Kids and colds

[MoTappin]

With all the scuttlebutt about cold "medicine" not being safe for kids, I thought it might be helpful to start a thread where everyone can post their favorite home/natural remedies for colds/flu. I don't like giving my kids that OTC stuff anyway, and any other helpful hints might be good to have, especially with the cold season approaching!

One thing that really helps a cough (and maybe a cold too) is to put Vapor Rub on the bottom of their feet before they go to bed, and put their socks on. Works better than any cough suppressant! I also like to make my kids a hot lemon drink with water, lemon juice, and honey. They like it and it soothes their throat.

I'm sure Joan has plenty of ideas!! Anyone else?

Meredith--Down from a 14 to a 6!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweat may be gross, Sweat may be stinky... But I'd better keep Tappin' or I'll look like a Twinkie!!

Kiddo #3 (a girl!) BORN 6/21/07

[trcg]

Garlic capsules work great around here. I've busted out more ear infections doing this. My youngest son is very prone to ear infections so I'll do 2-3 days of the capsules 3-4 times a day and we'll beat the infection every time. We start as soon as he says his ear is a bit sore. Haven't used on antibotics with him for 4 years now.

I personally really like the night time airbonne the hot apple cider flavor. It has work great for me.

However, when the kids are really stuffy and coughing and can't sleep I give them Tylenol Cold Plus cough (liquid) only comes in grape flavor. Heck I my husband and I use this product as it works better than any of the adult stuff. None of us use the product during the day, but when sick if the kids can't sleep because they can't breath and can't stop coughing I give them this and in 20 min they are resting and helping to beat the bug.

From what I read the med's the pulled were due to parents giving too much. Too much of anything is bad. Again, we only use at night so the kids can sleep during the day they get to deal with everything. Our bodies do need to have a fever to beat the bug-a fever within reason of course, our lungs need to be able to break the stuff up etc.

Renee

[MoTappin]

So do you put the garlic stuff in the ear, I'm guessing? I'll have to try that.

Meredith--Down from a 14 to a 6!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweat may be gross, Sweat may be stinky... But I'd better keep Tappin' or I'll look like a Twinkie!!

Kiddo #3 (a girl!) BORN 6/21/07

[trcg]

No, I get the soft gel capsules and they swallow them. I just pour some in my hand and give them out. When busting out the ear infection I've been known to give him 8 capsules at once. This same son at one time would not swallow them so he would chew them up. I don't know how he would do it..smelled terrible. He learned quickly how to swallow and we like the soft gels much better over the hard white tablets.

I'm sure using real garlic would be better, but it is not going to happen in this house so the capsules are the way we go.

Renee

[trcg]

Here is an informative story about garlic:
http://www.seagateproducts.com/page39.html

This is 25 min. long.

Renee

[JoanS MH]

Oh boy, I've been waiting for this type of post! Thanks Meredith!

Four drops of garlic oil in BOTH ears and plug with cotton at night will heal ear infections. Always treat both ears even if the infection appears to only be in one ear.

Taking oral garlic is awesome! Dr. Christopher developed a formula that would eliminate the plague! http://herballegacy.com/Super_Garlic.html This can be taken daily as a tonic. When I get sick, I will drink the whole 16 ounces in one day - and am fine after that. DH hate's the smell of garlic! Too bad![}]

Red Raspberry Leaf tea - one cup daily for everyone, helps with hormones, and as a preventative for colds & flu. Once the cold/flu symptoms START consume only RRL tea for 2-3 days - this will stop the cold/flu from progressing.[^]

Coughs - Dr. Christopher's Herbal Cough Syrup is awesome. It does not SUPPRESS the cough - it makes it more productive while soothing the chest so it does not hurt. Get the junk up & out!![:0] http://herballegacy.com/Coughs.html

Vapor rub on the feet - yup! Using petroleum jelly on the soles of the feet with crushed garlic (cover with plastic & socks) will rush anti-bacterial properties through the whole system! Do not go up the sides of the feet.

Reflexology points on the hands, feet, head, whole body to relieve congestion.[:0]

Elimination, elimination, elimination!![}][] This should have been first!!

Strep throat - mix 3-6 crushed cloves of garlic with raw honey and 1/4 - 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Eat to coat the throat. The cayenne will bring the blood to the area (this is a good thing). The honey has anti-viral & anti-bacterial properties but is really used to keep the cayenne & garlic in place and make it possible to get this mix past the tongue.[:0] The garlic is the real anti-bacterial factor. Do not drink after this. Children have no problem with this mix and the results are amazing!

Fevers - when we suppress a fever we do a few things. First, we stop the body's natural defense system that is designed to eliminate the bacteria. Second, by killing the bacteria in place - we end up with tons of bacteria corpses left behind.[xx(] Last, we have not eliminated the cause of the fever in the first place. Working WITH the fever in a hot tub and drinking lots of liquid - preferably a diaphoretic (heat producing) tea you raise the fever, cause faster multiplication of the bacteria that, in turn, these critters eat up more of the mucus in the body - thus eliminating the cause. When the mucus is gone, they die and the perspiration gets them out! Cool, huh? [:0] Here is an extended program for fevers, pneumonia etc. http://herballegacy.com/Cold_Sheet.html

Pneumonia, chest congestion - chop an onion, heat it to a slimey state, put olive oil on the chest then the onions (make sure they are just cool enough to prevent burning), wrap with an ace bandage or tight shirt, go to bed. Usually by morning the congestion has broken up.

Cayenne pepper is also good (daily) when cold/flu symptoms start.[}]

There are several herbal formulas for chest congestion, allergy related conditions, Immune function, lymphatic system, etc. Go here http://herballegacy.com/Ailments_&_Programs.html and page down to an ailment, click on that and find lots of natural remedies![]

Did I mention Elimination?[B)][}][:0][^]


Joan Schrader, MH
Health And Wisdom
www.health-and-wisdom.com
For a true mother, unspeakable joy and unbearable pain are the twin handmaidens that come with each child. Inherent in one is the possibility of the other. It is the price a woman pays to fulfill the measure of her creation.
- Ron Carter

[Tina71]

Thanks, Joan! You are wonderful. **reminder to self to call Joan to order products ASAP**

Tina

Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away[8D]

[trcg]

"Pneumonia, chest congestion - chop an onion, heat it to a slimey state, put olive oil on the chest then the onions (make sure they are just cool enough to prevent burning), wrap with an ace bandage or tight shirt, go to bed. Usually by morning the congestion has broken up."

Oh my! My husband often has performances and gets bad congestion at critical rehearsal times. I do wonder what he would do if I did this to him one night. He would think I really lost it...but when he wakes and would be cleared up....maybe he would actually thank me. lol

Renee

[WendyD]

Meredith - Thanks for this thread. Forget the kids, what about we moms with little ones, who get sneezed on (that includes our food too), runny noses wiped all over our shirts and wet/slobbery fingers stuck up our noses. Can you tell I have a 16 mo. old???? So much for keep the germs to yourself.

Great ideas Joan!! You know I love you...BUT...that honey, garlic, cayenne mixture just about did me in! [xx(][xx(][xx(](I had a swollen toncil, yes just one[:I]) First I started coughing - HARD, then my stomach started killing me...oh, not good, not good at all! I had to eat and drink to recover. Then, later that day, I did it again with the same result. (The first time wasn't enough pain for me. ) GRRR!

What did work, was taking 2T of coconut oil before each meal and in 2 days the swelling was down and I cancelled my doctors appointment! It was much less painful solution.

Reflexology - yup, when I get sick I can feel that different points on my feet and hands are sore. Keep rubbing those out until they aren't painful anymore. (Right Joan?)

Hugs!



Wendy

You can learn something from everyone you meet. Just listen...

[MommyRose]

OOOH lots of good info for the winter! [8D] Great idea Meredith!

Thanks for all the great tips Joan! I'm very intrigued by quite a few of them!

I've got to second the garlic drops in the ears for ear infections. What a wonderful thing that has been for us! [8D] I've had little ones wake up screaming with fevers from naps or at nighttime with blazing red ears. After adding the drops I've been able to put them back to bed within' 10 minutes and they sleep the rest of the night...peacefully. [^] I've always got liquid garlic capsuls on hand...prick it with a pin and squeeze it in the ear. Takes the pain away quite quickly. The odorless works too.

I've said it before and I'll say it again......had GREAT success with Dr. C's Herbal Cough Syrup stopping a croup attack!! I've got some stashed for the winter.

~Rose

"You are Mommy and you are Rose!" Zacharaiah-age 3