We have two cats in our house which unfortunately got fleas! We've been battling this for a few weeks now and hopefully this last treatment has helped. It's getting expensive.

I also have two rabbits. I'll be checking them tonight. Since this last treatment (of Frontline) we gave the cats yesterday, we've seen a number of fleas on the carpet and couch jumping onto my roommate and me. Ugh. Does this count as an infestation? So far it's only been 5 or so, but it's aggrevating nonetheless.

I'm nervous for my buns, and also of my boyfriend coming over and going back to his house, where there are two more cats and our two chinchillas (yay zoos). Since they're jumping onto us, I'm worried he's going to transfer them to his apartment.

We need something serious to take care of this. Money is so tight but my roommate is talking about bombing our house. I don't exactly know what that entails but from what I've read I just don't want to resort to it. One of our cats reacts so badly to fleas that he rips his hair out - his back side is almost bald at this point. I can't imagine what will happen, if it hasn't already, when they get on the bunnies or even the chinchillas.

I read the entry in the memories about fleas but nothing really seems to be effective for a problem that may be large. We live in a pretty large space that is almost entirely carpeted. I'll definitely be vacuuming as much as possible but I need help finding a solution that will remove them as quickly and effectively as possible.

Anyone here a fan of Kashi GoLean? For some reason I got a thing in the mail with 6 coupons in it... five $1 off coupons and one $2 off coupon. They expire on Halloween. Anyone eat a ton of this stuff and want to take these off my hands? I've never eaten it and it doesn't look at all appetizing to me.

Is there any benefit to adding sour milk to a bath?

Hi, I'm a new member so please let me know if I need to edit this post in any way. I've been watching this community for a while. I live in Los Angeles, California, which to me isn't too green and clean.

I'm starting school next Tuesday, and my schedule will be something like
Mon-Sat: 10am- 6pm [including work-study] except I will have to wake up early, around 5:30am to get a ride from my aunt who leaves at 7 to the second bus stop.
I want to get a folding bike, but it's not that safe with traffic, I'm not experienced at biking, so it's for biking around the school and I can take it up the bus.

I have a few questions that concern maintaining natural lifestyle choices while in school. Sorry if I have a lot..

1. I have a hard time falling asleep. Usually go to bed around 12, fall asleep at 3am. During school, I notice I keep nodding off in class, and have a hard time paying attention sometimes. I may take naps during break to help with this, but I'm wondering what I can do to fall asleep earlier.
Also, I used to love reading a lot in middle/high school, but now not so much, and get stuck on writing assignments. It's really hard to focus on my writing task and get the thought process in words, and now it's difficult to remember what I'm reading without skimming/fully comprehending. Maybe it's because I'm not interested in it?

2. I have really bad social anxiety, or just have anxiety in general. It didn't get bad until last year. I might pick up smoking natural, additive/filler-free cigarettes as the last option. Any suggestions?

3. I will need to drink a lot of water, especially since skin broke out/inflammed badly starting spring semester. How many ounces of water would be enough, or should I bring a plastic gallon of water everyday? I'm thinking about getting this:
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/sigg-traveler-oval-black-flask-with-reusable-bottle-p-607.html

4. What food do you recommend for lunch? I would make it around 6am, and eat around 12-3. Right now, sandwiches are the best option, because I only have basic cooking skills. They would be easy to make in the morning/night before, less hassle, doesn't need heat/cold. I get sick of the PB/Strawberry Jam after a while though, and it kind of wilts by lunchtime. I wrap my sandwich in a napkin and reuse a ziploc bag.
I'm also thinking of bringing frozen blueberries/grapes to snack on. I'm a snacker.

Do you guys have any easy recipes/lunch ideas that works with the timing, snack ideas, etc? I can buy the stuff at Trader Joes/Wholefoods. I'm Chinese, so anything with rice/noodles/pasta, vegetables, fish would be great.

Thank you, I would really appreciate the help/advice.

I've seen a lot of entries on SIGG, Nalgene, plastic containers, and the like, but I haven't seen an answer to my question. I'm looking for a safe water bottle that would fit in the cage on my bike. Any suggestions?

Last weekend, I bit a hole into the side of my cheek. It doesn't go all the way through, but it's pretty big, and as of Wednesday, it's been swollen and raw and so painful that I can barely eat, try not to talk, and pretty much just sit there like a goober with my mouth hanging open. =[

Is there a topical treatment to help it heal faster or help ease the pain that isn't made from chemicals? My dentists suggested a store bought treatment with benzocaine, but all that does is make my whole mouth numb for five minutes, and then the pain returns. It doesn't have any healing properties.

TIA for the help. =]



Love and Punches.

I found this site that tells how to treat yellowjacket, wasp and bee stings!  There are a few we've dicussed here and a few new ones!  For the link weary:

( remedies! )

The entire site looks pretty cool.  It's aimed at parents but I think a lot of items could apply to anyone.

I want one of these...

http://www.verdier.ca/

Hopefully this isn't a repost. Anyways, I just read about these cases of campylobacter infections linked to raw milk at a farm in California, and I thought there might be some interest here.

Illness halts raw milk program
Published: August 16, 2008
By Nicholas Grube
Triplicate staff writer

Alexandre Family EcoDairy Farms ended its raw milk program after several people who consumed the product got sick, including one Crescent City woman who remains in intensive care and is partially paralyzed.

The Del Norte County Department of Public Health suspects at least 15 people who ingested raw milk contracted Campylobacter, a common bacteria found in domesticated animals that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Raw milk essentially comes straight from the udder and has become popular among health-conscious consumers. It is unpasteurized, and advocates say it contains beneficial microbes that help in digestion and provide increased nutrition.

Three cases of Campylobacter infections have been documented by Del Norte County health officials since late June, and the other 12 are awaiting confirmation.
...
The woman who became sick initially showed symptoms common with a Campylobacter infection, Martinelli said. This included episodes of abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

She later developed a form of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder that makes a person's immune system attack the peripheral nervous system and can result in paralysis.

The syndrome is rare, but when it does occur it often is associated with a Campylobacter infection, medical studies have found.
...
Link

Personally, I don't have very strong opinions on either side of the issue, but seeing reports like these pop up in the news every so often make me wonder how common these infections would occur if more poeple took up drinking raw milk.

If this is not an OK topic for this group, could someone please direct me to a better group for it?

One of my cats recently had kittens (which are freakin' adorable), and today while I was doling out the catnip it occurred to me that maybe she shouldn't have any, as she is nursing. Will the catnip affect her milk and, hence, the kittens or is it OK to let her eat it? The catnip is 100% organic, if that matters...

Thanks! ^_^

hey guys, if anyone on my list happens to be around austin, houston, dallas, or a few other cities, there is free day of yoga on labor day..here is the site:
http://www.freedayofyoga.com/index.html

xposted in yoga 

email from P2C2:

Why is BHRT National Congressional Call-In Day on Sept. 10, 2008, so important? 

The answer is simple—we must unite together to call members of Congress and urge them to protect access for women's health.  Though our objective and target are simple, this issue has been brewing for years between FDA, big Pharma and compounding pharmacists.  As you know, the stakes in this battle are high—your healthcare options will be limited if FDA and pharmaceutical manufacturers have their way.

What's happening?  In 2005, Wyeth, the maker of Premarin and Prempro, called on FDA to shut down compounding pharmacies that prepare bioidentical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT).  If Wyeth had its way, women being prescribed compounded hormone medicines to treat symptoms of menopause would be forced to discontinue their treatments. In early 2008, FDA finally answered Wyeth's concerns about compounded hormone medicines with a set of new policies.  Most critically, FDA announced that it will "halt" compounding of hormone treatments that contain estriol.

What is estriol?  Estriol is a common component of many compounded hormone treatments prescribed by doctors.  Estriol is one of three estrogen hormones produced by a woman's body.  Women should talk to their doctor or pharmacist to find out if their hormone therapy contains estriol.

Why is FDA trying to take away women's BHRT?  Make no mistake—this fight is about Wyeth's wealth, not women's health.  FDA's recent action is not based on scientific data or any medical justification.  This is simply bad policy influenced by a big drug company.

What are the Congressional resolutions calling on FDA to reverse its policy on estriol?  The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate each have resolutions—H. Con. Res. 342 and S. Con Res. 88, respectively—calling for FDA to reverse its policy on estriol.  The resolutions also call on the need for FDA to "respect the physician-patient relationship" and recognize that doctors, not FDA, are in the best position to "determine which medications are appropriate for their patients." They also point out that "FDA has acknowledged that it is unaware of any adverse events" associated with the use of estriol over the past three decades.

These Congressional resolutions are a key tactic to send FDA a message that its estriol policy is not in the best interest of women's health.  However, not all Senators and Representatives are aware of FDA's new policy and the effect it will have on women's health.  On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the BHRT National Congressional Call-In Day will flood Capitol Hill with phone calls from concerned constituents who will urge their elected members of Congress to sign on to their respective Congressional resolution.

Support women's health—mark your calendar to participate on Sept. 10.  And help us spread the word by clicking here.

 

Calling is the key to protect BHRT!

Learn more at www.iacprx.org/CallCongress

xposted from my journal

'allo, all! Since I've taken up intermittent fasting (a calorie restriction scheme of 24 hours eating at will and 24 hours of no intake), I've been considering that I may need to improve the fat and protein components in my diet when I do actually eat.

I haven't been consuming animal product except for one serving a week. I've been serious about curtailing my meat and dairy consumption for sustainability reasons, but as I'm now essentially eating only every other day, I think I need to get stronger protein and fat sources.

In considering putting dairy back in our diet, though, my partner and I were kinda hoping we could find a local dairy to supply our milk rather than relying on the supermarket. We're big fans of eating local. We know we can get local eggs, but milk seems to be trickier.

I've been having trouble actually finding a local dairy, though. Google searches have run dry. Is there some resource out there that I've missed? Please do help.

[edit] I've gotten tired of people wanting to discuss semantics in what is essentially an explanatory clause to the real question. I have changed the offending wording, for the sake of decorum.

does anyone know of a good herbalist/naturopath doctor in the Los Angeles area?

I have been given wayyyyy too many drugs with wayyyyy too many side effects for migraines. Don't want the migraines, but don't want to take drugs either. I am currently taking a pill that combines feverfew, Riboflavin and Magnesium, but would feel better talking to someone who has some sort of training.... ???

Hi All,
I posted earlier on a green home reno and I bought a great magazine today and saw an interesting ad.

Has anyone seen or used Fresh Aire Paint? It is at Home Depot.

I've recently acquired a small wooden side table through my local Freecycle and it's desperately in need of refinishing. I've read through the entries about low-vac stains and finishes so I'm all set on that front. In fact, I thought I'd offer a link to the Green Seal's Report on Wood Finishes and Stains (http://www.greenseal.org/resources/reports/CGR_wood_finish.pdf)

I'm wondering if there is a less noxious alternative to chemical strippers and paint removers? I've test sanded a few spots but didn't get very far doing that.

Hi,
My husband and I just purchased a 1906 Victorian we are going to renovate. We are looking to salvage sinks for the kitchen and bathrooms and plan to install a new furnace, tankless hot water heat and dual flush toilets. We plan to improve as much of the house as we can and are only gutting the areas that are not usable (the kitchen and 2 bathrooms)

I am looking for other suggestions for green and healthy home improvement.

X posted to myhappyhome

I've been experimenting with a bit of home cheesemaking (did a weekend workshop, now hooked) and i was wondering whether any of you lovely natural living folk were a) also home cheesemakers and b) knowledgable in the location of some handy "help, my cheese is doing this. how do i save it?" kind of online resources.

I have five biodynamic milk camemberts maturing in my kitchen but 2 have pink slimey spots developing where a white skin should be. The other 3 are fine. I'm thinking cut it off and re-sanitise that container but do I brine it again? Are they unsalvageable and consigned to the compost?

My cat has ear mites, I found several sites that advised a mixture that includes 400 I.U. of vitamin-e oil, but the store only had one bottle of 32,000 I.U. It's pure vitamin-e, no additives, and natural. I've tried Google and am confused and have gotten no where. How do I measure out 400 I.U. of this? Is it okay to just say that it's 1 fl. oz, and divide the 32,000 from that to figure out how much 1 I.U. is and go from there?