Sore Hands

I'm not sure what's been going on with my right hand in the last year but it's seriously starting to feel stiff and a bit swollen. I'm only 28 so it's hard to consider that it could be arthritis. It runs in my family and my grandma said that they diagnosed her around 38 for it.Well poot. I don't want it that's for sure. My doc thinks it's just tendonitis which i could also see, but I can't really tell. All i know is that it hurts after a loooong day at the computer. (Yeah and here I am typing this up lol!) So working 8 normal hours then OT is probably aggravating the whole thing. I've been self medicating with Advil and cold/hot therapy when I can. I'm tempted to try the Willow Bark tea, but haven't been able to get over to the natural food store.Despite all of this I've forced myself to be productive and when my hand hurts too much to sew or grip a small needle, I cut things out. So today I made a new pattern, cut out more sweater hearts, and thought of another pattern I'd like to try with my more colorful felt ^_^ Trust me it will be cute.I'd like to tell myself that my "flare ups" would die down if I didn't do data entry as a full-time job, but maybe that's just a longing to sell my craft full-time and to not be sitting at a desk for hours.*Looks longingly outside the window* The trees are very very pretty today. It's finally cooled down enough to make it feel crisp and clean. Pretty soon all that color will be swept away and winter will fall soft and cold.

October?

Well that time of year is rolling in. I'm feeling festive enough already. In fact my candy corns have been doing remarkably well. I'm so glad I made them because I did them on an absolute whim, but I'm so pleased with them ^_^Everyone's starting to talk about flu shots and such around my area and the local pharmacies and drug stores have their booths set up. But frankly I'd rather use a more natural defense like Echinacea.My mom always cracks up when I tell her I've been drinking my Echinacea tea whenever the Office Ick stirs up. She's one of those people who think that all that hearbal stuff is nonsense, but if it works for me then it works.Here's some other tid bits that might perk your interest:-Natural Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been proven to have anti-inflammatory qualities to it, much like Ibuprofen. Unfortunately it has to be super fresh. Which means the bottled stuff at your local grocer probably isn't going to have enough "zing" to it to calm your aches and pains. However for those who live in Europe your chances of getting the good stuff are significantly higher!-Vitamin C can help quell allergy symptoms. Drink up me hearties! Drink up! That little orange can help with your sneezing from sinus woes to weezing from asthma. Just like EVOO, Vitamin C can pack a mean punch in the inflammatory department. You have to ingest a decent amount to see marked improvements, but along side your daily multi-vitamin an extra glass of OJ wouldn't hurt as well. I've actually tried this before and while it won't STOP the symptoms it will decrease them, especially if you're consistent with your in take of the stuff :)-Willow Bark Tea, specifically White Willow is just as effective as aspirin in the pain department without all the nasty side effects (like stomach ulcers from taking too much aspirin). It's an ancient remedy and reading on the history of aspirin itself I discovered that the main ingredient that makes aspirin so effect is VERY similiar to the pain relieving substance found in the White Willow. I've heard it tastes bitter and in order to brew it you'll have to soak it for up to 8 hours. Still if it beats the chemical why not try it? I've also read that when taken on a regular basis that it can help with migraine management, bonus!-Cilantro! I LOVE this leaf. I put it in salsa, salads, tomato soups, and sometimes in my rice with chicken. It's just so tasty! And lo and behold it's got antioxidants in it. Cilantro and Coriander are close friends. Cilantro is the leafy part and the seeds are Coriander. Weak Coriander tea can even help with colic in children.Other good foods & herbs:TomatoesArtichokesDillCinnamonSpinachSoy MilkWhole WheatPlain YogurtPeppermintSalmonThere are so many others but these are some of my favorites. Even with the cold and flu season lurking around the corner here in the States it's nice to know there are other remedies other than just a flu shot ^_^**As well ALL natural/homeopathy remedies it's wise to consult your physician before starting any of these treatments**