Cat's Kitchen

By Cat, June 2019

I have what is called an “allergy to the sun,” which means that I break out in a rash, get a bad headache and digestive upset when I am in the mid-day sun too long. It was worse when I was a child, but it can still happen. It is the primary reason I wear a hat whenever I’m outdoors. I learned early-on that applying sunscreen doesn’t help me much.

Because I have avoided the sun for most of my life, I’ve had a vitamin D deficiency (it is made by the sun’s UVB radiation interacting with cholesterol in the skin), and supplement my daily diet with vitamin D3 oil. But now, after reading a great article by Dr. Mercola (1A), I’ve learned I can protect my skin from the sun’s damaging UV radiation, and still get vitamin D from the sun, by what I eat and what supplements I take. Read on for my summary of that article, plus additional info.

See also: 1. Diet & Health Menu; 2. The Vital Importance of Sunlight; The work of Dr. John Nash Ott
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By Cat, Feb 2019 (June 2019: moved from original article: Detoxing from Toxic Heavy Metals and Other Toxins)

Some heavy metals are good for you (up to a point), such as copper, iron, selenium, zinc, and more. For these, it is best to take them in chelated form, such as bound to a protein, peptide or amino acid). Taking them in their ionized (salt) form, can be harmful. Others are quite toxic (no matter how you are exposed to them), such as aluminum, lead and mercury.

Detox (detoxification) is “the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including the human body, which is mainly carried out by the liver.” (11) The methods for heavy metal detox are still being formulated, and I have tried several of them to detox mercury. Unfortunately, I’ve developed food sensitivities to the detox agent in each case.

• Includes: (those marked with ‘*’ I have not yet tried)
  • EDTA chelation;
  • Mercola’s protocol for DMSA or DMPS chelation
  • Chlorella and Cilantro with Vitamin C protocol
  • BioSol and PectaSol protocol*
  • Humic and fulvic acids
  • Garlic for lead detox (which I eat frequently from my garden)
  • Cyto-Detox supplement* 
  • Ultra Binder supplement* 
  • NanoVi device*
• See Also (This Site): 1. Notes on Natural Health Topics Menu, especially H-P for Liver Cleanse: 7 foods that do the job  (includes those that help with heavy metal detox); 2. Detox (About) including Several Detox Methods; 3. Natural Healing Remedies Menu;
• See Also, Other Sites: Mercola interviews of Dr Shade on Mercury Exposure (8f), and Three Pillars of Detox (8e).

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By Cat, Christmas 2017

These are traditional warming beverages at Christmastime or winter in general, along with Eggnog or Tom & Jerry.

Speaking of the latter, my Mom used to make the Tom and Jerry batter using fresh eggs and sugar, for use in making Tom & Jerry drinks for sale in our bar during the Christmas season. My Dad made the rum and liqueur mix that was added to the Tom & Jerry drink. I wish I had those recipes, but they are long lost… I loved to help Mom, especially because I got to lick the beaters, and then when the mess was all cleaned up, Dad made me the drink, but with root beer added instead of the rum mix.

• Includes: 1. Wassail; 2. Hot Mulled Cider;
• See also: 1. Beverages Menu; 2. Holiday Menu

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By Cat, June 2019

Eczema is usually a sign the liver is over-worked, so it sends toxins to be excreted through the skin, resulting in irritation of the skin. This is usually a sign of a food sensitivity or other gut issue. When I was a teenager I had a pretty bad case of seborrheic dermatitis, one form of scalp eczema that is commonly called dandruff. It eventually went away, but now at age 70, it is back, affecting not only my scalp but also my nano-labial folds (area near each side of nose, or crease at each side of the mouth). (See Healthline: Eczema on Scalp (1A) or picture #3 on Healthline Pictures (1B) for more).

Scalp eczema can occur in people with Parkinson’s. I’m hoping that’s not the case for me  (but I do have a tremor in my hands).

It’s important to note that the treatments included in this post only treat the symptoms; to treat the root cause, you need to find out what in your diet, and/or parasite(s) is causing the trouble. See the section below: General Notes for Treating Root Cause of Scaly Scalp and/or Skin Lesions for more detail about treating the root cause.

NOTE: Eczema is often mistaken for psoriasis; see my Notes on Natural Healing Topics, H – P for my notes on psoriasis of the scalp; indeed, my doctor originally said I had scalp psoriasis, but I’ve determined it is eczema, based on newer symptoms.

• Includes: 1. Commercial Treatments; 2. Treating Seborrheic Dermatitis Symptoms; 2a. Commercial treatment (of symptoms); 2b. Natural Homemade Treatments for Scalp Symptoms; 2b. Natural Treatments for Affected Skin Areas Symptoms (Lesions); 3. General Notes for Treating Root Cause of Scaly Scalp and/or Skin Lesions;
• See also: 1. Natural Health and Healing Topics Menu; 2. Salicylic Acid Shampoo (for Seborrheic dermatitis – Dandruff) 

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By Cat, June 2019 (image, right, from Wikimedia Commons)

Dr. Bronner’s liquid Castile soap

A few weeks ago, I noticed a lot of itchiness on my face, ears and scalp. And then dandruff and redness with scaly areas on each side of my nose (near bottom) and chin; that got my attention. I haven’t had eczema (seborrheic dermatitis) on my face in over 40 years, but I recognized its return, right away. Last time, my Portland naturopath tried several herbs (that treat the liver and are anti-microbial) which helped, but every time I washed my face, the symptoms returned. So then he suggested homeopathic 6x Oregon grape; the problem was gone in 2 days!

When I tried the homeopathic this time, it isn’t working as well as before. I’m in Montana now so cannot consult my former naturopath, so decided to do some research on my own. I’m using a combo of honey, coconut oil and tea tree oil on my face, and want to try a salicylic acid shampoo for my scalp. The following is the result of my research into how to make that, since I don’t like all the synthetic ingredients in commercial versions.

I should note that I know eczema is the result of the liver being overwhelmed with toxins, so excretes them through the skin. I am working on the source of those toxins (diet and food sensitivities) to get at the cause, in addition to supporting my liver and treating the symptoms on my face and scalp.

See also: 1. Natural Healing Methods and Personal Care Menu; 2. Notes on Natural Health Topics Menu; 3. Seborrheic Dermatitis (Dandruff, Facial Eczema) Continue reading →