Read and Beware~ Recipes and formulas for “3 Day Detox” or “Instant Detox” are all too common on Pinterest, a plethora of individual and business websites dealing with health, food, and lifestyles and in magazines. These fads usually encourage drinking some type of green smoothie, downing gallons of water and eating copious amounts of lettuce. Unfortunately, these instant detox schemes can actually harm the body and they overlook the fact that detox is not an overnight phenomena. Here’s the deal: Real, effective detox doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t happen in a week. Healthy detox in the body rests on a nourishing diet and stress management. We can, however, utilize additional safe and gentle methods to support our body’s detox processes. The following daily detox routines are effective and work with your body, not against it. Toxins. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the medications we take and the water we drink. Detoxification is the body’s way of metabolizing and removing toxins. It’s a process the body does naturally, all on its own…However, the capacity of the body’s detox process is not endless. When toxins build up in our body, we can and do get sick. 1. Drink lemon waterBeginners should start every day with a glass of lemon water; it is among THE BEST natural liver cleansing foods, which are major players in the body’s detoxification process. (It even fights fat and boosts your immune system.) The liver is our main detox organ. Supporting healthy liver function, naturally improves the detox process. D-limonene is an antioxidant found in the rind of citrus fruits. Our liver loves d-limonene. If you are not one for eating the rinds of your lemons, no worries. You can still benefit from d-limonene by simple adding a drop or two of lemon oil to your drinking water. ~~ 2. SweatPerhaps the best combination with sweating toxins out, however, is consuming niacin, or vitamin B3. Your skin will flush and you may experience some discomfort, but the niacin is, over several days and increased dosages, breaking fat cells. Guess what’s in these cells? Toxins. When the toxins are released, they’re sweated out or removed via urine or the GI tract. You’ll be that much closer to a detoxed body. 3. Food grade activated charcoal is also another great detox agent.( I use in cases of unusual circumstance as below) Buy a good food grade Activated Charcoal ( capsules are best) take one at night and one in the morning for a week…this is especially good if you have a cold, the flu, a major bite, food born virus, etc. Awesome Detox for the Shingles…Flushes toxins very quickly and promotes quicker healing. Detoxing your body is something you will not regret – so start today! ~~ When we take a detox bath, we not only boost our health and well-being, but also strengthen our immune system and prevent disease. End the day with a Detox bath… fill a tub with hot water, add some epsom salt and baking soda to neutralize the chemicals found in the water. ( one cup each) or…one cup of Apple Cider Vinegar..unfiltered is best) ~~ Cider Vinegar Bath Apple cider vinegar is a powerful purifying and detoxifying agent. It helps pull toxins from the body and can clear blocked energy. Cider vinegar has many, many healing qualities which you can find by searching the internet. NOTE: I always use the unfiltered cider vinegar. 2 Cups of Apple Cider Vinegar added to warm bath Soak for 20 minutes There are multiple websites on the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Have fun exploring. ~~ From the above info you can pick and choose your own Detox protocol.   I will share my routine with you as an example.   ~~I start my morning before coffee and breakfast with 4 to 6 ounces of warm lemon water ( I use 0rganic lemons, grind to a fine point and blended into SPRING WATER)  ( or a couple drops of Essential oil of Lemon)   I eat some Raw food every day…carrots, celery, peppers, green beans/peas, cabbage, tomatoes, asparagus,etc. ( living on a farm and growing my own food makes this an easy do for me. If you shop the grocery stores for your food it must demand a little closer inspection)   I add organic Bone broth to my diet several times a week.   (easy to make…Organic whole chicken, beef, fish, wild meat…(No Pork) Must have the bone in…..Wash and place in boiling water with celery, onion, garlic, sea salt and cayenne pepper and cook on med. heat about 30 min., lower heat to simmer and cook another 30/40 min. ( strain the veggies out or leave in…I leave in)  You can also cook the broth with no added ingredients at all….very beneficial but very bland.   I always end my day with some form of relaxing detoxing bath….   Below is needed by everyone but there are many ways to get physical exercise…   ( I garden as a profession…) ( I walk 2 to 3 mile at least 3 times a week) ( I work on machines in the gym 3 or more days a week)   ***Water consumption can be over-done***   1. If consuming a lot of water and not taking in the proper diet…..not a plus. 2. Never drink more water than your body weight calls for. 3. Drinking water with your meals is not a plus…flushes a lot of nutrients before they have a chance to digest/process.   I do, and I highly recommend others do…even children, take a Pro-biotic supplement daily .   Read, meditate, sing, pray, love,….live in gratitude….   A healthy body/mind/spirit…perfection! (as close as we can become in this life!)

Fennel….natural skin wash for adults and children

1 tablespoon fennel seed
8 ounces of boiling water
1 teaspoon local honey
2 tablespoons buttermilk

Lightly crush the fennel seeds,
place in the boiling water and remove from heat-allow to infuse for 30 minutes.

Strain the cool liquid into a small bowl, add honey and buttermilk.
Put into a clean bottle and keep in the frig.

Used once or twice a day this will last about a week.

Rub over face and neck or the whole body…leave on for a few minutes and gently rinse away with a soft cloth and warm water.

Leaves the skin silky, clean, and delicious smelling.

This makes a lovely wash for children and small babies.

Little girls adore it and it’s just bold enough that little boys don’t think it’s to girlie.

Enjoy-pamper yourself and your children~

As for me and my house, we will embrace Salt Lamp goodness!!

Visit So Well to check them out.

I personally have had great healing experience’s with salt, so in today’s negative environment, why not opt for any positive options without so much dissecting.

A salt lamp is a piece of Himalayan salt that has been hollowed out to house and embrace the heat emitted from a small light bulb.

Salt lamps come in many different sizes and you want to purchase one that is made from pure Himalayan salt.

Ions: The Negative and Positive
Salt lamp manufacturers and many salt lamp users claim that there are health benefits to Salt Lamps because of the negative ions they emit. And, while they do emit negative ions, the salt lamps, by themselves, do not produce the negative ions.

Salt, by its own nature, attracts water.

It is the added element of heat that causes this water to evaporate creating the negative ions. Negative ions are naturally found in nature near waterfalls and oceans and before rain storms.These are sources that generally make us feel very peaceful, at rest with our spirit My spirit is always renewed by being near an ocean, a mountain waterfall, a lake in the country and a warm refreshing shower in the rain.

“Normal ion counts in fresh country air is 2,000-4,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter. At a large water fall you might find over 100,000 negative ions. Polluted air such as in large cities might have less than 100 ions.” 

Positive ions are emitted by technology like computers, cell phones, microwaves.

There have been many claims that these items are detrimental to our health, some doctors have stated that cell phones should be at least five feet away from where you are sleeping. Yikes…who follows this thought or even knows it is a possibility to incur damage doing otherwise.

Mold, bacteria and pollution are also bad for our quality of life, and all carry positive charges.

Positive ions are absorbed into our body as free radicals and cause cell damage and premature aging.

The negative ions pair up with the positive ions and help cleanse the air

” Dr. Albert P. Krueger, a microbiologist and experimental pathologist at the University of California, found that an astonishingly small quantity of negative ions could KILL bacteria and quickly take them out of the air so they were less likely to infect people. A separate series of scientific studies elsewhere show that Salt Lamps and salt tea lights can increase the negative ion count by up to 300%!” (drleakelley.com)

It is believed Salt lamps will neutralize the air if placed right next to your computer (perfecthealthnow.com)

~

I am partial to that last point though, because a positive placebo effect (if that’s what it is) is valuable.

If anything, we attribute the calming claims of the salt lamp users to the Law of Attraction?

We think the salt lamp is beautiful and that it brings peace and calm and those are the thoughts they put out to the Universe and…so it does.

In today’s negative environment, what is not to embrace about something good….🤔

Aloe Vera (Liliaceae) is a succulent plant with no stem, just thick fleshy leaves containing special sacs full of gel which oozes out when the the leaves are cut or broken. It flowers rarely and grows 2 to 3 ft tall.

Aloes should grow 3 years before you attempt to collect the gel.

They are not cold hardy except in some southern climates they can survive outside if caution is taken for protection.

I grow them in pots and move into a sheltered location before the first frost.

The gel of Aloe Vera is anti-inflammatory saponins and antimicrobial, vitamins C and E, soothing salycilic acid and minerals.

This plant is a must to have on hand for sun exposure, bug bites, burns, eczema,shingles, and other skin rashes that need speedy relief and healing.

It’s often mixed with cucumber juice and in this form can be drunk to help immune function, digestive function, and conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and Chron’s disease.

It is wonderful to break a leaf and apply the gel directly to the face and arms after being in the sun and/or water.

Aloe Vera doesn’t like too much water and thrives in a location where filtered sun is available…loves the shade in the afternoon. Also likes being left in one location…not too much moving around.

A good thing!

Top Authors Give Proceeds to Middle School Gardening Project

(Jasper, AL) April 28th, 2013 – Top authors from across the world will come together on Facebook this Saturday to raise funds for a gardening project for students at Curry Middle School located in Jasper, AL. The project is Sponsored and coordinated by Bea Kunz of Sage Hill Farms.

“The project will be ongoing from year to year with different students and teachers participating,” states Kunz. She goes on to say, “I am thrilled to be a part of any project that enlightens or peaks an interest in better foods for better health.”

Kim Mutch Emerson, owner of Master Koda Select Publishing, LLC got wind of the project and gathered authors together from around the globe who were excited to offer the proceeds of their sales on Saturday, April 27th to this worthwhile project. For a preview of the books being offered you can visit this blog: http://dragontargeseries.blogspot.com/2013/04/charity-event-one-day-host-of-authors.html

The benefit event will include games and contests for the attendees and takes place on Facebook this coming Saturday, April 27th from 10:00am to 3:00pm Eastern time. The public is welcome. Proceeds from the book sales will go to the Curry Middle School Organic Gardening Project. To join this worthwhile event, simply go to this link and click join: https://www.facebook.com/events/485963738123325/

For more information or to donate to this non-profit project contact Bea Kunz on her website at https://sagehillgardens.com/ or Dr. Thomas Kyzer, Assistant Principal at Curry Middle School, Jasper, AL.

Bay/Sweet Bay/Laural…Lauraceae

The bay tree was sacred to Apollo, the Greek god of prophecy, poetry and healing.

The Latin laurus means “laurel” and nobilis “renowned”; laurate means “crowned with laurels,” hence poet laureate and baccalaureate.

Bay was also dedicated to Apollo’s son, Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine, and it has been used against disease, especially plague, for many centuries.

Bay is an evergreen and will grow to 23 feet.

Culinary uses are many, it is one of the ingredients in bouquet garni for stews, soups, stock, stuffing, pate’, and meats and fish.

Boil in milk to flavor custards and rice puddings.

You can flavor rice by placing a bay leaf into your rice jar or storage container.

NOTE: All laurels except sweet bay are poisonous.

Happy growing!

Bea Kunz

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