Fresh Idea Friday: DIY Natural Healing Salve

I don't know many things worse than being criticized by your mother. I think I'd rather step on a Lego with my bare feet than have my mother blatantly point out my short-comings.

 Those "loving" suggestions, as she calls them, are even worse when they put a spot light on your mothering inadequecies. I should clarify that 95% of the time my mom is the most supportive and positive person in my life.

However, no one is perfect.....and she doesn't hesitate to casually that point out.

Case in point: As you may know I live in a house with 4 boys (including my husband). There is never a shortage of cuts, scraps, bruises and other physical injuries. I'm used to bandaging up boo-boo's and sending them on their way. Underneath my bathroom sink is an arsenal, stockpiled with every size band-aid and gauze pad CVS has to offer.

One thing I'm not huge on is ointments. It's not that I have some philosophical aversion to them, I just never seem to have any.

So, when my 6 year old came running in the other day with two knees that lost a battle with our neighbors driveway I cleaned off his wounds with peroxide, threw on some Phineus and Ferb band-aids and sent him on his Ninjago fighting way.

Then I felt a disapproving stare coming from the direction of my dining room. My mom asks, "Don't you have antibiotic ointment or Neosporen?" I held my breath, trying not to sound too annoyed by her question.

"No mom. I was hoping he would get gang green and his knees would fall off so that I could carry him around all day."

So much for not sounding annoyed.

"I don't like that stuff anyway, you have no idea what they put in it. I should just make my own, how hard can it be?"

Fast forward a few nights later, and I'm in my kitchen concocting what I think is the best damn healing salve (pronounced "sav" for those of you like me who've been saying it wrong) you'll ever find. Take that mom!
:-)

This salve can be used for minor cuts and burns. In colder months it is a perfect moisturizer for dry skin.

Granolaville's DIY Healing Salve

Here's What You'll Need:

A large knife

A double boiler or two pots about the same size

Roughly 1/2 cup local bees wax.

• provides a protective barrier for the skin from dirt and other irritants
• has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties
• acts as a humectant, drawing in moisture from the surrounding air
• contains Vitamin A which helps promote cell repair

2 Tablespoons Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 

• rich in anti-oxidants and bursting with the natural microbial and antibacterial agents caphrylic and capric acids. (Natural News)
• Protective sun screen and moisture barrier
• Adds smoothness and a sweet smell to the salve

5 Tablespoons Virgin Olive Oil

• natural lubricant
• retains moisture on the skin 

2 Tablespoons Avocado Oil

• helps prevent/heal minor scarring
• increases collagen production
• very similar in nutrients to Vitamin E

1 Tablespoon Organic Honey

• anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties
• natural preservative (only food that can last FOREVER, literally)

20 drops Essential Tea Tree Oil

• antiseptic
• anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties

10 drops Essential Lavendar Oil

• aids in pain relief
• antiseptic and anti-fungal
• smells soothing

Directions

1. Cut chunk of bees wax off.

2. Fill bottom pot of double boiler with water and place on low heat.

3. Add in bees wax and melt completely. It should take about 15 minutes.

4. Once melted, add in all other ingredients and stir until mixed.

5. Pour into GLASS or Metal container ONLY! Putting it in plastic could melt the plastic or release chemicals into your salve.

6. Wait until it cools and apply anywhere on your body it's needed. The salve is thick, but just place between your hand and rub. The heat will make it into a smooth cream.

Ever made a healing salve. Let me know what you think! 

P.S. I rubbed some on my mom's arthritic hands and she LOVED it!


Feelin' the healin' in Granolaville, 

Wellness Wednesday: 5 Ways to Save Bees & How it Can Affect Your Health

"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live." ~ Albert Einstein

Last week I had the pleasure of going on a field trip with my son and his kindergarten class to a local farm. Our mission...learn about bees!

As someone who has gotten stung numerous times by those little buzzing creatures, I was not SUPER thrilled about this adventure. For something so small, they can cause a lot of pain, especially if you are allergic to them. But, one of the perks of working from home is the flexibility I have to do these events with my kid...so I braved the cold (and my fears of being stung) and made my way to the farm.

I had heard over the years the importance of honey bees to our food supply, and how pesticides were threatening their survival, but I had never been properly schooled on how important they actually are.

Did you know.....

• The honey bee has been around for over 30 million years
•  It is the only insect to produce a food that people eat
• Honey will NEVER spoil
• Honey is also the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water; and it's the only food that contains "pinocembrin", and antioxidants associated with improved brain functioning.
• During a collection trip bees visit 50-100 flowers and store the pollen in their leg sacks
• The average honey bee will only make a 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime
• Honey bees contribute over $14 billion to the value of U.S. crop production.
• Around the world bees are dying  from over use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, electromagnetic radiation, loss of habitat and genetically modified crops that may contain pollen that is not nutritionally valuable.
• Bees are responsible for pollinating:

Apples, peaches, pears, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, almonds, Brazil nuts, pumpkins – all squashes, avocado mango, star fruit and cocoa…and MUCH more! (Basically everything natural and nutritious)

Not impressed? HERE's the full list.

I had no idea that bee's were SUCH an important part of our ecosystem and how much they contribute to our health! With this new information I wanted to find out how we all can help save the bee population so we don't lose the precious crops we need to survive.

1. GO WILD!!

Although protecting your home garden from pests and insects is important, also having a space that is animal friendly will help bee's to establish a hive. So let some of your plants run wild, and in turn those busy bees will help pollinate your food.

2. Put Away the Chemicals

We know that modern insecticides are deadly to bees, and are responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder. It will be better for their health, and yours, if we all just stop spraying this stuff.

3. Avoid Modified Seeds

Many farmers now buy seeds coated with clothianidin and other systemic insecticides. These can cause the entire plant to become toxic to bees and other insects. 

4. Buy Organic

Besides the numerous health benefits, tradionally organic farmers will also use natural farming methods that are bee-friendly.

5. Support Local Honey Farms

Industrial sized bee operations are more concerned with the input, rather than the output. You can find local honey at farmers markets and groceries stores. You'll be putting money back into your community while helping to maintain your local bee population.

The survival of bees is undeniably connected to our own survival. Help protect real food by protecting bees.

Did you know the importance of honey bees?

Embracing the 'Buzz' in Granolaville,