soothing. so very soothing.

Misty has the ‘Nasty Pox’ (of the chicken variety) all over him.  Including inside his mouth and throat, ouch.  He doesn’t want to eat solid food, because obviously, it HURTS.  I’m trying to tempt him with something cool, soothing and nutritious to help his healing.  He is just drinking his usual “milkies,” (formula) so isn’t going hungry, but getting something else in him would be a good idea I think.  Ok, and yes  I want a smoothie too.

Smoothie Soother:

3T oatmeal

1/4t ground cinnamon OR 1t carob powder (I went with cinnamon this time, but carob is delicious)

1 banana

1t tahini

1 Medjool date, chopped up and softened in 3T hot water

1C soy milk (or whatever milk you want)

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

one for me, one for Misty

A sweet soothing smoothie was just the ticket for my little chicken.  It was slurped up (and dribbled everywhere) happily – what a little champ, not even the Nasty Pox can bring my boy down.

So I’m all about holistic nutrition.  I reckon food is medicine through consumption, AND by using it in other ways.  Intrigued?  I’m going to write a series on SKIN, and how diet and keeping things a little closer to nature has helped mine.  Excited?  I bet you are just leaping off your seat in anticipation (if you aren’t picking up my sarcasm, I’m sorry but I think you could be a little ‘slow.’)

Excitement aside, I have really enjoyed reading about other peoples’ journeys with food, and how they have managed to find (or are still trying to work out) cures for certain ailments, or just what makes their body feel good:

Elise @ hungry hungry hippie (suffers from IBS)

Katie @ KatieDid (goes gluten free)

Heather @ heather eats almond butter (found what worked for her to lose weight)

The Twins @ pure2raw (food sensitivities, skin issues)

These ladies are all terrific writers, and their blogs have all been so entertaining and inspiring for me.

Just to show what I’m all about, here’s one of my recipes for a soothing bath for itchy skin (great for ezcema, sunburn, bug bites, dry skin etc) I’m giving Misty 3 of these a day, and his rash is already looking better.

• 1/2C dry chammomile flowers
• 1/2C dry nettle (yes, it’s your regular old stinging nettle – it’s one of my favourite herbs – don’t stress, it’s done all the stinging it’s going to do by the time it’s dried)
• 1T baking soda
• 1 ‘oaty bundle’ (instructions below)

Oaty Bundle

1/2C oatmeal wrapped up in cheesecloth or a new wash cloth like this:

Either use large tea infusers or simply make little ‘herby bundles’ with cheesecloth as above with the nettle and chammomile.  Steep in 1 litre of water (which has been boiled so is HOT) for 1 hour (you want it strong).
Add baking soda and steeped tea into an empty bath.
As you fill the bath with water, hold (or tie) the oaty bundle under the stream of water.  You will notice the water going a bit milky – this is what you want (by the way, this looks disgusting –  it’s like swamp water – don’t judge on appearances).
Jump in, and using the oaty bundle, massage your skin all over.  Keep squeezing the oaty milk into the bath – seriously, it does wonders for the skin.

*So in no way am I qualified to be telling people what to do – I am no medical professional, and these are just my own personal experiments.  What works for one person may do the opposite for another.*