I'm Back! The healing power of Epsom Salts and My Ulterior Motive...

Hello All,
There are so many times in the past several months that I wanted to come back here and write a post.  And there are a couple of reasons why I haven't.  The first reason would be that I've been busy.  But that is sort of a cop out.  In addition to being busy (because really, we all are), I just haven't been happy with what I've been writing.  I write posts fast and furious.  I rarely check them and I'm not writing them as if I was expecting anyone to read them.  They are not the posts that I read on other blogs, that sound like pieces of actual journalism or pieces torn from the pages of novels.  I consider myself a fiction writer, that is my preference.  I started the Pat Kramer Report not to be a writer but to put facts out there and share my passion for healthy and safe products and chemical reform with other people, while also providing information for those who may not know what sorts of chemicals go into their laundry detergent or lipstick or baby lotion and why those chemicals may be dangerous and why they may cause you harm.  The second reason I stopped the report is because I have been working in my other life as an assistant accountant in the film and TV industry as well as (the more important job) being a mother to my three year old son.

So to kick off being back, it would not be the Pat Kramer Report if I didn't have something useful to say and so that brings me to the second part of the title, the healing power of Epsom Salts.  I've always known that Epsom Salts are great for sore muscles, aches and detox baths.  And since I'm new to the wonderful world of Aerial arts, I am really starting to make use of this stuff!  But I do remember once upon a time hearing that this stuff can also be used on wounds.  And how strange that sounds that salt would be used on wounds.  So like I always do, I started to research it and came up with some really useful information. 

The first thing I learned is that Epsom Salts are not a salt at all, but Magnesium & Sulfate. Some uses:

1. Alleviate sore aches and muscles (soak)
2. As a laxative (taken orally)
3. Alleviate symptoms of gout (soak)
4. Exfoliate skin
5. Relieve headaches
6. Prevent hardening of arteries
7. Eliminate toxins from the blood
8. Assists in healing cuts!

And really there are so many more.  But since my focus was #8, I put it to the test with an elbow that I skinned on one of those giant bouncy castle slides.  Now I couldn't tell if it stung or not because the cut was already stinging, terribly! I made a soak in the bathroom sink and stuck my elbow in it.  The verdict?  It might be my imagination, but I think it really helped by speeding up the scabbing. 

And last but not least, I need to let you in on my ulterior motive.  I recently decided to merchandise with a healthy, organic product company.  It is one I haven't discussed before but I'm really excited about it.  I'll keep a lid on the details until I'm up an running.  And yes I may be crazy trying to juggle too much at once, but stay tuned and I promise to keep you posted!

The worst winter and the inevitable need of medicine

If you're having a winter like ours, then your home must be filled with germs.  We've had viruses with fever, strep throat, ear infections, bad colds, persistent sore throats, etc. Years ago, when I ingested cough medicine but the cup load, I never thought about what was in these liquid solutions or what was in those little pills.

Flashforward to today.  When raw red onions in your socks don't bring down your or your child's fever, what to do?  Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen... have you ever looked at the ingredients? Here is an example:

Anhydrous citric acid, butylparaben, D&C Red no.33, FD&C Blue no.1, flavor, glycerin, high fructose corn syrup, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose sodium, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium benzoate, sorbitol solution, xanthan gum.

Not pretty, is it? And these are the inactive ingredients... on top of the medicine.

Or how about those little tablets:

acetylated monoglycerides, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, methylparaben, microcrystalline cellulose, pharmaceutical glaze, pharmaceutical ink, povidone, pregelatinized starch, propylparaben, sodium benzoate, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearic acid, sucrose, synthetic iron oxide, titanium dioxide, white wax

Glazes, inks, preservatives (something has to make them last on the shelf that long), colors, flavors, corn syrup, sorbitol, propylene glycol, etc etc.... 

This winter I had gotten stuck on a slew of antibiotics and my almost 2 year old had his first one, for an ear infection.  For me, it was eight days of fever with strep throat.  I tried ingesting honey with raw garlic and cayenne... I just couldn't do it. 

If I could find a way to break out of the medicine world, I would!  For now, I'm grateful that we only need this stuff once in a blue moon.  And we are taking our probiotics religiously.  I'm still baffled over the famous doctor line "it's perfectly safe" and how we all just seem to believe that.

Spring, you cannot come fast enough!