When your access to medical services is limited–whether because of a temporary natural disaster or a more permanent grid-down situation—relying on tried-and-true ancient methods of healing could save your own, or a loved one’s, life.

Thousands of years ago, an alternative form of medicine began in China that focused on a more holistic and whole-body approach to healing. Those practices, now known as Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, have evolved over the years and helped millions of people suffering from a wide array of diseases. In a disaster scenario, the methods used by the ancient Chinese can be employed easily, since the majority of the healing ingredients come from nature and, therefore, can be grown yourself – no pharmacy required!

How Your Feet Affect Your Health

Traditional Chinese medicine advocates claim that certain nutrients can be absorbed through the skin to heal a myriad of diseases and ailments: everything from insomnia to clogged arteries can be cured with a simple poultice or soak in the right combination of natural herbs. This theory is based on the belief that every part of the body is connected, similar to a giant spiderweb, by a meridian (channel) system that can absorb and redistribute the medicine where it is needed. Acupoints—the areas focused on during acupressure—are prime absorption sites, as this is where the qi (vital energy) of the body’s organs and the meridians meet.

While traditional Chinese medicine teaches that health benefits can be achieved by absorbing nutrients through any area of the skin, some areas—the feet, forehead, and palms, especially—are better than others.

Feet have long been seen, both by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and others, to be a powerful healing site for the entire body. The feet are made up of various acupoints and nerve endings that are connected to vital organs in your body. By absorbing nutrients and minerals through the feet, the “good stuff” your body needs is drawn in through the skin and travels on the meridians to your vital organs, instead of being wasted in other areas of the body.

Supercharge Your Health By Adding Onions To Your Slumber

Onions have been grown and used for food and medicine for nearly 5,000 years. This widely used vegetable is part of the Allium-bulb family and is one of the easiest to grow—and hardest to kill—of any vegetable in your prepper garden.

You may already know that onions are a low-calorie food that is high in Vitamin C and fiber. But other health benefits of the onion aren’t as widely known. In traditional Chinese medicine, onions are thought to provide energy, induce perspiration and urination for detoxification of the body, and to fight off illnesses caused by germs and viruses. The strong antibacterial and anti-viral properties in onions can help ward off conditions ranging from foot odor to the common flu.

By placing sliced onions in your socks, you can purify your blood, draw out toxins, and eradicate disease when the nutrients and phosphoric acid in the onions is absorbed by your feet – the millions of nerve endings in your feet work with the meridians to absorb and redistribute the onion’s natural properties throughout the entire body.

Tips To Maximize The Healing Power Of Placing Onions In Your Socks

• Use an organic onion (you don’t want pesticides being absorbed by your skin)
• Make sure the onion slices are on the bottom of your feet, not the top, to maximize absorption
• Cotton socks are best and help to minimize the smell
• If the smell of the onion bothers you (or your spouse), sprinkle a few drops of complementary scented essential oils to the outside of your socks or on a cotton pillowcase