Herbs, Home Remedies, and Homeopathic Healing

It's been a journey that started with a dad who ate raw garlic when he was sick and a friend who recommended squirting breastmilk in my newborn's infected eye.  How that journey has progressed is a long story, a book in itself, and I'll save it for another cup of coffee.  But since I give a lot of suggestions to people about dealing with common ailments at home, and have found a few really amazing remedies, I thought I would make them easy to access all in one place.

   

Arnica: comes in a cream, gel, salve or homeopathic tablet that dissolves under the tongue. All are safe for infants.  Arnica in its natural form, a flower, should not be taken orally, however.  Arnica is AMAZING for

• bruising
• sore muscles
• tissue healing (sprains, strains, ligament tears, cartilege tears, broken bones, etc)
• hemerrhoids

 or make your own salve...

*Arnica should not be used topically on open wounds.


Magnesia Phosphorica: homeopathic tablet that helps with

• menstrual cramps (very quick and effective)
• other muscle cramps
• dehydration headaches
• hiccups

Garlic:  taken raw it has anti-biotic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-oxidant properties.  Chop finely, toss with oil, and swallow a small spoon of the pieces whoel with water.  If taken 3 times a day at the beginning of cold symptoms the cold may not develop at all or may be very short-lived. our colds last about 3 days.  Take for all immune-boosting.

For Cough: Lobelia capsules are anti-spasmodic and expectorant, meaning they calm a cough while allowing you to cough up the junk.  A cap is 50 mg.  Taken in a 350 mg dosage it is an emitic, meaning it can cause vomiting.  Children's doses should be less, according to weight.  I open a capsule and mix with honey, then give half to smaller kids.  Not for infants.

Slippery Elm and Flax seed can be made into tea for a spasm/irritated cough that is not productive.  Flax is easier to find and tastes better.  A strong tea will sooth a cough, even whooping cough.   

Make sure to take garlic and vit C as well.

For Colds: garlic, Vit C (squeeze lemons and limes and add honey, or take a supplement, essential oils

  

Essential Oils (I use NOW oils):

blend 10-20 drops to 1 tsp of carrier oil like oilive, coconut or almond. Test on a small area and add more carrier oil if needed

• cough blend: lavendar, thyme (or oregano or rosemary), eucalyptus (tea tree can be subbed if needed), pine (or cedar)
• cold and fever blend: the same minus pine, tea tree will work equally well for cold and fever
• teething blend: clove oil (don't use full strength)
• sleep: lavendar massage or a drop on pillow
• alertness: peppermint --inhale

  

Plantain Salve: contains common plantain, comfrey, calendula, and lavendar (sometimes chickweed).  use topically for ALL skin healing. Use like neosporin for wounds and infections, works better.  

• burn
• sunburn
• cuts, scrapes, wounds, even deep ones
• any topical infection (if no improvement in 24 hours you may need antibiotics)
• diaper rash 
• eczema
• dry skin
• bug bites and stings (doesn't relieve itch--just pain, swelling)
• bruises (although arnica is better, use plantain for a combo bruise and open wound)

Diarrhea: probiotics, BRAT diet (banaas, Rice, apple sauce, toast), +oatmeal, slippery elm or flax tea coats stomach and relieves cramping, homeopathic tablet Arsenicum Album is fast relief

Nausea and vomiting:

  

    MINT: unexplained nausea is often caused by gas and bloating and can be relieved with mint tea, chewing mint leaf, eating mint candy made with REAL MINT OIL (altoids), or drinking water with a drop of mint extract.  Expect to burp.  If vomiting is inevitable anyways, this will speed it.

    Ipecacuanha: a homeopathic tablet that sometimes eases or stop vomiting and nausea

Flu: During flu season we take elderberry syrup once daily as a preventative.  If we suspect symptoms we increase dosage to multiple times a day.  Elderberry has been shown in clinical trials to shorten and ease symptoms of flu more effectively than Tamiflu.

       Oscillococcinum: a homeopathic tablet that is extremely effective against the flu if taken int he first 24 hours of symptoms.  Keep it onhand during flu season.

*These are recommendations that work when one is generally a healthy person. Sometimes chronic stomach issues or cold symptoms or coughs or headaches can have an underlying cause in a food sensitivity or poor immunity.  Another we do for overall health is Fermented Cod Liver Oil, and we highly recommend it.  IT reversed our son's tooth decay, after 4 dentists said it wasn't possible. More info on healthy eating can be found on www.westonaprice.org .