Raines Realm

Chances are, you or someone you know has jumped on the amber necklace train. The question is, do they actually work or is it the placebo effect? Well, today, I am doing my best to answer that question. The science behind the medicinal use of Baltic amber is grounded in succinic acid. Baltic amber has the highest concentrations of succinic acid found in nature. This acid is released by your body heat and absorbed by your skin as a natural pain reliever. It is referred to as an antispasmodic and anti-fever by homeopathic doctors. You can find more information on succinic acid  here . Common medicinal uses for Baltic amber are relief from teething, headaches, inflammation of throat, ears, and stomach, rashes, stomach aches, earaches, fevers, colds, arthritis, carpal tunnel, and fighting infections and respiratory diseases. I can personally attest to the effectiveness of Baltic amber for teething as well as aches and pains. I have used an amber teething necklace for my daug...

Beauty Berry is a relatively hardy shrub located in the southeastern woods. It has purple berries that ripen in the fall. This bush was traditionally used by farmers who would use the branches to protect their horses. They would put the branches in between the saddles and the horses' backs and as the oils were released, the horses were protected. It has since been used for ages on humans as well. Simply crushing the leaves by hand releases the natural oils. The oils can then be applied to the skin giving protection from harmful insects. In 2006, the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Products Utilization Research Unit in Oxford, MS concluded that the extract matches DEET in effectiveness against mosquitoes, ticks, fire ants, and more for three hours at a time. Science, it seems, caught up with what people already knew. Have you ever used beauty berry as an insect repellent? Did you know about beauty berry? Please share your experiences on Twitter using #alacu...