Knowledge Weighs Nothing

11 Home Remedies For Dry Cough That Really Work!

Cough home remedies

The onset of dry cough can be a sign of many different ailments. While a dry cough may be due to a previous cold, it’s not uncommon to experience a dry cough after breathing dry, hot air. For example, many people begin to develop a dry cough after turning on their furnace for the first time in the fall, which is primarily due to the dust and irritants that were collected over the spring and summer months. Chronic dry coughing is typically a result of persistent irritation, such as smoking cigarettes, allergies, asthma and environmental irritants.

Regardless of the cause, when you have a dry cough finding relief is of utmost importance. The longer a dry cough continues, the greater the likelihood of developing painful throat irritation and inflammation. Although there are many over-the-counter and prescription medications designed to reduce the urge to cough, home remedies for dry coughs accomplish the same goal without introducing synthetic chemicals or medications into your system. If you’re searching for immediate relief, continue reading to uncover the most effective dry cough remedies.

Effective Home Remedies For A Dry Cough

The following home remedies for dry coughs were selected for effectiveness in relieving acute or chronic dry coughing. Although each of these dry cough remedies are generally considered safe, if your coughing is not alleviated or becomes worse, you may need to visit a physician as chronic coughing can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

#1 | Turmeric and Black Pepper Tea Dry Cough Remedy

Turmeric is an excellent herb to help reduce not only the severity of a dry cough but also the inflammation that occurs due to persistent coughing. Along with the soothing and anti-inflammatory qualities of turmeric, black pepper is known to help soothe throat irritation and help protect against viruses and bacteria which may be causing your dry cough to worsen. To utilize this home remedy for dry cough, bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Allow the ingredients to boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a mug. Add 1 tablespoon of raw honey or agave nectar (for flavour) and drink this dry cough remedy once a day.

#2 | Lemon and Honey Cough Syrup

If you’re searching for a natural alternative to the synthetic cough syrups found at your local drug store, then you’ll be very interested in this home remedy for dry cough. Both lemon and honey feature soothing and healing properties capable of reducing cough severity while treating the underlying causes of a cough. Lemons feature potent anti-inflammatory properties while honey features natural antioxidant capabilities. To utilize this dry cough remedy, simply add 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice into 1 tablespoon of raw honey. Drink the entire mixture at least three times per day until the cough has subsided.

#3 | Garlic and Honey Tea Remedy For Dry Coughs

Garlic is perhaps one of the most effective home remedies for dry cough as its unique medicinal compounds are known to have powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Although its flavour is quite strong, its healing capabilities are even stronger. When combined with the soothing effects of honey, many people experience immediate relief of their coughing and instant inflammation reduction. To utilize this remedy, slightly crush three garlic cloves and add them to 1 cup of water. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Allow the garlic to boil for 2 minutes before removing from heat. Strain the garlic cloves out of the water and pour into a mug. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and drink. For an added healing boost, eat the three garlic cloves.

#4 | Homemade Onion and Honey Cough Syrup

Although this may not seem as if it’s the most flavorful dry cough home remedy, the healing and soothing power of onions makes it one of the most effective options for near-instant relief. To utilize this remedy, add 1/2 teaspoon of fresh onion juice with 1 teaspoon of raw honey. Consume up to two times per day for a potent healing syrup and instant cough suppression.

#5 | Homemade Cayenne Cough Suppressant

The healing power of cayenne pepper makes it one of the most effective spices for home remedies. When combined with fresh ginger, honey and apple cider vinegar, you can experience instant relief from your coughing symptoms. In fact, this home remedy for dry cough can be used as an immediate relief should you need to make a presentation or go to class. To utilize, simply add 1/4 teaspoon of fresh cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground ginger, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of raw honey into 2 tablespoons of pure water. Drink this healing elixir at least two times per day until your coughing has subsided.

#6 | Fresh Carrot Juice Dry Cough Remedy

This home remedy for dry cough can banish even the most persistent cough as fresh carrot juice is filled with a myriad of vitamins and nutrients capable of soothing an irritating cough and treating the underlying causes of a cough. Simply juice five carrots and add 2 tablespoons of water. Drink this dry cough remedy four times per day until your cough has officially subsided.

#7 | Licorice Root Tea Cough Remedy

Liquorice root is among the most potent home remedies for dry cough as it treats the underlying causes. Whether the cough is due to a cold or irritants, the powerful healing properties found in the compound glycyrrhizin eases the urge to cough while simultaneously acting as an anti-inflammatory. Because throat inflammation is a common cause of a dry cough, liquorice root tea can be an effective home remedy. Bring 8 ounces of water to a rolling boil. Place 2 tablespoons of dried liquorice root in a mug. Pour the boiling water over the liquorice root. Cover and allow the tea to steep for 15 minutes. Strain the liquorice root out of the tea and consume two times per day until your cough has subsided.

How To Stay Warm: 25 Tips For Saving Money & Keeping Warm (UPDATED 2020)

Tips for keeping warm

In the quest of saving money without sacrificing your comfort, many homeowners and renters alike are searching for ways to stay warm this winter without turning on, or turning up the heating at home. If you’ve been searching for how to keep warm on a tight budget, save on your energy bills this winter whilst remaining warm and cozy with these 25 effective ways of staying warm sans your heating unit.

If you heat your home via a wood fire or wood-burning stove, be sure to check out our post: How to get totally free firewood to heat your home. I can honestly say that we have more than enough firewood to get us all the way through the winter, and it didn’t cost a penny. Combine free firewood with the ways to stay warm below, and you’ll be warm and cosy in even the worst weather.

How To Stay Warm This Winter: 25 Tips And Tricks

1.) Wear Multiple Layers of Clothes – now is not the time to strut around in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Dress in multiple layers to keep your core temperature comfortably warm.

2.) Don’t Forget Your Socks – according to the University of San Diego, if you have cold feet, you’re going to be cold. Keep warm by wearing thick wool socks

3.) Keep Your Oven Door Open – after baking, keep your oven door open to let its heat circulate throughout your kitchen. The smaller your home, the better this technique works.

4.) Eat Hot Soups – raise your core temperature by consuming hot soup on cold winter days.

5.) Don’t Skip the Coffee or Tea – along with the caffeine boost, hot coffee or tea keeps you warm from the inside. Want to avoid stimulants? Drink decaffeinated coffee or tea.

6.) Open Your Window Curtains or Blinds – during the day, open curtains or blinds to let warm sunlight naturally heat your home.

7.) Treat Windows to Capture and Safeguard Heat – install special window treatments to capture and retain heat within your home. Improperly treated windows can let a vast amount of heat escape into the cold winter nights.
homemade thermal curtains
8.) Close Window Curtains and Blinds at Night – prevent Father Winter from stealing your heat by closing window blinds and curtains at night when temperatures drop. Making some thermal curtains from an old comforter is one of the best low-cost ways to keep warm and stop heat from escaping from doors and windows.

Sure it’s a very simple solution, but often the simple things are worth talking about and focusing on. Sometimes things like making some DIY thermal curtains are so simple they are often overlooked, but if you have a cold, draughty house, some thick thermal curtains will make a huge difference if you hang some over your doors and windows. This is a good project to get working on now before it starts to get really cold.

Making your own DIY thermal curtains doesn’t really get much easier than this – an old comforter, a bit of sewing and a few hooks and you are all but done. You can pick up old comforters from Craigslist and thrift stores etc, you can probably even get them for free if you ask around… Check out a tutorial here: Cheap DIY Energy-Saving Thermal Curtains

9.) Stay Active – clean your home or exercise whenever you feel the sting of coldness. By staying active, you’ll naturally increase your core temperature.

10.) Increase Humidity in Your Home – humidity increases the temperature within your home. Therefore, skip your space heater and turn on an energy-efficient humidifier

11.) Reverse Ceiling Fan Circulation – instead of keeping your ceiling fan turned off, reverse its circulation to push warm air down into your living space. This is effective after you’ve run your heater for a little while.

12.) Buffer Hard Floors With Blankets – while rugs are best if your budget doesn’t allow for this purchase, place blankets on bare floors to keep them warm.

13.) Keep Bathroom Doors Open When Showering – let the warm, humid air seep out into the rest of your home while showering by keeping your bathroom door open.

14.) Don’t Run Bathroom Ventilation Fans – while ventilation fans draw out unpleasant smells after using the bathroom, it also sucks out warm air. Light a candle to eliminate smells to keep your bathroom warm throughout winter months.

15.) Use Towels to Block Chilly Air – roll up a towel and place along the bottom of a door to stop drafts and heat leaks. Alternatively, you could make some homemade door snakes/draft stoppers.
DIY door snake

Here is an excellent tutorial showing how to make your own door snakes/draft stoppers. These door snakes are an excellent way to reduce the draft and cold which can come in through the gap at the bottom of your doors. These draft stoppers are cheap and easy to make, so now’s a great time to get making and sort out those drafty doors.

Full tutorial here: How To Make A DIY Door Snake (Draft Stopper)

(Photo from: 17 Apart)

16.) Keep the Fireplace Flue Shut – prevent winter drafts by keeping your fireplace flue tightly shut.

17.) Enhance Your Bedding – change out your sheets for flannel and use a down comforter to stay warm during frosty winter nights.

18.) Warm a Bag of Beans – heat up a bag of beans in the microwave and place in your bed or against you while lounging on the couch. This is one of my favourite ways to keep warm and snug on a cold evening.

Another similar old school alternative is to use a soapstone to warm things up

Soapstone is an incredibly dense stone that is great for absorbing, storing and radiating heat back. It can be warmed up in the fire/oven and unlike a hot water bottle etc, it will radiate heat back and keep you warm for most of the night.

Unlike many rocks that hold moisture that can be dangerous to heat up, soap is so dense that it doesn’t absorb water, so it is perfectly safe to heat up, as demonstrated in the video above. If you don’t have heating, or you are lucky enough to have a cabin somewhere remote, this is a great way to warm your bed up and keep warm. Get some soapstone and give it a try!

(Image from: engineer775 Practical Preppers)

19.) Cover Your Head – much like your feet, heat escapes through your head. Wear a wool hat or beanie to keep your body toasty. It might seem strange to wear a hat indoors, but so much of your heat is lost through your head, so wearing a hat indoors is an excellent way to keep warm and retain your body temperature.

20.) Keep Door Shut – keep all the doors in your home shut. The smaller space, the easier it is to keep warm.

21.) Stay Away From Windows – move furniture away from large windows to keep warm. Even treated windows emit cooler temperatures during the peak of winter.

21.) Stay Cozy – when lounging on your couch, cover with a warm blanket or sleeping bag.

22.) Wear Slippers – in addition to wearing wool socks, keep your feet extra toasty when doing chores by wearing slippers.

23.) Install Clear Shower Curtains Over Windows – allow your home to absorb heat, and keep it in, by installing clear shower curtains over windows that receive direct sunlight.

24.) Add Insulation in Your Attic – keep heat from leaking out of your home by adding insulation to your attic or crawl space. Your house loses heat through the attic in a similar way in a similar way to how people lose heat through their head. If you can afford it, insulating your attic is one of the best investments with regards to staying warm this winter, you can make.

25.) Light by Candles – along with saving on energy costs by keeping your light off, candles also produce a decent amount of heat. While not as warm as a fireplace, these small heaters can keep your immediate area warm. Candles can be especially good for warming hands.

5 Moonshine Recipes You’ll Be Over-The-Moon About!

Moonshine recipes

So you’re looking for some moonshine recipes? That’s quite understandable as there are few things as enjoyable as creating the perfect moonshine, particularly when you’ve waited for the mash to ripen into something truly delicious. What’s more, with so many moonshine recipes out there, you can be spoilt for choice as to what to create next. With this in mind,  we’ve collated some of our favourite recipes. Happy mashing people!

Important note: Distilling alcohol is illegal in the US unless you have a fuel alcohol or a distilled spirit plant permit. Be sure to review your state/country laws on distilling alcohol.

Moonshine Recipes

Southern Whiskey Moonshine Recipe

This special moonshine has the distinct taste of the south and makes for a real kicker for those looking for something more potent.

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • ¼ of Corn syrup (per 1 1/2 gallons of water)
  • Water
  • One cup of honey (per every ten gallon batch)
  • 1 – 3 ozs yeast (per ten gallons of mash)

Equipment that you’ll need

Southern Whiskey moonshine: Step by step

Step One – Add between 1 and 3 ounces of yeast for every ten gallon batch

Step Two – Heat up around a quarter of your water and then stir in the corn syrup, followed by the honey

You’re aiming for heat of between 120 and 130 degrees (a temperature which will melt your corn syrup).

Step Three – Pour the mixture into the fermenter and finish with cool water, until it reaches 80 degrees.

Step Four – Take a hydrometer reading

To give you an idea about this, you should have had a reading of about 60 to 65, and you shouldn’t exceed a reading of 70.

Step Five – Add in your yeast (being sure to read the instructions on the packet)

Step Six – Leave for between 6 and 14 days for fermentation to take place – then you’re ready to serve.

How To Make Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe Infographic

Apple Pie Moonshine Infographic

How To Make Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe

This recipe has to be one of the most popular around and there are all sorts of variations on it; however, this seems to be one of the most common moonshine recipes (although you’re free to experiment as you wish with the various flavours).

Oh, and did we mention that this particular recipe is ready within 1 hour and 10 minutes? Making it perfect for those who get a little impatient awaiting fruit fermentation.

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 2 Cups of white sugar
  • 2 Cups of brown sugar
  • 1 Gallon of apple juice
  • 4 Cinnamon sticks, or more to taste
  • 1 Pinch apple pie spice
  • 1 (750 ml) bottle 190 proof grain alcohol
  • 1 Gallon apple cider
  • 1 (750 ml) bottle vodka

Equipment that you’ll need

  • Large pot for the stove
  • Glass jars

Apple Pie moonshine: Step by step

Step One – Mix together the apple juice, apple cider, white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks, placing them all into a large pot upon the stove. You should bring this almost to boiling point.

Then, cover the pot with a lid and allow the mixture to simmer  for approximately 1 hour before removing it from the stove and leaving it to cooling completely down.

Step Two – Add the grain alcohol and vodka syrup to the mix and stir. At this point you can also remove the cinnamon sticks.

Step Three- Serve up!

That’s all there is to it, you can now serve this up into glass jars or bottles and enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to drink it. I think apple pie is the king of all moonshine recipes, but that’s my personal preference!

Black bear's moonshine recipeThe best image I could find to represent the Black Beard’s moonshine recipe…

How To Make Black Beard’s Rum Moonshine Recipe

This is one of the best moonshine recipes for the rum lovers, although you do need to be a little patient with it as it can take up to 14 days to ferment.

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 2 Pounds of brown sugar (for each gallon of water)
  • 1 Cup of honey (for every ten gallon batch of the mixture)
  • Water
  • 1 – 3 ozs yeast (per ten gallons of match)

Equipment that you’ll need

  • Sauce pan
  • Hydrometer
  • Food safe fermentation bucket

Black Beard’s Rum moonshine: Step by step

Step One – Begin by heating up a quarter of your water to around 120 degrees

At this point it will be hot enough to melt the sugar, so add this in and stir. After the sugar, you can add the honey.

Step Two – Pour the mix into your fermenter

Add cool water, according to the measurements above, to cool the mixture to 80 degrees.

Step Three – Take a hydrometer reading and adjust if necessary

To give you an idea about this you should have had a reading of about 90, and you shouldn’t exceed a reading of 100.

Step Four – Add your yeast into the mix as per the packet instructions

Step Five – Leave for between 6 and 14 days to ferment, then serve.

Watermelon for the watermelon for one of the moonshine recipesWatermelon-peach moonshine brandy – oh yeah!

How To Make Watermelon-Peach Moonshine Brandy Recipe

Coming in at a five week fermentation time, this moonshine recipe is the longest of the moonshine recipes listed here. However, with the sweetness of a watermelon, the bitterness of the lime, and an alcohol punch to finish, this is one moonshine recipe that is well worth waiting for.

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 1 ¼ of a large watermelon
  • 1 ¼ Cup chopped golden raisins
  • 15 limes (you’ll need these to be juiced as we aren’t using the pulp or the zest)
  • 25 Cups of sugar
  • Water (to make 5 gallons)
  • Either wine or distillers yeast
  • 10 peaches

Equipment that you’ll need

  • Sauce pan
  • Hydrometer
  • Food safe fermentation bucket
  • Large bowl

Watermelon-peach moonshine brandy: Step by step

Step One – Juice the watermelons and peaches

You should save the leftover pulp in a sauce pan.

Step Two – Boil up the pulp with five quarts of water for around 30 minutes

Once boiled, strain off the pulp and then add water to the extracted juice.

Step Three – Cool your mixture down to around lukewarm temperature

You should then add in the water to make up a five gallon mix in total.

Step Four – Add in the remaining ingredients, asides from the yeast, to the fermentation bucket

Cover over the mix  with a cloth and leave to stand for 24 hours.

Step Five – After 24 hours add in the yeast

Step Six – Stir the mixture daily over the course of a week and strain off the raisins

Step Seven – Add a fermenting trap and leave to rest for 4 weeks before serving.

How To Make Rye Whiskey Moonshine Recipe

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 7 pounds of Rye
  • 2 Pounds of Barley
  • 1 Pound of Malt
  • 6 Gallons of water
  • 1 oz of Yeast
  • 1 gram of ammonium-floride

Equipment that you’ll need

  • Sauce pan
  • Food safe fermentation device
  • Large bowl
  • Pillowcase

 Rye Whiskey moonshine: Step by step

Step One – Heat the water to 70 degrees, then mix in the malt and the grain

Step Two – Stir the mixture, slowly raising the temperature by approximately 5 degrees every 2 minutes, until it reaches 160 degrees

Step Three –Keeping the mixture at 160 degrees, stir it constantly for 2 to 3 hours. This will convert the starch into fermentable sugar and dextrin

Step Four – Filter off the liquid, place it into your fermentation device, and allow it to cool to between 70 and 80 degrees

Step Five – Once the mixture has cooled, add 3 grams of yeast followed by 1 gram of ammonium-floride to prevent secondary fermentation. Stir the liquid for 1 minute, then cover and seal with an airlock.

Step Six – Leave for 5 – 7 days to ferment, then pour in to a container, filtering through a pillowcase to remove any remaining solids.

Strawberries for to make strawberry moonshineYou’re going to need lots of strawberries to make this strawberry moonshine recipe!

How To Make Strawberry Moonshine Recipe

Strawberries are one of the first fruits to ripen during the summer months, so it only seems right that there should be plenty of moonshine recipes made from them. So, here’s a quick and easy moonshine recipe that is deliciously sweet (you’ll need to pay attention to the instructions however, as otherwise you could just end up with one large mushy strawberry mess on your hands!).

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 1 to 3 pounds of Cane sugar
  • 2 Packets of bread yeast
  • 20 pounds of Strawberries
  • 1.5 pounds of Raisins

Equipment that you’ll need

  • 1 Airlock
  • Cutting Board and knife
  • Blender
  • Funnel
  • Large auto-siphon (this really needs to be a minimum 1/2″ tube)
  • Copper immersion chiller
  • Hotplate
  • Large stock pot
  • Large spoon or paddle
  • 2 Fermentation buckets (obviously these need to be food safe)
  • Mesh strainer
  • Refractometer
  • Thermometer

Strawberry moonshine: Step by step

Step One – Rinse off all of your strawberries.

It’s advisable that you use a high pressure hose for this, as it can knock away wild yeast and bacteria which can otherwise taint the taste of the moonshine.

Step Two – Cut all of the tops off the strawberries and throw them away.

Be careful not to miss any of the leaves as these will make the moonshine taste bitter.

Step Three – Check your strawberry batches carefully for any mouldy or rotten fruit. If you find any, discard them straight away as they could contaminate the mash

Step Four – Use only the strawberries that are ripe and un-ruined.

Place them into a blender and create a puree by lightly blending them together. You should take care not to blend them too much however as you don’t want a consistency that is too thin and difficult to separate.

Step Five – Add in your raisins and blend them until they are within the mixture.

Step Six – Pour your mixture into a sanitized bucket (it makes things a lot easier if you use one with a scale on the side)

Step Seven – Once you’ve mixed all of your strawberries and have a total of 2.5 gallons of puree, you can transfer it over to a stainless steel boil kettle.

Step Eight – Mix in 3 gallons of water, making the mixture up to a total of 5.5 gallons.

Step Nine – Use your brix refractometer

To determine the alcohol content of the mixture, you should take a brix reading. To do this, use a small pipette to suck up some of the mixture, this is then placed on a glass plate on the Brix refractometer. You finally view the reading by looking into the contraption’s sight.

Step Ten – Knowing your ideal alcohol measurements

You should really look towards an 8% reading, going any higher than this can result in moonshine that tastes too yeasty. However as this leads to a relatively low gravity reading (where low is considered as less than 15 brix / 1.061 Gravity) cane sugar will need to be added to sweeten the mix.

Step Eleven – If necessary add the cane sugar

For this amount of mixture a measures of 4 pounds of cane sugar should sweeten the moonshine up.

Step Twelve – Stir the mixture once more and take a brix reading to ensure that the gravity has come down

You should now be aiming for a Brix reading of 14 and a gravity reading of 1.055.

Step Thirteen – Cover over and heat to 160 degrees Fahrenheit

Step Fourteen – Cool the mixture down in an immersion chiller

Step Fifteen – When waiting for the mixture to cool you can begin to make the yeast

Use the instructions on your yeast packet for guidance

Step Sixteen – Once cooled to 70 degree Fahrenheit move the mix to your fermentation bucket and add the yeast

Step Seventeen – Cover over and add an air lock.

The temperature where your bucket is stored should be around 70 degrees, leaving it for around a week.

Step Eighteen – Siphon off your mix and run it through a strainer

In doing so you can separate the pulp out and throw it away. You should then add only the strained juice to the still, ignoring any settled yeast that may have formed at the bottom of the barrel.

Step Nineteen – Undertake a spirit run

Distil the product from the stripping run, you should use a low heat for this and run the distiller at a slow rate (this should result in the mixture dripping rather flowing). To ensure this goes as it should you should create at minimum 200 ml fore shots cut, and healthy heads and tails cuts, being sure to save only the best part of the middle of the run for the hearts.

Step Twenty – Serve up!

Serve up your moonshine in glasses filled with fresh, chopped strawberries!

(Images from: Dominic Lockyer, Adam Barhan, Harsha K R & Pixabay)

How To Make Mountain Pies: Perfect For Campfires & Backyard Firepits!

How to make mountain pies

If you don’t know what a mountain pie is, it is basically a grilled sandwich that is cooked on a campfire, in a small device called a mountain pie maker. Mountain pies are also sometimes known as ‘hobo pies’.

A mountain pie maker is like a small cast iron skillet with a lid and a long handle. Mountain pie makers can be purchased for between $15 and $50. The one we use and highly recommend is the Rome 1705 cast iron mountain pie maker. It can be purchased from Amazon for around $20. If you purchase one, I can all but guarantee you that it will become one of your favourite things ever. In fact, you’ll probably go on to buy several… We did.

mountain pie maker
Rome 1705 cast iron mountain pie maker

How To Make Mountain Pies

You prepare your mountain pie, the same as if you were using a grilled sandwich (toastie) maker at home. We like to butter the outside of the bread (so it crisps and doesn’t stick) and then add our fillings in the sandwich. Our favourites are cheese, cheese and onion, and cheese and ham.

Once assembled, place your sandwich in the mountain pie maker, close it, and hold it in the campfire to cook (think roasting marshmallows but bigger). Cooking time can vary depending on the size and heat of the campfire so check often until your sandwich is cooked to your preference. Once you have made a few mountain pies you will get the hang of it.

When ready, very carefully remove your sandwich from the mountain pie maker. Please be very careful when doing this as the cast iron mountain pie maker is obviously extremely hot.

Now enjoy! Mountain pies are truly one of the most delicious and satisfying things you can cook outdoors on a campfire or firepit. We make them on the firepit in the back yard all the time. The kids absolutely love making them.

If you are considering getting a mountain pie maker, we have several of the Rome 1705 mountain pie makers and we can highly recommend them.

 

Homemade Pine Needle Cough Syrup Recipe

Pine needle cough syrup recipe

Whether you’re suffering from a common cold, seasonal allergies or a more serious illness, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, the need for immediate and long-lasting cough suppression is immense. Unfortunately, many over-the-counter cough syrup medications are filled with a myriad of synthetic chemicals, which makes it an unappealing option for those wishing to minimize their exposure to these harsh compounds. However, what if you were to discover one of the most potent cough suppressant and anti-inflammatory compounds is found in your backyard?

Pine needle cough syrup has quickly moved from the underbelly of natural remedies into the mainstream spotlight due to its potency in alleviating symptoms associated with post nasal drip and respiratory illnesses. The most impressive part? This medicine utilizes 100% natural and cheap and/or free ingredients, which makes it an ideal choice for those seeking to minimize their exposure to synthetic chemicals or when access to pharmaceuticals is unavailable, such as during a natural disaster or camping trip.

The Ingredients

The potency of pine needle cough syrup is only matched by its simplicity. To make this homemade medicine, all you need is:

  • ¼ cup of pine needles (specifically from the Eastern White Pine)
  • ½ cup of filtered water
  • ½ cup of raw honey (preferably from a local source)

Directions

Step One – Pour the water and pine needles into a pot and bring the water to a gentle boil. Allow the ingredients to boil for 10 minutes, or until the needles have turned brown and water has adopted a greenish-yellowish hue.

Step Two – Strain the needles out of the water, and replace the water back into the pot.

Step Three – Add the honey into pot, and bring the water to a boil. Continue to boil the ingredients until the liquid transforms into a syrup-like consistency.

Step Four – Once the liquid has thickened, pour into a resealable glass jar and allow it to cool.

Step Five – Consume 1 to 2 teaspoons as needed to control your cough and soothe throat and lung irritation. Refrigerate between uses.

This Charger CAN Recharge Disposable Batteries. Learn More. Save Money

Recharge Disposable Batteries

From an early age, I knew it was kind of possible to reuse disposable, single-use batteries; as a kid, we used to leave dead alkaline batteries out in the sunshine for a few hours, and this seemed to recharge them a little bit, so we could get a bit more use out of them… What I didn’t realize is that you can now actually purchase specific battery chargers which are designed to recharge dead single-use alkaline batteries. Now maybe everyone else knew this already, but I certainly didn’t… Either way, I am sure Duracell and Energiser don’t want you to know this.

This means that once you have purchased one of these specific battery chargers, such as the: Maximal Alkaline FC999 Universal Rapid Charger, you then effectively have free batteries for life. Follow the tips below, and you don’t even need to purchase the disposable batteries, to begin with…

FREE Batteries For Life? How?

Our local authority recycles dead batteries, they pick them up with the garbage once a month. If I went out into the neighbourhood that day, I could literally collect 1000s of free alkaline batteries which could then be recharged and reused. Even if your local authority doesn’t provide this service, you could still get all the free batteries you need, by asking friends and family to save their batteries for you. You could also ask local stores and commercial premises if they could save their batteries for you.

Now I am sure there is a lifespan for recharging disposable batteries, so one set isn’t going to last forever. With this in mind, you’ll need to replace the free dead batteries you collect, from time to time. This shouldn’t be an issue, as simply ask friends etc to save all their used, dead batteries for you, and you should effortlessly have a constant supply of used, dead batteries to recharge.

Just to note – the Maximal Alkaline FC999 Universal Rapid Charger doesn’t just charge alkaline batteries, it also charges RAM, Ni-MH, Ni-CD, AA, AAA, C, D, N, and 9V batteries, so it’s got you covered for everything. Additionally, you might also want to purchase a cheap battery tester, to check batteries are dead and check how well they have recharged.

Anyway, as said, this might not be news to some of you, but hopefully, it is useful information and saves some money for people that didn’t know. All our flashlights, remotes and radios etc take batteries; not to mention, if you have young kids, you get through a huge amount of batteries with all their toys and games. If nothing else, it is for more eco-friendly to reuse old batteries, rather than just throwing them in the trash…

NOTE: Obviously exercise caution and use common sense when choosing spent disposable batteries to recharge. Do not attempt to recharge old looking, damaged or leaking batteries.

How To Grow Garlic From A ’50 Cent’ Supermarket Garlic Bulb

Growing garlic from store garlic

Ok, this is fairly simple, but it always surprises me how many people don’t know this, and also how many people don’t do it…

Garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow, as long as they don’t sit in soggy, wet ground, they rarely have any problems. Garlic does take a fair while to grow, but this is countered by the fact you can grow a year’s worth of garlic in around a meter square. Also once cropped and dried, garlic will keep for up to ten months.

Literally a dollar or two, and 10 minutes planting once a year, will provide a whole year’s worth of garlic! Also, you’ll never need to re-buy garlic bulbs to plant, as you can replant some of last years crop.

If possible, I recommend that you purchase organic garlic bulbs (to plant) from the market or supermarket.  If you can’t afford to buy organic garlic, don’t beat yourself up. Just get the regular garlic you can afford. We have had great success growing with cheap 50-cent garlic bulbs from the supermarket.

How To Grow Garlic With Garlic From The Supermarket

  1. Take one garlic bulb and pull off all the individual cloves. Each one of these cloves will grow into a whole new garlic bulb!
  2. Take the separated cloves out to the garden, to where you will be planting them. Make a hole in the soil with your finger that is just a tiny bit deeper than the garlic clove is high.
  3. Pop a garlic clove into the hole, with the pointy end of the clove pointing upwards. This is very important! If you plant the garlic cloves with the pointed ends down, they will not grow.
  4. Now just pinch the soil in around the clove and firm in a bit.  When done the top of the clove should be just below the surface of the soil.
  5. Now repeat the process, but leave a space of around 10 cm (4 inches) between each planted garlic clove.
  6. Water the garlic well, and now just wait for it to do its thing!

The best time to plant garlic is October/November, but you can also plant in the Spring. In fact, we have planted garlic at various different times and it usually grows pretty well, as you can pull and use garlic at any stage of its development really.

Additionally, if you ever find some store-bought garlic is starting to sprout in the cupboard, don’t throw it away, try to plant it up and see what happens…

How To Make Witch Hazel Water (Plus 25 Uses!)

Witch hazel water recipe

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a flowering shrub/tree which is common in North America and Japan. The witch hazel plant extract is derived from the leaves and bark of the shrub, and offers many benefits and uses especially for those seeking natural first aid and topical treatments.

How To Make Witch Hazel Water

  1. You will need a cooking pot, some water (distilled or filtered water ideally) and two handfuls of fresh, pruned witch hazel twigs and small branches.
  2. Most of the active, healing compounds are found in the bark of the branches, so using a knife, carefully peel and scrap as much of the bark off as possible. Once done, cut the twigs and branches into short pieces.
  3. Add the twigs, branches and bark to a cooking pot. Cover with water. Put it on the stove and bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down and gently simmer for around half an hour, before removing from the heat.
  4. Allow the cooking pot and contents to cool overnight. The next day, strain the liquid into a glass bottle or jar. Use a cheesecloth or coffee filter to strain. Once strained, store in the refrigerator. Use the witch hazel water within a week or so. If in doubt, discard it and make a fresh batch.

The potency of the witch hazel water will vary a bit from batch to batch. Before applying to your face or other sensitive areas, it is advisable to do a small skin sensitivity test for each new batch of witch hazel water.

25 Uses For Witch Hazel Water

1. Treating Bruises & Blemishes

Witch hazel offers the benefit of being able to remove blemishes and bruises as well as inflammatory skin conditions. Apply to the skin straight from the bottle using a cotton ball or cosmetic pad.

Witch hazel also helps remove discolouration from bruises and makes the healing process speedier. It can be applied up to three times daily.

2. Witch Hazel as a Natural Astringent

A popular use of witch hazel is as a natural astringent. This is because it contains a high concentration of tannins. This means the witch hazel can be used as an astringent to rid the skin of excess oil and clear the pores. There are a lot of contaminants in the air which enter the skin’s pores. The witch hazel, when applied, reduces those contaminants and makes their effects on the skin less severe. Regular use may also prevent blemishes from returning and lessen the likelihood of blackheads forming.

3. Use to Stop Bleeding

Another of witch hazel’s benefits and uses is that it can be applied to stop bleeding for minor cuts and scrapes. The reason why witch hazel does stop bleeding is that it serves to tighten the skin and this, in turn, promotes faster healing. So apply it to those small cuts and scrapes to help the bleeding to stop. Witch hazel bought in a store often contains isopropyl alcohol which helps cleanse the wound, offering an added benefit.

4. Ease an Itchy Scalp

An itchy scalp can be very irritating and annoying. A natural way to ease the condition is to use witch hazel. Just mix one part witch hazel with two parts water and then pour a little of the solution on the scalp. Massage into the scalp then rinse.

5. Helps Shrink Swollen Veins

Use witch hazel to shrink swollen veins by soaking a soft terry cloth in the liquid and laying it over the area affected by varicose veins. This temporarily removes pain and swelling. The affected areas should be propped up as high as possible during treatment as this will reduce blood pressure in the swollen veins.

6. Use Witch Hazel for Hemorrhoid Relief

Haemorrhoids to say the least are very uncomfortable as they itch, swell and bleed. One of the uses of witch hazel is to provide relief for the condition. Witch hazel is often an ingredient used in commercial haemorrhoid products, but a simpler and cheaper option is to mix it with Aloe Vera Gel and apply it to the affected area. This will provide fast relief.

witch hazel bottleWitch hazel bottle from 1913

7. Use Witch Hazel for the Treatment of Acne

Witch hazel offers many advantages compared with commercial acne treatments. The commercial products tend to be harsh whereas witch hazel is gentle and non-drying and is ideal for toning and cleansing skin which is acne-prone or actually infected with acne. Witch hazel is perfect for treating the condition because it is a natural astringent thanks to its high tannin content. It also has antioxidant properties. Witch hazel should be applied to acne-affected areas twice a day straight from the bottle using a cotton pad.

Also see: How To Get Rid Of Blackheads Fast: 15 Home Remedies

8. Use After Shaving or Hair Removal

Witch hazel is perfect for men and women to use after shaving any part of the body. Firstly witch hazel is able to stop minor bleeds such as nicks and cuts, something which can happen when shaving with a wet razor. Secondly, the plant extract also has anti-inflammatory properties which can prevent or reduce the effects of razor burn. Thirdly for those who remove hair through hot wax treatment witch hazel is also useful as it can be used as an anti-inflammatory following waxing and help stop bleeding from hair follicles that have been damaged by the process.

9. Help Soothe Diaper Rash

Diaper rash can cause distress to a baby but this can be dealt with thanks to witch hazel’s soothing properties. It is especially useful if the diaper rash is healing slowly. Apply a witch hazel solution to the affected area and there will be an immediate improvement.

10. Treat puffy areas around the eyes

Puffy and discoloured areas around the eyes are not very attractive but one of the benefits of witch hazel is that it is able to deal with the condition in a natural way and avoid the need to use chemical-laden products. This is because witch hazel is a natural astringent able to tighten the skin, treat the discolouring and reduce the puffiness around and under the eyes. While treating puffiness is one of the most important benefits of using witch hazel it is highly important that none of it gets in the eyes, so be careful.

11. Soothe Chicken Pox Blisters

Another use of witch hazel is to soothe chickenpox blisters. It is very simple to prepare and involves taking a cup of witch hazel and another one of water. The two are then mixed and should be applied liberally to the affected areas on the body and then allowed to dry. This chickenpox blister treatment using witch hazel can be used as often as needed as it uses natural ingredients with no chemicals.

12. Treat Those Damaged Gums

A natural way to treat damaged gums is to use a witch hazel mouth rinse. It is important that witch hazel containing isopropyl alcohol is not used for the treatment. To gain maximum benefit, use only the natural product. Witch hazel reduces pain and swelling caused by irritated or infected gums and also helps stop minor bleeding in the mouth. A teaspoonful of witch hazel with a drop of clove and myrrh oil can also reduce pain caused by emerging wisdom teeth and also ease the pain suffered by infants who are teething.

13. Helping to Dry Up Swimmer’s Ear

Among the many witch hazel benefits is the ability to treat “swimmer’s ear.” Swimmer’s ear – otitis externa to give the condition its medical name – affects the ear canal and is caused by a microbial infection. The ear becomes clogged up with pus, wax and other debris. This can be treated by putting a few drops of witch hazel into the affected ear using an eyedropper. The witch hazel allows the ear to drain and then it can be cleaned with a cotton swab.

14. Help Neutralize the Effects of Contact Dermatitis

Certain plant compounds can irritate the skin and cause severe itching. Witch hazel is excellent for curing the areas of the skin affected by the likes of sap oil from poison ivy and poison oak which can cause contact dermatitis. It helps dry the affected skin and prevents it from itching.

15. Curing a Sore Throat

One of the uses of witch hazel is to help cure a sore throat. This is why it can be very handy to have a witch hazel bush growing close by. Soak the leaves with some of the twigs in a cup filled with very hot water. A few cloves can be added for flavour. They should be soaked for at least 15 minutes. The solids should then be strained off leaving a cup of witch hazel tea. The tea is then gargled and the witch hazel’s properties will soothe the throat and reduce swelling.

16. Cleansing and soothing a wound

Witch hazel can be used as a natural way to cleanse wounds and scrapes, big and small. It is able to cleanse the skin of germs and bacteria and also soothe any inflammation. The skin cleansing properties of witch hazel are well known to tattoo artists, many of whom use it clean new tattoos.

17. Refreshing Skin

During the summer people become hot and sweaty and the skin becomes oily. One of the benefits offered by witch hazel is that it can refresh the skin. Just soak a cotton pad with witch hazel to wipe away the oil and other impurities and the skin is refreshed.

18. Sealing in moisture

Witch oil is great to use after a shower because it seals in moisture and prevents dry skin. This makes witch oil a superior astringent to commercial products as they tend to be drying which is detrimental to people who suffer dry skin conditions.

19. Healing Cold Sores

If someone has a cold sore they will not want it becoming a blister. Witch hazel provides a safe and natural way to prevent this from happening. As soon as the cold sore begins to appear witch hazel should be applied. If a blister has already appeared it will heal even quicker if the plant extract is used.

20. A Deep Cleanser for the Scalp

Witch hazel provides a solution for people who suffer psoriasis, eczema, or dandruff. Massage into the scalp before using a shampoo and conditioner. Witch hazel is also an ideal way to wash hair between washes with shampoo and conditioner.

Witch hazel for treating bug bitesWitch hazel is especially good for soothing bug bites

21. Ease Bug Bites and Stings

Witch hazel benefits include the ability to ease bug bites and stings. Witch Hazel’s anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties help provide relief for those unfortunate to have suffered stings or bites from bees, wasps, fleas, flies and other insects during those hotter months Apply it, using a cotton pad, to the bite or sting to bring relief.

22. Avoid Skin Peeling after Sunburn

The skin will peel following severe sunburn, but witch hazel will prevent this and help the affected area to heal. This is all down to the plant extract’s exceptional anti-inflammatory properties. Not only will the skin be prevented from peeling, which is both unpleasant and unsightly, but witch hazel along with Aloe will also help cool the burn and ease discomfort.

23. Use as an Aftershave

As most men will know aftershave can be very expensive. However, there is a cheaper and natural alternative. It is witch hazel. This natural product has all the essential ingredients for an aftershave. It helps tighten the skin and serves as a moisturizer. Witch hazel also has anti-inflammatory properties which means it can deal with shaving hazards such as razor burns as well as stem bleeding from little razor nicks. Some users prefer the scent of standard aftershaves and they continue to use them following a shave after first splashing on the witch hazel.

24. Refreshing Tired Eyes

Many people suffer tired eyes, especially at the end of a long day, and it can be extremely uncomfortable. One way to deal with this is by using witch hazel. This is very easy to do and the whole process can take less than 15 minutes. Just mix some witch hazel in a bowl of cold water. Take a clean cloth or flannel and soak in the water. Then place the cloth over the closed eyes for around 10 minutes. This should leave your eyes refreshed and remove any redness. The witch hazel cold compress can also help someone who has been crying to look and feel much better.

25. Use as a Deodorant

Many commercially produced deodorants contain witch hazel. However, people do not have to spend their cash on purchasing these products; if they have some witch hazel they can make their own homemade deodorant. All that is needed is 4 tablespoonfuls of the witch hazel. What other ingredients are used will depend on personal taste. One suggestion is a tablespoonful of vodka along with 2 tablespoonfuls of cornflower water and orange flower water. Also add 10 drops of both cypress and geranium, 8 drops of bergamot, 5 of neroli, 4 of lavender and 3 drops of black pepper.

The essential oils should be added one by one into a bottle and then shaken vigorously until dissolved. Then pour in the witch hazel and flower waters and shake well. The result will be a bottle of home-produced witch hazel deodorant.

If you like using traditional treatments and home remedies, make sure you check out our home remedies for common ailments infographic.

Free Firewood: Heat Your Home 100% For Free! (UPDATED)

How to get free firewood

With the cost of living skyrocketing in areas all throughout the country, many consumers are seeking out cheap, or preferably free, ways to curve their utility bills. When it comes to heating your home throughout the winter months, a wood-burning stove effectively warms your living spaces without burning through your bank account. To further deepen your monthly energy costs, stop buying your firewood and turn to these completely free, and completely legal, ways of gathering perfectly good free firewood.

Ask Tree Surgeons/Arborists For Free Firewood

Update: We use this method every year now. It is the only method here that we need to use, to get all the firewood we need (for FREE). We simply get the green, unprocessed wood delivered in the spring and early summer. I then saw, chop it, and store it for use the following winter. 

Most tree surgeons (Arborists) are clever enough to realize that logging, seasoning and selling their hardwood waste is a no-brainer. However, there’s only really any value in hardwood logs, as this is what most people want to burn. This leaves a lot of fresh softwood being wasted or chipped for biomass (that usually just gets taken off their hands in bulk for little or no money). If you are willing to burn softwood (and if it is free then you should be willing!), it’s not too difficult to find a local tree surgeon/arborist who will be happy to dump loads of cords/tree rings on your driveway for free. This literally is an untapped resource for free firewood! All you need to do is cut it up and season it. Contact some of your local companies and ask. Some will ignore you or say no. Some may offer to deliver loads for $20 etc, but some will also be happy to help you out for free, as it helps them out.

We do this and get all the firewood to heat our home for free. As we have built relationships with a few local companies, they also sometimes deliver hardwood loads as well. If they are cutting several trees close to us, it is easier for them to quickly dump loads with us, rather than travel further to their depot each time during the day.

At the beginning of this year, we had several large loads of tree rings and branches delivered. None of it was perfect firewood, there was some very wet (but not rotten) oak that had been laying on the ground for sometime and some green sycamore and pine. This was all sawn, chopped and stored to season throughout the summer. We now have more than enough free firewood to get us through the winter, without spending a penny on heating. If you want free firewood, get in touch with local arborists!

A note on burning softwood: providing it is well dried and seasoned (which takes half the time of hardwoods!), and you get your chimney/flue cleaned once or twice a year, there is absolutely no problem with burning pines and other softwoods. Sure softwood burns through a bit quicker, but it is not an issue when it is free!

Free Firewood From Construction Tree Debris

As construction crews clear the land for new developments etc, there may be a significant amount of heavy brush or tree branches left in their wake. While some construction companies sell wood to firewood merchants or lumber yards, smaller branches and brush are often available free of charge as long as you receive permission from the construction manager. It is always worth asking when you see new developments in your area.

Find Free Firewood On eBay, Gumtree & FreeCycle

Every day, there are people in your area giving away waste wood (pallets etc) and wood from trees and bushes they have cut down on their properties. People without wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are only too happy to give their wood away for free, rather than having to dispose of it themselves. All you have to do is go around and pick up the wood. Check eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle and other similar websites, and search in your areas for free firewood and logs etc. Some people will charge a small amount, but most are only too happy to have someone to come over and take it away for them.

Gather Dead Tree Branches

Often times, dead tree branches are found scattered throughout residential or commercial properties. If you notice dead or even dying, trees lining a property, ask the owner if you can gather some of these branches. In many cases, property owners don’t have the need for the wood, or the financial resources to have the trees removed. Therefore, by gathering these potentially hazardous tree branches you’re not only stockpiling your free firewood supply but also helping out a neighbor.

Post Storm Tree Debris

After a major thunderstorm, tree branches tend to accumulate along the side of the road or in yards of commercial and residential properties. While most property owners simply throw away storm debris, ask the property owner if you can help collect and remove the debris with the premise of keeping some, or all, of the wood. If you live in an area that frequently sees windstorms, this could be the sole source of your free firewood supply.

Wooden Pallets Make Excellent Free Kindling

Commercial retail stores and warehouses use wooden pallets for a myriad of reasons. While many businesses reuse pallets, once damaged, or once their stock of pallets becomes too large, many are open to donating to local residents for firewood purposes. The size, shape, and portability of wooden pallets make them a perfect source for firewood, especially kindling. Just be sure to check they are pressure treated, rather than chemically treated. Most are these days, but it is better to check. A quick Google of the stamps on the pallets will tell you.

Ask Sawmills For Free Waste/Off Cuts

Many sawmills actively search for ways to reduce their overhead, which includes disposal costs associated with end cut removal. Contact your local saw mill and ask about pick up times for scrap lumber. While you’re there, don’t forget to pick up a bag or two of sawdust, which may be used as kindling. The sawmill got rid of some waste and you got some free firewood!

BONUS Section: How To MAKE Free And Virtually Unlimited Fuel To Heat Your Home

FREE fuel and unlimited fuel to heat your home – that’s quite a promise! It doesn’t actually promise to be a solution to provide ALL of the fuel to heat your home, but depending on the size of your home it probably could do just that… If you have a small house or cabin heated by a wood stove you could probably heat your house using just this method. For larger homes with a wood fire or stove, this would be an excellent addition to firewood which could possibly save you 50%, maybe more on your fuel costs.

You are obviously not going to be able to generate enough junk mail, cardboard and magazines etc to save a fortune (although still worth doing!), but if you ask friends, neighbors and family to save all their paper waste you’ll start to generate a significant amount of fuel material. You could also ask around local businesses for their waste paper too!

(Image from Tiny House Listings)
(Image from: Wikipedia)

How To Make Flour Paint: Natural, Non-Toxic, Durable & Cheap

how to make flour paint

Normal outdoor wood paint is expensive, an ecological nightmare (eco paints cost even more money!), they are toxic, harmful to nature/humans, take ages to dry and you have to use even more nasty chemicals to clean your brushes etc when you are done…

What if I told you there is a natural, healthy/eco-alternative that’s easy to clean, dries in an hour and that costs the equivalent of a few dollars a tin? It’s called flour paint, or Swedish Paint! Just mix the natural ingredients in a pan on the stove and in 30/40 minutes you’ll have an awesome natural rustic outdoor wood paint that will last for between 5-10 years depending on your location/weather etc. You are not restricted to red either, there is a whole load of natural earth pigments you can use to color your paint. Find out more below.

It’s called flour paint, or Swedish Paint! Just mix the natural ingredients in a pan on the stove and in 30/40 minutes you’ll have an awesome natural rustic outdoor wood paint that will last for between 5-10 years depending on your location/weather etc. You are not restricted to red either, there is a whole load of natural earth pigments you can use to color your paint. Find out more below.

Now, you might be concerned about the durability of an outdoor timber paint made from flour. You shouldn’t be, this paint originates from Scandinavia. They have used flour paint for 100s of years to paint their timber houses and outbuildings. If the paint can withstand Scandinavian weather, it’s going to withstand pretty much anything1

How To Make Flour Paint  (This is a French site, so I have used Google Translate to make it easier to read!)

(Photo from:  http://engelleben.free.fr )