The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

We are all responsible for saving the precious resource of water. Here are some tips to help us conserve our future.



Take short showers and not baths.



Make sure all pipes are checked for leaks regularly.



Empty your hot water heater routinely. This helps make sure you do not have a residue build up on the inside of your tank, making it work harder and use more energy.



Make sure your water head on the shower is a water-saving one.



If you have laundry to do, make sure you have a full load to do and not a partial. This helps save on the water bill as well.



DO NOT use garbage disposals.



Wash your car less frequently. Who really cares if the car is all tha clean. And when you do wash it, hand wash it. Don't leave the water on the garden hose running.



Sweep the debris off your driveway instead of using the hose to do it. Use your manual labor people.



DON'T leave the water running while brushing your teeth. Turn it on when you need it.



DON'T leave the water running when doing dishes either. Wash your dishes and let them pile up then rinse them. Saves time and water. Don't use a dishwasher.



When watering lawns and flowers and gardens, water them during early mornings or late evenings. Reduces the evaporation rate.



If at all possible, collect rain water from your downspouts to water your flowers and gardens and lawns. Its free.



Keep a gallon of cold water in the fridge.



When you eat out at a restaurant, tell the wait person that you do not want a glass of water, if you don't drink it anyway.



DO NOT use the toilet for an ashtray or wastebasket. Uses more water at the waste treatment plant to treat the waste water.



If at all possible, DO NOT use sprinklers. It is ok if your grass turns brown in the summer. It means it has gone dormat and will come back.



When doing landscaping, use plants that are tolerant to your zone. That way they can withstand a drought or the heat of the sun.

Here are some tips on how to help preserve the very costly fuel our vehicles so desire!!



Carpool, people, come on now! Share the love of giving a ride to coworkers and friends. That way you can all pitch in and buy fuel for one car a week and save money and maintenance on your own vehicle.



If you work close to home, walk or ride a bike. Everyone could use a little exercise. And what better a way to get it than walking or riding a bicycle. If you need to go to the convenience store or grocery store and don't need a lot of stuff, walk or ride your bike there too.



When you need to run in some where to pay a bill or buy a pack of smokes or what nots, don't leave your vehicle running. Shut off the engine.



Make sure your vehicle is routinely checked out. If you have a clean air filter and fuel filter you will save money and energy. Keep the proper amount of air pressure in your tires to preserve your fuel usage.



If your bored, don't jump in the car and ride around aimlessly. Go for a walk instead and enjoy the outdoors. If its cold outside read a book.



When you have to run errands, make sure you have everything mapped out. It will make it easier on you and save energy.

Ten First Steps

Written by Chris Baskind

Friday, 19 January 2007





It all seems so daunting.



Climate change. Carbon credits. Biofuels, hydrogen power, and solar energy. The vocabulary of a new century. There's a lot to learn.



The news is full of disturbing reports about global warming, threatened species, and the gradual realization that the way we live -- particularly in the developed nations -- will have to change if we want to enjoy a clean and sustainable future.





But there's no reason to feel overwhelmed. Every journey begins with a single step. At Lighter Footstep, we've rounded-up the ten easiest ways for you to start moving toward a lighter lifestyle. Some cost nothing at all. Others provide a lot bang for your eco-dollar. In every case, these ideas will save you money, cut energy use, and help balance your household's greenhouse gas budget -- the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere to produce goods or electrical power.



So pick a few, and give them a try. Before long, you'll establish the habits we all need to develop as we face the challenges of a resource-hungry planet.



Make the switch to Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs). Just a few years ago, CFLs were bulky, expensive, and hard to find. Thanks to environmental commitments by companies such as Wal-Mart, CFLs are now readily available at about $2.00 each. That's more expensive at purchase than incandescent bulbs, but lumen for lumen (the unit by which a light bulb's brightness is measured), CLFs use much less power. They also last up to ten times longer than regular bulbs. That means that the average CFL bulb will save $30 in energy costs over the course of its life. Accoring to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if every American household were to swap just one bulb to CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.



Monitor your thermostat. Small changes make a big difference over time. Make a note of where you normally keep your thermostat. Once you've got an idea where it is usually set in the summer and winter, make the Two Degree Pledge: up two degrees in the warmer months, and down two degrees when it's cold. Check Lighter Footstep for energy-efficient ways to stay comfortable through the seasons and save up to $100 a year on your power bill. That's equivalent to one ton of greenhouse gases which would have been produced by the energy you saved.



Clean or replace your air conditioning filter. Depending on where you live, air conditioning filters can get dirty in a matter of days. An air conditioner with a clogged filter has to work harder, which means higher power bills and the creation of more greenhouse emissions. Running clean, you can save up to $150 each year. You'll also enjoy the benefit of fewer allergy causing particles in the air, and a more comfortable home or office.



Unplug idle appliances and electronic devices. Just because that cellphone charger doesn't have a phone attached to it doesn't mean it's not drawing energy. Devices such as televisions with standby modes can use up to half the power they would draw when turned on. Don't just turn something off: unplug it. The average household can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by pulling the plug on silent energy vampires.



Buy a low-flow shower head with a shutoff valve. In most homes, you can replace an old-style shower head with a modern unit in about fifteen minutes. You'll reap two-pronged savings, both in water and the energy you'd have used to heat it. You're also saving your community the power it would have used to treat the wastewater. The benefits can be pretty impressive, since water heaters account for about 25-percent of home energy use. Put several hundred dollars back into your budget each year and keep water use to a minimum.



Drive smarter. In real world testing of common fuel-saving tips, the Edmund Automotive Network found some surprises. First, it's a good thing to keep tires properly inflated, and this is a commonly recommended strategy for saving gas. But Edmund found others which make a more noticeable difference. Use your cruise control on the highway for up to a 15-percent improvement in mileage. Driving less aggressively is the single most effective way to save gasoline: accelerate out of lights more gently, avoid rapid braking, and only drive as fast as you must. And turn off your engine rather than idling excessively. If your car starts reliably, consider shutting it down at long lights. Skip the drive-through window, park, and walk your business inside whenever possible.



Get an annual tune-up for your car. At $200 to $300, a full engine tune-up sounds like a pricey way to save fuel and money. In practice, it's a good investment. A faulty oxygen sensor, for instance, can penalize your car up to 3 miles per gallon. Worn spark plugs and dirty air filters can cost you another 4 MPG. It all adds up -- fast. Set a fixed time each year to give your car the attention it needs. And check that fuel cap, while you're at it. A loose or poorly sealed cap will vent gasoline vapor, polluting the air and costing you up to 2 miles per gallon. Tighten up!



Dust-off that bike. Bicycles are the most efficient form of human transportation, and the only thing they burn is calories. Consider whether bike commuting might fit your lifestyle. Even if this isn't the case, bicycles are a healthy and environmentally friendly way to run those short errands. You'll need a helmet, a good lock, and proper lighting if you're out before dawn or after dusk. Start by resolving to use your bicycle instead of a car just once a week, a build from there. Watch Lighter Footstep for articles on choosing an appropriate commuter bike and outfitting for comfort and safety.



Go meatless once a week. If you're not already practicing a vegetarian diet, consider cutting back on the amount of meat in you consume. As Frances Moore Lappé pointed out in her bestselling book, Diet for a Small Planet, livestock production absorbs sixteen pounds of grain and soy feed for every pound of meat that actually gets to the plate. Each calorie of animal protein requires 78 calories of fossil fuels to produce, and irrigation directly associated with livestock production (including feeds) amounts to about half of all the consumed water in the United States. Give meatless substitutes like Boca Burgers a try, or scan vegetarian recipes for healthy and earth-friendly meal ideas.



Buy local; buy in season. According to the non-profit group Sustainable Table, the typical carrot travels 1,838 miles before it ends up in your kitchen. That's a lot of food miles, and a tremendous amount of wasted fossil fuels and packaging. Buying regionally produced food is a keystone of sustainability: not only does it save the energy costs associated with shipping bulk produce, it keeps a portion of your grocery money close to where live. So locate your local farmer's market and add it to your weekly errands. You'll be supporting local growers while enjoying fresh, seasonal produce.



By the time you've a few of these steps, you'll probably be thinking of other actionable ways to present a lighter environmental footstep. And that's how meaningful change begins: consistent, incremental improvements to the way we manage our personal and community resources. Join with Lighter Footstep in fashioning a wiser and more sustainable future.

www.gogreeninitiative.org



What’s the problem?



According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the world population is expanding at a mind-boggling rate. The world reached 1 billion people in 1800; 2 billion by 1922; and over 6 billion by 2000. It is estimated that the population will swell to over 9 billion by 2050. That means that if the world’s natural resources were evenly distributed, people in 2050 will only have 25% of the resources per capita that people in 1950 had.



The world has a fixed amount of natural resources - some of which are already depleted. So as population growth greatly strains our finite resources, there are fewer resources available. If we intend to leave our children and grandchildren with the same standard of living we have enjoyed, we must preserve the foundation of that standard of living. We save for college educations, orthodontia, and weddings, but what about saving clean air, water, fuel sources and soil for future generations?



Some of the greatest threats to future resources come from things we throw away everyday. Household batteries and electronics often contain dangerous chemicals that may, if sent to a local landfill, leak through the bottom barrier and pollute the groundwater. This can contaminate everything from the soil in which our food grows, to the water which will eventually come out of aquifers and into our tap water. Many of these chemicals cannot be removed from the drinking water supply, nor from the crops that are harvested from contaminated fields. The risks to human health are tremendous.



Throwing away items that could be recycled diminishes energy, water and natural resources that could be saved by recycling.



Did you know...



For every ton of paper that is recycled, the following is saved: 7,000 gallons of water; 380 gallons of oil; and enough electricity to power an average house for six months.

You can run a TV for six hours on the amount of electricity that is saved by recycling one aluminum can.

By recycling just one glass bottle, you save enough electricity to power a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

The more we throw away, the more space we take up in landfills. When a landfill becomes a “landfull”, taxpayers have to build a new one. The less we throw away, the longer our landfills will last. The amount of taxpayer money we save by extending the longevity of our landfills is an important community benefit.

10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green



How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? In honor of Earth Day 2006, the Worldwatch Institute teams up with the Washington, D.C. members of SustainUS, the U.S. youth network for sustainable development, to share some ideas on how to go green and save green at home and at work.



This Earth Day, it’s time to take action.



And we really mean it. Study after study has confirmed that global warming is already occurring and that it is caused primarily by human activities. The only uncertainties are how soon and in what ways it will disrupt our existence. Stronger storms? Flooded coastlines? Harsher droughts? More disease? Not to mention that our waterways, food, and air are already polluted to unsound levels in many areas, affecting our health and quality of life every day.



But there is still time to act, and our great-great-grandchildren will thank us for living more sustainably, starting now. Fortunately, many of the steps we can take can actually make our lives better as well.



Below we offer a list of 10 things you can do today that will not only reduce your ecological footprint, but also save you money and help you live a happier, healthier life. (We call this a positive feedback loop.) Start with these, and after reading our Peak Oil forum, you can work on the rest.



Re-route your commute.

Walk or bike to work and save money on gas and parking while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

If you live far from your office, investigate the option of telecommuting. Or move closer—even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.

If your streets are not conducive to biking or walking, lobby your municipal government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in decreased traffic and pollution.



Buy used.

Whether you’ve just moved to a new area or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items, rather than buying them new. Check out garage sales and thrift stores for clothing and other everyday items.

Use your creativity in gift giving, including making homemade gifts, donating to a good cause, or even regifting. (And gift green, in general.)

Your purchasing habits have a real impact, for better or worse. When making new purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t.



Buy local.

Shop at your local farmers’ market. Though the offerings can be more expensive, you can generally count on a higher quality product—and the entire purchase price goes directly to the farmer. Buying any goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country and around the globe.

Start a local currency program in your town. This can ensure that money stays in your local economy, valuing local services and supporting local merchants.



Compost your food scraps.

Composting helps reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill, which can save you money if you live in a municipality with a “pay as you throw” system. In the process, you create free, healthy fertilizer for your garden (or your neighbor’s—or lobby for a community garden!)

If you don’t have a yard or space for a compost pile, try indoor ‘vermiculture,’ or worm composting.



Change the thermostat setting and install energy saving devices.

Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer can translate to substantial savings on your utility bills.

Install low-flow showerheads and take shorter showers to save water and the energy used to heat it. Or, consider eventually installing a solar hot water heater on your property.

Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible and use a drying rack or clothesline.

When incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with longer-lasting, low-energy compact fluorescent bulbs.

With the money you save from making these changes, consider buying wind energy from your local utility or purchasing renewable energy offsets. Renewables offer our best hope for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a host of other pollutants. In some cases, “green energy” options can be cheaper than electricity from conventional sources!



Skip the bottled water at the grocery or convenience store.

Filter your tap water for drinking rather than using bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it produces large amounts of container waste.

Check out this recent update and life cycle analysis for the latest on bottled water trends.



Make your own cleaning supplies.

Using simple ingredients such as baking soda, soap, and vinegar, you can make cheap, easy, and non-toxic cleaning products that really work! Save money, time, and your indoor air quality.



Think twice about new electronics.

E-waste from discarded cell phones and computers is a growing environmental problem. Mounds of electronic refuse are being shipped abroad illegally for ‘disassembly’ by workers with little protection against the mercury and other toxic substances they contain.

Keep your electronics as long as possible and dispose of them responsibly when the time comes.

Buy higher-quality items and don’t give in to ‘psychological obsolescence’ marketing campaigns.

Recycle your cell phone and support good causes at the same time!

Ask your local government to set up a responsible recycling and hazardous waste collection event.



Add one meatless meal per week.

While strict vegetarianism isn’t for everyone, even the most devout carnivores can cut back on meat consumption without cramping their style—and save money in the process. Industrial meat production requires huge energy inputs and creates noxious waste problems. The proliferation of factory farms is damaging the environment, and the global nature of the industry creates conditions that promote the spread of diseases such as avian flu, potentially costing society billions.



Use your local library and other public amenities.

Borrowing from libraries, instead of buying personal books and movies, saves money and printing resources. Consider donating the money saved to your local library.

Be an active civic participant and ensure that the public spaces and facilities in your town are well maintained. This will promote a healthy, sustainable community.

We can now add to the list of victims the retired 77 yr. old TCU professor from Ft Worth whose body was found ! last week in Oklahoma--and the 11 yr. old in Sarasota, FL. Because of these recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know.





After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.



1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!





2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!





3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.





4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching y! ou, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.





a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head



DO NOT DRIVE





OFF, repeat:



DO NOT DRIVE





OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.





5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:



A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.



B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.



C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.



IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better para! noid than dead.)





6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)





7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably ! in a zig -zag pattern!





8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.





************* Here it is *******



9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the ! door."





The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.





Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby ----This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.





I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.





Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Ways to Fat Your Medicine

Maintaining good health on a daily basis should be your goal, but sometimes you want a substance to help you deal with the immediate symptoms. There are many alternatives to pills. Here are some.

Vinegar —We use only raw apple cider vinegar. We have used it externally on insect bites, and we routinely add about a tablespoon to each quart of drinking water. Vinegar water helps you deal with heat and stress much better. It affects the hypothalamus, which affects the body's cooling system. Before camping trips, we drink as much vinegar water as possible and we find that we get much less bothered by mosquitoes. Whole books have been written about the healthful uses of vinegar, such as Folk Medicine by D. C. Jarvis, M.D. (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1946).

Garlic —Adding garlic and onions to your diet is a delicious way to eat your medicine. According to many studies, garlic reduces cholesterol levels. Other studies have shown that garlic, and other members of this family, such as onions, are effective in reducing high blood pressure, preventing heart attacks, strokes, and flu, and even in protecting the body from certain urban pollutants. Numerous helpful chemicals such as allicin, an antibacterial substance, and selenium have been identified in garlic. To take advantage of garlic's many virtues, simply eat it.

Raw Honey —Honey is a great addition to your wilderness first aid kit. It doesn't just make campfire coffee drinkable. Various studies have shown that raw honey, applied topically to open wounds, causes wounds to heal faster than the wounds of control subjects. Additionally, infections were less likely to occur when honey was applied. Researchers reported in the American Journal of Surgery that these results were due to honey's hygroscopic, bactericidal, and energy-producing properties. But be sure to get raw honey, not the boiled or pasteurized kind.

Aloe Vera —Aloe vera has long been used as a safe and quick method to treat such skin problems as sunburn, poison oak rash, stove burns, cuts, scratches, and diaper rashes. It's a great first-aid plant to grow in your kitchen or yard since it is so versatile.

Researchers have also found numerous beneficial qualities to consuming aloe beverages, which is why you can buy aloe drinks in most health food stores. One benefit of aloe is that it is very cooling to the entire system, according to Dr. David Frawley, a specialist in natural healing. He suggests drinking a teaspoon or two of aloe vera gel before meals and before bed. Pre-bedtime ingestion has long been recommended for women for the alleviation of the symptoms of menopause.

Wild Foods —Some common wild foods that are veritable vitamin and mineral tablets include dandelion, curly dock, lamb's quarters, and purslane. Data from the USDA shows that all of these are extremely rich in vitamins and minerals.

One of the richest non-meat or dairy sources of calcium is carob pods, which are grown as ornamental street trees throughout much of the West, South, and Southwest United States. Pound per pound, carob contains about three times as much calcium as milk.

Bay Leaf —Do you suffer from indigestion after meals? Perhaps you ate too quickly. Perhaps you combined the wrong foods. Obviously, you should correct those behavior patterns, but now, in this moment, how should you deal with the pain? Rather than reach for Alka-Seltzer, try a cup of bay leaf tea.

Hot Peppers —During the winter months when Christopher experiences a cold or the onset of a flu, he has found that a few things can quickly snap him out of it. These include vigorous exercise, an extremely hot bath or sweat lodge, or a bowl of jalapeno peppers. Jalapeno's are very hot, so he'll cook up an egg or toast so he has something to eat the peppers with. His mouth will burn, his whole body will sweat, including his scalp, and he'll eventually begin to feel better. Jalapeno peppers have become a staple in our home as a result.

Sage —Herbalists regard sage as one of the best overall herbs for the nervous system. A weakened nervous system is at the root of many illnesses and diseases. Sage makes a tasty tea that you can drink daily after meals, or when you're not feeling so well. Though it is an excellent tea for colds and flu, you can use it all the time and you can even add the leaves to bath water. Dried sage also makes some of the best incense we have ever tried. Many western American Indians used to wrap sage and other herbs into "smudge sticks." When burned, the incense was said to ward off evil spirits and encourage well-being.

Cactus —The young pads of the prickly pear cactus have been used for centuries in Mexico. Researchers have recently proven what has long been conventional wisdom in Mexico: eating the prickly pear pads in salads, omelet's, stews, soups, and drinks is one possible way to control or cure adult-onset diabetes. And the sweet prickly pear fruit, the closest thing to a watermelon we have ever been able to find in the wild, has been shown to be effective in preventing prostate enlargement and urinary tract infections.

Herbs —The chart below is a list of some of our preferred herbal remedies to combat colds and flus. They range from mild teas used to simply calm the nervous system to remedies intended to fight specific infections.

Water —We've all heard that ninety percent of our bodies is water. You are losing fluids at this very moment without even realizing it. You might be surprised how much more efficiently and happily you function when you are well-hydrated. Headaches, digestive problems, and overall sluggishness result from common dehydration. Try to keep filtered water by your side. Here is how you tell if you are properly hydrated: your urine should be nearly clear.

Chewing —As a final point on eating, it's important to recall—though the fast- food mentality that we are bombarded with suggests that we shouldn't—that digestion begins in the mouth. Chewing causes the ptyalin in saliva to begin digesting the food. Thorough chewing will reduce strain on the digestive system, preventing health problems.

Fasting —Sometimes it's not what we do that's important, but what we don't do. Guess what? You will survive if you skip a few meals each week. In fact, you can skip eating at least a day each week or month, and you'll not only survive, but you'll be doing your body a favor. Fasting gives your body and mind a rest and a cleansing.

Many people consider it a way to increase endurance, extend fife, and increase overall well-being. When we don't eat, we still drink, usually water or fruit juices. After you've fasted for a day here and a day there, you'll find that the only pain is psychological: you're breaking your routine.

But you should know what you're doing when you set out to internally cleanse your body. We're not talking about crash diets here. For good instruction on fasting we recommend reading Are You Confused? by Paavo Airola, Ph.D. (Healthplus, 1971).

Drinking a cup of hot sassafras tea after a long week of work will help perk you for the weekend.

Ever wish you could drink a cup of magic potion to alleviate that headache or soothe those nerves after a long, exhausting day? Herb teas, called tisanes, may be as near a potion as you'll ever find, offering an incredibly wide variety of flavors and medicinal uses.

Old-fashioned horehound tea, for example, is considered good for colds and sore throats. Elder tea, which smells and tastes like lilacs, can be helpful to asthmatics and those with skin trouble. Spicy sassafras tea makes an excellent spring tonic. If your main interest is getting hooked on a delicious herb tea—as opposed to a caffeine-plagued coffee or tannic-acid-filled tea—you can try an assortment of teas, from lemon to licorice to apple. Serve them steaming hot in fall or winter, or refreshingly iced in summer—and sweeten with honey if desired.

To introduce yourself to herb teas, purchase a quarter-ounce of several different types of tea herbs. If you purchase them at an herb shop or farmers' market, make sure each package of herbs is labeled or otherwise marked so you'll know what it is when you get home. Most herb teas come in tea bags as well. Note: Use equal parts of caution and common sense when consuming herbs as you would with any type of medication. In the beginning, don't overdo the strength of your beverage mixture or the amount you drink.

Preparation

To use loose herbs, you'll need a tea bob or strainer and a glass or porcelain container with a tight-fitting lid. Add one teaspoon of the herb or herb mixture to one cup of boiling water and steep in container for five minutes. (Amount of tea and steeping time can be adjusted to taste.) If making only one cup, cover with a saucer while brewing. Metal teapots without linings, such as those made from aluminum, are not suitable because traces of the metal can contaminate the herbs.

For iced tea, add four to eight teaspoons of herbs (according to taste) to a quart of boiling water. Steep for approximately five minutes, let cool, and serve over ice. If you like a richer, stronger taste throughout the course of your drink, make and freeze some herbal tea in icecube trays ahead of time to add to your glass.

Another refreshing option is sun tea: Add four to eight teaspoons of herbs to a quart or so of cold water in a clear glass container and place in the sun for two to six hours. Chill and serve over ice.

Infusions are made only from the leaves and flowers of herbs, which release their volatile oils when steeped in a teapot of boiling-hot water. (If the herbs are simply boiled, the oil evaporates.) Crush one teaspoon of dried herbs for every cup of wa ter and put into teapot with an extra teaspoon added for good measure. (You can also use a handful of fresh herbs.) Pour boiling water over the herbs and let stand five to 15 minutes until it reaches the desired strength.

All seeds and roots, and the leaves of a few herbs such as horehound, lemon balm, and bee balm, must be boiled to extract their volatile oils. To make a decoction, first crush the roots or seeds, allowing one teaspoonful for each cup of water and one for the pot. Boil the herbs for 15 to 20 minutes in a glass or porcelain container. Seeds, roots, and bark such as sassafras may also be percolated like coffee. Decoctions are often used in preparing medicinal herbs.

For a real hot blast, heat your teapot before adding boiling water for an infusion or pouring in a decoction. Or do as the English do: knit or sew a "tea cozy" to cover and insulate your teapot.

A Garland of Teas

ALFALFA: The seeds and leaves of this valuable herb are packed full of vitamins A, D, E, and K. Alfalfa is also considered to be one of the best sources of essential minerals.

It also contains eight known enzymes and makes a mild, grassy tisane that can be flavored with mint. ANGELICA: Known in the past as the "root of the Holy Ghost," this heavenly aromatic variety reputedly sweetens the digestive tract and strengthens the heart, cure the top plate and roof to the footings. Then cover all of the straw walls with netting or 1" chicken wire before adding the finish of cement plaster and stucco.

A Toothpaste with Bite Every toothpaste needs five basic ingredients: 1) a cleaning substance; 2) an abrasive; 3) an emulsifier; 4) a sweetening agent; and 5) a flavoring agent, although the last ingredient is optional. The cleaning substance does just that and is usually a soapy material; the abrasive loosens plaque; the emulsifier helps all the ingredients to mix well; the sweetening agent makes it palatable; and the flavoring agent is strictly for promotion. Instead of adding to the pockets of the cotton-candy flavor, multicolor paste manufacturers, make your own. Here's how.

Mix 1/2 teaspoon glycerin, 1/8 teaspoon mild neutral soap powder, a tablespoon of calcium carbonate (often called chalk of Paris White), 1/2 teaspoon gum arabic (available at health food stores) and a couple of drops of peppermint oil. To this mixture add 1/8 cup of water. Heat and stir for five minutes until the mix has achieved a pastelike appearance. By the way, the glycerin is the sweetener; the soap powder the cleanser; calcium carbonate the abrasive; gum arabic the emulsifier, and you might imagine what the peppermint is for. You'll then be able to make a year's supply of paste for about a tenth of what you'd pay for a market brand.

By Charles Dickson, Ph.D.

Trash-Can Tonic and Other Tips



Tips for keeping critters out of the trash can, removing skunk odors, deterring deer from eating your produce and loosening rusted screws.

If four-legged critters are having a heyday in your outdoor trash cans, mix up the following recipe:

2 tablespoons liquid dish soap

2 tablespoons cayenne pepper

1 quart warm water

Spray liberally over trash to keep varmints at bay.

• To remove skunk odor from pets, bathe them in a mixture of:

1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide

1/4 cup baking soda

1 tablespoon liquid dish soap

Follow with a good, thorough rinsing.

• Loosen tight screws by putting a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide on them; let soak until the screws turn back and forth easily.

• If Bambi is using your yard as a buffet, try planting some of these deer-repelling, fragrant herbs: catmint, chives, garlic, onions. lavender, sage, spearmint, thyme, and yarrow.

Karen Ann Bland

Follow the steps below to handle common household injuries:

Care for Cuts

• The bleeding from cuts usually stops by itself. If not, apply direct pressure until it does.

• Immediately wash cuts carefully with soap and water.

• Apply antiseptic.octors often suggest iodine, antibacterial ointments and hydrogen peroxide, all available at pharmacies. Aloe, tea tree oil and honey, however, are equally effective natural alternatives.

The gel inside Aloe vera’s fleshy leaves is best known as a treatment for minor burns, but it also helps treat cuts. In fact, aloe became medically prominent more than 2,000 years ago when Alexander the Great’s army used it as a treatment for battle wounds. Modern researchers have identified several reasons why aloe gel spurs wound healing: It has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral compounds that help prevent wound infections. It also has immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory compounds, and it stimulates collagen synthesis and skin regeneration. Aloe contains vitamins C and E, plus the mineral zinc.

Beat the Pain of Burns

• Cool it. As quickly as possible, run cold water over minor burns, or use an ice pack. Place a few ice cubes in a plastic bag wrapped in a cloth (or use a commercial cold pack). Apply for 20 minutes, then wait 10 minutes before applying again. Flushing with cool water is especially important for chemical burns caused by drain, oven and toilet cleaners. Flush the area with cool water continuously for 15 to 30 minutes. If the chemical container is available, read and follow the first-aid instructions on the label.

• Pacify the pain.octors recommend aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). A natural alternative is white willow bark (Salix spp.), which contains pain-relieving compounds similar to aspirin. Commission E endorses white willow bark for treatment of pain. For a decoction, soak 1 teaspoon of powdered bark per cup of cold water for eight hours. Strain.rink up to 3 cups a day with honey and/or lemon. If you’re sensitive to aspirin, do not use willow — the herb may upset your stomach.

• Apply aloe. Aloe first came to modern medical attention in the 1930s, with a medical journal report that the herb helped heal burns inflicted by radiation treatments. In 1995, Thai researchers treated 27 people with second-degree burns with either aloe gel or petroleum jelly under gauze dressings. The average time to healing in the petroleum jelly group was more than 18 days. In the aloe group, it was about 11 days.

• Spread on honey. Indian researchers treated burn victims using either a standard dressing or one soaked with honey. The honey group’s burns healed twice as quickly (nine days versus 18 days).

• Herbalists and aromatherapists Kathi Keville and Mindy Green, co-authors of Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, suggest placing a few drops of lavender oil on burns or mixing three drops each of lavender oil, tea tree oil, chamomile oil and calendula oil, and applying the mixture to the burn.

• Don’t break blisters. When burns cause blisters, it’s tempting to pop them, but doing so risks infection. If blisters break on their own, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, then cover with gauze soaked with honey, aloe, lavender oil or tea tree oil. Wash the broken blister and change the bandage and dressing once a day.

Banish Your Bruises

Bruises are red, blue or purple marks on the skin. Around the eyes, they’re called black eyes. Bruises occur when a fall or blow leaves the skin intact but damages the capillaries beneath it. People bruise more easily as they age because skin capillaries become more fragile.

• Apply an ice pack as quickly as possible. Ice reduces pain and swelling.o not take aspirin or use willow bark — they are anticoagulants and prolong bleeding.

• Take bromelain. This enzyme is abundant in pineapple and has anti-inflammatory action. Bromelain is available at health food stores and supplement shops (chewable varieties of bromelain supplements taste delicious), or you can eat more pineapple.

If Infection Develops

As wounds begin to heal, pain, tenderness, redness and swelling should subside. If they persist or get worse, the wound is infected. Minor infections can be treated safely at home by washing with soap and water, soaking the affected area in warm water and applying aloe, honey, lavender and tea tree oil. But if symptoms continue — especially if pus begins oozing — see a doctor.

Michael Castleman is the author of The New Healing Herbs, a scientific investigation of 100 plants used in traditional herbal medicine. Visit www.mcastleman.com for more information.

Red Flags

Consult a physician promptly for:

• Cuts that won’t stop bleeding, or those with jagged edges that won’t come together. You may need stitches.

• Wounds that contain dirt or other foreign material you cannot remove. The wound should be professionally cleaned.

• Any burn over an area larger than your hand (except sunburn).

• Burns that produce extensive blistering, or any blister more than 1 inch across.

• Any human or animal bites that break your skin. Animal bites carry considerable risk of infection.

Reheat Pizza

Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.



Easy Deviled Eggs

Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, and cut the corner tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.



Expanding Frosting

When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving.



Reheating refrigerated bread

To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.



Newspaper weeds away

Start putting in your plants; work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.



Broken Glass

Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of glass- the fibers catch ones you can't see!



No More Mosquitoes

Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.



Squirrel Away!

To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.



Flexible vacuum

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum hose. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.



Reducing Static Cling

Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and - voila - static is gone.



Measuring Cups

Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.



Foggy Windshield?

Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!



Reopening envelope

If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.



Conditioner

Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...



Goodbye Fruit Flies

To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!



Get Rid of Ants

Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," & can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!



Baby Powder

Take baby powder to the beach. Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you are ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

Mother Earth News Magazine

Here are natural, easy tips to prevent fleas from entering your home:

Spray microscopic nematodes in moist, shady spots outside — even in flower and vegetable gardens. The worms eat flea larvae and can reduce populations by 90 percent within 24 hours.

Set eucalyptus leaves inside and out because fleas can’t stand the smell. Buy bunches at a craft store, cut them up and place leaves and stems in open glass jars. Set one or two in each room of the house. Also, hang pod-filled socks from branches around the yard.

Follow these tips to safely manage flea populations indoors:

Create a specific pet sleeping area that’s easy to clean often.

Restrict pets’ access to attics and basements.

Vacuum carpeting, furniture and floors weekly. When fleas are present, burn the bag promptly for effective disposal.

Regularly wash all bedding and rugs that your pet has contact with.

Comb your pet daily with a fine-toothed metal flea comb. Pull in the direction of the fur and drown fleas in soapy water.

At night, diligently place a dish of soapy water under a light near your pet’s bed to attract and trap fleas.

Treat your pet monthly with a homemade repellent. Place a thinly sliced lemon in a pint jug. Cover with boiling water and let the mixture soak overnight. In the morning, spray or rub the mixture into your pet’s skin and fur until damp, not wet.

Also, healthy animals are less susceptible to fleas. By feeding your animals a high-quality, natural diet free of additives and preservatives, you improve their health and dramatically increase their protection from fleas. Nutritional supplements can help too.

My favorite organic pest control for fleas, ticks, biting gnats, and horse flies for all my pets (horses, dogs, and even myself) is the time honored tee tree oil mixed with water. A little bit goes along way (I use just about four or five drops mixed with water in a 16 oz spray bottle.) Shake and spray on your pets. (Don't spray it in their eyes! I put a few drops on my hands and wipe it around their sensitive areas.) I also use this mixed in rinse water for doggie baths, horse baths, etc. Tee tree oil is also used for getting rid of head lice. (A few drops in a shampoo bottle works well.) Tee tree oil is an astrigent, an antiseptic and has a million uses, both for people and animals. You can find it in any health food store.

Posted by: NFickett | June 15, 2007

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY CLEANING PRODUCTS

By Eileen Hartman, Home Economist

Inexpensive "old-fashioned" substances can easily replace more toxic cleaners and chemicals around the house.

Remember, even nontoxic cleaners are not for human consumption. Keep out of reach of children. Do not mix compounds; for example, ammonia and bleach react to form deadly fumes.

Six Safer Substances

These are the Big Six of environment friendly cleaning. All are safer than their manufactured chemical counterparts, but some still need to be handled with care.

Vinegar removes mildew, stains, and wax buildup. Use it to clean coffeepots, glass, paintbrushes, grout, windows and fireplaces.

Pure Soap cleans everything from dishes to cars.

Baking Soda the all-around champion. Baking soda cleans, deodorizes, scours, polishes, removes stains, and softens fabrics. Use it on plastic, vinyl, carpeting, and upholstery, on silver and stainless steel, inside refrigerators or down drains.

Borax cleans wallpaper, painted walls, and floors. It deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of your detergents.

Washing Soda cleans clothing and softens water. But it is moderately toxic. Wear gloves and use it in well-ventilated areas to avoid irritation of mucous membranes.

Ammonia ? a hard working liquid, cleans carpets and linoleum, copper and enamel and most appliances. Ammonia can irritate the skin and the eyes, so wear gloves and use it in a well-ventilated area. Never mix it with chlorine bleach; the mixture creates a poisonous gas.

Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Alternatives:

All Purpose Cleaner #1



125 mL ammonia 1/2 cup

75 mL washing soda 1/3 cup

4 L warm water 16 cups

All Purpose Cleaner #2



50 mL baking soda 1/4 cup

250 mL ammonia 1 cup

125 mL white vinegar 1/2 cup

4 L warm water 16 cups

Heavy Duty Polish for Floors and Furniture



15 mL carnauba wax 1 tbsp

500 mL mineral oil 2 cups

Heat in a double boiler, cool, then apply with a soft rag. Carnauba wax can be bought at auto-supply stores or hobby shops.

Furniture Polish #1

This is for furniture that's been varnished, lacquered, or shellacked.



25 mL olive oil 2 tbsp

15 mL white vinegar 1 tbsp

1 L warm water 4 cups

Mix ingredients and put into a spray bottle. The polish works best when warm; heat by letting the bottle sit in a pan of hot water. After applying, rub dry with a cloth.

Furniture Polish #2

Use this on furniture that doesn?t have a protective hard coating.



15 mL lemon oil 1 tbsp

1 L mineral oil 4 cups

Put in spray bottle. Spray on, rub in, then wipe clean.

Descalers

Removing the scale that accumulates in your kettle or iron will increase its energy efficiency by helping it to work faster. Use a solution of one part white vinegar, two parts water. Pour some into your electric kettle and let it boil; rinse the kettle thoroughly. For your iron, pour in some of the solution and let it stand for 30 minutes; rinse several times.

Dish Detergent



500 mL grated hard bar soap or soap flakes 2 cups

4 L water 16 cups

Rub salad oil on grater before grating bar soap; it will be easier to clean.

Place soap in a pot, add water and stir. Heat over medium heat until the mixture boils, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in tightly covered container. (Not for use in automatic dishwashers.)

A homemade substitute for automatic dishwasher detergent can be made using equal parts borax and washing soda; increase the amount of soda if water is hard.

Bleach, Hydrogen Peroxide

1 part hydrogen peroxide

8 parts water

Soak garments in this solution, then rinse.

Fabric Softener

Adding 50 mL (3 tbsp) baking soda to the wash cycle, or 50 mL (3 tbsp) vinegar to the rinse cycle, will soften your laundry just as well as the costly commercial liquids.

Soak lightweight cloth in diluted laundry softener and place in dryer with wet clothes.

The cloth can be used over and over; softener is also conserved.

Drain Cleaner - Non-Caustic



250 mL baking soda 1 cup

250 mL salt 1 cup

125 mL white vinegar 1/2 cup

1 kettle boiling water 1

Pour baking soda, salt and vinegar down drain and leave for 15 minutes. Pour on boiling water.

To keep your drains clear pour about 50 mL (3 tbsp) salt down the drain, followed by a kettle of water, once or twice a week. Instead of the salt, you could use 50 mL (3 tbsp) washing soda, or 50 mL (3 tbsp) baking soda plus 50 mL (3 tbsp) vinegar.

Laundry Powder



250 mL pure soap flakes or powder 1 cup

25 - 50 mL washing soda 2 - 3 tbsp

Oven Cleaner



250 mL ammonia 1 cup

750 mL boiling water 3 cups

Ammonia fumes are dangerous - although not as toxic as the gases given off by aerosol oven cleaners. The kitchen doors and windows should be open while you?re using ammonia.

Warm the oven to 100 degrees C. Place boiling water in the broiler pan on the bottom shelf. Put the ammonia in a small dish on the top shelf. Shut the oven door and leave overnight. Before you open the oven again open all doors and windows, and leave the room while the vapors clear. Wash the oven with baking soda and water.

Scouring Powder



50 mL pure soap flakes or powder 3 tbsp

10 mL borax 2 tsp

375 mL boiling water 1 1/2 cups

50 mL whiting (a chalk powder) 3 tbsp

Dissolve the borax and soap in the boiling water. Cool to room temperature, add whiting, and pour into a sealed plastic or glass container. Shake well before using. If you want it to be more abrasive, add more whiting, 15 mL. at a time until it's right for you.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners

A safe all purpose cleaner, used regularly, will keep the toilet bowl clean.

To remove stains, mix borax and lemon juice to a paste. Wet the sides of the toilet bowl, rub on the paste, and let it stand for about two hours before scrubbing it off.

Ammonia - Peroxide Toilet Bowl Cleaner



5 mL household ammonia 1 tsp

250 mL hyrdogen peroxide 1 cup

2 L water 8 cups

Mix ingredients in a bucket and pour mixture into toilet. Let stand for 30 minutes, then scrub toilet bowl with long-handled brush and flush. The cleaner can be left in the bowl for several hours if needed to remove hard stains.

Rug and Upholstery Cleaner

Greasy soil and odours can be removed from carpets by sprinkling then generously with a mixture of two parts cornmeal and one part borax. Leave for an hour, then vacuum thoroughly. For spills, sponge the rug promptly with a mixture of vinegar and water. Then sponge with clean water, and pat dry.

Source: Canadian Green Consumer Guide

For more information on environmentally-friendly cleaning , check out the Soap and Detergent Association's website at: www.cleaning101.com



Part 2



safer suds

Glass Cleaner

In a spray bottle combine vinegar with water at a 2:1 ratio or use straight vinegar. Spray on; wipe off with old newspaper. For greasy fingerprints, combine vinegar with a squirt or two of liquid vegetable-oil-based soap.



Sink Scrubber

Scrub with baking soda or Borax. Bon Ami also works scrubbing wonders. (Use care on fiberglass.)



Disinfectants

Tea tree essential oil, Borax, or vinegar.



Toilets

Pour 1 cup Borax into bowl. Let sit overnight. Scrub. Or pour 1 cup baking soda into bowl. Add 1 cup distilled white vinegar. The mix will froth and then you're ready to scrub.



Floor Cleaner

Pour 1/2 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons liquid soap into a bucket filled with 4 galloons of hot water.



Furniture Polish

Melt 2 1/2 ounces olive oil, 1 1/2 ounces coconut oil, and 1 ounce each beeswax and carnauba wax. Add 4 ounces distilled water and blend. Rub the mixture on the furniture with a soft cotton cloth.



Dusting Solution

Combine 1/8 cup lemon juice with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Dip a cotton rag into the mixture and dust away.



Fabric Softener

Baking Soda.



Oven Cleaner

Spay water over the oven bottom; cover with a layer of baking soda. Let sit overnight. Wipe clean .

Information adapted from Clean & Green and Better Basicsfor the Home by Annie Berthold-Bond.

Herbal Healing



The gel inside this aloe plant’s leaves can help heal minor cuts and burns. You can buy skin-care products with aloe, or just keep one of the plants around the house.



A number of herbs can be safe and effective for aiding your skin in healing.



Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) makes a tasty, calming tea. The oils in this herb are also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and promote skin regeneration. That’s why Germany’s Commission E, the government panel that judges the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines, recommends the herb for wound healing. Make a strong tea using 1 heaping teaspoon of flowers per cup of boiling water. Steep until cool. Apply using a compress.



Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) contains allantoin, a compound that helps heal wounds.r. James Duke, author of The Green Pharmacy, suggests applying fresh, washed and bruised leaves directly to wounds as a poultice, or applying comfrey as a paste of powdered leaves. (You could also try skin-care products that contain comfrey, available at health food stores.)



In recent years, comfrey’s reputation has suffered because it contains compounds that can cause liver damage when ingested. You shouldn’t ingest this herb, but there’s no danger in using it externally for wound healing.



Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has been used for centuries to help heal wounds, and Commission E also recommends calendula for wound healing. Brew a tea using 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried flowers per cup of boiling water. Steep until cool. Apply using a compress, or mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of tincture in a cup of water and apply.



Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) has been used to heal wounds in India for centuries. It’s no wonder: The Asiatic herb’s acid stimulates collagen synthesis. Gotu kola salves are available at some health food stores and herb shops, or you can apply a compress containing tincture, liquid extract or tea. For tea, use 2 teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep until cool.