It Always Smelled Like Cinnamon

It always
Smelled like cinnamon
A welcomed warm surprise,

It always
Smelled of nutmeg
When grandma made her pies.

Sweet sugared buns
With frosted crumbs
Floured prints upon her blouse,

It always
Smelled like cinnamon
When we`d visit grandmas house.

Autumn days
Brought autumn nights
Light harvest winds would whisp,

And right behind
her oven door
The apple pies would crisp.

Pumpkin patch
in frosted dew
Bring pleasures to the eyes.

Yet it always
Smelled like cinnamon
When grandma made her pies.

~ Author Unknown

Fenugreek: Nature's Aphrodisiac

by John McKiernan

(NaturalNews) Fenugreek, who's name means "ram's horn clover," is an herb that has been used by many cultures for its medicinal properties. It has been shown to be effective in treating everything from loss of appetite to digestive disorders to diabetes.

However, it is particularly noted for its ability to improve sexual performance in men. Researchers are not entirely sure how it works, but it is thought to increase male hormones by releasing saponins. Saponins are phytochemicals found in many plants that carry an abundance of health benefits.

Man-made vs nature-made

Nowadays men have countless man-made drugs to choose from when they desire some assistance in the bedroom. Instead of popping one of these many pharmaceuticals, that can pose serious side effects, first look to one of mother nature's best alternatives and you may be surprised.

Research, carried out by the Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine, demonstrated that men who took a fenugreek extract twice daily saw a significant transformation in their sex life. The 6 week study showed nearly a 30% increase in reported sexual performance, when compared to a placebo.

Good sex for good health

Men that engage in sex regularly, in general, are healthier, happier, and live longer. An active sex life can relieve stress, improve immune function and heart health, improve sleep, reduce prostate cancer risk, and improve self-esteem.

The many benefits of testosterone

Due to fenugreek's reputation for boosting testosterone it is now being included as the primary ingredient in many testosterone boosting supplements. Many of these supplements are marketed primarily to men looking to increase muscle mass and decrease body-fat. Naturally elevated testosterone levels promote high energy levels, heart health, weight control and increased muscle mass.

More health benefits

There has been extensive research in fenugreek's role in treating diabetes. It has been shown to lower blood cholesterol, blood triglycerides, and blood glucose levels and to posses anti-cancer properties.

Fenugreek has also been used to treat:

-Infections
-Inflammation (arthritis)
-Wounds
-Diarrhea
-Stomach ulcers

Side effects

Fenugreek has been shown to be safe and effective. If fact, even breastfeeding mothers use it for its ability to increase milk production. One of the few possible side effects of fenugreek is a "maple syrup" odor that comes from the urine while taking it. While some may find this undesirable, it does not pose any health risks.

Pregnant women and children should not use the herb to be on the safe side. While fenugreek is not fully understood yet, researchers agree it is an herb with numerous health and well-being properties. This powerful, all-natural libido booster may provide just the boost in the bedroom that so many men are looking for.

Recipe for Making Your Own Tooth Powder

Tooth Powder Recipe

The Ingredients
-4 parts bentonite clay
-1 part baking soda
-1/2 part myrrh gum powder
-1/2 part ground cloves
-1/2 part ground stevia
-essential oils of cloves and cinnamon

Directions
1. Add all ingredients to a mason jar. Tightly close the lid and shake jar until well combined.

2. To use, apply a small amount of tooth powder to your tooth brush with a spoon and brush as you normally would.

-This tooth powder is good enough to eat! And it’s safe for the whole family.

-Myrrh gum powder contains highly antiseptic properties and is excellent for overall oral health.

-For a minty variation substitute peppermint leaf powder for the ground cloves and peppermint essential oils for the essential oils of cloves and cinnamon.

-Follow this recipe for homemade mouthwash.

-Purchase the ingredients for this recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs, The Bulk Herb Store, or a local health food store.

Back Pain? This Essential Oil Blend May Help

Here is a blend of Young Living essential oils that’s beneficial for back pain:

Panaway, 10 drops
Spruce, 10 drops
Cypress, 10 drops
Balsam Fir, 10 drops
Vetiver, 10 drops
Basil, 10 drops
Sage, 5 drops
Relieve It, 5 drops
Oregano, 10 drops
Wintergreen, 10 drops
Copaiba, 5 drops
one ounce of Ortho Sport massage oil

Mix together and rub into affected area.

Welcome To the Wonderful World of Medicinal Herbs

from Rosemary Gladstar's book "Medicinal Herbs, A Beginner's Guide"

Recognized as the oldest system of healing on the planet, herbal medicine traces its roots back to the earliest civilizations. Today, herbalism continues to flourish as a people's healing art. Even with the amazing technological advances of conventional (allopathic) medicine, herbalism - the art and science of healing with plants - is still widely popular. And its popularity is gaining, not waning.  According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of the world's population used some form of traditional medicine in 2008, and its rate of affordability, availability, and accessibility is surging.

So it's no wonder you're drawn to these healing plants and curious to learn more about them. But perhaps you're nervous about trying herbal home remedies. What are these herbs? Are they safe? Do they work? Can you grow them at home? Can you make your own remedies? When and how do you use them? How easy is it to get started? These are some of the questions we'll address here.

Botanical Boom

According to the"The Natural Pharmacy", by Schuyler Lininger et al., one out of every three adult Americans uses complementary/alternative medical care. Sales of botanicals have increased more than 300 percent since the 1990s and currently are an $8 billion industry.

Simple Exercises To Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

Simple exercises to improve your eyesight naturally

by Fleur Hupston

(NaturalNews) Aging vision (or presbyopia) affects many people over the age of 40. People who have developed presbyopia find they need to hold books, magazines and other reading material at arm's length in order to focus properly. What are the causes of this condition and can vision be improved by exercising the eyes?

What causes Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is thought to be an age-related process, differing from astigmatism, near-sightedness and far-sightedness, which are related to the shape of the eyeball and are generally caused by genetic and environmental factors. Presbyopia is believed to stem from a gradual thickening and loss of flexibility of the lens inside the eye. It is commonly held that these age-related changes occur within the proteins in the lens, making the lens harder and less elastic. Age-related changes also take place in the muscle fibers surrounding the lens. With less elasticity, the eye has difficulty focusing on nearby objects.

How can vision be improved?

There are a number of eye exercises that have proven to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of presbyopia. These exercises consist of flexing and relaxing routines, which stimulate the eye muscles, thus overcoming laziness of the eyes. This helps them to perform more efficiently, leading to improved vision.

Exercises to improve your vision naturally

Focusing on near and far objects:

Hold your thumb in front of you, about 15cm away. Try to focus on your thumb. After 1 to 2 minutes, focus on any object which is more than 3m away from your thumb but in the same direction. Now refocus on your thumb again. Once you have done this a couple of times, try doing it with each breath you take, for between 5 and 10 minutes.
Zooming the object:

Sit up straight in a comfortable position. Stretch your arm out to arm's length while keeping your thumb in a "hitch-hiking" position. Focus on your thumb while it is at arm's length. Bring your thumb closer to your eyes while trying to maintain focus. Move your thumb back to arm’s length. Repeat this exercise for five minutes.

Palming:

This is a very effective method to reset the vision when your eye has become tired and vision has become blurred.

Rub both your palms together for 3 to 4 minutes, till you feel the warmth. Once warm, place them on your eyes in a cup shaped position, such that your fingers are resting on the forehead. Keep your eyes steady and make sure that no light passes in between the fingers. See the darkness inside your cup shaped hands and feel the warmth of your palms. Repeat several times.

Rotation of the eyeballs:

This exercise loosens your ocular eye muscles which helps to improve blood flow in surrounding areas of the eye, increasing the level of oxygen, thus improving vision.

Close your eyes and rotate your eyeballs in a clockwise and then an anti-clockwise direction. Repeat this 10 to 15 times.

Up, down and from side to side:

Imagine a clock face in front of you. Now move your eyes from 12 to 6 o'clock, 20 times. Move your eyes from 3 to 9 o'clock for another 20 times. Next, rotate the eye around the clock in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. After doing this, close your eyes and rest for a while.

Spending as little as 20 minutes a day should improve your vision noticeably within weeks. Objects that appeared blurred will begin to appear crisper and sharper.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/presbyopia.htm

http://www.improve-vision-naturally.com/rebuild-your-vision.html

http://eyecare.ygoy.com

About the author:
Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer. She is passionate about natural, healthy living and is currently studying to be a naturopath. She divides her time between studying, writing and home-schooling her children.

Sage Plants Given Water Which Had Received Positive and Negative Messages

Here's a photo of the sage plants taken yesterday, April 5.  This was the first time they were given water that had been given the positive and negative messages.  In the time between Day 0 and now, we had gotten blessed rain which had watered all three of them equally.  So far, they still look the same.

Sage Plants, Day 24
(click on the photo to see a larger image;
click on the "back" button to return to this blog)

I'll be posting more photos as I continue watering them.  We'll see if the messages affect their growth!