The Real Deal

We are vacationing in Florida....ahhh, warmth! over the years we have discovered such wonderful things to do in the surrounding area and I really think this place is a true gem. Nothing like seeing nature happen in it's natural element. No cages here!! It is called, ready, Wakodahatchee Wetlands (http://www.pbcgov.com/waterutilities/wakodahatchee/birds.htm). Located in Delray Beach off Jog road, it just amazes me that we pull into this parking lot and this world that exists on this 2 km boardwalk is breathtaking. I am not really a bird lover and I love this place! Anhinga, Moor hens, Vultures, Herons (so many many birds...), Ducks, Turtles, oh and let us not forget the Alligators! Oh and one more thing, it's free......

Can you see the little duck?
If you look close you can see the baby Gator (if you click on the picture it will enlarge!)

Stay tuned tomorrow when I write about another amazing place that saves turtles!!

Castor Oil Massage

Aidan was congested this past week, and with his lungs being his "weak" spot I included a castor oil massage after bathtime to help his body clear the congestion. Castor oil is a pale yellow liquid extracted from the castor seeds (Ricinis communis) and is an excellent anti-inflammatory. This oil is to be applied externally and not to be consumed (if it was consumed it would spasm the intestines causing loose stools). Make sure you buy an unrefined oil from a health food store. The castor oil helps to move any congestion internally and moves the lympathic system which in turn supports the immune system. I think it is also nice to have some touch to the area needing some extra help and our own healing hands can do that.
Some other beneficial areas to massage would be the abdomen for digestion, behind the ears sweeping towards the collar bone for chronic ear infections and around any joint for joint pain! It is also really great to give newborn babies castor oil tummy rubs to help their immature digestive system develop, hopefully decreasing some of those colicky episodes!

Raw Bars

I made these delicious bars this past weekend to take to our friends out in the country. The amazing thing about these bars is they are raw, I simply mixed them in my Vitamix and done! (I think any blender or food processor would work fine.) Another bonus, was watching the kids eat these healthy treats!

1 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup of cocoa
1/2 cup of raw honey
1/4 cup of nut butter (I used almond butter)
1/4 cup raw coconut oil

You could roll the mix into little balls but I like to keep things quick and simple and just flattened it out into the dish as seen above. Store in the fridge as they will get soft if left out overnight. Enjoy!

Hobbies?

I often ask patients what there hobbies are. Often, it is new mothers that say they really do not have time for themselves anymore to do the things they enjoy. I know how busy life can be and I try to encourage my patients to find an outlet, anything, that takes time to themselves and allows them to bring out a creative side. I am really not a very artistic person. I can not draw or paint (I do try.....) so what I do is crochet and since my husband got me a sewing machine I am trying that out too. My friend had a baby last week and I crocheted this little hat out of bamboo. I think it might be my best one yet! We all have more than what we need ie. toys, clothes.....stuff! and giving something with a personal touch is so special. I can't wait until it fits her little head!!

What are your hobbies?

More on Honey.....

I just discovered this research paper since my last blog, showing honey to be more effective in the treatment of nightime cough in children, as well as, a superior treatment to dextromethorphan to no treatment at all. Overall, honey is a safer alternative with no side effects (unless of course the infant is less than 1 yr. old in which case honey is too be avoided) vs. the long list of side effects the medication can have.

Here is an article from ABC news http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdFlu/story?id=3947988&page=1
as well as the original paper http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/161/12/1140

Cough Syrup

I am down in Florida, enjoying some sunshine, and my mom develops a bad cough. Over-the-counter expectorant cough remedies suppress the cough and do not address the underlying problem. I learned about this onion cough syrup you can make but never actually made it and then thought no one better to experiment on then my mother! Well, after 2 days she swears by this easy homemade remedy and says I "cured" her......

This is simply what I did.

Cut up 1/2 an onion into small pieces and placed in a cup. Topped with organic honey until the onions were covered. Let it sit over night. The mixture will be thinner in the morning. Press out all the fluid and take a teaspoon 3 x per day.

The onions remove mucus and honey is wonderful for the immune system

I think in the future I would even add a little ginger......

Grapeseed Oil

I tend to have 2 types of oil in the house, extra virgin olive oil and grapeseed oil. I was first introduced to grapeseed oil as a cosmetic oil that was light and rich in antioxidants. Olive oil is the reigning star of cooking oils because of all the research done on the Mediterranean diet and its cardiovascular benefits. But the far less well known grape seed oil has also been shown to have positive effects on cholesterol, and it’s rich in antioxidants!! The other good thing about grape seed oil is that it has a higher smoke point than olive oil, which means that it can be burned at a higher temperature and does not turn rancid. Grape seed oil also, has a very mild flavor so can be used in almost any culinary endeavor from sautéing to baking. One last thing is that it is a hypoallergenic oil which is also key for me!