Author: mrsfarminsteadical

Just a crunchy mama who wants to help save the world from unnecessary use of pharmaceuticals with farminsteadicals! I am a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at UConn, health is a passion.

Simmered to Perfection: Bone Broth How to!

by mrsfarminsteadical

Homemade Bone Marrow Broth (Farmstead Style)

Last week I picked up a bag of beef marrow bones from Grace Balogh at Willow Ridge Farm (📞 860-634-4379). If you’ve never worked with marrow bones before, trust me — they’re a game changer. Big, rich, and just waiting to be turned into liquid gold.

I’ve had so many of you ask how to make bone broth from scratch, so here we go. Don’t be intimidated — bone broth is more patience than skill. The beauty is in the slow simmer.

INGREDIENTS

  • Beef marrow bones (call Willow Ridge Farm for the best ones!)
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 onion
  • 3–5 cloves garlic
  • 2 bay leaves
  • A splash of apple cider vinegar
  • Salt & pepper
  • Water to cover

Optional spice additions:

  • A stick of cinnamon (warming & anti-inflammatory)
  • A few slices of fresh ginger (immune support, brightens flavor)
  • A pinch of turmeric & black pepper (classic anti-inflammatory duo)
  • A sprig of rosemary or thyme (herbal, aromatic, good for digestion)

🐾 Side Note for Pet Parents: If you’re making broth to share with your dogs, leave out the onion, garlic, excess salt, and spices. Stick with just bones, carrots, celery, and a splash of vinegar. They’ll lap it up, and you’ll keep them safe and happy. 🐾

STEP ONE: CLEAN & ROAST THE BONES

Give your bones a rinse under cold water. Roast them in a 400°F oven for about 30 minutes until golden brown. Roasting deepens the flavor and gives your broth that cozy, earthy richness.

STEP TWO: BUILD YOUR POT

Transfer bones into your largest slow cooker or stockpot. Add the carrots, celery, onion (no need to peel), garlic, bay leaves, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Toss in any spice add-ins you’re experimenting with. Cover everything with cold water.

STEP THREE: THE LONG SIMMER

Bone broth gets its magic from time. The longer it simmers, the richer and more nourishing it becomes.

I highly recommend using a slow cooker or crock pot for this. Set it on low and let it bubble gently for 20–24 hours. That way, you don’t have to worry about fire hazards from leaving your stove on overnight, and you don’t risk bacteria from turning the stove off and letting it sit too long.

👉 Can you do it on the stovetop? Yes — but only if you’re home and keeping an eye on it. If you go that route, stick to shorter 8–10 hour sessions during the day, then refrigerate the whole pot overnight before resuming the next morning. Safety first — broth should comfort, not give you a stomachache.

STEP FOUR: STRAIN & STORE

Once done, remove the bones and veggies. Strain the liquid into jars. Let cool before refrigerating or freezing. The next day, scrape off the hardened fat if you like, and underneath you should see a broth that jiggles like Jell-O — that’s the collagen, and that’s the goal.

WHY MAKE IT YOURSELF?

Because no store-bought carton will give you this depth. Homemade bone marrow broth is packed with minerals, amino acids, and gelatin that soothe your gut and nourish your body. It’s comfort food with real benefits. And if you play with those spices — cinnamon, ginger, turmeric — you’ve just added even more layers of healing.

DON’T FORGET WILLOW RIDGE FARM

If you’re ready to try, get your bones from Grace Balogh at Willow Ridge Farm (860-634-4379). Quality bones make all the difference, and Grace is the one to call.

NEXT UP: THE VIDEO

This is your written step-by-step, but sometimes it helps to see it in action. I’ll be sharing a how-to video on my social medias soon, walking you through the roast, the simmer, and the big reveal. Stay tuned — you won’t want to miss watching that broth wobble.

✨ Question for you all: What would you add to your bone broth — classic herbs, or are you brave enough to try cinnamon and ginger?

Sipping My Way Through Surgical Recovery

by mrsfarminsteadical

One week post-op and I am… well, humbled, but back to share the wisdom I’ve gained from my most recent surgical escapade. Now, I wish I could tell you I’ve spent my first week of recovery surrounded by Pinterest-worthy snack trays and perfectly portioned healing meals… but that would be a load of bull ****—which is definitely not my style. I prefer a different part of the bull: the one that feels like a warm hug in a mug—bone broth.

The truth is, my appetite packed its bags and went on vacation without me. I had so many medications I needed to take, and I couldn’t force myself to eat. It turned into a pathophysiology lesson for my daughter, who is now an expert on emesis.

Why Bone Broth Was My Recovery MVP

Beef bone broth isn’t just a cozy sip—it’s a slow-simmered powerhouse. Hours of gentle cooking pull nutrients from the bones and connective tissue, giving you:

  • Collagen & Gelatin: Building blocks for skin, joint, and tissue repair.
  • Amino Acids (like glycine and proline): Essential for healing and maintaining muscle.
  • Minerals: Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus—straight from the bones.
  • Protein Boost: About 10 grams per serving, which is a win when your appetite is nowhere to be found but your body is running a construction crew inside.

How I Managed It When Eating Felt Impossible

Some days, all I could do was heat it, pour it in a mug, and sip.
Other days, I got fancy and tossed in steamed carrots or potatoes and sprinkled in turmeric and black pepper for an anti-inflammatory nudge (yes, still keeping that golden glow from my last post). For those of you who got bit by the curiosity cat like I did. I am sure you are wondering about the surgery.

It was called an Anterior lumbar interbody fusion laminectomy with multilevel spinal fusion of L5-S1 and vascular assist.

The non-med school version of that is: imagine a pit crew working on your spine from both the front and the back. They scooped out the bad cushions between my vertebrae, made extra wiggle room for my nerves, added a prosthetic disc and then bolted some of the bones together so they heal as one sturdy piece. Oh—and because one wrong move near those big blood highways in your belly could turn me into a crime scene, they brought in a vascular surgeon to safely scoot them out of the way. During the first surgery the vascular surgeon went in through my abdomen and cleared my insides out so the orthopedic surgeon could scoop, wiggle, and replace. During the second surgery the orthopedic surgeon went in through my back and bolted the prosthetic disc to the rest of my spine so it cannot move. I am happy to report my almost 3rd grader is the world’s best nurse and I am doing great and recovering well!

Okay, back to the important stuff…

The Science Meets the Comfort

The research on bone broth as a whole is still catching up, but the nutrients inside it have decades of evidence behind them. Protein helps rebuild tissue, collagen supports connective structures, and minerals keep your systems functioning while you heal. Plus—let’s be honest—the mental lift from something warm, savory, and easy to stomach is its own kind of medicine.

If this recovery taught me anything, it’s that healing isn’t about chasing perfection—it’s about finding what works in your moment. For me, it wasn’t a perfect plate. It was a steaming mug of beef bone broth, reminding me that small, steady steps forward still count.

Cheers!
Mrs Farminsteadical
—where the garden meets the lab coat

Post script for my curiosity kitty cousins 😉: it was a car accident.

The Glow behind the Gold

by mrsfarminsteadical

Well hey there, sunshine! It’s your garden-loving, science-reading, tea-sipping neighbor Mrs Farminsteadical here—and today I want to gush a little about one of my all-time favorite kitchen staples: turmeric.

This golden root has been around for centuries, but lately it’s having a bit of a moment—and for good reason. Let’s peek at what it might offer when used wisely, and how you can work it into your daily life without going full guru mode. Sound good?

 What Exactly Is Turmeric?

Turmeric is the bold, golden-orange root from the Curcuma longa plant—part of the ginger family, and boy does it know how to make an entrance. It’s been used in cooking and traditional practices for ages, but modern science is catching on to what ancient cultures have known all along: this little root might be doing more than just adding color to your curry.

Inside turmeric is a natural compound called curcumin—it’s what gives turmeric its color and most of its studied benefits. But turmeric is more than just one compound—it’s a whole symphony of plant magic.

What Might It Help With?

(This is just information, not medical advice. Always check with a trusted medical provider before adding any supplements or herbs to your routine.)

1. Natural Inflammation Support

Some early studies suggest turmeric may help ease inflammation in the body—especially the kind that sticks around long-term and makes you feel like you’re aging in dog years. This could be helpful for folks dealing with occasional joint stiffness or muscle soreness.

 2. Antioxidant Properties

Turmeric has compounds that may help the body fight off those pesky free radicals (the unstable molecules linked to aging and cell damage). Think of it as giving your body a bit of an internal clean-up crew.

 3. Gut Vibes

Early research is exploring whether turmeric could help support a balanced gut environment. Some scientists think it may help promote good bacteria and a calm, happy belly. Still early days, but promising!

 4. A Nudge for the Heart

Some research points to turmeric possibly helping support healthy cholesterol levels and blood flow. It’s not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle—but it might be one of many tools in the garden shed.

 How to Use It (No Capsules Required)

You don’t have to pop a pill to enjoy turmeric. In fact, I’m a fan of the good old-fashioned food-first approach:

  • Golden Milk – Warm milk (dairy or plant-based) + turmeric + black pepper + honey = cozy in a cup.
  • Stir-Fries & Curries – Toss it in with oil while cooking for a rich, earthy flavor.
  • Smoothie Boost – Just a pinch goes a long way.
  • Turmeric Tea – Mix with hot water, lemon, and a hint of ginger for a grounding brew.

📌 Pro tip: Black pepper helps turmeric absorb better. A little pinch can make a big difference!

⚠️ One Last Note—And It’s Important

Turmeric is a spice, not a miracle. It’s generally safe in food amounts, but supplements can be a different story. Always check with your medical provider before starting a new supplement. This is information, not medical advice.

Turmeric is one of those lovely little things in life that reminds us how powerful plants can be. It’s colorful, comforting, and full of potential. Just remember—no powder or potion replaces good sleep, real food, movement, and proper medical care.

So if you’re curious, ask your provider and start slow. Add a little golden goodness to your meals, and enjoy the ritual of it. As always, keep learning, stay curious, and never skip your checkups.

With warmth,
Mrs Farminsteadical
 —where the garden meets the lab coat

A lesson from Winnie the Pooh

by mrsfarminsteadical

Everybody knows Winnie the Pooh is a huge fan of honey, but studies say you should be too!

Honey has many powerful benefits to people, and test rats too. For starters, local honey does wonders for seasonal allergies. Bees take pollen from the same weeds and flowers that you are allergic to.  Studies have shown that repeatedly exposing yourself to minimal amounts of these allergens can improve your response to them. Honey contains trace amounts of this pollen. Another reason why it helps with allergies is because when you have an allergic reaction inflammatory mediators like histamine are released. Honey is naturally anti inflammatory therefore reducing the common allergy symptoms.

In a study done on children, honey proved more effective than dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine.  The study was called, “A comparison of the effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine on nightly cough and sleep quality in children and their parents.”(Shadkam MN1, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Mozayan MR.) The results are as follows

“RESULTS:The mean of cough frequency score HG is 4.09 +/- 0.72 and 1.93 +/- 0.65 before and after the intervention, respectively, while these figures for the CG are 4.11 +/- 0.78 and 3.11 +/- 0.57, respectively. After the intervention, the difference of the mean score of the variables in all groups became statistically significant. The mean score of all variables in HG has stood significantly higher than those in other groups. There is also a significant relationship between the DMG and CG groups, even though there is no statistically difference between DMG and DPHG groups.

CONCLUSIONS:The result of the study demonstrated that receiving a 2.5-mL dose of honey before sleep has a more alleviating effect on URIs-induced cough compared with DM and DPH doses.””(Shadkam MN1, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Mozayan MR.)

I have included a link to the study I pulled this information from. If you are interested in further information regarding this study.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20618098

Honey has also been known to improve cholesterol and lower triglycerides and honey has a lower glycemic index than sugar.

Honey is also loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. What are antioxidants? Good question. The simple answer is antioxidants help protect the cells in our body from the free radicals we make. We make free radicals during food digestion, radiation, and smoke exposure. Free radicals have been linked to heart disease, cancer and a few other major life threatening diseases.

In scientific studies, honey has proven to be effective treatment for burns, diabetic ulcers, wounds, herpes lesions, psoriasis any other skin conditions related to tissue damage.

I will include one more excerpt from a scientific study on honey I find incredible. I will include the link to the study and I highly recommend you read the study in its entirety, and then go buy some honey!

“The healing property of honey is due to the fact that it offers antibacterial activity, maintains a moist wound condition, and its high viscosity helps to provide a protective barrier to prevent infection. … The antimicrobial activity in most honeys is due to the enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide.”(Manisha Deb Mandal1 and Shyamapada Mandal2,*)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/

Stay safe, Stay well, read Winnie the Pooh, and eat some honey!

Love to all,

Mrs. Farminsteadical

 

 

Aloe Hand Sanitizer

by mrsfarminsteadical

Last night I harvested Two Large Aloe Leaves. I bought them in stop and shop for a total of 3 dollars. If you have your own aloe plant, you should use the outermost leaves and they should be at least 8 inches long (fully mature).

INGREDIENTS: 1-2 Aloe leaves,  70 percent alcohol, essential oil

STEP ONE: WASH YOUR HANDS

How to Harvest: I first cut off about half inch of the wide end ( I refer to this as the bottom). Then stand it up bottom down, in a bowl leaning against a wall or something of that nature. The reason we must do this is to drain the latex. Latex is a yellow milky substance between the skin and the gel of the leaf.

The latex is not good for humans so do not skip this step.  

Next I remove the aloe leaves and cleaned the latex out of my bowl. I then cut the aloe leaves in half (longitudinally)  with a sharp knife. To specify I started at the bottom (wide end) and slid the knife all the way to the tip of the aloe leaf.

Then I took one slice at a time and scraped all the gel into my bowl with a spoon. For reference there are really only 3 parts of the aloe leaf. The skin (green) the latex (yellow) the gel (everything else). Since we already removed the latex, you should be scraping everything out of the aloe leaf all the way down to the green skin. (Its harder than it seems).

Once I had all the gel into my bowl I whisked it until it was less glob like ( you’ll understand this once you get to this step). I then measured 1 part aloe to 3 parts alcohol. How much you measure will depend on how much you are trying to make but keep the ratio the same. 1 part aloe 3 parts alcohol.

Note: The alcohol needs t be at last 70 percent but not much higher. 70 percent is better than 100 percent because without a small amount of water, the alcohol will coagulate the cell wall and prevent the alcohol from entering. Without water the alcohol cannot diffuse into the cell wall of  the bacteria you are trying to kill, therefore the bacteria will not die.

After you add the 3 parts alcohol to the 1 part aloe gel you can add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil. You can also ass a few drops of vitamin E oil if you have it to better moisturize and protect your hands from the harsh and frequent alcohol.

Whisk it all together until it is a smooth gel/liquid consistency and then put it in the container you wish to use for dispensing!

Congratulations, you’ve just made hand sanitizer.

The COVID Crisis

by mrsfarminsteadical

Hello to my lovely followers and loyal supporters.

Firstly, I am SO sorry, that you have not heard from me in so long. I didn’t realize how long it had been, and life as we know it can get in the way sometimes and has a way of rearranging priorities. I am going to strive to be better for you, because you deserve it.

As we all know, we are in the middle of a global pandemic. There is not only a lack of toilet paper, but there is also a lack of quality information. We need this information going around to properly inform us, of whats happening and what we need to know. The news is not doing much to give facts, and for those of us who have facebook, lots of information is flowing through facebook however it is very difficult to tell what is reliable and what  is misinformation. I am going to do my best to sort that out for you, while disclosing that I am no professional or epidemiologist. What I am, is a molecular and cell biology major at Uconn (pre-med), who has been following this very closely.

One of the most alarming things here is the level of panic. Some people are not panicked at all and this is a concern for those of us who are.  And some of us are over panicked and buying bulk toilet paper, and baby formula. Which is also a big concern. If everyone does not cooperate and practice proper social distancing and proper hand washing, we will all be at risk and isolated for longer. It is crucial that everyone listen to the warnings of the CDC and the WHO.  You probably already know these recommendations and guidelines but for those of us who don’t these include but are not limited to:

1. Practice social distancing (stay home if you can, if you cant stay a minimum of 6 feet away from all people including friends and extended family EVEN IF NEITHER OF YOU FEEL SICK. With the exception of health care professionals who needs to take the proper steps of precaution while evaluating patients.

2. No gatherings of more than 10 people…again if you follow rule number one, this should be a no brainer.

3. Wash your hands with soap and water very frequently. If you come in close contact with people or things people have touched, the 20 minute rule is a good one to follow. Wash every 20 minutes. Antibacterial soap is best but any soap is better than none. What I mean by things people have touched is essentially food at the grocery store, you should not be going anywhere besides work and the grocery store.  Hand sanitizer must be at least 70 percent alcohol to kill this virus. That means germ x original WILL NOT effectively replace hand washing, do not rely solely on hand sanitizer. Many of them are not strong enough.

4. Do not touch your face. Eyes, nose, and mouth, are the entry points of our body for the virus. If you have virus cells on your hands and you wash them you will not get sick. If you have virus cells on your hands, touch your face, and then wash your hands, you will get sick. In conclusion DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE.

5. Postpone travel If possible and avoid areas of high contamination such as China, Italy, Spain, Iran, Germany. This list again is not all inclusive.

There is an overwhelming amount of people saying “the flu kills more people per year” okay so far, yes. But the mortality rate and the R0 (R-naught), the incubation period, and the hospitalization period are why this is so much worse. The mortality rate is different among age groups and gets worse with immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. But even amongst young healthy individuals it is over a hundred times more fatal than the flu. We are still learning about this virus and information is changing quickly but as of right now, the mortality rate is 1-3.4 percent. To put that into perspective, the flu is .1 percent mortality rate. So COVID 19 is 100-340 times more fatal. Also, another thing to think about, all of those people who would normally die from the flu will still die from the flu. Corona virus deaths will be additional, unnecessary deaths.

What is Ro or R-naught? It is the reproduction number of a disease, or the average number of cases an infected person will cause during their infectious period. If it is less than 0 the disease will die out in a population, if it is greater than 0 disease will spread and the higher the number the more dangerous. The flu has a typical R0 of 1.3, COVID 19 has a R0 of 2-2.5. Again significantly higher.

Hospitalization rate for the flu is universally about 2 percent. This is a number our healthcare industry is equipped to work with but just about at capacity. The hospitalization rate for COVID 19 is 19 percent currently. Let’s remember this is in addition to the already very full hospitals. We do not have enough hospital beds to take care of the people who need help, we do not have enough equipment and ventilators to take care of all the people who will need them. We are not taking proper care of our health care workers, who are using makeshift masks because we are out of supplies. When all of the health care workers get sick, who will take care of us then? This is is why shutting everything down, though sad and difficult, is crucial. Social distancing is crucial.

The incubation period is another issue. For the flu it is 1-4 days. COVID 19 is 1-14 days. This means it can take up to 14 days once you get infected with the virus and become contagious for your first symptom to appear. Some cases have been asymptomatic for even longer. Which is why even if you feel fine and have no symptoms, you need to stay home. You could be a carrier and although you personally will probably survive it, there are so many who aren’t so lucky. Your parents and grandparents, your pregnant best friends, your cousin with an autoimmune disorder, uncle with cancer, aunt in heart failure. The elderly, pregnant, and immunocompromised are all around us, they are our friends and family and co-workers. If it was you, who was high risk, you would want everyone to do all the you’ll to protect YOUR LIFE, so you need to do the same to protect theirs.

This virus, as far as we know right now is highly contagious. A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine claims that the virus can live in the air for 3 hours, on copper surfaces for 4 hours, on cardboard for 24 hours and on plastic and stainless steel for 2-3 days. If someone COVID 19 positive coughs into the air, and you walk through it a few hours later unknowingly, you are at risk, so again….STAY HOME.

What is well known is that before this thing is over, many people will be infected with it. Probably the majority, as estimates are currently looking at 40-60 percent of our population will become infected with the virus. So what can you do to protect yourself? Boost your immune system, with diet and exercise. The healthier you are the more likely this will only mildly affect you. Ramp up your endurance and heart health with some daily cardio workouts, you don’t need equipment or a gym, jumping jacks will suffice. You’ll be stuck at home anyways. Drink tons of water, AT LEAST 8 glasses, but a gallon is preferred. Eat clean, mostly green is a motto I like to follow, and also natural immune boosters are a great idea right now! Vitamin C is a wonderful immune booster. It is thought to increase white blood cells which is important while fighting infections. Citrus fruits and red bell peppers are very high in vitamin c. Broccoli is another great immune booster, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and even fiber. Raw is the most beneficial way to eat it, cooking it begins to lower its health benefits. Garlic has a large concentration of allicin which is a sulfur containing compound which gives it immune boosting properties.  My favorite immune booster is Elderberry, which is why my Bee well Honey (another immune booster) is LOADED with it.

Our scientists are still learning, and the government is new to this as well, as we learn about the virus we must adapt, we need to come together (but not to close) and do our part (stay home, shop local, buy a gift card). It’s not the time for pointing blame and spreading panic and misinformation. Don’t but bulk toilet paper and don’t buy wipes and formula. The children of our future require that. Lend a hand, look out for the elderly, stay calm and follow directions.

Educate yourself on the REAL information, the CDC- Center for Disease Control and the WHO- World Health Organization is where I got all the information about COVID 19 and those sources are where you should be looking for your informations and updates as well.

I will hopefully be posting more updates as I learn about them. In the mean time, stay safe, stay clean, stay healthy. Reach out to me with further questions and stay home.

Xoxo

Mrs. Farminsteadical

 

The Sinus Infection

by mrsfarminsteadical

Hello my lovelies!

I believe the proper term currently is Happy Holidays, we will see what next year brings. The terms may change but the November through February illness will not. The ever so common and oh so hated sinus infection that brings a stuffy/runny nose, a headache, a sore throat, sinus pressure and oh so many other horrible symptoms into your holiday cheer.

I can’t speak for everyone but this time of year is a very busy time for me.  Between shopping, baking, and spending time with traveling family I definitely do not have time to be sick or make a doctor’s appointment. So I came up with my own remedy. Its alternative and healthy as are all of my other wellness ideas and creations.

This remedy is a mist that consists of 3 different food grade essential oils. You can use these oils independently or all together on your own, or with a special request I can put them together for you.

The three essential oils I use are menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus. I combine, dilute and then spray on the bottom of my pillow or a wash cloth that I wear around my neck. Buying all three can be a pricey option. If you are looking for relief in a more cost efficient way, my suggestion would be to purchase food grade eucalyptus oil and drop 1-3 drops into a pot of hot water during a steam treatment.

For those of you who have not done a steam treatment before, I will explain how to do it, or at least how I do it.

Step one: Boil water

Step Two: Pour water into a bowl

Step Three: Add 1-3 drops of Eucalyptus oil

Step Four: Lean over the bowl so your head is above it and place a towel over your head and the bowl.

When doing a steam treatment make sure to be far enough away from the bowl so that you do not get burned. However, it should be hot enough to form a significant amount of steam.

I truly hope this helps you maintain some of your holiday cheer when it tries to run out your nose this winter.  Happy Holidays!

Love Mrs. Farminsteadical

 

As I always must say, when using essential oils, you should always use food grade oils  and check with a physician before use.

Owww

by mrsfarminsteadical

Did you know that tooth pain has been known to be the closest type of pain to child birth? No, it is still not as bad as giving birth, nothing is. However the type of pain is similar. I had my wisdom teeth out on Tuesday…..Giving birth was way worse and I would have my wisdom teeth out ten times over before I went through my induced labor again. But, I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t in severe pain right now….. 4 days later. Actually I am in so much pain I am upstairs in my bedroom hiding from my wonderful husband and precious child right now. I miss them and I love them but I have no patience in my current state and I really just need to cool down alone. Well what better time than to catch up on some reading and research and post a helpful blog for others who might be having some similar feelings.

The first one I would like to talk about is peppermint tea bags. So there is a trick to this. Make yourself a cup of peppermint tea, after it seeps pull out the tea bag and let it cool until it is warm but not hot. Place it inside your mouth in the area that is hurting you. Leave it there until you cannot feel a temperature difference anymore, now pull it out and put it in the freezer. Once it is very cold, put it back in your mouth on the sensitive area again, until you can not feel a temperature difference inside your mouth. Now throw away the tea bag and enjoy your tea. Why does this help? Peppermint leaves have a numbing affect and a cooling affect when places on sore gums these two characteristics can come in very handy. They soothe the gums and numb just enough to ease the pain but not enough to make you drool like local anesthetics. And it tastes good!

So peppermint tea can help you out with dental pain and bad breath. On the other side of the spectrum we have option number two. This remedy will help you out with the pain and will make your breath smell horrible, but at least you will feel better. This remedy is garlic. Garlic will kill harmful bacteria that could be causing pain, infection, plaque and all sorts of other chaos in your mouth and it is a natural pain reliever! Depending on your pain level you can either slowly chew the garlic clove or you can crush it and make a paste to rub onto the sore or sensitive areas.  My mouth hurts way to much to chew so I am going to stick with the paste. Let me know what you chose and how it works for you!

I hope this helps,

xoxo

Mrs Farminsteadical

 

 

Monkeys?

by mrsfarminsteadical

Good Morning beautiful followers!

What a lovely day it is today! Yesterday was a nice day too, until I stepped on a bee with no mercy. I had to give the bee a funeral of course and thank him for giving me the inspiration for my next article in the obituary and now here we are. There are tons of  alternative remedies for bee stings, tooth paste, turmeric, baking soda, etc. There is also plenty of OTC antihistamines and prescription steroids you can use.  But that is boring. This article will focus on two of my FAVORITE remedies and the comedic value of both of them.

I just found out that not many people know about the tooth paste trick so I am adding in a little blurb here. Any tooth paste, doesn’t matter brand or ingredients and rub it onto bee stings. This helps because when you get stung venom goes inside you and the venom is very acidic. The toothpaste is very basic so it neutralizes the venom and stops the sting. Okay back to the funny stuff.

The first remedy I will talk about is honey. Maybe its not knee slapping funny but I think its pretty ironic that the bee who did the damage also has the cure. Bees make the venom that sting you and they also make honey which can make the sting go away very quickly and effectively. I know not all “bees” that sting make honey… wasps do not make honey and they definitely do sting but for the sake of the article we are going to ignore them, just like we try to do in everyday outdoor life.

Why does honey help? Well besides the fact the honey is only second to breast milk on the liquid gold scale in my opinion, it has natural antiseptic qualities, it is known for its wound healing/ pain relief. Any further than that, I do not know why it helps… I just know that it does.

Now we will get to my funky title. Monkeys? My next remedy which I personally think is quite funny is banana peels. Monkeys are not so crazy loving bananas, they have many uses besides being a tasty treat and one of them is relieving bee stings. After a bee sting, grab a banana and eat the fruit part, you are left with the peel. rub the inside of the peel all over the sting and watch like magic as the swelling goes down, redness reduces and itching/pain goes away. Maybe being LESS amazed by bananas was actually an evolutionary FLAW.

Why bananas? Well here’s the thing, technically I know the answer but it doesn’t really make sense to me… I’ll tell you because my intention here is to spread my knowledge, but know that for this remedy I am acknowledging that I do not understand how this works. If you know, feel free to shed light to the rest of us in the comment section. This is what I know, bee venom is made up of many chemicals. One of those chemicals is called Isopentyl acetate. Isopentyl acetate is also banana oil. What I mean by that is, if you were to go through an extracting process and pull out the oil of a banana (like essential oils) the oil you’d get would have the same molecular breakdown as Isopentyl acetate. So basically you would be putting MORE venom on the sting and somehow that makes the sting go away…..I know it sounds crazy and I don’t understand it either but trust me, it works.

That’s all for now, I hope this was helpful! Have a wonderful day!

xoxo

Mrs. Farminsteadical

 

Menopause/ Perimenopause

by mrsfarminsteadical

Attention Ladies, this one is for you! Men go click another blog post!

Alright my beautiful women let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Menopause. I said it, you might not want to hear it but I said it anyways and I did that because I can help you.  ATTENTION 20 SOMETHING YEAR OLDS! DO NOT STOP READING. YES THIS DOES AFFECT YOU TOO. YES RIGHT NOW. First and most importantly we need to FULLY understand what is happening in order to assist our bodies in the transition. Perimenopause can start in your 20’s and there are ways to prolong it or assist with symptoms once it has begun! But like I said first we need to know what’s happening. You may think you know but you could be missing out on some key details. Menopause and Perimenopause can be a very sensitive subject, which is difficult because that means it’s not widely talked about. In turn no one knows what the hell it is, even though almost everyone has to deal with it, whether it’s you or your mom or your wife or your sister, your boss…. EVERYONE.

You can google this and find a lot of medical terminology and annoying phrases that aren’t useful because you don’t know what they mean…. Or you can read my blog and hear it the way a normal human would speak it. Menopause happens when our bodies begin to suck at making a hormone called estrogen. Estrogen runs the baby making game in our body. When estrogen levels drop eggs are no longer released, which means aunt Flo went on vacation and she is not coming back.  This also means we are about to experience a tidal wave of symptoms because our body doesn’t like that aunt Flo left. In case you are supersonically smart and know the medical terms.. this means your hypothalamus and your ovaries are no longer communicating to balance out your hormone production therefore causing your symptoms.  The typical symptoms are hot flashes, weight gain and moodiness. Did you know there are many other  COMMON but less well known symptoms? They are commonly overlooked or associated with something else but are directly linked to menopause and or perimenopause, and are as follows. Anxiety, hair changes, headaches or migraines, tachycardia or increase in heartbeat, muscle aches, and breast tenderness.  Also common during menopause or perimenopause is night sweats, fatigue, insomnia, dry skin, vaginal dryness, depression, concentration difficulties, forgetfulness, lowered or loss of sex drive, urinary tract infections and more! All of these symptoms happen because our body now has a chemical imbalance due to a lack of hormone production. Our body has to learn how to function without a key ingredient and it’s fighting back saying no thank you… more estrogen please.

Here’s what you can do to help. First off educate yourself. Read until you can’t read anymore and learn everything there is to know. The more you know about what’s happening to your body the better off you will be. But besides education there are herbal remedies you can take to help you, specifically 4 that I am aware of. Red Clover, Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, and Vitex Berry. These herbs contain isoflavones more commonly known as phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogen copies the behavior of estrogen in our bodies assisting in the communication between ovaries and hypothalamus and balancing out our hormones, limiting miserable symptoms. If you fill your body with phytoestrogen, studies have shown your hypothalamus may think your estrogen level is correct.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about taking herbal supplements to make sure you take the right amount, to make sure it fits with your lifestyle and doesn’t react to any other medication or herb you might be on, or worsen any existing medical conditions. It’s also important to find a trusted brand, herbal supplements is not a good place to save a penny. Trusted brands are a must to make sure you are actually getting what is advertised.

Ways to prolong it are keep your body healthy and don’t smoke. Smoking is a GREAT way to make menopause happen faster.

P.S I can’t advertise this publically but there is a product online that I HIGHLY recommend you can private message me and I will tell you what it’s called and where to find it.

I hope this helps! Remember we are all beautiful, keep your heads up and stick together. Hand in hand together we stand. You aren’t alone.

Until next time,

Xoxo

Mrs. Farminsteadical