Making a DIY survival kit for your electronics before SHTF – NaturalNews.com

(Natural News)
One of the most common problems you may face during a survival scenario is the lack of electricity or communication. With the power out and no working cell phone in sight, things may get a little challenging when SHTF.

This is why it is important to have electronics as part of your survival prep plan. Here are a few things you may want to consider when planning how to protect your electronic gear for when disaster strikes.

Power sources

Electronics won’t do you any good unless you have a good power source to keep them alive. While it may be a stretch to have a solar or wind power system for your home, you can have more portable versions.

For instance, you can start with a portable solar power source that can work with multiple device types. In addition, you could spend money on solar panels for your home. The latter is a great idea if you’re planning to bug-in when during a disaster.

Hand-cranked power sources are good, too, but they can be pretty tiring to operate. Before getting a hand-crank power source, you may want to reconsider if you think it is worth an hour cranking up a generator to get a bit of light or power to fill your batteries. (Related: The prepper’s guide to surviving a power outage.)

Electronic communication will help you bridge distances. While many of us haven’t turned on the radio in years, in times of crisis, the emergency broadcasting system will use the old-timey terrestrial radio to get out information. Most radio stations have backup systems to get them through some crisis and allow them to disseminate information in the first few days and get information flow to continue.

There are many hand-crank radios in the market, and most of them are emergency-oriented, so they have AM/FM and NOAA weather frequencies. Many of them even come with a flashlight!

Keep a small radio when you plan to bug out because even in SHTF situations, communication is important.

Data storage

We currently have the world at our fingertips — everything is available on the internet these days. However, without electricity, we will lose that resource and face some significant challenges.

To supplement this, it is important to build your personal library. Paperbacks can be a bit bulky to carry around, so the next best thing is an e-book reader that is filled with as much information as necessary. Most e-book readers support PDFs, so you can put in field manuals, survival-oriented books, reference materials and even literary works to keep you occupied on long days. Instead of looking up information on the internet, which may or may no longer exist, you can look up information in your digital library.

In addition, you can also store electronic copies of important documents in your e-book reader, such as identity documents, family connection documents, medical documents, and even ownership files.

Medical equipment

If you or your loved ones have medical conditions that need checking from time to time, it is important to have them in your survival kit. That said, these too will need power. Respirators, sugar level checkers, and even pulse oximeters are now electronic, so you have to consider them as well.

Being prepared for everything is impossible, so you must prioritize your needs in case you need to bug out. Rank your purchases and prioritize which skills you need to hone.

There are so many what-if scenarios that a good bulk of your prepper kit may end up not being useful at all. Electronics could also get damaged during an EMP attack, so make sure you keep vital survival items in EMP bags so that they don’t get fried when you need them.

Learn more about surviving a post-apocalyptic world at Disaster.news.

This content was originally published here.

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Mom’s First Aid Kits and Midwife Birthing Kits: SHTF or Everyday Survival with Sootch00

Mom Medical First Aid Kit

When it comes to being a mom, how are you going to be prepared? Today we’re going to be taking a look at the Mom Kit from Medical Gear Outfitters with Candace, Mrs. Skinny Medic. 

First thing we’re going to show is the Mom Kit which is something that is great, portable, lightweight and sturdy. The Mom Kit was designed to have in your car for wherever a mom would go including the soccer field, playgrounds, or wherever you may be taking your kids. Medical Gear Outfitters tried to think of things that would be beneficial for you to have with you.

This kit was designed in a bright color so you can find it easily especially if you’re sending another mom or another child to your car. It’s bright orange so it’s not too hard to find. The way the kit is built is so that everything doesn’t flop out. Smaller items have been organized and put in little Ziploc bags including hydrocortisone cream, burn cream, antibiotic ointment cream in one ziploc while you have band aids in another as well as stickers for your little ones. There’s also another small bag with medicine. One thing they wanted to focus on with the medicines and the band aids was the fact that the band aids usually given out the most are the standard band aids, so there’s a variety of band aids in the kit for knuckles and butterfly bandages, but there’s two of each of those. For standard band aids, there are 10 so you do not have to restock them as quickly as other ones. There’s a wide variety of medicines in the kit as well. Older kids can swallow Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl – but younger kids can’t, so included is a dissolvable Tylenol package for your younger child so you can give them pain medicine. There’s also a chewable motion sickness medicine that is in the kit. Alongside these items, you can find in the Mom Kit:

This is a really well thought out kit for mom’s and I think this is really a great way to be able to take care of a lot of different things on-the-go.

Combat Midwife OB Kit

Next, we’re going to look at a Midwife Kit. This kit is great for if there is something like a snowstorm or grid down situation where there is no hospital and it’s definitely a good kit if you’re expecting a little one. 

Starting out when you open the box up, you’re going to get the instructions first – which is super handy for some men, and women, that may or may not know what they will be doing 100%. Each item is described on how you would use it and things like that, so it is a quick reference guide that works fantastic. The Midwife Kit includes:

Both of these first aid kits are very well thought out and are for really practical use. So again, check out Medical Gear Outfitters.

CombatMidwife Instragram Page https://www.instagram.com/combatmidwife/

Medical Gear Outfitters https://medicalgearoutfitters.com/
10% off using Sootch00 at Check Out. (No affiliate)

SkinnyMedic YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkinnyMedic

I’ve known Dietrich & Candice for over 17 years and they are the real deal.

This content was originally published here.

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5 Poisonous Plants That Can Be Used As Medicine When SHTF

The line between medicinal and poisonous plants is very thin. Sometimes the very thing that heals you can kill you if you consume too much of it. And that is as true of pharmaceuticals as it is for plants.

But over time, we have become convinced that a chemical synthesized in a lab is safer than a plant that grows in nature.

However, a trained herbalist knows how to use poisonous plants in the same way a doctor knows how many pills to tell you to take.

Always use extreme caution when dealing with poisonous plants because many, if used improperly, can cause death!

Foxglove

FoxgloveFoxglove, Digitalis purpurea, always comes to mind first when I think of poisonous medicinal plants (probably because I read a lot of murder mysteries when I was young). A common garden plant, foxgloves are grown for their beautiful flowers despite their deadly reputation.

All parts of the plant are toxic, and you can feel the effects even if you ingest just a small amount of the plant. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

However, the same toxic compounds can also be used medicinally. These compounds are called glycosides. The glycosides present in foxglove are called digitalis, after the Latin name of the plant.

Survival Uses

Traditionally foxglove was used to treat dropsy, now known as edema, a swelling condition related to cardiac problems. Nowadays, digitalis is still extracted from foxglove leaves and used to make heart medicine.

When SHTF and there aren’t any pharmacies or doctors, foxglove can be used with extreme caution to treat heart problems. While accidental death is uncommon, it is possible.

Tansy

Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare, is another common garden plant with a nefarious reputation.

Featuring fragrant ferny leaves and bright yellow flowers, it is easy to see why tansy is popular. Like foxglove, it was once commonly used in herbal medicine to treat many ailments, including worms, nausea, and kidney problems. But over time, its toxic nature led people to look for safer choices.

While you can eat the leaves in small amounts, large amounts of tansy can be deadly, so use caution. The essential oil it contains is considered toxic.

However, medicinal tansy can be used externally for sprains and bruises or as an herbal wash. Simply brew an infusion of the leaves and flowers. You should always spot test with tansy first as it can cause skin irritation in people.

Medicinal Uses

Tansy should only be used externally. You can make a poultice with fresh tansy leaves to alleviate swelling from sprains and aid wound healing.

However, tansy can cause contact dermatitis so use caution and test a small area of the skin first.

Yellow Dock

Yellow Dock, Rumex crispus, also known as curly dock, is a common wild edible. People forage for leaves to eat and use the root medicinally. The root can be boiled and used to detox, treat liver ailments, and as a laxative.

But this useful plant has a dark side as well.

The leaves contain oxalic acid, which can be poisonous when consumed in large quantities. You can eat a few leaves raw, but you should cook them if you plan to eat more than a few.

Cooking will reduce the amount of oxalic acid in the leaves.

Consuming too much oxalic acid can lead to severe mineral deficiencies—especially a deficiency in calcium. Calcium deficiency can cause fatigue, seizures, and confusion.

Dock Infused Oil for Itching

  1. Fill a jar ¾ of the way with fresh, dry dock leaves. Make sure you use only healthy, undamaged leaves.
  2. Cover your leaves with a carrier oil, like olive, sesame, or coconut oil. Make sure your leaves are completely covered and close the jar.
  3. Leave the jar undisturbed in a sunny window for 4-6 weeks. Then strain the leaves and place the oil in a clean jar.
  4. You can apply the oil as is to relieve itching or add it to salves or balms.

Castor Beans

5 Poisonous Plants That Can Be Used As Medicine When SHTFCastor Oil is a popular traditional remedy for constipation. Its antibiotic, antifungal qualities make the oil excellent at relieving skin irritations, acne, and fungal infections.

It also makes a wonderful oil choice for a base for medicinal salves and balms. But this magical oil comes from a deadly plant.

Castor oil comes from pressing the hulled beans of the castor plant, Ricinus communis. It is essential to remove the outer shell or hull of the bean before use.

The hull contains ricin, which is a deadly poison. Ricin is so toxic that it can kill an adult who has chewed as few as 1-6 beans!

Once you remove the shell, the beans are safe. However, castor oil should not be consumed for long periods of time as it can lead to a potassium deficiency. It should also be avoided by pregnant women unless they are full-term and looking to induce labor.

Castor Oil

  • For skin: You can apply castor oil topically to help alleviate a number of skin conditions. It can help with wound healing, acne, and moisturize your skin.

Stinging Nettles

Poison comes in many different forms, and not all of them are deadly.

Stinging Nettles, Urtica dioica, is a prime example of a non-deadly poisonous plant with many medicinal uses.

As the name suggests, when you touch these nettles, you experience contact dermatitis. Which is really just fancy for saying it gives you a rash.

But that means you don’t want to consume stinging nettle raw. Just imagine all those stinging hairs in your throat. When you cook the leaves, you neutralize all the toxins. Then you can add these nutritious leaves to your food or use them medicinally.

Nettles can help treat pain and inflammation, hay fever, lower blood pressure and blood sugar, and aid in healing wounds. You can simply add a cup of delicious nettle tea to your daily routine to get the health benefits of this poisonous plant.

Nettle Tea

  • 1 cup of fresh nettles
  • 2 cups of water
  • Honey or another natural sweetener to taste

Boil two cups of water. Add the nettles. Allow the nettles to steep for between 5-15 minutes, depending on the strength you want. Strain the nettles. Add your sweetener. Then enjoy!

Final Thoughts

When dealing with any medicine, herbal or pharmaceutical, it is important to use caution. Often the line between potent and toxic is very thin. However, when used with care, these poisonous plants can be lifesaving.

Thorough knowledge of plant medicine will be essential in order to survive when SHTF. Without doctors and pharmacies, we will once again need to rely on what nature can provide for us.

Being able to identify common plants like yellow dock and stinging nettles can help you cope with common ailments. Learning to masterfully brew infusions of foxglove comes with time and study.

In the end, nature provides us with what we need to survive. We just need to be open enough to see it.

Source:

                               Survival Books

-All Medicinal Plants and Lost Cures of North America
THE LOST WAYS-Learn the long forgotten secrets that helped our forefathers survive famines,wars,economic crisis and anything else life threw at them
EASY CELLAR-AMERICA’S NATURAL NUCLEAR BUNKERS: FIND THE CLOSEST ONE TO YOUR HOME
THE LOST WAYS 2-This lost super-food will bulletproof you against any food shortage or famine
BLACKOUT USA-EMP survival and preparedness guide
DIY HOME ENERGY-Follow the step-by-step guide from A to Z and you will have a working system to reduce your electricity bills and save energy
MY SURVIVAL FARM-This hidden survival garden will keep you well fed when SHTF
CARNIVORE’S BIBLE -THE REAL HOMEMADE AND HEALTHY MEATY TREATS OUR GRANDPARENTS USED TO MAKE…

The post 5 Poisonous Plants That Can Be Used As Medicine When SHTF appeared first on Bio Prepper.

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Prepper projects: 5 ways to make an old car SHTF-ready – NaturalNews.com

(Natural News)
You don’t need to buy a new car for your bug out vehicle. In many cases, your old car will do just fine; you just need to make sure you’ve prepared it right.

Any car can be used as a bug out vehicle, regardless of age. What’s important is how you prepare it. Here are five ways to get your old car ready before SHTF. (h/t to DoomsdayMoose.com)

1. Stock food and water

You need to make sure that your bug out vehicle has all the supplies you need. This allows you to just hop in and go when SHTF without having to worry about loading your supplies.

Water is one of the most important things to stock. While people can survive for weeks without food, you’ll only last around three days without water – even less when it’s hot and you’re constantly sweating. Try to pack at least 4 gallons of water or more if you have room.

As for food, choose nonperishable items like dried fruit, peanut butter, canned soup, granola bars and beef jerky.

2. Think about first aid

Injuries can be unavoidable in some emergency situations. You should prepare for these situations by securing a first aid kit inside your bug out vehicle.

Stock your first aid kit with items such as gauze, bandages, sticky tape, cleansing wipes and natural antibiotics. Consider adding practical tools like tweezers, scissors and safety pins. Remember to stock up on emergency medicines and remedies you might need.

3. Perform routine maintenance

All your work stocking supplies in your bug out vehicle will be for naught if it doesn’t start in the first place. You also never know when disaster will strike. Therefore, it’s important that you keep your old car up and running by performing routine maintenance on it.

If you have the chance, you should do a quick visual inspection of your car every day to see if anything is out of the ordinary. Beyond that, you should also check your fluids, such as fuel, transmission fluid, engine oil, brake fluid and more at least once a month. While you’re at it, check your tire pressure as well.

Finally, you should take your vehicle in for inspection by a trusted and certified mechanic at least once a year. This allows you ample time to catch and take care of any issues you may not be qualified or have time to handle when SHTF.

4. Add renewable power sources

Your car’s battery can be used to power your devices, but it’s still a limited resource. If you use it too much, it can affect your car’s ability to start and get going. In addition, trying to keep the battery charged by running the engine is a waste of fuel.

With this in mind, you should invest in some form of portable power pack, preferably with built-in solar panels. If you have enough room in your car, you can also store a generator, which can give you enough power to light your camp and use a few important devices. (Related: How to build your own DIY portable solar power box for emergencies.)

You should also bring along batteries of various sizes for any devices that use them.

5. Install a two-way radio

While modern devices can be convenient forms of communication, the infrastructure that powers them may stop working when SHTF. In this situation, old-school citizen-band (CB) radios are a low-cost alternative. CB radios offer 40 different channels and have a range of up to 15 miles. That said, they’re limited to line-of-sight, which means that conversations can often cut in and out.

Other radio options exist but will require a bit more investment on your part. General mobile radio service (GMRS) operates on FM channels unlike CB radios and has a range of 25 miles. But GMRS requires a license to operate and getting one can cost you around $70.

If you don’t mind studying for a 50-question exam, you can apply to operate a ham radio. Not only does this have a longer range than both CB and GMRS, but it can also be interfaced with a computer or tablet to send texts, images and Morse code.

Any old car can serve as your bug-out vehicle regardless of how old it is. What’s important is that it’s able to start and run at a moment’s notice. With this in mind, be sure to keep it well-maintained and well-stocked so that it’s ready to roll when SHTF.

Follow Preparedness.news for more tips on how to keep yourself ready for when disaster strikes.

This content was originally published here.

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In a post-SHTF world, mushrooms and seaweed may help you survive – NaturalNews.com

(Natural News)
Foods like mushrooms, seaweed and sugar from leaves may be the best way to create a sustainable diet in extreme SHFT situations, such as during a nuclear winter. This is according to David Denkenberger, a mechanical engineer at the University of Alaska who runs the non-profit Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), which researches ways to protect the global food supply during a catastrophe.

Denkenberger uses the 1815 eruption of Mt. Tambora in Indonesia as an example of an event similar to a nuclear winter. During the eruption, Mt. Tambora pumped out dust, ash and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, triggering freezing temperatures in the summer of 1816. It destroyed crops and vegetation, and people became so desperate for food, they reportedly ate raccoons and pigeons.

This period became known as the “volcanic winter” or the “year without summer” because the global temperature cooled by nearly two degrees Fahrenheit. (Related: Study: A US-Russia war could cause a 10-year “nuclear winter” with disastrous global consequences.)

Nuclear winter to have long term, indirect effects on food supply

In an extreme scenario of a nuclear disaster, a cloud of black soot could envelop the sky and block sunlight, causing temperatures to fall. Agricultural lands could lose their ability to grow crops, triggering a global famine.

In a recent study of the effects of a nuclear war between two countries, author Alan Robock said that there would be instant climate change following a nuclear disaster. He said: “As horrible as the direct effects of nuclear weapons would be, the indirect effects on our food supply would be much worse.”

However, he also noted that there are ways to sustain ourselves.

Even if a nuclear winter destroys trees, mushrooms can feed on dead matter and could create a regenerative food source that could feed everyone on the planet for three years. Since mushrooms don’t rely on photosynthesis, they can survive with little light, as can seaweed.

Denkenberger noted that seaweed is a really good food source as it can tolerate low light levels. It is also fast-growing. In a nuclear winter, the land would cool down faster than the ocean, so the oceans could remain a bit warmer, safe enough for seaweed to grow.

Further, seaweed also contains elements that could prevent the body from absorbing radiation. For instance, kelp contains iodine 127, which prevents the body from absorbing radioactive iodine 131.

Denkenberger estimates that it would take about 1.6 billion tons of dry food per year to feed everyone on the planet. While humans could grow that amount of mushroom and seaweed in three to six months, they can’t just rely on a single food source or two. With this in mind, he put together a typical 2,100-calorie diet chart that could be useful in a post-doomsday scenario.

The diet involves meat, eggs, sugar and mushrooms. It also includes dandelions and tea made from tree needles for Vitamin C, while naturally growing bacteria could be a source of Vitamin E.

Denkenberger also plans on studying other natural food sources that could grow near the equator, where there would still be some sunlight post-disaster despite lower temperatures.

Dry seaweed as a cost-effective alternative food source when SHTF

Current stores of dry food can feed only about 10 percent of the global population for five years, making it very insufficient. The costs of these would also rise due to demand, making it very concerning for most of the population. Storing up large quantities of food ahead of a disaster would also be expensive, and could cost trillions of dollars.

Dry seaweed, on the other hand, can be produced for around $1 per pound, making it the lowest reasonable cost for dry food in a post-disaster scenario. If this is the case, it could cost around $3.2 trillion to produce enough seaweed to feed everyone on Earth for a year — a price that could mean almost everyone in the world could afford to eat.

Seaweed can grow in salt water or fresh water, and it is possible to grow it at home in an aquarium, making it a very sustainable way to supplement your food pile when nuclear winter comes.

Learn more about how to survive SHTF scenarios at Disaster.news.

This content was originally published here.

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Prepping before SHTF: Stock up on supplies now before things get worse later in 2021 – NaturalNews.com

(Natural News)
The coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic isn’t going away any time soon. And it looks like it’s going to continue affecting the supply chain as author Michael Snyder warns that things will get even worse by the end of 2021.

According to Snyder, who wrote “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America,” the inflation the country is currently experiencing can be compared to one that citizens experienced back in the Jimmy Carter era of the 1970s. (h/t to TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com)

Some are even saying that things will get even worse as 2021 nears its end.

If your survival stockpile is running low, it’s useless to wait for prices to get lower than they currently are. You should also keep in mind that these shortages in the economy will get even worse as the year nears its end.

On May 30, 2021, JBS S.A. (JBS) Brazil was hit by a cyberattack that forced the company to stop activity at several plants in American states. JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, was also forced to halt Australian operations. JBS informed the U.S. government that the ransomware attack on the company disrupted meat production in North America and Australia. Perpetrators were believed to be a criminal organization possibly based in Russia. Within a week, JBS reported that it had made “significant progress in resolving the cyberattack.” In June, the company released a statement saying that the “vast majority” of the company’s beef, pork, poultry and prepared foods plants will resume operation.

The statement aimed to relieve any concerns over rising food prices. (Related: Prepping supplies: 11 Items that are in short supply because of the coronavirus pandemic.)

Union officials reported that on May 31, the attack forced Australian operations to shut down. Meanwhile, JBS stopped cattle slaughter at all U.S. plants on June 1. Andre Nogueira, chief executive of JBS USA, said that the company’s systems are back online and that JBS is using all resources available to deal with the threat. JBS’ North American operations, which are located in Greeley, Colorado, controls an estimated 20 percent of the slaughtering capacity for American cattle and hogs.

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House spokeswoman, said that the United States contacted Russia’s government and that the FBI was looking into the matter. The White House is cooperating with the Russian government to resolve the matter and “delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals,” concluded Jean-Pierre.

Prepare for inflation by the end of 2021

A lot of products are also often going “out of stock,” and it doesn’t look like this issue isn’t going to be resolved anytime soon. And if products aren’t unavailable in stores, they’re often much more expensive because of increasing demand and companies struggling to meet consumer demands.

Inflation is also another looming threat. Late in May, Costco executives warned the public that inflation will be a major problem for most Americans. Costco reported that it has been seeing accelerating prices across different products such as aluminum foil, shipping containers and a 20 percent spike in meat prices early this year. At Costco’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call, CFO Richard Galanti said that “[i]nflationary factors abound.”

Galanti explained that these factors include “higher labor costs, higher freight costs, higher transportation demand, along with the container shortage and port delays.” At the same time, the company is dealing with increased demand in various product categories.

There are shortages for chips, oils and chemical supplies by facilities affected by the Gulf freeze and storms, along with increasing commodity prices. Costco and other companies also wrestled with passing costs onto customers, resulting in higher product prices.

According to Galanti, price increases as high as eight percent were observed in goods like pulp and paper, various plastic products and food and beverages like cheese and soda. Some apparel items also had price hikes of three to 10 percent.

Galanti said that Costco saw inflation in the one to 1.5 percent range in March to 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent on May 28. He added that Costco did “pretty well in terms of controlling “inflation as best as it could. However, “the inflation pressures abound.” Costco worked with its supplies to keep price pressures manageable. But “some of [inflation] has passed through,” admitted Galanti. He concluded that in the upcoming months items like Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken and $2.99 40-pack case of water could be affected by inflation, concluded Galanti.

Whatever happens next, don’t be complacent. Stock up on survival essentials now and hunker down before SHTF and prices increase even more.

This content was originally published here.

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Natural healing with willow bark: How to find natural aspirin when SHTF – NaturalNews.com

(Natural News)
Knowing how to grow or where to find plants that can be used as natural remedies is an important survival skill. This ensures that when SHTF, you can still treat minor complaints like headaches or migraines.

If you frequently suffer from headaches, use willow as a natural alternative to aspirin. (h/t to PreppersWill.com)

Foraging safety tips

Before disaster strikes, learn how to properly identify plants and trees to avoid any accidents.

Some medicinal plants have poisonous lookalikes, so one mistake can cost you your life. When foraging, stick with familiar foods and forage only for edible plants you’re 100 percent sure you recognize.

Even though a lot of plants in your area are edible, there are also many poisonous ones that you may be unaware of. Sticking to what you know restricts your options for finding food, but it will also help reduce your chance of getting poisoned.

Where to find nature’s aspirin

Minor complaints like a headache or a migraine can be treated if you know which plant compounds to use. These compounds can be found in common medications like aspirin, which you might not have access to after SHTF.

In a survival scenario, you can turn to willow (Salix) trees for natural pain relief. Different species of willow, also called “osier” or “sallow,” exist in the wild. Willows often grow in partially or completely shaded areas and near streams. (Related: Survival first aid: 3 Skills that might save your life when disaster strikes.)

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic Medicine, willow bark is used to make herbal teas and topical ointments. It is called “liu shu pi” in TCM and vetasa in Ayurveda. Native Americans also use it as a remedy for temporary pain relief.

What is salicylic acid?

In 1829, Henri Leroux, a French pharmacist, isolated salicin in pure crystalline form. In 1897, Felix Hoffmann from Bayern AF created a new drug out of acetylsalicylic acid. He called it aspirin.

Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The drug works to decrease inflammation but is not a steroid.

There are other medications that are considered NSAIDs, but these work in a slightly different way from aspirin. The use of aspirin goes back to the early 1800s, when salicin, a compound in willow bark, was found to reduce pain.

It is believed that almost all the species in the Salix genus contain salicin, an active component of willow bark. Studies suggest that salicin can be used to treat knee pain and low back pain as well as pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Using willow bark for natural pain relief

To get salicin from willow bark, look for shady areas with trees like:

Steps:

If you don’t have water or you don’t have time to make tea, chew on the bark to relieve a headache.

There are no guidelines on the appropriate use of willow bark for treating headaches or a migraine. Generally, oral doses of 400 mg per day are considered safe, particularly when used to treat joint pain and headaches.

Considerations before using willow bark

Do not consume willow bark if you have an allergy to aspirin because it may cause a similar reaction. If you take blood thinners or beta-blockers, willow bark may interfere with your medication.

Children and adolescents up to the age of 16 are discouraged from taking willow bark for any reason because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare condition that causes brain and liver damage. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should also avoid taking any medication that contains salicylates.

If you have gastric ulcer, be careful with willow bark. Like aspirin, using too much willow bark may cause stomach bleeding. Do not abuse salicin because it can be dangerous for your health.

When SHTF, use willow bark to make an herbal tea that can help relieve a headache or migraine.

Visit SurvivalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies like willow bark, nature’s aspirin.

This content was originally published here.

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8 Ways to survive without water and prevent dehydration when SHTF – NaturalNews.com

(Natural News)
Water is crucial to your survival, especially in a post-SHTF scenario. If you’re stuck in the wilderness without any water, you can prevent dehydration by monitoring your water supply and learning how to find water in the wild. (h/t to ProperSurvival.com)

Why is it important to stay hydrated?

Drinking enough water keeps your body hydrated. It also helps your heart pump blood to your muscles more easily. This means that staying hydrated helps your muscles work efficiently.

If you’re dehydrated, you heart has to work harder to pump blood. When you don’t drink enough water, you may experience side effects like swollen feet or a headache and even life-threatening illnesses like heat stroke.

If you don’t drink enough water, your body will start to shut down. This means your organs will cease to function as your cells start to shrink.

Your kidneys need water to function properly, and kidney failure caused by dehydration starts with a signal from your brain to urinate less. This forces your kidney to work harder, which can cause wear and tear.

If your kidney isn’t in peak condition, you body can’t eliminate waste in your blood supply.

How long can a person survive without clean drinking water?

In general, a person can survive for at least three days without water before experiencing a decline in their bodily functions. But this isn’t always the case for other people. The following factors can also affect how long you last without water:

At higher altitudes, the dryer air and lower moisture levels can increase your risk of getting dehydrated because you may be breathing harder and faster. Dehydration may also set in faster if you’re sick. Conditions like vomiting, diarrhea or high fever may increase your dehydration risk.

Dehydration symptoms to watch out for

If SHTF and you don’t have enough water to drink, watch out for the following symptoms of dehydration:

Mild to moderate dehydration:

Severe dehydration:

Severe dehydration is a medical emergency. Seek medical help immediately if you experience these signs and symptoms. If medical aid is unavailable, look for a source of clean drinking water.

Dehydration as a medical emergency

Children and the elderly need immediate medical treatment even if they only show symptoms of mild dehydration. Anyone belonging to any age group who shows the following symptoms requires immediate medical care:

If you’re dealing with a survival scenario and you experience symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration, drink water as soon as you can to see if your symptoms will disappear. If you’re outdoors, find shade and sit down to rest. Drink water slowly until one or more of your symptoms subside.

If you think you’re dehydrated and struggle to drink fluids, take small sips and gradually increase the amount. Use a spoon if you’re also having trouble swallowing.

Note that the daily recommended amount of fluid intake for men and women is 131 ounces and 95 ounces, respectively. This already considers your overall water intake, including food and beverages. The amount can also increase or decrease, depending on your activities for the day.

What to do if you run out of water

If your water supply runs out in a post-SHTF world, stay calm. Panicking will increase your energy and time expenditure. Next, assess your situation. If you have the energy to move and search, start looking for the nearest source of clean water.

You’ll be fine if you don’t drink more water within a couple of hours, although you may feel uncomfortable. If you’re not sure where to look, follow livestock — that will usually lead you to one.

8 Ways to survive without water and prevent dehydration

Try these eight suggestions to prevent dehydration when SHTF and you don’t have any more water.

Check how much water you have left

If you’re bugging out when SHTF, make sure you bring enough water and have ways to find more if you run out. The American Public Health Association recommends storing at least one gallon of drinking water for every adult per day. You will need more water for cooking and bathing.

Regulate your diet

When bugging out, try to bring snacks that are high in water, like fruits. Berries, pineapple and watermelon can help you stay hydrated. Avoid sugary or processed foods because these will make you dehydrated.

Avoid sun exposure 

When your body temperature rises, your body reacts by producing sweat so you can cool down. To prevent sweating and dehydration, stay in the shade.

Keep yourself covered up

Keep yourself cool and covered with light and cool clothes if you are in an area that doesn’t have a lot of shade. If you’re heading to the desert, note that it gets very cold at night. Bring clothes that can help regulate your body temperature.

Use plants as a water source

Plants need water to survive. This means the more vegetation you see, the higher the chance that you will find a water source nearby. Alternatively, you can dig into the base of plants to find water. Filter or boil the water before using.

If you’re in the desert, look for plants like cactus that contain a lot of water.

Search for signs of water 

Look out for these signs of water:

If all else fails, source water by collecting dew or melting snow. If you follow animals and find water, collect water a couple of meters from the animals because they usually urinate and defecate from the same spot that they drink.

Alternatively, you can follow insects and birds to find water. Birds that fly straight and low may lead you to a lake or river.

Learn how to filter water for purification

Don’t drink impure or unfiltered water that may contain bacteria and viruses that can make you sick, which will make your situation worse. If you lose your tools and gear when SHTF, use a clean piece of cloth to filter water. The material will help prevent solid particles from passing through. (Related: Prevent dehydration when SHTF by learning how to find and purify water.)

Soak your clothes if the water is too dirty to drink

If you find water that you can’t drink, like seawater, you can still use it to stay cool by soaking your clothes in it.

If you find a creek or river, take a dip to cool off. Pour some over your head, too. Keep a bandanna in your survival gear and soak it in water, then wring it over your body when possible so you can stay cool. Soak it again and wear it around your neck until it dries to keep cool.

Drinking enough water is key to preventing dehydration. Learn how to find and filter water so that when SHTF and you’re in the wilderness, you can stay hydrated and avoid dangerous symptoms like fatigue and lightheadedness.

This content was originally published here.

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Odd items that can be life-savers following an SHTF event – NaturalNews.com

(Natural News)
Basic emergency supply bags normally include water, food, lighter or matches, flashlight and first aid kit. Ordinary items that can turn into amazing survival tools are often overlooked. These odd items are easy to find and can be real life-savers after an SHTF event.

Chopsticks can come in handy in situations where the only thing that can save you is a few minutes of fire. They are made out of wood and highly flammable. Keep your recycled chopsticks dry in the sun to eliminate any moisture buildup and make them more flammable. These wooden utensils, which are thin and lightweight, can be used to light a flame. This eliminates the need to produce lighting material in damp and wet areas. It’s important to note that the most likely cause of death when you’re out in the open isn’t starvation or even dehydration – it’s hypothermia.

Cardboard rolls can also be an effective fire starter. The first step is to fill the cardboard roll with lint, then wrap it with old newspapers. This will make the cardboard more flammable. (Related: PREPPING 101: Top 11 ways to start a fire.)

Safety pins are a simple but clever invention that can have many functions. They can be used to make do-it-yourself fishhooks, coat hangers and makeshift tweezers. Safety pins can also be used to make medical and hygiene tools. A bunch of them can be used to make an arm sling. For first aid purposes, you can make one from a few needles and a shirt. You can also use sterilized security pins to close an open wound.

Cable ties are a reliable DIY product that can also be used outdoors for a variety of purposes. You can build a shelter using cable ties. It is lightweight and strong enough to bind poles or fabrics for pitching tents. Zip ties are more consistent than ordinary strings or rubber bands. They are resistant to pressure and won’t crack under stress. You need to have lots of them in your emergency bag.

Old fabrics like sheets, curtains or blankets can be useful when you’re trying to survive. They are great for building tents, catching fish, capturing wild animals and taking care of wounds in remote areas.

Grocery bags are great prepper materials, especially heavy ones. The strength of carrier bags made out of polyethylene or canvas is a great example. They are more durable than conventional bags and can withstand more wear and tear over time. Carrier bags can withstand harsh environments, thanks to this special quality. They are made of high-quality materials so they will not rip in extreme heat or cold. They can even be water-resistant so you can use them to repair jackets and tents.

Tampons are also a fantastic survival item. A list of useful prepping materials should include them. If there are no dressings available, tampons may be used to treat wounds. You can finish the job with some safety pins, old cloth and glue.

Tights make a great survival item. They have been used by the military as a bubble-resistant fabric under their socks. You can use tights to prevent foot blisters. Wearing tights can also help repel ticks and leeches if you don’t like them. Pantyhose can be used as a makeshift net if you want to catch fish. This garment can also serve as a self-defense tool by filling it with stones.

Use your imagination to complement your traditional prepping materials with some unusual items and increase your chances of survival following an SHTF event. (Related: Top 12 NECESSARY items for survival when SHTF.)

How to survive with nothing after an SHTF event

Preppers also need to be prepared to survive with nothing – neither the basic emergency supplies nor the unusual but useful items.

In that case, your priority is to find a shelter. Even in summertime conditions, temperatures can drop low at night. A good shelter will keep you from freezing to death on a cold night.

But if you want to last more than just a cold night, then you need to start thinking about water. Symptoms of dehydration can start within a few hours of your last drink and include low energy, headache, dizziness, muscle cramps and eventually loss of consciousness. Most rainwater is safe to drink and you can drink it straight off non-toxic leaves.

If you’re in a season or an area that lacks rainwater, then you’ll need to take a different approach. You can collect water from any source that is free of chemicals. Make sure you bring any intended drinking water to a rolling boil. Some sources say you should keep it boiling for as much as 20 minutes.

In relation to boiling water, you should learn the bow-drill. It is an incredibly valuable survival skill for creating fire by friction that can be learned in a relatively short period of time. The hardest part of creating a bow-drill is the string. Just make sure that you always wear sturdy shoelaces and you’ll never have to worry about creating fire.

Human beings can go a few weeks without food, so this is one of the least important parts of short-term survival. But food provides you with valuable energy and helps your body stay warm. (Related: Seeds of life: Keep your food supply alive after SHTF.)

If you were to go a few weeks without food, your energy level would be so low that it would be difficult to function and do your daily survival tasks. Focus on foods that are both easy to find and have the highest concentration of energy, such as nuts/seeds, berries and tree cambium.

Follow OffGrid.news for more news and information related to prepping and living off the grid.

This content was originally published here.

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Stock up on these 7 basic food items before SHTF – NaturalNews.com

Rice is definitely a versatile and filling ingredient. Many meals can be made using cooked rice, and existing ones can be stretched by adding more. There are two kinds of rice sold on the market – white rice and brown rice. White rice has a shelf life of up to two years, while brown rice has a shorter shelf life of three to six months.

One good way to keep rice is by putting it in five-gallon buckets for long-term consumption, with additional rice kept in small containers. Refrigeration and freezing may also significantly extend the shelf life of rice.

Beans and canned meats

Beans and canned meats serve as quick, easy to prepare protein sources. They can be eaten alongside rice or turned into a chili dish. For canned meats and beans, the expiration or best before date serves as a guide to when they are still safe to consume. But for dried beans, they can be kept to a minimum of one or two years.

However, there are some things to keep in mind when storing dried beans for prolonged periods. Dried beans’ nutritional value will start diminishing after two to three years of storage, and all vitamins will be gone by the fifth year.

Peanut butter and fruit spreads

The classic peanut butter sandwich is undeniably a favorite as it is delicious, filling and packed with energy. However, peanut butter does not keep for long so it is not advisable to keep big jars of it. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), peanut butter can be kept unopened for six to nine months and only two to three months once opened.

Other spreads that pair well with peanut butter such as fruit jellies and jams have longer shelf lives. Fruit jellies and jams can last for up to six months at room temperature and up to a year when refrigerated.

Wheat and flour

White flour is one versatile ingredient to stock up as it can be made into breads, cakes, biscuits, cookies and other baked items. Unopened flour stored at room temperature can last up to one year, but its shelf life will decrease to eight months once opened. Storing opened flour inside a refrigerator will extend its shelf life up to a year.

Hard, white wheat boasts of an average shelf life of 10 to 12 years and can even be consumed up to three decades or more. However, storing hard white wheat is not advisable for families who do not have a grinder – manual, electric or otherwise – to turn it into flour.

Canned fruits and vegetables

While fresh fruits and vegetables are always the best option, their short shelf life means that stocking up on these for the long term is not exactly viable. The next best option would be to use the canned varieties that may be used in the same manner as the fresh counterparts. It is best to save the liquid in the can for extra water.

According to the USDA, low-acidity canned goods such as meats, corn, spinach, peas, carrots and pumpkin can be stored at room temperature for two to five years. Meanwhile, high-acidity canned goods such as citrus juices, berries, mixed fruits and tomato products have a shorter shelf life of 12 to 18 months.

Ready-to-eat sauces

Familiar dishes can be whipped up with ready-to-eat sauces in stock. Tomato-based ready-to-eat sauces are versatile and can be used for many dishes such as spaghetti. Combined with canned meat and vegetables, a hearty meal isn’t definitely out of the question.

Sauces that use tomatoes as their base such as spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and salsas tend to have a shelf life of one year when left unopened. Once opened, however, they should be used as soon as possible due to their shorter shelf life of five to 10 days when refrigerated.

Dry pasta

Tomato-based sauces go perfectly well with pasta, and uncooked dry pasta is best for this purpose. Ideally, dry pastas are best removed from their boxes and stored in clear, airtight containers. As dry pasta is devoid of moisture, it will last long when stored at room temperature.

It is worth noting that the “best by” or “use by” date indicated in pasta boxes is not an expiration date. Rather, it is the best estimate of up how long will the dry pasta remain at utmost freshness.

Stocking up on these basic food items should be done over a period of time. It is best to purchase these items when they are sold at a discount. However, these food items should not simply be stockpiled and left unattended for long. They should also be rotated to avoid spoilage, with their respective shelf lives in mind.

Preparedness.news has more articles about stockpiling key food items when SHTF.

This content was originally published here.

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