Body Powder Recipe for Hot and Humid Weather

Hot summer weather is here again in Central Florida. With a new baby on the way now a safe and effective body powder is essential for preventing heat rash. True heat rash, also known as Milaria, is the result of overgrowth of the bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis. Young babies and children are especially susceptible to heat rash because of their under developed sweat glands. The neck and skin folds are common areas for heat rash which can appear as small red dots. This form of the rash is known as Milaria rubra, which is the most common. Another type of rash that is common in hot humid weather conditions is Candida, which is a fungal over growth. This rash can also manifest around the neck and between skin folds, groin, etc.

For heat true heat rash avoiding hot temperatures and humidity is essential, in children a short hair cut can be helpful. Cool baths and air conditioned environments can help clear up the rash. For persons with Candida, dietary changes and weight loss can be important factors for clearing the rash. In either case it is very important to keep the skin dry because bacteria and fungus proliferate well in damp environments.

The following is a body powder recipe that I created for use in persons with either type of rash in conjunction with such lifestyle changes. This recipe is contains no essential oils and is safe for use with babies and young children.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Arrowroot powder
1/4 cup Baking soda
1/4 cup Licorice root powder
1/4 cup Myrrh powder
1/8 cup French green clay
1/8 cup Bentonite clay

About these ingredients:
Arrowroot provides a gentle non-irritating base for this formula. Baking soda is deodorizing. Licorice root is specific against both Staph and Candida. Licorice root is one common herb used in Chinese medicine powders for heat rash, for example it is found among recipes compiled for Milaria by Liang Jian-Hui in A Handbook of Traditional Chinese Dermatology. Myrrh is known for it's anti-fungal properties. The French green and Bentonite clays help absorb moisture from the body to keep the skin dry.

Method:
Measure out and mix all ingredients together in a clean mixing bowl. Add your mixed body powder to a clean powder dispenser of your choice. You could put it in a wide-mounthed glass jar and apply the powder with a large soft make up brush, add the powder to a fancy pepper shaker, add the powder to a recycled spice jar with shaker holes, or purchase a specialized powder shaker container to use with this recipe.

Directions for use:
To use dust this powder lightly over the body after a shower, before going outside into the heat, or as needed throughout the day.

This recipe is part of the Mountain Rose Herbs Recipe Contest. http://www.facebook.com/notes/mountain-rose-herbs/share-your-herbal-recipes-blog-contest/383032571858 Mountain Rose offers a great selection of organic herbs and herbal supplies. All the ingredients can be found to make this recipe for your self at Mountain rose. Follow the link below to shop.

Homemade Ginger Ale Recipe

I had gotten out of the habit of making ginger ale until recently. It's so fun and easy though. With the cold weather we've been having, it was a something fun to do to keep myself busy while being shut up in the house trying to keep warm. I'm glad I finally started making it again. The method and recipe that I use is based on David B. Fankhauser's from his website. I've simply modified it so that it is not as sweet as his, plus I have a couple of flavoring variations.

Here is my basic recipe:
4 Tablespoons of Fresh Grated Ginger Root
1.25 cups of sugar
1/2 t yeast
2 Tablespoons of Herbal Vinegar*
1 gallon plastic container

*I like using Lemongrass herbal vinegar, but you can also use another herbal vinegar of your choice or double the amount of fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice or another herbal vinegar of your choice. The last batch of ginger ale that I made included homemade Fire Cider. Just now I put together a batch with red hot pepper vinegar. I'm curious to see how that turns out. Variety is fun!

Method:
Add all the ingredients to the plastic container and fill to 1/2 inch from the top with fresh water and cap. The next step is to let is sit at room temperature and wait until the jug starts to bulge out from the carbonation. During the summer when my house is in the 80's this usually takes less than 24 hours. In this cold weather is has been taking more like 48 hours. When it becomes difficult to squeeze a dent in the container, then it is ready. At this point you need to refrigerate it for about 5 hours. Then it is ready to serve after straining out the ginger.
This drink comes out mildly fizzy and is only approximately 0.4% alcohol.

Thanks to my friend Patricia Shaw for taking this great picture from our lunch yesterday.