Our Natural Medicine Cabinet
Our Natural Medicine Cabinet
This is probably the topic that I talk to people most about in private messages online. As a mom, we all know it’s the worst when your kids are sick. It’s stressful, you hate seeing them in pain and then add in the logistics of work and family life and all that. It’s A LOT. However I do have to say that it’s often in these moments that I soak in all the cuddles and reflect on how lucky I am to be their mom.
Taking care of our bodies is a fulltime job and truthfully a 360 approach is always best starting with the fundamentals of proper sleep, nutrition & daily movement. With our family we are very mindful of sugar consumption (especially when sick) but preventatively as well. The kids sleep 10-12 hours every night, with the kids under 4 napping daily for 2 hours. For daily movement, we are outside minimum once per day and sometimes hours on end to absorb as much Vit D as possible and move our bodies.
Since becoming a mom over 5 years ago, I have been on the hunt for the best approach to wellness for our family. We are always trying new approaches and products to help keep our bodies healthy and strong. I do think preventation (keeping your immune system as strong as possible) is the best approach to preventing illness. Please note this is not medical advice but simply sharing the tools we use in our house to tackle illness. We believe there is a time and place for “the doctor” but often contact them as the last resort and treat most things at home with the following tools we have grown to love. We highly believe in the body's natural ability to fight infection and disease and do everything we can to support our bodies to do so!
Here is a list of the things we have encountered as a family so far and the protocol we have followed with success! No need to feel overwhelmed with the following information. You can just slowly start to add to your medicine cabinet when necessary and build as you go!
Ear Pain/Infection
St. Francis Garlic Muellin Ear Drops
doTERRA Essential Oils; Oregano behind ear on scalp area, Tea Tree on front part of ear (not inside)
Warm Compress
Vit C/Zinc
Cough & Colds & Flu
Vit C Abscorbic Acid : Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant in times of illness and we can take it to bowel tolerance. I often give my kids 1000g a day when sick versus their 250g daily vitamin.
doTERRA Essential Oil Roller Bottles: Easy Air on chest, Oregano on palms of feet, Onguard up and down the spine (apply 3-5x per day)
Helixia Prospan Cough Medicine: A natural cough medicine that we have been using for years.
Elderberrry Syrup: Elderberry syrup is known as a powerful cold preventative and remedy. Just one cup of berries contains about 40% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C and a great source of antioxidants.
Magnesium Flake Bath: 2x per day when sick. Magnesium is needed for literally all cellular functions within the body and a bath is a great way to get this into your bloodstream fast!
Glutamine: Glutamine is often one of the first things I personally reach for when I feel sickness coming on. It helps increase white blood cell production and supports your immune system. I mix a scoop into shakes/orange juice for both the kids. Truthfully a secret weapon in fighting illness (at least in our house!)
Burns/Scrapes
Lavendar and Frankincense Essential Oil
Colloidal Silver: Colloidal Silver has the benefit in reducing or preventing infections, including topical application for burns and wounds. (I have sprayed this on all parts of bodies, inside eyes, on top of infected cuts, etc)
Upset Tummy
Peppermint Tea: make a pot and serve warm, I find this is a great habit to start young. We often do this more in winter months but now our kids actually ask for it.
doTERRA Essential Oils Roller Bottle: Digest Zen on Tummy
Bone Broth: You can learn to make your own, or my favourite brand is Bonafide Provisions. This is something highly nutritious and soothing for days where you may not be eating much.
Activated Charcoal: Activated charcoal binds to toxins and helps flush them out of the body. The adults can take capsules and you can mix into applesauce for kids. My kids will take it mixed in a sippy cup of OJ too.
Constipation
Castor Oil: rub 1 tablespoon around belly button
doTERRA Essential Oils Roller Bottle: Digest Zen on Tummy
Teething
Natural Amber Teething Bead Necklace: Amber Teething Beads release succinic acid which is a natural anti-inflammatory and I swear by these and recommend and often gift to new moms! Once I start to notice baby teething (knawing on hands, lots of drooling), I put around their neck. I personally leave on 24/7 (at night and during bath).
doTERRA Essential Oils: Lavender + Copaiba along the jaw line
Wet cold cloth: rolled up in a burrito and placed in freezer: Cold for baby to chew on
Fever
Lots of Rest, Cuddles & TV
doTERRA Peppermint Essential Oil: a drop mixed with coconut oil rubbed onto the nape of neck and back can help cool their body
doTERRA Onguard Essential Oil Roller: up and down spine
doTERRA Oregano Essential Oil Roller: on palms of feet
Warm Magnesium Baths
*We do not typically give a fever reducer unless we are day 3 of a fever. Most often times than not, I notice the fever gone by end of day 2. Acetominophen can deplete antioxidant glutathione which the body needs to heal. The kids show typical signs of fever being really sluggish and irritable but we do everything to get them through the day. We also let them sleep with us when they are sick (and I swear this helps!) If they absolutely need it for the sake of sleep and pain we would give dye-free ibuprofen. For reference sake only; both Roxie (4) and Eden (2) have never in their life had fever reducing medication.
UTI/Bladder Infections
Apple Cider Vinegar: Sitz Bath in Apple Cider Vinegar (2-3 times daily), 1 1/2 Cup per bath
High dose of Vitamin C
Lots of Fluids/Cut All Sugar
D-Mannose: Supplement: Break apart capsule and mix into a drink for kids or unsweetened applesauce
Coconut Oil: Coconut Oil Directly on Privates
Pure Cranberry Juice (if you can get them to drink it)
I hope this helps as you begin or continue your journey on living your healthiest life. Health is truly an ongoing journey.
The links above may be affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission. I only recommend what our family personally loves and uses. Thank you!
If you are interested in learning more about doTERRA essential oils, I am a wellness consultant and have a huge love and appreciation for what oils can do to help support our bodies and more than happy to help support you while you learn and grow with oils. They are an extremely powerful healing tool for our bodies and I am ever grateful for them.
Here is the link to our store if you are interested doTERRA Oils Store
Cheering for you and your babies!
Alicia XO
