Self-Sustainable Natural Healing in Your Home

There are many natural healing methods and health protocols, but how many are self-sustaining? What can you replenish and use to care for your family’s health without going to the store or the internet?  This article will cover some areas that will get you started.

My Great Grandma Thomas received her certificate from the Red Cross in Home Nursing that in the 1940’s.  These skills are not taught much anymore, but are needed more than ever.  This does not exclude utilizing modern medicine, especially emergency medicine.

Basic Hygiene and Common Sense

• Washing of hands frequently, especially after using the facilities, while cooking, coming in from working outdoors or while helping others.  Real soap and water are better than any antibiotic liquid cleaner or sanitizer,  in most cases.  The friction of scrubbing your hands together also adds to strengthen the cleaning power.
• Fresh air.  Our homes are built much tighter than in the past. While this may be “energy efficient”, it does not allow for fresh air to flow and release stuffiness, possible toxins  and germs in our homes.  Opening a window, just a little, helps with air flow.
• Water seems to be a forgotten beverage.  Our bodies are made up mostly of water.  We need water to even lubricate our eyes to blink.  Many of us are dehydrated and this can be the cause of headaches, constipation, and many simple to complex complaints. Drink at least 10 – 8 oz. cups of water daily.
• Hydro Therapy.  The use of bathes for healing with or without added herbs, herbal teas, oatmeal packs, Epson salts, essentials oils, etc. Also the use of hot and cold packs alternating, for sprains, strains and even swelling.
• Sleep.  Most people do need 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night, not just to function well, but to have a healthy immune support. The other reason for a good night rest is to process the day’s stresses while we sleep.  Without this, most people become irritable, more susceptible to illness and are less able to handle daily challenges.

Whole and Natural Foods

Hippocrates said, “Let your food be medicine and your medicine be food”.  Nourishing foods are one of the cornerstones for good health.  Home grown, fresh food is delicious.  You can never get in a vitamin pill the full nutrients that are available in garden food.

Home cooked meals provide nourishment to the body and the soul.  They are prepared with that extra ingredient, “love”. The kitchen table is the most important piece of furniture in our home.  Gathering together and praying a blessing gives us a chance to connect with loved ones, prepares our digestion and makes eating a multidimensional experience that is truly satisfying to the body and soul.

Cultured and or fermented foods are easier to digest and add to the digestion of other foods.   The book Nourishing Traditions provides some great recipes and guidelines for healthy food regime.  Including recipes to create your own cultured foods.  The foods in this book are more like what my grandmother’s prepared on the farms.

Mild and gentle foods are perfect for those that are ill.  Soups made from bone broths can not only provide nourishment, but additional liquids that are needed for healing.

Our family is working towards a goal of producing  50% of our food.  Knowing what is in our food and how it is grown is a wonderful way to take further responsibility for our health, get good exercise and participate in the creation process.  We eat like my Grandparents, except we do have delicious, homemade pizza and occasional “party food.”

Herbs

I try to grow or wildcraft at about  50% of the herbs that we use for cooking and healing.  As an herbalist, it is easy for me to want to try new and different herbs and formulas, but I find that for daily use, local herbs are best.

It’s almost time to make Whole Plant Dandelion Tincture for seasonal allergies.  My daughter and I drank Red Raspberry leaf and Peppermint tea today for female support and refreshment.  The seasoning salt blend that I make has lovage, oregano, thyme, marjoram, garlic, nettles, cayenne, rosemary from our garden and yard. It makes the best popcorn and adds additional nutrients to our food.

My favorite herbalists are “simplers”.   Rosemary Gladstar, Dina Falconi, Lalitha Thomas and many others use what grows locally or is easily purchased at your local grocer, to nourish and heal the body in simple ways that are self-sustainable.  Growing, harvesting from your own garden is fun.  It is very enjoyable and adds “spice” to your life.

When I do purchase herbs, tinctures and teas  I purchase them  from Mountain Meadow Herbs.  They sell organic herbs and products with wonderful service and shipping.   

A plant identification book for your area and an experienced guide will help you wildcraft safely.  Never collect herbs without previous hands-on experience with a mentor or teacher.

Learning to use herbs can get confusing and complicated, but it is my hope that everyone can start simply with some basics that already grow on your yard.  Learn to identify and use those “wild weeds” because most of them are useful and highly nutritious plants.

Energy Healing

These skills can be learned to clear negative emotions on all levels in an easy, non-invasive way, the body and emotions relax and healing can take place.  I have trained and studied in a variety of modalities; Simply Healed, RET, EFT, and many others.  But I have found that the Simply Healed method is the easiest to use.  Energy healing techniques are very useful for managing stress  and even everyday challenges.

Massage

Massage is a completely self-sustainable healing modality.  You only need your hands.  We have needed massage for over-worked muscles from the spring time gardening work, wood splitting, home and farm repairs, daily living and stress. We have found Foam Roller a very useful tool in releasing muscle tightness.

Essential Oils

Are wonderful!  But they are not self-sustainable.  These do store well for years or even decades in a dark, cool place.  They can be made, but require pounds and pounds of botanical to make a very small amount, plus a still. Purchasing essential oils can be a costly investment.  But they are so concentrated that you only need a drop or two for most purposes.

I purchase essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs and Liberty Naturals.  Both of these companies have consistent high quality products and great customer service.

My favorite oils are lavender, tea tree, lemon, orange and lemon grass for general use of healing, soap making and cleaning.  I have three blends that I make; one for pain, a general purpose germ fighter and another for respiratory support with multiple oils that I try to always have on hand.

I try to keep my focus on other methods of healing, but appreciate the properties that essential oils add to healing and my household.

Personal Library

I love books and learning!  Our family library is extensive and is a great resource for self-sufficient living and natural healing.  

• Where There Is No Doctor by David Werner
• Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson
• Where Women Have No Doctor: A Health Guide for Women by A. August Burns
• Home Remedies: Hydrotherapy, Massage, Charcoal, and Other Simple Treatments by Agatha M. Thrash
• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
• Herbalpedia (CD herbal encyclopedia)
• 10 Essential Herbs – Lalitha Thomas
• Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality –  Rosemary Gladstar
• Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi
• Herbal Healing for Women – Rosemary Gladstar
• Natures Bound Pocket Field Guide by Ron Dawson
• The Northwest Herb Lover’s Handbook – Mary Preus
• Remembering Wholeness by Carol Tuttle
• Energy Medicine for Women – Donna Eden
• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
• Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol Kuhn Truman
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood

We can utilize self-sustainable natural healing methods for ourselves and our family in our homes.  It is with God’s help and His beautiful creations that we can do this.  May we do so with wisdom and good judgment and live long healthy lives.

Disclaimer: Kristine Farley is not a Licensed Psychotherapist or Physician.  All information and resources are based on the opinions of the author and are meant to motivate readers to make their own health decisions after consulting with their health care provider.  No information in this article should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.  By reading this you acknowledge that you are responsible for you own health.

All Photos ©2017 Kristine Farley