Curing Tooth Decay Naturally

If you're anything like I was a couple of years ago, the very idea that you could CURE tooth decay and not have to undergo the drilling and filling, would be a mind blowing, earth shaking kind of realization.  It was for me!

A year ago my (then) 3 year old had a cavity.  It was the first of any of my 4 children, so I was pretty shocked by that.  Thankfully, it was so minor that there wasn't even a need for any numbing to do the drilling and filling.  (I wish I would have known then what I know now and we would have NEVER done that!)  Since then, I heard about, and started reading the book Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel.

Even still, I hadn't actually put anything into practice.  I was just kind of flirting with the idea that it may be a possibility.  You know, kind of soaking it in, marinating in it, wallowing around in the complete and utter hippiness of the idea.  If you all know me at all, I'm all for alternative medicine.  But THIS!  This seemed just too unbelievable to actually be legitimate at all.  Yet, the more I read, the more valid it seemed, and the more my eyes were opened to this possibility.  There are tons of online resources for this sort of thing. Online group pages, website, forums, etc.

What finally gave me the kick in the pants to really get a move on and start implementing some of what I was learning was our most recent trip to the dentist for cleanings.  Now, my 4 year old had cavities (with an s, as in plural!!!) as well as my 9 year old!  I just about fell out of my chair!  Seriously!  Their teeth LOOK beautiful!  I couldn't SEE anything wrong with them, it's not like they had visible decay or anything and we hadn't actually been doing anything different, so what happened to change their dental health?

Well, I'm still not sure of what the trigger was, and I may never know.  But, I was being given the push that was needed in order to actually start implementing all that I had been absorbing.  Now, it's highly possible that in my attempts to help them heal naturally, that I may fail.  That is always a possibility.  If that's the case, what do I have to lose?  Absolutely nothing!  The outcome would be the same either way.  Don't try and have the dental work done.  Or, do try and possibly have healing...if it doesn't work, we have the dental work done.  It's really that simple.  And I don't really feel I'm out anything at all by giving this a shot!  Yet we have everything to gain.

The idea that clicked for me in all my reading and research was the basic premise that teeth are bones.  They are alive and living.  Just like the bones in the rest of your body.  If it breaks, cracks, gets fractured, it heals.  Right!?  Of course!  We don't just drill into it or rip it out!  Teeth are like that too!  They can heal!  They can remineralize!  Decay can literally reverse!  (or so all the books and websites say)

We are about 2 weeks into this journey and it has been difficult.  Mostly because it's a HUGE change for the kids.  It's tiring.  And it's a long road.  I can't expect results overnight.  One of the first things we did was to add in Fermented Cod Liver Oil and Butter Oil by Green Pasture's Products.

I've also added in what's called cell salts by Hylands that I ordered from Vitacost or Amazon.  Both Calc Fluor and Calc Phos.  Basically they are forms of calcium that are good for lots of things, but especially for remineralizing bones (and teeth).  Magnesium is another that I'm still working on, as well as probiotics.  For my oldest child, she can just swallow a probiotic, but the younger can't, so it's a bit more challenging.  We had luck sprinkling some on fruit, but I've since learned that since we are in the healing stage, that we shouldn't be eating fruit.  Pretty much none at all.  As it raises the blood sugar levels and prevents healing during that time.

Obviously, sugars are out as well!  We are also grain free and mostly starch free.  Although I have on a couple of occasions had some potatoes or rice.  Yogurt and oatmeal had to go for now too.  Which is huge for us.  We love homemade yogurt!  But even it has sugars from the milk that can cause an environment allowing for bacteria growth in the mouth.  Honey can only be used sparingly, if at all.  I use it in my coffee each day, but just cutting out yogurt that we'd sweeten with honey will be a big help (and I don't have cavities, only 2 of the kids...which aren't drinking coffee with honey ;) ).  Again, it's the blood sugar balance to encourage a stable and healing environment within the body.

Incorporating bone broths and gelatin into the diet has been a task.  I've made my own broths for years, but usually served in a chicken noodle soup and the kids aren't real hip on soup without noodles or crackers.  :/  It's been suggested by others to use the broths in mashed potatoes and when making rice, but since we are virtually starch free at this point as well, it adds even more of a challenge.  Many suggestions are out there of hiding unliked stuff in sweet things, or fruity smoothies, but if really trying to stick to the diet and cut out sweets and grains, then that's not going to work.  It's more important for me to keep the bad out at this point, than to get the good in.  Because getting the good in is going to be pointless if the body isn't able to properly absorb the necessary nutrients due to imbalance.  (This is a thought similar to the idea behind the healing through GAPS diet as well.)

This past weekend I made some tuna salad and put it on some sprouted grain bread for the kids.  A real treat, and a bit off the 'diet', but I don't want to be so rigid as to never allow for leeway.  I figure once a week of veering towards a still healthy snack or food, is ok.  But to stick to the regimen as much as possible.     It was the first bread they'd had in over a week and you would have thought I was giving drugs to an addict!  LOL They inhaled it with the sweet words coming from full mouths of  "Oh man.  This is SO good."  :)  A week ago they would have snarled their noses up at tuna salad.  So I guess it has it's perks.  :)

Since I'm still reading the book and learning, I'll figure out more as we go along.  Like, I've just started making my own toothpaste.  I've never given the kids fluoride toothpaste, and was using a xylitol toothpaste. But I just recently learned about how glycerin in most toothpastes coat the teeth and take numerous washings out of the mouth in order to remove that coating.  Sealing and coating the teeth is one of the last things you want to do when trying to heal them.  You could seal in any of the bad bacteria and allow it to continue doing damage.  The toothpaste is still a work in progress.  The kids hate it.  I tolerate it, and hopefully I can find a recipe we like better.

Other things we've been doing is to mix up a few drops of Thieves Oil with safflower oil, dip their floss in it and use that on the problem teeth.  In hopes for encouraging healing on those places, and killing any bad bacteria.  As well as doing a xylitol swish.  Xylitol is supposed to correct the ph in the mouth to prevent bad bacteria from growing.  There is some controversy over the safety of it being ingested and some of it being from corn.  You can get xylitol made from birch trees, if that's a concern.  Plus, using it as a swish, means spitting it out, so no ingesting, which can cause gut problems.

And finally, I'm being ultra diligent in making sure that teeth are brushed and flossed approximately 20 minutes after eating.  When bacteria amounts are highest.  And I've put a stop to grazing.  The 4 year old loves to graze throughout the day and would eat massive amounts of fruit.  Well, they all would, really, but she was the worst!  We already incorporated raw milk, butter, and cheese into our diet so that wasn't a change, but it was of great importance in the book.

I'll keep you all posted as we go along on this journey and learn more.  But I thought I'd write about our experience so far because I'm sure it will be very interesting to some!  Especially those who were like me just a year or so ago with no idea something like this idea even existed!

Would love to hear your questions, so leave me some!  :)

Pox Tea and an Herb Infused Massage Oil

I've been taking a Home Herbalist Course and learning more about herbs, how to find them in the wild, and what parts are good to use for different things.  It's been a LOT of fun!

I got the opportunity to put some of my new found knowledge to use this week, as all 4 of my kids have chicken pox!  I was really glad for my slowly growing stock of dried herbs.  Most of them are organic and purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs.  (I have a little banner for Mountain Rose on the right side that you can click on and order from too. ;) )

First, I made up a special tea for them.  My recipe is as follows, then I'll explain why I chose the ingredients that I did.

Pox Tea - by me  :)

1 part elderberries
1 part nettles
1 part catnip
1 part lemon balm

After I steeped it (about 15 minutes), I sprinkled in some Cinnamon Powder and Ginger Root Powder, then served sweetened with a small bit of raw local honey.

I actually made up a glass canning jar of the first 4 ingredients and shared some with a friend, but then added in the cinnamon and ginger as an after thought when I made it up for my 4 year old that was complaining that her tummy hurt.  You certainly could add in the cinnamon and ginger with the other ingredients and then simply scoop out what you need each time for a fresh cup!

I made a lot at a time and they would drink it right away hot, and then throughout the day cold, as I'd make a quart at a time and put the leftovers in the fridge for them for later.

Ok, so why those ingredients?

Elderberries - an immune booster for coughs, colds, flus, and viral infections.  Studies have shown that people who have taken elderberry while ill feel better faster than those who don't.

Nettles - Anti inflammatory effect as well as to enhance immune response.

Catnip - Calming with a mild sedative effect, muscle relaxant that relieves headache, anti pyretic (fever reducer)

Lemon Balm - this one was specifically for the chicken pox virus.  It's known to fight the herpes virus by causing the sores to have a speedier healing, as well as reduced itching and redness.  Lemon Balm does much more, but that was the key reason I chose it for both the tea and the massage oil.

Cinnamon - Soothes upset stomachs

Ginger - Relieves Nausea

Now, for the massage oil.  Recipe, also by me.  :)

I thought it might feel good to have a safe, gentle rub over all those red, itchy blisters.  So I infused some Safflower Oil (because it's high in vitamin E and a lighter/thinner oil than Olive Oil) with some herbs that I thought might feel good and encourage healing.

I didn't measure the oil, I just used what little bit I had left in the bottle.  Maybe somewhere between 1/4 - 1/2 cup, I'm guessing.

1 heaping Tablespoon each of:

Lemon Balm and Catnip (for the same purposes as above)

Minced Garlic - because garlic is an immune booster, smooth muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory, and helps improve circulation.

A handful of frozen, crushed Mullein Leaf that I'd been given.  Mullein has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.  It also soothes skin irritations when applied to rashes, boils, bruises, and much more.

To infuse the oil, simply add your herbs to the oil and gently warm in a double broiler or on low in a saucepan.  Do NOT boil. Just let it be warm.  For as long as possible.  A couple hours to a half day is good.

Then strain the herbs out.  I just cut a square out of an old t shirt and threw it away when I was done.

Once it's cooled a bit, be sure to squeeze all the excess oil out of the herbs.  That's where the strongest oils will be.

And that's it!  All done!

Put it in something for storage, preferably glass.  :)  Oils infused with garlic should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent going rancid.

Thanks to my Home Herbalist teacher for teaching us how to infuse oils.  :)  It was handy info in perfect timing.

Another plug for my awesome body cream - Keratosis Pilaris

When I was about 6 years old, my mom noticed bumps on my face.  She kept me home from school that day and took me to see the doctor.  He said it appeared as though I had dry skin and that perhaps using a different soap would help.  I don't actually remember anything changing from that point, but as I got older I got very bumpy skin on the backs of my upper arms and thighs, as well as having them on my face.  They didn't itch, or hurt.  They were just bumpy.

About 2 years ago I went to a dermatologist for a completely unrelated reason and she took one look at me and said that I had Keratosis Pilaris.  Basically, bumpy skin.  It's caused by excess skin cells that build up around the hair follicles. There really isn't a CURE for it, but there are some things you can do to help minimize the bumps.  One of which is the body cream I made!

I completely stumbled upon that little trick as it was not at all the purpose or even a hope of mine!  The dermatologist prescribed an Ammonium Lactate lotion.  I did try it, and it did work, but I didn't like the smell of it, nor did I like rubbing those ingredients on my skin during a pregnancy, or after while breastfeeding.  So I just stopped using it.

I love using the body cream from head to toe when I get out of the shower.  A couple of weeks after starting to use it, I was amazed at how soft my skin felt!  Even my face was smooth!  It's a lovely feeling to have smooth skin, and from a natural product, for the first time in 30 years!

As I researched a bit, I found that as many as 50% of adults have KP.  It's extremely common!  Some people have had luck with just rubbing straight coconut oil on their skin too!  So that's always a possibility to try if you have it too!  But, in case you were looking for more reasons to love the body cream I make, this would certainly be up there on my list of suggestions for it.  :)  It is really amazing stuff.  In fact, yesterday I noticed my son's hand was very chapped.  In less than 24 hours and a couple of applications, his hand looks almost normal again!

If anyone is interested in buying some, here's the link to my shop page - SHOP

Eczema Cream Recipe

Ever since I came up with a great body cream recipe last month, I've been working on coming up with a recipe for some eczema cream.  I hear so many people mention this common skin problem, that I thought surely I could think of something natural and soothing.

I've become quite fascinated by all of the amazing and exotic butters and oils that are available online.  I also added to my challenge of finding the perfect ingredients, by making them friendly to those who also tend to suffer from peanut allergies.  I didn't know this until just recently, but those who suffer from nut allergies, also tend to not do well with skin care ingredients like Shea Butter!  Also, a lesser known ingredient that is an important one of my previously mentioned cream, Kokum Butter.  So that meant that I couldn't use either of those two butters as part of the eczema cream I wanted to make.

I found a really interesting butter from New Directions Aromatics called Ucuuba Butter.  It is said to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and be ideal for treating acne, eczema, and dry or irritated skin.  It's also considered to have anti-aging properties, which puts this butter at the top of my list to add to a moisturizing facial cream I intend to work on very soon!  It is brown in color, and has a very earthy smell to it as its made from the Ucuuba tree in Central and South America.

Next on my list to add was a liquid oil.  I found the perfect one at From Nature With Love!  It's called Karanja Oil.  It's a cousin to Neem Oil but less aromatic.  Or, so online info says.  To be honest, I thought it smelled.....grassy?  Perhaps?  This oil is made from the seeds of the Pongam Tree in India.  Karanja Oil has therapeutic qualities that have been used to treat many skin ailments.  Including dandruff, psoriasis, eczema, ulcers, AND it promotes wound healing.  

I then mixed in a small amount of coconut oil, sesame or safflower oil (it's a good source of vitamin E), a bit of water, some essential oils, emulsifying wax, and Grapefruit Seed Extract (as a preservative) and here's a pic of my final product.

The jury is still out as to whether or not it actually works, and more importantly to me, how acceptable the smell is.  It's distinctive.  To say the least.  While I don't necessarily think it smells BAD, it is just a very earthy smell.

Even with the essential oils that I put in, they just didn't completely cover the unusual smells of the butters.  Which, butters tend to have a stronger smell all on their own anyway.  Of course more natural butters and oils from trees will smell woodsy.  But, one of the main essential oils I used was Cedarwood because according to this list - it is beneficial at treating dermatitis, which is basically what eczema is.  Inflammation of the skin.  I also used Geranium Rose (analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and astringent to name a few), as well as Helichrysum (for dermatitis, eczema, irritated skin).  

I prefer to get most of my essential oils from either Mountain Rose Herbs, or through our Frontier Co-op for Aura Cacia.  In this particular recipe, I did not use pure Helichrysum.  I simply couldn't justify paying the high price just to try it in this recipe.  So I did opt for the diluted in jojoba oil Helichrysum from Aura Cacia.  They also sell a pure one that is not already diluted in a carrier oil, but I ordered the one from their line called Precious Essentials available for just such an occasion!  When you need a bit of a really expensive essential oil to be more affordable!  *IF* I continue to make this for my friends and it is beneficial, then I would opt for the pure oil in the future and use less of it.  But as a trial, I didn't want to sink the big bucks on the pure Helichrysum.

The emulsifying wax was the final touch to pull all the oils and water together to keep them from separating and make it actually a creamy consistency.

I used a double boiler to melt the butter and oils and emulsifying wax.  Pulled off the heat and slowly poured in the room temp to slightly warmed water.  Pulsed a few times with my immersion blender.  Let it cool for a few minutes and then added in the Grapefruit Seed Extract and essential oils.  Pulsed a few more times and then poured it into my containers.

As I get some feedback from friends I can tweak this a bit if it needs it.  But this is my starting point.

Preserving my awesomeness

Last month, I came up with a lotion/cream recipe that has so far out performed even  my wildest expectations!  (will write more about that another time)  I passed out little samples of it to several of my friends and got rave reviews back!  So, I sold some to a few people as well!

Very unexpectedly, 2 peoples developed mold.  To be honest, I am completely baffled by this.  It wasn't just a bad batch because I had been using some for myself from the same exact batch (I just finished off the container yesterday and it never did go bad).  I also STILL have some from the original batch that I made that doesn't even have a hint of molding on it.  So, I really can not explain WHY those 2 peoples' turned yucky.

However, in an effort to remedy the problem and deliver a suitable replacement, I dove into the world of preservatives.  After much research, I settled on trying Grapefruit Seed Extract as a preservative.  It's not the cheapest, but I believe it is closest to my natural way of providing good quality products as possible.  It is paraben free, formaldehyde free, triclosen free.  It's made from the crushed seeds and pulp of grapefruit.

I read several reviews on Grapefruit Seed Extract talking about it's lack of effectiveness, and how it was NOT a natural product.  In a review and test of effectiveness, it was found that not all GSE's actually work.  Some of them are simply not effective, so it's important to get one from a reputable seller.  Be sure to buy from a place that has been tested for effectiveness and it's preservative properties are true.  Like From Nature with Love.

Also, I'd like to address the concerns that I read about it not being a natural product.  I read a lot of outrage that it was not "natural" because of the process by which it is made.  Often times during the process of extracting, it gets introduced to chemicals like benzethonium chloride, or parabens.  However, it is possible to get a good quality GSE that has been tested and does not have that junk in it.  And that is exactly what I did.  Here's a link to the exact product I purchased.

And finally, I found no other, better, more natural, preservative.  One that TRULY works.  The ingredients of which I make my stuff with, are not cheap.  They are not common, everyday, ingredients.  I put a lot of research and thought into my products.  I can't afford to take chances that maybe it won't mold next time.  Or maybe it will and I'll need to replace it again.  Therefore, I must preserve my awesomeness.  :)

For my friends, I'm happy to make stuff and forego the preservative as long as you are willing to accept that it may mold, and not hold me accountable to replace it.  I put on my original body cream recipe that it did not have preservatives and I was not sure of how long it would last.  I did that even before the mold happened, because I was uncertain how it would hold up, and I didn't want to have to replace it, but when it actually happened, I decided that I wanted to preserve my reputation of providing a quality product.  Because I believe the stuff that I make is "da bomb"!  :)  And I don't feel right about just saying, "Aww....too bad!"  Cause that would suck if it were me buying a product that didn't live up to it's expectations.  BUT!  If you tell me you do not want preservative in your product, please do not ask me to replace it if it goes bad.  Ok?  You must be willing to accept that possibility.  :)  The other alternative would be to possibly make it yourself.  That's a suitable solution too!

So, there ya go.  You'll start to see Grapefruit Seed Extract in some of my recipes and this is why.  :)

My Tiger Balm knockoff - a flop? Maybe.

I'd been waiting for MONTHS to make this knockoff Tiger Balm recipe.  It took me For-Ever to get together all the essential oils and supplies needed for it.  But I finally did it.  I made it!  It smells just like real Tiger Balm too!

Why make it rather than just buy the real thing?  Because the real thing has petroleum in it.  Which is made from crude oil.  Yeah!  Let's rub that all over!  Woohoo!  ;)

There are a couple of small variations I made on the original recipe I linked above.  Mostly just different oils. I didn't have, nor did I intend to get, Emu oil or Andiroba Oil.  I also split the peppermint essential oil in half and used Cinnamon Bark for the other half.  Making this more like the Red Tiger Balm, rather than the White Tiger Balm.

Does it work?  Yeppers!  It sure does!  Hubby loved it on his sore back last night.  However, it irritated my skin.  I had tingling, burning, itching, red splotchy places on my arms and hands from rubbing it onto him.  So, for me, it's a no go.  The essential oils are probably just too powerful for my sensitive skin.  This recipe is approximately 50% essential oils.

Also, this is not a cost effective endeavor as I made it, unless you are REALLY wanting a petroleum free product.  I figured up the price per gram for each of the essential oils used and then multiplied that by the number of grams for each one used.  The essential oils alone cost me over $10.  That didn't take into consideration added shipping costs, the menthol crystals, nor the solid oils or beeswax I used.  Oh, nor the cost for the tins to put it in.

It made 2 - .8 ounce containers.  So, not even 2 ounces.  Which, you can purchase a 1.7 ounce container of Tiger Balm for just under $10 through the Frontier Co-op Wholesale group (if you have one local...which we do).

Finally, you COULD cut your costs a bit by using different, less expensive essential oils.  I order mine from Mountain Rose (see the little link on the side of my blog under Favorite Suppliers).  So, technically, subbing out the Cinnamon Bark alone for a much cheaper one from...say...Aura Cacia, purchased through Frontier would make it more cost effective.  But I used all Certified Organic Essential Oils from Mountain Rose.

So, for ME, this was a flop.  For my husband, it was GREAT!  And I COULD make it more cost effective. If I do make it again in the future, I definitely WOULD trade out the cinnamon bark for a cheaper brand.

Without further ado, a recipe for you.  :)

In a double broiler, melt together

10 grams of shea butter (or any other hard butter, like cocoa butter, etc)
10 grams of beeswax
6 grams of coconut oil
1 gram of sesame oil (vitamin e oil is good too, I just used sesame cause it's what I had and it's high in vit E content)

While it's melting together, weigh out your essential oils

5 grams Camphor
6 grams Cajuput
1 gram Clove Bud
4 grams of Cinnamon Bark
4 grams of Peppermint

Also, weigh out 4 grams of menthol crystals, or menthol essential oil.  Since Menthol Essential Oil is solid at room temp, crystals are an equal replacement here.

When your solid oils and beeswax are thoroughly melted, put in your menthol and let it melt as well.  Which, by the way, it will melt between 105 - 111 degrees.  So it doesn't need to be overly hot.

Once that's all melted together, take off the heat and pour in your essential oils and gently stir to incorporate. Then pour into your awaiting container.

It sets pretty quickly, so enjoy!  :)

A Confession of Sorts

This may just blow the mind of some of my friends.  But I'm gonna out myself anyway.  As I was cleaning today, it dawned on me that I bet many people would never guess this about me.  So I decided I'd make it the topic of my next post.  Are you ready?  Here it is:

I do not use earth friendly cleaners.

There.  I said it.  Now pick your jaw up off the floor.  :)  And hear me out.  :)

I KNOW you can use lemons and vinegar and baking soda and people rave about their effectiveness.  I agree.  They are lovely and wonderful.  BUT!  They do not provide clean for as long as the harsher store bought stuff and you have to clean more often and put a little more scrub power into it.  I know, I'm lame, but seriously, I just don't have it in me.

I make my own soap, lotions, laundry detergents, we grow or raise the majority of our own food, I school the kids at home, cloth diaper, etc. this is one area that just isn't worth it to me!  Its toilet bowl cleaner, and shower cleaner.  That's it.  Anything else is simply soap and water.  But when it comes to the shower and the toilet....I don't care, really.  My butt is not sitting in the toilet and if ever there was a place that harsh chemicals were called for, it's the toilet.  6 people, 1 toilet, yeah, give me the big guns.  And the shower, well, I'm lazy.  I don't clean the shower nearly as often as you'd probably think is necessary.  Plus, we have really hard water from the well.  By the time I get around to cleaning the shower, the hard water stains are really tough to remove.

Now, if I actually had the opportunity to clean on a regular basis without a child screaming and pulling at my leg wanting love and picked up, then I'd probably still be using lemons and baking soda.  I think it's wonderful!  But, it's my small compromise.  One of these days, I'd do anything to have another chance to pick up or comfort my little ones when they want nothing but to be somewhere else.

So for now, I'll take the quicker, easier way out so I can spend more time with the kiddos.  In fact, today was the first time I'd scrubbed the shower in probably 3 months.  I sprayed on the kaboom, left the room for 15 minutes, came back, rubbed it off, rinsed and done.  Thank you very much.  While I was doing so, I thought MAYBE one of my friends would like to know that I am not Mrs. Homemade and Earth Friendly everything.  I do still have my vices.  :)  So there ya go.  :)  The truth is out.