Natural Cure for Pet Cysts Part 2

My sweet pup is old and gets cysts. It's such a pain b/c  the only vet remedy is surgery which is very dangerous at her age. My vet insured me that they do not hurt her and the best thing I could do was keep it clean. I have been researching EVERY holistic site for months and started using salt rubs which are very effective, but I have recently started putting straight castor oil on them with great results. After cleaning the cyst with a mild tree oil soap I apply about a teaspoon and repeat for a couple of days.


What else is Castor Oil good for??

Constipation – As an alternative remedy, castor oil is a very effective laxative. It provides temporary relief to diarrhea and constipation.


Ringworm – Undecylenic acid, which is one of the active compounds of castor oil, helps fight ringworm, a fungal infection


Skin Problems – Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, which delivers anti-inflammatory benefits to the skin. It provides treatment for minor cuts, burns, abrasions, sunburn and prevents skin disorders such as acne and eczema. Aside from these, one of the benefits of castor oil is in skin conditioning. It serves as a natural emollient, which stimulates the production of collagen and elastin that hydrates and moisturizes the skin. It treats wrinkles, repairing and rejuvenating the skin to make it look flawless and smoother. When applied regularly, castor oil also helps diminish dark circles under your eyes.

Hair Growth- For a strong, shiny, and manageable mane, use castor oil for hair. Castor oil is the ultimate must-have for taming frizzy locks, removing split ends, and curing dandruff.

Mosquitos are back in full swing

I just stepped outside for 4 minutes to water my plants and was full on attacked by mosquitoes!

Unfortunately, Texas did not have a winter this year which is great if you want your annuals to last ALL year long, but not so good for the bug population. I saw a water bug last night too and oddly enough had a dream about it a few nights earlier (I have mad fear of water bugs). So after my attack, I of course quickly ran inside to make my trusty mosquito repellent, but needed some serious relief from my bites. Yes of course it's an essential oil. Sweet loving lavender. Just dab each bite with a drop or two for instant relief. On the agenda this week: making a mosquito trap with yeast and sugar water. I am taking them down!! Tutorial to come!

A Moment on the Lips: Apple Cider Vinegar to Relieve Knee Pain

A Moment on the Lips: Apple Cider Vinegar to Relieve Knee Pain: ACV and I are very, very good friends. It's medicinal properties are endless and I can not imagine my life without it....I know that's a bit...

Homemade Pickles Time!

I totally forgot to buy dill for my pickles, so I substituted a dark amber ale.....results in 3 days!

Spring has Sprung!

I can not wait to eat some delicious berries this season! I have been walking by the $1.99 strawberries and although they look so good, I know they are rancid. Eating in season is an age old tradition and is so worth it. I have spent my winter months gorging on citrus and apples and now it's super awesome berry time. Here's what's in season now:

Arugula
Asparagus
Beets
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Cilantro
Collards
Cucumbers
Dewberries
Dill
Grapefruit
Garlic (Green)


Kale
Leeks
Lettuce–Head and leaf
Mint
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Oranges (March)
Parsley
Peaches
Peas
Potatoes
Radishes
Spinach
Spring Onions
Strawberries
Squash
Tomatoes (greenhouse)
Turnips

All natural cure for older pets with cysts

This is truly amazing and I only have Crystal to thank for the tip! My dog is going to be 12 in a few months and last year she developed a nasty cyst on her back. Our vet quoted us any where from $800-$1000 for removal, and as much as I love my little girl, we could not justify the cost. Over the past 6 months I have tried every natural cure I could find, and nothing worked. Crystal recommended that I use a warm compress soaked in salt. I did notice a slight change, but decided to try straight kosher salt and see what happened. I dipped a cotton ball in water, then dipped it in a bowl of salt and applied directly to the cyst. I did this for three days. 1 week later and there is no abscess and fresh skin on Poobie's back. I am seriously over the moon! I hope this is helpful for all of the owners of old animals out there.

Watermelon Sorbet (without an ice cream maker!)

As we approach the 60 something'th day of over 100 degree heat here in Texas, there are few things left that we can do to cool off. Cooking and cleaning in our underwear, taking cold showers, leaving the house ONLY when necessary, and making sorbet!

I had no intention of making this delicious treat until I learned a very necessary rule in grocery shopping: stick with a store you trust, instead of looking to save a buck. Last week I bought a watermelon at Central Market, it was insanely perfect and we devoured it in about an hour. Two days later I ran into Tom Thumb and saw watermelons on sale (about 30 cents cheaper than CM), so I of course bought one. It was fug nasty. No flavor and grainy texture. I felt so abused!

I decided to turn my anger into something magical. Because my dad grew up in the Great Depression, (well the 1930s but still...) I was raised to NEVER waste food. So began my watermelon disaster journey.

This recipe requires no ice cream maker, no shaking of a plastic bag for a half an hour, or having to stir up your mix in the freezer every 30 minutes. It is so simple and so insanely good.

Ingredients:

1 "personal sized" watermelon or 1/2 of a full melon cubed
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of agave nectar (you can sub sugar if you like)
Zest and juice of two limes (or lemons, depending on the taste profile you desire)
Pinch of salt

In batches, puree the watermelon in a blender.



Strain.



In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring 1 cup watermelon puree, lime zest/juice and sugar to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Season with salt. Pour in remaining watermelon puree and add agave nectar, whisking until evenly blended.

Pour the mix into a metal cake pan and freeze overnight.



The following day, take your frozen watermelon, puree and blend it one last magical time. This final blend will break up all of the ice crystals to create a smooth consistency. Pour sorbet back into the pan, cover and freeze 3-4 hours. Enjoy the sorbet (clothing optional Texans).