Since Hailey is fighting a mild cold, as am I, I thought I'd share a few natural remedies (in addition to prayer of course) I've discovered in the last couple of years. Emergen-C:
I use this when I just feel a cold coming on. Sometimes it gives my system enough of a boost that I won't end up getting a cold at all. It is cheap and you can get it anywhere. It doesn't have any dyes or bad stuff in it (that I'm aware of). Pink lemonade is my favorite flavor.
Ear Infections:
Mullein Garlic Compound, brand name - Herb Pharm. It is in an olive oil extract. I know this sounds crazy, but I promise I've tried this out on myself before I did the kids and it works! I just wish I had known about it BEFORE I had tubes put in my son's ears (twice) and his adenoids taken out (not to mention all the antibiotics he was on). You just slightly warm up the bottle and drop a few drops into the ears and they usually start feeling better within four hours to six hours. This stuff is amazing. You need to replace it every year as it loses it's potency. I always keep it on hand.
Sore Throat:
I gargle and swallow a mouthful of Bragg's Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (three times a day). Do not do this on an empty stomach! If you can't stand to swallow it, than gargle and spit it out. You can also use straight lemon juice. If you can't handle acidic products, try gargling some natural sea salt dissolved in water. Either acids or something extremely alkaline (saline) will kill most bacteria that is causing a sore throat. Try not drinking or eating anything for 10 minutes after you gargle or swallow to give the acid or saline a chance to work on the bacteria. Garlic and cayenne are supposed to work as well, although I've never tried it because I can't stand hot stuff.
Cough:
I use Osha Root Complex Syrup, brand-name: Herbs, Ect. Very nasty tasting stuff, but it does work. To get it down, I mix it with a little apple juice. Also give you or your kids a spoon full of honey, it helps sooth the tingling.
Congestion/Sinus Infections:
I'm really prone to sinus infections and I use to have to go on antibiotics until I learned that snorting a few droppers full of saline water (three times a day) works wonders. Also, gargling with vinegar, helps clear the sinuses as well. I've had some luck with steam tents, but it doesn't seem to be as effective as the saline in the sinuses treatment. I'd like to try a Netti-pot (spelling?) someday.
Avoid Nasty Bruises:
This is yet another wonderful Herb Pharm product. It is called Trauma Oil compound. Having two redheads, you can imagine how easily they bruise. Hailey has received this particular treatment many times as she is a climber and has a high pain tolerance. In other words, she doesn't seem to learn from her many falls! I just put this on the hurt area (try to do it soon after the incident) and you will be amazed whe next day you will see either nothing in an area that should have bruised, or just a very light bruise.
Fevers:
I know some of you will think I'm cruel, but I let my kids have a fever as long as it stays below 102 degrees F. If it goes above that, I will give them Tylenol or Motrin, but usually I don't have to. Low grade fevers raise the body temperature to naturally kill whatever bacteria or virus is present in the body. Usually my kids are 100% better in 12 hours or less if I let them have a fever. Some people think it is cruel to let them have a fever, but in my few it is harder on the child to prolong the illness. This is just my opinion and I don't judge others for giving their kids medicine as soon as they have a fever. This is just a parenting preference.
Diarrhea/Vomiting:
I have another product I keep on had from Herb Pharm called Children's Herbal compound. I honestly have never had the need to use it yet. If anyone has used this, please leave a comment and tell us if it worked for you or not.
Now it is your turn. I'm always up for new ideas when it comes to natural medicine. I've only just started exploring this in the last couple of years, so I know I have A LOT to learn. If you know of any home remedies that I haven't mentioned all ready, please leave a comment and share it with us.
I good resource link I've found is http://www.earthclinic.com/.
8 comments:
I don't think you are cruel not to give meds for a low fever. A lot of Australians do the same thing. Myself included. Carefully watched of course - we don't want it to go too high. I haven't heard of some of the other things you suggest. I wonder what their equivelent over here is.
Hi. Thanks for coming by, I am so glad you found me and now I can visit you too! I didn't know Stacie was a twin, pretty neat.
I like this post, we too try to do natural treatments for things.
For sore throats, try this. Cook a little garlic (fresh is best, otherwise use the little jar of miced garlic you keep in the fridge after you open it) in some oil jst until warm, olive or canola is what I use. Then put this in some homemade warm salt water. Gargle with it. We spit it back out here. You will smell like a pizza, but it is so soothing. The garlic mixes with the oil to coat your throat and between the garlic and salt it kills the germs.
I have also used the same oil with garlic treatment in sore ears. I take q-tips and sook it good, then hold it over the ear canal and it will drip into there. Makes your baby smell funny, but it must work, because it certainly calms them down (Make sure the oil isn't hot!! I just warm up the oil a tiny bit, test it on your wrist.)
I see some things on here I didn't know about too, so I will try them too!
Great tips! We used the garlic for Noah's ears for the first couple years and thought it was great! We also used it the night before a plane trip, just to kind of open up his ears.
Great tip, everyone! I'm going to be trying some of your suggestions. I appreciate you taking the time to share what works for your families. If you guys or anybody else can think of other natural tips, please leave a comment.
Oh, wow! Those are really great remedies! I never knew gargling with vinegar killed bacteria! I always see the Bragg vinegar when I buy my Bragg olive oil. Now I have a reason to buy vinegar besides salads :-)
Yes, apple cider vinegar also works great on bee stings and hemroids.
Hi, I do not do blogs, no time usually. I was researching fermenting food and came across this blog. I want to share how I keep my kids protected from cold and flu. It's so simple and works so great, my kids may be miss only one or two days a year due to illness.It's onion and garlic juice. I juice half an onion and one garlic glove. It usually makes half a plastic kid's container with a cover. I take a spoon of the juice and dilute it with water (1:10 or 1:20). This goes in the nose, 3 drops in each nostril. The rest of the juice I fill up with honey and mix. This goes into the mouth, about 3 teaspoons. I do it in the morning and before bed for as long as the honey mixture lasts (you want to discard the water after a few days). I just keep it covered on the counter. If you catch it in time, there is no chance the cold develops and there are no snotty noses. I might start it even before any symptoms appear, if kids were exposed to cold and flu in others. My husband who does not use this, gets sick all the time but kids and me are fine. Yes, it stinks, so I do not do the throat thing in the morning. The drops are fine.
For no bruising, including black eyes, I give my kids Arnica Montana (Hylands or Boiron). I keep this in my car, purse and at home. My little one has twice averted black eyes because I gave him Arnica. I use it, too, because otherwise I bruise easily.
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