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22 December 2009 @ 07:39 pm
 Hey everyone!  Long time lurker, first time poster.
I have had athlete's foot between a few of my toes that I just can't seem to get rid of.  I've had it for several months.  It'll go away a little bit then come back again full force.  I have tried the OTC athlete's foot cream from Walgreen's, as well as witch hazel mixed with a little bit of tea tree oil.  Both of these seem to help on the surface for about a half a day or so, then right back to the insane itchiness!
Does anyone know of a sure fire way to get rid of this annoyance (preferably herbal or homeopathic)?
Thanks, in advance for any advice!
 
 
22 December 2009 @ 06:37 pm
I want to make my own laundry detergent using this recipe. I have a few questions:


1. Does this look like a good recipe?

2. I want to add essential oils so that the laundry detergent has a good smell. If I put the oils in, will it make my clothes oily? Thanks so much for your help!
 
 
22 December 2009 @ 09:37 pm
X-posted to [info]beauty101 

I live in Sweden and I can't find virgin coconut oil from shops, and the only place I've found that sells it online has sky high prices. I turned to Ebay (which I've never used) and it took me ages of googling to find items that will ship to Sweden.
Since I've never bought this before, I don't really know what the "right" stuff should be like. Basically, I want at least a litre (32oz) so I can start using it for homemade deo, for my skin, maybe for my hair and I want to try it as lube, since I'm very yeast infection prone.

I have a few questions. )

PS. I have about 13 more hours before the bidding ends, so I'm in a hurry! Thank you once again!

While I'm at it, I want to share something I've found working for my hair. I've always had hair that never felt soft and got greasy quite quickly. A couple of months ago I looked around for natural ways of washing hair and since then I've done the following after washing my hair with shampoo and conditioner: I mix a third of a decilitre of lemon with a tablespoon of honey with some warm water (so the honey melts) and even more cold water in a large cup. After washing my hair, I rinse my hair with this, then wash it out quickly with water (but leaving some of it in). I've noticed that my hair becomes so much softer right afterwards and also when it's dry. The other day I forgot to rinse my hair with this stuff and my hair felt like steel wool! Dunno what's making my hair soft out of these things, but it softens my hair! :D
 
 
22 December 2009 @ 11:30 am
Hi again. I just found this neat recipe for making homemade stick deodorant in case anyone is interested. Hope you like it!

http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/03/quick-stick-deodorant.html
 
 
22 December 2009 @ 12:07 am
Hey all,
I remember a while ago [perhaps a year or two back] someone posted about wanting to switch from using toilet paper to home-made cloth alternatives. I too am looking to make that switch. I've been looking for that post or one like it for an hour. Does anyone have the link to it, or a make-your-own-cloth-tp tutorial, handy? Thanks in advance.
 
 
21 December 2009 @ 10:22 pm
My dad has entrusted me to find out about getting solar panels for the house. He wants to find a new source of energy and maybe even get some cutbacks from the government.:)

So where can we find info on this? How much to solar panels cost? And how can you install them?

Also, is there a way to conserve rainwater? (like for gardening)
 
 
21 December 2009 @ 09:38 am
[info]i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.
 
 
21 December 2009 @ 09:37 am
[info]diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.
 
 
21 December 2009 @ 09:36 am
[info]cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.
 
 
21 December 2009 @ 11:33 pm
I came across the Kiehl's (www.kiehls.com) product line in my Natural Health magazine and ended up glancing through their website. The following look interesting:

rare earth deep pore cleansing masque
blue herbal moisturizer
rare earth deep pore daily pore cleanser
centella skin calming facial cleanser
centella recovery skin salve

And they have a counter in Shanghai, which is all sorts of cool. Buuuut, while the key ingredients for these products sound great, Kiehl's does not seem to fully disclose ingredients, so I can't see if there are any nasties to avoid :(

So my question for you all...has anyone used products from Kiehl's (either one of the above listed or others) and what did you think of them? How natural are they? If you own one of their products...I'd love to see an ingredient list >.>

Thanks in advance :) While I still hope to use homemade recipes for cleansers and such, it'd be nice to know if there are decent brands with (mostly)natural ingredients here in Shanghai somewhere.
 
 
Current Location: Shanghai, China
Current Mood: pensive
Current Music: show me what I'm looking for - carolina liar
 
 
20 December 2009 @ 10:48 pm
I have been having a weird problem with my homemade household cleaner. I am using a mix of white vinegar and lemon juice, but in each spray bottle I have tried, it seems to be clogging up the tube and basically the spray will not work. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I really want to use my mixture, it works well, but I hate that I can't use it in a convenient way.
 
 
21 December 2009 @ 11:42 am
I've found conflicting information about invisible zince. Is it safe? And how natural is it?
Thanks!
 
 
20 December 2009 @ 06:19 pm
Just a quick question to ask if anyone has any good tips for how to clear the pipes from the bathroom washbasin . The way the basin is, I cant get at the pipes themselves to  undo the pipes to clean them, but its rather blocked up, with soap residue and such i reckon, and before I have to go and buy a bottle of drain cleaning chemicals (EW!), I wondered if you have any ideas for clearing it in a more eco-friendly way. (have tried hot water and such already).

Thank you! :)
 
 
19 December 2009 @ 04:00 pm

I have very sensitive and dry skin on my face that has been horrible lately.  I've been breaking out like crazy..mostly on my chin and forehead.  (is that your "t-zone"?) I can't remember the last time I used an actually face cleanser.  I switched to OCM a while ago, first using about 75% EVOO and 25% Castor Oil, and moisturizing with a little EVOO or sometimes Coconut Oil.  That worked well for a while, but I started breaking out again and getting white heads (by the way, what causes white heads?  It always seems like grease or oil trapped under the skin..is that correct?) So I thought the EVOO was too heavy, so I switched to Grapeseed oil (same 75%/25%)  I also started moiusturizing with pure Vitamin E oil almost every night.  Well, again I'm getting white heads and zits all the time and they take forever to go away. Honestly I'll have a pimple for 2 weeks or more, and they usually leave a red spot when they do go away.   I spot treat with Tea Tree Oil and that seems to do nothing.  I also have some black heads appearing on my chin. So I temporarily stopped using anything but water on my face.  I still need to moisturize after though, because even just plain water dries it out.  This doesn't seem to be helping the cause at all. HELP. I'm beginining to think that OCM is not for me, which really bums me out because I do see some positive things from it.  My skin seems so much less dry, and much smoother (aside from the pimples)   Does anyone have any recomendations?  I'm looking for tips on OCM or even a good, natural store bought cleanser + moisturizer.  I'd like to stay away from chemicals/fragrances that will likely dry me out even more.  I've tried Burts Bees back in the day and that didn't work out so well (plus I've been boycotting their products since the Clorox thing :p ) I eat a healthy vegetarian diet and drink plenty of water.  I don't ever wear makeup, so i don't think I need any heavy cleanser.  I just want clear skin.  The rest of the skin on my body is always clear, whats the deal with my face?

 
 
19 December 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Hi everyone. It's me again. I have yet another problem. This past July I offered to take a friends un-neutered male cat to the vet's office for a checkup. The poor cat freaked out and peed all over my car. As anyone with an un-neutered male cat might know, their pee is EXCEPTIONALLY pungent and...putrid. I have tried EVERYTHING to get this horrible smell out short of a professional shampoo. I've tried carpet foam, baking soda and several upholstery cleaners and they all seem to work at first...until I leave the car out in the cold with the windows up for the night and then the horrible smell is back. Does anyone have any home remedies that might work? I'm starting to think I might just have to replace that section of carpet. Sigh. Thanks so much for any recommendations. You guys are always such a big help. :)
 
 
18 December 2009 @ 06:36 pm
I looked in the memories but nothing was listed for this. I just got a cat this morning. My sister found her wandering looking for food. Turns out she was pregnant. My sisters co worker took her in to help birth the kittens and it was decided that I would take the mother when she was ready. The woman gave the kittens to a pet store and I stopped in to see her babies where they informed me that all kittens have feline aids and leukemia. I can only assume the mother has it too. I am going to get her tested and spayed. I'm feeding her Halo dry food and Natural balance wet food. She devoured both when I fed them to her. Does anyone here have experience in caring for a cat with both FIV and FeLV? There's no by-product or "meals" in the halo dry. I went to a clinic and asked the vet there but she didn't really have much to say other than what I already know. Right now she's a tiny little thing, pure white with blue eyes, and surprisingly not deaf. I do not know how old she is or where she came from I just know I want to give as good a life as I possibly can. Thanks for any responses and if you need further clarification on anything feel free to ask.
 
 
18 December 2009 @ 03:28 pm
 I have two questions to ask if anyone has any suggestions.

1.  I'll be moving from the city to a very rural town after my divorce and wondered if anyone has any natural living dating tips.  The last time I was dating I shaved my legs, wore makeup, wore perfume, showered daily (I've been showering weekly and may need to change this should my sex-life improve/exist), and basically my medicine cabinet didn't consist of bottles of oils and homemade toothpaste and other "strange things".  Does anyone have any advice, words of inspiration, anything that may help me be true to myself and my "natural" beliefs/lifestyle while dating?

2.  I'll be moving into my parent's house in the country with lots of acres of land surrounded by woods, lucky me!  They have an extra five acres on the opposite side of the woods that is basically a field their neighbor pays to cut down to make hay.  I would love to one day build a little homestead here and it all sounds so perfect except right next to their plot of land is a field of corn/soybeans (alternating every year).  I'm thinking this would be a bad thing to raise my son next to a field that is sprayed and whatever other "unnatural" things occur, not to mention that I'm sure the corn/soybeans would be genetically modified and would not be good for any private, organic, natural crops I'd like to produce myself.  Am I correct in thinking that living on this plot of land would not be good for a person wanting to live as organic, natural, chemical free as possible?  
 
Thank you all and please forgive anything that may need forgiving.  I've never posted here before, but have really enjoyed reading other people's posts.
 
 
18 December 2009 @ 12:40 pm
I remember a few posts back somebody asking about homemade toothpaste and I found this link. It looks pretty interesting and thought I'd share. There's a lot of other awesome stuff on this blog as well that I thought you guys would like. Here it is.. Enjoy the holidays!
 
 
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: Slacker Radio - Adult Alternative
 
 
18 December 2009 @ 11:24 am
My mom has rosacea on her face, and I was thinking that a good christmas gift might be a homemade cream that would specifically address that issue. I know that she uses prescription creams (not sure which one) and a "non-comedogenic" cleanser (probably not a very natural one), but these don't always seem to work so well.

I looked through the tagged posts an only found one on rosacea, and a couple people who commented in that post mentioned seabuckthorn oil and rosehips. I have shea butter, which I personally think makes a good base for hand/body creams but I'm not sure about face. From what I know about coconut oil, it seems that this might be a good base, but I'm not really sure what else to include and I haven't had much luck finding ideas in books or online.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions as to ingredients to include in a moisturizer for someone with rosacea? Any recipes?

I should also add that she has severe tree nut allergies, and I've read that nut oils can bother some people with nut allergies, so maybe these should be avoided.

Thanks in advance!
 
 
18 December 2009 @ 10:51 am
Hi all. I must have the worst immune system. I catch every cold that goes around, and since I work in an IGO, there are a lot going around. Every month, I get at least one cold that clings to me for 5-6 days. Is there a natural way to build up resistance? I wash my hands, I take vitamins and multi-vitamin brausetabletten, I eat lots of veggies. Right now I have a vicious cold which is all in my sinuses. I am taking RhinAdvil and my vitamins and trying to sleep (not working so much). I would really prefer not to take RhinAdvil if I can help it; but more importantly than this current cold is the fact that I catch everything. How do I build up my resistance to cold viruses? Does anyone know?
 
 
 
 

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