Personal Update.

This week has been rough. I have a massive head cold. I have been trying very hard to use natural remedies to relieve the sinus pressure, but I do try to live in balance. Modern medicine can be your friend – DayQuil has saved me a time or two, but I do try to use natural remedies. I feel it is much better to take a holistic approach, when possible.

Sinus Pressure Relief and the Neti Pot.

My go-to natural sinus relief for the past 8-9 years has been a neti-pot or sinus wash. It is an instant relief of pressure, keeps your sinuses cleaned out as to *hopefully* prevent an infection from forming. Life changing. I use my neti pot in the morning to clear up whatever junk was stagnant in your sinuses overnight. Yuck. I also use it if I feel a lot of pressure.

Kombucha Benefits.

Kombucha is SO healthy for your gut (which is healthy for your immune system). Upping my consumption of kombucha as soon as I feel sick is always a must. As a natural antinflammatory, this will help boost your immune system and kick up your gut health. I do a second ferment of my kombucha with syrups I made from the spring – lilac, rhubarb, & spruce tip. They have added benefits, one of them being vitamin C. How to make kombucha can be found here, and how to brew a second ferment can be found here, but you can find kombucha at any major grocery store. Plus it tastes great and gives you a kick of energy!

Tea Heals Your Soul.

Another thing I tend to do when a family member or I am sick is to drink more tea! We are a moderate tea drinking family, but nothing is better than tea with lemon and honey when you are sick. I also have dabbled in drying my own leaves for loose leaf tea – my dad swears by spruce needle tea, It has a ton of vitamin C. Go pick some spruce needles and brew some tea! I was going to, but we got over a foot of snow this week and I am staying inside. ::sniff::

Detox Baths Save Lives.

The last thing that ALWAYS helps me feel better is a HOT bath, they do not really save lives… but I feel strongly about them. My son is the same way – if you feel sad, sick, or just ‘off’, a bath always, always helps. To our detox bath I add 1-2 cups of Epsom salt, 1T of baking soda and a few drops of essential oils. This illness calls for lavender and eucalyptus. For more information about or how to buy QUALITY oils, my sister is my go-to. I also use this bath remedy to break a child of a fever. It takes a time or two but it really helps!

Farm Update.

So Jury is closed… our little nameless chicken’s name is…..

: : d r u m r o l l : :

PHEOBE

If you are confused, go read last week’s update! 🙂

I have 2 chickens named Rachel & Monica (from Friends, in case you were raised by cavemen) and it only seems fitting that the quirky chicken with wonky traits is named Phoebe. Thanks Becky! As my sister said, “I am embarrassed I didn’t think of that.”

The two girls are doing well in their Infirmary. Phoebe will start working on walking. Nerves were damaged so she cannot walk properly. I have been putting Neosporin on her feet because they are just a little rough still.

Samoa Update – The Hen with Marek’s.

I just really love her looks. She has the prettiest blue ears.

Samoa is ready for the big coop but I am scared she will be shocked with the cold. So the princess might just stay inside awhile longer.

UPDATE: The Coop.

I was checking on my birds this week and noticed their combs are black on the tips and then yellow a bit further down. My first thought was frostbite from the Polar Vortex, but we have had mites/lice (on the chickens) in the past… and pale combs are a sign of anemia (from mites/lice) so I am going to treat them for that too.

I seem to have problems with my chickens’ health as soon as we bumped the run out to adjacent my silo that is overrun by pigeons. I smell a spring project to protect that area of the run from the wild fowl. Sorry hubby.

What natural remedies do you & your family use? Better yet…. what natural preventative measures do you take?

If you ever have any questions, or ideas for future blogs, comment below or shoot me an email!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

From the farm,

Alyssa
thesheepshedmn@yahoo.com

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