Surviving Mexico

May 22, 2017 · 7:00 am

Lighting up the night with solar

Our longed for solar power system has not become manifest yet. We continue to use our non-electric or rechargeable devices. (See Dirty and Ragged and There is still no electricity in La Yacata) For evening illumination, we have the moon and the stars and candles.

Since Chokis untimely murder (See Chokis) nighttime thefts in La Yacata have increased. We aren’t ready to risk another dog, so we needed something in the way of a deterrent that could not be poisoned. I took a chance on ordering motion activated solar lights, and we have instantly become the talk of the settlement.

I ordered one from Amazon Mexico and had my husband install it over the front door. It certainly makes it easier to unlock the door after dark. No more fumbling for keys or scraping around the lock. And it turns on whenever anything moves within 20 feet of the sensor. It’s nearly as good an alarm as Chokis was. You should see people scramble away from its light as if they might get burned.

We liked it so much that I ordered some more. The second light is outside the front door porch upstairs. It’s strategically located so that more area is encompassed in light should anyone pass and illuminates the porch if we (or the cats) head out onto the porch.

The third light is out back. It’s particularly useful when we have to make a late-night bucket run to the aljibe (dry well). No more stumbling around in the dark.

Several of the neighbors have requested sensor lights for their own homes. I’m making another order soon, so we’ll see how well this little resell business goes. Meanwhile, I’m still looking into a full solar system. It’s gonna happen soon, I just know it!

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8 Comments

Filed under Electricity issues

Tagged as lights for outside, motion detector lights, solar lights, solar motion detector lights, solar options

May 17, 2017 · 7:00 am

Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle

You’ve probably already realized that included in my goals of self-sufficiency is promoting health through organic and natural sources. (See Natural Healing)

Although my mother was always interested in plant and herb lore, applying what I learned from her has required a significant learning curve since many of the same herbs do not grow and are not available in Mexico. That’s why I really enjoyed Herbal Academy‘s Herbal Materia Medica Course. I could concentrate my investigations on plants found locally and their relevant medical benefits.

So I’m delighted to share The Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle which includes, you guessed it, the same Herbal Materia Medica Course, that I found so helpful. Scroll down and you’ll see it in the list!

Here’s how it works:

Visit their website, take a quick look at all the goodness that comes in this package, then click the “Get my copy now!” button to go through their simple and secure 3-step checkout process.
You’ll receive an email with a login to their online access portal, where you’ll begin downloading your eBooks and signing up for your eCourses.
Use their Getting Started Guide to pick the topic you want to tackle first and start using natural remedies!

Learn more or get your bundle HERE.

It’s even backed by a 100% happiness guarantee so you can make sure it’s right for you. Here’s what’s included:

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3 Comments

Filed under Health, Natural Healing

Tagged as herbal remedies, herbal resources, The Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle

May 15, 2017 · 7:00 am

Natural Healing–Coriander Cilantro tea

Continuing with my free Herbal Academy Materia Medica Course, I decided to try teas made from the other local herbs I was investigating. (See Hibiscus Tea, Feverfew Tea) Coriander, known as cilantro in Mexico, is used in an endless variety of local cuisine. I love cilantro! It has such a fresh flavor! I was amazed to discover that not everyone has the same reaction when eating cilantro. Some people taste soap, metal or dirt instead of freshness. Apparently, it’s a genetic thing. (See A genetic variant near olfactory receptor genes influences cilantro preference) How unfortunate! Coriander has quite a number of health benefits.

Coriander seeds contain zinc, which helps with digestion, copper, which is used to produce red blood cells, potassium, which helps control blood pressure and heart rate. They contain bioactives that have antimicrobial, antiepileptic, antidepressant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory and anxiety inhibitors. Coriander seeds have been shown to lower blood sugar, ease Irritable Bowel Syndrome, decrease blood pressure, contain an antibacterial compound that fights Salmonella choleraesuis, thus useful in cases of food poisoning, lower cholesterol, be useful in treating urinary tract infections, and been shown to prevent neurodegenerative disease when included in diets high in turmeric, pepper, clove, ginger, garlic, cinnamon. Coriander Seed Tea is recommended for cystitis relief. Simply steep one teaspoon of whole coriander seeds for 5 minutes for each cup. Strain and add honey or sugar. Cilantro (coriander) leaves are also jammed packed with good stuff. It’s rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber and is a good source of vitamin K, which helps in building bone mass, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Cilantro has been shown to bind the heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, lead, and mercury together which helps the body eliminate them altogether. Cilantro has also been proven to regulate the body’s oxidative defense systems which in turn protects us from oxidative stress. Cilantro has been shown to be as effective as valium in lowering anxiety and improving the quality of the sleep cycle. Like the seeds, the leaves also lower blood sugar levels and help protect against cardiovascular disease because of its high potassium level. Cilantro lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides. It can prevent oxidative damage associated with cardiac damage and prevent myocardial infarctions. Cilantro can help prevent colon cancer. And that’s just the tip of the benefits iceberg!

So in line with my herbal classes, I decided to make cilantro tea. The recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of fresh leaves per cup. Steep up to 10 minutes. Remove leaves. Add sugar or honey. I also added a bit of orange peel to the concoction. I’ll be honest and say that the taste was ho-hum. It tasted, well, like cilantro tea. I think I’ll get all the goodness in solid form like maybe salsa, pico de gallo, on tacos with onion, and so on. In any form, it’s a tasty part of our Mexican diet and not too difficult to grow. I’ll post more information once I harvest my first batch this year!

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Interested in natural remedies? Uncover herbal remedies from traditional Mexican sources for healing and wellness in the Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico series.