Here I put together a few oils one can make to help with colds and flu’s and advice on how to apply them.  Hope they help.

Oregano – One of the most popular essential oils for treating everything from cold and flu to warts, oregano is considered a “hot” oil (it will heat up and tingle) and should be used cautiously. Do not apply to the face or throat without diluting it first with pure olive oil or another fatty oil. If you do get some on your face, dilute with butter or oil, NOT water! Oregano is best applied on the back, shoulders, and the bottoms of the feet.

Lemon – Lemon is great for boosting the immune system from within. Take a drop or two in every glass of water throughout the day, or use in capsules. Lemon is photosensitive so it should not be applied to skin.

Cinnamon – Another hot oil, cinnamon is great for boosting the immune system and has been shown to support the pancreas and digestive system (in medicine, the pancreas/spleen relates to the immune system). Apply on the feet or inhale.

Good old grapes.  For years I grew them and enjoyed them, saying that they are good for your health. Also a touch of good red wine is a benefit for those that can drink it safely.  I kind of think the reason now behind my Dads good heart was by eating his own grapes. Take a look at this article.

The consumption of regular table grapes, red and blue, lower blood pressure and improve heart health better than drugs, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor.  Just remember to wash them thoroughly before eating.

One more reason to get out there this spring and get to planting a garden.  Take a look.

A chemical that naturally occurs in broccoli may help protect the lungs against the damage that leads to lung disease, according to a study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Using the shovel to dig as many dandelion  roots as you want; it takes about 10-15 small roots for a cup of this alternative coffee. Cut off and wash the carrot-like roots; pat them dry and lay them out on a cookie sheet.

Roast them at 200 degrees F till you can smell chocolate: they should look chocolate brown, and snap like dry sticks. Stick ’em in the grinder, then into the coffee filter to brew. You’ll have to adjust the strength to your liking; I used about two tablespoons of grounds for one cup of coffee.

You know there is a lot of foods that ease the pain for those suffering with arthritis and thought I would share what a few of them are.  Talk Soon

Yam
Asparagus
Celery seeds
Chile peppers
Cherries
Radish
Cabbage
Lemon
Tomato
Watercress
Oily fish
Chives
Apple
Celery
Pineapple
Redcurrants
Blueberries
Mustard greens
Grapefruit )
Pear
Raisins
Olives
Vinegar
Gooseberries
Grapes
Carrots

The first alarm was sounded in autumn 2006. Honeybees are disappearing across the United States and Canada, with half of the States affected and beekeeper losing 30 to 90 percent of colonies; one beekeeper with 1200 colonies expected 9 to survive the winter. The problem began more than two years ago and has intensified in recent months. The bees simply vanish relatively suddenly, with little or no dead adults in or near the colonies, leaving behind the queen and a few young. In cases where the colony appears to be actively collapsing the workforce seems to be made up of young adult bees, insufficient to feed the brood, but are reluctant to consume provided feed. This “colony collapse disorder” (CCD) is particularly devastating for growers of fruits and vegetables, as they depend on insect pollinators.

My theories is that most of these bees are dying because of all the pesticide use that we are using today. Just common sense that if you spray your crops with insecticides, you are going to kill bees too and make them sick. Not to mention what it is doing to us humans who are eating the fruits and vegetables.  My Opinion Only

Watercress was always carried with Greek, Roman and Persian soldiers during their campaigns and eaten for its anti-scorbutic properties, to prevent scurvy.

Watercress is used in salads, sandwiches and as a garnish. Good-quality watercress will be crisp and deep-green. Avoid product that has yellow, wilted or slime-spotted leaves.

I like to get my salad off to a good healthy start by making a bed of leafy dark green vegetables. Lettuce is the traditional favorite, but stay away from the iceberg variety. Its lighter color gives it away as it is low on nutritional value. Choose instead from romaine, green leaf lettuce, and spinach. Better yet, mix in some of each. Baby green spinach is a real good choice too.

Levels of the beneficial, cancer-fighting compound sulforaphane in broccoli are reduced by 90 percent when the vegetable is cooked, so I would think it would be a good idea for folks to get to eatin’ raw broccoli mixed in with their salad.  At the very least once a week.  Thing is you will have to either buy organic or grow your own.  Just one more reason to get  out there this spring and get to planting your own garden. I should say boiled broccoli is better than nothing, just don’t over cook it. Also best to eat it with tomatoes as the combination fights off cancer. My Opinion Only

Also remember my new Gardening book which will be out March 22/2009 great book for sure. Loaded with all kinds of gardening tips, recipies and help in getting that new garden of yours into being.

Garlic is probably nature’s most potent food. It is one of the reasons people who eat the Mediterranean diet live such long healthy lives. Garlic is also a powerful performer in the research lab. Several new studies have documented its ability to promote heart and cardiovascular health, prevent and treat cancer, and create a healthy lipid profile. Others have shown garlic prevents platelet aggregation and reduces high blood pressure. Garlic has strong anti-inflammatory properties. One of the most interesting of the recent findings is that garlic increases the overall antioxidant levels of the body.

Blueberries, Garlic, & Apples – These three foods are tasty and can be easily combined with many other foods in home-made recipes. Garlic and Blueberries lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The fiber pectin in apples decrease the amount of cholesterol produced in the liver. Using these ingredients in your meals can make a healthy impact on your cholesterol and lower blood pressure.

So……….just one more reason to start eating right and get out there in the garden this spring.

Just one more reason to get to growing your own garden come spring. Which by the way isn’t to far off. Also look for my new gardening book comiing out April 2nd 2009   not far off either.

If you don’t already eat broccoli regularly, you could be putting your ability to breathe easily at risk. The reason? Research by University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) scientists concludes sulforaphane, a natural compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (like Brussels sprouts and cauliflower), appears to protect against respiratory inflammation that causes asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions that make it hard to breathe.