natural health Archives - Homesteader DepotHomesteader Depot

The Health Benefits of Flaxseeds

Flax seeds are a pretty popular health item as of late. They can be bought either ground, in seed form, or in a highly nutritious oil. As the healthy fat craze continues, flax seed has proved itself to be a desirable form of healthy omegas-3s. I have always enjoyed it ground on top of yogurt or in multigrain bread, while I enjoy the oil in salad dressings. However, what I did not learn until recently is that flax seed oil is also used as a natural remedy. While it’s great for day-to-day health maintenance, it’s also a great natural health […]

How to Use Calendula Oil

Calendula is a wonderful herb, that you can usually find in the natural medicine section of any health food store in the form of creams, but it’s actually much easier and cheaper to make your own calendula infused oil to use at home. Calendula is ideal for skin conditions like rashes, eczema, dry skin, burns, scrapes, sunburn, and bug bites. It is incredibly soothing and conditioning, and perfectly safe to use as well. It’s a great addition to any medicinal herb garden, but you can usually find the dried flowers very easily at health food stores or online. Making calendula-infused oil is […]

The Amazing Moringa Plant

The moringa plant is an amazing superfood, often called “the miracle tree”. It is insanely nutritious, and contains a high amount of calcium, which can be otherwise hard to grow, but is an essential nutrient. Alone, the leaves of the moringa tree are like an all-purpose multivitamin, making it a great choice for survival-minded homesteaders or anyone wanting to get more vitamins in their diet naturally. The moringa has been used for centuries as an all-purpose source of food and medicine. Its small leaves are both edible and highly nutritious, and it’s seed pods are edible as well. It is most commonly […]

How to Use Activated Charcoal

I’ve mentioned activated charcoal a few times on this site as a great natural first aid product to have on hand, which it definitely is. It’s probably on my top 5 list of things to have in a natural medicine cabinet, because it can be used in a number of different ways, and is great for homesteaders. Activated charcoal has been used for centuries due to its ability to absorb toxins and impurities. In many emergency rooms, poison victims may be treated using a large dose of activated charcoal, which can absorb the toxin to be passed naturally through the […]

Essential Oils for Natural Health (Infographic)

I recently shared some recommendations for the best essential oils to start your collection. I found this infographic on Pinterest the other day though and I thought it was an excellent cheat sheet for natural remedies for common maladies and health issues. Some of these remedies use the foundational essential oils I had on this list, while others call for more obscure essential oils. This should give you an idea of just how many uses for essential oils there are, and maybe some of the less common essential oils you might want to consider investing in. If you have a […]

The Best Essential Oils to Start a Collection

There’s a lot of hype about essential oils out there, and it really is for good reason. Essential oils are a wonderful addition to any natural medicine cabinet. But it can be overwhelming trying to get yourself set up with some essential oils, and you can easily get sucked into some of the network marketing companies that sell essential oils for a very high price. or a bundle of several oils at once. You can easily spend up to a few hundred dollars on small bottles of oil that you won’t even use! There are literally dozens of types of […]

How to Use Bentonite Clay

If you don’t already have bentonite clay stashed away in your natural medicine cabinet, you should. Bentonite clay, which is a sedimentary clay made up of weathered and aged volcanic ash, is an amazing natural health tool with a wide variety of uses around the homestead. It’s strong electromagnetic pull naturally draws out toxins, heavy metals, and impurities and can be used both topically and internally. Here are just a few of the ways you can use bentonite clay for your natural medicine chest Toothpaste Bentonite clay can be used as a base for natural, homemade toothpaste, including this tooth powder recipe. Deodorant […]

12 Amazing Uses for Lavender Essential Oil (Infographic)

I’ve written before about how awesome lavender essential oil is, and how many uses it has. Apparently, the folks over at Leonsbeautytipsandsecrets.com agree with me, and have this great infographic to show for it! As I’ve said before, if you’re going to buy only one essential oil, lavender is a really great choice. It is both versatile, safe to use around babies and small children, smells amazing, and is incredibly effective. Lavender has been used for centuries for many cleaning and medicinal uses, and essential oil is such a concentrated form of it, it’s super efficient, as one or two […]

4 Health Benefits of Frozen Blueberries

Blueberries are well-known as a delicious source of antioxidants and valuable nutrients, and although they’re not as glamorous or trendy as acai berry, they’re actually more nutritious and top many dieticians have named them the #1 superfood out there. But did you know that when you freeze them, contrary to what you might think, it actually increases the nutrients? Anthocyanins are what gives blueberries their dark, rich color. They are a are a type of flavonoid, which is a phytonutrient found exclusively in plants, and they’re what make blueberries so incredibly healthy. What happens when you freeze them is that is […]

3 Ways to Protect Your Dog With Neem Oil

We’re all looking forward to the return of summer’s warm weather, but nobody’s excited about flea and tick season! Whether your pet is your hiking trail buddy or the king of your homestead’s acreage, it’s unavoidable he’ll be exposed to fleas and ticks. Even dogs who spend most of their time indoors can become unwitting hosts for these parasites. Unless daily tick checks are your idea of fun, a good repellent is an absolute necessity. However, the mainstream options for protecting your pet aren’t without risks of their own. Flea collars, sprays, and other products are often made with […]

The Amazing Power of Lavender Essential Oil

Essential oils are amazing. They’re a super natural and effective way to treat a multitude of health issues and even clean and sanitize your home, and they can be used to replace a ton of different OTC meds and chemical cleaners and solutions. But if I had to pick one essential oil to be stranded on a desert island with, it would probably have to be lavender oil. Not only does it smell absolutely amazing, it has a bunch of great uses, and is one of the safest essential oils there is. Here is an idea of the many things […]

A Simple DIY Cold and Flu Tonic

I know I’ve been sharing a lot of DIY natural cold and flu remedies lately, but I seriously don’t think anyone can ever have too many in their natural health arsenal. Also, a lot of the remedies I’ve been sharing are make-ahead or big batch remedies, and sometimes busy people just need a quick fix for when they feel a cold or flu coming on. This has been my go-to for years as I usually have these ingredients in my cupboard, they’re super healthy and all boast immune-boosting properties, and you can make it in about five minutes, and even […]

Good Girl Moonshine

If you’ve got a hankerin’ for a strong drink or are trying to kick a soda habit, Good Girl Moonshine is a great homemade drink alternative to alcohol or pop! It is healthy and detoxifying, and a very healthy habit to consume regularly. Also, this time of year, it’s a great option for beating colds or flus, or, since it’s still sizzling in many states, the heat too! This is my own personal version of a recipe found on Trim Healthy Mama, so feel free to play around with the ingredients and make it your own. The crucial ingredients here are […]

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

Elderberries are a favorite for natural health enthusiasts, for their healing and soothing properties for colds and flus. Elderberry syrup is a popular way to consume it, and is far healthier that over-the-counter cough syrup full of chemicals, sugar, and drugs. They contain a high amount of vitamins A, B and C, which support the immune system and help fight off sickness. If taken before getting sick, they can help prevent an infection from spreading throughout the body, and if taken after getting sick they can help prevent the infection from spreading into the respiratory tract, making the sickness much […]

Fire Cider Recipe

Fire cider is a great recipe for health through the winter and warding off colds and flus. You can take regularly or whenever you are sick, as a remedy. It’s an old folk recipe that has many variations, this is just one of course. If you know anyone who makes it, ask them how they do it! It takes a month to properly ferment, but once it is complete you can take it by the spoonful as needed or add to juice or even as a flavoring to chicken or rice dishes. It lasts a long time so make a […]

Nutritional Supplements for Off-Grid Homesteaders

Most people associate homesteading with healthy living. This isn’t without cause, most homesteaders have a higher level of physical activity than those living a typical modern sedentary life, fresh and air and sun, and a more direct relationship to their food. But homesteaders, especially off-grid homesteaders, will be functioning off of limited resources, and this will sometimes include their access to nutrient-rich foods. When your homestead is not able to supply your nutritional needs your body is going to suffer, if your body suffers, your output suffers, and if your output suffers it will inevitably follow that your homestead will […]

Household Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

Every knows that hydrogen peroxide can be used as an antiseptic to treat wounds, but hydrogen peroxide can be used for more than just wound care. Here is a brief list of other ways you can use this cheap, versatile, and safe product. Oral Care H202 (hydrogen peroxide) can be diluted with an equal amount of water and be used as a mouthwash to kill gingivitis and help with toothaches. A bonus is that it will help whiten your teeth. Don’t go overboard with this, though, using it too regularly can damage tooth enamel. Laundry Boost Do you remember […]

Homemade Toothpaste

It’s really fun, wallet-friendly and healthy to make your own personal hygiene products at home. A great place to start is with homemade toothpaste! It’s really easy and cheap, and quite possibly much better for your teeth than conventional toothpaste. This recipe includes coconut oil, which is great for your teeth. The oil naturally attracts the bacteria that contributes to plaque build-up and decay, and leaves a protective layer on your teeth to help prevent more bacteria from settling on your teeth. It also includes an optional essential oil, which can kill bacteria as well, and prevent bad breath. One […]

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is totally incredible. If you don’t already have it in your natural healing arsenal, you totally need it. It’s a staple in Indian cooking, and its bright yellow pigment is even used as a natural dye, and has been for centuries. You can buy it in different forms, if you’re lucky you can find it fresh in the produce section, usually at a health food store. Health food stores will often have turmeric supplements too or even fancy mixtures, but those can be pricey. If you have no idea how to use turmeric or need a quick remedy these […]