Tis’ the season … for flu shots, hand foot in your mouth, and yellow boogers. I wish I were kidding, but we all know what this time of year means for anyone who has a little kid in a classroom with a cajillion other little kids, and it’s not pretty.
I’m sure you’re stocking up on all things over-the-counter, like tissues, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol, but if you’re looking for a few things al’ natural to help you avoid an optional inevitable, allow me. I only have a few kids (like five), but they are rarely ever sick. When that’s not the case, I’m prepared with an arsenal that could light up a circuit. Why? Because I don’t mess around … and neither should you.
I respect a good cold (and the benefits of it), and I want to give my children the things that will support their body through it as quickly as possible, but you won’t find Tylenol in my house … or old prescriptions for antibiotics, pain or sleepy anything, and whatever else over-the-counter you’re “supposed” to have on hand for kids these days. Nope … you’ll only find the all natural things that have absolutely no medicinal benefit whatsoever in my medicine cabinet, and the things my 102-year-old grandma is insistent you must have on hand to survive a modern-day plague.
Here’s “THE” list:
- Silver Shield Gel and Liquid
Silver compounds have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and research shows it’s pretty awesome at fighting a wide-range of bacteria, including those that are commonly resistant to other antibiotics. The microscopic silver nanoparticles we use today, do not disrupt the intestinal microflora and it’s relatively nontoxic, making it an absolute must-have for the “just in case.”
- Peppermint Oil
I keep peppermint oil on hand for all things gas, pain, fever, and a “long list of other things” that shall not be mentioned. When I need to bring down a temp, it’s into the bath with a few drops of this goodness … and BOOM. You can also dilute a few drops in raw coconut oil and rub it on the back of your child’s neck and feet to accomplish the same thing. Peppermint has never steered me wrong and your medicine is empty without it.
- Lavender Oil
There are a ton of essential oils, but lavender is the universal oil for a reason and it’s my go-to for colic, sleep issues, you need to calm down right now issues, and those “you fell on your bottom and got a boo boo” problems. For sleep and mood, I diffuse it. A drop is all that’s needed for a bath and for skin, I dilute it.
- Zinc Lozenges or Elderberry Syrup
I’m a huge fan of zinc for preventing and addressing a good cold, and I think it deserves at least a little credit for the fact that I’ve never had to resort to an antibiotic. If a little zinc can prevent a wiped out immune system, what have you got to lose? On the other hand, some people love them some elderberry. I must agree, the syrup is quite nice.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Guys … it’s apple cider vinegar. Need I say anything about this magic elixir of amazingness? People go back and forth on whether apple cider vinegar is anything but fermented apple juice, but anyone into anything natural knows how awesome it is. The ACV comes out in my house for stomach upset, digestive complaints, and UTIs.
- Raw Coconut Oil
Raw coconut has some pretty sweet antimicrobial properties and is a must-have for diluting essential oils, making salves on the fly, and anything skin problem.
- Band Aids
Once in a while, you just need a band-aid. You know, in case your kid is hemorrhaging or they want to cover their body in adhesive for funzies. (That’s satire. If your kid is hemorrhaging, go to a doctor.)
- Epsom Salt
How did the world survive before epsom salt? This is just one of the many questions that keep me up at night because epsom salt is so amazing. If you don’t know why you need it or how to use it, read THIS.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
At a few dollars, there’s no excuse for not having a bottle of H2O2 in your medicine cabinet. Although some people use it for cancer and detoxing – I wouldn’t take it that far. I keep a bottle on hand as an antiseptic and a “just in case one of my kids should ever have an ear infection or wayward tonsil” scenario.
- A Diffuser
One of the best ways to use essential oils with your children is through diffusion. There’s a vast amount of research behind aromatherapy and an oil’s ability to diffuse the germs right out of the room, so when any of my kids are sick, the diffuser is ON.
- Legit Runner-Ups
There are some legit runner-ups that may be good to keep in your medicine cabinet: liquid lobelia, licorice root, charcoal, homeopathic cough syrup, witch hazel, bentonite clay, Oscillococcinum, and vitamins A, C, and E are just a few that make this list.
I can think of a cool 200 more things to add, but the truth is, it’s unnecessary. Sure, there are many things I do for prevention and super supplements I give my kids on the daily, but when one of them drops, I do a double take a hit them with a home remedy that has absolutely no medicine benefit whatsoever – if ya know what I mean.
And what can I say, it has worked every time.
Love this, it describes my health cabinet well too!
My only quibble is not specifying that you must dilute peppermint EO before putting it in a bath. EOs don’t dilute in a bathtub with just water, since oil and water don’t mix. Even a couple drops can really hurt when not diluted. That doesn’t mean it will always happen, but sensitization can happen the first time you are exposed to it undiluted or the thirtieth. I LOVE essential oils, but when I made the mistake of trying to dilute literally just 2 or 3 drops of peppermint in a bathtub for myself (an adult!), I got burns all over my legs within minutes. Couldn’t use peppermint for years, even diluted, because I was so sensitive to it after that incident.
And no, before anyone suggests it, it has nothing to do with using a “pure” or “therapeutic grade” oil. It’s part of the chemical makeup that makes up peppermint oil, not an adulterant (not that adulterants aren’t a problem with the industry!). If we are going to accept and promote that natural remedies work (since they do), we must also accept that they have the potential to have adverse reactions, and must be used with an eye toward safety. 🙂
Homeopathy wasn’t mentioned which is understandable as most people are not familiar with it, but it is one of the most powerful healing tools available. For chronic ailments, a professional homeopath is needed, but for acute ailments, lay people can quickly learn how to choose correct remedies. There are many excellent books available for lay people. Antibiotics are not effective for viruses (such as the flu), but homeopathic remedies work just fine for viral ailments. How do I know this? I’ve been practicing and teaching homeopathy for over 20 years.
I give my kids Vitamin D, 1000 IUs a day. When two of our kids came home from the DRC their vit. D levels were 7 and 8. A minimum level for kids is 50. Yikes!
Garlic. Chopped raw garlic swallowed like a pill does it for me plus all the ones you mention.
Aloe Juice.. I add tea spoon of it to the kids drinks one’s a week… keeps strep away
Don’t forget raw honey! It also has antibacterial properties and can soothe sore throats and coughs. And a mixture of honey and cinnamon can help fight a cold too.