medicinal purposes, make certain that the product was steam distilled or alcohol extracted rather than by some other chemical solvent method. Most manufacturers will be glad to answer your questions over the telephone. Note that manufacturing methods can change over time, so you may wish to check labels each time you purchase, even if it is the same brand name.

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This article is for information purposes only. It is not meant as a substitute for medical care. The methods described are employed at the risk of the reader.

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GOLDENROD HARVEST & USES

Goldenrod is the common name for Solidago virgaurea. This plant grows in Europe, Asia, and North America. This plant grows in open areas, along hillsides, and mountain ranges, reaching a height of 2 to 3 feet, with alternate leaves, and branches of golden flowers when in bloom.

The plant blossoms in the fall of the year when it is ready for harvest. In most areas, you will know goldenrod is ready as you notice the feathery yellow blossoms beside the roadway. Don’t harvest these plants as they’ve been exposed to the exhaust of cars.

The best places to find goldenrod are areas near water that have good sun exposure. I was able to find a small open span near an abandoned foot bridge. The area was filled with leggy grasses, pokeweed and goldenrod. To harvest, use sharp garden shears and cut the top 2 to 3 feet with blooms. The smell of wild carrots or a faint citrus aroma comes from the aromatic bruised parts of the plant. The flowers can be used to produce a pleasant yellow dye.

DRYING HERBS
To preserve your herb, secure the cut stems with twine in small groupings (5 to 10 stems). Leave a loop in the string and hang them upside down (flowers pointing downward), with a box lid beneath them. You can hang them in a closet, spare cabinet, from a beam, in a storage room, or on a wall where they will not be disturbed. Even coat racks and hooks can be used. If the herbs are small enough, you can place a paper bag over the leaves and blooms to catch any loosened plant parts as they dry. The plants will dry in 1 to 3 weeks. You can also preserve flower arrangements in this same way.

Once dry, remove the blooms and leaves from the stem and store in a clean glass jar with a lid.

Goldenrod is a medicinally beneficial herb classified as detoxifying, regenerating and symptom regulating.

DETOXIFYING HERBS are those which help clear blockages and remove excesses. Goldenrod contains tannin and is classified as a bitter. A bitter promotes the secretion of the digestive juices as it is tasted. This herb helps the body remove excess fluid (diuretic). Traditionally, this herb was used to help remove stones in the bladder. Thick phlegm and deposits of hardened mucus (catarrh) are reported to be removed by goldenrod. Because it has antioxidant properties, goldenrod tea is useful for urinary tract infections. A digestive, goldenrod strengthens weak digestion. By promoting the perspiration (diaphoretic), this herb helps remove toxins from the body.

REGENERATING HERBS build and tone overwhelmed tissues and functions. As an astringent, goldenrod helps to shrink inflamed tissues. Its volatile oil gives goldenrod its aromatic properties. In powder form, it is used to help speed wound healing and produce scar tissue known as cicatrization. This was once commonly used to treat ulcers. The ability to promote the healing of damaged tissue classifies goldenrod as a vulnerary.

SYMPTOM REGULATING HERBS promote the relief and comfort of pain and other troublesome symptoms. Because it prevents and counteracts decay, goldenrod is classified as an antiseptic. Goldenrod tea can be used for an oral rinse. A stimulant, goldenrod increases the activity of other herbs when added to a remedy. A carminative, goldenrod helps remove gas (and the related pain) from the digestive tract. A tea infused with goldenrod, can help reduce fever. This same application can be helpful in the treatment of painful menstruation.

TEA
To make a tea, place 2 teaspoons of dried flowering stalks into a container. Pour boiling water over the herbs and cover for 10 minutes. Drink a cup three times daily until symptoms are allieviated. This tea is considered helpful in the treatment of seasonal allergies (one half cup four times daily). However, if I found it helpful, I would drink as often as I desired.

NASAL SPRAY
In addition to drinking the tea, it can be administered as a nasal spray. This helps with upper respiratory tract illnesses which have characteristic sore throat and low fever, accompanied by inflammation.

SOOTHING OIL OR SALVE
Strains, sprains and sore muscles respond favorably to a soothing oil infused with goldenrod. Apply this liberally and repeatedly as often as every ½ hour if needed (every three hours or so usually). This has been known to ease chronic pain and stiffness. While this will not help structural damage, it does ease inflamed and painful tissues. Wounds, cuts, and scratches are also soothed and healing is aided with the application of a salve or oil made with goldenrod because of its vulnerary properties.

TINCTURE
The symptoms of allergies are helped with tincture of goldenrod. When formulating a tincture, you can combine goldenrod with other herbs as it increases their beneficial properties. Nettle and elderberry work well with goldenrod in this application for some individuals, but as with all herbs, the individual response (and any underlying conditions) must be taken into account when determining the best treatment. Blend goldenrod with Echinacea, yarrow and elderberry to make a tincture which can be effective in alleviating kidney and urinary tract infections. A dropperful is administered every hour until the discomfort subsides. Thereafter, several drops are taken 3 to 4 times daily for about ten days. Ten days is a good trying time and one used in Scripture to prove that healing had (or had not) taken place.* A tincture can also be used as a linament.

In later articles we will cover how to create your own oils, salves and tinctures. In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about herbs (and a lot of other topics) I recommend THE VISION by best-selling author Debi Pearl. Nestled neatly among an intriguing plot are tidbits and tips about the everyday use of herbs. Get your copy today.

*A study of the phrase “ten days” in the Bible can prove interesting.

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This article presents ideas and information designed to enrich the reader. This is NO substitute for personalized professional care. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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REMEDY FOR INFLAMMATORY PAIN

If you’ve ever worked yourself into a knot of pain, you know how inflammation can render you immobile. Your muscles are spasming. Depending on the severity of this round, you’re looking at days spent in bed, pain medications with possible nausea. You are also likely aware that pain medications don’t always work. I suspect that pain medications are more often used to keep the patient quiet than they are to manage actual pain . . . but that’s just my opinion.

There is an alternative treatment that can untie those knots. It’s called HOT COLD treatment.

Using hot and cold compresses creates a pumping action. The cold pushes blood from the area. The warmth brings fresh blood into the area. This circulates the blood and reduces the level of inflammation in the blood stream. By reducing the inflammation, the pain will be decreased and mobility will be more quickly restored.

There are two methods to accomplish this.

METHOD 1 – HOT/COLD SHOWER
Stand under a shower with water running and aimed at the painful area. Turn the water on as cool/cold as you can stand for 15 seconds or so, then turn the water as warm/hot as you can stand it. Repeat this for 20 minutes or so (and yell as needed).

Method 2 – YOU MAY NEED HELP
Take 2 bath towels and moisten them (wet and then wring them out). Get one paper bag and place into it a single moistened towel. Set your oven on its lowest setting (100 to 170). Place the closed paper bag into the oven (be sure that it isn’t touching a heating element). Get another paper bag and place into it the remaining towel. Put this into the freezer.

START WITH COLD – END WITH COLD
After 15 minutes, place the cool towel onto the painful area and set a timer for 15 minutes. When the timer rings, grab the towel from the oven and replace the warm towel with it. Return the cool towel to the freezer and repeat as long as necessary. Make it a relay, removing and replacing towels, alternating cold and heat.

Depending on temperature sensitivity, you may need to place a cloth between the towel and your skin as a buffer. I also recommend placing an insulating towel or blanket over the top to retain the heat/cold. Re-moisten the towels as needed. Remember to end the cycle with a cold towel.

I have done this through the night, napping 15 minutes at a time. It was worth it to lose only one night of sleep rather than days of productivity.

If you are in a remote area, use a fire to heat dry rocks and then wrap them in the damp towels. Be sure you use dry rocks, or they will explode in the fire. Use the towel-wrapped rocks for the warm compress. The towels damp with fresh water can be used for the cool compress. Fan the cool compress so that the moisture will begin to evaporate, making the compress even cooler. In a survival situation, the sooner everyone is at their best, the better. Inflammation from a strain or injury can lead to immobility. This is one way to combat that and get everyone back to 100% (or at least a good 75%).

This article is for information purposes only. Utilize these methods at your own risk and using your own discretion.

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PINING FOR NOURISHMENT

It was winter 1535 . . . Canadian winter. The French expedition, led by Jacques Cartier, had reinforced their fort, stacked firewood and salted and packed the meat they had harvested. For six months, the river was frozen solid. The snow was 4 feet deep.

The men began to succumb to scurvy. Lacking vitamin C, they lay sick and dying. By mid-February, not even ten men were able-bodied enough to help care for the others. Spring was months away. Time was running out. They were dying.
In a forest full of vitamin C, they were suffering.

Lacking knowledge some died. A chief’s son, Domagaya, visited the fort and told Cartier about a tea made from the trees surrounding the fort that would cure scurvy. With the help of that tea, 85 Frenchmen survived that winter.

PINE NEEDLES:
Pine needle tea is high in vitamins A and C. The needles, inner bark and sap are the most medicinal and nutrient dense parts of the tree. You would have to eat more than five lemons to consume the amount of vitamin C found in a single cup of pine needle tea.

O Tamiflu: Turning Christmas trees into flu drug -- Needles contain high concentration of key ingredient
By Marsha Walton, CNN 2006
The needles of pine, spruce and fir trees contain a fairly high concentration of shikimic acid, the main ingredient in Tamiflu. Countries all over the world are stockpiling the drug in anticipation of a bird flu pandemic.

WARNING:
PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD NOT consume this tea! Do not consume if you think you may be pregnant. It has been known to cause the death of an unborn child within 24 hours! This also happens in pregnant cows that have eaten pine needles. They will drop a dead calf within a couple hours or days after consuming pine needles.

HOW TO MAKE PINE NEEDLE TEA

• * Select pine needles that are nearest the end of a branch and light green in color. These are the newest (baby) pine needles. Older parts of the tree accumulate turpentine from the sap. (This enables older fallen pine trees to be cleared easily by burning and make way for new growth, and it is also why pine stumps make for good fat lighter.) You will want to be sure to use only new green needles for your tea.
  
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• * Finely chop the needles. You will need ¼ to ½ cup (about one handful or 1 ounce).
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• * Bring 1.5 pints of water to a rolling boil and add the chopped needles.
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• * Boil for 10 to 15 minutes. The liquid should be reduced by about 1/3.
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• * Allow this to steep, covered for 20 minutes (or overnight).
• 
  
• * This makes a reddish colored tea with a mild taste. A small amount of oil will rise to the top.
• 
  
• * Store in the refrigerator (or in cool storage).

TIPS:

• *Don’t boil longer than 15 minutes. The longer you boil the mixture, the less vitamin C will be available.
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• * Honey and lemon can help improve the taste.

BENEFICIAL PROPERTIES OF PINE NEEDLE TEA
Continue to drink 1 pint (500ml) of Pine Needle Tea every day for one month.

• * Promotes heart health
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• * Relief of varicose veins
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• * Helps muscle fatigue
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• * Relief of Sclerosis
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• * Relief of Kidney Ailments
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• * Promotes strengthening of nerves in eye
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• * Relief for eye related ailments that concern connective muscles in the eye
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• * Relief of Gangrene
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• * Reacts with smooth muscles that line blood vessels

VARIATION, TO MAKE AN EXTRACT:
Place the hot, boiled mixture into a thermos and let sit overnight (12 hours). Remove the needles the next day and drink the warm extract throughout the day.

Pine Tree Needle Extraction is a traditional remedy that may be used in the treatment of many human diseases. The remedy is effective for working with the smooth muscles that line the blood vessels and other muscular related diseases such as sclerosis. Sclerosis is a condition in which soft internal tissues (and sometimes organs) inside the body become unusually hard.

This extraction is a helpful preventative and a support in the treatment of cancer. Its benefit is greater when the cancer is in the earlier stages. Pine needles exhibit strong antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antiproliferative effects on cancer cells and also antitumor effects.

ALTERNATIVES TO TEA
You may choose to chew on several fresh pine needles. Swallow the juice produced and spit out the needle fiber. This remedy has been used to:

• • fight fatigue and maintain one's youthful vigor
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• • promote the discharge of waste from the body
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• • stimulate brain activity
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• • strengthen the heart
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• • as effective for treating anemia (rich in iron)
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• • to satisfy thirst and relieve hunger pains.
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• • to prevents cold and flu
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• • to relieve dry cough
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• • rids you of heart burn

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INTERESTING TIDBIT OF INFORMATION
I found these passages referring to the value of trees:

Deuteronomy 20:19
When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:

Isaiah 41:18-20
18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Revelation 7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

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This blog presents ideas and information designed to enrich the life of the reader. These articles are NO substitute for personalized professional care. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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Healing Uses For Activated Charcoal

When storage space and resources are at a premium, Activated Charcoal proves its value by its versatility.

Ever[y] medicine cabinet should have an emergency supply of activated carbon, especially those with young children in the household. However, this is not good news for the pharmaceutical companies who have reacted by refuting some of the claims made in its favor: they have claimed that it is not effective against arsenic. If that is so, then how did Michel Bertrand survive after swallowing 5 grams of arsenic trioxide – 150 times what is regarded as the lethal dose? He did this is 1813 after mixing it with activated charcoal, just as Professor Touery was to do 18 years later with ten times the lethal dose of strychnine. [http://vitanetonline.com/forums/1/Thread/1270]

Locating Activated Charcoal
If a local retailer carries Activated Charcoal, it may be wise to stock up. A recent shopping trip revealed that this powder can no longer be purchased off of the shelf in pharmacies near my home. A local health food store only retailed the powder in capsule form. The pharmacists told me that poison control centers and the American Academy of Pediatrics had expressed reluctance to recommend this for in home use. Reasons given included liability concerns and caregiver inexperience (or ignorance) in administration.

However, this limitation also means that potentially life-saving help is delayed in emergency situations.

Whether you are able to purchase from a trusted source or must make your own, Activated Charcoal will prove useful in a number of applications. (click here for article on how to make your own charcoal).

Oral Use of Activated Charcoal
Activated Charcoal can help with mild digestive upsets, stop diarrhea, viral and bacterial infections. Activated Charcoal adsorbs toxins, renders them inert and carries them through the digestive tract. Charcoal is not metabolized or digested by the human body. It is a valuable aid in the treatment of accidental poisonings. The powder can be placed in the mouth and moistened with saliva for swallowing. It is also possible to administer it as a slurry, in crackers, or in tablet form.

Warnings:

• Charcoal may adsorb and inactivate other medications. Do not take charcoal within two hours before or after other drugs.
• If you are taking prescription drugs, check with your doctor before beginning treatment with charcoal.
• You can take charcoal intermittently for long periods or regularly for up to 12 weeks.
• Activated charcoal should NOT be used for accidental ingestion of cyanide, mineral acids, caustic alkalies, alcohol or boric acid.

[http://healingtools.tripod.com/thn5.html]


Guidelines for Oral Applications
BEFORE administering Charcoal, vomiting should be induced to bring up about 30% of the stomach contents. For the remaining 70%, Activated Charcoal should be administered. An individual should be conscious before Activated Charcoal is administered. Recommended dosage is 1/2 ounce (measure by weight) for children and 1 ounce (weight) for adults. Usual dosages are from 5 to 50 grams, dependent upon the amount of poison ingested and the body size.

Adults should receive at least 30 grams, or about half a cup of lightly packed powder. Larger doses are needed if the person has eaten a meal recently. A dost of 200 grams is not excessive in severe poisoning cases. [http://healingtools.tripod.com/thn5.html]

Activated Charcoal can be given with fruit juice, chocolate syrup, jam, honey or other liquids that help ease swallowing. Ice cream would make AC less effective and is not recommended. Dosages can be repeated every four hours or until charcoal appears in the stool. Charcoal may not work in all cases. Seek additional medical care and call the poison control hotline (if available) for recommendations specific to your circumstance.

Gas and Indigestion
Activated Charcoal adsorbs excess gas and bacteria that forms gas in the digestive tract. Diarrhea can also be relieved by taking Activated Charcoal. This can be taken in the form of tablets or a slurry (between 1 teaspoon and a tablespoon of powdered charcoal 3 times per day). This is best taken on an empty stomach for increased effectiveness.
[http://healingtools.tripod.com/thn5.html]

Slurry
Place 4 TBS of activated charcoal in a pint size jar of distilled water, shake it up to mix well, and use it as needed.

Many viral infections respond well to charcoal slurry, especially if taken within a few hours of onset. Histamine reactions to some sort of allergen, which causes sneezing, weeping eyes, coughing, sore throat, etc. also respond well to early administration of Activated Charcoal.
[http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/stories_2006]

Charcoal Crackers (Biscuits)
The symptoms of ongoing digestive upsets can be greatly relieved by eating charcoal crackers (biscuits).

Cut 1/3 cup butter (or coconut oil) into two cups of plain flour flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder (aluminum free) and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add about 3/4 cup whole milk with (I add a couple of tablespoons yogurt to mine) until a soft dough is formed. Let this sit for as much as 7 hours, less if you are in a rush. Add 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal to the dough and mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cook in a 450 degree oven for about 12 to 15 minutes. This can be eaten to help with ongoing digestive upsets.
[http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/biscuits]

Dog Breath Biscuits
Even your pets can benefit from Activated Charcoal.

For your dog's bad breath, make your favorite biscuit recipe using 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal, milk for the liquid. Add an egg, 1/2 cup mint and parsley along with butter for your oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
[http://www.dogpatch.org/agility/FAQs/faqmis07.html]

Available in Tablet Form
Activated Charcoal tablets or capsules should NOT be used for poisons as it doesn't act as quickly as powder.
[http://www.oklahomapoison.org/general/activated.asp]

Uses for Tablets
Chew tablets and/or suck them in mouth allowing the charcoal to gradually slip down throat. This can treat a sore throat and bad breath, although the blackened teeth (before rinsing) may still chase people away. Some recommend that the powder or chewed tablets be left between the gum and cheek during the night and rinsed (or swallowed) the next morning as a way to help persistent bacterial mouth infections.

Tooth Powder
Use as a tooth powder with or without other pastes or powders. This will trap bacteria and help treat gum and tooth disease.

Topical Applications -- Poultice
Topically, Activated Charcoal is a powerful poultice for skin irritations. Charcoal compresses help speed the healing of wounds and eliminate their odors

Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of Activated Charcoal powder into a sterile glass container. Add just enough distilled (or purified) water to make a paste. Spread this paste onto a thin, clean cloth and fold the cloth over onto itself. Place this poultice firmly onto the skin and cover the poultice completely with plastic to hold in the heat and moisture. The Activated Charcoal will draw bacteria and poisons through the skin and into the poultice. Keep the poultice moist and warm to speed healing. Fix the poultice in place with adhesive or strips of cloth. Change every 6 to 10 hours.

Caution:
Placing activated charcoal directly on broken skin can result in a tattooing effect.
http://healingtools.tripod.com/thn5.html

For more reading and resources, click on this link.


Click below for a video featuring Dr. Christine Salter interviewing John Dinsley, author of the book Charcoal Remedies.com, The Complete Handbook of Medicinal Activated Charcoal and Its Applications. (You can read his book online here: CharcoalRemedies.com).

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This blog presents ideas and information designed to enrich the life of the reader. These articles are NO substitute for personalized professional care. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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read more “Healing Uses For Activated Charcoal”

Why Keep Activated Charcoal?

The average person thinks of charcoal briquettes manufactured for use in barbecue grills when asked if charcoal is in the home. Those briquettes have chemical additives that help them hold their shape and burn evenly. . . NOT something useful for filtration, purification or medicinal purposes!

In contrast, Activated Charcoal is used widely in hospitals, clinics rural and urban settings. Because of it's versatility and availability, charcoal is an invaluable substance to have on hand for daily remedies and for disaster preparedness. [http://www.charcoalremedies.com/why_charcoal]

For more than 3,000 years Activated Charcoal has been used without adverse side effects.

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Whether you are living within easy access
of the technological advances of North America,
or hiking the trails of some developing country,
charcoal is just as modern as it was four thousand years ago,
just as universal, just as versatile, and just as powerful.
In a world being poisoned by its own near-sighted wisdom,
God the Creator has provided man with a microscopic black hole
big enough to swallow much of what ails us.
(~John Dinsley)
[http://www.charcoalremedies.com/science]

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How is this black powder used? When taken by mouth, Activated Charcoal can keep poisons from being digested and help them pass through the body without being absorbed. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon] Topically, a poultice of this powder can help relieve skin irritations, infections, abscesses and gangrene. It is a deodorant and purifier of water, air and food. [http://www.charcoalremedies.com/why_charcoal]

What is Activated Charcoal and how does it work?

Activated Charcoal is made from coal. Coal is made by removing water and other impurities from organic matter (usually wood) by slow heating without oxygen. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal] One method of producing Activated Charcoal is by heating charcoal in the absence of oxygen to temperatures of at least 482 degrees Fahrenheit (250 degrees Celsius). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_charcoal]

When viewed under a microscope, the surface of Activated Charcoal is seen to contain many tiny pockets. If laid out flat, the surface area of 1 teaspoon of this powder would equal that of a football field.[http://www.charcoalremedies.com/science] Those tiny pockets have the ability to trap toxins and poisons through adsorption. To adsorb something means that materials will stick to the surface of the activated charcoal and form a film. Because so many substances bond with activated charcoal, a few pellets or grains can go a long way. [http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-activated-charcoal.htm]

How to Make Charcoal
While most local pharmacies carry Activated Charcoal, it is also possible to make your own.

Click play to view video featuring Dr. Agatha Thrash speaking about recommended home remedies with activated charcoal. Learn how to make activated charcoal. Available free for personal use, recorded and distributed by owners of vegemedia.net with permission from producer 3ABN TV. 30 minutes.

You will need:

• Discarded grill lid or other heat-resistant cover
• Long-handled shovel
• Fire pit
• Cloth bag (an old pillow case will do)
• Hammer
• Old Junk Blender (one you won't be using in the kitchen again)
• Untreated hardwood, well seasoned and dry*
  * Old pallets work well for this application. They are very dry and unpainted. Businesses that deal in large shipments are often glad to be rid of them.
  

Break up your wood into pieces small enough to fit into your fire pit. Get your fire going well. When the coals are hot, use your shovel to flatten the mound of coals for more even burning. Cover them with the old top from a grill, or some other air-tight metal dome. Use your shovel to pile dirt around the bottom, creating an air-tight seal. Let the coals sit in their own heat. This will burn away any impurities and increase the porousness of the resulting coal. When the coals have cooled, remove them and place them into a cloth bag. Use the flat side of your hammer to pound the coals into peanut-sized chunks. Using your blender (outdoors!) grate these chunks into a fine powder, 2 cups at a time. This method can produce about 1 gallon of charcoal at a time. [http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/making_charcoal]

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This blog presents ideas and information designed to enrich the life of the reader. These articles are NO substitute for personalized professional care. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

---

read more “Why Keep Activated Charcoal?”