It's that time of year again. School has started, chilly weather is creeping in and with it comes a multitude of germs. They take the form of colds, flus, fevers and sore throats.
Just this past week Hannah & I had a cold while Samuel had a fever for a day and a half. Thankfully I had researched and found some valuable information on natural home remedies so we were prepared. I love home remedies because they don't involve trips to the doctors office, unnecessary chemicals and considering that most of them aren't ingested, they're not going to hurt your child. You probably have everything you need in your pantry - garlic and olive oil.
Here a few of my favorite remedies and medicines:
Colds: For colds I use the garlic press. You just peel a clove of garlic and crush it into a paper towel. Fold the paper towel, with the garlic inside, and run it under hot water. Squeeze all of the excess water out of the p. towel and then apply to the sole of the foot for 60 seconds. I do each foot for 60 seconds each.
Chest Congestion: Repeat the instructions for the garlic press but this time place the paper towel on your chest for 90 seconds.
Ear Infections: Crush a clove of garlic into a tablespoon of olive oil. You can heat it in the microwave until the oil is warm (but don't get it too hot because that will not help the ear). Strain the garlic out of the oil. Rub oil around the outside of the ear and around the lymph nodes. Also, put a small drop or two in your ear three times a day.
Sore Throat: Do the garlic press and apply it to your neck and the soles of your feet.
Fever: There's not really a natural remedy for fevers. I use Motrin and give luke-warm bathes. I don't bundle my kids up but dress them lightly and cover them with a blanket if they're cold. I will do the garlic press on their feet just as a precautionary measure.
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With everything I give my children a teaspoon of raw honey each morning and each evening. There are so many health benefits of honey that we actually use it for everything! We eat it on as many foods as we can, I put honey on burns and cuts and we use it as a vitamin when we're sick.
Also, to alleviate the systems of a cold, I give Hannah & Samuel Hyland's Homeopathic Cold'n Cough 4 Kids. You can give it to your two year old (but not younger than two). My kids love it! You can buy it at most pharmacies but we get it at Wal Mart because it's cheaper there.
I promise these remedies work. I use them any time we're sick and they have shortened our illnesses by days. A cold normally lasts two to three days in our house!
Useful links:
