Wasabi sauce-that strange green spicy pile of goo that you always get when you go out for sushi and usually throw away (at least I usually did-since less than a grain of salt’s worth of the stuff makes my head feel like it’s about to come apart at the seams)—well, I had a bad cold which I think turned into an upper respiratory infection and had a real hankering for some sushi one night—and decided maybe some of that repulsive green stuff would be good for relieving congestion.

I did feel an immediate sensation of crispness as my nose seemed to clear and I tried not to cry, though when I looked up the reason why it seemed to work as a decongestant, I was surprised to learn wasabi actually makes the nasal passages more narrow-which might explain why later on my nose was even stuffier.

However, far from trying to discredit the health benefits of wasabi, I was surprised to learn it had so many other health benefits besides as an antidote to prevent food poisoning (which is one reason that wasabi is served with sushi and raw fish). Wasabi has anti-bacterial properties and is thought to reduce inflammation, prevent tumors, and even kill cavity causing bacteria! In addition, it may help prevent cancer and heart attacks, and help people suffering from arthritis.

But before you run out to your nearest sushi bar, know that real wasabi (or Japanese horseradish) is very rare in the U.S. and most restaurants serve a mixture of Western horseradish mixed with mustard and green food coloring. Before you skip the “fake wasabi,” altogether though, it turns out Western horseradish has many of the same health benefits, including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics, plus it stimulates the immune system, heats up the body, and has aphrodisiacal properties! Though we could probably do without the food coloring.

As I mentioned the true Wasabia japonica rhizome, (the rhizome is the Japanese horseradish root) is hard to find in the US so if you have a good source please share it with us in the comments below. And what do you think, is wasabi good for you?

If you do some searching Amazon does have some natural (aka without the artificial food coloring) wasabi powders and sauces, here are results for wasabi and wasabi products for sale.

Default By Relevance Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Newest arrivals On sale

Kaneku Premium Wasabi Ko - Japanese Horseradish Powder - 1.0 Oz Sale Price: $4.35   Eligible for free shipping!

S&B - Wasabi in Plastic Tube (Family Size) 3.17 Oz. Sale Price: $3.73   Eligible for free shipping!

This Post Shared on Fight Back Friday and Real Food Wednesday

Wasabi, Spicy Green Goo or Really Good for You? is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Winter chills bring sniffles and pills but with this all natural cough remedy, a food based cough syrup you can give your kids some relief without risking harmful over the counter "medicines".

There is nothing worse than hearing one's child suffer through a winter cold and the hacking night time cough that keeps them tossing and turning all night. It gets to the point where you'll even consider giving them over-the-counter medications (that frankly have some pretty dangerous ingredients) just to give them a few hours of relief. If you've been trying to replace as many harmful children's medicines with all natural ones take a look at Maty's Quiet Relief Cough Syrup - a natural cough suppressant.

Many natural cough remedies for children (and adults for that matter) get a bad rap when it comes to how well they work so you may wonder "does Maty's Quiet Relief cough syrup work?" I'm always interested in trying a new natural cough remedy so when I was looking for something to give the kidieos some bliss from a particularly nasty night time cough I thought I'd try some and I am glad I did. ( I tried the Maty's Kid's Quiet Relief Cough Syrup, Caramel Banana Flavor)

After about 7.5493 minutes (okay I didn't actually time it but I'd say around 5-8 minutes) the coughing stopped and they finally fell into a peaceful sleep - peaceful for them as well as us! The directions state to take it every 4 hours and that is about how long the relief lasted, 4 or 5 hours, so it would be nice if it had a longer duration but to find a natural cough syrup that actually works and works pretty fast I will certainly buy it again.

What is Maty's Quiet Relief Cough Syrup and how is it a natural cough remedy?

Maty's cough syrup is food based so it doesn't have any harmful ingredients, sweeteners, corn, soy, dairy, wheat or yeast. I don't know the process by which it is made but I would guess that this is a raw food cough syrup which is even better because all the healing properties of the ingredients would be kept at their most potent levels.

Maty's cough syrup is made from antioxidant rich Buckwheat honey which has been shown to improve respiratory function. It also contains Cinnamon, Zinc, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne Pepper, Sea Salt, and Lemon Balm each of which have numerous healing properties - too numerous to list even, but here is the information from the box.

Maty's Natural cough remedy ingredient properties

• Cinnamon: promotes healthy breathing
• Zinc: provides immune support
• Apple Cider Vinegar: promotes healthy mucus flow
• Cayenne Pepper: aids circulation
• Sea Salt: naturally neutralizes toxins in the body
• Lemon Balm: has a calming effect

While we tried the Maty's natural cough remedy for children it also comes in a regular, basically the same without the extra banana flavor.

This post on Maty's natural cough remedy shared on Real Food Wednesday and Fight Back Friday

Ahhh Sweet Surrender: A Natural Cough Remedy That Works is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Have you been looking for a kids toothpaste that is so good your children will WANT to brush their teeth? Now how about one that is loaded with natural effective ingredients instead of all the artificial junk found in most kids toothpaste?

We tried out a really effective herbal all natural toothpaste made by Vita-Myr awhile back and we loved it - the only problem was one of the main ingredients was clove. Clove is a very effective antibacterial and anti-inflammatory which is great for gum health, however it does have a strong taste - our 4 year old thought it was too "spicy".

Is there a Natural Kids Toothpaste that kids will like?

Alas, back to the gunky un-natural kids toothpaste.... but not long after we wrote up a review for the Vita-Myr Zinc Plus toothpaste - we received a surprise from the fine folks at Vita-Myr - a couple tubes of their Natural Orange Flavor Children's Xylitol toothpaste. It has the same beneficial ingredients as the Zinc Plus toothpaste along with Xylitol which is a proven powerful cavity fighter and antioxidant - it even has clove. But with the nice subtle orange flavor you'd never know - and your kids won't either.

Teeth brushing success a Natural Kids Toothpaste that tastes good

Proof in point... when I brushed our 18 month old's teeth with the Vita-Myr Children's Xylitol toothpaste the first word out of her mouth was More! (and she wasn't a big talker at the time so it must have been good)

She now loves brushing her teeth - and I love knowing that Vita-Myr natural kids toothpaste contains no harmful chemicals, fluoride, artificial sweeteners or colors - not to mention this toothpaste is so effective at removing teeth scum it makes them squeak.

Check out these sales on Vita-Myr natural kids toothpaste and other herbal kids toothpastes below

Default Featured items Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Newest arrivals On sale

Children's Zinc Plus Herbal Toothpaste - with Xylitol Orange Flavor - 5.4 oz. List Price: $8.95 Sale Price: $7.48 You save: $1.47 (16%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Herbal Toothpaste Cardamon-Fennel 4.16 Ounces List Price: $3.70 Sale Price: $3.46 You save: $0.24 (6%)   Eligible for free shipping!

If you've discovered a great effective natural kids toothpaste leave a comment below - we are always looking for new natural health products to try.

This post on Vita-Myr natural kids toothpaste shared on Real Food Wednesday and Fight Back Friday

Are You Looking for a Natural Kids Toothpaste Your Children Will Love? is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Are you looking for an easy way to get a jump on a cold winter morning? Here's a simple to make powerful natural cold remedy that helps boost metabolism, brain activity, and the immune system all in one shot - plus it has plenty of other mighty fine heath benefits.

Simply make a mug of hot lemon water and spice it up with cinnamon and fresh ginger! Kapow - instant superfood celebration and natural cold remedy.

The Secret Superfood Ingredients in an Immune Boosting Cold Remedy

Natural Cold Remedy Ingredient Number one: Lemon

Lemon is widely known for its high Vitamin C content and digestion aiding effects but the real powerhouse here is the cinnamon and ginger and the combination of all three.

Natural Cold Remedy Ingredient Number Two: Cinnamon

In traditional Chinese remedies cinnamon is praised for its warming qualities (sounds pretty good on a cold winter morning) and has been used to provide relief when faced with the onset of a cold or flu, especially when mixed in a tea with some fresh ginger. Cinnamon's scent has also been shown to boost brain activity so when you add a touch of cinnamon in your morning tea make sure you give it a big whiff to help get those cobwebs out of the brain and perhaps help you remember where you put your keys.

When consumed with high carb foods cinnamon can help lessen carbohydrates impact on your blood sugar levels because cinnamon reduces blood sugar as well as cholesterol and triglycerides. It also has anti-microbial properties that help stop the growth of bacteria and can be effective in preventing candida overgrowth.

A Cold Remedy Just isn't Complete Without Ginger

Natural Cold Remedy Ingredient Number Three: Ginger

Ginger completes the digestive three way tag team because it is an intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract). Ginger is also an excellent carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) so you don't have to ride the toot toot train all the way to work with this cold remedy. Ginger was shown to be far superior to Dramamine the motion sickness drug and is well known to be very useful in reducing the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Ginger contains very potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. Ginger extracts have been shown to have both antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects on cells and is especially effective in inducing cell death in ovarian cancer cells.

Ginger is not only warming on a cold day with its spicy kick, but helps promote healthy sweating, which is helpful when you have a cold or the flu. So if you are doing a winter detox adding a little ginger in the morning will really help the detoxification process. A good sweat may do a lot more than simply assist detoxification as German researchers have found that sweat contains a potent germ-fighting agent called dermicidin. Dermicidin is manufactured in the body's sweat glands, secreted into the sweat, and transported to the skin's surface where it provides protection against invading microorganisms, bacteria and infections.

Now after all that appetizing talk of sweating and digestion why not lose yourself in a spicy sweet hot mug of lemon ginger cinnamon tea.

This Immune Boosting Natural Cold Remedy Shared on Freaky Friday and Fight Back Friday

Winter Detox, Brain and Immune Boosting Cold Remedy is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

As I sit here with my hot mug of Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls tea laced with a bit of oolong I longingly look outside and wonder what it would feel like to bask in the warmth of a natural hot spring right about now. I suppose I shouldn't complain it is a balmy 31 degrees out, but there is a bit of a nip in the air and I can see a faint whiff of the seasonal cold bug flitting through the air.

My thoughts turn to a past article on the many benefits of lemon that sits atop my blog fodder pile and my attention is peaked by the mention of bourbon. Bourbon and lemon the natural cold and flu fighting wonders of the world. And let's not leave out honey - our poor honey who is feeling left out of the celebration (and shame on us to forget about our honey so close to Valentines Day).

It is an age old natural cold remedy the use of lemon, honey and bourbon to fight off sore throats and stuffy noses - in fact Mr. Hot Toddy as he is so affectionately called by some, has been with us since the nineteenth century in India and the UK - a fine place to enjoy the herbal delights of such a concoction as the cold wind whips over the cobblestone streets and the gas lamps belch their sputtering coal powered flame.

But alas, today in my comparatively warm home I enjoy my tea and wonder if perhaps something stronger might fight off the cold a bit better. But alas again since my first alas was the former I am without the natural cold fighting comfort of bourbon, but perhaps if you are lucky (yet unlucky enough to be besotted with the lover called the common cold) to have a bit of bourbon you might try an evening dance with Mr. Hot Toddy.

Natural Bourbon Cough Cold and Flu Elixir
2 ounces bourbon whiskey
1/2 lemon, juiced (about 2 ounces)
Couple slices of lemon filled with cloves
Several cubes of diced ginger
2-4 ounces water (optional)
1 tablespoon honey or heck lay it on thick and shoot for a bit more

The mixture is up to you really depending on how intimate you want to get with Mr. Bourbon, basically mix up lemon, honey, water and bourbon to taste, add any extras like clove or ginger - heat that baby to a nice warm glow and enjoy before bed.

For me I have a date with more tea - if you've enjoyed a dance with Mr. Hot Toddy please share your stories below (and please keep them to a respectful smolder there may be children peeking over your shoulder)

This post on a Hot Toddy natural cold remedy shared on Real Food Wednesday

My Date With Mr. Hot Toddy A Natural Cold Fighting Remedy is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Thieves oil or more properly an essential oil blend coined Thieves (since it is a registered trademark of Young Living Essential Oils™ who sells a wide range of Thieves oil products) has been found by a Weber State University study to have a 99.96% success rate against airborne bacteria. That's a pretty huge claim to make, but many people swear by their Thieves oil recipes and concoctions.

The basic Thieves oil recipe consists of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. All of these essential oils have powerful healing properties. Cinnamon and clove make a viral infection less likely to occur by fitting the cell receptor sites normally reserved for viruses - just like a puzzle piece - or I suppose more like a wad of chewing gum and the underside of a park bench. I know from experience that clove oil is exceptional at fighting off colds after trying a natural toothpaste that includes clove and other bacteria fighting ingredients.

Many people already know about lemon's antiseptic properties since it is used in cleaning products everywhere. According to Jean Valnet, MD, the vaporized essence of lemon can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, Staphylococcus aureus in two hours, and Pneumococcus bacteria within three hours. Even a 0.2% solution of lemon oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis. (as stated in the book Essential Oils Desk Reference) Wow! Once you get past the tongue twisting barrage of scientific terms there lemon seems like a miracle cure.

Rosemary helps protect against and destroy bad bacteria, yeasts and fungi - and we're not talking the fungi from your monster Angus beef, onion and Shiitake burger, more like the fungi crawling between your toes after a fast paced game of basketball. (sorry to those of you who just enjoyed a Shiitake burger, didn't mean to ruin your fine meal - although you know if you have a bit of bad breath from the onion a bit of Thieves oil might just clear that up)

And let's not leave out Eucalyptus since it is quite the little gamer itself. We all know about the stimulating aroma of Eucalyptus and its known properties for helping relieve cold and flu symptoms, but it is also adept as an antibacterial and helps stimulate the immune system, It acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and even analgesic. (that last really isn't as dirty as it sounds - it just means pain killer - man get your mind out of the gutter).

When you slip all these powerhouse essential oils into a bottle and give it a catchy name like Thieves Oil (with a sordid myth based potentially on the truth) you have a natural remedy winner on your hands. There are a billion and one uses for Thieves oil from use as a household cleaner, mold destroyer, cold fighter, hand sanitizer and even treating or preventing the common flu or H1N1 Swine Flu. Since Thieves oil is safe for ingestion a few drops can be added to your toothbrush to fight bacteria in the mouth and on the toothbrush itself.

You can make up an easy Thieves oil recipe your self by mixing 1-tablespoon each of Clove Oil and Lemon Oil, 2 1/2-teaspoons of Cinnamon Oil and 2-teaspoons of Rosemary Oil and Eucalyptus Oil with a cup of Jojoba oil or other carrier oil.

If you aren't a DIY apothecary type you can always find plenty of good deals on pre-made Thieves Oil at your local natural health store or patiently look for a good sale on ebay.

Hey Who Stole My Cold? Thieves Oil Strikes Again is a post from: Natural Health Goodies