Immune Boosting Fire Cider Recipe for Colds and Flu

Fire Cider

Prepare this fall and winter season before things get too cold by making a batch of Fire Cider a.k.a. Master Tonic or Flu Shots. Fire Cider, an all natural cold and flu folk remedy, has been a tradition passed down through the ages of time. This fiery concoction is an immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, warming, decongestant, and helps with circulation & digestion. Its flavor is potent, hot, spicy, pungent, sour and sweet all mixed together.

There are many ways to make this recipe, but most agree upon the basic ingredients of ginger, horseradish, onion, garlic, and chile peppers or cayenne powder. These ingredeients are infused with apple cider vinegar, which is strained and mixed with honey. Rosemary Gladstar, a well known herbalist, coined the term Fire Cider over 35 years ago and published her recipe in her book, Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs on page 74. My recipe is adapted from Rosemary Gladstar's version with some added extras of my own. I would encourage you to experiment and make your own according to your own tastes and available ingredients. I have included my recipe below with a few variations and other optional ingredients. The outcomes range from super spicy to something that gently warms. It is fun to play with the mixture of the ingredients and see what subtleties you can taste from the differences.

My Fire Cider Ingredients

Ingredients (* = an optional ingredient I used in mine)

• ½ cup ginger root, pealed and grated or pealed and diced (great for stomach problems, digestion, blood circulation, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, and bronchitis)
• ½ cup horseradish root, pealed and grated or pealed and diced (great for a number of things including digestion, blood circulation, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, tonsillitis, sinus infections and bronchitis. anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-septic, stimulant)
• 1 medium onion, pealed and diced (great for a number of things including blood circulation, upper respiratory tract infections, cough. anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant)
• 10 cloves of garlic, pealed and minced or pealed and diced (great for a number of things including coughs, colds, sore throats, blood circulation, viral infections, and bacterial infections. anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-viral)
• 2 chile peppers like jalapeño, cayenne or habanero peppers, chopped or ¼ tsp ground cayenne or pinch of dried chillies (vitamin C-rich, anti-inflammatory, vasodilator for healthy blood flow)
• *1 lemon, juiced and zested and/or quartered and thinly sliced crosswise (vitamin C-rich, aids digestion, and anti-oxidant)
• *rosemary, several fresh sprigs or 2 tbsp dried (great for a number of things including digestion, cough, stimulating immune system, increases blood flow. anti-inflammatory)
• *1 tbsp turmeric or ¼ cup fresh grated or pealed and diced turmeric (great for a number of things including stomach problems, digestion, cough, and bronchitis, colds. anti-inflammatory, anti-infection, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, adaptogen - lessens stress and helps boost immunity)
• *cinnamon, to taste or a couple of cinnamon sticks (great for a number of things including coughs, colds, sore throats, viral infections and bacterial infections. anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-microbial)
• raw unfiltered unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (at least 5% acidity) (great for a number of things including digestion, sore throats, colds, flu, infections. anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, energy booster, pro-biotic)
• raw local honey, to taste (to be added after a month when herb infused vinegar is ready to be strained to complete the Fire Cider) (great for a number of things including sore throats, colds, coughs, infections. anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, pro-biotic)

More Optional Additions

• cardamom, to taste (helps relieve digestive problems induced by garlic and onion)
• garam masala, to taste (usually a blend of turmeric, cloves, nutmeg, mace spice, cinnamon, peppercorns, cumin, cardamom)
• curry, to taste (usually a blend of coriander, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, and chili powder or cayenne) (great for a number of things including stomach problems, digestion, cough, and bronchitis, colds. anti-inflammatory, anti-infection, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, adaptogen - lessens stress and helps boost immunity)
• cloves, powder to taste or tsp buds (great for a number of things including digestion, blood circulation, coughs, stress. anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, immune booster and stimulant)
• nutmeg or mace spice powder to taste (great for a number of things including digestion, sleep, blood flow. anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-depressant, immune booster)
• thyme, several fresh sprigs or 2 tbsp dried (great for a number of things including sore throats, coughs, whooping cough, bronchitis, chest congestion, and bacterial infections. anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial)
• basil, several fresh sprigs or 2 tbsp dried (anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory)
• oregano, several fresh sprigs or 2 tbsp dried (anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, nutrient dense)
• prunella a.k.a. all heal or self heal, 1 tbsp freshly chopped or dried leaves (anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-septic)
• hibiscus flowers, 1 tsp dried (vitamin C-rich, anti-oxidant)
• rose hips, small handful (great for chest ailments, coughs, colds. vitamin C-rich)
• elderberries (Sambucus nigra), small handful (great for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. anti-bacterial, anti-viral, vitamin C-rich, anti-oxidant)
• hawthorn berries, small handful (great for digestion, cardiovascular, circulatory, and respiratory, blood flow. vitamin C-rich, anti-oxidant)
• pomegranate seeds/arils, juiced (vitamin C-rich, anti-oxidant)
• sun-dried tomatoes, small handful diced (vitamin C-rich, anti-oxidant)
• other smallish citrus fruits, juiced and zested and/or quartered and thinly sliced crosswise (vitamin C-rich, anti-oxidant)
• ½-1 tsp black peppercorns (digestive stimulant and expectorant)
• other immune system boosting ingredients you want to add

Equipment

• cutting board
• sharp knife/peeler/grater
• canning funnel
• 1 quart size jar
• parchment or wax paper
• cheesecloth or a large ricer (something to strain it after a month or so)

The ingredients before and after Apple Cider Vinegar.

Directions
After preparing; layer and pack all roots, herbs, spices, vegetables and fruit into a clean 1-quart jar. Pour the apple cider vinegar over the contents, making sure they are covered with it. Tap the side gently to make sure the air bubbles rise to the surface and pop. Place a square of parchment or wax paper under the lid so that it doesn't acidify the metal and cause corrosion or use a plastic lid that fits. Tighten lid onto the jar. Shake well. Compost all peals and scraps.

Compost the lovely scraps.

Let the jar sit and steep for a month or longer in a cool dark place, shaking daily. After the month is up strain and decant the vinegar into a clean jar. Add honey to taste. Refrigerate and use within a year.

Serving Suggestions
Take 1-2 tbsp at the first sign of cold and repeat the dose every 3-4 hours until symptoms subside. If you love spicy hot flavors you could even have a whole shot glass full to ward off the nasties.You can also take it throughout the cold and flu season to prevent symptoms from occurring at all.

Make something out of the ingredients you strained out (if you used cinnamon sticks you can grate them as well. waste not want not!):

• spicy egg/spring rolls
• a spicy veggie pancake
• a spicy pizza
• sautée with meats, tempeh, or tofu for a stir fry, soup, or ingredients for a sandwich or wrap
• mince and add to a chip dip, marinade or condiment
• make up your own

Use the Fire Cider herb infused vinegar to:

• baste or marinate meats, tempeh, or tofu
• drizzle over salads as a dressing
• drizzle over steamed veggies or sautéed greens
• mix it with a condiment like honey mustard to give it an extra kick
• add in soups or chilis
• mix with lemonade or orange juice
• mix with hot water and extra honey to make a warming tea
• anything you think would be yummy

If you have made your own Fire Cider/Master Tonic/Flu Shot recipe please share it in the comments below!

Other References
February 2nd, is World Fire Cider Day!
Free Fire Cider
Tradition Not Trademark
Petition to sign
Rosemary Gladstar has a book out now: Fire Cider!: 101 Zesty Recipes for Health-Boosting Remedies Made with Apple Cider Vinegar
Herbal Roots Zine: Kids Can Make Fire Cider Too!: has a free printable label, card, and 14 page fire cider e-book
Kiva's Gila Harvest Cider: a variation for sensitive stomachs

Rosemary Gladstar making her version of Fire Cider...

You can find Rosemary Gladstar's version along with so many of her other awesome herbal recipes in her book Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs...

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: The medical information provided on this blog is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). I am not a medical professional, just a mom with a opinion. Even if a statement made about the natural remedy is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. I am only suggesting that you should try it for yourself and see if helps you. People are all different and outcomes could vary drastically. I am not selling my Fire Cider, I am simply making my recipe available for free to all those who read this post and want to make it themselves.

Rosemary Gladstar's Honey Onion Cough Syrup with Added Garlic

Homemade Rosemary Gladstar's Honey Onion Cough Syrup with added Garlic:
I made a natural remedy for cough, colds and flu. Organic honey is best used for this recipe. The beauty of this recipe is that it is made with ingredients you probably already have sitting around your kitchen. Rosemary Gladstar is a wonderful herbalist that I would love to meet in person someday soon. Here is her recipe with an addition of garlic...



Slice 1 large onion into half moons and place the slices into a sauce pan. You can also add a few minced cloves of chopped garlic at this point.

Barely cover the onion slices with honey. Warm on low heat until the onions are soft and mushy and the honey tastes strongly of onion and garlic. Store in a jar in the refrigerator. Isn't it a gorgeous color!

At the first sign of a cold, take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon every hour or two. If you already have a cold, take 1 teaspoon 3 or 4 times/day to speed up your recovery.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: The medical information provided on this blog is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). I am not a medical professional, just a mom with a opinion. Even if a statement made about the natural remedy is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. I am only suggesting that you should try it for yourself and see if helps you. People are all different and outcomes could vary drastically.

Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes Review

I love the quote from William Arthur Ward that reads, “A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.” This is so true. I am trying to prepare my new to me house to become a home so that we might be able to share our love and dreams there as a family. I also love the LDS scripture in D&C 109:8 that says, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;...”. These things are very important to me in organizing my home. Right now I am working on the learning and the order in abundance. The rest I need to work on more steadfastly.

I homeschool so learning in my home is happening round the clock. However when people are sick the learning and everything else seems to come to a sudden halt. Being sick or having a sick child can disrupt everything because of the care involved. This is why keeping a clean orderly house is so important to me. Even though my home isn't as spotless as I would like it to be because of busy schedules and messy children I still try my best to make it that way.

I love the New Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes because they have a botanical active ingredient called thymol, a component of thyme oil. Thymol is an antiseptic and is antibacterial. These wipes kill and sanitize over 99.9%* of household, classroom, or workplace germs and cold & flu viruses. They are also easy and convenient to use.  I received free for this review one container of  Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes in Breeze scent and one container of Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes in Lemongrass scent. The Breeze scented one was a bit overpowering for me and made me want to sneeze, but I really liked the Lemongrass scented one a lot. They both have easy to open flip top lids that make it simple to get the wipes out and they are rolled up inside so another pops up when one is pulled out. These can be safely used around kids, pets and food. They don't require rinsing after cleaning surfaces that come in contact with food, paws and little hands. These are great for the cleaning of all hard non porous surfaces where bacteria or unpleasant odors are a concern, including: desks, tables, countertops, food preparation surfaces, floors, appliances, cribs, children's toys, toilet seats, garbage cans and pet habitats.

*Kills over 99.9% of household germs: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Enterobacter aerogenes, Influenza A virus, Rhinovirus type 37, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1. Sanitizes hard non-porous non-food contact surfaces of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes in the presence of light or moderate soil load with a 30-second contact time.

BUY IT
Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes are available now at most Wal-mart stores and other retailers in both Breeze and Lemongrass scent. The suggested retail price is $2.99 for 35 wipes and $4.99 for 75 wipes. You can also get a coupon for $1 off of 2 on the Scotch Brite website.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Scotch Brite for sending me product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Tips for Pregnant and/or Nursing Women with Colds or Flu

The above picture is of me when I was pregnant with my daughter, Zari. My sister Melody who had her new baby girl December 29th of last year (this is her first pregnancy and child) asked me and her other friends on Facebook when she was pregnant to post any suggestions of what medicine or other remedies she could take that would be OK during pregnancy for cold/flu symptoms. I didn't even have to think about it. I have been pregnant and/or nursing most of my married life it seems. I have a lot of experience with pregnancy, childbirth and child rearing. It just comes naturally to me now. Here are my many tips I gave to her. I thought that I should share them with all of you too since many of you are mothers too.

1. Stay Hydrated: drink lots of herbal teas (especially ginger, echinacea, chamomile, and peppermint. Also, hot water with honey and lemon.) or other soothing hot beverages (only the ones safe for pregnancy though), eat soups, drink more water.

2. Get Enough Sleep and Rest: Prop yourself up if you have to so that you can breath in bed. Wrap around a large body pillow for comfort.

3. Get Fresh Air and Sunshine When Ever You Can: You need your daily dose of vitamin D from the sun and fresh air because it can get stuffy inside the house. Also exercise is still needed to keep you immune system healthy.

4. Eat Healthy Nourishing Meals/Foods: Eat foods with lots of garlic (if it doesn't cause problems) and vitamin C, eat and drink less sugar, add herbs and spices to your diet that fight growies (cardamom, cayenne, curry, cinnamon and cloves are effective bacteria fighters), eat a lot of green leafy raw veggies, eat yogurt because of the probiotics and drink cranberry juice (not juice cocktail!) especially if you are getting antibiotics.

5. Breath Again: use the Netti pot (make sure to disinfect it before and after every use), non medicated Saline Nasal Drops and Spray, Mentholated chest rub, steam and hydrotherapy (take a shower, hot bath, etc. Also, essential oils, such as tea tree, peppermint and eucalyptus are safe and effective to use with steam inhalations with a room vaporizer or humidifier.), Boogie Wipes.

6. Get Rid of Bad Bacteria and Keep The Germs Down: Saltwater gargle, Colloidal Silver (a few drops in the mouth or infected ear), the above herbs and spices in number 4, keep good hygiene and brush your teeth/tongue/gums regularly. Disinfect surface areas with a natural antibacterial like Seventh Generation or Method Sprays and wipes, ultra-violet light, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or vinegar. Cough into your sleeve (the bend of your elbow) or a tissue not your hands. Don't stifle a cough and don't sniff the mucous back into your lungs. Sneezing, blowing your nose, and coughing are a must when trying to expel germs from the body. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.

7. Take Some Medicine and Natural/Homeopathic Remedies if needed for symptoms: Make sure they are safe for pregnancy and nursing women. These come to mind: Tylenol/Acetaminophen, cough lozenges (esp. the kind with propolis or eucalyptus and lemon), Emergen-C, Airborne, Cold Eeze, Boiron.

8. Keep Taking Your Prenatals and Supplement: Prenatals are important. Do not stop taking them when you are sick. Also take some Echinacea angustofolia and zinc supplements if you are not getting them in your prenatal because they help with immune support.

9. Use Hot or Cold Packs: For aches and pains hot and cold packs work wonders. You can get herbal packs, rice packs, or hot water bottles that work without wasting electricity too.

10. Seek Medical/Homeopathic Advice/Attention: If all else fails and you still feel sick go to a medical/homeopathic professional. Your body might need some stronger medicine/remedies that can only be prescribed.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this blog post is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). I am not a medical professional, just a mom with a opinion. Even if a statement made about the medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. I am only suggesting that you should try it for yourself and see if helps you. People are all different and outcomes could vary drastically.

Tips For Keeping Your Family Cold and Flu-Free

Cold and flu season is just around the corner and I wanted to share my tips that I do to keep my family Cold and Flu-Free this season. When it is cold outside it is easy to want to stay indoors where it is nice and warm, but sometimes that is where the germs are lingering. If I am stuck indoors where the germs are I like to eliminate them. If I am stuck outdoors then the best thing to do is dress for the weather and be prepared for weather changes too. What you don't want to do is get stuck somewhere and not have the proper attire to keep you warm.

1. Disinfect things. We use Lysol products, chlorine bleach, ultra-violet light, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or vinegar to disinfect things in our home. Surface areas, knobs, handles and other most touched surfaces can cause someone to get germs easily from others who have them if touched by them. The best way to get rid of germs is to wipe them away with a disinfectant wipe.

2. Eat Healthy. Eating healthy well balanced meals will help in keeping your body strong. Yogurt has probiotics that are good for inhibiting pathogens and toxin producing bacteria. Camomile tea and/or supplement helps immunity to getting sick. Zinc syrup or lozenges are great for shortening affects of a cold or flu. Drink your orange juice! Vitamin C is great for helping the immune system. Get plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement. The best way to get vitamin D is from the sun and foods that are enriched with it. If you are stuck inside make sure you get your daily dose to maintain a good immune system and promote bone health along with calcium. Get plenty of fluids.

3. Get your sleep. Getting a good amount of sleep helps with keeping your body well rested and your immune system working well. The optimal amount of sleep varies from person to person. There really is no magic number to a perfect amount of sleep, but getting what is needed for your own body is mandatory in keeping healthy, happy and functioning well.

4. Get your exercise. Exercising helps combat health conditions and diseases along with maintaining well being, improving mood, controlling weight and boosting energy.

5. Have good hygiene and brush your teeth/tongue/gums regularly.

6. Cough into your sleeve (the bend of your elbow) or a tissue not your hands. Don't stifle a cough and don't sniff the mucous back into your lungs. Sneezing, blowing your nose, and coughing are a must when trying to expel germs from the body.

7. Let some fresh air in and don't over heat your house. Overheating and not ventilating properly will only make the air in your home stagnant, stale and dry. Lack of humidity causes our nose and tonsils to dry out so they cannot trap germs efficiently. When this happens it becomes difficult to sneeze and cough. Turning down the thermostat and turning on a room humidifier keeps virus-laden mucus flowing out of your body. As gross as it is you need to get it out of your system.

8. Teach children how to keep well. The most important times to clean hands include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, nap-time, play stations) and before meals or snacks. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly. If you are a good example your children will follow. Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Show your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. Better to be on the sleeve than in the hand. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.

9. Try to stay away from others who are sick and if you get sick try to stay home. Try not to spread germs to others.


Lysol Cold & Flu PreventionLysol Cold & Flu

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Boiron Homeopathic Medicine Review

At the beginning of last year I was introduced to a company that makes homeopathic medicine called Boiron by one of my favorite magazines, KIWI. I have mentioned KIWI before. I am a member of their Parent Advisory Board and a subscriber of their wonderful magazine. Anyway, I was invited by email to a free Winter Health Webinar hosted by KIWI and Boiron‏ on the natural approaches to treating cold and flu for the whole family. I received a Boiron Wellness Kit with Children's Oscillococcinum, Children's Coldcalm Pellets, Children's Chestal honey cough syrup in it to try free because I attended. I learned a lot about this awesome company and their products when I attended the Webinar. I was also approached by KIWI and their Moms Meet mom's group division to become a Green Mom Ambassador for them and sample some more Boiron children's products with my moms play group I have here in my neighborhood.

Let me just say that Boiron and their products are awesome! They really work for my family. I really hadn't ever got a chance to try them out myself until recently though because I had only gotten the children's products previously. Thankfully though I saw a promotion that I was accepted to on Tomoson for a Boiron Cough, Cold & Flu Value Pack which has basically the same homeopathic medicine that I got to try out for my kids except in adult strength.

"Homeopathic medicines are therapeutically active micro-doses of mineral, botanical and biological substances. Used to treat many acute health conditions, these medicines are safe, natural, and have no side effects."

The Oscillococcinum is for flu-like symptoms. So it is great for if you're feeling run down, having headaches, body aches, chills, and fever.

The Coldcalm is for cold symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, sinus & nasal congestion and minor sore throat. I tried the Coldcalm for my sinus stuff and it helped it go away.

The Chestal is for dry coughs, chest congestion, and other coughs. It has a great honey flavor that is so much better tasting than any other cough medicine I have tried and really works! I tried it when I got an awful lung infection recently and it helped a lot!

Fan/Like Boiron on Facebook. Follow Boiron on Twitter. Sign up for their e-newsletter.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

The information provided on this blog post is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). I am not a medical professional, just a mom with a opinion. Even if a statement made about the medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. I am only suggesting that you should try it for yourself and see if helps you. People are all different and outcomes could vary drastically.

Method Antibac Cleaner Review and Giveaway

Method's new Antibac cleaners are powered by CleanWell's core technology which uses thymol (thyme extract) for their disinfectants. This powerful ingredient helps to eradicate germs without using bleach and triclosan! I reviewed Seventh Generation cleaning products a while back and was wondering what the difference between Method's Antibac products and Seventh Generation's disinfectant cleaners and wipes. Both, you see, are powered by CleanWell's core technology...both use thymol as the active botanical ingredient to disinfect. CleanWell's core technology kills 99.99% of germs* botanically (specifically: influenza A, H1N1, rhinovirus, staphylococcus aureus, salmonella enterica, pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli) using the active ingredient thymol, a component of thyme oil which is derived from the common herb thyme. *Refer to disinfecting product labels for full details.

I got the answers I wanted from Methods product formulators (Green Chefs). They told me that the key differences between Method Antibac and Seventh Generation's antibacterial products are:

• Fragrance: Method Antibac offers bathroom spray in spearmint and kitchen spray and wipes in lemon verbena. Seventh Generation only has one fragrance for its items, which is lemongrass + thyme.

My thoughts on scent difference: Both Method and Seventh Generation products contain thymol and have the thyme sent. After smelling Seventh Generation's spray cleaners, Method's Antibac products seem to me far less overpowering with the thyme scent because of the lemon verbena and spearmint scents that are added. I can also smell the spearmint and lemon verbena in the Method products a lot more after smelling the Seventh Generation products. I love the spearmint scented one that Method makes for the bathroom because of its calming effect. Spearmint essential oil is known to have some antifungal activity, although less than oregano essential oil which is an ingredient in both cleaners. I also love the lemon verbena scented one for the kitchen that Method makes because lemon scented things are uplifting and one of my favorite scents to clean with.

• Product differentiation: Method's bathroom spray is specially formulated with more cleaning surfactant than the kitchen spray to attack tough bathroom jobs (e.g. soap scum and hard water stains)

My thoughts on how well the products work: I received the all purpose cleaning and disinfecting wipes in lemon verbena, antibacterial bathroom cleaner in spearmint and antibacterial kitchen cleaner in lemon verbena to try out for free from Green and Clean Mom and Method. I love how these products are safe for the environment and for my family. They wipe out unwanted dirt, grime, and germs! These products are great for eradicating flu and other germs without using bleach and triclosan!! I love how clean my kitchen, bathroom, and other surfaces get with these products and with the price so low I am going to definitely buy these again when the products I have run out.

• Sizing difference: Method spray bottles contain 28 oz. and are $3.99 while Seventh Generation spray bottles contain 26 oz. and cost anywhere from $3.74-$6.00. Methods wipes have 35 wet wipes per container and costs $3.99 while Seventh Generation wipes have 35 wet wipes per container and costs anywhere from $3.84-$5.49, although Seventh Generation wipes also have a container containing 70 wet wipes and depending upon where you get it costs anywhere from $5.09-$8.99. Method products are available at national retailers like Target, Lowe’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and Whole Foods as well as at many local grocery and drug stores.

Come to a Twitter Party to ask questions and win prizes:
When: November 17th from 10pm-11pm EST,
Who: facilitated by @thesmartmama
Where: @ Twitter with hashtag #ecowed

WIN IT:
Sommer of Green and Clean Mom has generously offered a Method “Fight the Flu” kit (which includes: Antibac bathroom spray, hand sanitizer, and fun stickers.) for one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Method website and tell me by commenting on this post which other product besides the ones I mentioned you would want to try and why.

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Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday November 26, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to all 18 years and over in the U.S.!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Method and Green and Clean Mom for sending me Method Antibac products for free to test and review and for providing the giveaway. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Seventh Generation Review and Giveaway

Hopefully your child won't be coming home from school with more than just their backpack, pencils, notebooks, and homework. No, I am not talking about a note from the principal's office...although that would be something to dread too. I am talking about germs, those pesky tiny organisms, or living things, that can cause diseases or make you really sick. A lot of days of good learning time has been lost by germs making your kids sick. Don't just fret about the cleanliness of common school surfaces [as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International)] in the classroom...instead try and help by sending your child's teacher supplies to keep things clean, germ-free, and make the classroom environment a healthier one.

Since my kids homeschool I try to keep my home a healthy learning environment by using eco-friendly products that will safely and effectively eradicate germs. Seventh Generation has some awesome cleaning products that do just that. They have botanical disinfectant spray cleaners and wipes that kill 99.99% of germs* naturally and they are effective against Influenza A virus using the active ingredient thymol, a component of thyme oil which is derived from the common herb thyme. *Refer to disinfecting product labels for full details.

Because I am a member of MyBlogSpark and accepted this free offer to review I received a Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" kit that included a Seventh Generation backpack, two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes, disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner, facial tissue and a roll of natural paper towels. I was very surprised with the multi-surface disinfecting spray cleaner and wipes and how well they worked at getting the surfaces clean. They did their job very well. I used them in my kitchen, bathrooms, and my boys' homeschool desks, etc. They smelled lovely of thyme and lemongrass. I also used the natural paper towels for spills and my husband loves using them for extracting the oils out of his face (He has found that brown, unbleached or unwhitened, paper towels and napkins seem to work better for oily complexions). These are made from 100% recycled paper (minimum 80% post-consumer). They are also hypo-allergenic because they are unbleached or unwhitened (no chlorine chemicals used), unscented, and dye-free. The facial tissue is also 100% recycled paper, hypo-allergenic, and instead of unwhitened they are whitened without chlorine bleach. They are super soft and great for sore noses.

This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child´s health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:

Optimize the immune system

* Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn't last as long.

* Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.

* Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.

Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs

* Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom/home. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, nap-time, play stations) and before meals or snacks.

* Sixty percent of teachers surveyed said that they request that parents donate disinfecting wipes to the classroom. Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes are effective naturally with no toxins or unhealthy chemicals added.

* Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

* Demonstrate to your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.

BUY IT:
You can purchase Seventh Generation products off their website HERE or find a store near you that carries Seventh Generation products.

WIN IT:
Jennifer at MyBlogSpark has has generously offered a Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" Kit Prize Pack [includes a Seventh Generation backpack, two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one to donate to your child´s classroom), disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner, facial tissue and paper towels] for one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Seventh Generation website and tell me what you learned OR what other product you would love to try that I didn't mention above.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Become my fan/like on facebook and write that you are entering this giveaway on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Seventh Generation in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

7. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

8. Tweet this: @finamoon: @seventhgen WIN A Seventh Generation Back-to-School Prize Pack #giveaway #myblogspark http://bit.ly/cIb82u
(Daily Extras are Available)

9. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

10. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

11. Fan/Like Seventh Generation on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed, blogged about this, listed it, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday August 27, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. Only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: The product, gift pack, information and additional gift pack to give away were all given to me free by Seventh Generation and MyBlogSpark. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Keeping My Family Healthy During Cold & Flu Season

Yes, it is cold and flu season and H1N1 influenza (Swine flu) is going around. I know you have heard a lot lately about taking precautions and avoiding people who are sick. Here are ways my family tries to stay healthy during this time...

Contain and Get Rid of the Germs: Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth which can spread any virus you may have picked up on your hands to your body. Cover your coughing and sneezing. Cough into your sleeve (the bend of your elbow) or a tissue/Boogie Wipe not your hands. Don't stifle a cough and don't sniff the mucous back into your lungs. Sneezing, blowing your nose, and coughing are a must when trying to expel germs from the body. Have good hygiene and brush your teeth/tongue/gums regularly.

Try to stay away from others who are sick and if you get sick try to stay home. Disinfect your house. We use chlorine bleach, ultra-violet light, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or vinegar to disinfect things in our home. Let some fresh air in and don't over heat your house. Overheating and not ventilating properly will only make the air in your home stagnant, stale and dry. Lack of humidity causes our nose and tonsils to dry out so they cannot trap germs efficiently. When this happens it becomes difficult to sneeze and cough. Turning down the thermostat and turning on a room humidifier keeps virus-laden mucus flowing out of your body. As gross as it is you need to get it out of your system.

Be Good to Yourself: Get plenty of rest. Remember the old saying: Early to bed, Early to rise, Makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise. There is a lot of truth to that saying. Eat healthy and don't skip breakfast. Avoid refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup and caffeine. Take vitamins and supplements (We take extra vitamin C when it is cold and flu season). Get plenty of fluids. Green tea, water, herbal teas and soups can help tremendously. Orange juice is also great because of the vitamin C. Avoid alcohol and tobacco products (I don't drink alcoholic beverages or smoke anyway). Your immune system needs a boost to help your body not become ill. Exercise and managing stress is also very important.

Here is one of my favorite soup recipes:

Cheesy Chicken Chowder
Servings 6

1 package bacon, diced, cooked, drained
6 medium red potatoes, washed, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 large carrot, grated
1 medium onion, minced
4 large chicken breasts, cooked, diced
2 cans cream of chicken soup, condensed
2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
1 stalk broccoli flowerets
2 cups cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon thyme leaver
2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cups milk

In a large sauce pan cook the bacon and remove when crisp. Save a couple of teaspoons of fat in the pan and add the potatoes , onions, celery, and carrots. Cook until the veggies are tender (about 20 minutes). When the veggies are tender add the broccoli, corn, chicken, spices, soup and milk. Stir until all is smooth and warm then add the sour cream and cheese and stir on low heat until cheese is melted.

Use Natural or Homeopathic Remedies/Medicines: Have you ever tried homeopathic medicines? Homeopathy is a therapeutic method used to help the body re-balance and heal itself using natural substances in micro-doses. My family uses homeopathic and natural remedies/medicine and vitamins and minerals to help us stay well or get over illness sooner. We have successfully used Emergen-C, Airborne, Cold Eeze, colloidal silver, Boogie Wipes, saline nose drops, extra vitamin C, zinc lozenges, and tea.

I haven't tried them yet, but I just learned about 3 new homeopathic medicine for kids that are made by Boiron, the world leader in homeopathy, through One2One Network: Children's Oscillococcinum®, Children's Coldcalm Pellets®, Children's Chestal®.

In case you want to try them out yourself HERE is a link to a $1 off coupon for Boiron's new children's products.