In earlier days, we were very much connected with nature. Everything was pure and safe for us. Initially even for diseases we do not seek doctors but the different herbs, spices, and other home products. But as the technology is advancing we are moving away . . . → Read More: Herbal Medicine – The Secret to Cure Diseases]]>

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In earlier days, we were very much connected with nature. Everything was pure and safe for us. Initially even for diseases we do not seek doctors but the different herbs, spices, and other home products. But as the technology is advancing we are moving away from it. We now need ready made products so that no effort is required for its use. This has made us move towards the allopathic medication in every little sniffle. This has various side effects which are seen afterwards.

On the contrary, herbs as medicines are very effective and safe. Traditional medicines just suppress the symptoms while herbal medicines find the root cause of problems and thus eliminating it. Herbal medicines are prepared from the different parts of the plant and plant extracts. These were very popular in china and now have reached to the whole world due to its effectiveness. These herbal medicines are prepared by mixing various plant parts like roots, stems, leaves, bark, flower juices, etc.

In traditional Chinese medicine system, each herbal medicine is prepared by mixing different types of herbs considering the patient’s illness. Some herbs are used to detoxify the effect of other herb while some are added to act as catalyst for the other herb. All this is decided in keeping the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional and health aspects.

Herbal medicine in china is decided on the following concepts:

Body temperature: every individual has balanced yin/yang degree. The ratio of these two makes the person’s body as hot, cold, warm, cool or neutral. While preparing herbs internal balance is checked then medication is done. For internal cold, hot yang medicines are given.

Taste: herbs have five different tastes i.e. sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy. Each taste has specific function so are given accordingly. Sweet is used for toning, improving, moistening the basic systems of the body, sour is used in perspiration, protracted cough, and chronic diarrhea. Salty is effective in softening firm masses and adhesions. Bitter helps in clearing body heat, decreases chi, raises appetite while spicy is used to activate meridian points, circulation of blood and disperses energy.

Meridian: meridians are the pathways associated with the body organs. There are specific herbs associated with each organ which is decided considering above two methods.

Herbal remedies are the secret to cure a number of diseases. This is due to the therapeutic effect of each herb on the specific organ in the body. Some of the herbs used in preparing these medicines are:

Ginger: it’s an herb as well as spice used regularly in daily diet. This generates warmth in body, effective in cough and cold, detoxifies the food poisons and helpful in digestion.
Cinnamon: a popular ingredient of tea helps in maintaining the balance of energy throughout the body. It regulates the circulation of blood by invigorating it and helps during allergic reaction in the body.
Astragalus: its root is used to strengthen immune system and make body resistant to infection. It also reduces reaction during allergies.
Salvia: used in parts of pain, injury, inflammation, infection, swelling and effective in post stroke syndrome.
Ephedra: it is a stem herb effective in respiratory and nervous system. It’s a tonic for those who are trying hard to reduce weight as it helps in burning calories.

Several others include peony, rehmmania, rhubarb, licorice etc. Sometimes these medicines also include minerals and plant parts that have raised certain controversies in their use. Otherwise these are the best remedies for your diseases and very cost effective too.

George Jhon is an Author for Backonyourfeet, A Natural Health Clinic where our highly skilled experts may guide you about Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine to Improve Your Life. For more information, visit http://www.backonyourfeet.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Jhon

A refractometer has a wide variety of uses such as measuring sugar . . . → Read More: Brix Refractometers]]>

You often hear the term brix and brix refractometer when testing samples for sugar content. Just what is a refractometer? A refractometer is an instrument that measures the refraction of light through a substance. The refractive index becomes higher in a substance of higher concentration.

A refractometer has a wide variety of uses such as measuring sugar concentrations and liquid concentrations. Refractometers are sometimes called “Sugar concentration meters” or “Density meters” depending on the application.

Brix and refractive index are common measurement scales for refractometers. A refractometer that measures brix is referred to as a Brix Refractometer. When measuring solutions that have multiple ingredients the Brix value equals the total concentration of dissolved solids.

About the Brix (%) Scale

Brix (%) shows the concentration percentage of the soluble solids content in a sample (water solution). The soluble solids content is the total of all the solids dissolved in the water, including sugar, salts, protein, acids, etc., and the measurement reading is the sum total of these. Basically, Brix (%) is the number of grams of cane sugar contained in 100g of cane sugar solution. When measuring a sugar solution, Brix (%) should perfectly match the actual concentration. With solutions containing other components, especially when one wants to know the exact concentration, a conversion chart is necessary.

Digital versus Analog Brix refractometers

Brix refractometers are available in hand-held (analogue) or digital models. Hand held units are read by putting a drop of sample on the prism, closing the daylight plate and then reading the scale through an eyepiece as the instrument is held up to your eye. A hand-held/analogue unit determines the refractive index or brix by use of the “Transparent System” which measures light as it passes through the sample and the prism. A low concentration sample has a larger angle of refraction so the boundary line falls on the lower part of the scale, whereas a high concentration sample has a small angle of refraction so the boundary line appears in the upper part of the scale.

Digital Brix refractometers use the “Reflected light system. When you put a sample on the prism and press the Start button, the light that is transmitted from under the sample will travel and refract in multiple directions. The angle of reflection is proportional to the refractive index of the sample, and the reflected light is measured by a sensor and converted into the refractive index or brix readout.

Because of their versatility, Brix refractometers are used widely to test sugar content in fruit, vegetables, wine and other food products.

Preparing and canning Tomato sauce:

Wash your garden tomatoes in cold water,I filter my water to remove flouride and chlorine.Add . . . → Read More: Fall Harvest, How To Can Your Vegetables]]> Organic GardeningSet up your own organic garden and grow your own 100% organic vegetables. You will no longer have to spend money purchasing vegetables from your local market that will go bad quickly and need to be replaced.
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Preparing and canning Tomato sauce:

Wash your garden tomatoes in cold water,I filter my water to remove flouride and chlorine.Add a couple of capfuls of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water and simply wash the tomatoes.

Core the tomatoes and cut them into quarters, fill a saucepot with whatever you have. Bring tomatoes to a boil then cut heat back. Use a potatoe masher or somthing similar to crush the mix ocasionally for about an hour. this allows water to be cooked out.Let Mixture cool a bit while preparing jars for canning.

 Using Ball brand Jars or any brand you have available, you will need pot of water deep enough to cover the jars completly,you will want to have at least one inch of water over the tops of the jars. Bring water to boil and take out only the jars you are going to fill when ready.

 While those jars are sterilizing get an empty pot or bowel. Find a metal mesh pasta strainer itm works best for me. Set strainer over the pot and compress tomatoes down and the juice will strain through the strainer. Continue pressing until all juice has been expelled.

In the clean jars that you are ready to use,add one teaspoon of  lemon  juice and one teaspoon of organic canning salt to each one.Fill jars with tomatoe sauce leaving one inch of head space.

Make sure rim of jar is clean,wipe it with paper towel befor you install lids. Remove lid from hot water and set in evenly on top of jar. Install ring and tighten it securely.

Don’t overtighten as you will need to remove ring after cooling.

After you submerge the jar it should have at least one inch of water above lid. Leave jar in water for 40 minutes before removing. Lay a small towel out on the counter to set your completed jars. Now you are an expert canner.

You will hear the jars begin to pop as they cool. This is a good sign because they have sealed. Leave the product to cool overnight before you decide to remove the rings.After you remove them, wash around the top to prevent mold and store the jars in the cabinet. They last for years. I have eaten food canned from 8 years prior.

One thing you need to do is get a canning book that tells you which foods need only a hot water canning or whether you need a pressure canning pot. All in all I will show you a couple of different vegetables that we preserve for ourselves and this on will not require a pressure canner.

Growing organic vegetables from seed is a great way to combine healthy diet and healthy exercise. Most people want to start small, but maybe you already did that. Maybe you loved your small organic garden so much you decided to expand it into a small farm. Perhaps you and your friends have set aside land for . . . → Read More: Where to Find Bulk Organic Vegetable Seed]]>

Growing organic vegetables from seed is a great way to combine healthy diet and healthy exercise. Most people want to start small, but maybe you already did that. Maybe you loved your small organic garden so much you decided to expand it into a small farm. Perhaps you and your friends have set aside land for a community garden, and need bulk organic vegetable seed to share. Maybe you’ve decided to begin marketing bulk organic vegetable seeds.

You have several potential sources for bulk organic vegetable seeds. We cannot recommend any one specific source, and offer the information below only to help you in your search.

Local Nursery or Garden Store

Nurseries near your home may sell bulk organic vegetable seed. Check your local phone directory, and call a few. If they themselves do not carry bulk organic vegetable seed, they may be able to tell you who does.

Garden stores in your area are another potential source of bulk organic vegetable seed. Home centers that sell supplies for home repairs often have a section for gardening. Large, discount box stores usually have garden centers, too. If you live in a rural area, you may find bulk organic vegetable seed at a farm supply store. Again, ask for referrals if the store does not have what you need.

Seed Catalogs

You may be able to order bulk organic vegetable seed from seed catalogs, and have it delivered to your address. Companies such as Burpee Seed Company have many kinds of organic vegetable seed in their catalog, and will no doubt be able to fill your order for bulk organic vegetable seed.

Online Seed Companies

The Internet, a potential source for so many things, has several seed companies that offer bulk organic vegetable seed. While we make no recommendation

1. Seeds of Change is a well known supplier of quality bulk organic vegetable seed. Many who do organic farming, or have large organic gardens, rely on this seed company.

2. Snow Seed Organics in California is another company you may want to check for bulk organic vegetable seed. The website says this company is the first fully certified organic seed dealer west of the U.S. Rockies.

3. Johnny’s Seed Company has been selling bulk organic vegetable seed and organic farming aids since 1973. This company also is a certified organic handler and processor, able to meet the new USDA organic requirements for the organic seeds they sell.

Those are only examples. There are many companies online from whom you can order bulk organic vegetable seed, and have it delivered – often free of charge – but study each site carefully, and look for recommendations in online forums.

CAUTION:

Before you purchase any bulk organic vegetable seed, you should be sure it is certified organic. You will want to ask about the supplier’s documentation, including organic certification. This will differ from country to country.

In the U.S., ask for: the grower’s certification number; issue date of certification; date when the annual inspection was completed; name of the inspecting company; and name of the certification director. Some companies, such as Seeds of Change post their Organic Certification online.

Before you purchase bulk organic vegetable seed, be sure the grower can warrant the absence of transgenic germplasm. That is, have they proven to the certification director that they have not genetically modified the seed?

Originally, all foods were “organic” – grown and prepared without pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, hormones, irradiation to prevent spoilage, and microwave cooking.

Our food these days, whether of vegetable or animal origin, is not only deficient in nutrients but also full of pollutants and farm chemicals. The modern denaturing of foods through massive refining and chemical treatment deeply affects . . . → Read More: Organic Eating – Why Bother?]]>  

Originally, all foods were “organic” – grown and prepared without pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, hormones, irradiation to prevent spoilage, and microwave cooking.

Our food these days, whether of vegetable or animal origin, is not only deficient in
nutrients but also full of pollutants and farm chemicals. The modern denaturing of
foods through massive refining and chemical treatment deeply affects their
Energy qualities, making them devoid of the exact boost that we should be
getting from our food.

Not only are they not giving us that KICK that we need, but many Energy
foods could actually be making us sick. As pesticides get lodged and increase in our
tissues, the immune system becomes weakened, allowing other carcinogens and
pathogens to affect our health. Yuck!

Top five reasons to shop and eat organic foods

1. Fresh organic produce contains on average 50% more vitamins, minerals,
enzymes and other micronutrients than intensively farmed produce.

2. If you eat dairy or meat products, eating organic has never been more essential to
safeguard your health. Intensively reared dairy cows and farm animals are fed
dangerous antibiotics, growth hormones, anti-parasite drugs and many other
medicines on a daily basis, whether they have an illness or not. These drugs are
passed directly onto the consumers of their dairy or meat, which contribute to
meat-related diseases like coronaries and high blood pressure.

3. Organic produce simply tastes better. Fruit and vegetables are much more full of
flavor. Experiment with an organic carrot and a conventionally grown carrot. Which
is sweeter?

4. Organic food is not really more expensive than intensively farmed foods, as we
pay for conventional foods through our taxes. We spend billions of dollars every
year cleaning up the mess that agrochemicals make in our natural water supply.

5. The few extra cents you pay for organic food may save you hundreds, if not
thousands of dollars in doctors’ bills.

To your energy and success,         http://www.individual-health.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Dominick

When you go shopping . . . → Read More: Eating Healthy With Organic Recipes]]>

If you are worried about the kind of stuff (read insecticides and pesticides) which go into your stomach along with the food you eat, then perhaps, you may consider cooking a healthy meal using organic food. So what does organic food mean? And how is cooking with organic food more healthy for you?

When you go shopping for food, do you look for the green USDA label which says that the food you are buying is organic? Probably not. You are probably wondering if it matters all that much after all. Well, it does.

Typically, when you eat food, you are pretty much ingesting a whole lot of chemicals – and it doesn’t matter if you washed it. These chemicals are inside the food or the meat that you are going to eat. After you eat them, they are going to remain inside your body – and perhaps get passed down to the children you may have. Not a pretty picture, is it?

Organic food is the kind of food which is made without the use of chemicals like insecticides and pesticides. This is the kind of food which is naturally grown. It is often not genetically modified.

Organic farmers use natural fertilizers such as manure and compost to fertilize their plants. In order to prevent insects and pests, these organic farms prefer to use beneficial insects and birds, and techniques to prevent the mating of pests. They also use traps to catch pests. To make sure that the soil retains its nutrient content, these farmers practice crop rotation. They remove weeds by hand or use mulch to manage the weeds.

Organic animal farming is also used so that we can have organic meat and poultry. Animals at such farms are given organic feed and they are allowed to go outdoors. Preventive measures like rotational grazing and clean housing are used to prevent disease. These animals are given a balanced diet which does not include chemicals to boost their growth.

The end result: food which is naturally grown and contains all the natural nutrients and vitamins. And best of all, this food is free of chemicals and genetically modified components which may harm you and your children. In the long run, organic food can even prevent diseases such as obesity, Alzheimer’s and Cancer. And these foods are tastier than you could ever imagine!

This is why, more than ever, nowadays people are looking for healthy cooking options. Organic food provides you with the most basic raw material which you require for cooking healthy. Also, cooking with organic foods means not having to use highly processed foods. Flavors are usually enhanced using sea salt or kosher salt in the place of iodized salt. Many organic cooks even avoid using microwaves to cook the food – preferring to use the stove instead. They also prefer to reduce the quantity of liquids like stocks, sauces and and tomatoes (a high water content food) to enhance the taste of a dish. They also prefer to use organic, unsalted butter for baking and cooking.

These and many such tips and tricks will help you cook healthy and eat healthy – helping you to live healthy.