Why Bentonite Clay Natural Toothpaste? And How...

Toothpaste...it seems pretty innocent doesn't it? Well that's what I thought too until my aunt went to see Soloman Wickey...the Amish healer. He said to avoid aluminum in everything....toothpaste, deodorant, cooking pans, foil, etc. I also heard about aluminum linked to Alzheimer's. Click here to see how toothpaste can be made from aluminum, although most are not anymore. So I started buying natural toothpaste at a very high cost and assumed I was good. Then I started hearing about fluoride and how it may be toxic. Here is what EWG says about it...
 

SODIUM FLUORIDE

Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions

So I went with Tom's Fluoride free, but the problems started with a poorly fit crown I received about 4 years ago. I had so much tooth pain after this crown was placed that I had to use a special prescription mouthwash with so many ingredients and I couldn't pronounce any of them. It also said not to use for more than 7 days. And use it I did because I didn't think I had any alternative. But there is one! Or two actually. I started using doTERRA's On Guard Toothpaste after a friend said it rebuilt her chipped tooth and my pain went away. I started using it and my whole family switched, even my stubborn husband! Then I learned about carrageenan. Click here to read Dr. Weil's article on it's safety...and realized my new toothpaste had that as well. I was bummed because I really wanted to limit our exposure to it and stopped using certain brands of almond milk with carrageenan as an ingredient. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that On Guard has clove in it and clove heals mouth and tooth pain. It was the oils that were healing my tooth not the toothpaste so finally I made my own.
 
I started with baking soda and coconut oil and it was ok but very salty. I also tried oil pulling and it was so gross I couldn't bear it. Then my friend told me about her Clay and Xylitol recipe so I tried that one and hit the bulls-eye! I really do like it. I looked for a recipe with coconut oil in it because I know it is good for oral health and found the one I ended up using here with a few tweaks. I am not concerned about the small amount of oil that may be swallowed. Peppermint is safe for therapeutic consumption and On Guard is made into capsules by doTERRA so the minuscule amount that may be swallowed by normal tooth brushing will be of no harm. The recipe follows....
 

 

The Recipe

1/4 cup bentonite clay
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons coconut oil
3 teaspoons xylitol
20 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops OnGuard essential oil
Mix clay and salt in a bowl, then add boiling water. Mix well with a hand mixer, then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix all together well, store in an airtight container, and use a small spoon to put on brush. Make sure you clean the spoon to keep germs at bay.
 
 
Benefits of Ingredients:
 
Bentonite clay re-mineralizes cells and tissues, alkalizes the body and is very effective in protecting our bodies against radiation. Bentonite clay contains montmorillonite, the primary mineral thought to be responsible for its beneficial qualities. It also contains magnesium and approximately 67 other trace minerals. The properties of particles in bentonite clay and how they are distributed contribute greatly to the curative properties of bentonite clay. These particles contain a negative charge that attract all types of toxins and pathogens, which include bacteria, toxins, metals, and pesticides, all of which have a positive charge.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032549_bentonite_clay_health_benefits.html#ixzz3FhMLdP4Z
 
Xylitol is known for protecting teeth from cavities as well as being used for an antibiotic replacement in ear infections. I don't recommend it as a sugar replacement as it can cause gastric distress in high doses. But in small therapeutic amounts it seems to work great. See here where to buy non-gmo brands if the GMO possibility is of concern. And see this page for xylitol studies on cavities.
 
Coconut oil kills the bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities. It even helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay. Research also shows coconut oil to also help your body absorb calcium and magnesium which aids in the development of strong teeth.  
 
Clove...The oil extracted from a clove is known as eugenol. Depending on where the oil is extracted from -- either the bud, leaf, or stem -- the concentration of eugenol generally ranges from 60 to 90%. Clove oil is generally used in dentistry to treat pain from a dry socket, as well as used in a number of temporary restorative materials.
 
 dōTERRA's On Guard^® blend comes from the combination of essential oils of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, Eucalyptus radiata and rosemary. On Guard is a great way to strengthen and maintain healthy immune function when seasonal threats are high or to protect against elements that can weaken the immune system.
 
Peppermint oil is commonly found in toothpaste as well as chewing gum. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, peppermint oil has been shown to be an effective antibacterial and antiviral. It is also has mild anesthetic properties, which make it ideal for temporary treatment of tooth pain.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 The OnGuard toothpaste is great if you aren't concerned about the carrageenan.
 
 
http://www.doterratools.com/on-guard-products/whitening-toothpaste/
 

 *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
 

Pandemic Preparedness as told by the Health Ranger

This is a fascinating video on preparing for a pandemic....I know, I know. My husband is going to say I am crazy. I am a wannabe, wish-I-was prepper and this probably falls into that category; HOWEVER, I feel like this is great information on how to get healthy and build our immune systems to prepare for any illness. I hope you all go to this website and watch this video...I am going to post about how to incorporate some of these suggestions into your life.

http://biodefense.com/Pandemic-Preparedness-Episode-06.html Click on link or copy and paste in browser...
Pandemic Preparedness FREE Online How-To Course

Episode 6: Antiviral herbal medicines vs. Ebola and other viral pandemics by the Health Ranger Mike Adams

 

If you want to hear exclusively about essential oils go to min 31 or so. He does promote doTERRA oils but I agree with him on the main point of "just use them" no matter where you get them! Other oils are not as potent or effective by way of personal experience but even those are better than nothing. Also...fresh herbs are more potent and health giving than any dried or made into oils. The whole fresh plant is always the best bet!

 

Disclaimer...He uses Oregano oil internally and a lot of it! I would not suggest such a large amount and if you do use oils internally it is much safer to use capsules so you don't burn your mouth and throat...ouch!

 

• The herbs he suggests I would grow and use in a tea or tincture, but tinctures are kinda gross. My favorite tea is homemade Chai by far and it has many of the herbs he suggests...

Cinnamon

Ginger

Licorice

Clove

Yum.......Recipe below

 

Homemade Chai Concentrate
Yields: 1 batch of concentrate, approximately 4 cups
adapted to suit my personal taste

4 1/2 cups water
2 tbs loose leaf rooibos tea
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean, split in half (or 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract added at the very end)
1/2 cup coconut sugar, date sugar or raw cane sugar (you can add more or less depending on how sweet you like your chai)
1 – 3-inch section of fresh ginger, cut into pieces or 4 tsp ginger candies
10-15 whole cloves
8 cardamom pods
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp fennel

1/2 tsp licorice
1/8 whole black peppercorns I don't like spicy chai!
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 tablespoon raw honey (optional, leave off to make vegan, if you want it to be sweeter without the honey, add a bit more sugar in at the beginning)
1 small square section of cheesecloth, approximately 6″ square (if you don’t want to mess with cheesecloth, make sure you have a good strainer you can use at the end)
kitchen twine
Prepare the spices, vanilla bean and orange zest by laying them in your cheesecloth, I leave my cinnamon sticks out to make the little pouch of spices a bit more compact. Tie the cheesecloth pouch shut with a small piece of kitchen twine. If you leave the cinnamon sticks out, just tie them together with kitchen twine.
*If you don’t wish to use cheesecloth, you will just add all of your spices directly to the pan when the time comes and strain them out after.
Add the water and sugar to a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and put in the tea bags, cheesecloth pouch and cinnamon sticks. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat strain the concentrate through a sieve or just remove the tea bags, cheesecloth pouch and cinnamon sticks. At this point if you want a bit more sweetness you can add a tablespoon of honey, stir to dissolve. I don’t always do this, but it is a really nice touch. Additionally, if you didn’t use a whole vanilla bean, add your vanilla extract now. Stir to combine.
Allow the mixture to cool before pouring it into an airtight jar or container. This amount fits perfectly into a 1-quart mason jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
** To serve, mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part milk of your choice. I personally love unsweeteened almond milk. Heat for a warm beverage or serve over ice for a cold drink.

 

• Peppermint can be grown and dried for tea or you can use Peppermint essential oil...it is great in brownies and in chocolate smoothies!
• Basil and garlic is amazing fresh and I am growing some in my garden now. We will see how this goes as I said before I do not have a green thumb. I have an easy and incredible recipe for pesto. I make it every week and use it on homemade pizza, spaghetti on top of the spaghetti sauce or alone, as a dip for veggies...it is so good. It also has lots of garlic. Recipe below....

Pesto:

1/3 cup pine nuts 2/3 cup olive oil 5 cloves garlic 1/3 cup nutritional yeast 1 bunch fresh basil leaves salt and pepper to taste   Mix all in food processor until smooth! And it freezes well.    Another amazing treatment with garlic is a foot salve. Mix cloves of garlic with olive oil in a blender and spread on feet. Cover with a warm damp sock and put wool socks over that. Sleep on the couch away from any people...lol. Rinse off in the morning. I did this for a recurring sinus infection and it was gone in the morning as advised by a naturopath. My mom can testify to the smell...   The oils....   This is a handy little chart. I love the tools doTERRA gives for education. The oils he spoke of are all in the Physician's Kit. You can also find quality oils at Plant Therapy or Mountain Rose Herbs.   The Chinese Medicine...I believe God was warming me up to this yesterday as I would have shied away from this normally but the guy at the local health food store gave me some Chinese Medicine to "cool my fire". He said I was irritable during PMS because my liver was to hot and I needed some yin...foreign language? He gave me some Free and Easy teapill thingys and away I went. I took them right away and felt amazingly calm all night and slept easy too. Do look at labels to make sure they are tested for heavy metals as Chinese herbs tend to be high in these. I did try to find a premade formula for the herbs suggested and couldn't find them. So talk to a qualified practitioner....a Naturopath would be my suggestion. All in all very interesting and worthwhile information. I do believe I will be stocking my natural medicine cabinet and my food pantry just in case! Happy Prepping!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reduce Toxic Load

Reducing Toxic Load....live close to nature......

1. Eat Clean...whole, fresh foods. Don't buy anything processed. Cook your own food. Fiber, omega-3, anti-oxidants, probiotics are good. Sugar, flour, vegetable oils and table salt are bad. I do mostly vegetarian diet but this list is generalized for the pleasure of all! And I will say it even though I shouldn't have too...please stay away from fast food....chemicals chemicals chemicals.

What to enjoy

• All fruit and vegetables, preferably fresh and organic.
• Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, tofu. Canned legumes are fine.
• Fish: best eaten fresh or canned in spring water or olive oil.
• Chicken: poached, stir-fried, grilled; without skin; preferably organic.
• Whole milk (cow, goat, sheep); white cheese (cottage, ricotta, feta); unsweetened yogurt.
• Organic eggs.
• Lean red meat (limit to two serves a week).
• Raw nuts and seeds.
• Miso soup.
• Brown rice, wholemeal wheat products, spelt, quinoa, rye, oatmeal
• Water: 8 glasses a day

What to avoid

• Sugar.
• White flour.
• Alcohol.
• Deli meats.
• Deep-fried foods.
• Coffee (a cup or two of black or green tea a day is okay).
• Yellow and blue cheese.

2. Ditch the chemicals....where? everywhere...all of them. Cleaners, shampoo, make-up, lotions, nail polish, laundry soap, deodorant, ant killer, weed killer, etc. Find eco-friendly alternatives. If you can't eat it don't put it on your skin. Well...I won't eat my soap that would be gross but you get the idea. The skin is your biggest organ and we overload it with toxins. Help it out a little!!!

3. No shoes in the house...reduce the amount of dirt, chemicals and poo on your floors....yucko! This is second nature in Hawaii, but everywhere else it should be too. Bonus to this...you have to clean your floors and carpets less!!

4. Exercise...mix it up. Gentle yoga or pilates, running or biking, lifting weights...heavy please!

5. Use glass instead of plastic....at the very least make it BPA free.

6. Detox....in addition to eating clean. I am a fan of the gentle cleanse because I get grumpy on little amounts of food. I prefer the Daniel Fast while detoxing. Also, add probiotics in the form

Note: Don’t detox if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, underweight or have a history of eating disorders.

I found this little gem of a chart on body+soul. I always use herbal teas on a detox cleanse.

liver 

What to eat: Cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, grapefruit, beetroot, bitter lettuce
(radicchio, rocket, kale), turmeric, globe artichoke.
Juice: Carrot, beetroot, rocket, kale, ginger, grapefruit.
Herbal tea: Dandelion root, burdock, St Mary’s thistle.
Other: Start each day with the juice of half a lemon in warm water. Add honey if you wish.

 kidneys

What to eat: Cherries, cranberries, celery, asparagus, garlic, leeks, green beans.
Juice: Green apple, celery, parsley, cucumber, dandelion leaf.
Herbal tea: Celery seed, crataeva, nettles, dandelion leaf, astragalus, bupleurum, rehmannia.
Other: Kidneys find excess protein a challenge to break down. For this week, go vegetarian. Concentrate on legumes, nuts and seeds for your protein.

 skin

What to eat: Pepitas (pumpkin seeds), parsley, garlic, sweet potato, fish, ginger, carrots, oats, linseed
Juice: Carrot, beetroot, lemon.
Herbal tea: Burdock, red clover, nettle.
Other: Try some dry-skin body brushing. Before your shower, improve circulation to your skin with strong circular brushing from the feet and hands to the heart.

 lungs

What to eat: Onions, garlic, apricots, almonds, pumpkin, avocados, olive oil, ginger, thyme, cloves, walnuts, fenugreek, honey.
Juice: Carrot, ginger, parsley, berries.
Herbal tea: Thyme, ginger, licorice.
Other: Deep breathing each day.

 lymph

The lymphatic system is not strictly involved in detoxification, however it carries fats around the body and is central to our immune system.
What to eat: Chilli, ginger, garlic, carrots, oranges, lemons, nasturtiums, shiitake mushrooms, Brazil nuts.
Juice: Pineapple, apple, berries, beetroot, parsley, lemon.
Herbal tea: Calendula, echinacea, red clover, clivers, nettle.
Other: Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

 bowel

What to eat: Lentils, beetroot, pears, nuts, oranges, prunes, figs, ginger, miso, yoghurt, banana.
Juice: Fennel, lemon, apple, pear, mint.
Herbal tea: Fennel, dandelion and licorice root, ginger, peppermint.
Other: If you tend towards constipation, take two teaspoons of psyllium husks in a glass of water each morning.

Also, essential oils can assist in a detox. I would use them in detox baths or on the feet.  Oregano, melalueca, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, and thyme work well on the feet. No more than 10 drops total per TBS of oil. For baths mix with a carrier oil or Epsom salt to make sure the oils mix with the water. If you have a sensitive skin, it might also be a good idea to first do a skin patch test to determine if you are allergic to the oil or not. 
For the bath lemon, grapefruit, patchouli, helichrysum, mandarin, lavender, chamomile are good choices. Should you prefer not to mix it with a carrier oil, you could mix it with a small amount of shampoo and then add the shampoo mixture to your bath. Although it gives off a wonderful aroma to add the oils to a running bath, the oils would evaporate at a very high rate, and for this reason it is best to add the oils after you have run the bath, and then to mix in by hand. For children between the ages of 4 and 12, as well as for elderly people, only add 4 drops of oil per bath. For children between 1 and 4, as well as for pregnant women, add only 2 drops of oil per bath. Children under 1 year should have no more than 1 drop of oil per bath.

doTERRA has a detox cleanse program that many have had great success as well. http://www.doterratools.com/enroll-kits/cleanse-restore-kit/

Note: Check with your healthcare practitioner before embarking on a detox program.

6. Clean the air with plants... spider plants, English Ivy, rubber plants and Boston ferns. One plant can clean 100 square feet. I have to admit I don't always do this one, I try but I don't have a green thumb. Also, with little ones in the house it is important to keep them up high. Right now I am nursing a violet. But spider plants are super easy to grow!

7. Detox your life. Spend less time around toxic people and situations...for me this means knowing my limits. I can do some things that stress me out but then I have to treat myself to solitude to refresh. Pajama days are my friend and I try not to overschedule. Clean the clutter in your home to clear the clutter in your head. Do things that make you happy.

Grow something
Read something
Create something
Love something



DETOX TOOLS:

doTERRA  www.mydoterra.com/jennyhoward

For herbs and oils....https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Garden of life protein powder plus enzymes and probiotics...love this stuff..vanilla is best.
http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Organic-Protein-Chocolate/dp/B007SYSQ7K/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1412040044&sr=1-4&keywords=garden+of+life+products

Homemade Baby Wipes

Homemade natural baby wipes.....

Here's why I try to use homemade baby wipes...and I say try because sometimes it is just easier to buy them with 3 kids running around, but when I do buy them I inevitably have to handle crying and diaper rashes on my little guy.

Ingredients on Pampers Sensitive....Water/Agua/Eau, Citric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyglycerin, Bisabolol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polypropylene, Rayon, Lyocell.

What???? I don't think I even have to break this down...chemicals. Plain and simple. This is why I chose natural. Also, even the sensitive wipes give bubbas a rash and he screams when wipes are applied and hit the rash. It is awful and then I end up using wet paper towels anyway.

Here is what you need....
2 cups warm purified water
1 TB glycerin
1 TB oil....fractionated coconut oil, almond oil or I have even used olive oil in a pinch
1 TB castile soap
10 drops lavender or other baby friendly essential oil
1/2 tsp vitamin E

Paper towels or square cloth pieces to make reusable wipes
Container (plastic BPA free or old wipe container)

Cut the towels to fit your container and pour liquids over top, flipping and lifting towels to get in between layers until all are wet. That's it! Easy and fast.

You can change the oils a little or use only oil and no glycerin....really you can experiment a lot with this.

I used Aura Cacia Lavender here but I really like doTERRA better...the scent lasts longer for some reason.

In The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood recommends the following essential oils:

For infants, zero to two months of age:

Chamomile, Roman and German
Lavender
Yarrow
Dill

For babies, two to six months of age:

The above, plus Mandarin and Neroli.

For babies, six to twelve months of age:

The above plus Calendula, Grapefruit, and Tea Tree.

Why I Use Natural Deodorant

Natural Deodorant...

Why natural deodorant??? A few reasons for me but I found this info on doTERRA's blog page...

Many popular store bought deodorants have some of the following ingredients that are harmful for our health, increasing our chances of breast cancer, possible Alzheimer’s and other diseases and illnesses:

Aluminum - linked to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer; the risks increase when added to the skin AFTER shaving!
Propylene glycol - shown to cause dermatitis, liver and kidney problems in animal studies. May inhibit skin cell growth and cause skin irritation
Butane - ingredient in aerosol deodorants, is listed as a skin irritant
Propane - ummm, what? Enough said.
Talc - Acute to chronic lung disease (talcosis), contributes to ovarian cancers

Why are these ingredients so dangerous? They are applied to shaven skin (hair acts as a protective barrier), and to the underarm which is a location where a group of lymph nodes are gathered to help fight infection. We apply these toxins directly to an area of our body that has already been compromised because of shaving and to an area where these toxins are easily absorbed into breast tissue, into our lymph nodes and into our blood stream helping us to compromise our systems in life-threatening ways.

These are big reasons to go natural but I have more.... Soloman Wickey is a renowned Amish healer who personally told my aunt to avoid all aluminum when she saw him at the end of her battle against breast cancer. Toothpaste (that's another blog for another day), deodorant, foil and baking pans all have aluminum. I also personally get a rash from regular deodorants and they turn my white shirts yucky yellow! Who wants that? 
SO...go natural....
I have used the crystal type and I like those but....I get stress sweat! Does anyone know what I mean by that....it is stinky no matter what. I use to bring some "real" deodorant in the car just in case! I don't have to do that now. This recipe really works!!!!

You will need:
- 1/4 cup aluminum-FREE baking soda (Bob's Red Mills is a good brand)
- 1/4 cup Arrowroot
- 2 or more Tbsp Coconut Oil (organic, virgin coconut oil is best)
- 10-20 drops of a essential oil of your choice....I used lavender and orange, but any combination would be great as long as it smells good to you.

doTERRA recommends these oils for eliminating odors, they have antiseptic properties and are good for the skin.... Purify (Lemon, Line, Pine, Citronella, Melaleuca and Cilantro) or Citrus Bliss because it smells good and it is a mood-lifting oil.
Mix it all together until you have a paste and put it in a small jar...mine's a mason jar of course. Scoop out a dime size amount on your fingers and rub it in until it's gone!

Two precautions....it will put white marks on your shirts so put it on after getting dressed and I used it after a quick dry shave the second day I was trying it and OMGosh! Serious burning sensation occurred.....SO PLEASE DO NOT DRY SHAVE AND USE!

 

 

(I will work on picture presentation!!)

 

 

I like doTERRA oils and if you are interested in learning more about those click http://www.mydoterra.com/jennyhoward/. I also have used other brands with great success. Some of these are Plant Therapy and Mountain Rose Herbs. Please comment with questions or let me know how the recipe works for you!!