Lacto Fermentation-The Microbial Family

After months of research and personal success with the experiment, I've come to the conclusion that we should include a lot more lacto fermented foods in our diet. Now, I keep a microbial family going at home. The members include Water Kefir, Milk Kefir, cultured yogurt, Kombucha and other lacto-fermented veges especially cabbages.

For years, I suffered from severe constipation. Once I was packed for 8 weeks. Believe me not, it was nasty. I thought I was dying. In a nutshell that was the beginning of my health journey in search of a cure for my constipation. It then took me another 6 years before I stumbled over the answer (Thanks to Tara who introduced Nourishing Traditions to me). From juicing to consuming tonnes of fiber, taking probiotic tablets, and herbal laxatives, the answer for me is finally found in lacto fermented foods.

It has been six months, and I hardly needed the usually herbal laxative to get things moving. Since, I've also found a few things that are especially hard on my digestive system. Too much carbohydrates will pack me up too. At the moment, I'm experimenting with sourdough recipes as I would like to enjoy carb without the side effects.

We're planning for a family, and I'm confident these lacto fermented foods will
help with easing constipation during pregnancy. Yes, these lacto fermented foods are safe to consume during pregnancy.

Tearless Onions

It has recently been reported that New Zealand and Japan Crop and Food research scientists are working towards using a ”gene-silencing technology to switch off the enzyme” which is the culprit for causing the eye to tear. Somehow the thought of human interfering with our food surely brings tears to my eye! It’s going to happen within the decade. The implication for me is that I’m going to work hard to ensure that I’ve a good stock of the existing onion plants and seeds and get involved with the seed bank to ensure that the traditional variety isn’t lost forever.

A short scientific explanation on how the tear causing enzyme works:

“Lachrymatory-factor synthase is released into the air when we cut an onion. The synthase enzyme converts the sulfoxides (amino acids) of the onion into sulfenic acid. The unstable sulfenic acid rearranges itself into syn-ropanethial-S-oxide. Syn-propanethial-S-oxide gets into the air and comes in contact with our eyes. The lachrymal glands become irritated and produce the tears! Oddly enough, this volatile compound is also responsible for a lot of the great taste in onions, as well as the pleasant aroma when you cook the vegetable. You'll also get sulfenic acids by cutting up garlic, chives and leeks, among other vegetables, but they don't form the same irritating gas, just a strong smell.

July Meeting

We visited an Organic Dairy Farm. It was an interesting trip learning about the pasturing organic cows and the health benefits of milk from Jersey cows (A2 milk), non-pasturised milk. The facilities is simple but hygine is strictly observed to ensure that end product is at tip top condition for consumption.

BACK TO WORK!

Sniff...sniff...back to work tomorrow! Had so much fun while "in poxies". Thanks Tara, Max and Abby and of course my superbly wonderful husband :-)

Chicken Pox #3

The "poxies" have mostly disappeared. Apparently I had had a mild case of chickenpox and all credits to the daily consumption of garlic veg juice and the loving prayers from my "Thursday night family" :-).

The whole experience has been short of a little science experiment: Aloe vera didn't work when the blisters are appearing but it's great when the scabs appear. Applying aloe vera at this point to minimize scaring. Vinegar "stings" the burst blisters but by far, MOST effective in easing itchness. Once the vinegar takes care of the itch, the Colloidal silver cream with active manuka honey completely sooths the sores and seems to also speed up healing. Any spotted spots/blisters were not spared the cream. In fact, my skin loves it so much that I'm now using it as a face cream after dabbing on the healing scabs!! Apparently it the "total skin food"!!

Chicken pox #2

On the second evening, the itchness got very unbearable. A hot bath with boiled up in a muslin cloth made a perfect hot bath sponge. In this case, it was the warm rolled oats milk coming through the museli cloth. It was very gentle on the skin and on the "poxes". As long as I was in the bath, the itchness went away. The skin felt absolutely soft after the bathHowever, I did discovered that more red dots started appearing after the hot bath; it could be a coincidence!!!

The itchness came back a few hours later. It took quite an amount of endurance to resist scratch as the night progressed, finally at 4am in the morning,my darling husband was landed with the task of dabbing calamine lotion all over my spotted body. The spots are mostly on my back. Much to my disappointment, the calamine lotion didn't do much to ease the itchness but I did fall asleep for a few hours. In my sleep, all I could think about was what would ease the itchness? Suddenly I remembered witnessing a friend dabbing vinegar on a bee stings on his face, and it stopped the itchness and swelling. You guess it right, no time was wasted, I jumped out of bed (literally), poured some white vinegar into a small cup, and wet the cotton bud with the vinegar and dabbed it on all itchy spots, I dabbed on all spots repetitively until the itchness went away....it really works!! :-)I've also noticed that the spots with blisters this morning (8am) are now (12:35pm) starting to dry up....I continously apply vinegar on any spot that is calling out for attention

My most devoted husband has been preparing vegetable juices for us since that first day of getting the pox! And he has been most generous with the garlic to keep any baterial and virus and friends, at bay, if the pox didn't do the trick!! This juice give my body a really good boost and keeps the immune system going strong to fight this attackquickly and efficiently. Getting the pox as an adult, I could be in danger of getting shingles with a compromised immune system.

On top of that, I've abstained from tasty food, reducing my colourful diet to the plain boiled vegetables (carrots, cabbage - whatever I can find in my veg garden) in rice porriage (rice with lots of water)and loads of fresh fruit. This is to not put more pressure on my already compromised body to enable it to fight out the virus quickly and efficiently. On top of that, lots and lots of filtered water, and of course, plus endless trips to the toilet!!

Chicken Pox #1

I have always had a strong inclination towards herbal remedies than the exisiting drug prescription, so I decide to keep a record on the findings from my research.


Chicken pox arises from the elimination of toxic fat or fatty acids through the hair fat glands. The chemical burn from the purging of waste products though the skin causes the characteristic blister of this disease..... http://www.garynull.com/Documents/Vaccines/ChickenPoxWhy.htm

Fever in a child is a frightening symptom to the mother. Just what is the function of fever? Is it a harmful process, something to suppress and worry about? Or is it the body’s attempt to burn up a poison, thereby helping to dispose of it more quickly http://www.garynull.com/Documents/Vaccines/ChickenPoxWhy.htm

If you are feeling adventurous, here's the Salt and vinegar treatment....http://www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/emailproject/chickenpox.htm

Another simple and effective treatment for itching...http://www.stopgettingsick.com/Condtemplate.cfm-1337-82-1?print=1

More herbal remedies for chicken pox http://www.newlifejournal.com/april07/herbal-healing-chicken-pox-remedies.shtml

I've got Chicken Pox!!

I found a blister on my back this morning. A friend who is a mother of two, with one recovering from chickenpox and one having it at the moment, confirmed that I, indeed have chicken pox.

The little bit that you see on the picture is the back of my right arm... :-)

Apparently I had 2 blisters on my neck yesterday but I didn't give much thought to it and had burst them.

A fever sets in this afternoon.

Have been applying aloe vera on all the spots throughout the day.

A few bumps pop out of my scalp. It feels warm and lumpy and painful if I touch it.

The blisters burst by the afternoon and at 5pm it looked like this

I've been drinking lots of water and needless to say, paying endless trips to the toilet.

Decided that it maybe a good time to detox - so my God-sent husband made us both a tall glass of carrot, apple and half a bulb worth of garlic juice - for pre-dinner. He's drinking it to increase his immune system so that he can look after his not so well wife!! :-)

Dinner was rice porriage - grated carrots and shredded cabbage with garlic. Total plain but it wasn't too bad, prepared by my husband, again. Basically, I'm not allowed to do dishes, and housework, to avoid spreading the virus - honestly, I don't mind it at all. However, I'm allowed to make myself as comfortable as possible and order him around - that's got to be an A+++++ for my good husband!!

It's starting to itch now at 9:50pm ....very tempted to scratch ...so aloe vera to the rescue...

Bumps are developing on my facing now at 10:05pm....just when I thought I might escape it.... within minutes, the bumps start turnining into small blisters that get bigger...there is definitely something in ear/or in the throat somewhere because it hurts when I swallow but I can't pinpoint the exact spot...and it's getting more painful...apart from the itch!!

More red bumps are forming on the front of the body...