Try some of these recipes for homemade cough and cold remedies:

Ginger Tea

* 1 inch or so fresh ginger root, sliced thin or grated
* 1/2 a fresh lemon, sliced (peel & all)
* 1 clove garlic, mashed
* ~2 c water
* Very generous spoonful honey

Place water, ginger, lemon, & garlic in saucepan; bring to boil, then turn down heat and simmer gently for 20 min. Strain into mugs and add lots of honey. The tea *will* get stronger if you let it sit! Most invigorating! The garlic adds a bit of bitterness, but the honey masks that. This …

When the eye becomes inflamed it is usually a response to trauma, an infection (bacterial or viral), surgery, allergic reaction or irritants found in our environment.

Most of the time, eye inflammation is no cause for concern but it is still important to make sure that you keep the duration and severity of the inflammation to a minimum.

If these things are left to drag out they can end up causing scarring in the eye. Even a tiny amount of scar tissue in the eye can cause permanent problems with your sight.

You should be very careful to …

* 1 Tablespoon echinacea root tincture
* 1 Tablespoon distilled water
* 1/8 teaspoon lavender essential oil
* 1 Tablespoon bentonite clay

Combine the tincture, water and lavender essential oil.

Add this mixture to the clay, stirring slowly as the liquid is absorbed. The resulting paste should be tacky enough to adhere to the skin. Apply directly to bite as needed.

Store this remedy in a container with a tight fitting lid, so that the mixture will not dry out. If it does dry out, stir in enough distilled water to turn it back into a paste.

You must remember, though, that …

Insects are a frequent problem during the warmer summertime months. For many people they are nothing more than a pain in the neck; for other people they may become a severe problem.

This is particularly true for folks who receive bee stings and anaphylactic shock kicks in. Even if you believe you do not know somebody with this sort of allergic reaction to bee stings, it is a good idea to know how to respond. Your actions may spare a life.

Folks do not frequently think about how dangerous a bee sting may be, unless they have …

What this means is that through emotional pain, fear and depression, you have created dis-ease within your body. Your charkas, aura and physical energy fields have become out – of – balance, causing conflict and imbalances to your physical body.

How you feel and think makes a difference on your body as well as your state of mind. Negative thoughts and feelings create negative energy that flows through the body sending mixed messages. These messages attack weakened parts of your body either through hereditary illnesses or old injuries. New illnesses can also be created through …

Pain is an individual experience affecting more North Americans than any other health disorder. Yet, pain is our defense mechanism and vital to our survival. Acute pain is useful in a protective way while constant or recurring pain signals that both physical and psychological elements require attention. Healing therapies and techniques can reduce or eliminate pain even when the exact cause is a mystery or cannot be removed.

Whether the pain is sudden and severe or a long-term chronic condition, the mind and entire body are affected. The most effective method of eradicating pain is finding …

Some oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals.

When using a new oil for the first time, do a skin patch on a small area of skin. Place a small amount of the diluted essential oil on the inside of your elbow and apply a bandage. Wait 24 hours to see if there is a reaction. Discontinue use if there is any form of reaction.

Daily Aromatherapy Tip brought to you by AromaThyme

Is there blood when you urinate or do you feel pain coming from your back or pelvis? If your answer to these two questions is yes, then you may have kidney stones in your body and the only way to be sure is to have yourself examined by a doctor.

The two symptoms mentioned are just some of the symptoms that tell you if you have kidney stones. Other symptoms include fevers or chills, feeling or being sick, frequency urinating and feeling a burning sensation when you urinate.

It is hard to tell just by how you …

CINNAMON BARK (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)- A powerful antiseptic oil with a strong pungent, spicy aroma and reddish brown color. Cinnamon has a long tradition of use, having been produced in Sri Lanka for more than 2,000 years.

Research shows that virus, bacteria, and fungus cannot survive in the presence of cinnamon oil. Cinnamon bark oil has even stronger antiseptic properties than Cinnamon Leaf and readily kills bacterial and fungal infections.

Historically Cinnamon has been used in the Middle East and the Orient for combating viruses and infectious diseases. It has been used as a treatment for fever, diarrhea …

Using essential oils is a great way to relax and feel good. You can invigorate your mind and your body with a few of your favorite oils. However, there are some important safety rules you should know before you start using any essential oils. The following are important safety tips that will ensure that you are using essential oils with the proper care.

Never apply any essential oil to your bare skin: This is a very important rule for anyone interested in using essential oils. If you put undiluted oils on your skin, it will cause …