DIY Life

Tis the season to be jolly... and cook like a maniac. I find myself spending more and more kitchen as the weather drops a few more degrees, and although I don't necessarily enjoy cooking, I do love the smell of homemade dinner on the oven! What I don't love is the amount of finger burns I've accumulated from my hot cookie sheets, scalding tea kettles and fireside marshmallows. No worries; in my adventures, I've learned a secret tip to keeping those digits pain-free after a burn! Hint: It's in your pantry!

Curious? I'll give you another hint: You put it on a hot dog and it rhymes with custard. Yep --- mustard! But not just any mustard will do the trick; you want to rub spicy mustard on the burn directly. Works like a charm, and I have a funny feeling it heals the wound just as fast as the leading drugstore brand.

First aid from the condiment aisle? Sure!

I'd taken the kids to their grandparents' some years back, and my eldest managed to brush her hand against a hot element on the stove. It was a mild burn, but painful!

While I was racing for an ice cube, Grandma simply reached for the plant in the window over the stove, snipped off a bit of its pointy leaf, gave it a squeeze so that some clear goop oozed out, and then rubbed the damp innards and goop of the leaf onto my daughter's hand. Grandma repeated this a few times that day. It seemed to do the trick.

"It" was an aloe vera plant, of course. Not only did Grandma use it for burns, but for mosquito bites, bee stings, and just about any other surface skin pain. I always wondered if this was just psychosomatic: My kids all believed 100% in the healing properties of Grandma's "magic plant", but a little research shows that it really does do all that stuff! (It's also pretty effective as a laxative. Who knew?)

It turns out they're not hard to grow, either. It's best to get yourself a large one. Not only are the larger ones more potent in their healing properties, but the plant grows slowly. Don't hesitate to nip off a section of leaf as needed, though: even as it heals your skin, the plant heals quickly, too!

If you'd like to grow your own aloe vera plant, Tipnut provides some sound basic information.

The power of scent is phenomenal. It is the sense most linked to memory, and without it, we'd only taste five flavors. Inhalation is one of the most effective ways to get a substance into the bloodstream. And certain smells can even alter our moods.

Knowing how effective essential oils can be at mood enhancement, it makes sense that we'd want to get the essential oils into our environment in the most effective ways possible.

Diffusing may very well be the best way, and this is simply dispersing the essential oils throughout a room so you can inhale them, either for enjoyment, medicinal purposes, or quite possibly even spiritual healing.

For those who get cold sores or fever blisters, this is a dreaded season. Outbreaks are more common and dry uncomfortable skin seems to slow the healing process. Here are 9 ways to speed the healing and control the spread of these painful lesions.

1. Make sure you have a cold sore
   Confirm what you're dealing with so that you can treat it effectively.
   
2. Notice when an outbreak is pending
   The affected area will feel tender and sore. You will likely notice a small bump before an actual outbreak. If you catch the sore before it's completely erupted you'll have an easier time treating it.
   
3. Quarantine your sore
   Yes, that means no smooching. Keep the sore to yourself. Don't share drinks or dishes with people. Wash your hands well and avoid touching the sore.
   
4. Toss the toothbrush
   You could be reinfecting yourself, so get a new toothbrush and start fresh.
   
5. Take an antiviral medication
   Ask your doctor about medication that you can take to suppress outbreaks and stop from passing them on.
   
6. Take care of the fever
   Cold sores and fevers often go hand in hand, particularly in children. Monitor and treat the fever.
   
7. Ease the pain
   Over the counter creams and pain medication can help ease the pain. 10 minutes with an ice-pack or a whole milk compress will also do the trick.
   
8. Have patience
   Outbreaks typically take 2 weeks to subside. Picking at the sore will only agitate it and prolong the healing process.
   
9. Talk to your doctor
   If healing doesn't progress as you'd expect or if you are in particular pain, talk to your doctor. The doctor may recommend a vitamin B complex and amino acids.

That nasty looking cold sore is not going to compliment your new holiday outfit. Look your best and spare your date the awkward moment of rejecting your goodnight kiss by following these useful tips for quick healing and quarantine of the dreaded cold sore.

We know that drinking tea has great health benefits. Now your tea bags can be used for alternative healing and other creative problem solving uses. I knew that tea could freshen tired eyes or ease a sunburn, but I had no idea that it could stop bleeding and pain after losing a tooth or even serve as an effective furniture polish. You'll find more interesting tips in these 15 wonderful uses for tea.

A reader comments that a green tea bag can clean stubborn stains off a white board. Here are a few other uses I was able to dig up. What inventive ways have you used tea bags. Share your tips in the comments.