Hello Dear Mary !

Your Mother had the right idea because the spit would moisten the dirt and the minerals in the dirt would draw out the poison. Excuse the pun but I got some more dirt on the subject !

Herbal Remedies

Here are a few herbal remedies that you can use to replace what is in your medicine cabinet. They taste better than conventional medicines too!

Parsley - Freshens breath, is a diuretic, helps with bloating and has more vitamin C in it than
orange juice

Peppermint - Freshens breath and helps get rid of headaches

Ginger - Helps with nausea, is an anti-inflammatory, and soothes and upset tummy

Chamomile - Has been used as a remedy for menstrual cramps in many parts of the world

Slippery Elm - Soothes a sore throat (Check out a tea called "Throat Coat")

Cinnamon - A natural fungicide on plants but also lowers blood sugar

Garlic - A natural anti-bacterial food great for when you have a cold or flu (it is supposed to help
men with sexual disfunction - works like Viagra!)

Cacao - We know this as chocolate BUT it has to contain at least 70% Cacao to be beneficial. It is
known to lower blood pressure.

Kava - Naturally releives stress and works better than antidepressants

Quinine - Used to treat malaria but also helps with leg cramps (you can find it in tonic water)

It is easy to grow your own herbs. Just get a few pots and fill with loose, quick draining soil then add your plants and place in a south facing window. Grow your own medicine cabinet! Make sure you check with your doctor about the use of herbs if you are currently taking any prescibed medication as some herbs to not react well with those.

Hello Nick, How simply amazing, you are the best!!! I am glad your ok I was told when you get stung or bitten and it gets infected slice a piece of potatoe and tape it on and leave it on over night,And it really does work,I tried it, It draws everything out!!! Kathy Hamilton/simikathy

FLIES AND MOSQUITOES

These pesky flying critters can make you pretty uncomfortable when they decide to munch on you. Here's what to do.

Disinfect the bite. Flies and mosquitoes can spread disease. So wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water, says North Carolina allergist Claude Frazier, M.D. Then apply an antiseptic.

Rub in an aspirin. Herbert Luscombe, M.D., professor emeritus at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, recommends an unusual aspirin treatment to help control inflammation. As soon as possible after being bitten, moisten your skin and rub an aspirin tablet right over the bite.

Relieve the itching. Fly and mosquito bites may produce swelling and intense itching that can last for three or four days. Dr. Frazier recommends the following to control these symptoms:

• An oral antihistamine. Choose an over-the-counter allergy or cold preparation.
• Calamine lotion.
• Ice packs.
• Salt. With water, moisten it into a paste and apply to the bite.
• Baking soda. Dissolve 1 teaspoon in a glass of water. Dip a cloth into the solution and place on the bite for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Epsom salts. Dissolve 1 tablespoon in 1 quart of hot water. Chill, then apply as above.

Practice prevention. You may be able to avoid a bite in the first place by using the repellents below. Keep in mind that the hotter it is, the more active flies and mosquitoes seem to be. And mosquitoes, in particular, are at their worst in damp areas, such as near ponds or in marshes. Some species are especially pesty late in the day and are attracted to outdoor lighting after dark. So don't let down your guard at sunset.

Thiamine chloride. Taken orally, this B vitamin may repel insects by being excreted through the skin, says Dr. Frazier. He does caution that it may cause itching, hives, and a rash in some people.

When the Itsy Bitsy Spider Turns Nasty Little Miss Muffet was no sissy—she was just savvy enough not to risk a spider bite. Basically, says paramedic Jeff Rusteen, all spiders are poisonous. It's just that most of them aren't big enough or powerful enough to penetrate the skin and do much harm. If you do get bitten, says Claude Frazier, M.D., follow these steps: Wash the wound and disinfect it with an antiseptic. Apply an ice pack to slow absorption of the venom. Neutralize some of the poison, adds Herbert Luscombe, M.D., by moistening the bite with water and rubbing in an aspirin tablet. Beware, a black widow spider bite can cause intense abdominal pain that could be confused with appendicitis. Let your doctor know you've been bitten so he can administer injections of calcium gluconate, says Dr. Luscombe. A bite from a brown recluse spider might also produce problems, he adds. If an intensely sore lump develops (sometimes weeks after the injury), consult your doctor.

DEET. He also recommends any commercial repellent containing N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET). Apply generously over all exposed skin but be careful around the eyes—it can sting badly if perspiration carries it into the eye. Do not use too often, however, especially on children.

Chlorine bleach. Dr. Luscombe recommends bathing in a very diluted solution of chlorine bleach before going out. Mix two capfuls of bleach in a tub of warm water. Soak in it for 15 minutes. Be very careful not to get the solution near or in the eyes. The repellent effect should last several hours.

Bath oil. Certain bath oils, such as Alpha-Keri and Avon's Skin-So-Soft, have a repellent effect, he says.

Sunscreen. Some sunscreens also repel insects. "Pre-Sun, for instance, seems to work as a repellent," says Dr. Luscombe.

Vicks Vapourub. Some people have success with this strong-smelling ointment, he says.

Zinc. Illinois allergist George Shambaugh, Jr., M.D., professor emeritus at Northwestern University Medical School, recommends daily doses of zinc (at least 60 milligrams) as a natural repellent. Be aware that it takes about a month to build up enough zinc in your system to discourage insects. (Take extra supplements only with the approval and supervision of your doctor.)