A Foundation

“A happy home is more than a roof over your head. It’s a foundation under your feet.” (Amish Proverb)

The farmlands of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country are among the most productive in the nation. Many of the farmers here are different from most Americans by choice. They are the Amish also known as the Plain People.
They take seriously the Biblical commands to separate themselves from the things of the world. They believe worldliness can keep them from being close to God, and can introduce influences that could be destructive to their communities and to their way of life.

With our society’s current interest in restoring “family values,” much can be learned from studying the Amish way of life. Their devotion to family and community and their strong work ethic are good examples for our society at large. For the Amish people, family, farm and faith are top priorities. Below is the information needed to better understand the Amish lifestyle.

The Ordnung (order) is the set of rules for each Amish community. It contains both religious and civil rules. Because the Amish believe in a strictly literal interpretation of the Bible these rules are created in order to keep their members in line with the laws therein. Amish communities are not centrally governed so each group comes up with their own version of the rule.

There are two types of Ordnung: those determined in the early history of that are written down rules, and those passed verbally within each group. The rules are mostly derived from the Bible but those which aren’t are justified by the fact that they will cause a person to ultimately become worldly and thus breach the Biblical laws.

Not all the Amish are the same as in most protestant religions there are divisions within the group, each following their own variations on the rules. The reasons for these divisions are, as usual, over matters of doctrinal disagreement. There are eight distinct divisions within the Amish as a whole with the most conservative “Old Order” having split in the 1860s. Sometimes the divisions can be over very trivial matters – for example the Troyer Amish split over a dispute about hat brims. These differences in beliefs can often lead to bizarre forms of violence.

The Amish believe in living a life separated from the non-Amish. They quote the Bible to justify this belief: “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (II Corinthians 6:14). Each community has one Bishop, two ministers and a deacon all of whom are male.

Rather than worshiping in a church, the Amish takes turns holding their services in the homes of the community members with houses being built especially to accommodate large numbers of people. Funerals are held in the home of the dead and coffins are plain  (hand made by the community.

Graves are dug by hand because the Amish believe that modern technology is a hindrance to family life)  as a result they shun electricity and machinery. In some cases, however, electricity is permitted to warm homes. This electricity is supplied by the community itself via simple devices such as windmills. Because of their other religious convictions, the Amish take no government benefits (and most don’t have medical insurance) and they do not serve in the military.

Belts, gloves, ties, and sneakers are all banned in the community. The Amish have a very simplistic dress style in keeping with their overall life philosophy. Their clothes are handmade and are usually of a dark fabric. Coats and vests are fastened with hooks and eyes but shirts have buttons (it is a myth that the Amish shun buttons).

Men’s trousers must not have creases or cuffs. Married men must grow their beards whilst mustaches are forbidden. Amish women cannot wear patterned clothing or jewelry and they are not permitted to cut their hair. The length of clothing, like dresses, is strictly governed by the Ordnung of the community.

Because men must grow their beards unrestricted and women their hair, it makes those two things prime targets for violence within or amongst differing Amish communities. The attacks involve cutting off the hair of beard of the person to be punished. This is not a lawful form of punishment in the Amish and even though the person being punished may not be guilty of anything in the eyes of his own community, the loss of hair causes great shame and social shunning.

Because most Amish descend from the families of the 200 founders from the 18th century, they have a much higher rate of genetic disorders due to inbreeding – such as “maple syrup urine disease.” They also have a high infant mortality rate, but this does not phase them. These disorders and childhood deaths are seen by the Amish as God’s will. They refuse to undertake any form of genetic testing prior to marriage which would ensure that they were sufficiently unrelated to their potential spouse.

If you are one of the lucky Amish who hasn’t been born with a genetic mutation or disease (and you actually survived childbirth) – you have the benefit of reduced rates of cancer which may be attributed to their distinctive garb which includes head coverings. It is also likely that their healthy lifestyle (which includes very little alcohol or tobacco) is a contributing factor. Furthermore, the Amish have suicide rates that are far lower (one third) the rate of non-religious people and 50% lower than other religious people.

Bundling is the rather odd practice of a young courting couple being bound in two separate blankets and laid together on a bed for intimacy that does not involve sexual contact. The practice has died out in most of the world (it was practiced by some non-Amish too) but in the Pennsylvania Amish communities it is still to be found. In some cases in the past (though perhaps not now) the girl was tied into a sack and her potential husband would lie in bed with her. In modern times it is also not uncommon to see a bundling bed – a bed with a board in the middle to prevent touching.

 Rumspringa is the Amish term for adolescence. During this time young adults are most likely to be rebellious against their community, and they are treated more leniently. At the conclusion of Rumspringa the youth is expected to choose whether the wishes to stay with the community, or leave it. If he stays he is baptized and then held to a much higher behavioral standard. Adults who do not behave in a manner deemed fitting by the group are shunned. Most youths who undergo this process opt to stay with the Amish.

Meidung (shunning) is the Amish form of excommunication. It is usually inflicted for breaches of the Ordnung or for other “crimes” such as marrying outside the faith. When an individual is shunned they are expelled from the community and all ties are cut. This means that a shunned member cannot have any contact at all with other members of the group including his immediate family or friends. Needless to say this is the most serious punishment available to the Amish. Meidung lasts until death unless one repents one’s crime before the community.  

The scriptural basis for Meidung is 2 Thessalonians 3:14 (VOICE): “If someone disregards the instructions of this letter, make a note of who it is and don’t have anything to do with that person so that this one may be shamed.”

 “You will always leave something behind, your influence.” (Amish Proverb)[i]

Amish Couple

---

[i] Sources used:

·        “10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About the Amish” by Jamie Frater

·        “Amish and the Plain People” by LancasterPA.com

·        “Amish People and Amish Culture” by LancasterPA.com

·        “Shunning “by Amish America

 

See It

“Jehovah sees in you what you can’t see in yourself.” (JW.org)

The modern day Jehovah’s Witnesses are commonly known for their door-to-door evangelizing to spread their beliefs, and make converts. [i]There are reportedly 8.3 million Jehovah's Witnesses around the world, and nearly 120,000 congregations.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses print all their literature and organize their work by  voluntary contributions. The Jehovah Witnesses do not practice tithing and do not take collections at meetings in their Kingdom Halls.

These finances are then distributed to local headquarters called branch offices that can be found in many countries. These branch offices allocate the money to causes like the construction of Kingdom Halls, aid in areas affected by natural disasters, support for missionaries, and the publication and distribution of their religious literature.

Contrary to most Christian faiths, all members are unpaid volunteers ordained as ministers, and are expected to share in the evangelizing work regardless of age, race, or social status.  If you know little about the Jehovah Witnesses, take some time to get familiarized with them.

Jehovah's Witnesses got their start in 1870 when a man named Charles Taze Russell started leading Bible studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Taze began disputing some of the traditional views within Christianity, and the Jehovah's Witnesses were born.

Jehovah's Witnesses focus on God the Father so their name is  written as YHWH or JHVH and articulated either as Yahweh or Jehovah. The group was originally called the Watch Tower Society because founder Charles Taze Russell published a magazine called Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence.

Jehovah's Witnesses use a Bible translation called the New World Translation. Before this translation was released specifically by and for Jehovah's Witnesses, most relied on the King James Version.  Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God.

They teach that Jesus was created by God and not coexistent with Him. This is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father. They instead believe the Holy Spirit is a force applied by God.

The main argument of the Jehovah Witnesses is that the majority of these holidays (as well as birthdays) have pagan roots that are not biblical. They base their organization around the doctrines of the first-century Christian congregation, a group that also rejected many similar customs.

Even though it has been hundreds or thousands of years since these un-Christian practices originated or mixed in with popular holidays and celebrations, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel that these would displease the God of the Bible.

When it comes to war, Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to bear arms or engage in war of any kind (even when refusing means imprisonment or execution). They cite their obedience to God and Jesus Christ’s commands as well as their love of those around them to be additional reasons for their refusal to participate in military action.

Countries such as Armenia, Turkey, and Eritrea in recent times have convicted, fined, imprisoned, and even tortured members for their conscientious objection. As of mid-2013, South Korea held 93 percent of imprisoned Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Jehovah Witnesses view blood transfusions as an act against the Bible’s commands to refrain from taking in blood both in the New and Old Testament. An example of one such command that they cite is in Acts 15: 29 (CEB) which states: “Refuse food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid such things. Farewell.”

Although their stance against blood transfusion is mainly a religious one, they cite medical journals, such as The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, that note that those who do not receive transfusions usually fare as well as those who do accept transfusions. Of course, many other medical experts will share contrary views. They also feel that rejecting such keeps them safe from blood transfusion complications such as blood-borne diseases and immune system reactions.

Jehovah’s Witnesses also claim that Jesus Christ did not die on a cross, but rather on a simple upright torture stake with no crossing beams. Looking into earlier manuscripts, they have argued that some words usually rendered as “cross” in most modern translations, instead originally carried the meaning noted above. Though there are some scholars and Bible translators that agree with this view, it continues to be a hotly debated topic.

Both encyclopedias and scholarly works attest to the cross’s pre-Christian origin as well as its ties with worship of Egyptian, Babylonian, Norse, and other gods, not to mention it being regarded as a historical symbol of the male genitalia and the coupling of the reproductive organs by some authorities.

“I was reared in a Jehovah's Witness household. I was taught that every man should be judged by his deeds and not his color, and I firmly stand where my grandmother left me.” (Jill Scott)[ii]

---

[i] “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 , CEB) This is their scriptural mandate for door-to-door evangelism.

 

[ii] Sources used:

·        “10 Things You Never Knew about Jehovah Witnesses by George Rumtic

·        “10 Things You Should Know about Jehovah's Witnesses” by Veronica Infringer

·        “Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Go From Door to Door?” by JW.org

 

This post is dedicated to all the Jehovah Witnesses I’ve had the pleasure of speaking  to over the years.

A Curiosity

“Naturally, I was a bit of a curiosity, being the first hydrogen peroxide ingestion patient they had ever seen.” (Lara St. John)

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that appears as a colorless liquid. It is used in a wide range of cosmetics and personal care products, which includes hair dyes, bleaches, conditioners, shampoos, and rinses.

Hydrogen peroxide has other consumer and industrial uses as well including water treatment. There are so many other uses for hydrogen peroxide around the home. It is the perfect addition to your home cleaning regimen.

1.     Most Viewed Latest Content

·        Clean your toothbrush: If you’ve ever looked at your toothbrush, then this is what you need to do. Fill a cup halfway with hydrogen peroxide. Take your toothbrush and just dunk it in there and leave it for about 30 minutes. The hydrogen peroxide will make it look and smell better, and get rid of any bacteria.

 

·        Grout cleaner: There’s a quick solution to clean this up. All you need to do is mix two parts baking soda to one part hydrogen peroxide, get out of cleaning toothbrush, give it a good stir, and apply that paste to the affected grout line. Leave it for a few minutes, and then give it a good scrub with that cleaning toothbrush. Finally, rinse it well because the baking soda is going to leave a fine grit behind.

 

·        Kitchen disinfectant: If you’re looking for a quick and easy disinfectant in your kitchen, look no further than the friendly brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide. You want to make sure that you test it in a hidden area on any kitchen surface before you actually use it in a wider spread application just to make sure you don’t get any weird discoloration. Hydrogen peroxide does technically have the ability to bleach things.

     So, if you want to use it in the kitchen to disinfect an area take some hydrogen peroxide and spray it onto the surface and leave it for about 10 minutes. That will give the hydrogen peroxide the time to do its thing. Then, you want to wipe the surface clean, give it a good final rinse, and the surface will be clean and bacteria free.

 

·        Laundry aid: Hydrogen peroxide is incredible in the laundry room. The same way you would use bleach, you can use hydrogen peroxide. It whitens whites. Here’s all you have to do. Take a cup of hydrogen peroxide, add it to the bleach compartment in your machine or just add it to your wash as you normally would with bleach. Hydrogen peroxide has this amazing ability especially with protein stains to break the bond between dirt and fabrics. Your stain will loosen up, and it’ll wash out easily.

 

·        Produce rinse: I’m not into ingesting pesticides. A great way to deal with that is to make a solution of one quart of water, and to that add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Dump in the produce that you want to wash, leave it there for a few minutes, give it a good rinse, pat and dry, . Clean produce with no bacteria and no pesticides.

 

·        Stain remover: As a stain remover, it’s a great alternative to bleach, but it’s not chlorine bleach. I like to use hydrogen peroxide in a solution of two parts hydrogen peroxide, and one part dish soap. Mix that all together, blot up your stain first, apply this solution to your stain, let it sit for about 5, 10 minutes and then launder it as usual.  This solution really helps nab those stains, and you can also use it on carpet or upholstery stains.

 

·        Toilet bowl cleaner: A lot of people use bleach to clean their toilet bowls, and this isn’t really a good solution. Bleach doesn’t clean anything. It disinfects, and it can help whiten stains, but it doesn’t clean. All you need to do is pour about a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, leave it there for a couple of hours, then get your toilet brush, out and give it a really good scrubbing in the bowl. Give it a flush and you’re done. What that will do is help break down stains, and get rid of any lingering bacteria.

“You don’t want hydrogen peroxide in the blood itself. But if hydrogen peroxide is present outside the blood, there is the potential it could work as a drug.” (Mark Levine)[i]

---

[i] Sources used:

·        “7 Great Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide!” by Melissa Maker

·        “Hydrogen Peroxide” by ChemicalSafety Facts.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power

“What a strange power there is in clothing.”  (Isaac Bashevis Singer)

Nothing lasts forever, but most things can last longer if you take care of them. Clothes are definitely no exception. Taking care of your clothes will make you look better, and save you money when compared to buying new ones.

Proper methods of cleaning, drying, and storing your clothes will both extend their life and make them look better. What if you could actually prolong the life of your clothing? Here are ways you take care of the clothing investments you make on a regular basis.

1.   Don’t over wash clothes: Select the setting on your washing machine that allows for the least amount of soaking and spin cycles. For delicate fabrics, use a gentle cycle which will eliminate the wear and tear inflicted by your washer.

 

2.   Wash your clothes inside out: Turn all your clothing items inside-out before putting them in the washing machine. The spin cycle can put a lot of wear and tear on clothes. It is much better for the inside of your clothes to face the brunt than the outside. Here are a few other ways to ensure your wash cycle isn’t unnecessarily ruining your fabrics:

·        Spot clean: Avoid washing an entire garment to remove a stain. Instead, gently dab the stained spot with detergent and place face down on a paper towel for a while.

·        Hand wash: Delicate fabrics should be washed by hands. Learn the simple skill of hand washing your clothes to save water and prevent your clothes from excessive spinning inside a washing machine.

·        Use less detergent: Certain detergents use harsh chemicals which can fade, shrink and tear delicate fabrics. Use as little detergent as possible. Powdered detergents can be harsher on clothes – opt for a liquid one instead.

·        Read the care label: to ensure that you can place your clothes in a washer.

 

3.   Don’t overuse the dryer: Do you use a machine to dry all your clothes? The heat from the dryer is probably ruining the fabrics, the elastic and the metal parts of your clothing. Using hot air to dry your clothes can shrink them just as well as using hot water to wash them.

Get clothes out of the washer and hang them out to dry as soon as possible to prevent small wrinkles and to allow them to air. Consider purchasing a collapsible or foldable drying rack for clothes if space is an issue. The only clothing items that should be placed in a dryer are undergarments, gym clothes, outdoor work wear, and jeans.

4.   Be careful with the iron: Crisp shirts with a strong shape can result from clothing that is properly ironed. Irons also have a dark side. They can cause: Rust stains from an unclean iron;  burn marks if you pick the wrong setting; and  heat that sets stains into the fiber.

Use the right settings on the iron before placing the hot plate on fabrics. Damage from excess heat can burn the fabric or leave unsightly permanent marks on the cloth. Iron clothes when they are still slightly damp. The moisture helps to ease out the creases.

Be careful while ironing delicate fabrics. The heat from an iron is too harsh for fabrics like silk (or silk blends) and can leave marks if you’re not careful. A great alternative is a handheld steamer.  It takes the wrinkles out of a cloth without making contact with the fabric is invaluable in these instances.

 Just be careful not to over steam or steam directly over the stitching, or you can blow the seams holding your clothes together. Never iron dirty clothes. Stains on the clothes or the board can become permanent if you press on them with a hot iron.

5.   Fix small issues immediately: You may occasionally snag your new shirt on something sharp or lose a button. It is advisable to fix these small issues immediately.  Knowing how to fix the minor issues yourself is the ideal route. A small repair like sewing on a button before it rips or breaks will save money in the future.

If you aren’t comfortable making these repairs yourself, its worth your time looking for a tailor who is willing to help repair any damages or makes alterations to new clothes. A good tailor can save you from having to buy new items of clothing by keeping your old favorites in top condition for many years.

·        Buttons and zippers: You can do this at home with a basic sewing kit. It takes almost no skill to sew or tighten them.

·        Loose lining:  If the lining on trousers or jackets becomes loose or if they are looking worn out, take them to the tailor to have them replaced. Don’t wait until you  have sizeable holes on the inside of your jacket.

·        Tapering:  Over time, jackets can lose their shape because of poor maintenance or perhaps you have lost weight! Waist suppression brings the waist of a jacket in to create a pronounced “V” shape over your torso.

·        Altering length:  Ensure your trouser legs are the right length. A little cloth to work with is sufficient for a tailor to alter the length to make sure the trouser isn’t too short or drooping all over the floor.

·        Holes:  Small holes, especially around the seams are relatively easy to fix. It is best to take the clothing item to the tailor before the holes get bigger.

 

6.   Remove stains immediately: Act immediately to prevent the any kind of stain from setting into the fabric. Once the staining material forms a chemical bond with the fabric, the mark becomes effectively permanent. If you’re at a restaurant and get a stain, get to a restroom and dab water gently onto the stained area with tissue paper, paper towels, toilet paper, until the stain is thoroughly saturated.

 Avoid applying pressure or heat which speeds up the bonding process of the stain. Once you are  home, treat immediately with the proper solvent if it is available. Various types of solvents are discussed below, but water is always your first solution.

·        Salt:  Easy to access, salt can be applied on top of the wet stain to give the chemicals something to leech into. Effective on red wine, sweat patches, and blood stains.

·        Detergent:  Laundry or dish detergents are effective in removing food and grease stains.

·        Vinegar/Lemon Juice: The mild acids from these solutions are effective against tea and coffee stains, grass stains, and tape or glue stains.

·        Oxidizing bleaches: Hydrogen peroxide is the most commonly used bleach to remove color and makeup stains.

·        Mineral spirits: Use for stubborn marks like tar or asphalt stains. These are too strong for delicate fabrics.

·        Glycerin: Draws out ink and dye stains. Most commercial stain sticks are a combination of glycerin and detergent.

·        Digestants/Enzyme Cleaners:  Highly effective on organic and odor stains such as pet urine, egg yolk, sweat, and blood.

 “My clothes have a story. They have an identity. They have a character and a purpose. That's why they become classics because they keep on telling a story. They are still telling it.” (Vivienne Westwood) [i]

---

[i] Sources used:

·        “5 Ways you’re Destroying Your Clothes | Wardrobe Maintenance Tips | How to Properly Iron & Wash Dress Clothing” by Antonio Centeno

·        “How to Take Care of Your Clothes” by wikiHow

·        “The Importance of Clothing Maintenance” by Edward Fung

 

Tremendous

“I loved ginger. I’ve always recognized its tremendous healing power.” (Chris Reed)

If you enjoy the taste of pungent spices, ginger is likely already a staple item in your kitchen pantry. Full of zesty flavor that can liven up any dish; fresh ginger root is truly beyond compare. Few people know how healthy this lumpy looking root really is. If your exposure to ginger is limited to a cup of tea every once in a while, you are missing out on the health benefits that this tropical root has to offer.

1.   Boosts your brainpower: Ginger is a certified brain-booster, inhibiting an inflammatory response in the brain that can help increase your brain function. Ginger helps with memory loss and dementia, and improves other cognitive functions. Oxidative stress, along with chronic inflammation accelerates our aging process. Use fresh ginger to your morning smoothie for a quick pick-me-up.

 

2.   Can heal and repair cuts and wounds: Ginger can help with scars and wounds. Armed with strong antiseptic properties, ginger is a great agent for helping heal cuts and abrasions. It is known to aid in keeping away infections while encouraging cell regeneration. Make ginger a part of your daily diet, or simply pat a wound with a piece of fresh ginger to quicken the healing process. Just make sure to never ignore these signs of an infected cut.

 

3.   Eliminates dandruff: Flaky, itchy, dry skin on your scalp is frustrating to deal with—and finding a fix isn't always easy. But instead of testing out every dandruff-fighting product at your local drugstore, give all-natural ginger a try. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, ginger works hard to effectively battle the flakes.

 

Mix 3 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger with 4 tablespoons of jojoba oil and massaging the mixture deep into your scalp. This treatment is ideal to use overnight. Just wear a plastic cap secured with a comfortable head wrap and rinse out with shampoo in the a.m.

 

4.   Helps fight acne: Are you battling breakouts left and right with no sign of clear skin in sight? Put the store-bought products on pause and let ginger work its magic. Our ancestors have been using the stuff for thousands of years."The antiseptic and anti-oxidant ingredients in ginger respectively help fight against the bacteria and free radicals that cause acne.

 

It also helps promote skin renewal, improve blood circulation and reduces blemishes. Add some ginger juice (grate fresh ginger and squeeze out the juice) to your favorite mask for acne treatment. Here are other natural acne-fighting supplements that may clear up your pimples once and for all.

5.   Improves brain function: Chronic inflammation is a trigger for premature aging and can even be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of mental decline. However, the antioxidants in ginger have been shown to inhibit this inflammatory response, thereby preventing these age-related conditions from developing.

Even better, ginger has been shown to enhance your level of brain function directly. Studies on middle-aged woman have shown that taking ginger can improve their reaction times and memory building abilities.

6.   Improves the skin's texture and  signs of aging: Ginger has been revered as an anti-aging ingredient in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The antioxidants present in ginger increases collagen production, reduce skin damage, and inflammation.

 

Ginger has also been known to reduce the appearance of hyper pigmentation (dark blotches of skin). Rub a small slice of fresh ginger on hypo pigmented scars about two to three times a day. For optimum results, repeat this process for at least six weeks.

7.   Lowers blood pressure: The research is still being conducted, but there is good evidence that ginger has some powerful potential to lower blood pressure. Giving type 2 diabetes patients two grams of ginger powder every day managed to lower their blood pressure levels by 12%. The levels of HbA1c (a marker for blood sugar levels over the long term), also saw a 10% reduction in the same time frame.

 

8.   Lowers cholesterol: The foods you eat have a strong impact on the levels of cholesterol in your body, and ginger is a powerful way to reduce those levels. Studies have shown that taking a few grams of ginger every day can lower the amount of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in your body and reduce your risk of heart disease.

 

9.   Nausea treatment: When used as a remedy against sea sickness and other forms of nausea, ginger has been found to be just as effective as prescription medication. It’s also been found to help relieve nausea after surgical procedures, and can even quell bouts of morning sickness caused by pregnancy.

 

Just three capsules of ginger can help your stomach release its contents into the small intestine, which helps relieve nausea right at the source. Ginger also works to relax the smooth muscles in your stomach lining, which allows food to move through the system just as nature intends.

10.               Prevents bacterial infections:  Studies have shown that ginger has some big benefits for enhancing the effectiveness of your immune system. Ginger is as effective in killing dangerous pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus as regular antibiotics. Because the spread of staph infections is becoming increasingly common in hospitals, the immune-boosting benefits of ginger should not be discounted.

For this reason, it’s a smart idea to bring some ginger essential oil with you the next time you go to the hospital. A few drops in your water can go a long ways towards keeping you safe from dangerous infections.

11.               Promotes hair growth: Dealing with thinning hair—or pesky patches of baldness? Ginger is excellent in aiding the hair growth process. It stimulates scalp follicles, nourishes strands, and combats hair loss. Use it on a weekly basis, this hair treatment to enjoy healthy hair: Take a tablespoon of fresh ginger and squeeze out the juice into half a cup of virgin coconut oil. Mix well and apply to dry hair. Leave on for about 20 to 30 minutes and wash out.

 

12.               Reduces cellulite: No one likes cellulite, but we all have it. Instead of splurging on expensive creams and scrubs that promise to tighten and firm your derriere, give ginger a go. Ginger increases circulation and cell regeneration which in turn helps fight cellulite. You can make your own ginger scrub and apply it directly to your skin in the shower.

 

 For an invigorating, whole-body detox scrub, Combine 1 cup of organic sugar, ½ cup of olive oil, 4 tablespoons of grated ginger and squeezed juice from ½ of a lemon. Rub this mixture onto your skin using circular motions while focusing on the most problematic areas and rinse with cold water.

“Black tea boiled with a small piece of ginger is the best remedy for  [a] cold, sore throat, and other upper respiratory tract infections.” (SMIDr)[i]

Ginger Root

---

[i] Sources used:

·        “10 Surprising Beauty Benefits of Ginger You Should Know About” by Jenn Sinrich

·        “Ginger 101: The Benefits and Top Ways to Use It” by Lydia Noyes

Inspired by my wife's love for ginger cookies