FUNGAL INFECTIONS OF THE FEET

NAIL FUNGAL INFECTIONS, ALSO KNOWN AS ONYCHOMYCOSIS AND TINEA UNGUIUM, ARE COMMON DISEASES OF THE NAIL.  FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS ARE BOTH SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE INFECTION BUT IT IS MORE COMMON IN TOENAILS.  THESE INFECTIONS ARE CAUSED BY MICROSCOPIC ORGANISMS (FUNGI) THAT DO NOT REQUIRE SUNLIGHT TO SURVIVE. THERE ARE SOME YEASTS AND MOLDS, HOWEVER, THAT ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CAUSING THE CONDITION. 

SYMPTOMS OF NAIL FUNGAL INFECTIONS ARE THICKENING OF THE NAIL, AND DISCOLORATION OF WHITE, BLACK, YELLOW, OR GREEN.  AS THE INFECTION PROGRESSES, THE NAIL CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND THE SKIN BECOME PAINFUL AND INFLAMED UNDERNEATH AND AROUND THE NAIL.

ATHLETE'S FOOT IS A FUNGAL INFECTION OF THE SKIN OF THE FOOT AND CAN BE CAUSED BY TWO TYPES OF FUNGUS.  IT IS A CONDITION THAT IS EASILY SPREAD AND CAN BE PICKED UP FROM DAMP, CONTAMINATED PLACES, i.e. FLOORS IN PUBLIC SHOWERS OR LOCKER ROOMS.  



TOENAIL FUNGUS AND ATHLETE'S FOOT CAN BE TREATED WITH COSTLY MEDICATIONS AND OVER-THE-COUNTER PRODUCTS BOTH OF WHICH CONTAIN INGREDIENTS THAT CAN CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS.  AND DUE TO THE ARRAY OF PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT TO CHOOSE, THEREFORE MAKING IT A MATTER OF TRIAL AND ERROR.

IF YOU SUFFER FROM EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS, I RECOMMEND PEDESIL ANTI-FUNGAL CREAM, AN ALL-IN-ONE FOOT AND NAIL TREATMENT SYSTEM.  PEDESIL CONTAINS ORGANIC AND NATURAL INGREDIENTS.  IT IS FREE OF UNNECESSARY CHEMICALS, PARABENS, ARTIFICIAL SCENTS, AND PRESERVATIVES.  PRICED AT $19 AND $25, IT COMES WITH A 90-DAY RISK FREE GUARANTEE. 





GET YOUR FEET LOOKING THEIR BEST FOR SUMMER.  GET PEDESIL NOW AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE.





                                                          

  

HONEY'S HEALTH BENEFITS

HONEY, NATURE'S POWER FOOD, HAS BEEN USED BY MANKIND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.  THE NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL VALUES OF HONEY HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED THROUGHOUT HISTORY BY THE ROMANS, GREEKS, HINDUS, EGYPTIANS, AND CHINESE, TO NAME A FEW.  THESE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS DISCOVERED HONEY'S HEALING PROPERTIES.

HONEY IS MADE WHEN BEES SWALLOW, DIGEST AND REGURGITATE NECTAR.  THIS NECTAR CONTAINS ALMOST 600 COMPOUNDS.  THESE COMPOUNDS, IN TURN, CONTAIN MANY HEALTH BENEFITS.  IN ADDITION TO SOOTHING YOUR THROAT WHEN ADDED TO HOT TEA, HONEY ALSO CAN BE USED AS A NIGHTTIME COUGH SUPPRESSANT.  HONEY CONTAINS FLAVONOIDS WHICH CAN AID IN REDUCING THE RISK OF GETTING CANCER AND HEART DISEASE AND, WHEN MIXED WITH CINNAMON, HELPS RELIEVE ARTHRITIC PAIN.

HONEY HAS THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN A SLOW-RELEASE MANNER, THEREFORE MAKING IT IDEAL TO USE ON CUTS AND SCRAPES BECAUSE OF ITS ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES.  USING A MASK MADE FROM HONEY CAN HELP CLEAR UP A BACTERIAL BREAK-OUT OF ACNE.  IT IS ALSO AN ENERGY BOOSTER.  HONEY, HOWEVER, IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BABIES UNDER A YEAR OLD AS IT CAN CAUSE BOTULISM, DUE TO THEIR UNDEVELOPED IMMUNE SYSTEM.

IN A REVIEW OF PRODUCTS FROM ABE'S MARKET THAT CONTAIN HONEY, HERE ARE A FEW I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND:

Vintage Bee Raw Clover Honey

Vintage Bee Flavored Honey

The Bliss Bar ~ Honey Gold

Justin's Honey Almond Butter

Burt's Beeswax and Royal Jelly Eye Cream

Puppy Dust Peanut Butter and Honey

Yesteryear Vanilla Honey Soap

GET READY TO CELEBRATE SPRING AND EASTER

SPRING AND EASTER, TWO WORDS THAT ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH EACH OTHER.  THE CELEBRATION OF EASTER REFLECTS THE AWAKENING OF SPRING, WITH ITS PASTEL SHADES THAT COLOR THE LANDSCAPE AND THE REBIRTH OF NATURE.

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO GET YOUR HOME READY FOR THE SPRING SEASON AND HELP CELEBRATE EASTER.  WHETHER DECORATING YOUR HOME FOR THE SPRING SEASON OR LOOKING FOR SPECIAL EASTER GIFTS, YOU WILL FIND THESE ITEMS TO BE IN SYNC WITH THE SEASON.

SAVE 15% ON THE FOLLOWING EASTER GIFTS.  DISCOUNT AUTOMATICALLY DEDUCTED AT CHECK-OUT:

Organic Bouquet Assorted Tulips



Organic Bouquet Easter Classics Cookies 



Hot Pink Rose and Lily Bouquet




Organic Bouquet Sparkling Easter Orchid Basket




Organic Bouquet Easter Cookies to Color



SAVE 10% ON THESE GIFTS, THRU 03/31/13.  USE COUPON CODE MARCH10 WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER:


Sweater Toy Bunnies



Organic Velour Blankie Animal



Mezoome Wabbit Organic Cotton Blanket


Organic Strawberry Rhubarb Jam



Organic 24k Gold Neroli Body Butter

GERBERA DAISIES WILL BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY

IT IS A COLD, GREY AND RAINY DAY TODAY HERE IN NEW YORK.  LAST NIGHT WE HAD SNOW MIXED WITH RAIN, NOW IT HAS ALL CHANGED TO RAIN AND AT THE MOMENT IT'S A  STRAIGHT DOWNPOUR.  IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING IS TOMORROW.  TO KEEP MY MIND FOCUSED ON SPRING-LIKE WEATHER, TODAY I WILL BLOG ABOUT COLORFUL GERBERA DAISIES.

THE GERBERA DAISY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE AFRICAN DAISY, IS A GENUS OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS FROM THE SUNFLOWER FAMILY.  IT WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF THE GERMAN NATURALIST AND BOTANIST TRAUGOTT GERBER.  IT IS THE FIFTH MOST POPULAR FLOWER IN THE WORLD AND DUE TO ITS VIBRANT COLORS, IS USED IN MANY FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS.  GERBERA DAISIES SIGNIFY INNOCENCE, PURITY, AND CHEERFULNESS AND ARE SURE TO BRIGHTEN ANYONE'S DAY.

FROM NOW THRU 03/31/13, IF YOU BUY AN ASSORTMENT OF 15 GERBERA DAISY STEMS FROM ORGANIC BOUQUET FOR $49.95, YOU WILL GET AN ADDITIONAL 10 FOR FREE.  AND BECAUSE ORGANIC BOUQUET IS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, DEPENDING ON THE CHARITY YOU SELECT WHEN ORDERING A BOUQUET, ORGANIC BOUQUET WILL DONATE A PERCENTAGE OF THE PROFIT TO THEM.




BRIGHTEN UP YOUR HOME OR A FRIEND'S DAY TODAY WITH GERBERA DAISIES FROM ORGANIC BOUQUET.

  

NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR YOUR EASTER BASKET

 

EASTER BASKETS HAVE LONG BEEN A SYMBOL OF EASTER.  THEY WERE POPULAR IN THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND IT'S BELIEVED THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THE USA IN THE 18TH CENTURY BY GERMAN SETTLERS. GERMAN LEGEND HAS IT THAT A WHITE HARE WOULD LEAVE EASTER BASKETS FILLED WITH BRIGHTLY COLORED EGGS, GOODIES, AND CANDIES FOR CHILDREN TO ENJOY ON EASTER MORNING.

THE SPRING SEASON HAS BEEN KNOWN AS A TIME OF NEW LIFE AND RENEWAL.  IN YEARS PAST, IT WAS CUSTOMARY DURING SPRING TO BRING BASKETS OF EARLY SEEDLINGS TO THE FERTILITY GODDESS OESTRE TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF A GOOD HARVEST IN THE FALL.  ACCORDING TO LEGEND, OESTRE CARRIED A BASKET OF EGGS.  THUS, EASTER BASKETS ARE A SYMBOL OF NEW LIFE, RENEWAL, AND REBIRTH. 

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR NATURAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS TO FILL YOUR EASTER BASKETS, LOOK NO FURTHER.  AT ABE'S MARKET, YOU CAN SAVE UP TO 50% OFF SELECT  EASTER GIFTS AND EASTER BASKET FILLERS, EFFECTIVE 3/18 THROUGH 3/20.

Beta Bunny Onsie (also available in pink)







Organic Cheeky Bunnies (available in dark & milk chocolate)




Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs




Plush Puffs Marshmallows (available in assorted flavors)





Pure Cocoa Bliss Truffles (available in assorted flavors)




Veggie Sidewalk Chalk




A Year of Soap Gift Collection




Nature's Magic Egg Dying Kit



THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM.  YOU WILL ALSO FIND INSTRUCTIONS ON DYING EGGS WITH NATURAL EGG DYE RECIPES.  ALL ITEMS FEATURED ON ABE'S MARKET ARE MADE FROM NATURAL INGREDIENTS.

GO FOR THE GREEN ON ST. PADDY'S DAY

ST. PATRICK'S DAY, A CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY HONORING THE PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND, WAS MADE AN OFFICIAL CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY IN THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY.  ST PATRICK'S DAY COMMEMORATES THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY IN IRELAND AS WELL AS HONORING ST. PATRICK.  IRELAND'S HERITAGE AND CUSTOMS ARE CELEBRATED ON THIS FESTIVE DAY BY PARADES & NUMEROUS FESTIVITIES INVOLVING "THE WEARING OF THE GREEN" WHICH MEANS TO WEAR A SHAMROCK ON ONE'S CLOTHING.  SHAMROCKS, WHICH ARE KNOWN AS A SYMBOL OF IRELAND, WERE USED BY ST. PATRICK AS A METAPHOR FOR THE CHRISTIAN TRINITY.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, NEWFOUNDLAND, LABRADOR, AND MONTSERRAT.   IT IS ALSO CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD BY THE IRISH AND NON-IRISH ALIKE.  SO WHETHER YOU'RE IRISH OR NOT, HERE'S SOME "GREEN" PICKS TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE THE DAY!

McCann's Quick Cooking Irish Oatmeal


Botanical Bakery Cardamom Shorties




Reusable Canvas Cotton Produce Bags



St. Clair's Organic Key Lime Tarts



Zuke's Super Green Blend Treats



Green Toys Eco Saucer Flying Disc and Eco Jumprope



Kee Ka Organics Small Change Burp and Bib Set



Eco-Chic Laminated "Bailey" Dog Leash



Cheeky Green Fashion Reusable Bag



THESE, AND SEVERAL MORE GREEN PRODUCTS, ARE AVAILABLE AT ABE'S MARKET.














   

   

SPRING CLEANING THE NATURAL WAY

SPRING IS A TIME OF REBIRTH, REJUVENATION, RENEWAL, RESURRECTION, AND REGROWTH. IT IS ALSO THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN MANY OF US WILL BE PERFORMING THE ANNUAL (AND ANCIENT) RITUAL OF SPRING CLEANING, WHICH ALLOWS US TO DECLUTTER, ORGANIZE, AND FRESHEN UP OUR HOMES AFTER THE LONG, COLD WINTER.



THERE HAVE BEEN MANY METHODS AND PRODUCTS USED FOR HOUSECLEANING THROUGH THE YEARS. IN PREHISTORIC TIMES, PLAIN WATER WAS USED.  IN COLONIAL TIMES, THE PRODUCTS PEOPLE USED TO CLEAN THEIR HOMES USUALLY CAME OUT OF THEIR PANTRY.  SEVERAL COOK BOOKS INCLUDED RECIPES FOR NATURAL CLEANERS USING SUCH ITEMS AS BAKING SODA, VINEGAR, LEMON, LARD, SALT, SALAD OIL, LINSEED OIL, CORNFLOWER, AND BEESWAX. 

DURING THE EARLY 1900s, COMPANIES BEGAN MANUFACTURING CLEANING PRODUCTS MADE FROM CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS.  LYSOL WAS POPULAR NOT ONLY FOR ITS DISINFECTANT PROPERTIES, BUT WAS ALSO TOUTED AS A FEMININE HYGIENE AND BIRTH CONTROL PRODUCT!  OTHER POPULAR PRODUCTS WERE MIRROR BRIGHT, BORAXO, COLEMAN'S MUSTARD, BRASSO, AND OLD DUTCH CLEANSER.


AS THE YEARS PROGRESSED, CLEANING PRODUCTS CONTAINED MORE AND MORE TOXIC CHEMICALS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TODAY AS VOCs (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS).  VOCs CAN BE DANGEROUS TO HUMAN HEALTH AND CAUSE HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT.  NOW THAT THE PUBLIC HAS BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF THESE PRODUCTS, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE USING NATURAL CLEANING PRODUCTS. 

Human Nature Laundry Soap Powder



Method Smarty Dish Cleaner


Eco Me Cleaning Products Carpet Deodorizer


All Purpose Cleaner


Grab Green Garbage Disposal and Freshener/Cleaner


Green Kid Safe Eco-Cleaning and Laundry Kit


Relief Pet Urine and Eco-Cleaner


Ecco Bella Air Fresheners


Recycled Wool Dryer Balls


Solay Simple Fruit Veggie Wash


Solay Natural Cleaning Products


Solay Simple Natural Glass Cleaner

THESE PRODUCTS CONTAIN ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS, ARE CRUELTY-FREE, MANY ARE HAND-MADE, SOME ARE VEGETABLE-BASED, MADE FROM ESSENTIAL OILS, ARE DYE AND COLOR-ADDITIVE FREE, AND THE PACKAGING IS RECYCLABLE AND, IN SOME CASES, REUSABLE.  THEY DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING AND ARE SAFE FOR YOUR FAMILY AND PETS.