Honey

It's happening in small, private clinics...

And it's happening in the largest, most respected hospitals in the world...

A rising tide of doctors and health care providers are now urging their patients eat this "life-giving" sugar every single day.

They're not just recommending it to give a "slightly better alternative" to other sweeteners either. They're prescribing it to treat life-threatening diseases, heal chronic conditions, and keep people looking and feeling their very best.

If you guessed honey, then you're absolutely right. For we've all heard about how honey is a remarkable substance. We've heard about how it "doesn't go bad". Or about how archaeologists found unspoiled, 2000-year-old honey in an Egyptian tomb.

For example, honey was the most popular ancient Egyptian healing remedy (and was mentioned over 500 times in 900 remedies.)

Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine) used honey as a treatment for pain, dehydration, and fever. And this isn't just some "folk remedy" discredited by modern science either. Researchers (in thousands of peer-reviewed papers) continue to uncover just how healing honey can be.

I still remember how one patient, Rachel, just stood there, staring at me with her mouth open.

"Hold on. Let me get this straight." she said. "Did I really just hear my doctor tell me to give my seven-year-old son honey?!?"

I nodded. "Just a spoonful before he goes to bed. The cough will clear up in no time."

Her son, Kevin, had just recovered from the flu. And while the fever and nausea had faded, his cough hadn't.

Overcome by a fit of coughing every five minutes, he couldn't sleep at night (which made him cranky and miserable all day.)

Rachel was at her wit's end. The sleepless nights left her exhausted. And she'd done everything she could think of to help her son... Lots of water... Cough syrup... Even antibiotics.

And here I was, a physician, prescribing something you'd normally drizzle over oatmeal or spread on toast.

Truth be told though, I could sympathize with her skepticism. For when I first heard about honey's life-giving properties...

The 7 Most Dangerous Prescription Drugs

A damning Harvard University report has advised that according to the European Commission, about 328,000 patients in the U.S. and Europe die from prescription drugs each year – making prescription drugs the 4th highest cause of death, on a par with stroke.

We could get into legal trouble if we advised you to go against the recommendations of your doctor; however we can advise you to be as informed as possible about the risks involved in taking prescription meds.

According to the World Health Organization, the pharmaceutical industry is worth 300 billion dollars annually – with an additional hundred million expected to add to the value in the next three years. A third of this entire multi-billion-dollar market is controlled by ten of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. According to CMR International, a partner of Thomas Reuters, global pharmaceutical sales reached one trillion dollars in 2014 and will be booming to 1.3 trillion by 2018.

It goes without saying that this is big business – but like every big business, there is a dark side as well. Can we really trust the research – seeing as the same companies selling the pills are funding many of the medical journals? And then we have the issue of doctors receiving kickbacks for prescribing certain drugs, after being “educated” on the benefits of the drugs by pharma salesmen.

Take a look at this list of seven of the most dangerous prescription drug types and see how they can hurt you.

#1: Sleeping Pills (OTC and prescribed)

The use of sleeping pills has been associated with an increased risk factor for stroke. A study published by Petrov, et. al. in 2014 revealed that over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills increased a person’s risk for stroke, independently and beyond any of the other known risk factors like blood pressure, personal history of heart disease, and vices like smoking and drinking alcohol. Isn’t it worrying that compared to all other factors that place a person at risk for stroke, sleeping pills top that list?

#2: Cholesterol Drugs (Statins)

Did you know that deaths attributed to heart failure more than doubled from 1989 to 1997, while statins were first given pre-market approval in 1987? This is an alarming “coincidence” – to say the least. Interference with production of Co-Q10 by statin drugs has been proposed as the most likely explanation.

Drugs that are meant to control your cholesterol levels may also be damaging your liver. Hepatotoxicity is not completely absent among people who undergo statin therapy, but it is uncommon. However, several studies have discovered that statins cause severe liver damage, especially in in dosages higher than 50 milligrams per day – a scary thing to realize when statin dosages can climb up to 80 milligrams per day when a person has high or uncontrollable cholesterol levels. Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, and Pravastatin have all been linked to liver injury.

#3: Blood Pressure Drugs (Beta-blockers, Calcium channel blockers)

Among the different drugs prescribed to manage hypertension, calcium channel blockers have been found to be the most common ones linked to adverse drugs reactions (ADRs). The most common ones linked to CCBs are bipedal edema, chest pain, hypersensitivity, and difficulty of breathing. A recent study published in 2014 discovered that immediate-release CCB use was positively associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. On the other hand, beta-blockers have been associated with several adverse side effects, such as increased incidence of post-operative dysrhythmia, troponin elevation, and heart failure, risk for hepatic failure, and small-for-gestational age births.

#4: Alzheimer’s Drugs

While the positive effects of psychotropic drugs have been well-documented, there have also been studies revealed their adverse effects. A study conducted on the pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer’s disease found that antipsychotics increased a person’s risk for developing diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and stroke, and even overall mortality. The most popular drug prescribed for Alzheimer’s is Aricept or Donezepil and has been linked to nausea, diarrhea, malaise, dizziness, and insomnia.

#5: Arthritis Drugs (NSAIDs)

It is so easy to be prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain, and even easier to purchase one from the pharmacy. What most people fail to realize is that NSAIDs are one of the leading causes of drug-related morbidity, especially in elderly and immunocompromised people. They have been directly linked to gastrointestinal problems, destroying the inner lining of the stomach and increasing the risk for ulceration and internal bleeding. Renal effects have also been linked to NSAID use, causing fluid and sodium retention and hypertension (and eventual cardiovascular problems). In worse case scenarios, people with severe kidney problems might even require dialysis. This seemingly innocuous drug is one of if not the most dangerous ones on this list.

#6: Diabetes Drugs (Actos, Avanida, Byetta, Metformin)

Another class of drugs to watch out for are those prescribed to manage high blood sugar, a characteristic symptom of diabetes. Liver damage has been linked to metformin use. In a study focusing on different ADRs, metformin-induced hepatitis was seen in a case of a person taking 500 milligrams of Metformin three times a day and insulin glargine. Liver damage can manifest as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and discoloration of the urine and stool. Further liver damage can cause uncontrollable bleeding and insufficient clearing of toxins from the blood.
 
#7: Chemotherapy (Tamoxifen)

The one category of drug on the list that is universally regarded as harmful to a person’s health is chemotherapeutic drugs. When people diagnosed with cancer are advised to undergo chemotherapy, they are prepped for the side effects they will undoubtedly experience along with it. Chemotherapeutic drugs are strong enough to kill rapidly proliferating cancer cells – however there is collateral damage: Healthy cells are also killed and it’s the oft-repeated hope with chemotherapy that it “kills the cancer and doesn’t kill you”. Weakness, hair loss, and appetite loss, are the mildest of these side effects, with more serious ones involving blood in the urine or stool, high-grade fever, severe pain over the chemotherapy infusion site, vomiting and diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.  Chemotherapy is known to kill a significant number of cancer patients.

Alternatives:

If you are interested in alternatives, check out our Giant List Of Herbal Remedies For 50+ Conditions.

This article is not medical advice.

Source: herbs-info.com/blog

20 Weird Uses And Benefits Of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a fantastic spice that not only imparts a magnificent aroma to a wide variety of foods, but it also considered to have all kinds of fantastic healing benefits. Furthermore, as you will soon see, there are all kinds of ingenious alternative uses of cinnamon.

There is, however, a serious fly in the ointment as far as cinnamon is concerned – much of the cinnamon consumed in the world nowadays is not real cinnamon (aka Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum zeylanicum), it is cassia! This is a potential problem because cassia (also known as cassia cinnamon, Saigon cinnamon, Chinese cinnamon or Cinnamomum aromaticum) contains much higher levels of coumarins, substances that have strong anticoagulant properties and may also be harmful to the liver when consumed in quantity. It has been advised to go easy on cassia as it may not be good for your health.

If you are buying cinnamon powder, it is very difficult to tell the difference between the two – however if you are buying cinnamon sticks, it is easy to tell the difference when you know what you are looking at. Be prepared to be seeing a lot of cassia, though. You’ll be amazed how much of the so-called cinnamon around is actually Cassia.

Here is how to tell the difference:
1) True cinnamon is a paler tan brown color (see our pic), as opposed to the more reddish rust-brown of cassia.
2) True cinnamon has a thin, paper-textured bark that forms multiple thin layers when rolled up. Cassia bark is much thicker, forming only a few layers.
3) True cinnamon is way more fragile, and much more easily crumbled – with the ends often appearing more broken up. Cassia is much tougher and more difficult to grind.
4) True cinnamon has a delicate, sweeter aroma, whereas cassia is more pungent and full bodied.
5) True cinnamon is up to 10x more expensive and harder to obtain.

Another part of the problem is that during the harvesting and drying process, the thicker cassia is more prone to mold and so is typically treated more heavily with pesticides!

If you are using cinnamon, especially for its health benefits, it is very important to get the real stuff. And now, you are in the know! To see some pictures that illustrate this nicely, follow this link to a google images search result for “cinnamon vs cassia”.

This little point of safety out of the way, w can move on to today’s discovery: We found a great article listing 20 Weird Uses and Health Benefits of Cinnamon.

Source: ecosalon.com

Liberty Land, Memphis TN,

Libertyland on East Parkway at Tiger Lane was declared a historical site by the Shelby County Historical Commission. Honoring the nation's Bicentennial, the Libertyland theme park opened near this spot on the Mid South Fair grounds on July 4th, 1976. History buffs reveled in Colonial Land, Frontier Land, and Turn of the Century Land, and children of all ages enjoyed live shows, games and the dozen plus "mild to wild" rides. The park's signature features were the Dentzel Grand Carousel and Zippin Pippin roller coaster, both over 50 years old at the time of opening and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other popular features were the Revolution coaster and the Old Hickory flume ride, the children's playground on Tom Sawyer's Island, the dolphin show and the Memphis Liberty Bell. Libertyland was more than just a park. It provided first time jobs for hundreds of teens and pleasant memories for millions of visitors. It closed in 2005.

 

 
 Liberty Land Ticket Entrance
 
The Copy Of The Liberty Bell 


The Historical Merry Go Round from the Fairgrounds 


Bell Tavern with the Zippen Pippen in the backgroung


Fairgrounds Park Plans 1926


Source: Shelby County Archives

Reasons You Should Try An Epsom Salt Bath

Ease stress:  When we are under stress our body is drained of magnesium and increases our levels of adrenaline. While some short-term stress is actually helpful to our body, long-term exposure can lead to a number of harmful conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, insomnia, blood sugar regulation problems etc. When Epsom salt is added to a warm bath, the body is ready re-supplied with magnesium. This helps with the production of serotonin, the mood-lifting chemical in the brain that promotes calmness and reduces anxiety. Bathing in Epsom salt at least three times a week will help reduce irritability as well.

Promote restful sleep: If you have a hard time sleeping, like millions of other people, an Epsom salt bath will help promote a restful night. Take a bath about 30 minutes before your bedtime and follow it up with a cup of chamomile tea to bring about relaxation. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath for added relaxation.

Relieve inflammation and pain:  An Epsom salt bath can help not only relieve muscle tension but also reduce inflammation that causes pain. It is a useful way to reduce the pain from migraine headaches as well.

Detoxify:  We are exposed to over 21,000 toxins on a regular basis including medications, herbicides, pesticides and PCB’s.Over 80% of our food have genetically modified ingredients and more than 80,000 metric tons of carcinogens are released into the air each year in North America alone.  

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average US citizen has residues from over 400 toxic compounds in their body.Epsom salt contains sulfates that flush toxins and heavy metals from the body. What is even more staggering is that there are 82,000 chemicals in use today in the United States but only one-quarter of them have ever been tested for toxicity.

As mentioned, the skin is a highly porous membrane and when Epsom salt is added to a warm bath,  salt and toxins are pulled out by a process known as reverse osmosis. This also strengthens the immune system as it doesn’t have the burden of all of the toxins.

More benefits from taking an Epsom salt bath include:

1. Improved ability of the body to use insulin, reducing the chance of diabetes.
2. Improved heart health – preventing hardening of the arteries and reducing blood pressure.
3. Improved nerve function due to electrolyte regulation.
4. Improved oxygen use.
5. Better absorption of nutrients.

The best way to take an Epsom salt bath

Although you may like to have a bath in steaming hot water, a warm bath is best. Add two cups of Epsom salt (such as this Epsoak Epsom Salt) to your bath (standard size tub)  and soak for about fifteen minutes a few times a week for best results. If you tub is larger, use more salt.

If you don’t have time for a full bath, you can also make a shower paste. Simply add ¼ cup of organic olive oil and enough Epsom salt to make a paste. Use the scrub in the shower. Make a warm compress with Epsom salt to put on bruises or sore muscles.

More ways to use Epsom salt

• Foot soak – 1 cup Epsom salt to hot water and soak feet for twenty minutes.

• Hair mask –  Mix equal parts of your usual hair conditioner with epsom salt and leave on your hair for twenty minutes. Rinse with warm water.

• Sunburn or itchy skin relief – Dissolve 1 tablespoon Epsom salt in ½ cup water and let cool. Pour in small spray bottle and use when needed. You can also use this same mixture on bug bites or stings. It will reduce redness and inflammation.

• Remove splinters – Mix equal parts warm water and Epsom salt and soak for fifteen minutes to remove the splinter.

To explore more wonderful ways to use Epsom salt, read our popular article: 20 Mind-Blowing Reasons Why Epsom Salt Should Be In Every Home

If you want to look and feel your best, consider adding a bag or two of Epsom salt to your medicine cabinet.

Source: naturalliving.com

Holistic Treatment And Essential Oils

A holistic approach is the best way to correct hormonal imbalances. The definition of the word holistic is: the whole is more than merely the sum of its parts.

Treating hormonal imbalances with pharmaceuticals often aggressively corrects one imbalance while creating complications in other parts of the endocrine system. Essential oils are the best solution for the holistic treatment of imbalances. According to a report by Maria Graça Miguel, faculty member at Portugal’s University of Algarve, essential oils have powerful anti-oxidant qualities that fight toxicity.

Essential oils are perfect, whether it’s for a situational or chronic issue. So much of what we are taking internally and inhaling are leading to what I refer to as estrogen pollution in our bodies. If we can embrace more natural, non-toxic, synthetic-free remedies, we lower our toxic threshold and the resulting hormonal imbalances that occur from breaching that threshold. — Marie Delcioppo, health coach and New York Times featured Raw Foods Chef.

Super Essential Oils

There’s a super-group of essential oils called adaptogens. These smart essential oils are unique because they have opposing healing properties like being both stimulating and relaxing — they adapt to your needs.

The use of adaptogen essential oils are pivotal for hormonal imbalances where glands may be under-functioning in one system, while over-functioning in another. Adaptogenic essential oils are capable of balancing opposing conditions without creating further imbalance, as many pharmaceuticals would cause. Using them together further strengthens their healing properties.

9 Adaptogen Essential Oils For Hormone Balance Are:

1. Basil
2. Lavender
3. Anise
4. Licorice
5. Lemon
6. Myrtle
7. Clary sage
8. Geranium
9. Lemongrass

Here’s how to treat hormonal imbalances using these nine super essential oils:

Adrenal Balance with Basil, Lavender and Anise

Your adrenal glands are responsible for how you cope with stress. If you’re trying to juggle a job, family and the demands of everyday life, you are likely to have overworked adrenals.

Cortisol, the “stress hormone” is produced by the adrenal glands and regulates your body’s response to stress. It works on a schedule — good sleep, starting at 10 pm, maximizes adrenal hormone function. Out of balance cortisol levels lead to:

• feeling exhausted upon waking even after a long night’s sleep
• high energy late in the evening or waking up at 2 or 3 in the morning
• an inability to calmly deal with stress
• food cravings
• brain fog

Basil essential oil increases the body’s natural response to both physical and emotional stress while conditioning you to cope better.

According to a study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, scientists examined the effects of daily basil extracts on stress symptoms in men and women over six weeks. 39% of patients showed a decrease in general stress symptoms, such as sleep problems, exhaustion, and forgetfulness.

Basil is indicated for those who are weary in mind and body and for those in need of strength and renewal. — Daniel MacDonald, author of Emotions & Essential Oils: Emotional Reference Guide

Basil essential oil soothes feelings of anxiety, overwhelm and exhaustion. Rub a couple of drops of high quality organic basil oil (such as this bottle from Mountain Rose Herbs) daily into your forearms or your ear’s adrenal gland point at the tragus (the cartilage above your ear lobe) to bring balance to your adrenals.

Life is demanding — the key to adrenal balance is to allow yourself more restorative relaxation time and sleep. Improve the quality of your sleep with lavender aromatherapy.

A study by the Department of Psychology of Wesleyan University, Connecticut found that the aromatherapeutic use of lavender increased the percentage of deep, restorative, slow-wave sleep in all men and women. Make an essential oil mist of lavender and water in a spray bottle and spray the mixture on your pillow before bedtime to enhance deep sleep. Add anise oil to the lavender mist to amplify the restful qualities of both oils.

Thyroid Dysfunction and Myrtle, Lemongrass and Licorice

According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), 20 million Americans suffer from some form of thyroid disease, while 60% of sufferers are not even aware of it. The thyroid controls important functions like the body’s metabolism and temperature regulation. Out of balance thyroid function symptoms include:

• Depression
• Uncontrollable weight gain or loss
• Dry hair and skin
• Cold or heat fluctuations
• Insomnia

Myrtle oil is an adaptogen that can stimulate thyroid activity. Dr. Daniel Penoel, MDspecializes in myrtle oil research and discovered that the oil has the natural ability to balance and normalize hormonal imbalances of both the thyroid and ovaries, regardless of whether either are under or over performing.

Rub a few drops of organic myrtle oil into your foot’s big toe and the reflexology point for the thyroid located at the base of the foot in the fleshy area below the big toe. Another area where myrtle oil is effective is the thyroid area below the Adam’s apple, at the base of your throat.

Essential oils are able to penetrate skin membranes quickly. A study conducted by scientists at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Vienna, Germany found that the healing compounds of essential oils enter the bloodstream within five minutes of skin application.

Magnify the thyroid-healing effect of myrtle oil by blending it with lemongrass oil, another thyroid-boosting adaptogen, or alternate between each.

Licorice is a powerful antidepressant. To fight thyroid imbalance symptoms like fatigue and depression, rub a drop of licorice oil in your hands and rub together to warm. Inhale the warm scent for a mood boost.

Ovary Balance with Lemon, Clary Sage and Geranium

While menstruation and menopause are natural processes of womanhood, some of the side effects are not. The ovaries produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which when imbalanced, lead to several symptoms including:

• PMS
• infertility
• difficult or irregular menstrual cycles
• lowered libido
• difficult menopausal symptoms like sweats and hot flashes

Start your day with a simple liver detox to keep hormonal imbalances from wreaking havoc. The liver regulates the sex hormones, primarily estrogen. Add 2 – 3 drops of lemon essential oil into a cup of warm water and drink it first thing in the morning.

A Dutch study has found that the compounds in lemon peels, a large component of lemon essential oil, improve liver functions like hormone regulation by lowering liver cholesterol.

Clary sage has been used since Medieval times to treat the list of symptoms above. It’s quite helpful in not only balancing hormones but for also relieving pain. Dilute a few drops in almond oil and rub the dilution into the ankles daily. If menstrual cramps are painful, rub the mixture on the stomach and ovary area for pain relief. Add the adaptogen oil geranium to the blend to enhance pain relief.

To soothe PMS and other feminine discomforts, add a few drops of clary sage and geranium to a warm bath and enjoy a soak.

Hormonal imbalances can be treated with essential oils safely and holistically. As with all new health regimes, consult with a trusted practitioner and start gradually. Using these nine essential oils is an enjoyable way to work toward hormonal balance and better body, mind and spirit awareness.

Need any of the essential oils mentioned in this article? Mountain Rose Herbs has a wonderful selection, all of which can be seen here.

Source: www.mountainroseherbs.com

Reasons To Wash Your Face With Apple Cider Vinegar

You may remember the smell of apple cider vinegar from your grandmother’s house. Perhaps she made you drink it when you had an upset stomach or used it to dab on your mosquito bites or sunburn. Well, guess what? Apple cider vinegar is back.

Grandma was right, it is a go to remedy for a large number of conditions and keeping a jar of organic raw apple cider in your kitchen and bathroom at all times is a great idea.

But how could something so simple be so powerful? The benefits of organic raw apple cider vinegar are found in the living giving force known endearingly as “The Mother.” Although the mother looks more like a scary spider web floating around near the bottom of the bottle, it is this substance that contains active ingredients to boost your overall health and wellbeing. The mother is alive, teeming with beneficial bacteria and nutrients.

How Is Apple Cider Vinegar Made?

Raw apple cider vinegar is made from organic apples and goes through a double fermentation process. During this process, enzymes and other nutrients are preserved and work together to bring out therapeutic properties.

Here are just a few amazing nutritional facts about this fermented drink:

• Apple cider vinegar contains potassium that helps keep teeth strong, prevents hair loss and remedies a runny nose.
• Apple cider vinegar contains pectin that keep blood pressure regular and can reduce “bad’ cholesterol.
• Apple cider vinegar contains malic acid which makes it a good defense against viruses, bacteria and fungus.
• Apple cider vinegar contains calcium which helps keep our teeth and bones strong and healthy.
• Apple cider vinegar contains ash which normalizes your body’s pH and maintains a healthy alkaline state.
• Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid what reduces the speed at which sugar enters the blood after a meal.
• Apple cider vinegar contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E

How is Apple Cider Vinegar Different From White Vinegar?

Regular white or brown vinegar does not contain any of the health-promoting properties that are found in apple cider vinegar. This type of vinegar has been put through rigorous distilling and processing and in the process all of its nutrients are stripped away. Raw organic apple cider vinegar is made up of living bacteria that is beneficial to health.

If you don’t see the cobweb like substance in the bottle, don’t expect the vinegar to provide any therapeutic value. Remember… look for the mother.

What About Putting Apple Cider Vinegar on Your Face?

Apple cider vinegar is equally as effective when taken internally as when it is applied to the skin externally. In fact, many people use apple cider vinegar as part of their daily beauty regime. It is a cost effective, 100% natural and organic way to keep your skin feeling fresh and supple.

5 Reasons To Wash Your Face with Apple Cider Vinegar

If you reach for commercial soap and cleaners to wash your face you may be doing more harm than good. Many of these products contain fragrances, dyes and other chemicals that can dry out your skin and leave it looking and feeling tired and rough.

The good news is that there are numerous things found in nature that can nourish your skin and keep it feeling and looking its best. One of these is apple cider vinegar.

Here are five great reasons to consider washing your face with apple cider vinegar. A word of caution – don’t put apple cider vinegar full strength over your face – it can burn. Use a diluted mixture of 50% water and 50% apple cider vinegar and be sure to try the solution on the skin on your hand or elsewhere before putting on your face. In very rare instances, some people are sensitive to this solution.

• Apple cider vinegar can help reduce age spots: When you wash your face daily with apple cider vinegar you will notice a substantial difference in age spots. Apple cider vinegar contains alpha hydroxy acids that will remove dead skin and reveal healthy and vibrant new skin. In addition to washing with a splash of apple cider vinegar, dab a little on a cotton ball and apply directly to age spots. Wait about thirty minutes and rinse your face with cool water and pat dry. Do this twice daily for six weeks and you will see a difference.

• Apple cider vinegar fights blemishes: No need to buy commercial acne cream when you can use apple cider vinegar. When apple cider vinegar is made, malic acid forms.  This makes apple cider vinegar a potent antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral substance capable of keeping bacteria at bay and pimples from forming.

• Apple cider vinegar balances your skin: While removing oil from your skin, apple cider vinegar also helps to balance pH and keeps your skin from becoming too oily or too dry by balancing the production of sebum. Rinse your face daily with apple cider vinegar if you desire balance.

• Apple cider vinegar fights wrinkles: Diluted apple cider vinegar face wash can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can soak a cotton pad or cotton cloth in diluted apple cider vinegar and dab on your skin. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

• Apple cider vinegar removes toxins from your face: Regular use of an apple cider vinegar wash will help draw toxins out of your skin leaving a youthful and clean glow.

Some Strange and Not So Strange Common Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

Salad dressing: Use apple cider vinegar in place of your usual salad dressing. Try mixing a ½ cup of the vinegar with 2 tablespoons of raw honey and a squeeze of lemon juice for a delicious topping for any salad.

Fluffy rice: Add a touch of apple cider vinegar when cooking rice. Your rice will be fluffier and taste great.

All purpose cleaner: Apple cider vinegar is a powerful all-purpose cleaner that can be used in just about every space in your home. Simply mix 1 part vinegar with 1 part water and 3 drops of essential oil. Mix in a spray bottle and use liberally on counters, in the bathroom and even for dusting.

To catch fruit flies: Fruit flies love the taste of apple cider vinegar and thus, it makes excellent bait for a trap. Put a little apple cider vinegar in a cup topped with a drop of dish soap. Set the cup on your counter and watch the fruits flies drop in.

Steak marinade: Marinate your grass fed beef in apple cider vinegar about 30 minutes before cooking. Your meat will be tender and delicious

Clean fruits and veggies: A diluted apple cider vinegar wash works great to clean your fruits and veggies. Remember, it is always best to wash your produce, even your organic produce.

Ease leg cramps: Leg cramps often occur because of a lack of potassium. If you have leg cramps, rub a liberal amount of apple cider vinegar on the area of pain.

Remove warts: Warts can be annoying and painful. Although many products exist over the counter to remedy them, they can be costly, sometimes painful and often ineffective. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and bandage it in place. Leave it on overnight.

To fight off a yeast infection: To remedy a yeast infection, add ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to your bathwater and soak for twenty minutes.

As a healthy hair rinse: For shiny and manageable locks, rinse your hair with ½ cup apple cider vinegar and ½ cup water. Do this several times a week to keep your hair looking and feeling its best.

Flea bath: Rinse your dogs after bathing with apple cider vinegar to keep the fleas away.You can also make a flea spray with half water, half apple cider vinegar and a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Spray this on your pets betting and coat to keep fleas at bay.

To clear a stuffy nose:  If you have a stuffy nose due to seasonal allergies or even a cold, mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and drink. You can add a little raw honey and a squeeze of lemon to taste.

To remedy heartburn: It may seem counterintuitive to drink apple cider vinegar when you have heartburn, but it works. This is because heartburn or acid reflux is not a problem with too much acid but actually too little. Mix two tablespoons apple cider vinegar with a 8 ounces of filtered water and drink before you eat.

Apple Cider Vinegar Recipes for Skin, Hair and Overall Health

Here are some great beauty recipes you can make at home using apple cider vinegar.

Source: naturalliving.com