A Tip From Kelly!

I live in Southeast Texas, where it's mosquito season most of the year, and have a mild allergy to the anticoagulant the mosquito injects.
I try not to get eaten up by them, but it happens on occasion, and it causes intense, painful itching for me. Instead of buying some overpriced product to relieve itching, I just rub some lemon or lime juice on the bites. The citric acid of the juice breaks down the protein-based anticoagulant. And, of course, relieving the itching prevents scratching, which helps prevent infection.
I hope this tip helps. :)

Living in Florida myself, the mosquito is practically the state bird! So ANY help is welcome! The acidic nature of the citrus may be matched by white vinegar...anybody try that? In Australia, during a certain season, all beach goers take white vinegar along to treat jellyfish stings...so it might work too.
Though the citrus certainly smells better!
And a big thank you to, Kelly, of http://onemonkeystypewriter.blogspot.com , for sharing!

From Ma...up on the mountain.

Nanc and my adopted 'Ma', sent me this handy tip, just in time for summer hiking, camping, fishing or just goofing around.
After all, even insects have to breathe, and since they use orifices on their sides...I would imagine that the necessity of breathing will cause them to forgo a meal!
A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share - And it really works!!
I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.
Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.
This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say,' It worked!'

Tea Tree Oil, a wonder from "down Under".

In the years since I have started using tea tree oil, the number of uses has increased.
It is an excellent antiseptic, in fact, I use it successfully on canker sores, clears up even the most aggressive in a day or 2. (To use it this way, shake a bottle of the oil, daub the end of a q-tip on the inside lid. Dry the area of the canker sore, apply and hold for several seconds, then hold the sore out and let the oil dry. I told the mother of a child about it, she tried it and only needed 2 applications to heal up a very large, open sore. Less than 24 hrs. was all it took.)
Any; acne, scrape, cut or other open wound heals quickly after application, and only a little dab will do you!
Nanc's daughter, zgirl, had a swollen gum, near a tooth that had lost it's filling. Since it was the weekend, a dentist just wasn't available. At a nearby small store, Nanc picked up some freshly made colloidal silver with a small amount of tea tree oil in it. The swelling and pain went down, and stayed down until zgirl could get into the dentist on Monday.
Also, a little bit on a cotton ball, can help dry up acne or boils before they get too big and really painful and obvious.
Here is a link with more information;
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/TeaTreeOil.htm

And what the NIH has to say;
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-teatreeoil.html


And a special caution to cat owners;
http://www.messybeast.com/teatree.htm

Olive Oil, the all around good stuff!

Many of you are aware of the benefits of olive oil in cooking. But did you know that it also has an ancient and excellent use as a beauty aid?
You can make some skin care products out of inexpensive oil, like scrubs and dry skin relief.
It only takes 3 items to gain a whole bevy of benefits, AND, a friend of mine who is a nurse always warned me, that anything I put ON my skin should be food grade...,"If you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin."
So, with that in mind, the 3 ingredients are;
1 quart olive oil(Pompeii works fine)
1 cup kosher salt
and about 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oils(I like Wild Oats "Harmony" blend myself).

To the quart of oil, add 20 drops of essential oils, shake and smell, add more as desired.
This blend is great for dry skin patches, bath oil, and for those pesky crowsfeet. Olive oil is almost as good as jojoba in absorption into the skin.
If you need a scrub, mix 1 cup of kosher salt and 1 cup of scented oil, keep in a sealed container, use to scrub your face, elbows, heels, whatever. Rinse off and enjoy the glow!