Tag: home remedy

Immunity Boosting Ginger Lemon Wellness Shot

I hold my breath when someone sneezes in an elevator until I’m able to make my escape. Knee jerk reaction, but seriously dude, you couldn’t hold that in for one more floor?! I’m washing my hands like crazy, cleaning door knobs, remote controls and appliances around my house with homemade antibacterial cleaners, just so dude can sneeze on me in an enclosed space. No way. This deadly flu I keep hearing about has me taking extra precautions. First off, I’m taking the stairs to avoid Mr. Sneezy McGee. As added insurance, I’ve been choking down this ginger lemon wellness shot every morning… and I do mean choking down. There’s no sugar coating this one. It’s a whole shot glass of rough. This is not something that you drink for the taste (though admittedly I’m starting to get used to it), but the benefits to your immune system are no joke. Here’s the boring bit about the ingredients and a couple of their health benefits.

Ginger

  • anti-inflammatory
  • natural antihistamine
  • natural expectorant

Lemon

  • balances pH
  • high in Vitamin C
  • helps keep you hydrated

Cayenne Pepper

  • anti-fungal properties
  • anti-bacterial properties
  • anti-allergen

Like I said before, this wellness shot is no joke. I wouldn’t call it tasty by any means, but be honest, you’ve probably taken shots that burn just as bad on the way down, without any of the health benefits. No judgment. All I’m saying is that you can do this and your immune system will appreciate the boost!

Ginger Lemon Wellness Shot

ingredients

  1. 1 inch of ginger, peeled and juiced
  2. ½ of a fresh lemon
  3. dash of cayenne pepper***

directions

  1. peel the ginger and run it through your juicer into a glass
  2. squeeze the juice from your lemon into the glass
  3. top with a dash of cayenne pepper and stir

***You can swap out lemons for limes and cayenne pepper for turmeric. Also, if you absolutely can’t do the whole concentrated wellness shot thing, try this homemade wellness tonic, or this wellness tea.

Source: Christina Greve

Spa Oasis: The 4 Best Shower Plants To Add to Your Bathroom + A Nifty Idea for the Commitment-Phobic Plant Lover

This summer I went to Stockholm and got to see Scandinavian design first hand. Ikea definitely rules the city, but one thing that I hadn’t really noticed before my visit was this new trend that’s sweeping across the internet: shower plants. I stayed at this cute little air bnb and the bathroom was full of potted plants. I absolutely loved it. The shower stall had hanging plants creeping down the side of the wall and the tub was adorned with beautiful potted plants. It made for the most relaxing spa shower I’ve had in a long time.

As soon as I got back to the states, I knew I just had to add a little green to my shower. I did some investigating and soon discovered that Swedes might be on to something here. Not only are potted plants in the bathroom totally beautiful, but they also serve the function of purifying the air of bacteria and humidity. Perfect for a bathroom! It’s no secret how much I love houseplants. Even though I have the worst luck in keeping plants alive, I’ve found some houseplants that totally thrive even when they are in the care of an herbicidal maniac like me. Finding houseplants for your shower is no different. These plants are totally well suited for a bathroom’s humid environment and are all seriously low maintenance. Check it out!

Air Plants

These amazing little guys are really making the rounds on Pinterest lately. Practically impossible to kill, they add a touch of elegance without all of the fuss. They don’t need soil and when stored in a bathroom, they get most of their water from the air. Just perfect!

Ferns

An oldie, but goodie. Ferns never lose their charm. They require little maintenance and are super prolific. they don’t need direct sunlight and your shower will feel like a rainforest. These look amazing on a vanity, on the lip of a tub, or on a shelf above the toilet.

Spider Plants

Spider plants serve double duty by adding a beautiful touch of low maintenance green to your loo, while at the same time purifying the air. They don’t need much light and they really do well in the humid environment provided by a bathroom.

Eternity Plant

So aptly named, the eternity plant is virtually impossible to kill. Seriously, I tried. I am horrible at taking care of plants, but this one here doesn’t mind the fact that I, ahem, never water it, never talk to it (aren’t you supposed to talk to plants?), and have only indirect sunlight in my bathroom. Forget about marriage, this guy will never give up on his relationship with you.

Nifty Idea: Bath Bouquets

Ok. So what if you’re not willing to even attempt to care for a plant, no matter how low maintenance it is? I totally understand. I have a guest bathroom that I seriously never use. I only go in there to wipe it down from time to time when I know I’m going to have company. Not an ideal place for indoor plants that rely, even just a little bit, on human interaction.

For that bathroom, I like to put together a bouquet of eucalyptus, mint, lavender, rosemary, or lemongrass stems that i tie up with natural twine (find it here) and hang from the shower curtain. These ‘bouquets’ last for weeks and release the most beautiful fragrances when in an enclosed space. When and if you do use the shower, the bouquet reacts to the steam and creates an amazing aromatherapy shower. Such a cool little idea! You can avoid commitment, but still enjoy the benefits of bringing the outside in!

Homemade Switchel---The Home Remedy Tonic You've Never Heard Of

Homemade Switchel—The Home Remedy Tonic You’ve Never Heard Of

I’m kind of a history nerd. I love stories about tradition. How was this thing used or how did this thing get it’s name? That’s exciting stuff. So when I read a brief history of switchel, or haymaker’s punch, I was totally fascinated. Switchel is a traditional drink popularized in colonial New England. It was often given to farmers to quench their thirst during harvesting time, hence the nickname, haymaker’s punch. I totally geeked out over that story, and when I saw the recipe I was completely sold on trying it out for myself.

Homemade Switchel

Switchel is probably the best kept herbal remedy secret I’ve seen in years. This homemade tonic is an immune system-boosting, probiotics boasting, electrolyte-replenishing powerhouse of a drink! This is the perfect home remedy to alleviate the symptoms of anything from acid reflux to the flu. You probably have all of the ingredients you need right now! Check it out!

Homemade Switchel

Homemade Switchel

Ingredients

  • 1 (4 inch) piece of ginger, grated
  • 2 tbsp raw honey
  • 1/3 c apple cider vinegar
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 4 c filtered water

Directions

  • combine all ingredients in a glass carafe
  • let stand overnight at room temperature
  • serve hot, or at room temperature, or over ice, or add some seltzer water!

Image Credit: StephaniePollard