Natural remedies

[mrsbumpus]

In a previous thread I noticed some of you mention natural remedies. I was wondering if you could share some of those with us. I would be interested in learning some for colds and caughs/runny noses. It scares me to give my baby cold medicine. Just curious. Thanks.

[heartofanurse]

Do you want natural remedies specifically for colds in children? Because there are thousands and thousands of different resources out there on every health topic known to man in natural remedy world.

I copied and pasted an article onto my blog that I think someone posted on a thread in here....Here is the link http://meetthechoissers.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-liked-this-article-so-much-that-i.html

Do you breastfeed? Is Bella on any vitamins?

[heartofanurse]

In a previous thread I noticed some of you mention natural remedies. I was wondering if you could share some of those with us. I would be interested in learning some for colds and caughs/runny noses. It scares me to give my baby cold medicine. Just curious. Thanks.

Ugh, Ignore me I read that too fast you already answered my question about the cold cough thing.....Pregnancy Brain is taking over my ability to comprehend!!!

[KatieMac]

Oh, there are some great ones!

This one is smelly, but it works great.

3 tablespoons RAW coconut oil (available at health food stores)

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons chopped fresh, raw garlic (not minced garlic in a jar.)

Mix these ingredients together in a blender or food processor. This mixture is antibacterial and anti-fungal. I use it on the soles of my children's feet when they have a cold, covered with cotton socks. It will go directly into their blood stream. I also rub in on their chests when they have a chest cold, and I rub it into my glands when they are swollen, or on my throat when I have a sore throat (with an old cotton sock pinned over it). This keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks, and hardens into a balm.

Vicks Vapo rub works when rubbed on the souls of the feet to help stop coughing! I buy my vitamins from http://beeyoutiful.com and they have a rub made with more natural ingredients called "Winter Breeze." It is more expensive, but it's beneficial to the skin, better than a petroleum base.

Another thing you can do is a garlic poultice. This is another old school remedy. Chop garlic, and fold into a paper towel. Dip in very hot water and wring out slightly. Place on the soles of the feet for 2-3 minutes. You can use the same paper towel two or three times before discarding.

Garlic oil works great for ear infections. Mince fresh garlic and steep in olive oil, strain out the solids, Drop warmed oil into the ear for pain relief, and the garlic will work on the infection. Onion juice also works well. Grate an onion, and squeeze the juice out using a paper towel, and drop the juice into the ear to fight the infection.

When your baby is over a year old you can use Berry Well from beeyoutiful, It's an awesome elderberry syrup. You can buy it in bulk and I keep a bottle or two all year long. Works GREAT for colds. That company actually has tons of wonderful products.

[zillygal]

In a previous thread I noticed some of you mention natural remedies. I was wondering if you could share some of those with us. I would be interested in learning some for colds and caughs/runny noses. It scares me to give my baby cold medicine. Just curious. Thanks.

I loved the link someone else posted. Lots of goodies on there.

I swear by the Vicks on the feet when you sleep for coughs.

I keep meaning to buy a new humidifier since mine bit the dust. But since I don't have one right now and Ethan has been doing the stuffy nose thing, I have just turned off the vent in his room, dress him warmly and have him sleep in the room like that. Helps tremendously. And since I sleep in there too (since I have gotten older I can sleep through a freight train, so I sleep in the same room as him) I sleep better on those nights.

If you feel like your little one is croupy another thing to do is the shower trick. Go into the bathroom and run the shower as hot as you can, let the steam build up in the room and sit in there with them.

For you - another Vicks tip - if you have a headache that isn't a migraine put a little bit of vicks on your forhead, it does something with the vessels. Can't stand the smell? use the ice pack method.

Peppermint does soothe the stomach. So if you feel like your stomach is a bit upset, go ahead and eat some peppermint.

I know there are others but I can't think right now.

[mrsbumpus]

Wow!! That is a good one... thanks!

[heartofanurse]

Katie,

Can you use probiotics on baby bellies?

[KatieMac]

YESSSSSSS! Probiotics are beneficial for everyone, they can only help, they can't hurt. You don't NEED to use as much for a small belly, but you can't really give too much.

[heartofanurse]

Awesome, I live off of probiotics, oil of oragano, echiacha, and cal/mag!

[KatieMac]

Beeyoutiful makes an Ultra Immune capsule that I LOVE that has oil of oregano in it. Great, great stuff. I actually wrote a testimonial to them about their products and they put it in their catalog.

[heartofanurse]

Sweet, I can't believe their prices-much lower than I expected.

So is it beneficial to give infants vitamins supplements, or should it be through moms breastmilk?

[KatieMac]

I personally wouldn't bother until your baby is a year old.

[momyshaver]

Sweet, I can't believe their prices-much lower than I expected.

So is it beneficial to give infants vitamins supplements, or should it be through moms breastmilk?


Just my personal opinion, I think a well nourished mom's breastmilk would be optimal up to a year, and then after a year, like KatieMac mentioned (when even most nursing toddlers aren't getting as much of mom's milk as they were during that first year), supplement when needed. Of course, some nights lately I feel like my toddler has been nursing *more* than the first year. Gotta love growth spurts. :) So. Breastmilk first...placing lots of importance on keeping mom hydrated and uber healthy, supplementing as needed.. after year 1 a little more leeway. The only exception I can think of offhand is in cases of oral or diaper thrush for baby to sprinkle some acidopholis powder on mom's nipple and/or baby's diaper area as needed, before nursing or after diaper changes, as needed, to dose...ymmv.

[DoulaAndie]

Dr. Sears recommends Sinupret for kids' colds. I also saw a commercial for it yesterday. you can get it at Walmart. Apparently, they use it in Europe. I don't know what's in it. Has anyone used it?

We've tried a couple things from Hylands- the pink eye drops and the teething tablets- and haven't had much luck with them. Has anyone else used something like that? They're pretty expensive and I hate buying something and feeling like I wasted my money.

I used breastmilk for my girls' pinkeye a couple weeks ago. It seemed like the discharge cleared within 24 hours of starting that, but the eyes stayed pretty red. I've read that it only works on bacterial pinkeye and I'm not sure which one they had.

[momyshaver]

Dr. Sears recommends Sinupret for kids' colds. I also saw a commercial for it yesterday. you can get it at Walmart. Apparently, they use it in Europe. I don't know what's in it. Has anyone used it?

We've tried a couple things from Hylands- the pink eye drops and the teething tablets- and haven't had much luck with them. Has anyone else used something like that? They're pretty expensive and I hate buying something and feeling like I wasted my money.

I used breastmilk for my girls' pinkeye a couple weeks ago. It seemed like the discharge cleared within 24 hours of starting that, but the eyes stayed pretty red. I've read that it only works on bacterial pinkeye and I'm not sure which one they had.

No experience with the Hylands here, sorry. I understand about buying something and wondering if you are wasting your money. Hopefully some other moms will chime in.

My MIL bought me a nettipot type thing for sinus stuff but I haven't had to use it yet (yeah!). I have heard good things about it though.

I have used breastmilk for pinkeye and for cuts and scrapes. I have also *donated* breastmilk to my SIL when her youngest had recurrent pinkeye. She is very mainstream but had asked her ped. about it out of curiousity and her "wacky sister in law" and he told her that it couldn't hurt. It cleared up pretty quickly and one of the nice things about breastmilk is that it is soothing rather than harsh like some of the other pinkeye drops. I love breast milk. :)

[mrsbumpus]

I have also purchased a "all natural" cold medicine from the organic food store...I forgot the name. I was wondering if any of you buy medicine/vitamins there?

[heartofanurse]

I have also purchased a "all natural" cold medicine from the organic food store...I forgot the name. I was wondering if any of you buy medicine/vitamins there?

R u talking about Adeles? I use to be an Adeles junky and then I discovered vitacost.com which cut my expenses literally in half. My prenatal vitatmins were running $40 a bottle and I found a bottle double the size on vitacost for $38.

Another thing that I have heard is wonderful for Mom's with teething babies is "Amber Rings" you can read about it here...http://searchwarp.com/swa54638.htm

I will second the vapor rub, garlic remedies for feet.... Pregnancy seems to have me living with a constant head cold.... I made my own little concotion last night of peppermint oil, olive oil, and garlc., slapped it on my feet, stuck on some socks and it really did seem to help. However I had too many variables altering my experiment, it could have been the new humidifier?

[beanongsmom]

hi! new to the board, but i like to try the more natural remedies as well.
good tips from all the moms on here!
my daughter has an amber necklace for teething. i do notice a difference when she has it on. she would be a bit less cranky. i ordered mine from http://hyenacart.com/inspiredbyfinn/

[mrsbumpus]

You guys make me feel like such a bad mom!!!! What is probiotic?

[KatieMac]

Hey, you aren't a bad mom!! There is so much information out there and if you don't even know what to look for then how would you know?

A probiotic is a source of good bacteria that feeds your intestines. Everyone needs good bacteria in their gut, but there are many things that can disrupt that balance. For instance, antibiotics are wonderful when they are needed, but they kill ALL the bacteria in your body, not just the bad stuff. A good probiotic can replenish the good bacteria. Acidophilus in particular is a good daily probiotic, and it ATTACKS yeast.

While I was pregnant with my daughter I had a yeast infection that lasted for four months. I had trouble getting it diagnosed, I tried many natural remedies, over the counter and prescriptions. NOTHING WORKED. Finally I broke down and ordered a probiotic treatment that is specifically for yeast called Three-Lac. BOOM. GONE. FINITO. It seriously is a miracle product.

[hipmomto3]

I'm not sure where you'd get it around here, but our favorite probiotic is called Udo's. They have an infant variety that is great. My son had a nasty intestinal virus when he was around 9 months old, and had issues with diary forever after that. We tried Culturelle - no luck - but the Udo's did the trick getting his system back into shape.

I've used minced garlic and apple cider vinegar for UTIs. I think it works faster than antibiotics (usually in one day) and doesn't wreak havoc on my whole system. ACV has tons of uses... probably anything you have, it can cure it. :)

Even though buying from online retailers can be cheaper, we should all try to buy from locally owned businesses whenever possible. (Just a little plug for sustainable Evansville!)

[momyshaver]

I'm not sure where you'd get it around here, but our favorite probiotic is called Udo's. They have an infant variety that is great. My son had a nasty intestinal virus when he was around 9 months old, and had issues with diary forever after that. We tried Culturelle - no luck - but the Udo's did the trick getting his system back into shape.

I've used minced garlic and apple cider vinegar for UTIs. I think it works faster than antibiotics (usually in one day) and doesn't wreak havoc on my whole system. ACV has tons of uses... probably anything you have, it can cure it. :)

Even though buying from online retailers can be cheaper, we should all try to buy from locally owned businesses whenever possible. (Just a little plug for sustainable Evansville!)

I am really enjoying all the information in this thread. Thanks for the reminder. :)

[mrsbumpus]

I'm not sure where you'd get it around here, but our favorite probiotic is called Udo's. They have an infant variety that is great. My son had a nasty intestinal virus when he was around 9 months old, and had issues with diary forever after that. We tried Culturelle - no luck - but the Udo's did the trick getting his system back into shape.

I've used minced garlic and apple cider vinegar for UTIs. I think it works faster than antibiotics (usually in one day) and doesn't wreak havoc on my whole system. ACV has tons of uses... probably anything you have, it can cure it. :)

Even though buying from online retailers can be cheaper, we should all try to buy from locally owned businesses whenever possible. (Just a little plug for sustainable Evansville!)


Would Elbert's on Virginia carry anything like this? I love Elbert's.... it's a fun place to get groceries.