Mama’s Home Remedies

During most elections before only men got all the attention. However,  this year for the  first time in the American history, a mother of five children, a ”hockey Mom,” Sarah Palin became a Republican Vice President nominee and  got all attention in the world. 

Several other dynamic women appeared on the podiums and television. They initiated a powerful talk about the challenges and problems facing working and stay-at-home Moms. They discussed  important life issues that women are interested today.

Cindy McCain, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden shared with public their unique personal stories and views. But no one of them struck a chord better with everyday women as a female political candidate, Sarah Palin. She is tough and dedicated to being a leader at home, in Washington and abroad, as media commented. (more…)

The investigation in the ongoing milk powder scandal in China continues. According to the latest evidence, melamine was intentionally added (in lab tests) to boost the protein content of milk product used to make formula for infants and other dairy products. Did Chinese scientists know that a compound they created and tested can cause kidney failure and kidney stones if digested in large quantities?

In the meantime, we read and hear there are new findings of the melamine-tainted products. As was reported by The Local News agency in Germany, the first melamine contaminated food products have been discovered across Germany for the first time.

At an Asian markets in Stuttgart, in Karlsruhe, Goppingen and Cottbus the tainted Chinese “White Rabbit” brand soft milk candies were first found. Analysis showed that the candies contain only trace elements of the substance that sickened more than 50,000 children and has killed four babies in China last month. Food regulation officials in Germany adviced people do not eat “White Rabbit”candies because milk is listed as one of the main ingredients.

This bonbon is just one of the 31 milk products containing traces of the chemical that can cause kidney stones. Good news, it has been recalled worldwide. According to news agency AFP, the Chinese government has assured consumers that all contaminated products were packaged before September 14, and anything produced after this date is pure. (more…)

                                                                             One of the many grateful customers wrote these words of admiration to the largest maker of hand-crafted American-made Teddy Bears, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. Very nice! The teddy bears have been in existence and consumption for over 100 years. Many companies make them and will continue to do that, because people still don’t get tired of the teddy bears. On contrary, they buy more and more. How could you not love these beautiful hand-made creatures?  Some customers are so happy with teddy bears that  they even “cry with happiness” (from another testimonial) for getting a “Get Well” teddy bear, for example.  I only don’t understand, why they have to cry? Just laugh and smile and you’ll live longer!

                                                              Located in the pictoresque area of Green Mountains, Lake Champlain and the Andirondacks in Shelburne, Vermont, this company, starting with its building, is full of color, creativity and activity. More than 20 years the factory there are producing thousands and thousands of teddy bears for all ocassions in our life: for Birthday, “Get Well,” New Baby, Love, for Him, for Her, for Mom, for Grandma, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, Sports Bears, Health and Hope, and many other.  If you you are not sure which one to choose, call a Bear Counselor at 1-800-829-Bear.

 I did research the company’s website trying to locate “the cuttest teddy bears I have ever seen,” and finally I found. The Fall Trend No. 1 in Teddy Bears’ Trade.  Vermont company is selling political bears: Palin and McCain, Obama and Biden. One of our readers send me a helpful tip: ”Palin and Biden teddies (guess which costs more)?” Thank you.  I thought they should be priced the same… (more…)

80% of cheap children’s toys selling in the USA are ‘Made in China.’ Remember the multi-million recall of Chinese made products? Still wonder “What can you buy that won’t hurt your child and keep him/her safe, healthy and develop his intellect?” The answer is natural, eco-friendly toys.

                                          Last month I researched several American and European companies making eco-friendly toys. I know from my childhood (growing up in southeastern Europe) that the European toymakers carefully select natural materials and design many healthy and safe toys for children.    

                                        I prepared for you a list of the companies making their products for children with a thought and understanding that the toys are the leading activity and play helping your children to develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.

Say No to junk, unsafe toys once and for all! Good toys (you see on the picture) made of natural materials and innovative design are much better for children; develop intellect and positive emotions, and keep an environment and your house clean and green. 

Here are the toy companies I like. (more…)

My world is clean and green! What about yours?

Biting irony, isn’t it? Now we have to protect our babies and ourselves from deadly industrial chemicals. At first was lead found in children’s toys, then melamine in pet food. This time baby’s formula is “enriched” with the same dangerous chemical.  What are these two chemicals that attracted the whole world’s attention?

• Lead is  a poisonous metal. It can damage the brain and other parts of the body. Anybody can be exposed to this toxic metal. There is no safe age to be exposed to it. You or your children can eat or drink lead contaminated food or water. You can be breating dust containing lead or it can come in contact through your skin. As the experts say, lead is the most harmful to children especially those younger than age 3 because it can permanently affect their growth and development. If a pregnant woman is exposed to lead, she can pass it to her unborn child (fetus). Lead can be passed to a baby through the mother’s breast milk.
• Melamine is a nitrogen containing molecule that has several industrial uses. In some parts of the world it has been used as a FERTILIZER.  In other countries melamine and polyacetal formaldehyde based resins are used as ADHESIVES in plywood, surfacing coatings and molding compaunds. Can you imagine the strenght of these ingredients? Consumer First Aid and Health Information (www.emedicinehealth.com) reported, animals that have been fed with melamine-tainted food made from Chinese ingredients may be present in fish, pork and poultry. FDA says that health risk to humans is low. How health risk to humans can be low if this chemical has been used as fertilizer in agriculture and adhesives are part of construction materials? It doesn’t make any sense, does it? Obviously FDA can play its card by telling the American public that melamine isn’t registered fertilizer in the U.S. Another irony of fate. So, why we still have here food products with added melamine, which is another myth created by Chinese suppliers who try to insure the world that this toxic ingredient (melamine) is high in nitrogen and can artificially boost protein content.  You don’t need this artificial boost of protein. You can safely get your protein content by eating natural, whole foods.

So, Moms and Dads think twice before you buy “Made in China” toys for your kids or any other products produced there. The list of not safe Chinese products can go from powdered milk to tainted toothpaste, medicines, toys, pet food ingredients that killed and sickened people and animals in North and South America. These two facts that can tell you a lot and put you on alert: (more…)

In Today’s News online was published an interview “10 Ways to Get Rich.” Warren Buffett, a legendary investor, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hataway and the richest man in the world with his estimated fortune of $62 billion, shares his best secrets that can work for you. His several key strategies are business-like and to the point, but nowhere he mentioned that health is your main wealth and number one your key strategy. I think he should because all people must maintain their health and energy to keep up with the fast pace of life in the twenty-first century, and many will be interested in  his thoughts and opinion about it.

Warren Buffett is the most successful Wall Street investor. You can learn a lot from his book, The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for  Corporate America  that he wrote with Lawrence A. Cunningham, and other books such as Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein; Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World’s Greatest Investor by Janet Lowe. Recently I was searching in a hope to find a book about him as the man and his life outside of work. I did not find any. Most  books about Warren Buffet give a brief picture of his life and concentrate on  discussing and his known investments. A new book, The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Shroeder will be released at the end of September. Possibly this book will give us a full story about his life, dreams and healthy habits, too.

Here are my comments on the best secrets he spelled out. He did not express his opinion on important issues like taking care of your health and wellness, as an integral part of getting rich. In the meantime, our life is not only about business and money. It is also about our well-being, optimal health and joyful living. (more…)

It looks delicious

Our speed-fire culture has trained us to do as many things as we can handle. Juggling too many activities and tasks in hope that you are being efficient? What about your health? You cannot be efficient and accomplish you daily multi-task if you are not healthy.

The first step to keep your health in control and prevent sicknesses is much easier to undertake than your other tasks. Just forget about all this hype about detoxification miracuously coming from plastic jars with “veggie” capsules. After you spend $200 minimum on “Detox” nutritional supplements, these magic compounds can kill good bacteria and flora in your body. Now what? You have to bring it back, by other words, to rejuvenate your body. It means that you have to buy another plastic jar with capsules which supposedly will help you to recover what was lost from your body during the “first tour.” Spend again $200 to “correct” a drastic cleansing?!

Why do you have to go through a such experiment with no guarantee? Does it make any sense to you? It doesn’t make any sense to me and never did because our bodies are built to be strong and have an ability to self-sustain the unexpected illnesses. (more…)

by Svetlana Konnikova

When I was a child my mama told me a story about one small and clever animal who used his instincts to survive by foraging for just the right “medicine” from Nature’s green pharmacy. I adapted this story that takes us back to our natural roots to my own words and told it to my children. They understood what it means to be in harmony with Nature and all she provides.

They admired how the small and clever animal successfully treated and healed his wounds. It became my children’s favorite and they requested it time and again. Sometimes you can see this small animal in our own backyards, depending on where you live. Each time the story is told by someone new, the words are bound to change, but the moral remains crystal clear. Trust in Nature to be healed.

As you see, even a small animal knows that Mother Nature is the best healer. How can we explore and make useful Nature’s green pharmacy? It is not difficult at all, as you might think. Look in your kitchen cupboard for yellow onion, garlic, cabbage, or ginger. You can make five amazing home remedies and treat headaches, acne pustules, stubborn cors, burns, travel sickness and other problems.

Remedy One: Rub the highly anticeptic cloves of garlic (peeled and cut open) on acne pustules and other infected pimples.

Remedy Two: Crush garlic and apply to stubborn corns to draw them out. Fold a bandage into three layers with the garlic in between and roll over the finger or toe.

Remedy Three: Cut one slice of yellow onion and put it on incsect stings–you’ll get rapid relief.

Remedy Four: Lie down and apply washed fresh cabbage leaves as a plaster to the forehead and temples for 15 minutes to soothe a burn or bruise or to relieve headaches.

Remedy Five: Chew a piece of crystallized ginger or eat ginger candy or cookies to prevent travel sickness such as nausea and vomiting during long journeys in a car or boat.

Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Your comments are welcome. I love to hear from you.

Mrs. Green, who is founder of Little Green Blog, says that she is commited to a greener way of life and just starting out on the path of eco awareness. In her blog  she writes about ethical living and self sufficiency, environmental issues, gardening, organic foods, natural healing and other interesting things that many families care and passionate about. Inspirational motto, “It’s a beautiful world. Let’s keep it that way!” the blog starts with, tells you clearly about her own passions.

Any green ideas? Of course, Mrs. Green works with great enthusiasm on the projects how to keep clean our planet, efficiently dispose waste and use safe,  friendly green products. “So many medications arrive in blister packs and plastic packaging,” she says. “Even herbal teas have cellophane wrap around the cardboard box! In your book, full of wisdom, you talk about the same, and about natural living and healing that I am only too eager for others to hear about and utilise the knowledge in their lives.” Here is Mrs. Green’s detailed review.

“Svetlana Konnikova’s “Mama’s Home Remedies” should be on everyone’s bookshelf. The lovely Lana, as she calls herself, sent me a review copy of this book and I’ve been hooked since receiving it! Empowerment is one of my passions and this book delivers empowerment and more.

I was expecting 100 pages of ideas, but this book is over 300 pages long containing around 800 simple, safe and natural remedies so that you can take responsibility for yours and your family’s health.

 It is beautifully written and , as well as being a reference book, you get a glorious insight into  Lana’s life. She owes her knowledge and reverence of the natural world to her Grandmother and  Mother and talks with animation about her memories, experiences and conversations as a child. (more…)

 

Our green friends

Trees and plants greatly influence our lives. Did you know that our green forests are big factories producing oxygen? We need this product for our survival.  Forests are greenhouse exchangers and work hard to clean our air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.  How they do it? Trees lock in carbon dioxide and return it to the soil when they decompose instead of releasing it into the air and contributing to pollution. Want to know more about our green saviors? Here are 16 interesting facts: 

• One large growing tree can provide a day’s oxygen for four people.
• By taking in the amount of carbon we release into the atmosphere, trees help us to reduce the “greenhouse” effect and remove the “carbon debt” we put into the environment. (more…)