Fabulous Flax

Flaxseed, Linum usitatissium, and flaxseed oil have been used for thousands of years. Flax was and still is being used to make linen. There are a number of websites that sell linen clothing made from flax. Flaxseed oil, also called linseed oil, is used by artists in making oil paintings. In the culinary world it is used for breads. It is also ground up and added to a host of foods. I like to grind it up and add it to smoothies.

Flaxseed  has health benefits. Here are a few of them:

• Lowering cholesterol
• Stabilizing blood sugar
• Reducing bone lose
• Increasing immunity
• Fighting Cancer
• Weight loss

As far as nutrition is concerned, flax is loaded with nutrients. These include almost all of the B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, fiber  (both soluble and insoluble), omega 3 fatty acids, and phytochemicals. These include alpha-linoleic acid, the plant version of omega-3's.

Flax contains lots of fiber. This is very good for gut and bowel problems. It contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Even if you don't have bowel problems it can help regulate you and prevent constipation.

There are a few cautions when using flaxseed. People who have inflammatory bowel problems like Crohn's disease should not use flaxseeds because of their laxative effect. Pregnant and nursing moms should not use it. Women with fibroids, endometriosis and polycystic ovary disease should not use it. Men with increased risk of prostate cancer should also avoid using flaxseed. Always check with your health care provider before using more flax than what is used for culinary purposes.

Be sure to check out my web site at www.valerielull.com  I am in the process of creating a new look for my web site. Stay tuned.

Valerie Lull

Author

www.valerielull.com

valerie923@gmail.com 

  

5 Herbs for Household Use

Most people know that herbs can be used for culinary purposes and almost everyone knows that there are medicinal properties to herbs that have been used since ancient times. But in today's world the knowledge of using herbs for household purposes seems to have become lost knowledge. I often wondered what people used to clean their homes before bleach and other cleaning chemicals were invented. In fact I did not know that bleach had been invented. It thought people always had bleach.

 I did a little digging and found that herbs were used by our ancestors to clean their homes, repel insects and many other household uses. Some of the things they used were vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. I found so much information that I could not possibly compact it all into one article, so I narrowed it down to 5 herbs for household use to write about.

 Lemon Juice, citrus limon, is good for all kinds of things. It is good for cleaning cutting boards used to cut meats and vegetables. It is good for cleaning counters and tile. It can lend a fresh scent to any surface you clean and it repels fleas. Lemon juice citrus limon does not kill fleas, but the fleas don't like the scent of lemon so they go away. 

Here is a flea treatment that is very safe for your pet and easy and inexpensive to make. The basic recipe can be made at home. Cut up six lemons. Boil them in a quart of water for 5 minutes. Steep the lemons for 8  hours in a covered pot. Pour the liquid in a spray bottle. This will last about a week if stored in the refrigerator. Spray your pet after it has been bathed and avoid the animal's eyes.This can be sprayed on pet bedding and pet toys. 

Lavender, Lavendula officinalis, is well known for its lovely scent. It makes a wonderful air freshener and can be used to scent closets and drawers. Put a little lavender lavendula officinalis on a cotton ball and place it in your drawers and closets. Sprinkle lavender on your couch and carpet. Let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum. It will leave your furniture smelling fresh and clean. It will get rid of pet odors and cats will not sit in a spot that has been sprayed with lavender oil. Lavender lavendula officinalis, can be sprayed on linens to freshen them and can be made into liquid hand soap.  

Rose Petals, Rosa, have a heavenly scent. They can be spread in the aisle for weddings. a lovely bouquet can be put on your dining room table as a thing of beauty as well as the lovely scent; and rosewater can be used as an air freshener.

Here is a recipe for rose potpourri. Take the dried peel from an orange, citrus cinensus, some dried lavender lavendula augustifolia and dried rose rosa petals. Add a few drops of lavender lavendula augustifolia essential oil. Transfer the mixture to a glass jar. Seal and let the mixture blend for a couple of days. Unseal and pour into a decorative bowl and enjoy the scent of your potpourri. 

Cedar, cedrus, is another botanical that fleas absolutely hate and will do anything to avoid. You can put cedar chips in affected areas of your home and in your pet's bed. Use cedar chips for cat litter for odor control. Be sure your pet is not allergic to cedar. Do not use cedar oil on your pet. It is not good for them.

Cedar cedrus is good for getting rid of other insect pests like termites, roaches, ants and beetles. Cedar chests and cedar-lined closets are known to repel moths that can damage your clothing. If you can't afford an all-cedar closet, get some cedar chips and put them in little bags or sachets and put them in your closet and dresser drawers. Besides repelling moths and insects it makes your clothes smell nice. 

Tea Tree Oil, melaleuca alternifolia, comes from Australia and is another substance that repels fleas. Put a tablespoon of tea tree oil in a spray bottle and mix with a quart of water. Spray it around your house. I used it on my carpet and upholstered furniture and it did a marvelous job of killing fleas. It will kill ticks too. Do not spray it on your pet; it is toxic to them.

Tea tree oil  melaleuca alternifolia can be used for household cleaning and disinfecting. It has antibacterial properties. It also kills mold and mildew in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. Add it to vinegar and water. Use 50 drops per bucket of water for cleaning tile and countertops. Put a few drops in your laundry during the wash cycle. Put a drop or two on a cotton ball and put it in with your stored clothing to repel moths. There are many uses for tea tree oil. Check out the Internet for more ideas.

The list of things you can use herbs for in your home is endless. If you have pets, you might want to check with your veterinarian about their safety for animals. Never use essential oils on cats. Their bodies cannot process it. Herbs for household use are a great substitute for harmful chemicals.
  
Sources:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/home-made-lemon-spray-flea-control-7599930. html
http://www.yankeemagazine .com/article/resources/lavender-air-freshener#
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/homemade-lavender-rose-potpourri
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/natural-flea-control-with-ordi-62829
http://www.ehow.com/list 5988799 uses-cedar-chip.html
http://www.walterreeves.con/insect-and-animals/moth-control-cedar-closets/
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00580/natural-household-cleaning-products.html
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/9-surprising-uses-for-tea-tree-oil

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com Your comments on this article are welcome.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull953@gmai.com

Oatstraw Tea

Last week I talked about oats. This week I am going to talk about oatstraw tea. Oatstraw is made up of the stems, flowers and milky seeds of the oat plant before the heads of grain form and mature. A tea or infusion of oatstraw has been used for everything from broken bones to anxiety. One popular use is as an aphrodisiac. Some people insist that it is great for the bedroom.

Research seems to indicate that oatstraw stimulates cell growth of the bones. It is great for building bone strength. It is also good for muscle cramps, strengthening blood vessels, preserving tooth enamel and strengthening the sheaths that cover the nerves. It is also used for arthritis, rheumatism, as a diuretic to combat fluid retention, for relief of itchy skin and as a nutrient to promote healthy skin, hair nails and bones. It is considered to be an excellent tonic for the body and is good for physical and emotional fatigue.

Oatstraw is full of organic calcium which is the best kind for the bones. It contains silica, another nutrient that is good for the bones, skin, hair and nails. It also contains mucilage, B vitamins (except B-12), minerals and protein. It is available in tinctures, extracts, creams and powder. The powder is popular for baths. Some studies seem to indicate that it can help smokers quit smoking. The German Commission E (their version of the FDA), has classified oat straw as a nervine. That means it is good for soothing and calming the nervous system. Cloths can be soaked in  cool oatstraw tea and applied as compresses to itchy areas of the body. It has been used this way to relieve the irritation of shingles.

Be careful with oatstraw if you have a problem with gluten. It is possible to get gluten-free oats, but you need to carefully check your sources. Some oats are contaminated from the gluten in other grains that may be grown near the oats. Here is the formula for making oatstraw tea. Pour a cup of boiling water over the oatstraw material. Let it steep for 5 minutes. Strain the infusion and enjoy. Honey, your favorite sweetener or lemon can be added for taste.

Sources:
http://healthyeating, sfgate.com/health-benefits-oat-straw-tea-9852.html
http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/oat-straw-benefits-longevity/#ixzz3WpxRNeen
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?type-AWHN_supplement&id=763FED1D23634581807C2D7A204DEBAE&ther=2

Be sure to check out my web page at www.valerielull.com  I'm working on another book which I hope will come out before the end of the year. It is about healing spices.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull923@gmail.com

7 Good Things About Oats

The Scottish people are famous for their oatmeal porridge and I remember my Scottish grandmother serving it every morning with raisins and dates to make it tasty so the grandchildren would eat it. I also remember the oatmeal cookies she would make. Oats are hearty and as the saying goes they 'stick to your ribs', making you feel full for several hours afterwards. Oats are a very healthy food and there are many health promoting things that are attributed to them.

1. Oats are used in cooking. We have already mentioned porridge and cookies, they also go good in bread. I love oat bread toast with butter and honey. It just hits the spot for me.

2. Oatstraw tea is made from the stems, flowers and milky seeds of the oat plant. Oatstraw tea has been used for everything from healing broken bones, to stress, to sexual dysfunction.

3. Oats are good for lowering cholesterol. Both the tea and porridge are good for this purpose.

4. Oats are packed with nutrition. They contain calcium, protein, B vitamins (except B-12), and silica which is good for the hair. Other nutrients include magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, selenium and iron.

5. Oats are good for external uses. The tea is good added to the bath for dry, irritated, and itchy skin from things like shingles and eczema.

6. Ground up oats make a good facial mask. Simply put some oats in a blender and whiz until they are powdered. Mix the powder with a little water and apply it to your face. Leave for 5-10 minutes then wash off.

7. Oats contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber is great for enhancing your digestion, losing weight and lowering cholesterol.

There are several kinds of oats. There are steel-cut oats, rolled oats and instant oats. The less the oats are processed the better. Organic is always better.

Be careful if you are sensitive to gluten. Oats themselves do not have gluten, but they can be contaminated from other grains that do have gluten. Be sure to check the source of your oats. It is possible to get gluten-free oats.

Sources:

http://healthyeating.sfgate,com/health-benefits-oat-straw-tea-9852.html
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/insoluble-fiber-oats-7069.html

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com Have a great day!

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull953@gmail.com