Catlin (Austin, TX) on 08/21/2008
People always thought my father was our brother because he was blessed with great genetics, looking 10 - 15 years younger than his age and for many years I was the same.
However, when I turned 50, all sorts of aging began to happen. Menopause brought 30 lbs of extra weight, dry, flaky rashy skin, under-active thyroid and bloated stomach, itchy-smelly-flaky scalp, weak tearing nails, diabetes, tinitis, skin rashes, weeping eyes, joint pain, gingivitis with 2 deep gum pockets, hair falling out and not growing, losing hair and eyebrows, lethargy, moodiness, unexplained anger, dark eye circles, insomnia, night sweats, smelly body and breath and the list goes on... Needless to say people were calling me MAAAM and treating me like I was an unattractive old lady. I'm not so vain that I want to be noticed all the time but I certainly did not want to be ignored. Looking for natural skin cleansing remedies, I found your site. Whoa, what a FIND. I have stayed up late almost every night just reading all the testimonials. I have so far tried: VCO, Oil Pulling, and ACV. The results are fantastic: Silky skin, stronger teeth, hair, nails. No joint pain, lessening of tinnitis, no skin rashes, increased energy, body and breath smells great, blood suger stabilizing, losing goiter/thyroid neck, stomach is going down (my husband says), dark spots and eye circles gone, no mood swings, feel happier, lost 3 pounds, teeth whiter and firmer with pink gums (still working on the 2 pockets), scalp itch is receding and my skin looks AMAZINGLY young!--- all of this has happened within these first 10 days! I asked my husband to check out my skin because he knows I constantly battle face rashes and he said, "It looks wonderful with that makeup you have on". I was not wearing any! And guess what? I feel attractive, never mind what others feel, I'm not ignoring ME! 10 days I tell you!
Even as things are getting better, my eyes still weeped and were glazy and itched like the dickins, I didn't want to put anything on them except eye drops which only brought relief for about 30 minutes. So, today I applied ACV onto a cotton ball and lightly swiped my closed eyelids. OH MY GOD! Instant relief! I could even see better; things were not so fuzzy and the constant redness started disappearing; so, this is a work in progress.
Here's what I do internally: I oil-pull 10-15 minutes every morning and evening. I drink 2 TABLSP of ACV in a mug (8oz) of water morning and evening (thru a straw). Around noon, when my energy usually lags, I take 1 tablspoon of VCO. Interestingly, it cuts my appetite and I find myself eating out of habit, not hunger.
Here's what I do externally: After shower, I spray ACV and water onto my skin, let dry, then apply coconut oil lightly all over, then use a light cologne. I apply ACV with a cotton ball onto my face, let it dry, then dab and rub VCO with water on it. I wear no makeup except filling in my eyebrows (until they grow back), and apply lipstick on top of VCO. Each morning I wake up expecting to see a change-back and I don't. Thanks a whole bunch!
EC: Great feedback, Catlin, thank you!Replied By Samantha (NY, NY) on 08/23/2008
I have been drinking ACV with baking soda (not consistently) and sometimes taking molasses. I do not eat processed foods, drink milk or eat soya. I have lost about 10llbs but I am not sure if I can totally attribute the weight loss to this drink. Anyway, I plan to try Earth Clinic's simplified recipe as I have to loose another 10llbs. Therefore, I will also start ingesting VCO. In general I feel great and I am really thankful to this webiste. I am addicted and visit it everyday - never know what I can learn or share with others.
Replied By Brijorg (New Haven, Ct) on 02/24/2011
It should be diluted to 3.5% and used as ear drops periodically to disinfect ears (common cause of flu), used after cleaning mouth (and for cleaning with baking soda, aluminum free please), also in a nasal spray pump (for that itch in your throat, 1.5% to use as nasal spray-I usually use 3.5% for nose anyway but its kind of harsh- a few drops of tea tree oil in steaming water with towel over head works better for such a use though).
Kepping these three places (ears, nose and throat) disinfected should keep you cold and flu free.
Replied By Shhaunna (Pinnacle, North Carolina) on 12/02/2011
Replied By Caitlin (Austin, Tx) on 12/23/2011
For daily body washing: (1) I smear coconut or olive oil (1/4 cup) everywhere on my body and face (not eyes). I let it stay on for 3-5 minutes in a warm bathroom. I then scrub my body with a DRY, white washcloth & a damp cotton pad for my face. (I buy cheap white cloths in bulk so that I can throw them away as they get filled with dirt, oil, and dead skin);
(2) I make a simi-thick past of baking soda and water that I handily scrub on my body (face lightly) while standing in the tub. I usually add my favorite ORGANIC scent to this. I rinse this off with very luke-warm water and finish off with a COLD shower. I use an organic, natural deodorant with no odor. Skin Results: Smooth, clean, moist, no longer itching or smelling, invigorated!
(3) Weekly Hair Cleaning: I make a watery baking soda/water cup and poor onto my wet scalp and hair. I scrub my scalp for about 3-5 minutes and smooth thru my hair. I rinse & towel dry. Then, I lightly spray throughout the hair a bottle mix of: 1/4tsp coconut oil to 1/2 cup hot water & a spritz of organic cologne. I let my hair dry naturally. During the week I rinse only with cold water. Results: Very fast hair growth, moistness, no itchy or smelly scalp.
3) Progress of Teeth & Gums: I floss & oil pull every night before bed I still have 2 pockets left but they are not worse. I recently started putting MOM [Milk of Magnesia] in the pockets before bed (as someone suggested) and they are lessening; gum is actually growing back! I lightly brush twice daily with baking soda and sea salt, then, I rinse my mouth with this mixture: 1 tsp. MOM & 1 tsp of Hydrogen peroxide, 2 drops mint oil. (If you have candida, it gets cheesy on the tongue and allows you to scrape it off) Results: Fresher Breath, stronger, brighter teeth and gums.
4) The Norm Daily Diet : 9oz Meat, 1 Fruit, Loads of cooked veggies and salads. WATER Only. I exercise 15 minutes M-Sat. I take 2tsps of ACV morning and bedtime. I eat 1 tsp. Of coconut oil & dash of cayenne pepper with breakfast or in tea. I take the anti-inflammatories Vit-C, A, Quercitin, Bromelin, Curcumin. I keep magnessium oil by my computer and occassionally spray it on my palms.
Results: I'm now within 50lbs of my goal weight. I feel sexy and energetic, fitting size 12-14 clothes rather than 18s-20s. My husband says I look like I'm 30 and now "gaurds" me when we go out.. I don't need my glasses with the computer anymore, just for small reading; my thinking is clearer and, as long as I don't eat my primary allergy/rash triggers (wheat, milk, corn, suger), my skin, hearing, sight, brain, energy, sugar, and mood are about 90% of what they were when I was a youngster. I do sometimes wonder why people (men and women) keep calling me sweety or sweetheart because I'm not THAT tiny and certainly not fragile, yet. :) That, laughingly aside, I'm feelin OKAY and will continue on the good path until I'm done in this life. See ya next year! Merry Christmas to you all and have a great New Year, discovering and enhancing your own path to a fit life. Peace For Us All!
Replied By Thegoatsage (San Francisco, California) on 01/09/2012
Replied By Caitlin (Austin, Tx) on 01/15/2012
1. I use about 1/2 cup of baking soda to a cup of water. I purchase the BIG boxes at Sam's so it lasts quite a long time. My husband says I always feel soft and smell yummy and fresh.
2. I spray the coconut mixture mostly on my hair though some of the mixture does get on the scalp, which I don't mind. It keeps it soft and supple. I would caution that you use only an organic cologne, not one with chemicals, as CO is a carrier oil. I will add that about once a week or so, before one of my cold water rinses, I dip my fingers in ACV and scrup my scalp. This keeps my scalp supple for hair growth and destroys any parasites, bumps, fleas or mites from my newly adopted cat. I do this when I plan to stay home, as ACV is not pleasant to the senses of everyone who smells it. That smell can last a good hour or two. Also, my cat scratches less with its use as well.
3. Sight: The most significant improvement in my sight happened when I switched to the low-carb diet I described above. Within 2 months, I noticed that my sight was getting better. Getting rid of my inflammatories which includes, , GRAINS, MILK, SODAS did a world of good and is allowing me to lose weight.
Thank you for asking. Peace! CAT
Replied By Linda (Orem, Ut) on 01/15/2012
I like to know what do you mean by oil pull? also u said MOM.. What is that mean? thanks
About the foot and toe fungus.. ( which I have had for yrs) I like to know the measurements of ACV and hydro peroxide( brown bottle right) how long wud I soak for ? what is that ted is talking about clorox on toes next? how that work.. Did u try that part?
thanks for your paintence with my questions. I love to hear from you..
Thanks so much. nice talking to you.Smiles
Peace n light, Linda
EC: Hi Linda,
MOM = Milk of Magnesia
Oil Pulling is a popular remedy from India. More info here: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/oil_pulling.html
Replied By Linda (Orem, Ut) on 01/15/2012
I do not eat processed foods either.. I know wheat is to be better then white flour.. I like more of feed back on this topic if you dont mind.. thanks so much.
Smiles, Linda
Replied By Caitlin (Austin, Tx) on 03/24/2012
Now, as far as wheat and many other grains are concerned ....
There's an old, old saying that grains are for cattle. Well man, being omniverous, will try anything that looks edible and staves off starvation. Hence, we began cultivating and eating grains. The problem was that some people, genetically intolerant to grain protein, could not make the cross-over to grain consumption and experienced great problems. They developed huge stomachs (the body's way of adding water to protect the stomach), tummyand skin diseases, and other inflammation problems associated with grain consumption. I'm a decendant of one of those unlucky people and have suffered with this all my life - since I was a preemie baby. (btw - Preemie babies given grains too early, before their stomachs are mature enough to handle the grain protein, end up with lifelong stomach irritation and pain. ) When you can not tolerate grains, your body manifests this through inflamation such as: pain in joints, runny nose, breast lumps, bad skin, blurry eyesight, itchy scalp, hair loss, stomach pain & bloat, fungus, candida, bad breath and many other awful symptoms. When you get a chance, research Celiac Disease, and IBS (irritated bowel syndrome), and their connection to grain consumption. A great layman's place to start is with the book "Wheat Belly. " My 70ish Mom-In-Law used the non-grain way of eating recommended in this book and lost 20lbs in 1 month AND had 1 half reduction in her lifelong "basketball" stomach. No more esophagal pain, daily upset stomach, NOR daily diarrhea! So, I guess my answer to your question is simple: If you can tolerate grains, white or wheat - happy eating, you genetically lucky, lucky person! Peace Out.... CAT :)