Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about living a more simple, natural lifestyle. I’ve really embraced the use of herbs and other natural remedies in my home. But. That’s not to say that I did everything perfectly the first time. Nor have I been free from any interesting side effects. Here are a few mistakes to avoid (and laugh at).
1. Cinnamon after-shave is good everywhere … but your bikini line. Ouch.
2. Citric acid is easily mistaken for salt, especially when purchased from the same company. Our green beans tasted really interesting that night. I can’t believe I ate them anyway.
3. Vinegar hair rinse feels really special on fresh cuts.
4. When they say to drink/gargle apple cider vinegar, they mean dilute it first. Unless you like hacking and spitting vinegar all over your sink, window and counter.
5. If you overcook your herbs, your ointment will smell like an ash tray.
6. Yarrow tea is great for infection, but you must add lots of honey if you ever want to get past that first drink. Holy yuck.
7. Taking tons of garlic for an infection will make you and all of your excretions smell like an angry, vampire-hunting mob.
8. Fenugreek, taken to increase milk supply, will leave you smelling like maple syrup and your husband with a never-ending craving for pancakes. It’s fun to see how many people start sniffing with a puzzled look on their faces.
9. Yarrow and cayenne are both excellent herbs that stop bleeding. Guess which one doesn’t sting like the dickens.
10. I don’t care what anyone says, garlic should only be taken by mouth to treat a yeast infection. Yeah, I went there.
If only I knew then what I know now. Now I’m armed with an awesome community and resources and I’ll never make a mistake again (ha!).
One resource I do want to point you to, though, is DIY Natural. They have tons of recipes, for everything from home made vanilla extract to laundry detergent. And sometimes, they even let me write a post or two. 🙂
Wait Nina… you put the garlic where? LOL. Thanks for making me laugh while inspiring me to live better. You rock.
LOL! I didn’t get that far – my better judgement kicked in! I LOVE the Christmas posts you two are doing. They’re helping me a lot this year. Normally I plan better, but I’m not sure what happened to November …or the first part of December.
Actually I got that brave, and it really does work. My main reason for deciding to go with it was I am pregnant and already had terrible morning sickness and indigestion, so taking the pills was not as practical. 4 nights in a row I treated with one clove (new clove each night of course) threaded onto some string, and it was extremely effective. I was actually quite surprised. Talk about tons cheaper than those nasty expensive chemical creams at the stores. It was also not uncomfortable at all. Though I can definitely agree with the vampire hunting mob thing. Also some vinegar in your bathwater helps with any external uncomfort and cleans your tub at the same time, lol!
Ok, you must have done something differently. Did you wrap it in gauze? Maybe I had the garlic oil on my hands? OUCH!!! Good tip with the vinegar, too. Thanks! Hopefully, I won’t run into that problem again. 🙂
I swallowed my pride, and had my husband help me. Just the clove, take it out of it’s paper, thread it on some string (I used a denim string for extra sturdiness) and then insert small end first. Sometimes we’d add just a tiny bit of petroleum jelly for added comfort for insertion. The jelly externally also aided with itching/burning from the infection.
Coconut oil would be great in place of the petroleum jelly. It’s anti-fungal. And great for pretty much everything. Just in case you were looking for a more natural alternative. 🙂
That’s good to know, in all honesty at the time it was all about what we had on hand 🙂 Though I’m going to have to look into that most definitely! Thanks!
You are way over-the-top amazing with all this…
I’ve gotta admit, with all my healthy-living commitments, I’ve never made any natural salve, balm, ointment, lotion, soap, etc. So I’m just grateful for folks with the crafty/creative gene who are willing to make wonderful things like that – and sell them for reasonable prices!!!
I just made lip balm … and a healing ointment. 😉
A great list that made me chuckle! Thanks for that!
Yes to #8. Fun roundup…Thanks for sharing!
Can I get an explanation on the Garlic only for yeast infections?
I’ve also gone there with the garlic clove. Like the previous poster, I was pregnant and quite nauseous. I did wrap the clove in some gauze, and it worked within a few days. I do have better alternatives these days, but I think it may be TMI for a first time post. 🙂
I’m really interested in the garlic for yeast infections. My 14 mo old son has had an ongoing yeast infection for months now, and even when I treat with nasty store chemical stuff, it just comes back. Any advice? I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Garlic supplements in capsules are slightly easier that straight up cloves. FYI 😉
@#4– YES YES YES. especially when pregnant. oh my, my stomach did not thank me for that choice.
the garlic by mouth is probably easier than liberally administered yoghurt !!
Good to know about the fragrance from Fenugreek, maybe if taken together with the garlic they will cancel each other out. Random one I heard I believe from Food Network (Alton Brown maybe?) if you rub a cut clove of Garlic on your foot, you will smell it on your breath within an hour, because that is where the oil is excreated. Isn’t nature fun, that and Asparagus urine smell, not every one gets it, and not everyone can smell it both are variations of a metabolic difference within different individuals.
Excellent, excellent tips. 🙂 I have to say, though, I gargle and then drink a small amount of apple cider vinegar UNDILUTED when I have a bad sore throat and it is amazing what a difference it makes. You have to be prepared though… when you swallow it, it feel as though you can’t breath for a moment. I always make sure I’m in a safe place so that if I pass out, I won’t crack my head on tile or anything. (I haven’t ever passed out, but always feel like I might!).
My mom told me to use garlic down there and I was like “I am NOT gonna smell like a pizza down there!” I had awesome gas when I was pg and took the pills. My husband wouldn’t sleep in the room with me-said there was “a cloud over the bed”. My MD prescribed boric acid suppositories that I got from a natural pharm-they made them there-used them for about 10 days, but def. cured the infection when diflucan didn’t work after repeated doses. And for my son, I sat him in the sink with yogurt on his bottom and fed him yogurt as well.
I am so GLAD I found your site……made my day (sorry to laugh at your mishaps)…..it is women like you that continue to “teach me” more ways to DIY and love it!!
Thanks, Kelly!
Actually, putting garlic, well, in the affected area, does work for yeast infections. I wrapped it in a single layer of gauze, tied the end with cotton string, and inserted it like a tampon before I went to bed. I woke up smelling like garlic, but, the itching and burning were gone! I did it again the following night to make sure it was all gone, and then used a tampon covered in yogurt for another two nights to be doubly sure. It was my first yeast infection, and I didn’t want to take canesten in case I was allergic (I have the amazing ability to have allergic reactions to just about anything) A few months ago I had my second-ever yeast infection, and used Canesten because I had school the next day and didn’t want to smell like I’d been hunting Dracula the night before. It worked too, sort of. The infection came back in a few days and I had to use yogurt-tampons again to get rid of it.
For a yeast infection I’ve used a probiotic gel cap with a drop of tea tree oil inserted at night. Worked well.
Ready to pop with my first child, I was so proud of myself for doing everything naturally. After suffering for a good bit and finding a natural remedy I learned that freshly cut onions DO work on hemorrhoids. 0.0 Yeah, that’ll pucker your butt. And there’s that lovely Caesar salad parfum…