Hello there, questions!

[miltonkeynesmum]

Hi, nice to meet everyone. I have a couple of questions.

* eczema, my daughter 2.5 y/o has it on her left eyelid and I cannot get rid - any ideas for topical applications from nature?

* wind. gas. I have lots. I had lots before I went onto this much healthier diet but I have even more now. It's not from eating masses of lentils either, so, any suggestions as to why I am like this. The family are fed up with me and gas masks have had to be issued all round! HEEEEELP!!! ha ha.

Thanks a million. Bye bye!

[Jeannette]

I had the same problem (very bad...my family said the same!!) before starting Macrobiotics. Now, very ocassional gas and my stomach is fine after meals. One thing...are you chewing gum? If so, stop. And you may want to try a drink called Ume-sho-Kuzu. I took it 4x weekly for one month and I think this had a lot to do with the stregthening of my stomach. My counselor made my diet plan for me, and it has been a blessing! No more gas!! Here are the directions to make the drink.

Ume-Sho-Kuzu
1 heaping tsp. kuzu (or kudzu) powder
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. cold spring or filtered water
1/2 to 1 umeboshi plum, pitted and mashed to a paste
1/2 to 1 tsp. shoyu or tamari soy sauce
1/8 tsp. grated ginger (optional)
Dissolve the kuzu in the 2 Tbsp. of cold water. Place the remaining 1 cup of water in a saucepan and add the dissolved kuzu. Add the mashed umeboshi plumand bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring until the liquid becomes translucent. Stir in the shoyu and simmer 2 minutes. Add the ginger, if using, and simmer 1 minute longer. Drink hot.

Makes 1 serving

The key is to not boil the liquid. Enjoy!

Oh, a few more things that may be contributing. Are you chewing enough? How are the stress levels in your life? Practicing any yoga or light exercise? For me, I think my gum chewing was causing the problem, plus too many raw veggies. I hope you get better...I know how hard that can be! =)

[Rafflesia]

What is the difference between wakame and kombu? I've never seen the latter and have a few recipes that call for it. Can I substitute the wakame? Thanks. Kristin

[garymill]

Hi Kristin,

Kombu and Wakame are generally used for different purposes.

Kombu is used for one to cook with beans to make them more digestable and also used to prepare soup stocks, you would use it for example to make noodles and broth, or generally a broth using shoyu(soy sauce)

Wakame is a quick cooking sea vegetable and would be used in miso soup, or in different salads, like in a wakame cucumber salad.

Hope this helps.

Gary

[miltonkeynesmum]

Thanks for the info chaps. I do not chew. I just ingest. I have such a rush on with the children I just have to bolt my food. I will try hard this week to do proper chewing but it won't be easy!!!! Thanks!

[Jeannette]

Remember...at least 50 times!! 100 is better. This combined with the Umeshokuzu and you will be on your way!!

[miltonkeynesmum]

Hey, hey. Due to absence of ingresidents for your magic potion, have been chewing like a good 'un. The difference is remarkable! Thanks guys! Reported wind speeds here in the UK are reducing as we speak

[lvandok]

Originally Posted by miltonkeynesmum

Hi, nice to meet everyone. I have a couple of questions.

* eczema, my daughter 2.5 y/o has it on her left eyelid and I cannot get rid - any ideas for topical applications from nature?

* wind. gas. I have lots. I had lots before I went onto this much healthier diet but I have even more now. It's not from eating masses of lentils either, so, any suggestions as to why I am like this. The family are fed up with me and gas masks have had to be issued all round! HEEEEELP!!! ha ha.

Thanks a million. Bye bye!

My son had eczema and I was told by the doctor it was treatable but not curable. I researched it myself and found a few simple changes cured it completely. The main one is remove all soap, including and especially bubble baths. Use a non soap cleanser and oatmeal based moisturizer. I use Aveeno products. My son also only has a bath twice a week unless he is particularly filthy. You should also use the gentlest/fragrance free detergent you can afford.

I hope this works for you as well as it has worked for me.