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5 NATURAL WAYS TO KEEP SPIDERS OUT OF YOUR HOME

Spiders are something most people are not crazy about and they certainly do not want them in their homes. This is especially true if you live in an area with dangerous spiders, such as the black widow spider or brown recluse spider. Keeping these spiders away from you, your family and your pets helps to keep your home safer and healthier. There are different things you can do to prevent spiders from taking up residence in your house without using powerful chemicals. These natural remedies are easy to use and you can combine for maximum spider fighting effects.

Home Made Natural Spider Spray: You can make your own spray and use it in areas where spiders tend to congregate, such as the bathroom and other damp areas in your home; you should also spray it outside of your home, along windows and doors so spiders do not want to enter. To make this spray, combine a cup of pepper and a teaspoon of liquid soap. Put all of these in a spray bottle and mix well. Make sure to re-spray everything every couple of days and after it rains.

Keep Things Clean: Spiders love clutter and they like to set up shop behind boxes and other things that are just sitting idle. Dust at least once a week and make sure to put all boxes and packages away quickly to prevent spiders from spinning a web. You should also remove cobwebs as they occur. The perimeter of your home should be free of things like wood piles, trash and debris. Spiders will hang out in these and if they find a small entry, they will make their way into your home. If you have a fire place and need a wood pile, make sure that this is several feet from your home.

Use Cedar: The smell of cedar is something that spiders are not crazy about, so adding some cedar mulch around the perimeter of your home can prevent spiders from coming in.

Just make sure that you use a good quality cedar and that you maintain it. You can also place cedar in the home to repel spiders.  

Use Citrus Peels: Spiders hate the smell of anything citrus, such as lemon, oranges and grape fruits. You can find essential oils in citrus scents or save the cash and just use the left over peels when you enjoy a piece of citrus fruit. If you are using citrus peels, make sure to replace them every 24 to 48 hours so that the smell stays potent enough to chase spiders away.

Use Peppermint Oil and Borax: Pure peppermint oil is strong and not only do spiders absolutely hate it, but most other pests do too. You can grab a plastic spray bottle and combine peppermint oil with water to make it last longer and to dilute the oil a bit so it does not irritate the skin of people or pets. Simply spray this everywhere spiders tend to go.

Borax is most commonly used to keep ants out, but it helps to repel spiders too because it kills them if they get into it. Just sprinkle this in areas where spiders are coming in and setting up spider webs like the window and along the thresholds of your doors.

ESSENTIAL OIL TREATMENTS FOR SWOLLEN ANKLES, LEGS AND FEET

Many people suffer from swollen ankles, legs and feet. Treatment of swelling is possible with essential oils. Essential oils are derived from the herbs and are completely safe to use. But one should know how to use them for a certain health problem. Here is a list of essential oil treatments that can be easily done at home. Apply these treatments and say goodbye to swollen ankle, legs and feet.

Lavender Oil Treatment: Lavender essential oil has versatile use. It is widely used for various beauty regimen as well as health issues. Lavender oil is one of the popular essential oils and can be easily found in stores. Fortunately, you can use lavender oil to treat swelling in feet, ankles and legs. Take a wide vessel or bucket and fill it with warm or cold water. Don’t use warm water if you are pregnant or if the weather is very hot. However, if the affected area is stiff, use warm water: mix two drops of lavender oil, one drop of lemon oil, and one drop of geranium oil. Now, dip your feet, ankle or legs into the water for 5-10 minutes. Don’t dip your legs for more than 10 minutes to avoid any complications.

Chamomile Oil Treatment: Chamomile oil contains azulene which has anti-inflammatory properties. Azulene also acts as a disinfectant that enhances its properties to act against swelling followed by discharge in case of insect bites. You just need to apply one or two drops of chamomile essential oil on the affected area and massage it so that the oil is completely absorbed by the skin. Otherwise, mix a few drops of the oil in water and dip a cloth into it. Use the cloth as a compress over the affected area.

Juniper Oil Treatment: You can use Juniper oil for subsiding body swelling due to premenstrual symptom or water retention in the body. Juniper essential oil has the properties to extract fluid from the skin. It is very easy to use juniper oil to cure swelling. Just add half teaspoon of the oil in a bucket of water and dip your feet into the water for 15-20 minutes. You will instantly notice the swelling going away within a few minutes.

Fennel Oil Treatment: Fennel oil is very effective in curing inflammations. It can be used along with other essential oils. You prepare massage oil by mixing 15 drops of fennel oil, 15 drops of cypress oil and 30ml of evening primrose oil. Massage the affected area with the mixture for quick relief.

Tea Tree Oil Treatment: Tea tree oil is extensively used to prepare anti-acne or antidandruff products. It has antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties which make it highly effective against dandruff and acne. Surprisingly, tea tree oil can also be used to treat swelling.

You can apply tea tree oil directly on the skin without diluting, unlike other essential oils which need to be diluted with any carrier oil before application. Take few drops of tea tree oil in your palm and massage the affected area. Make outward strokes towards knees to disperse the fluid. Massage this way two times a day to witness a speedy recovery from swelling.

WHITE STAR APPLE AND ITS HEALTH BENEFITS (Agbaluma or Udara)

The white star apple is a dark yellowish fruit with semi- circular seeds, a popular seasonal fruit normally consumed with the flesh in the West Africa region. Botanically called chrysophyllum albidum, the fruit is mostly cultivated in the rural areas and is very common during the months of December to Aril. The fruit is mostly found in African countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’ivorie, Uganda and Niger Republic. However, here in Nigeria the Yorubas and Igbos popularly refer to the white star apple as Agbaluma and Udara respectively. Africans pick this wonderful fruit on their way to the farm, during the era of our forefathers. Nowadays you get it from the market place, as it has become a source of income to the people mostly living in the rural areas.

During white star apple season, you will see both adult and children savoring the great taste of this indigenous fruit. Have you ever cared to know the health benefits of the white star apple? Anyway, in case you do not know, the fruit is highly nutritional and can help a lot in many ways. Below are some of the benefits of Agbaluma.

1. The bark of the tree, according to researchers, was used traditionally to treat yellow fever and malaria, while the leaf treated wounds, stomachache and diarrhea.

2. The Agbalumo/Udara is a natural remedy for toothache, constipation, sore throat and much more. Also in some parts of Nigeria, the seeds are used to treat virginal and skin infections.

3. White star apple has been suggested to contain more vitamin C than orange and guava; the fruit is also rich in calcium, iron potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, tannins, flavonoids, and phytochemicals.

4. When the Udara/Abalumo is consumed for its flesh, it can help lower blood sugar, control cholesterol, prevents and treats heart diseases.

5. The fruit is known to have anti-oxidant properties that help fight cancer and treat diabetes.

STOP THE SCREAMING!

Raising disciplined kids is the most difficult thing ever. Kids sometimes do not agree with the decision of their parents, they do what they like and drive you into screaming frenzy. If you have such kids and are tired of screaming, why not try these strategies and start screaming less. Here are few ways you can handle some of the situations without having to scream.

When running late

The hardest part of the day for many moms is getting the kids out of the house. You ask them to get dressed and put their shoes on, they ignore you. You finally find your keys and are ready to go; they run off and hide. It is all fun and games until you unleash the scream beast.It's extremely frustrating when you're in a rush to get out the door and no one is taking your concerns about staying on schedule seriously. You can't help but feel insignificant, out of control, and burdened all at the same time.You obviously going to have to drop what you're doing and force your kids' shirts over their little heads yourself.

It is easy to forget that young children have no concept of the consequences of running late. However, repeating yourself over and over is not the solution. It makes them think that you’re only playing games with them, or that they don't have to respond the first time.

The no-scream solution: Rather than nagging your kids until you're at the point of shouting, just tell them it's time to get ready once and then don't give any more reminders, Dr. Hutt suggests. Say, "We're leaving in ten minutes. I hope you'll be dressed and ready." If they are not, pick them up and put them in the car firmly, yet gently, in whatever they are wearing. If your kids have to go to school in their pajamas, they will know you mean business next time.

When Sibling Squabble

On the way to the park, your younger child hits her older brother and the older one hits back immediately and they both get physical attempting to pull off the roof of the car. Your temper goes from zero to 60 in three seconds or less. No matter who "started it," it is almost impossible to play referee when both kids are screaming and kicking, and the situation becomes flat-out dangerous if their fighting is distracting you while you are driving.

The no-scream solution:When things are already heated between your kids, having a strongly negative reaction is like adding fuel to a fire; it will only escalate the situation. Especially on the road where you cannot really shift your attention and get involved, your initial instinct might be to yell, but try to be responsive rather than reactive, Schafer recommends. After pulling over, matter-of-factly let your kids know it is unsafe for you to drive while they are fighting.Saysomething like, "I understand you're upset, but I can't go anywhere until you calm down. When you've worked it out together, I can drive again." Then sit quietly, read a book, or IM with friends until they have chilled out. By staying collected, you make it clear that you are not going to take sides, and you set an example for how your children should behave with each other. The immediate lesson you are trying to impart is this: Calm cars move; fighting cars stop. But the bigger message goes beyond driving. When parents respond to children in ways that make them feel heard and understood they are going to learn to treat others that way as well. 
 
Constance Clement

9 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR SKIN GLOW NATURALLY

The Skin is an important organ which protects our body from external influences like heat, cold and moisture. It prevents the entry of micro-organisms into the body. Lack of care and poor diet can make the skin unhealthy and malnourished. Sun exposure, hormonal problems, stress and smoking can worsen the condition of skin. Beautiful glowing skin is considered healthy. It is possible to get a glowing skin with proper care and natural remedies. Outlined below here are ways to make your skin glow naturally.

Take Vitamin Rich Diet: Take a healthy diet that contains essential vitamins for nourishing the skin. Vitamin C (e.g. oranges and tomatoes) helps in increasing strength and elasticity of skin. It helps in healing the skin. Vitamin B (e.g. meat, liver and milk) prevents dryness and oiliness of skin. Vitamin A (e.g. milk, egg yolk and vegetables) prevent wrinkles and Vitamin D (from milk and egg yolk) prevents psoriasis. Eat foods that contain these vitamins.

Drink Water: Drink plenty of water. Lack of water dehydrates the skin leading to many types of problems. Thus, you should increase the intake of water. It will hydrate and moisturize the skin. This is the secret of getting healthy glowing skin. Do not wait until you are thirsty and craving for water before drinking. By this time you are already dehydrating and damage is already being done. Keep a bottle of clean water nearby and sip all day long.
 
Take Short Cold Baths: Taking long baths with hot water can cause skin damage. It removes oil and moisture from the skin. Avoid doing this. Take bath for a short time. Take showers for only ten minutes. Use cold or normal tap water for bathing.

Use Milk: Milk can help in making the skin healthy, beautiful and glowing. It is a wonder remedy for treating dark spots and other skin problems. Apply milk on face before sleeping at night. Do gentle face massage. Wash the face when you wake up next morning.

Exfoliate Gently: You can get glowing skin by exfoliating. It removes dirt and dead cells from skin thus improving the complexion and skin texture. Use a gentle scrub for exfoliating the skin. Avoid using harsh products. Apply the scrub and rub the skin very gently.

Take Antioxidant Rich Diet: We can make the skin healthy by eating foods that contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrient that help in fighting free radical damage. They protect the skin from the effects of sunlight and smoking. Antioxidant rich diets prevent premature aging of skin.

Wash Hands: Touching the face with dirty hands causes acne, breakouts, skin infection and other problems. Keep your hands clean by washing them. Dust, dirt and other impurities deposit on our hands throughout the day. Thus, it is important to wash hands.

Avoid Deodorant Soaps: Some people make the mistake of using deodorant soaps, which is very harmful for the skin. These soaps cause skin dryness. Don’t use deodorant soaps. Use soap like dove that has fat in it. Soaps that contain fat are very good; they coat the skin with oil. Avoid using soaps that have fragrance in it.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar: If the skin has become dark due to sunlight exposure and acne, you can lighten the skin colour with apple cider vinegar. Take little amount of vinegar and mix with lemon juice. Apply on dark areas of the face. Do this before sleeping at night. Wash the face next morning.

 
Ruth Yakubu

Foods that help Control Grey Hair

Recently, I noticed some few strands of grey hair on my head. The first thought that came to my mind was, “oh no…. I’m getting old.” Seeing grey hairs has always made me think that people are old or sort of. But there are other things that are associated with grey hair apart from being old. I have read that grey hair represents wisdom. It is a crown of splendour and it is gained only by living a godly life. If this is true, then having grey hair is a good thing and blessing especially when you have reached a certain age.

But the other reason associated with premature grey hair could be stress and depression. This can make your hair turn its natural colour quickly, although the fact of life still remains that as we grow old, grey hair creeps in. For most people, it doesn’t happen until much later in life; but for others it can happen quite early. For those who do not like having grey hair, well, scientists tell us that there are certain foods we can eat to help reduce or stop grey hair. Let’s check them out.

Leafy Greens  
Go for dark leafy greens to get your essential B vitamins. Your scalp relies on Vitamin B-6 and Vitamin B-12 for the production of red blood cells which transport oxygen and nutrients. Hair colour is also all about hormones, and Vitamin B-2 is an important player in hormone production. You can find this in greens like cabbage, lettuce, Ugu, spinach and so on.

Chocolate  
Copper is essential to the production of melanin, the source of hair colour. As such, copper deficiencies can cause hair to grey. To load up on copper, go for a sweet treat. Semi-sweet chocolate packs the power of copper; additional copper-rich foods include mushrooms.

Berries  
Berries are delicious fruit but strawberries in particular, are a delicious way to get an extra boost of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps produce collagen (found within hair follicles) and fight free radicals which have been linked with the aging process. Additional antioxidant vitamins include Vitamin A (think orange and yellow fruits) and Vitamin E (go for nuts and beans).

Almonds  
If you need a boost of Vitamin E and copper, reach for almonds. They're an easy snack to combat the mid-meal munchies and a number of studies suggest that almond consumption can help lower bad cholesterol levels.

Beef Liver  

Foods rich in zinc and copper will help to prevent grey hair. Beef livers are full of copper and zinc and these will help to prevent premature white hair.

So, you can eat beef liver for saving your hair, if you are not a patient of heart diseases and high cholesterol. 

Rifkatu Yusuf

AMAZING BENEFITS AND USES OF NEEM

Neem is a natural herb that helps in curing many types of skin problems. You can use it to treat pimples and dandruff. Neem has antibacterial properties and it helps in curing skin infections while enhancing beauty. It is a good beauty product that relieves all kinds of skin irritation. Taking bath with boiled neem water helps in curing skin disease. Application of boiled neem leaf paste is an effective remedy for acne.

Neem is available throughout the year and has benefits that only a few natural products can provide. Neem has antiparasitic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that not only benefit your health but also can help you get rid of common beauty problems.

Here are some ways in which you can use this miraculous herb in your daily beauty regime to get that glowing skin you have always wanted:  
To Clear Acne and Dark Pigmentation: Boil a concoction of about 20 neem leaves in half a litre of water till the leaves are soft and discoloured, and the water turns green. Strain and store in a bottle. Use this liquid as a skin toner by just dipping a cotton-ball into it and wiping your face with it every night. Regular usage will help in clearing acne, scars, pigmentation and blackheads.

As Skin Toner: Make a paste of neem leaves and turmeric and use it twice a week. Regular usage gives you clear and flawless skin. You can add some grated cumber to the mixture as well. Treat Pimples: Use neem with tulsi to effectively treat pimples. Grind together a few neem leaves with a handful of tulsi leaves, or you can use the powder form, if they are available. Mix with rose water to form a paste and apply it to naturally treat pimples.

Control Excess Oils: For oily skin beauties that are looking for some sebum control, you can make a paste by mixing neem powder with lemon juice and a little bit of yogurt. This will not only control the excess oil but also prevent acne and infections which are common problems associated with this skin type.  

Treat Skin Dryness: Not many people know about moisturizing properties of neem but nonetheless, neem helps in getting rid of dryness of skin without making it oily, thus giving a very balanced effect. Mix neem powder with some water and few drops of grape seed oil and apply it to your face. 

Ruth Yakubu