Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Which Drug-Free Headache Remedies Actually Work?

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A bad headache can ruin your day. This is true in day-to-day life in familiar surroundings at home or at work etc… Imagine how much worse a bad head ache would be in a survival situation, or if you had no access to over the counter painkillers.

The question is – if you don’t have access to simple painkillers, what natural alternatives are actually effective at relieving headaches? Well as with most things medical/survival, I rely on the Survival Doctor (James Hubbard, MD, MPH) for some answers. Dr James has written a great post about how to relieve headaches without drugs. Check it out below.

Which Drug-Free Headache Remedies Actually Work?

(Photo from:  openDemocracy)

5 Lightning Safety Tips For When You’re Caught in a Storm

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Lightning is one of those things that divides people – on the one side you have the people who are terrified of lightning, who run indoors for fear of being struck by lightning. On the other side, you have the people who just carry on regardless, assuming there is nothing to worry about as no one really gets struck by lightning…

As with many things like this, I think the best approach is somewhere in the middle – there is a serious and real danger undertaking certain activities in a lightning storm, that said, it doesn’t mean the whole world has to stop until the storm has passed.

If you do find yourself stuck out in thunder and lightning, below are 5 tips and some additional advice to help keep you safe.

5 Lightning Safety Tips For When You’re Caught in a Storm

(Photo from: Wikimedia Commons)

List Of 150 Herbs, Together With Their Uses & Benefits

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You’re either a person who embraces the use of plants and herbs, or you a person who would rather purchase the chemical/pharmaceutical alternative. Either way there is no disputing that certain herbs have very clear and proven medicinal uses and other wide ranging properties.

For example, St John’s Wort is a herb/plant, but it is also one of the most common prescription anti-depressants in many countries, with trials showing it can be as effective as low dose pharmaceutical alternatives, for treating mild to moderate depression. Cacao has many medicinal benefits, with its most popular benefit being that it can dramatically lower high blood pressure when consumed daily, which is an excellent reason to have a daily cup of high cacao chocolate (at least 80% cocoa)… There are 150+ herbs listed below, have a look and find out about the uses of benefits of each.

List Of 150 Herbs, Together With Their Uses & Benefits

 

(Photo from:  Herbs Info)

If You Don’t Have An IFAK You’re Ignorant…

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Many of you are reading this post to see just what an IFAK is, and that’s the whole point of the title! IFAK stands for – Individual First Aid Kit. It is a small first aid kit which it carried with you everywhere…

The thing is – many of the people who follow K.W.N. are people who spend a lot of time outdoors doing things which are inherently dangerous, but many of these people don’t carry a adequate first aid kit with them, and that needs to change. No matter what it is you are doing, if you are outdoors and more than 20 minutes from home or help, you should be carrying an IFAK and if you have children with you, it is even more vital to do so… You can read more on individual first aid kits and what they should contain, on the link below.

If You Don’t Have An IFAK You’re Ignorant…

(Photo from: usCrow)

Everyone Should Know About Medicinal Uses Of These 22 Common Foods & Spices

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If you would prefer to use natural remedies instead of pharmaceutical medicines, this is something you don’t want to miss out on. This information is also particularly important for preppers and those concerned about what the future may bring… If there is ever a total collapse or SHTF event, it will become difficult, if not impossible, to get hold of medicines from the pharmacy/doctors etc.

This list details the medicinal properties of 22 common foods and spices and it also includes advice on dosage and preparation of many of the remedies

Everyone Should Know About Medicinal Uses Of These 22 Common Foods & Spices

(Photo from:  Chugy)

Sage: The Must-Grow Plant (Find Out How & Why To Use It)

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Wow, I knew sage was good for you, but it didn’t realize how many medicinal properties and medicinal uses it has. I did however know that sage plants are very easy to grow, as we grow our own sage as a herb for recipes… I think I might have to grow several more sage plants now so we can make our own homemade remedies.

I am particularly interested in making the sage tea now that I know about its sedative and relaxation properties. It could be just the thing after a stressful day. Anyway, check out the link below and find out more about the many uses for sage.

Sage: The Must Grow Plant (Find Out How & Why To Use It) 

(Photo from: Wikipedia)

5 Natural Ways To Lower Cholesterol

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71 Million adult Americans have high cholesterol, with around a third of them being treated with statins to lower their cholesterol. Having high cholesterol means LDL, or (the bad one!) cholesterol is too high, which leads to plaque forming on the inside of your arteries, which puts you at significantly higher risk for heart attack and heart failure.

Luckily there are some fairly simple and natural things you can do to lower your cholesterol. James Hubbard, MD, MPH (The Survival Doctor) has laid out five simple and natural things you can start doing today, to reduce your cholesterol. He also includes a secret natural supplement which contains the same ingredient as statins, which could be taken if statins were not available.

This is all useful information for everyone with high cholesterol, but it is particularly useful for preppers, so they can improve their health and reduce their dependence on prescription medications now, before the SHTF.

5 Natural Ways To Lower Cholesterol

(Photo from: The Survival Doctor)

Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

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Do you remember the avian/bird flu epidemic a few years back? If so you’ll probably remember that all the hand sanitizer and soap disappeared from stores overnight… One of the most common things people prep for is for some kind of global viral flu pandemic. If this is a concern of yours, now is a good time to stock up on the simple ingredients to make your own hand sanitizer.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a prepper, you might just want to make your own hand sanitizer (without the artificial colors, fragrances or preservatives) to get you through the winter flu season. Below is a post from ‘One Good Thing By Jillee’, which lists two hand sanitizer recipes, one alcohol free recipe and one alcohol based recipe. Personally I would go for the latter as I would imagine it is more effective.

Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

(Photo from: One Good Thing By Jillee)

Do Food Expiration Dates Really Matter?

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So do expiration dates matter? Firstly there are so many different types of expiration dates… Sell By, Best Before, Born On, Use By, to name a few. If you are unsure what these dates mean, you’ve come to the right place… We’ve also got you covered if you’d like a list of common groceries, together with how long each is generally safe to eat. There is also some advice on how to stretch expiration dates through proper storage.

But we are not just talking food expiration dates, there is also information and advice on medicines (many people believe drug companies put short dates on medicines to make you bin them and buy more…)

Do Food Expiration Dates Really Matter?

(Photo from:  aesop)

Venomous Scorpion – State By State List

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A while back we did a poisonous spider state by state post (use the site search: spider). Since the spider post went live, I have received several messages asking for a state by state guide to scorpions. I haven’t been able to find a full state by state guide to all scorpions, but I have found one for the venomous scorpions… There are also some excellent photos to help you identify scorpions.

Most scorpions are  all but harmless, but if in doubt steer clear of any you come across. Better to be safe than sorry!

I’ll be doing a post about fire ants shortly, so stay tuned for that…

Venomous Scorpion – State By State List

(Photo from: Wikimedia Commons)