Natural remedies (that work!) for common childhood illnesses January 31, 2008

Forget remedies so toxic that you need a doctor’s prescription to regulate their intake (i.e. antibiotics), and trips to the doctor’s office where your already-weakened child will be exposed to the latest, scary bugs floating around.  Treat illness at home naturally, says Sarah Pope.

In the latest volume of “Weston Price’s Wise Traditions: In Food, Farming and the Healing Art”, Sarah Pope, a doctor’s daughter, mother of three, and expert in traditional remedies, encourages parents to have the confidence to be the primary care giver of their children, and to tred the path of modern medicine selectively and wisely.

A summary of her advice is presented here:

EAR INFECTIONS:

Childhood ear infections are intimately tied to diet–the diet of both the child and the breastfeeding mother, if the child is still nursing.  If, despite your best efforts, an ear infection occurs, a warm wheat bag (fabric pouch filled with plain, unground wheat kernels) on the ear provides enormous pain relief.  Before applying it to the ear, microwave it with 1/2 cup of water for a minute or two so that it becomes just hot to the touch.  Then apply it to the child’s ear to relieve pain.  Drops of olive oil provide relief, too, if you can get your child to sit still long enough to apply them.  While ear candles don’t actually clean out the ear, as is claimed, they do serve the good purpose when ear infections appear of blowing warm smoke into the ear, helping to dry out any moisture that may be contributing to the infection.

HEADACHES: 

Headaches often occur when blood sugar is low, so for preventative measures ensure that your child receives three solid meals a day full of protein and animal fat.  Avoid sugar and MSG, as both of these will cause headaches.

Dehydration, too, is a common cause.  So make sure your kids are hydrated!  Coconut water, kombucha and other fermented drinks are the best way to rehydrate, even better than water!  If none of these beverages are available then help your child drink two 4-oz. cups of water every thirty minutes until the headache clears.

Green tea, has been found to relieve headaches too, but should be given only as a last resort, for caffeine should not be given to children on a regular basis.

FEVERS:

Fevers play a beneficial role in your child’s health.  The ideal fever holds between 102 and 103 degrees.  An extremely high fever (over104 degrees) can be a dangerous situation for a young child, and a doctor’s advice is recommended.)  For fevers under 104 degrees, Ms. Pope recommends “honoring your child’s fever,” and allowing it to do its work.

Fevers slow down pathogens.  The bacteria or virus causing the illness cannot replicate as fast in this environment.  Bringing the fever down, suppresses the immune system and allows the illness-causing agent to multiply.  Furthermore, studies show that the forced reduction of fever puts your child at risk for a secondary infection.

If the fever is over 103 degress then steps should be taken to bring the fever down.  Food, if the child will accept it, naturally lowers a temperature within 20 minutes and will last for an hour or two.  A cool water enema, available at your local pharmacy for $10, will effectively, and naturally bring your child’s temperature down by a degree or two.

High fevers (104 – 105 degrees) aren’t dangerous by themselves, but they can increase your child’s risk for dehydration, and low blood sugar, which can lead to convulsions.  Giving your child 50% diluted fresh fruit juice will help to keep your child hydrated and his/her blood sugar within the normal range.  Administering 4 oz. of juice rectally using a bulb syringe, if you child will not accept juice orally, may just save your child a trip to the emergency room.

Drops of cod liver oil under the tongue will also help you child restore his/her levels of Vitamin A that dropped during the fever.

STOMACH ACHE:

Slippery elm tincture (available at health food stores) mixed with water relieves stomach aches, and gas, in about 10 minutes!   Also, a wheat bag or warm bath is sooth an aching stomach.

VOMITING:

After vomiting commences, don’t give your child water, food, or liquid for two hours, or as long as you can wait.  The child’s stomach needs to rest after vomiting and administering anything can trigger another episode, prolonging the torture and endangering your child of dehydrating.  If your child is really thirsty then you may allow them to suck on ice cubes, or as with a fever you can administer 50% diluted fresh fruit juice rectally with a bulb syringe.

DIARRHEA:

Chicken broth is the best at relieving diarrhea, for the gelatin helps to bind up the liquid in the colon.  Administer it a few tablespoons at time intermittently over the course of a few hours.

PINK EYE:

Frequent pink eye may be a sign of vitamin A deficiency, so give your children daily doses of cod liver oil as a matter of prevention.  Once pink eye appears, then a drop or two of raw milk in each eye will help to fight the infection.  Raw milk (breastmilk, included) has natural anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

CHICKEN POX:

Let the fever and illness run its course.  Relieve itching in a baking soda bath.  Use a 1-lb. box per bath!

SORE THROAT:

Gargle repeatedly with hot salt water or hot water with honey and slices of ginger.  Chicken broth and cod liver oil are essential in treating sore throats efficiently.

The goal of home remedies, Ms. Pope reminds us in this article, is not to stop the symptoms, but rather to reduce their severity so that the body can exercise it’s immune system and fight illness naturally.  This will make your child stronger for the next illness.  As she says, “if you always give your body a crutch, it is always going to expect one…..Let the body do the work itself.”

Sarah Pope cautions, however, that not all illnesses should be treated from home.  A doctor’s evaluation should be sought out immediately for trauma, extremely high fevers (over 104 degrees), and trouble breathing.