Greetings and welcome to the Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #179. Thanks for joining us as we roll into September. Another month down and we are closer to winter and 2023. We are always happy to have you join us. I don't know if the tide is changing directions or not but I'm seeing more new locations pop up on the website. I hope this is a good sign of folks stocking their pantries and figuring out that something is wrong. Keep the pedal down fellow Patriots because it is not going to get better anytime soon. That is a hopeful message from me to you. What? Me being honest with you is the best I can do. No matter how the globe spins, you're still going to get thirsty and hungry.
One can say many things are wrong with the picture below. Being a 20-year military veteran the single thing that popped out to me first is the Marines and the position of their hands. We are taught three basic positions while standing in uniform. Attention, Parade Rest, and at ease. The position in the photograph is not one of these positions. The position in the photograph is more of an aggressive or conquer type of stance. Maybe I am missing something.
Many seemed alarmed by the message perceived from the President's message but or anyone paying attention should not be alarmed on any account. Yes, it was attention getting to hear the President speaking directly about another group of Americans expressing their 1st Amendment rights in opposition to the current administration's position in certain areas. I say this should not come as a surprise because Festus and I identified this pattern of attack over ten years ago when the Attorney General of the United States identified conservative veterans as the greatest domestic threat. Think about that one. The government sends these kids off to war with the expectation of them honoring their commitment to defend the homeland. They come home with war scars, and many are never the same and then get labeled a domestic terrorist. Why is the federal government so afraid of veterans? Many wounded veterans cannot get proper medical care yet the number one surgery performed in the Department of Defense today is gender change procedures. These are our tax dollars fellow Patriots.
I want you to think about something. The government is currently allowing a parent to come forward and volunteer their young son/daughter for gender surgery because little Johnny, at 5, decides for the day he likes playing with baby dolls and wear his sisters clothing. Instead of questioning the sanity of the parent, the current system is respecting the child's wishes. This is the same government and system which tells a parent they cannot have access to their juvenile daughters' medical records to see if she was given an abortion without their consent. The same government attempts to curtail, stop, and/or punish parents wishing to homeschool a child and keep them out of this demonic system. My wonder is why so many intelligent adults claiming to be parents are not seeing what is taking place when it involves their child. These same parents are in a church on Sundays and not hearing their pastors speaking about what is going on outside the walls of the church. A ship will lose its direction every time when everyone aboard is not rowing and paying attention to the direction of the vessel. Until "we the people" right this ship it will continue to be lost at sea. Our great nation needs a spiritual revival immediately. Even if you are a non-spiritual person, wouldn't you prefer sending your children to what once was a structured and moral based classroom vs one where your kid may come home saying "I told my teacher today I want to be a girl/boy?" It is that simple. Until citizens start acting locally in protest of the direction and stop eating popcorn and cussing it when the television shows little Johnny as Joanie, it is not going to change. Focus on what is important and destroying our families and nation and stop thinking someone else is going to do it for us. I digress.
Ms. Lucy and I took part in a local medicinal and edible plant weed walk last weekend and really enjoyed it much. The rain held off until the end, so it wasn't so bad to be wondering through the woods learning. We met up with another HFS Patriot family to enjoy the morning. We then took in a quick lunch afterwards to discuss what we learned and other preparedness topics of interest.
Later in the day the rains let up, so we took a boat ride on our local lake to enjoy the beauty of our area. Ms. Lucy had rented a boat as part of our anniversary weekend. We ended up crossing paths with four area HFS Patriots who also went for a boat ride. It was great seeing them and chatting for a couple hours while relaxing on the lake.
The next couple of weeks for us will be very demanding with road trips and multiple stops. I will do my best to keep everything on schedule, however, I can't predict unplanned for events and delays.
Free Virtual Training - The Traditional Skills Summit - September 12 - 15 - The Online Summit of 2022 to help you cultivate traditional homesteading skills with confidence. Twelve outstanding speakers, 4 full days, 1 great outcome. Summit (schooloftraditionalskills.com) Learn to grow your food and raise your own livestock, cook with ingredients from your garden, and preserve your own food. Do it the right way. This is a great opportunity and its free. Don't miss out.
HFS September Travel Schedule -
Sept 10, 2022 - Huntsville, AL - Huntsville Public Library - 10 AM CST - Guest speaker at North Alabama Regional Preppers Network (NARP Net) - Topic - Preparedness - Theory vs Reality
Sept 16 and 18, 2022 - Moravian Falls, NC - 7 pm and 10 AM - The Gathering, 976 W Meadow Parkway. Appearance supporting author John Dyslin - Nehemiah Strong. Will have a dinner on Friday around 430 with John for HFS members wishing to join us for the evening.
HFS Annual Autumn Rally in Waynesville, NC - Date coming soon. Most likely in October.
HFS Thursday Zoom - There was no event this week
Communications: You can now follow HFS social media on the following outlets:
Facebook – Hope for Survival
YouTube Channel – Hope for Survival
MeWe: - //mewe.com/p/hopeforsurvival2
Odysee - Hope for Survival (odysee.com)
Parler - Preparedness101
Check out the HFS YouTube video at the following link. Hope For Survival - YouTube The latest YouTube video dated Sept 6, 2022 is titled Observation of People Who Prepare at this link - https://youtu.be/Q-hGEyaMNRY
Connect and give me a shout. Share with family and friends.
HFS will be recording a series of YouTube videos with author John Dyslin - Nehemiah Strong. We are excited for this opportunity to give you an inside up-close look into John's thinking in writing Nehemiah Strong and his thoughts on today's church and the need for spiritual and personal preparedness. Video 1 is titled Spiritual Warfare Tool Kit - https://youtu.be/JcC7TXUyUUE Video 2 was recorded and is now posted on the HFS YouTube channel. Video 2 is titled Spiritual Warfare Tool Kit Applications - https://youtu.be/Pftjq1I7NRQ Video 3 is titled Warrior Mindset which will be recorded shortly. We had to push back the date because of a schedule conflict. Check out the series and let us know what you think. Share with family and friends.
Guest and Newcomers
If you are a guest or newcomer to the HFS journey, please check out this link for additional
information offered through HFS. https://www.hopeforsurvival.com/post/guest-and-newcomers-information-page
Hope for Survival books and HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents -: You can obtain information on the two HFS books at this link: Survival, Preparedness, Disaster Management for individuals or family (hopeforsurvival.com)
Hope for Survival - How Food, Water, Shelter, and Security Could Save Your Life (Book 1)
Hope for Survival - The Mindset (Book 2)
HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents - We just restocked the HFS Thumb drive and have them available now. Follow this link and you will see the add at the top of the page. Blog | Survival (hopeforsurvival.com)
We must make this brief public announcement to protect the innocent.
Ding, Ding, Ding....Attention HFS readers..... Opinions shared in this newsletter are just that, opinions, and nothing more. Read at your own risk. The owner and author of this site is not responsible for hurt feelings or thin-skinned readers. I do my best to show restraint and respect to the best extent possible. I take as many precautions as possible and try to remain as nonpolitical as possible, however, there are times when I just can't help but point certain things out. Occasionally I use words only Patriots recognize and understand. It's not personal against any non-Patriot. It's just the truth. Sometimes we must pull up our spenders and suck it up. Just saying. Stay the course, read what you want, and avoid the rest. Avoid fear porn as much as possible and the day will be okay. When all else fails… Keep the faith and always have Hope.
Let’s move along and get to some thoughts...
Thoughts for the week -
Storage locations -
A question I'm hearing often is "where can I store my excess preparedness resources if I am about out of room in my home?" Or, "I live in a urban setting and have minimal room in my apartment or duplex quarters, where can I store extra resources?" Below you will find several suggested opportunities to locate things you wish to store, hide, and secure. The trick to this problem is to be creative and think outside the box. You may have to use or procure someone with minimal skills to build or create this storage places. Ventilation ports, false ceilings, outlet casings, raised floors, pantry floors and more. Consider using furniture with storage spaces such as lounger sofas, stools or benches, beds, chest and nightstands. The limit is your imagination. Check these out.
Outdoor Cache -
A smart preparer will always store some resources outside their home. This can be buried or maybe in a shed. If you leave your home at 3 am because of a fire, having extra clothing, money, and needed resources at a secondary location will help make life easier during a crisis.
This is a typical drainage pipe and will appear as such to anyone not suspecting it any other way. You can store items within it and then cap the ends. Consider burying it nearby in the event you need it.
Using a 55-gallon plastic trash can lined with a thick plastic bag is a very easy way to set up a cache in your shed or alternate location.
I know preparers who use this concept to store bought canned goods and then store it in a shaded area outside their home. To the unsuspecting it appears to be a trash can.
Furniture Storage -
Can't you picture this deck box as your new coffee table or against a wall in a room of your home? This is a deck box intended for outdoor decks for storage. You can now hide your canning jars within and cover with quilts and call it a quilt box.
Remember, think outside the box and be creative.
One storage option is to place your canned jars in wooden or plastic cases and stack in the design of a coffee table in front or at the end of a sofa or a lamp table behind the sofa. Use a cloth covering to hide your cases and decorate as a table. You can also stack cases of canned jars in their original box however use caution due to the weight and potentially breaking your jars possibly.
Beds - A great place to store cases of food day-to-day is under beds. You may have to alter the design and the more creative you are, may be the difference of your hiding spot being detected.
One of the simplest ways to design a bed for storage is to build a box to be used as the frame. Then place a sheet of plywood over the framed box. Then place the mattress over the plywood covered box.
You can always place two hydraulic lifts at the top sides (left and right) to help in the lift process. Add a handle at the bottom center to use to grip and pull up.
Depending on the bed size, you should be able to add ten to twelve cases of canned jars with a twin bed, and over 20 cases or more with a king-sized bed box.
If you use a mattress drape it should hang over the sides to help hide the fact you are using a box frame vs the standard metal railing style of frame.
You can use the metal style frame, however your ability to stack cases will be diminished.
Closet and Wall Space Storage -
If you are simply looking to add more storage space for store bought and home canned jars and cans, hiding your products may not be as important. As depicted below in the home-built storage devices, this is another way to go about it. These two pictures below are storage systems designed and built by an HFS Patriot family.
This style of unit covers a large space so would likely be best in a basement or garage (monitor temps if used in a garage.) This style of storage device houses a large quantity of canned goods. These are good when using a rotating inventory of your resources.
You could add cross section support boards if you wish to can home caned quarts and pints. You could consider building this system to house both home canned and store purchased canned goods.
For safety purposes, make sure you strap this system to a wall using the wall studs as the bracing mount.
If you don't want the canned goods visible, place a curtain over the entire system.
This system is intended for a basement or garage and will require more space for the depth of the design. The size and weight once loaded must be taken into consideration.
The positive to this design is the multiple slots for water tanks. If used, the tanks must have spouts for drainage or else a pump to pull the water out as needed. This design appears to storge at least 250 gallons of storge water when filled.
With some additional skills and if the water tanks are housed on the outer wall, you could consider running a hose off your rooftop water collection system to filter the water and then run through a hose to a top barrel and then design to overflow to each water drum. Why? This would prevent you from having to go outside in the open during increased threat periods.
Stairwell Storage -
This picture depicts alteration to a stairwell where the steps will pull out, leaving the empty casing available to store a resource(s) of your choice.
In this picture the user is storing firearms. With a locking mechanism, the weapons are protected from a child. This is always a good option to have available.
You could also store other resources of your choice, if desired. It is up to you to see things and be creative with the wasted space.
Some folks even increase the size of this space and use as a trapdoor to escape to another room behind the stairs if space is available to them.
Nano Storage Vaults (Pucks)
The Nano Storge puck is a great resource to have available. They can be purchased in this design or shaped to house firearms, both short and long. These pucks are waterproof and most come with a fire-resistant bag to store your resource inside.
I like to use the puck system for our dirt bank where we have the option of storing and protecting cash, gold, silver, and other resources.
Again, be creative with your vision.
Bathtubs - Have you ever stopped to notice all the wasted space in and around a bathtub? Envision a box built around the tub and what you could store in this area.
Wall Unit Storage -
This is one of my favorite options. Sheet rock has been removed and shelves built between the wall studs. You can leave it open or else cover it up with sheet rock. This is a local decision, but it does offer a lot of unused storage.
If you choose to recover the stored supplies with sheet rock, make sure you draw a map so you can locate the storage space exactly and not have to cut up multiple sheet rock panels to find your canned Spam during a Friday night crisis when wanting a fried spam sandwich.
Again, think outside the box and be creative with your space.
Your storage limitations can hinder your efforts to prepare more, however if you step back and get creative with what you have your limitations will decrease and your efforts will continue unhindered. Often it is simply a matter of how much effort you are willing to put in to your creativity.
Don't let your creativity be a box of chocolates with a single flavor.
Next .....
Medicinal Plants -
The location where you are locked down does not change your circumstances. Sick is sick. Infection is infection. You could be stuck in your condo or house within city limits and have the same problem. You wake up in the middle of the night and go to take some indigestion medicine. As you finish your water, you place the glass on the sink, and the glass falls to the floor. You think you have picked up the broken glass from the floor and then head towards your bed and step on a piece of glass. You immediately see blood on the floor. After cleaning up your foot and getting the glass out, you return to bed. Three days later your foot starts to show signs of infection.
Your body is now weaker with an immune system that is less capable of fighting infections and disease. A week after your cut, you find yourself running a low-grade fever and your foot is swollen, and the rest is history. Are you going to get a doctor’s appointment at the unmanned doctor’s office, or call Dr. Marcus Welby for a house call? I guess I could at this point say, it is “your call.” Sorry, couldn’t pass it up. Smile!!!
The best answer to the above conversation is to have a trained doctor, medic, or nurse on your team. But, if you are like most of us, you will not be so lucky. However, during your development of your “security-in-depth” or “defense-in-depth” plan, think about establishing a relationship with a doctor who resides near you. For that matter, if you have room on your team and at your residence, you may wish to invite the doctor or nurse to come join your team. Regardless, you need to determine where to find help.
So, let’s move ahead with a few alternatives for your toolbox. Outside of your first-aid kit, the following are some options and recommendations you could take into account. I have used many of them. Do your own research and decide what is best for you. Like with any medicine or other remedy, research the side-affects before using
Plants
You can visit www.eattheweeds.com/category/medicinal to find an extended list of plants with medicinal uses. If I included them here, this information would be 100 pages in length. Here are some that may be recognizable.
Elderberries (Sambucus): Has been a folk remedy for centuries in North America, Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, hence, the medicinal benefits of elderberries are being investigated and rediscovered. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections, and tonsillitis. Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell. People with the flu who took elderberry juice reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not. Elderberry juice was used to treat a flu epidemic in Panama in 1995. Elderberry Syrup Recipe – (www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/simple-elderberry-syrup-boost-immunity) or (www.realfoodrn.com/homemade-elderberry-syrup)
You can find many other sites offering the recipe for free. The syrup has dried elderberry, ginger, and honey. Some folks put the syrup over pancakes. We make our own recipe and refrigerate during the period being used. I currently take an elderberry capsule in the mornings and chewable elderberry immune booster in the evening. (www.herbwisdom.com/herb-elderberry.html)
Thyme: This single herb gets its name because of its medicinal, microbial effects on the blood. High in Iron and excellent source for Vitamin K and an essential source for having normalized blood clotting. It’s not an overnight miracle worker, but with prolonged usage it will either be a preventative maintenance item or a remedy for specific illnesses. The flowers, leaves, and oil of thyme are commonly used by people for the treatment of bedwetting, diarrhea, stomachache, arthritis, colic, sore throat, cough (including whooping cough), bronchitis, flatulence and as a diuretic (to increase urination). Thyme contains several anti-inflammatory compounds which may provide health benefits for people with certain anti-inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory acne.
Essential oils such as oil of thyme are an excellent resource for your medical toolbox. Since they are concentrated, the containers can be easily stored. Be sure to also include a carrier such as coconut oil as some oils are not intended to be used at 100 percent.
Due to thyme oil’s antibacterial, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, expectorant, hypertensive, and calming properties, it has a long list of uses that include:
1. Home remedy: Thyme oil is used to relieve and treat problems like gout, arthritis, wounds, bites, and sores, water retention, menstrual and menopausal problems, nausea and fatigue, respiratory problems (like colds), skin conditions (oily skin and scars), athlete’s foot, hangovers, and even depression.
2. Aromatherapy oil: The oil can be used to stimulate the mind, strengthen memory and concentration.
3. Mouthwashes and herbal rinses: Like peppermint, wintergreen, and eucalyptus oils, thyme oil is used to improve oral health.
4. Insecticide/insect repellent: Thyme oil can keep insects and parasites like mosquitoes, fleas, lice, and moths away.
5. Relieve pain: Mix three drops of thyme oil with two teaspoons of sesame oil. Use this mixture as a massage oil and apply on the abdominal area to relieve pain. This may also be used as a massage oil to treat other types of pain.
6. Alleviate fatigue: Add two drops of thyme oil to your bath water.
7. Improve sleep: Add a few drops to your diffuser.
8. Promote oral health: Use thyme oil as a mouthwash by adding one drop to a cup of warm water.
9.Treat or protect against respiratory problems: Add 2 drops of oil to how water and use for steam inhalation.
Beauty Berry Natural Insect Repellent: Living in the wild means dealing with insects. Insects such as mosquitoes and ticks not only can make life miserable, but they can spread a number of diseases that can lead to your death. Dealing with biting insects without the benefit of modern DEET chemical repellents can at first appear to be a very grim situation. Ticks can be dealt with using Sulfur, but that is not something you are likely to be able to get on your own. Nature has provided us Beauty Berry. The leaves of Beauty Berry which is a deciduous shrub of the Southeastern USA contain a natural insect repellent that you can use to protect yourself from these pesky insects. For more information on identifying Beauty Berry and some of its other uses such as a food supply visit Beauty Berry Jelly.com.
You can crush the leaves and rub them on your body or clothing to repel insects for two to three hours. Since you may not always have a Beauty Berry Bush handy, an even better method is to crush up a bunch of the leaves and place in a jar. Cover with rubbing alcohol and let this setup for a while with a top on the jar and then remove the crushed leaves. Now you have a great insect repellent that you can store in vials for use. As great as this works it will need to be reapplied every couple of hours. More frequent applications will be required if you are working and sweating a lot.
Blackberry Root Tea: Blackberry roots are an excellent natural remedy for diarrhea. It contains tannins, which have a desirable astringent action on the intestinal lining. First pull up the roots. Wash away any dirt. Next scrape/whittle the bark of the roots into a pot. Then boil the root bark in water for twenty minutes, then strain. Now drink a quart of the water, but not all at once. Just drink a cup now and another a bit later. I say a quart because that is a good ballpark figure of how much liquid you will want on hand if you are dealing with diarrhea. CAUTION: Blackberry Root Tea is not recommended for individuals suffering from chronic gastrointestinal problems and not recommended for regular consumption.
Chamomile: Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family. It can be used as a mouthwash to treat against oral mucositis, gingivitis, sore throat and sinus infection. The ancient Egyptians used it to help with menstrual cramps and there is scientific evidence to support this. German Chamomile Tea and/or mouth wash can help relieve symptoms of the above medical issues. CAUTION: Some people have serious allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) to chamomile. If you are allergic to other plants in the same family such as daisy, ragweed, aster, chrysanthemum, or marigold you should use caution when using chamomile. Chamomile should be avoided during pregnancy because it may act as a uterine stimulant and, therefore, can increase the chance of abortion.
Chaga Mushroom and Cancer Cures: Chaga mushrooms grow mainly on birch and some other hardwood trees. The birch grown mushrooms are considered to be the best for cancer treatment because of the high concentration of botulinic acid. Chaga is a strange mushroom that does not resemble most mushrooms at all. It actually looks more like a black infected wood to me than a mushroom. Chaga has been clinically shown to be effective against various cancers such as liver, uterus, breast, colon, skin, cervix, and lung cancers. Immune systems are enhanced by the beta glucans present in the mushroom which activate T-cell activity and the production of antibodies. Chaga can be made into a tea by grating into a fine powder then to make a tea, simply dissolve one teaspoon of the grated mushroom in one cup of water. The problem is that the usefulness of this is far below the full potential of the chaga mushroom. The chemicals you need from the mushroom are hard to extract. Modern techniques can do a much better job of extraction than simply making a tea with hot water. But still a weaker solution is better than no solution at all.
Greenbrier: Greenbrier is a thorny evergreen vine that grows in thickets, in woodlands and swamps. The fruit matures in September to November when it will turn black. The leaves are evergreen which means the vine will have green leaves year-round. Rarely do you find huge amounts of greenbrier growing, instead it is usually a plant here and a plant there. It is not uncommon, but it doesn't usually dominate the underbrush. The leaves of the different species should all look similar in that they are mostly evergreen waxy leaves, but some are deciduous that have small thorns along the margins. The leaves are always arranged in an alternate not opposite manner.
The roots are what we are interested in for medicinal purposes. The roots of the greenbrier plant are dug up, cleaned of dirt and then dried out. Once dried out you take the rhizome and grind it into a powder. This powder can then be applied to a wound and it will greatly aid in the clotting of the blood.
Milkweed: Milkweed is a common perennial plant found in fields and forest edges from the East Coast of the USA westward to Kansas and up into Canada. The plant usually forms a single erect stem that can grow to be as tall as six feet, but 3 or 4 feet is more common. The leaves are arranged opposite and have an oblong-ovate shape with a short petiole. Purple flowers in clusters from leaf axils will appear from June to August. The seedpods will have a warty look, which is useful in differentiating this plant from other closely related species. Some milkweed species are highly poisonous.
There is a long list of medicinal uses for Milkweed which include fever, asthma, arthritis, bronchitis, edema aka dropsy, kidney stones, some bladder issues, water retention, stomach ailments, gallstones and some female disorders.
To use Milkweed to treat gallstones you boil the plant in water (steeping). Place 1 teaspoon worth of Milkweed into 1 cup of boiling water. Drink this as a dose. Take 3 doses per day.
Milkweed tea can be used to help with arthritis. It isn't going to heal 100%, but it can help, and any help is worth the effort. To use Milkweed for Kidney Stones you again steep the milkweed to make a tea and consume when you wake up and again shortly before going to bed. Milkweed use for asthma and bronchitis treatment proceeds as follows. Dig up the roots of the plant in the fall. Clean thoroughly and dry. Steep the crushed roots to make a tea. Milkweed tea increases the flow of urine to help with conditions of the bladder, such as a bladder infection.
Milkweed is helpful in treating a fever. Since Milkweed is a great diaphoretic, which means it can help bring on a sweat which will cool the body and help bring down a high fever. This should only be done when a fever is really bad because a fever is one way in which the body makes itself less hospitable to various bacteria and viruses that invade the body.
Milkweed tea improves lymphatic drainage. This makes it effective in the treatment of peripheral edema and glandular swelling. Edema is often brought on by age, but other causes can bring on edema as well.
Muscadine: Muscadines aren't so much a medicine like you think of in a medicine cabinet but are more of a preventative medicine like toothpaste and cavities. Research has shown that powdered muscadine puree has a lot of dietary fiber and is known to lower blood pressure, serum triglycerides, and both total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Consuming Muscadines protects against coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal diseases, and colon cancer. So, eat muscadines in whatever fashion you like, wine, puree, powder or jelly/jams as all are a great preventative medicine for a number of ailments mentioned above.
Red Alder: Red Alder is native to North America and one of the largest Alder species in the world. Red Alder can grow as tall as 100 feet tall. The bark and leaves are used to help identify this tree. The bark is mottled, light gray and smooth. The alternately arranged leaves are ovate about 4-5 inches long with blunt serrated edges. The leaf margin has an edge which is curled under. The male flowers are hanging reddish catkins about 5 inches long that are born in early spring. The female flowers are erect catkins which are considerably smaller.
One of Red Alders medical uses is that its leaves can be used to treat poison ivy, insect bites, and skin irritations. Pick green fresh leaves. Do not bother with old dead non-green leaves. Crush the leaves and make a tea with the leaves in hot water. Once the tea is made and has set for a while to allow the chemicals from the leaves to dissolve, wash the affected skin with the Red Alder Tea. Do this repeatedly periodically until the affected area has healed.
Stinging Nettle: Nettle is a small to medium sized perennial plant native to most of North America. Most Stinging Nettles do exactly what the name implies... sting you if touched, but one subspecies does not sting so don't use the fact that a plant doesn't sting to rule out the possibility that it is indeed Stinging Nettle. Stinging Nettle has historically been used as tea or fresh leaves to treat disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin, cardiovascular system, hemorrhage, influenza, rheumatism, and gout.
An enlarged prostate, which is a common problem for aging men, can cause an increased urges to urinate, an incomplete emptying of the bladder, even painful urination, post urination dripping and reduced urinary flow. Modern doctors have not been able yet to determine how Stinging Nettle helps with these problems, but it does. Stinging nettle root extract has also been shown to slow or stop the spread of prostate cancer cells. The root is used in connection with urinary issues. It's also possible that the historic use of these roots for bladder infections does have some basis in fact, but this isn't as well documented.
Studies support the use of Stinging Nettle leaves topically at the site of arthritis pain can decrease the pain. Some also take Stinging Nettle orally for arthritis. Stinging nettle has anti-inflammatory qualities that alleviate hay fever symptoms if taken early. Why? The leaves contain histamine! Yes, you might think that would be the opposite of what would help with allergic reaction, if so, you will just have to trust me on this one or go read the study yourself where it was tested against placebos. Eczema, can be treated with Stinging Nettle both orally and topically. Preliminary studies have shown that Stinging Nettle taken orally can lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Keep in mind this was tested on animals and not people.
Toothache Tree: The toothache tree is a tree you will want to know about due to its great medical uses. Chewing on its leaves or bark causes a numbness of the mouth, teeth, and tongue. This is great if you have an issue inside your mouth that needs to be taken care of, and of course, this is where it gets its name.
Turmeric Spice: Turmeric, the spice used in curry has some great medical uses as well as a spice. Turmeric is a plant similar to Ginger which is grown in the USA. Turmeric plants are gathered for their rhizomes (roots) and can be propagated from the rhizomes the following season. Getting your hands on Turmeric after the SHTF is going to be impossible if it doesn't grow in your area so it is best to secure some of your own so you can become familiar with growing it yourself for an endless supply. Plant turmeric in spring after the last frost or start indoors in a container. The plant will grow to as much as four feet tall if you give it adequate moisture. After a stem has flowered, cut it off to encourage new growth. The plant will turn yellow and decline starting in the fall.
Turmeric's antiseptic and antibacterial anti-inflammatory properties make it a great choice to treat indigestion, throat infections, common colds, or liver ailments, as well as topically on wounds and infections that appear on the surface of the skin such as staph. Ingest the Turmeric for most uses but for topical use for a paste with a little bit of water and apply to the infection. I cannot guarantee that it will absolutely cure an antibiotic staph infection, but it will 100% for sure help with the symptoms and help keep the infection at bay. Often you just have to live with these infections as many are common in people that never show any symptoms. It isn't always enough to consume Turmeric. Without fat, the active component in turmeric has a difficult time getting absorbed and making it into the blood stream. In order to make the most of turmeric, you must take it with a bit of fat. Taking it with black pepper also helps.
Wild Lettuce: Wild Lettuce and Prickly Lettuce are both excellent natural painkillers. Pain is a symptom of almost every ailment that we are afflicted by. Without pain we would not know that anything is even in need of being addressed. However, once we recognize the issue the pain becomes a burden that we would rather do without. The plant produces a milky substance and is called lactucarium and the source of the pain killer. It affects the central nervous system, but it contain no opioids. Despite the potency of the plant its effects seem to have been forgotten. It is strange how something with such a widespread use and effectiveness can be so quickly forgotten and wiped from modern memory. Other uses of the plant are anxiety control, asthma, and cough suppressant.
Yarrow: Yarrow is a wide ranging species of plant that is found throughout North America. Yarrow comes in many varieties which results in it having appearance differences depending on which part of the country it is found. The leaves of Yarrow serve to help open wounds or nose bleeds clot. The aerial parts stimulate circulation, and can be used for such things as high blood pressure, menstrual disorders, and as an effective sweating remedy to bring down fevers. For colds and fever use fresh or dried yarrow as a tea. CAUTION: Yarrow can cause severe allergic skin rashes in some people and prolonged use can increase the skin's photosensitivity.
Fish and Bird Meds
Foot Stomp........If your birds and fish are sick
At this point I hear echoes from beyond saying, “Has he lost his mind?” Again, if you have nothing else in your toolbox, and you or a family member falls ill, what are you going to do? Read the basics and you decide. In the past, I have used www.campingsurvival.com to purchase items below. You can purchase these items at most pet stores and box stores in the animal and fish department. If you are not comfortable with this remedy, find a local farmer with animals and talk to them about the use of these items. You will come away surprised. www.campingsurvival.com to purchase items below. You can purchase these items at most pet stores and box stores in the animal and fish department. If you are not comfortable with this remedy, find a local farmer with animals and talk to them about the use of these items. You will come away surprised.
Find a local pharmacist that you trust and discuss these options. Better yet, go on the internet and look at the pictures of the medicines side by side. You will be amazed at what you see. Here’s important meds you may need to combat different types of infections:
Penicillin: Penicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body. Penicillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections, urinary tract infections, septicemia, meningitis, intra-abdominal infection, gonorrhea, syphilis, pneumonia, respiratory infections, ear, nose and throat infections, skin and soft tissue infections.
More information can be found here, including side effects, allergic reactions, etc. http://www.drugs.com/penicillin.html
Veterinarian Equivalent: 250mg Fish Pen
500mg Fish Pen Forte
Amoxicillin: A penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. Amoxicillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections, bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and E. coli or salmonella infection.
More information can be found here, including side effects, allergic reactions, etc. http://www.drugs.com/amoxicillin.html
Veterinarian Equivalent: 250mg Fish Mox (for children) and 500mg Fish Mox Forte (for adults)
Ciprofloxacin or Cipro: Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic in a group of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It is used as a potent, broad-spectrum antibiotic to fight bacteria in the body. It may also be used to prevent or slow anthrax after exposure.
More information can be found here, including side effects, allergic reactions, etc. http://www.drugs.com/ciprofloxacin.html
Veterinarian Equivalent: 500mg Fish Flox Forte
Cephalexin or Keflex: Cephalexin is in a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics. Keflex fights bacteria in the body. Keflex is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, teeth and mouth infections.
More information can be found here, including side effects, allergic reactions, etc. http://www.drugs.com/keflex.html
Veterinarian Equivalent: 250mg Fish Flex Forte and 500mg Fish Flex Forte
Doxycycline: Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body. It may be substituted in place of penicillin to treat common infections in those people who are allergic to that particular drug. Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, Lyme disease or tick bite infections, anthrax infections, cholera, periodontitis (gum disease), and others.
Exercise caution with expired Doxycycline / tetracycline and -cycline medications. There has been some documentation of liver damage, and some have even labeled it toxic if used past the expiration date. However, Doxycycline provides a great alternative to penicillin medications for those who are allergic.
Veterinarian Equivalent: 100mg Bird Biotic
Amoxicillin 250mg AND 500mg (FISH-MOX, FISH-MOX FORTE)
Ciprofloxacin 250mg and 500mg (FISH-FLOX, FISH-FLOX FORTE)
Cephalexin 250mg and 500mg (FISH-FLEX, FISH-FLEX FORTE)
Metronidazole 250mg (FISH-ZOLE)
Doxycycline 100mg (BIRD-BIOTIC)
Ampicillin 250mg and 500mg (FISH-CILLIN, FISH-CILLIN FORTE)
Clindamycin 300mg (FISH-CIN)
Sulfamethoxazole 400mg/Trimethoprim 80mg (BIRD-SULFA)
Readily Available Options
Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar has many uses and to fighting sinus infections is just one of them. Apple cider vinegar contains powerful antimicrobial agents which helps to kill off harmful bacteria that may be lurking in your gut and nasal passages. It also gives you the added bonus of giving a boost to the good bacteria. The vinegar component will also help to break up congested mucous.
If you make apple cider vinegar yourself, like you will have to after the SHTF, then you will be all set! But if you want to try this before the SHTF, there is something you must know when buying apple cider vinegar from a store. Most apple cider vinegar bottles that you buy at the store will unfortunately be filtered. This is not what you want. You MUST use unfiltered vinegar that still has the "mother" aka culture that is used when making the vinegar. Without the Mother, you are wasting your time and will unjustly conclude that this natural cure is nothing but hogwash.
Once you have the unfiltered apple cider vinegar, you can use it to fix your sinus infection. Simply mix up 2 spoonful of apple cider vinegar with 1 spoonful of honey. Mix into a cup of warm water and drink immediately. Do this about a half hour before each meal.
A more direct route is also available if you really want to attack the infection head on. Mix 2 spoonful of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and very slowly and carefully drop by drop administer into the nasal passage. This isn't the most pleasant experience, but it should work even better than ingestion.
Honey: Honey is obviously a recognized food and has been for thousands of years, but it also has medicinal uses as well.
Acne: Wash your face really well to clean the skin, then apply raw honey to the affected area. Keep it about at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off. Honey works on acne by helping keep moisture in the skin and because the anti-bacterial properties kill off the bacteria that cause acne.
Arthritis: Honey is a great treatment for arthritis because honey has anti-inflammatory properties. Arthritis is basically inflammation of a joint. Help with inflammation means help with arthritis.
Asthma: Asthma is a condition that lead those afflicted with it to have episodes of shortness of breath wheezing and chest congestion. Severe episodes can lead to death as the longs air sacs contract and restrict the exchange of Oxygen to the blood. The symptoms of asthma can also lead to common colds.
Pollen: Pollen, certain foods, intense exercise or impure air can trigger asthma attacks. If you suffer from Asthma, you can control it to some extent by simply avoiding things that trigger attacks. A honey and cinnamon combination is a popular home remedy for treating asthma symptoms. Take before sleep and soon after awaking.
Allergies: Eating honey from bees in your area can guard against the allergies that the pollen of local plants induces. Repeatedly eating the raw honey builds up your body’s resistance to these allergies.
Burns: Honey is a great treatment for burn victims. Studies have shown it does a better job than the silver treatments that people usually get. Simply gently apply the honey to the affected area. Bad burns often prove fatal once the patient get infections. Honey is a great and helps prevent the infections from happening.
Cough: Honey has been shown to be a better treatment for coughs than dextromethorphan. Keep in mind that there are a number of reasons why you cough and that coughing does serve a purpose. But sometimes the coughing can get excessive, and honey is a proven natural cough suppressant.
Congestion: Honey is also good at loosening up that congestion in your chest. Which will make your coughs more effective. There are other expectorants that you can take such as various teas. I would suggest mixing in a little honey with these to get a more potent affect. It is important to note that you should never give honey to babies. Wait until they are over 1 year old first.
Eczema: Eczema is a persistent inflammation of the skin. It usually appears in childhood and often persist for a lifetime. Eczema affected skin is itchy and gets tiny, red and shiny scales. It is believed to be genetic and not contagious being caused by an over reactive immune system. Honey has strong antibacterial properties which helps prevents infection and even helps make the skin healthier so that long term repeated use of topically applied honey and ingested honey can help improve the lives of eczema suffers immensely.
Gum Disease: Research has proven that honey contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide. Because of this honey does not inhibit dental plaque bacteria.
Silvercillin or Silver Shield: This is an antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral solution using silver micro-particles and filtered water. It can be widely purchased on the internet. Because it functions much like a prescribed antibiotic, it can be used for many types of infections. Sinus infections, ear infections, colds, pneumonia, pink eye, inflammation, and skin disorders respond well to treatment. I have personally used this and have conversed with multiple local users of this product.
Until next week, be at peace and know each of us can make tomorrow a better day for someone else.
And that's my thoughts for the week....
Preparedness News –
1. From Tom Marlowe - New Life on a Homestead - These 16 Homestead Practices are Downright Dangerous (newlifeonahomestead.com) - Safety, safety, safety. One chop, one cut, and a one second lapse in focus could be a huge game changer for anyone. This provides some simple but very good information we often overlook or forget.
2. From Rich Murphy - From Urban Survival Site - 34 Supplies for Fixing Things After SHTF | Urban Survival Site - Ahh, another checklist. We can never have to many checklists, right?
3. From Kitty Callaway - The Meat Eater - How to Grow, Harvest, and Dry Your Own Herbal Tea | Wild + Whole (themeateater.com) - This is a keeper. You definitely want to add herbal tea recipes to your paper library.
4. From Bob Rogers - Preppers Will - Here's Why You Should Keep Activated Charcoal In Your Survival Pack (prepperswill.com) - Another good recommendation to consider.
5. From Ashley Adamant - Practical Self-Reliance - How to Dehydrate Apples (DIY Apple Chips) (practicalselfreliance.com) - It is just about that time of year when apples will be available and falling soon. Dehydrated apple chips are a great resource to include in your food storage.
Other News -
1. From John and NIsha Whitehead - The Rutherford Institute - The Rutherford Institute :: The American Kleptocracy: A Government of Liars, Thieves and Lawbreakers | By John & Nisha Whitehead | - Lie, cheat and steal. Career thieves put forth to sell you a bill of goods. That is what my uncles used to tell me years ago. I think they could have been on to something years ahead of schedule.
2. From Jim Quinn - The Burning Platform - “SAY NOTHING” PHASE OF THIS FOURTH TURNING - American Partisan - Outstanding article. So many truths in this article. Well worth the time to read and ponder.
3. From Martin Armstrong - Armstrong Economics - Trump’s Special Master | Armstrong Economics - Interesting perspective from Martin.
4. From Daniel Horowitz - Conservative Review - Horowitz: What is the conservative plan to deal with Biden’s Fourth Reich? - Conservative Review - Great read by a young conservative Patriot.
5. From John Soloman - Just the News - Truss tapped to be Britain's next prime minister, draws comparisons to Margaret Thatcher | Just The News - Could this be the positive change needed in Great Britain to help get their ship back on course?
6. From Bruce Wilds - Advancing Time - Advancing Time: Big Companies Are Predatory, Big Governments Do Dumb Things (brucewilds.blogspot.com) - Good read. Several years ago, Festus and I heard a discussion along the lines of this topic. Why will the world require governments in the future when corporations will be bigger, stronger, and carry more authority and power? With the creation of AI, 5 G, and the Global God, information will move faster with greater relevance to the world than that of a representative governing body. (Thanks, Festus, for this submission)
7. From Lina Goudsmith - Trevor Loudon Site - Freedom Is An Adult Enterprise – Trevor Loudon's New Zeal Blog - Excellent read. Once again, you are going to read about the psychology of what is being experienced. When used right, positive or negative, the use of psychological programs is very powerful and often missed by the average populace. Fear is a powerful tool. It can be prolonged and stimulated for the good of the one using it as a tool. What is scarier than the tool being used, the fact of how many will not recognize it and play along with it. (Thanks, Festus, for this submission)
8. From Brandon Smith - Alt-Market - It's A Fact That Needs Repeating: The Federal Reserve Is A Suicide Bomber - Alt-Market.us - Have you ever wondered or given much thought to why the Federal Reserve prints and manages the amount of money printed for the United States of America, yet the Federal Reserve is not a government department or agency? Think of the Federal Reserve as being a terrorist organization using the money bomb to hold a nation and government hostage. (Thanks Festus, for this submission)
Drum roll...........
That's all my Patriot brothers and sisters.
Prayers - Please keep our great nation, our elected leaders, military and first responders in your thoughts and prayers. We pray for good health and wisdom. Please pray for our leadership to find answers and guidance to the problems facing our great nation. May your faith remain strong and answers to the unknown provided. God is good and may our prayers blanket and protect you and your circumstances. I pray for each, and every one of our Patriots.
May we pray for all the blessings and things in life to be thankful about and continued hope for revival around the world. We must continually pray for the unsaved, our family and friends who live each day without the protection for eternal life and salvation.
As Patriots we must stay strong and never give up. Our home, community, and nation need us now more than ever. Stay focused on your local community and things that will impact you around the nation. Don't allow the events around you to create fear in your life. Build your own self-reliance and focus on faith and hope. Remember we are a blessed nation, and we must continue to be great people today and make a better tomorrow. Keep charging.
Blessings,
Bravo Echo Out,
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