If you are hesitant about pumping your body full of chemicals to get rid of sicknesses commonly contracted during the fall and winter months, consider natural remedies for healing and prevention of minor illnesses. Of course, you should listen to your doctor. Home remedies typically do not cure serious sicknesses. If you have an acute illness, it may be wise to take the prescribed pharmaceuticals. But for prevention and help with minor health conditions, try these natural remedies.

* Ascorbic Acid - contains Vitamin C which aids in body repair by helping to form collagen in bones, cartilage, muscle, blood vessels, and also helps with absorption of iron.
* Camphor spirits - are used for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains in muscles and joints associated with simple backaches, arthritis, strains, bruises and sprains.
* Castor Oil - is a laxative used for temporary relief of constipation.
* Charcoal Powder USP Activated - can be used in emergencies to absorb some swallowed poisons.
* Cocoa Butter - helps prevent and temporarily protects chafed, chapped, cracked or wind burned skin and lips.
* Cola Syrup - is recommended for the relief of simple nausea associated with an upset stomach.
* Glycerin - also helps to prevent and protect chapped, chafed and windburned skin. It can be used when making bath salts for aromatherapy baths as well.
* Iodine Tincture Mild 2% - is a first aid antiseptic which helps prevent infection from minor cuts, scrapes and burns.
* Mercuroclear - helps soothe itching from insect bites and pain from burns.
* Mineral Oil - can be used to relieve constipation.
* Oil Anise - can be used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri.
* Oil Cinnamon Artificial - can also be used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri.
* Oil Clove - used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri too.
* Oil Eucalyptus - used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri as well.
* Olive Oil - is an emollient used to soften cracked or dry cuticles, and helps loosen ear wax buildup. It can also be used for temporary relief of minor earaches.
* Sodium Bicarbonate Oral Powder USP - is an antacid for relieving excess stomach acid, relief of heartburn and indigestion. It also absorbs odors.
* Wintergreen Oil - is an external analgesic, used to reduce pain and inflammation of sore muscles and joints.
* Zinc - is helpful for use when you feel a cold coming on. It often reduces the severity of the cold and speeds the healing process.

Keep these natural remedies on hand and see if you and your family get through the winter with less sickness. Remember to take your daily supply of vitamins and minerals, drink plenty of water and look for a doctor who knows about natural remedies. Any time you can go natural over chemical, that is best.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year and my personal favorite. The colorful leaves are akin to God's own artist's palette, and the crisp air is rejuvenating. Christmas shopping commences, out come the snuggly sweaters and in comes the firewood. Unfortunately, cold and flu season is thrust upon us at this time as well, but there are simple ways to boost your immune system and preserve your health through the change in weather and the approaching flu season.

There is little more important than thorough hand washing to prevent the spread of bacteria and other germs. Lather your hands with soap completely for at least 20 seconds including the backs of hands, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Rinse with warm water and air dry.

Drinking enough water and getting adequate sleep are absolute necessities, but many people neglect these basic components of human survival. At least seven or eight hours of sleep is best for the average person after a day of work and home activities. Most people need 72 ounces of water each day or 9 eight ounce glasses or bottles. If that is more water than you think you can drink each day, try substituting green tea to satisfy part of your daily water requirement. Whether you drink it hot or cold, green tea contains powerful antioxidants. check out WebMD for results of an extensive study conducted on the health benefits of green tea.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea

Exercise is another vital part of a healthy lifestyle that will help you fight off flu and cold bugs. A daily brisk walk of about two miles should take approximately 30 minutes, and what a great, and inexpensive, way to start the day. If you are not the outdoorsy type, you can always use a treadmill with television or iPod to pass the time, or invest in a Wii Fit which could provide hours of fun for the whole family.

Fall is a wonderful time to include seasonal fruits and vegetables in your meals. Fall fruits include apples, pears, cherries, cranberries, plums, grapes, pomegranates and passion fruit, all of which can be used to make scrumptious salads. Check out this website for more fruit salad recipes than you can imagine.
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/salad/fruit-salads/

Some of the tastiest fall vegetables include squash, broccoli, pumpkin, cauliflower, mushrooms, spinach and sweet potatoes. A hearty vegetable soup or stew can be a perfect evening meal as well as one that is both healthy and inexpensive. Take a look at this website for some delicious soup and stew recipes.
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/soup_and_stew/

Fall is also a great time to tackle that list of classic books or novels you have always wanted to read. You might even consider organizing a book club. Sitting in front of a roaring fire with a steaming cup of green tea engrossed in thought provoking literature might be a welcome respite from mindless television viewing. Keeping your mind healthy can be almost as important as keeping your body healthy.

So get ready for combat against the flu, colds and other viruses this fall with healthy food, exercise, plenty of water and adequate sleep. Watch for next week's blog on simple home remedies to help prevent fall and winter sickness.

The cool, crisp autumn air can be energizing, and now may be a good time to use some of that energy to get your house ready for those cold winter months ahead. Looking around your house and property, you may find a number of things that need to be done annually or semi-annually.

INSIDE THE HOUSE
* Change your air filters and clean the ducts and vents to keep the air you're breathing healthy and clean.
* Make sure the seals around your doors and windows are tight to keep the cold air out and keep your heating bills down.
* Drain your hot water heater to remove any sediment and improve performance.
* Clean the dust off your ceiling fans and reverse their direction.
* Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and change their batteries.

OUTSIDE IN THE YARD
* Cut back dead branches and other foliage that have grown near your house.
* Start a compost pile and add to it all winter so that it can be used for spring gardening.
* Cover perennials with mulch to protect them from the winter frost.
* Clean leaves and other debris out of your gutters.
* Cut firewood and set aside in a dry place to save for fires on a chilly day.
* Have your chimney professionally cleaned. Yes, we still have chimney sweeps today!

One full day set aside to prepare your home for winter should be enough to have your house and yard ready to face the snow, sleet, ice and freezing temperatures. Get this done now, because before you know it, you will be spending your time attending Fall Festivals and Christmas shopping.

Research into hydroponic gardening and aquaculture began at NASA.  Fruits, vegetables, herbs and other plants were grown without the use of soil and sometimes without the use of water as well.  The purpose of NASA's involvement in hydroponic research was to find a way to grow food in space. 

On hydroponic farms, fruit, vegetable and herb plants are suspended in the air on a rotating fixture where they are sprayed intermittently with a nutrient solution which provides nourishment for the plants.  Check out the Living with the Land information on the Walt Disney World website to see how hydroponics works. 
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/living-with-the-land/

Sustainability in agricultural techniques is a serious concern for farmers of the future.  As soil continues to erode and lose nutrients, it is becoming increasingly difficult for traditional farms to survive. 

Along with hydroponics, the farms of the future are making strides in integrated pest management (reduction of pesticides), crop rotation, inter-cropping and other irrigation technology.  Check out what the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture and Environmental Science is doing with integrated pest management and other plant science research.
http://ipm.ent.uga.edu/

Hydroponics may be the key to producing an adequate food supply for a growing global population using less land. With hydroponics, massive crop rotation may be done without much soil disturbance.  The nutrient solutions may be recycled and purified so that hydroponics actually uses less water than traditional farming techniques. 

One of the best aspects of hydroponic farming is the fact that food can be grown in areas that are traditionally too cold, too dry or otherwise inhospitable for farming.  This means that with help, some third world countries with starving populations may learn to grow adequate food to feed their people.

Next time you visit Florida, stop by Disney World's EPCOT, and visit the hydroponic farm in the "Living with the Land" Pavilion.  This joint venture between Disney and NASA is fascinating and supplies much of the food consumed by tourists at EPCOT.

You can use this concept to grow your own fruits and veggies at home on a smaller scale with an aeroponic gardening system. Check out this website:  https://www.towergarden.com/  OR take a look at my friend Valerie Campbell's websites to find out easier ways to grow healthier food at home for you and your family. 
www.valcampbelljuiceplus.com
www.valcampbelltowergarden.com
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