It turns out that cupro is a fancy “silk substitute” like rayon and tencel are designed to be.  It is made from wood fiber and cotton by-products. (I thought I was holding silk, at first, but I recognize the word for silk in most languages, so then I was fearful about cleaning issues)

No worries. I googled cupro fabric, found out what it is, then I googled “cleaning cupro fabric” and found out that it can be washed and dried in washing machines and dryers.  It can also be line-dried, and dry-cleaned.

Hooray! My Salvation Army score is truly a score! I can wash the trousers, and then hang them to dry.

They fit like they were made for me (when I want to wear cropped pants – that’s always an issue at my height, but with the right pair of shoes, they will be nice “ankle” pants.  (I’m wearing them tomorrow!)

*If you are  reading me from outside New York City, Salvation Army is a Christian denomination which has a mission addressed to the homeless, the poor, and those who are marginalized by drug addiction, prison conviction, or mental retardation (as nearly as I can figure it).  The mission to the poor involves accepting tax-deductible donations of clothing and appliances from the public and re-selling them at prices affordable to the poor (today was family day, so the pants I mentioned, priced at $7.99, cost me $4.00.  I also got an Ann Taylor blouse for $1.50, a Gap shirt for $1.50, and a Chico’s Traveler’s shirt jacket for $3.00).  Since I cannot afford to shop at all, today I was able to get in a serious shopping fix for under $10.00, and still have fancy respectable clothes that I can wear to work . ) We are really lucky in New York City, because rich people do not wear their clothes much, and often donate them rather than clean them. (Everything I scored today bore a dry-cleaners’ tag: nice rich donors!)

If you live in another city, you might find GoodWill (they primarily help disabled people) or AmVets (to help American military veterans)

If you live in another country, I am hoping that your country has something similar, because it really is helpful to be able to buy nice clothes when you have little money.

The recipe as it was Living the Fruity Life:
“Add 1/4 – 1/2 cup of sea salt to washer as water is filling and 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar to fabric softener dispenser (could use downy ball), toss in the dirty laundry, and close the lid”

I am thinking that I should be able to dissolve the salt in the vinegar and pout it in the the detergent slot.  I’ll try that with a load of whites and see what happens.
Stay tuned.

I’ve been able to relieve the itch with Four Thieves oil and with Strivectin, but I have not come up with anything that would make it not happen to start with.

Now, I can confidently suggest that you try baby oil as a repellant to “no-see-ums”

I use Strivectin. (I have read the ingredients, and it is natural, as far as I am concerned right now at this moment, and it helps my complexion.)

Strivectin is the most expensive skin cream I have ever bought, but I noticed a serious difference when I stopped using it for 4 months, so I am back using it. I should not complain — the stuff lasts forever (I do use it 3 times a day).

The part where it is hard is when the tube is at the end, and I am going to have to buy more, i.e., sacrifice around $150 dollars (if I count the tax). This time, I’ve gone ahead and bought the new tube, but I haven’t opened it yet. I just wanted to see if I had gotten all of it out of the tube, so I cut off the end of the tube, and looked inside — nope!!! there was a lot of Strivectin clinging to the inside of the tube. I wiped out some and used it. When I could not reach the cream anymore, I cut the tube again. I’m going on week two and there is still more down there.

Okay, so, here I am living in what seems to be the Capital of Bedbugs — I know — eeeuuuwww!  New York City has ‘em in hotels, fancy homes, and, of course, nice middle class places like mine. Bedbugs keep being in the news, as well as in our beds here.  Nobody seems to know what to do about them, short of move away, which is not an option for me.

I have found one spray which is supposed to work (although they did not tell me how long it is supposed to take!!!!!)  Meanwhile, since Four Thieves has done everything else I asked it to do, I thought that, perhaps, if I rubbed it all over my skin, it might deter bites…. I left some skin bare as a test. It does seem to have worked pretty well, actually… any part that had not had copious amounts of Four Thieves rubbed in just before bedtime got a bite (good! only three new bites!!!!)  So…. if it happens to you…. try it.

Four Thieves  is working so well for me that, if I get shingles again, I may try it (although I imagine it will be excruciating to apply it and wait for it to calm down, it does calm down even the most excruciating itch that cannot bear to be touched or even have fabric on it)

I’m thinking of spraying it on the bed to see what happens. How much can it hurt (okay, I might get a craving for Christmas candy in the middle of the night)

1/4 C vodka
1/2 C distilled water
1/4 t honey
1/4 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground cloves (or or clove oil)

• Combine ingredients. Mix well to completely dissolve honey.
• If desired, strain to remove ground clove residue, if used.
• Pour mixture into clean bottle.

Four Thieves is some nifty stuff. I am using the oil with good results to date. The Four Thieves vinegar is very good, as well.

FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR: ANTIVIRAL GERMICIDE Possible Alternative for Flu Shots

Herbal lore has it that, while the Plague was raging in France, a rash of burglaries of plague victims’ homes was discovered. No effort was made, however, to apprehend the thieves, as it was assumed that they would soon succumb to the contagion in the homes they had robbed..

The thieves carried on their crime spree for some time, and people began to wonder why they had not become ill and die. It was then that the authorities began to pursue them… to discover the secret of their immunity to the Plague.

Once the burglars had been apprehended, they struck a bargain with the authorities, that they should be set free in exchange for revealing the secret to their immunity to the Plague.

It was then that the four thieves revealed the herbal disinfectant formula that rendered them immune to the Plague.

Current theorists suggest that this formula, now called “Four Thieves Vinegar”, may offer protection against fearsome possible threats, such as the flu, smallpox, and biological weapons, which concern us today, as all of its ingredients are either strong anti-bacterial agents, or have potent anti-viral properties.

FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR

1 part lavender, dried
1 part sage, dried
1 part thyme, dried
1 part lemon balm (melissa), dried
1 part hyssop, dried
1 part peppermint, dried
1 handful garlic cloves
Raw (unpasteurized), organic apple cider vinegar

• In a glass jar, place all dry ingredients.
• Add raw (unpasteurized), organic apple cider vinegar to cover
• Place jar in a cool place and let sit, at room temperature, for six weeks.
• Strain off herbs and garlic, and decant to a glass bottle or jar with a tight fitting lid.

HOW TO USE FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR
• Take a teaspoonful several times daily.
• Add to salads either directly or in a salad dressing.
• For personal protection, add a teaspoonful to bath water.
• Use as a topical spray for disinfecting surfaces and/or skin

ALTERNATIVE FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR
wormwood
meadowsweet
juniper berries
rosemary
camphor
sage
cinnamon
cloves
white wine vinegar

FOUR THIEVES OIL
1 part eucalyptus
1 part rosemary
1 part cinnamon
1 part clove
1 part lemon
Carrier oil (olive, jojoba, or your choice)
Mix

I put 50 drops of each oil in a 2 oz. bottle and then top it off with jojoba oil (I like jojoba oil because it seems to never go rancid).

An alternative recipe:

200 drops Clove Bud Oil
175 drops Lemon Oil
100 drops Cinnamon Oil
75 drops Eucalyptus Oil
50 drops Rosemary

Mix with jojoba oil.

APPLICATIONS:

• Apply 1-2 drops of Four Thieves on the bottoms of the feet and on the nape of the neck.
• Apply under the arms and on the chest.
• Diffuse for 20 minutes or less at work or at home.

A PERSONAL NOTE:

I have used Four Thieves for the itch that accompanied a nasty rash that doctors could not diagnose (where is House when you need him?)… I originally applied the Four Thieves oil because I was worried about possible infection after scratching myself bloody in my sleep. The Four Thieves smarted quite a bit when I first applied it, but, then, miraculously, the itch subsided and allowed me to have a life. Although the rash did not disappear, it did diminish markedly every time I applied the oil.

You have heard it before: Drink lots of water to stay healthy.

Now, this from Japan:
My Japanese room-mate has told me that it is fashionable in Japan to drink water immediately upon arising, because Japanese research has shown that this “Water Treatment” can effect a 100% cure for a number of diseases, including:

METHOD OF TREATMENT
• Upon arising in the morning, before you brush your teeth, drink 640 ml (approximately 2-1/2 C) water.
• After drinking the water, brush your teeth and gargle, as desired, but wait 45 minutes before eating or drinking anything else.
• After 45 minutes, eat your normal breakfast.
• Avoid eating or drinking for 2 hours during the treatment period.

NOTE: The elderly or infirm, who cannot tolerate 4 glasses of water at once should build up their water intake gradually, from 1/2 C to the recommended 2-1/2 C before breakfast.

Although there are no side effects to this totally natural treatment, in the beginning, you may notice an increased frequency of urination until the body accustoms itself to the new pattern of water intake.

RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE OF TREATMENT
for alleviation or cure

• Arthritis patients should follow the 3 days during the week 1, then begin the full daily treatment in week 2.
• Cancer – 180 days
• Constipation – 10 days
• Diabetes – 30 days
• Gastritis – 10 days
• High Blood Pressure – 30 days
• Tuberculosis – 90 days

Japanese researchers suggest that the Water Treatment be added permanently to one’s daily routine for ongoing benefit.

3 drops eucalyptus
1 drop niaouli
1 drop palmarosa
1 drop spearmint
1/8 C jojoba oil

Blend.

From Incense, Oils, and Brews, by Scott Cunningham