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6 Herbal Remedies I Use on My Kids
January 23, 2009 at 11:30 AM by Cafe Kristen - Comments (8)
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
Last week, The Associated Press interviewed me about giving my kids herbal remedies to save money in this crappy economy.
I'm thrilled that I don't look too much like a granola-loving, hemp-wearing suburban helicopter mom.
Or wait, maybe I do.
Here are some of the holistic remedies I give to my kids, self and DH all the time:
- Honey for a sore throat. It is cheaper than Tylenol. Honey is also cheaper
than the co-pay at my pediatrician's office. Honey is even cheaper than
the gas it takes to get to the doctor's office. And it tastes nice, too. Plus, a recent study shows that honey soothes children's sore throats and helps them sleep. As you may know, you shouldn't give honey to a child until she's at least 1 year of age.
- Hot tea with lemon for sore throat, sniffles and cough. When you're sick, you need to stay hydrated. Hot liquids can soothe the inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. Lemon is another natural, cheap source of Vitamin C. I use herbal, decaffeinated teas from the grocery store.
- Saline solution or 1 tsp salt mixed with warm water for pink eye. Dab this on with a clean cotton ball or tissue several times a day to get rid of mild cases of pink eye as soon as you see it starting. My pediatrician gave me this tip that totally works.
- Gargling with salt. Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Try a
teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water, four times daily. This tip works great for my DH and I. But my very young kids can't do it yet--they still think gargling is the same as swallowing things in outrageous amounts.
- Steamy showers for congestion. Nothing clears out a runny nose and stuffy head like the moisture in the shower.
- Chinese herbs for cold and stomach ache. I went to a Chinese doctor about a year ago who gave us a mix of herbs for our stomach virus and little vials of sweet, syrupy fritillary flower for stuffy noses. These were cheap--less than $10 each. To even my own surprise, both eased our symptoms.
That last part--about the Chinese remedies--got slammed in the Associated Press story in the second to last paragraph. I told the reporter that I okay'd the fritillary with my pediatrician. But apparently, there's a sketchy Chinese study linking fritillary with cancer. I'm not convinced since fritillary has been used in China for runny noses since ancient times. But I will definitely do more research.
Hmmm. I wonder if this article makes me look like a
homicidal maniac who is trying to give my kids cancer because I use several herbal remedies? Oh well, it was fun to be pictured and mentioned in a national article. A bunch of my Facebook friends saw the piece in various papers around the country and didn't turn me into the authorities. My family and I are still unscathed.
For more suggestions on all-natural remedies CafeMoms are using, check out the private group, The Informed Parent. Also, I recently wrote about 2 Holistic Tips for Cold Relief--removing your contacts and drinking hot fruit cordials.
FILED UNDER: alternative medicine, cold & flu, emotional health, healthy habits, illness, in the news, time for you
Comments:
I use all these remedies as well. Except for the one about the chinese remedy, never heard of that before. These remedies are cheaper and definitley to their job. I have been gargling with salt water since I was in high school and it always decreases the longeivity of a sore throat!
If you buy local raw honey from your farmer's market it can also help with allergies!
We use saline rinses for a LOT of things. Saline is your body's natural cleanser (hello, tears?) so you KNOW it's good for you - and has no negative side effects. Rinsing out your eyes, cuts, your sinuses (with a neti pot), or gargling with it - it's good for it ALL.
We also use steam, and eucalyptus oil to loosen up mucous, and honey for a sore throat (not in infants, obviously).
When we might be getting sick, or are going somewhere were we easily could, we load up on vitamin C and zinc.
Another natural cure for a sore throat, illness, ear infections and pinkeye? Breastmilk.
Mypoohbear, I giggled at your honey/allergy bit. I know it's true, but for me personally, it's the opposite - the less processed the honey is, the more I have to avoid it. I'm allergic to something about pure and darker honeys. :(
"But apparently, there's a sketchy Chinese study linking fritillary with cancer."
I think everything now has a link to cancer!
I use many of these as well and they are perfect... I also use to prevent sniffles Essential Oil of Orange, Eucaliptus Essential Oil for when they do get a cold applied to their chest and a few dabs on their pillow... Lavender for relaxation and much, much more...
Research has shown that research causes cancer in lab rats. :)
I am SOOOO excited about this list, I hope to come back and see more comments because I have been looking for things like this for a long time!
I also use honey to smooth my lips. Just put honey on your lips, leave it for just a minute or two then lick it off and wipe off the extra... it exfoliates!
Honey is always best! I give my kids honey and lemon for their sore throat, and herbal teas if they have a cold, it really works! I also use the salt water for the sore throat. You spend money on all these medicines, and they dont even work, just make you worse half the time. Natural is always best!
I've used all of these except for the saline for pink eye. I'll try it next time we have to fight that off.
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My favorite remedy is Larix. It is a powder and is used for anything breathing related. Cough, asthma, etc. I have been inhaler free for 3 years and we don't keep cough medicine in the house anymore!!! Safe while preggo, BFing, babies, old people. LOVE IT!!
Amber115 Jan. 23, 2009 at 1:47 PM