The Unknown Rewards of the Red Raspberry Leaf

Here's a great article written by Joy Mary that outlines some of the benefits of drinking red raspberry leaf tea. Enjoy!

When most think of Raspberry, they think of only the berries themselves. Yet the nutrition found in the Red Raspberry Leaf at least equals its fruit! Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is a special source of benefit to women.

First, many feel that PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) is caused by hormonal imbalance. The rise and then sudden drop in estrogen levels through a woman's cycle can cause a variety of symptoms, including cramps. Red raspberry leaf is one of several herbs that has been used for many years to alleviate or eliminate this problem. Red Raspberry is also an aid during pregnancy and birth. It is rich in Vitamins C, E, A, and some B complex. "Increased Vitamin A intake in the form of the carotenoids of red raspberry leaf can aid the women's immune system as well as facilitate healthy skin and bone development for the baby." In addition, it is rich in minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. As a source of water-soluble calcium, Raspberry not only aids in bone development of the baby but also provides a needed source of calcium for young girls.

Red Raspberry leaf has for centuries been a valuable aid for women during and after child birth. It aids in the control of pain, the contraction of the uterus, and as a source of other vitamins and minerals- especially calcium- that help in the replacement of lost blood. During the weeks after birth Raspberry tea helps return the uterus to its normal size. Even post-menopausal women have found benefit from Raspberry tea both as an aid in improving uterine tone and as a natural source of calcium.

But Red Raspberry has health benefits beyond women's issues. The tannins in the leaf make it effective in soothing inflammation in the digestive tract and can alleviate diarrhea, especially in children. Red Raspberry may also be used orally to soothe throat or mouth irritations. Externally, its ability to constrict tissues has encouraged some to use the tea as a skin tightener or balm for irritated skin. "The leaf may also be combined with the powdered bark of slippery elm to make a poultice for application to the skin to treat wounds, burns, and scalds."

Preparation of Red Raspberry leaf tea is easy. Place one ounce of dried Raspberry leaves into a pint of boiling water (or half a pound per gallon) and simmer for ten minutes (though some recommend two to three hours to get maximum benefit from them). Drink the tea cold to soothe mouth or throat irritations.

To learn 5 more benefits of the red raspberry leaf, visit More Than Alive, a trusted source of family health information.

Thanks for reading today and I hope that you have your own supply of red raspberry leaf tea in your herbal medicine cabinet. If you haven't gotten any yet or your about to run out, be sure to check out our boxed herbs for some yummy red raspberry leaf tea and a great selection of other herbal remedies!

Shalom,

Nina

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joy_Mary http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Unknown-Rewards-Of-The-Red-Raspberry-Leaf&id=1079861

Getting Started, Part 2

By now you may have decided to do prefolds and covers, or fitteds and covers or AIOS or pockets or some combination of systems. Or you have no clue what I'm talking about and should check out my post, Getting Started, Part 1, that outlines the different types of diapers out there. Even if you haven't narrowed it down yet or you want to try out different systems before you decide what you love (that's what I did), here's some helpful information to get you on the right track.

You need enough diapers to get you through a washing without having to fashion a dish towel diaper wrapped with a plastic grocery bag

As a general rule, the smaller the baby, the more diapers you need. Newborns and babies up to about 9 months will need at least 12 diapers a day. With my last baby I had a dozen infant prefolds and 11 small Thirsties Fab Fitteds to start with (which are awesome, by the way, though I don't know why I didn't just buy 12???). This had me doing laundry every other day. If you plan on going the prefold, contour or fitted route, then plan on buying 4-8 waterproof covers per dozen diapers. If you're using prefolds or contours you'll probably need 6 -8 covers since there is no elastic to trap leaks. The wonderful thing about covers is that you can use them a few times (as long as there's no poop on them) before you need to wash them.

If you're starting out with a bigger baby, you'll need less diapers - about 8-10 diapers per day and 4-6 covers if you're using pfs, contours or fitteds.

If you're using AIOs or pockets, the same rules apply (minus the need for separate covers). One-size pocket diapers usually start fitting best when baby is over a month old and a separate newborn stash is a good thing to have on hand.

When you change your baby's diaper, the smell should not be so bad that it makes your eyes tear - well, for urine that is

A few months into cloth diapering I noticed that my daughter's diapers smelled - really, really, really bad. At one point we took her to the dr. to see if she had some kind of urinary tract infection because they were so stinky after she wet them. Nope, not it. I'd like to say that I immediately figured out the problem. Nope, I didn't. Instead I just tried to get the smell out using various tips I'd read about online. Some helped, but mostly they still had a faint odor after they were washed. Well, I finally grew a brain and realized that the culprit was buildup from soap residue and bacteria, which can happen with cloth diapers if too much detergent is used or it doesn't rinse out all the way. What to do when this happens? Strip 'em.

To keep anything performing in tip-top shape, it needs regular maintenance. Cloth diapers are no exception. They regularly need to be stripped of any detergent built up inside the absorbent layers. To do this, you can simply wash the diapers with hot water and no detergent added. If you see any soap bubbles or a filmy layer in the water, just repeat. Another tip I've read is from someone who adds "three turns around the washer" of Dawn dish soap (or Dawn ultra if that's all you can find) and then uses an extra rinse or two. Monthly stripping of cloth diapers is a good idea. Every time I wash my diapers I add 1/2 c baking soda to the wash and fill the fabric softener cup with vinegar for the rinse cycle. Both are helpful for neutralizing odors and stripping away build up.

Not all detergents are ideal for cloth diapers. Here's a great chart that lets you know what's good and what to avoid.

Keep the Butt Paste away from those diapers!

Not all diaper rash creams are good for your diapers. I learned this one the hard way. Of course, I also learned that those nasty rashes were a result from the build up, so theoretically, if you keep the build up out and change your baby frequently, you won't have to worry about rashes anymore. But just in case...

As I said before, Boudreaux's Butt Paste is not for cloth diapers. The smell stays in there and it stains them really bad. So what, poop stains, too, right? It can, but diaper rash creams that stain diapers can also cause them to repel - the whole moisture barrier thing that makes them so good for your baby's bum makes them not so good for your cloth diapers. If you absolutely must use Butt Paste, or A&D (this stuff leaves a bad smell), or Desitin, use a liner between baby and diaper to minimize damage. Fortunately, there are wonderful mamas out there who designed ointments for use with cloth diapers. Earth Mama Angel Baby created Angel Baby Bottom Balm to be used with cloth diapers. It smells wonderful and can also be used as a family first aid ointment. Punkin Butt Bottom Balm works well, too. Whenever possible, though, try to figure out the reason behind the rash for your baby's sake.

Some kind of easily-accessible receptacle should be in place to minimize poopy-diaper contact

Most people who cloth diaper they're babies have a diaper pail conveniently located next to the toilet so that they could just drop diapers in after cleaning them out. We tried this for a while, but the bathroom with the diaper sprayer was just too small for it. My solution - I use the washing machine. I don't like clutter and I'm trying to live with a lot less stuff, clothes included. With that effort and three small children, I need to do a load of laundry every day. In the morning I simply add my detergent, baking soda and vinegar to my washer, add a little water to dissolve the powder and then toss stuff in as the day goes by. Voila! No stinky diaper pail.

Now I realize that's not feasible for everyone. There are many diaper pail options available out there, however, as well as an array of super-cute diaper pail liners that you just throw in the wash with your diapers. A more cost-effective way to go would be a trash can with a lid (we had a convenient flip-top one) or a bucket with a lid available at any hardware store for a few bucks. Just be sure to decide what you're going to do before you find yourself with a dirty diaper that needs somewhere to go.

Cloth diapers don't need to stay at home when you leave the house

Some cloth diaper religiously no matter where they are, while others use disposable diapers for outings. If you think it'd be best to do the latter, just know that the former can easily be done, not to mention the fact that it's cheaper if you don't have to buy disposables and you don't have to worry about what chemicals are in them. For an outing you will need: 2-4 extra diapers (depending on baby's age and how long you'll be gone), a bag big enough to hold the dirty diapers and some wipes. I use cloth wipes and so I have a small bag that I keep wipes in. I would suggest putting some wet wipes in a Ziploc bag in case you need to do some heavy cleanup and can't find a sink, which only has to happen once for you to make it a regular habit. When you need to change a diaper, just do what you would at home, wrap up the diaper and stick it in your dirty diaper bag.

Any questions? Leave a comment and I'll be sure to get back to you. These were just a few bits of information that I wish I'd had when I was getting started with cloth.

Shalom

Nina

www.shalombeginnings.com

New from Thirsties!

In the last week I've received two e-mails from Thirsties announcing some exciting new products. Here are some features, straight from www.thirstiesbaby.com.

Thirsties Pre-wash
$19.00 each or $32.00 for Pre-Wash and Super Wash Value-Pack

32 fluid ounces (64 loads)

Completely non-toxic solution
100% biodegradable
Custom formulated by a chemist specifically for use in pre-washing diapers
Designed to help loosen and rinse away waste and eliminate bacteria
Antimicrobial ingredient naturally disinfects
Washes completely clean; will not leave residue
Highly concentrated to reduce costs and carbon output
HE Safe
Made in the USA

Thirsties Super Wash
$20.00 each or $32.00 for Pre-Wash and Super Wash Value-Pack

32 fluid ounces (64 loads)

Completely non-toxic solution
100% biodegradable
Odorless & colorless
Custom formulated by a chemist specifically for use in washing cloth diapers
Probiotic solution introduces good bacteria
Reduces odor
Helps prevent diaper rash
Effectively brightens and whitens without harmful additives
Washes completely clean; will not leave residue
Highly concentrated to reduce costs and carbon output
HE Safe
Made in the USA

Thirsties Duo Diaper
$18.50 each

Size One
6-18 lbs (3-8 kg) 0-9 months

Size Two
18-40 lbs (8-18 kg) 9-36+ months

A two-piece diapering system combining an absorbent insert and a waterproof sleeve diaper
An adjustable rise for extended use to suit your growing baby
Two sizes will fit from birth-to-potty
Leg gussets provide superior protection against leaks
Pliable and breathable in 8 fun colors!
Sleeve design for easy stuffing & easy cleaning
Microfiber terry & hemp combo insert for optimal absorption; 7 layers in all!
Use from birth-to-potty and save $1400 over disposables!


Excited! I sure am. The Pre-wash and Super wash should be available in the next week or two and the Duo Diaper is releasing in November, date yet to be announced. As soon as they're ready, I'll be adding them to the site and letting you know!

Shalom
Nina
www.shalombeginnings.com

Getting Started, Part 1

Congratulations! You've decided to venture into the world of Cloth Diapering... now what?

When I decided to begin cloth diapering to cut costs, I figured I'd go online, order some prefolds and covers and then be on my merry way. Right? Not so much. Once my husband reluctantly agreed, I got on the computer and Googled "cloth diaper stores." Wow. There were so many options that I just clicked on the first link. I figured it would take me to a store with some prefold diapers (the ones I had heard about) and a small selection of waterproof covers. Wrong again. Apparently, in the last decade or so, cloth diapering has been revolutionized. It was no longer just flats or prefolds with wool or plastic covers. No, now there were cloth diapers that were shaped like disposable diapers and they had Aplix (like Velcro) closures. Where did these come from? Why hadn't I heard about them? Cloth diapering was nothing like I was expecting.

In case you're not sure of all the CDing (short for cloth diaper - it's a whole subculture with it's own slang!) options available, here's a breakdown of the different types of diapers:

Flats: These are your Grandma's cloth diapers. Remember those big, one-layer pieces of cloth that needed to be folded like Origami and then pinned to stay on baby? Those would be flats. Some people still use them and manufacturers even make them Organic. If you choose flats, you'll need some kind of waterproof cover.

Prefolds: These are basically flats that have been folded for you, hence the name. They are usually folded in layers of 2x4x2 or 4x8x4, meaning that the most layers are in the middle to soak everything up. You can put them out flat, lay your baby on them, fold in the middle between the legs, bring everything up and together and pin or Snappi them closed. You would then put a waterproof cover on and go. Or you can trifold them and snugly fit them into a wrap-style diaper cover and put them on your baby that way. Each person has their preference. I did both ways, depending on how wiggly the baby was. Prefolds and covers are the cheapest way to go.

Contours: These diapers are cut out, or contoured, into a shape similar to that of a disposable diaper. Baby is then put on the diaper, everything is brought up and together and pinned or Snappi'd closed. They usually have an extra couple of layers in the middle, for extra absorbency. These and fitteds were my favorites when I only had one child in diapers. They usually have two sizes - stage 1 and stage 2. Contours also need waterproof covers.

Fitteds: I was so happy when I got my first fitteds. They are much like the contour, in regards to the shape, but they have elastic in the legs to prevent messy leaks and they have either Aplix or Snap closures. So fast and convenient. They can come in a size 1 and size 2 fitting, xs to xl or one-size fits all. Waterproof covers are needed with these as well.

Covers: You'll need covers if you decide to use any of the above-mentioned diapers. Why? Well, if you like holding your baby without getting wet, then you'll appreciate diaper covers. There are lots of different kinds of covers available today. Wrap-style covers go on like a disposable diaper and everything closes in the middle-front with Aplix or snaps. Pull-on covers go on just like a pair of underpants and can be very trim. They're just not the funnest to take off when you're baby has had a blow-out. Side-snapping covers snap closed on both sides and make it more difficult for babies to take them off. Covers come in a variety of sizes, like fitteds. The Thirsties Duo Wrap is a new wrap that comes in 2 stages - 0-9m and 9m plus - that helps you save money by not having to purchase 4 different sizes of cover.

All-in-Ones: Also known as AIOs. These diapers come with the absorbent and waterproof layers in one easy system. AIOs tend to be more expensive but are much more convenient and the most like a disposable diaper. One downside that I noticed when I used AIOs is that they take longer to dry.

Pockets: Pocket diapers are a lot like the AIO, only the absorbent layer is separate and you just stuff it inside the diaper's pocket. This cuts drying time down considerably. It also allows you to add more stuffing for night time or if you just have a heavy wetter. My favorite type of pocket is the one-size pocket. It has Aplix or snap closures and a number of snaps on the front of the diaper that allow you to adjust the size for your baby. These tend to be more expensive, but they are wonderful if you have more than one baby in diapers at once.

And of course, there are hybrids like the Thirsties Pocket AIO, that don't fit into one specific category but are designed to make cloth diapering easier for you.

Shalom,
Nina
http://www.shalombeginnings.com/

Cloth Diapering in a Nutshell

I stumbled into the world of cloth diapers completely unaware of what I'd find. My discoveries were amazing. There really is a whole cloth diaper subculture! Diapers can be cute! Rinsing poo off of a cloth diaper can be almost fun if you have a spray nozzle thingy!

So here are a few tips to beginners who might be as clueless as I was:

In case you're on the fence about whether you should try cloth diapering, you should know that these are not your mom's cloth diapers. Gone are the huge squares that require the folding skills of an origami master. They have been replaced by prefolds (very cheap), fitted diapers, pocket diapers and all-in-ones (not very cheap). There are even some hybrids out there! (No they will not save you money on gas). What's better is that you won't risk stabbing that wriggling toddler with a diaper pin. There are wonderful elastic, T-shaped things with little claws that keep the diaper together called Snappis. Or better than that, Velcro! Many of the cloth diapers made today have snap or Velcro closures that make diapering your baby a breeze. And once you have the diaper on, you just put on a pretty, waterproof diaper cover. Yes, I said pretty. Covers today come in all sorts of colors and patterns. You won't want to cover them up!

If you're in this to save a lot of money consider buying used diapers. Yes, used as in already been peed and pooped in. Don't worry, the baby won't care. While cloth diapers are much cheaper than disposables, you may be enticed by the beautiful designer diapers that cost a lot. If you're like me and you really want them but don't want to pay full price, you'll find that there are other ways to get your hands on them. Diaper Swappers has an online forum where moms (or dads) can post their used diapers and accessories. Be careful, you may become addicted. They offer good savings on diapers and they can also let you know how well they worked for their baby's shape. If only Target would buy back used disposable diapers...

Experiment. This is the best way to find out what will work best for your baby. As I said before, there are so many different kinds of diapers out there; it's hard to know what your favorite will be unless you try them all. A great way to do this is with a sample package. Many cloth diaper retailers offer a beginner's package that comes with a combination of prefolds and covers, fitteds and all-in-ones. If you have friends that cloth diaper you can ask if they would lend you some diapers for a couple of days so you can get a feel for them.

If you have good sewing skills (or even not so good sewing skills) you can make your own cloth diapers. There are many patterns and instructions online for making your own diapers. If you're good at it you could even sell them for some extra cash.

Lastly, and most importantly, get a spray nozzle thingy! "What the heck is she talking about," you may wonder. I am talking about a nozzle that attaches to your toilet that you use to spray the mess out of the cloth diaper. When I first began cloth diapering I would cringe when I saw my daughter grunt and turn various shades of red and purple. "Great," I thought, "I've got to stick my hand in the toilet and swish the diaper around and then move it to the sink because I won't be able to get it all off. Why did I get into cloth diapering, again?" I was very glad when I went to a friend's house and used the spray nozzle that was attached to her toilet. Not only does it allow you to get everything off of the diaper, but it's also fun for those of us who like instant gratification. (I am easily amused). You will have to wring out the diaper before you throw it in the diaper pail, but at least it's not poopy. Being a parent is messy business.

*Many Web sites carry a spray nozzle for around $35. If that's out of your price range (it was for me) go the hardware store and get a nozzle for the kitchen sink and you'll need a few connectors to attach it to your toilet. It's cheaper. Ask the employees at the hardware store for help if you have no idea what I'm talking about, they'll just need to know what size you need.

Shalom Beginnings

Shalom means peace, whole,  complete and perfect. What a beautiful way to begin life. To me, babies are peaceful, perfect little beings and I want to do what I can to make sure they are well taken care of. Babies need to be loved, held, nurtured, breastfed. Not only does it matter greatly what's going into their tummies, but also what's being put on their skin.

Today, many products aimed at families with young children contain harmful chemicals. In fact, some disposable diaper companies won't even disclose what chemicals they use, though it's known that Sodium polyacrylate, the chemical that makes them so absorbant, is linked to TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). Not only do disposable diapers contain a whole host of unknown chemicals, but many baby soaps, creams and lotions have harmful ingredients as well. (To search leading products and what's in them, check out Skin Deep). Kinda scary.

Thankfully, there is an alternative. As more people become aware of the potential harm these products could have on their children, they set out to find a solution. Many mom-led companies have been started by those who felt the need to develop products for babies that were both safe and efficient and in the case of cloth diapers, much less expensive. Rumparooz diapers was created for the owner's second daughter, who was so sensitive to disposable diapers that she could only spend a few hours in them. Erin Kimmett, CEO of Thirsties diapers puts it this way, "We honestly believe we are in the best possible business. We believe this because you share in our values for happy and healthy baby beginnings, and by virtue of such you continue the fight for sound futures."

It's not just the mamas making cloth diapers who are concerned about the well-being of your babies. Earth Mama Angel Baby produces only organic ingredients and their products (which also smell absolutely wonderful) earn ratings of 0 toxicity by Skin Deep. They carry a large line of products for pregnancy through postpartum and breastfeeding that are designed to make sure that babies get only the best.

As a mama concerned about the quality and safety of the products that I use on my children, I feel priveleged to offer these products that have been produced by like-minded people. Everything I offer has been tried personally or has been highly recommended with a lot of positive feedback. If I wouldn't use it, I wouldn't expect you to, either. Please remember to visit Skin Deep's website, the link is above.

Shalom
Nina Nelson
http://www.shalombeginnings.com/