Paste, Powder, & Pearly Whites

For the past two weeks I've been miserably consumed by the banal efforts to recover from dental surgery.  In all my years I've never spent so much time thinking about, let alone coddling, my mouth.  I went in for a routine appointment to remove my two lower wisdom teeth.  I came out with a golf ball in one cheek, a chunk missing from my jawbone, and bruising that a prizefighter would be proud of.  After nearly fourteen days of mushy foods and lethargic couch conquering, I’m finally feeling like myself again (despite the creepy stitches and cavernous divots in the back of my mouth).  It seems only right that after all this oral pontificating, I launch back into the blogosphere with a post about an old school dental product that’s making a comeback with homemade health nuts like me: Tooth Powder!  You may wonder why in the world I’d go to the effort to make my own tooth powder when convenient tubes of paste line the shelves of any grocery.  What on Earth could be so bad about the minty goop that advertisements promise will kill germs, fight plaque, and blindingly whiten my chompers?  Later in the post, I’ll get into why I've chosen to ditch conventional toothpaste (even natural varieties can be questionable).  For now, let’s take a look at how a few inexpensive ingredients and less than five minutes of effort can boost oral hygiene to a sparkling level.

Sick & Tired of It

Last Tuesday, I sneezed three times. On Wednesday I didn't have enough pep to finish my day’s work.  On Thursday it actually  hit -- I was drippy, droopy, scratchy, throbby, runny, and moving at a snail’s pace with a box of tissues as my constant companion.  I couldn't keep my eyes open for more than an hour at a time and when I closed them to rest, I wouldn't actually sleep because I was so uncomfortable.  Ugh.  I began to scan my herbal books for some tonics or teas that might boost my immune system, clear my sinuses, and soothe my general feeling of ick.  Of course, the kicker was that I had to find recipes with ingredients I already had on hand and that didn't need weeks to steep.  I didn't find a cure all, but I did come across some really handy options I intend to share.  The chicken soup with homemade broth that I’d coincidentally made earlier in the week was Step 1.  Step 2 was a tasty ginger-cinnamon-peppercorn-herb brew that went to work on my nasal passages while I sipped it every few hours.  In desperate need of something for my Sahara sore throat, I came across an odd culinary mixture that worked like a charm as long as I gargled with it every hour or so.  A Garlic-Onion-Honey rub helped deter the hint of congestion that began settling in my chest.  Last, but not least, I sealed my puny visage with chilled "rice" socks: one covering my throbbing eyes and another splayed across my tender shoulders.  If I've ever assumed the stance of a femme fatale draped on a quilted couch, it was probably then…minus the makeup and perfect hair.

Medicinal Mysteries

One area of my homestead education has been lacking to such a degree that it’s been nagging at me: natural home health care.  Has anyone else had a hard time keeping eye of newt, root of dried fern, and pulverized sycamore bark in their cupboard?  I’m exaggerating a bit on the ingredients, but any time I've approached herbal health or medicinal plants the elements sounded uncomfortably similar.  The truth is that I've been paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of the subject and the not insignificant reality that an incorrect implementation could be detrimental.  For the longest time I didn't know where to start, so I set my interest aside like a gift waiting to be opened on Christmas morning.  I tip-toed around it, eyed its shape and size, sniffed it, shook it, and peaked in the folds of the wrapping; but it wasn't until recently that I finally began tearing into it.  I know I’m only scratching the surface of what there is to learn, but I’m scratching like a kid with chicken pox…and boy, does it feel good!  Taking one simple step at a time, I find the subject fascinating and not nearly as overwhelming as I expected. 

Cleaning: the Long & Short of It

It’s probably unwise for a woman living south of the Mason-Dixon Line to admit it, but I’m not religious when it comes to cleaning my home.  On the spectrum from Clean Jean to Messy Jessie, I prefer to be Sane Jane -- Jean’s artistic, active, and somewhat less-kept sister.  Because I’m not a fan of clutter or filth, I do the basic once over on a fairly regular basis.  But suffice it to say my home has a love-hate relationship with the white glove test.  I've observed that most creative homesteads accept a certain level of disarray in order to focus on living their convictions while maintaining sanity.  This notion has always provided me with calming validation.  As with so much in life, it’s all about balance.  Most people who know me recognize that I’m not a stickler for domestic customs.  Despite this truth, I can’t ignore that our home needs a proper scrubbing after both winter’s hibernation and summer’s flurry of activity.  As much as I like to clean to the beat of my own drum, I generally follow suit when it comes to Spring and Fall Cleaning.  On a recent Saturday Weldon and I put Cinderella to shame with our zealous energy to get our house back to spic ‘n span.  As a shout-out to my thoroughly modern husband, he was neither bribed nor threatened into participating in this event. We turned on some peppy tunes and each chose a weapon of choice (rag, bucket, vacuum, spray bottle). We moved furniture, washed baseboards, vacuumed every stitch, wiped every surface, and even did the little To Do’s that have hovered in limbo for months.  I don’t mean to brag or rub it in, but it gives me great satisfaction to know that not only is my house clean (for now), but we did the work without using toxic chemicals.  It’s neither as difficult nor as pricey as it may sound.  I’m sure there are plenty of Clean Jean’s posting their whiz-bang tips for a perpetually spotless abode, but below I've offered my personal nitty gritty on Sane Jane house cleaning. 

The Quirky World of Kombucha

Sweet Tea (Right) meet Kombucha (Left)

Kombucha (Kahm - BOO - chuh) sounds like the name of an alien queen about to launch an inter-galactic attack.  Fortunately for you and me, it is actually a fizzy, refreshing beverage that's simple to make at home and, like all ferments, carries a litany of health benefits (Sorry, no vaporizing laser guns). Weldon brews a batch of this fermented black tea nearly every week.  We typically gulp the last drop just in time for the next batch to be poured up and chilled in the fridge. While some fermented drinks also create alcohol (think of grain-based beers or fruit-based wines), kombucha is not an alcoholic ferment.  It's bubbly zing has a tasty finish that resembles a yeasty apple-y cider -- though go figure, it doesn't contain any apples.  It's a healthful and delicious treat for anyone.  Despite its exotic name and persona, kombucha is one of the easier ferments to undertake, in my opinion.  If you're interested at all in incorporating fermentation into your culinary skills and dietary enjoyment (and health!), I highly recommend kombucha as an introduction.  Soon, you may find yourself collecting crocks and jars to also make sauerkraut, pickles, vinegars, and more!  For more detailed reading about fermentation including specifics about kombucha, anything by Sandor Ellix Katz is a MUST.  The recipe below is derived from Katz's Wild Fermentation.

How Does Your Garlic Grow?

Once upon a time there was a little girl who ate raw onions like apples, broccoli by the head, and garlic bread by the loaf.  As a tween, she thought it was cool to wear a t-shirt which read, "A Clove a Day Keeps the Devil Away."  She grew up healthy and strong (and routinely knocked out entire villages with her dragon breath).  Now she is living happily ever after in her garden where she grows onions, broccoli, and tons of garlic.  THE END...sort of.