I work in the medical field, but that does not mean that I am drinking the kool-aid (so to speak). While I think there is a very important role that Allopathic Medicine plays in our modern world, I do not think it is the answer for every illness. You sever a limb, go to the emergency room. Your develop a cough, or a cold…..maybe there are a few natural remedies you can try first before going to the doctor and starting on antibiotics. I have tried all of the natural remedies out there and I am very happy to report that my kids have never been on antibiotics, not even once!
But this can all be very confusing for parents, which remedy to try and when to toss the herbs/garlic/tonic and just plain head to the emergency room. Well, here is my general rule of thumb: look at your child (or anyone who is ill) and treat what you see. Go with your gut. Parents a lot of times “just know” when something is very wrong. Don’t try to treat something yourself at home if you think your child or family member is very very ill.
Call your health care provider if you are unsure or if any of these symptoms are present:
not drinking fluids (dehydration is bad and can quickly turn grave, especially in small people…kids)
excessive vomiting or diarrhea (this leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances)
fever >104* F (even lower than that in very small babies)
excessive sleepiness, unable to arouse
uncontrolled bleeding (call 911!)
confusion or personality changes
infection that is spreading (you see a red line running up the body, stemming from the wound)
foul smell or discharge that does not look right
intense uncontrolled/unrelieved pain
….you get the picture, if it seems like an emergency or if your gut feeling is that the situation is bad, then go to your health care provider and seek assistance immediately!
If the symptoms are common colds, or anything that I have categorized below then try some of these remedies on for size. This post is not meant to be taken as direct medical advice. I put together this remedy round-up to help people find their way around the typical pharmaceutical remedies for everything. We do not need to be taking so many antibiotics! Let’s do a little prevention here and not so much symptomatic management (pharmaceutical band-aids). Healthy kids are so important. I know the health of my children is the most important thing in my life.
I’d like to start with a few of my remedies and methods to combat illness.
Prevention
I make Elderberry Syrup and give a spoonful to my kids every morning during the winter months
Get the recipe HERE
Detoxification
We need to have a properly functioning detoxification system in order to have a properly functioning immune system. This is why I think routine detoxification is important. While the methods I have listed below are not really appropriate for children, I do think variations can be made for them. For example, instead of the ginger in the Ultimate Detox Bath post, have your child sip on bone broth and take a bath with a smaller dose of epsom salts. Incorporate the detoxifying foods in the Liver Cleansing Detox Smoothie recipe into the child’s food. Make them a smoothie with beets, carrots and apples…something they will actually drink!
The Ultimate Detox Bath is something that I do regularly to help get toxins out of my body!
Get the instructions HERE
I routinely drink my Liver Cleansing Detox Smoothie to give my detoxifying organs a boost!
Get the recipe HERE
The essentials that I always have on hand:
Netti Pot (to irrigate the sinuses)
Manuka Honey (for it’s medicinal benefits)
Hot water bottle (to ease aches and pains)
Thieves Essential Oil (to rub on little feet at the first signs of an illness)
Coconut Oil (see the recipes below for all of the amazing uses for coconut oil!)
Epsom Salts (for baths)
And now, here is my collection of DIY remedies. On with the show……
Boost Your Immunity:
Thump Your Thymus Gland by Learning and Yearning
Garlic Syrup (get your kids to eat more garlic) by Growing Up Herbal
#1 Herb To Have On Hand During Winter Months by Growing Up Herbal
Boost Your Immune System This Winter by Growing Up Herbal
Winter Detox, Brain, and Immune Boosting Cold Remedy by Earth Friendly Goodies
How to Make Raw Medicinal Honey with Ginger and Rose-hips by Earth Friendly Goodies
Will You Get Sick This Flu Season: 6 Steps to Build Your Immune System by Fooduciary
7 Natural Remedies for Children by DIY Natural
10 Foods Your Body Needs to Fight Off Cold and Flu Season by Whole Green Love
Nature’s Antibiotic: Honey as a Healer by Health Nut Nation
Colds:
My Date With Mr. Hot Toddy: A Natural Cold Fighting Remedy by Earth Friendly Goodies
Hey, Who Stole My Cold? Thieves Oil Strikes Again by Earth Friendly Goodies
Home Remedies for a Cold by Kelly the Kitchen Kop
Honey and Cinnamon: A Simple Cold Home Remedy that Kids Love! by Health, Home & Happiness
The Only Cure I Need for the Common Cold by Butter Believer
10 Natural Home Remedies for Colds by Happy Mothering
5 Foods to Fight a Cold Without Medicine by Our Heritage of Health
The Flu:
Natural Remedies for the Flu by Real Food Forager
3 Steps to Getting A Head Start On Flu Season (video) by Growing Up Herbal
Try a Cup of Elderberry Tea for Colds and Flu by Earth Friendly Goodies
No Flu ‘Tea’ by Homemade Mommy
Flu Prevention and Cultured Veggies by Nourished Kitchen
Flu Remedies by OhLardy!
How We Use Essential Oils to Fight Colds and Flu by The Prairie Homestead
Natural Cold and Flu Remedy by DIY Natural
Plague Tonic: A Safe Flu Shot Alternative by 20 Something Allergies
Natural Remedies: Master Tonic Recipe by Happy Mothering
Shoo Flu Tonic by Holistic Squid
The Master Tonic – Natural Flu Antiviral by The Healthy Home Economist
Elderberry Tincture by Love and Wild Honey
Elderberry Syrup Recipe for Cold and Flu Prevention by Holistic Squid
Coconut Milk Tonic Recipe by The Coconut Mama
Cough:
Cough Remedy by Green Boot Living
Natural Cough Remedy by OhLardy!
10 Must Have Ingredients to Help Kids Cough by Growing Up Herbal
How To Decipher a Cough by Growing Up Herbal
Natural Treatment for Whooping Cough by Holistic Squid
Homemade Cough Drops by Nourishing Joy
Honey and Lemon Cough Syrup with Coconut Oil by The Coconut Mama
7 Ways to Calm a Cough Naturally by Kids Love Accupuncture
Homemade Cough Syrup by Nourishing Joy
Homemade Garlic Salve for Coughs & Colds by The Elliott Homestead
SSKI: The Best Cough Expectorant You’ve Never Tried by The Healthy Home Economist
4 Ways to Treat Croup at Home by Our Nourishing Roots
Six Natural Ways to Treat Croupy Cough by Kids Love Accupuncture
Honey and Lemon Cough Syrup with Coconut Oil by The Coconut Mama
Congestion:
DIY All Natural Vapor Rub by The Mommypotamus
The Netti Pot
8 Natural Remedies When Your Baby is Congested by The Mommypotamus
Strep Throat & Sore Throats:
Strep Throat Remedy by Green Boot Living
How To Help Your Child Manage A Sore Throat by Growing Up Herbal
DIY Herbal Cough Drops: Sore Throat Remedy by 20 Something Allergies
Homemade Herbal Throat Lozenges by DIY Natural
Herbal Spotlight: Plaintain (and Sore Throat Soothing Tea Recipe) by Shalom Mama
My Favorite Sore Throat Recipe by Healthy Green Kitchen
DIY Herbal Cough Drops: Sore Throat Remedy by 20 Something Allergies
Earaches:
Earache Remedy by Green Boot Living
Natural Earache Remedy by The Natural Singer
Garlic Ear Oil by Health, Home & Happiness
Natural Remedies for Ear Infections by Mommypotamus
Treating Ear Infections Without Antibiotics by Holistic Squid
How to Treat Ear Infections Naturally by Shalom Mama
Action Hero Moms Treat Ear Infections Naturally by The Healthy Home Economist
Fast and Easy Remedy for Swimmers Ear by The Healthy Home Economist
Silver for Ear Infections & More! by The Elliott Homestead
How I Cured My Son’s Ear Infection… Naturally by Healthy Roots, Happy Soul
Stomach Upset:
How To Help an Upset Stomach Naturally by DIY Natural
Tummy Trouble Tea: A Natural Remedy for an Upset Stomach by Measuring Flower
Fevers:
Fevers 101 by Growing Up Herbal
For Clued-in Moms, Fever is a Friend by The Healthy Home Economist
Lemon Socks for a Fever by The Holistic Squid
5 Ways to Treat a Fever Naturally by The Mommypotamus
How to Bring a Fever Down Naturally by Natural Family Today
Pink Eye:
Natural Remedies for Pink Eye by Holistic Squid
Pinkeye: A Fast and Easy Home Remedy by The Healthy Home Economist
Allergies:
Allergy Remedy by Green Boot Living
Allergy & Cold Remedies by The Natural Singer
Nine Natural Remedies for Allergies by Thank Your Body
Treating Seasonal Allergies With Vitamin D by Food Renegade
Wound Care:
How to Make a Bread Poultice by Natural Family Today
Simple All Purpose Salve- Coconut Oil and Beeswax by Health, Home & Happiness
Natural Herbal Healing Ointment Recipe by DIY Natural
My Herbal Salve by Amazing Graze Farm
How to Make a Pain Relieving Salve by Real Food Outlaws
Making a Poultice by Growing Up Herbal
Using Borage Poultice for Blisters by Natural Family Today
Rashes:
Natural Remedy for Hives (Urticaria) by The Healthy Home Economist
Here’s and Herb Combo That Takes the Itch out of Itchy Rashes by Growing Up Herbal
Natural Remedies for Diaper Rash by Holistic Squid
Calendula Balm for Dry Skin and Diaper Rash by Shalom Mama
Homemade All-natural Oatmeal Diaper Rash Cream by Measuring Flower
Burns & Sunburns:
Burns by Growing Up Herbal
How to Heal a Sunburn Overnight with Two Simple Ingredients by Butter Believer
Natural Sunburn Remedies by Thank Your Body
Sunburn Spray by The Prairie Homestead
Poison Ivy & Bug Bites:
Fast and Effective Mosquito Bite Remedy (That’s Probably Already in Your Kitchen) by The Healthy Home Economist
Homemade Calamine Lotion by Real Food RN (me!)
BONUS Remedies:
30 Homemade, Natural Cold & Flu Remedies from Girl Meets Nourishment
A Round-up of Natural Cold & Flu Remedies by OhLardy!
I hope you have found this collection to be a useful resource for the health of your family. I am always open to new tried-and-true remedies so please share yours in the comments below. In good health!
This post is part of: Wildcrafting Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Thank Your Body Thursdays, The HomeAcre Hop, Unprocessed Fridays, Farm Girl Friday, Little House Fridays, Weekend Potluck
The post 100+ DIY Remedies for Colds, Flu & Everything Else! appeared first on Real Food RN.