Wednesday Wow: Keep Those Icky Germs Away-Herbal Remedies

Phew! Can you believe we are headed into the winter season already? There is nothing more pitiful than to look in your child’s eyes and see pain, congestion and low energy. Over the years, I’ve put together some of my favorite herbal blends for my family. Because they don’t always like my culinary creations, I try to mix it up a bit with power herbs to reach the same goal of a high immune system.

 

Kombucha-A happy gut is a healthy body. The main part of your immune system is in your gut, so keeping it supplied with good bacteria will help make a stronger body. There are a few ways to do this but a good probiotic and/or fermented foods in your diet like kombucha  will help populate the good bacteria in your body.

Powdered herbs into blender shakes/Smoothies– ADD IN  cod liver oil, collagen/ food sources of vitamin C  with some berries, steamed greens and coconut water every day to make sure we are starting off on the right foot.

Soap -When flu prevention experts advise you to wash your hands, they don’t mean a light drizzle of water. As mama always said, use soap and warm water — and rub hands for 15 to 20 seconds. Sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice while rubbing, to keep track of the time.

What You’ll Need

• A natural bar soap of choice. Homemade bar soaps usually work well and my other favorites are Dr. Bronners, african black soap, and Kombucha soap (available here).
• Distilled or filtered water
• A dispenser: Reuse an old soap dispenser, use a glass one or metal one, or make one out of a mason jar by drilling a hole in the top and hot gluing on the top of a soap pump dispenser.

What You Need- to do is:

• Click this link for the entire recipe and how to instructions.

 

Strong Tea-Keep things moving by drinking water. This will help stimulate your immune system during an illness because it helps your body flush the germs. Making the water into a tea is a bonus.

Natural Mamma Immune Boosting Tea and Recipe

Recipe Type: Herbal Tea

Author: Amanda http://www.naturallivingmamma.com

Prep time: 5 mins    Cook time: 20 mins  Total time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 part Elderberry
• 2 parts Rose Hips
• 2 parts Echinacea puroporea
• 2 parts Chamomile
• 2 parts Astragalus

Instructions

1. Combine herbs and use 1tsp of the mix per cup of boiling water. Let steep at least 20 minutes up to 8 hours for full medicinal effect. Drink 2-3 cups a day as needed to support immune function.

 Mouth Wash  (if you have a Doterra or Young Living connection, you’re good! )

How To Make Homemade Mouthwash

• 1 cup of Purified Water
• ¼ tsp salt
• 5-10 drops of Thieves Essential Oil (depends on how strong you want it)
• 4 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
• 2 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
• Optional: 1 tsp baking soda
• Glass bottle (essential oils can degrade plastic)

Getting our herbs and spices from our garden and local farmer’s market is nice too. Being able to grab Western medicine is easy. But do you really want to be completely dependent on someone else for your healing. Let’s be like the ants and do more for ourselves. It works!

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This list, as simple as it titled, needs to be shared. – Hand Washing

Make your own laundry soap, and all-purpose cleaner . You’ll save money and provide healthier options for your family.

Check Out this HippyHomemakers tincture. It’s EASY to make AND she has a list of healing herbs.

Dynamite Herbal Infusions listed here.

Soap Making- Click here

 

In Total Wellness, Jabela

 

 

How to Request Insurance Reimbursement for Doula Services

Continuing from my last post on

Wednesday Wow: Paying Your Doula .

Here’s how to file your paper work to get your doula fees paid.

The fact that their insurance company might reimburse at least some portion of the fee for your services might make you attractive to a group of potential clients who might not have been interested before. Getting reimbursement for doula services requires patience and persistence, but it can be done. If you are going to offer this as a possibility for your clients, you will also need to be willing to offer some guidance and, most likely, a fair amount of support, as they attempt to get reimbursed.

 

How to Request Insurance Reimbursement for Doula Services

___     Pay your doula in full.

___     Get an invoice from her which includes the following information:

1. The doula’s name and address
2. Her social security number/taxpayer ID number or NPI number
3. The date and location services were provided
4. The CPT code for the services provided
5. A diagnosis code
6. The doula’s signature

___     Submit the invoice with a claim form to your insurance company.

___     Within four weeks, expect a letter telling you either that

1. They need more information before they can process your claim.
2. This is not a covered expense.

___     Ask your Doula to send you the following:

1. A copy of her certification (if she is certified)
2. Other credentials or relevant training
3. A letter detailing her training and experience and what she did for you

___     If possible, ask your obstetrician or midwife for a letter explaining why a doula helped you, was necessary, or saved the insurance company money. (Did you have a high-risk pregnancy? Did the doula’s suggestions appear to prevent complications or help your labor to progress more quickly? Did the doula’s presence decrease your need for expensive pain medications?)

___     Write a letter explaining why you felt the need for a doula and how you believe the doula was beneficial to your health.

___     Submit to your insurance company: the doula’s letter and credentials the letter from the doctor your cover letter

___     If they refuse it, write a letter to Health Services requesting that they review the claim, as you feel it was a cost-cutting measure and they should cover the cost.

___     Follow up by telephone if necessary.

___      If they refuse, write a letter to the CEO explaining why you feel that doula care should be a covered expense. They may not pay your claim, but they will consider it for the future. (Kelli Way, ICCE, CD(DONA) 1998.

 

Notes:
If you are a doula, I suggest you click over and read the guide to getting a National Provider Number and helping your clients get reimbursed.

Also, here is a pdf from DONA with several FAQ’s on insurance reimbursement

And here’s how to contact me for my birthing services:

The Pink GrassHopper Birth

On Twitter- Doula In Charlotte

FaceBook – Doula In Charlotte

 

Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual Wellness is a personal matter involving values and beliefs that provide a purpose in our lives. While different individuals may have different views of what spiritualism is, it is generally considered to be the search for meaning and purpose in human existence, leading one to strive for a state of harmony with oneself and others while working to balance inner needs with the rest of the world

My daughters grew up in the church. They attend children’s church, children’s choir and even ushered when they were old enough. The other day my daughter told me that I don’t pray in front of them any more. If she feels this way, I can only imagine what my poor son think. See, we left our home church a few years ago and have yet to connect with another one since then. I wanted to see if my husband and I could nurture their spiritual wellness inhouse. Since we have books, and fairly spiritual (not religious) parents. For a while it worked until the conversation with my dad popped up. He asked if I was still connected with my church family. I told him yes. Then he went on to say why he wished his grandkid would have their own relationship with God. He said that sometimes kids miss parents messages, but it’s amazing what they pick up from other people’s mouth. I couldn’t do anything but agree with him after my daughter comment, so I sat down and made a plan. I will take them to church this coming sunday and see how it goes. I also created this collection to get the children on the right track. Here you go——

 

(INSERT CHILD’S PICTURE)

I love you from the bottom of my heart. I also know that I will not be here for you in times of need. This was created just for YOU! I wanted to give you hope for all things good bad and ugly. Enjoy

 

William Murphy

Praise Is What I Do lyrics

Solo

Praise is what I do

When I want to be close to You,

I lift my hands in praise.

Praise is who I am,

I will praise Him while I can.

I’ll bless Him at all times.

Chorus

I vow to praise You

Through the good and the bad.

I’ll praise You,

Whether happy or sad.

I’ll praise You

(This is my testimony)

In all that I go through,

(Somebody said why)

Because praise is what I do,

Cause I owe it all to You.

Verse 1

(Come on church)

Praise is what I do

(Come on church)

When I want to be close to You,

(I lift my hands-somebody lift Him)

I lift my hands in praise.

(Somebody say it so the devil will hear you)

Praise is who I am,

(Come on praise the Lord)

I will praise Him while I can.

I’ll bless Him at all times.

Chorus

And I vow to praise You

Through the good and the bad.

I’ll praise You,

Whether happy or sad.

I’ll praise You

(Somebody lift your voice and say)

Verse 2

Praise is what I do,

Even when I am going through,

(See I’ve learned…)

I’ve learned to worship You.

(See I want to let the devil know tonight, even though…)

Though my circumstance doesn’t even stand a chance,

My praise out weighs the bad.

(So I vow to praise)

Repeat Chorus

Now somebody lift your voice

And just go to praising him right now

Somebody lift your voice in this place

Lift up your voice in this place

My Prayers-

Morning Prayer:

Thank you God for waking us up this morning. I know you didn’t have to do it, but  you and only you did. I’m so grateful for the use of my limbs, brains, and will. Thank you for keeping us as we slept last night. I know not everyone received that blessing. If it’s your will, please look over us as we go on through our day. Bless our going outs and coming in. In your name God, we praise you always. Amen.

Grace and Mercy:

Lord thank you for keeping me and my family. So many people are going through hard times. I know you could never be pimped so I’m asking you father to please give them understanding. Please bring them comfort and a peace of mind. I don’t know what to do, but you do. I don’t know how to make it better but I know that you do. I don’t know how to fix it God, but I know that YOu DO because you have do it before. And your will will always be done.  You God are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Because you are already in tomorrow, I know it will work out for them. Thank you God for being a help in a time of trouble.

Prayer for Strength:

I am perfect and wonderfully made. There is nothing that will happen to me that you will not sign off and my faith in that will protect me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I am More than a conquer.

Prayer for a healing

God you know I have things to do. What lesson am I to be learning? I’m listening. My mind and body is now ready to listen. I’ll rest, learn, and listen as I recover. Thank you God for loving me enough to slow me down.

Prayer Of  Thanks

THANK YOU God! You really be showing off with me, don’t you? You’re the real MVP! Please allow me to continue to bring you honor!

Spiritual Wellness Play Mix:

This collection leaves me in tears. Praise feels so good. I builds , maintains  and protects my spirit. I hope it proves to be a blessing to you.

“I‘m Still Holding On” (1984)- Luther Barnes, Red Budd Choir

Luther Barnes Spirit Fall Down

“I WON’T COMPLAIN” REV.PAUL JONES (Extended Version) Praise Break

Through It All Andrae Crouch

‘Open The Floodgates of Heaven’- Bishop Paul Morton @ GE Patterson Church

Amber Bullock – For Every Mountain

I Give Myself Away by William McDowell

Donnie McClurkin – “Stand” MaLinda Sapp Funeral

Donnie McClurkin – Great is your mercy – Live

More on the web on Spiritual Wellness:

HERE

I had something that happened earlier that was straight from the enemy. I closed my closet  door, sat on the floor  & cried out to God…literally just cried. I had no words, just tears. I know God sees me & he sees my tears.  In closing, Trust God. He knows you  better than you  know yourself.
Peace & Blessings, Jabela

Friday Four: Gumbo,Lady Fingers, KANGKONG Okro (okra) ,Oh My!

KNOCK Knock, who’s there Okra. Okra who? Okra Winfrey! That joke is about as awful as the one I’ve heard all of my life with the name Kelle.

.

We love okras and they obviously love us! We have been eating okras at least twice a week for the last 5 weeks!  I know my family is tired of them.We now I have two problems, as I see it. We have too much okra and we allowed many of them to grow way to big.

Because I hate wasting food, I had to figure out how to reuse the over grown ones and how to recycle the over abundance lot.

I discovered that I could either the pods for floral arrangement, okra stamps,okra wall art or reserve them for seedlings.

Because Okra contains:

Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, Niacin, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Magnesium, Manganese, Beta Carotene, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Zinc, Copper, Calcium, Folate, Potassium, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Iron and many other nutrients.  Protein and oil found in the seeds of okra is enriched with amino acids with the likes of tryptophan, cystine and other sulfur amino acids.

Did you know that you can juice okras? Use it as an excellent- cost effective hair conditioner.

I could’ve grown it like this:However due to my large family, I grew an okra garden like this! 

Q: Where did the okra go to have a few drinks?
A: The Salad Bar!

Now the homeschooler speaks…..

Okra as we know it is called Abelmoschus esculentus.
It is related to the hibiscus and a member of the mallow family, is native to tropical Africa – cultivated by the Egyptians in the 12 century AD.then slowly traveled south into the central lands of Africa; north and west to Mediterranean lands and ultimately to the Balkans; and east to the subcontinent of India.

It arrived in the United States in the 18th century with the slave trade, on a ship filled with Bantu tribes people. Quickly it became a cornerstone in southern cooking.

It still grows wild in Ethiopia and Sudan, just as it did in prehistoric times. Its plants,were carried to India and Egypt where they are still used in cooking oil and as a coffee substitute. Now, I bet you didn’t know that did you?

Facts quote:

Okra pods are also called as bamiya, lady’s finger, ochro, etc. The pods are nutritious and rich in fiber, mucilage and vitamins.

1. Here’s a few awesome okra recipes,you just gotta try! Click Here!
2. Need more ways to use okras? Here ya go! This collection takes them out of the pan and into the body spray bottle.–> Click Here <—-
3. I can’t think of a better way to share these super stems than a recipe swap with friends!
4. Now, if you simply cant eat, share or reuse them all timely…. freeze them. Here’s how to do that! —> Click Here ‘and here!

Only thing left to say is…would you like some of my okras?!

Have a great weekend! Jabela!