Tuesday, September 6, 2011

100 Tips in 100 Days - Day 22

So, my last post was about unusual uses for salt and I 'm sure you have figured out what this post is regarding. You guessed it, pepper. I really wasn't sure what, if any, things I would find out about pepper but was I in for a surprise! It seemed as though everything I found included cayenne pepper with information about black pepper, so you will see a few tidbits about cayenne pepper as well in the following article on http://free.naplesplus.us/articles/view.php/51022/interesting-uses-for-black-pepper-and-cayenne-pepper.



image - bing images/
en.wikipedia.org

 Black Pepper: 1. If your old clunker is starting to get a slow leak in the radiator, pour some black pepper into it to plug up small holes. This will buy you time to get it fixed properly.

2. You don’t need to use harsh chemicals to kill ants. All you need is about a half cup of black or cayenne pepper poured down the hole and voila, no more ant problem.

3. This also holds true for hungry ants looking for something sweet in your kitchen. You can put white pepper in their path and they will disappear thinking there are no meals here.

4. Here is a recipe that not only keeps insects away but also animals from your garden. - 2 tbsp cayenne pepper - 2 large cloves of garlic - 4 medium sized onions - 4 cups water - In a blender or food processor, blend until completely smooth. Then add about a gallon of water and you are ready to spray your plants.

5. A tsp of pepper in your wash will keep your colors bright a lot longer. It can also keep your colors from bleeding. There are not many products that can do that.

6. Do you have problems with your sinuses? Do you have a cold? Cayenne pepper in your favorite food can unclog you and get you cleared up in no time. Or, mix liquid pepper with eucalyptus and put it in your steamer to sooth and unclog your sinuses . (Your health food store should carry these drops. If they don’t, ask them to.)

7. Help your liver detoxify with this early morning drink; - 1 lemon squeezed, - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, - 1 cup filtered water, - 1 tsp maple syrup When you drink this every morning you begin to look forward to it.

8. For arthritis pain you can make your own homemade warming massage to sooth where it hurts. Recipe: Mix together cayenne pepper with hand lotion or moisture cream. Massage on the affected area. Wash hands immediately.

9. If you feel the beginning of a migraine headache coming on, you can use about a ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a half glass of water. Repeat after a half hour.

10. According to Dr. Richard Schulze, M.H., N.D., if someone is having a heart attack, you can revive them by putting 4 to 5 drops of a mixture of a tsp. of cayenne pepper and some water and continue to give it every five minutes until the person has recovered. They may sputter and choke a bit but that’s Okay.

11. Squirrels eating the feed in your bird feeder? Sprinkling Cayenne pepper in the feed does not affect the birds. They apparently have a high tolerance for the pepper.

12. If you have problems with rodents chewing on cables then you can rub pepper tincture on them and they won’t go anywhere near it.

A mixture of a pinch of pepper powder and a quarter teaspoon of common salt is an excellent dentifrice. Their daily use prevents dental caries, foul breath, bleeding from the gums, painful gums and toothaches.

Medicinal Uses for Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper is a stimulating herb made from dried chili peppers. This popular spice is used widely as food enhancement, but it has been longer used for its medicinal properties. The capsaicin in the pepper is what gives it its potent flavor. This same capsaicin elevates it as a medicinal alternative. Cayenne pepper has been used effectively to treat and prevent a number of health ailments. Significance Cayenne pepper contains vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, carotenoids and the whole of the B complexes. It is also a good source of organic calcium potassium, manganese and dietary fiber.


These do not take the place of a doctor's advice
Helps With Rheumatism and Arthritis The topical application of cayenne pepper creates an irritated effect on the applied area. This irritation is helpful to distract the nerves from joint pains due to arthritis. Its boost to the circulatory system helps relieve problems with rheumatism.

Relieves Stomach Pains Cayenne pepper operates as a local anesthetic to ulcerated tissue in the stomach and can even help to control bleeding. Cayenne pepper, in general is helpful in relieving stomach aches, gas and cramps.

Relieves Congestion The capsaicin in cayenne pepper gives the pepper its heating effect. This capsaicin helps with the elimination of mucus from the nose and lungs by clearing the sinuses and inducing sweating. Cayenne pepper added to tea is helpful in relieving the symptoms of cold and flu.

Clears Up Respiratory Problems The beta-carotene in cayenne pepper is helpful in reducing the symptoms of asthma.

Relieves Headaches As capsaicin can open the lungs and nasal passages, it can also (when inhaled or applied topically) clear the head, thus relieving headaches. Capsaicin can also deliver temporary relief from toothaches.

Lowers Blood Pressure and Stops Heart Attack Capsaicin stimulates circulation and blood flow. When combined with garlic & parsley, cayenne pepper will help lower blood pressure. Cayenne pepper

Thursday, September 1, 2011

100 Tips in 100 Days - Day 21

It seems as though these days our doctors tell us to avoid consuming too much salt, so if you're like me you just don't make it available to sprinkle on your food. My husband isn't too fond of this practice but doesn't seem to mind when the doctor gives him a clean bill of health. A small amount of sodium is imperative to good health but can also be too much of a good thing, so what else is there to do with this favorite pantry item? I found the following article on ivillage.com and was surprised at some of the uses for salt. Can you guess what my next post will be about?



image from Bing Images/office-table.com



Mankind has been using salt for many centuries, in the course of which we've amassed many uses (some speculate thousands) for this amazing substance—uses that go far beyond mere seasoning. Here are a few of the more practical ones:
  • Pick up a dropped egg. If an egg breaks on the kitchen floor, sprinkle salt on the mess and leave it there for 20 minutes. You'll be able to wipe it right up.
  • Soothe a bee sting. Wet the sting right away, then cover it with salt.
  • Eliminate a grease fire. Pour salt on top to smother it. (Never use water on a grease fire.)
  • Clean up oven spills. If food boils over onto the oven floor, sprinkle salt on top to stop smoke and odor from forming. When the oven is cool, it'll be easy to brush away the spot.
  • Set color. If a dye may run, soak the garment for an hour in 1/2 gallon of water to which you've added 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup salt. If rinse water shows color, repeat. This is good for a single-colored fabric or madras. If the item is multicolored, dry-clean it. (American-made fabrics are unlikely to run, but fabrics from abroad are sometimes risky.)
  • Kill poison ivy. Add three pounds of salt to a gallon of soapy water. Spray it onto leaves and stems
  • Make cream whip more easily and egg whites whip faster and higher. Add a pinch of salt.
  • Test for rotten eggs. Put an egg in a cup of water to which you've added two teaspoons of salt. A fresh egg will sink, but one that's iffy will float.
  • Clean the brown spots (from starch) off a nonstick soleplate (the bottom of your iron). Sprinkle salt on a sheet of waxed paper, slide the iron across it, then rub lightly with silver polishh
  • Repel fleas. Wash the doghouse with it
  • Kill grass growing in cracks in the cement or between patio stones. Sprinkle salt on the grass and pour very hot water over it. Or sprinkle coarse salt on the grass, let stand all day or overnight, then pour hot tap water over it.
  • Clean a glass coffee pot. Fill it with 1/4 cup of table salt and a dozen ice cubes. Swish the mixture around, let it sit for half an hour, fill it with cold water and rinse.
  • Halt the mountain of suds from an overflowing washing machine. Sprinkle salt on the top.
  • Clean artificial flowers. Put them in a bag of salt and shake the bag. Take a look at the color of the salt and you'll see what you've accomplished.
  • Keep windows frost-free. Dip a sponge into salt water and rub it on windows, and they won't frost up even when the mercury dips below 32 degrees; for the same effect on your cars windshield, put salt in a little bag made of cheesecloth, moisten it slightly and rub it on.
  • Clean tarnished copper. Fill a 16-ounce spray bottle with hot white vinegar and three tablespoons of salt. Spray it onto the copper, let it sit briefly, then rub clean. (Don't do this to lacquered copper.)
  • Keep radishes safe in the garden. Salt worms (cutworms) will be repelled if you sprinkle seeds with table salt, then cover with dirt.
  • Clean coffee and tea stains from china cups. Rub them with salt.
  • Keep potatoes and apples from turning brown once they're sliced. Put them in salted cold water
  • Clean a cutting board. Cover it with bleach and salt, scrub it with a stiff brush, then rinse with very hot water and wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat with each use.