Natural remedies for Traveling with Kids June 24, 2009

Whether you’re camping, heading to the beach, or staying close to home this summer, you’ll want to know about these natural remedies for kids (and adults too!).

Sunburn:

1. Mix 1 drop of lavendar essential oil per tablespoon of aloe vera gel and apply to burned areas.

2. For a full-body burn, combine 2 cups of baking soda with 10 drops of lavendar essential oil in a tepid/cool bath and soak for 20 minutes. Apply a soothing hypoallergenic body lotion to skin afterwards to seal in moisture.

Bug Bites:
1.    Prevent bug bites with a homemade bug spritzer:
•    2 drops each: Essential Oils of Wintergreen, Citronella, Cedarwood, Peppermint, and Lemongrass.
•    Mix with ½ cup distilled water and ¼ cup almond oil (or other yummy oil) and put in a spritzer bottle.
2.    If stung, remove stinger with credit card or fingernail and apply ice quickly to prevent swelling and spread of toxins.  If wheezing or dramatic swelling occurs, call 911 immediately.
3.    Apply lavendar essential oil topically (undiluted, 1 drop)
4.    If itching occurs, combine ¼ cup of witch hazel extract with 20 drops of peppermint essential oil and 20 drops of lavendar essential oil and apply as needed with a cotton ball.

Cuts/Bruises:
1.    If the injured area is bruised, apply arnica gel or cream there 2-3 x’s day until the bruised sensation is getting better.  Can also do homeopathic arnica acutely.
2.    If the injured area is bleeding/open, clean the area thoroughly with soap and water.  Apply calendula salve 2x’s/day until a scab forms, then you can apply comfrey salve and arnica gel to continue the healing process.  Never apply arnica or comfrey to an open wound.

More Naturopathic travel tips: Cha-cha-cha. June 17, 2009

Diarrhea:  the runs, the Hershey’s squirts, the Aztec tw0-step, Montezuma’s revenge, the trots—whatever your name for it is, you need to be prepared when you travel.  Diarrhea is the number one ailment affecting travelers!  The best treatment here is prevention because traveler’s diarrhea can be difficult to treat.  A few things to remember, especially if traveling in areas where the water quality is uncertain:
•    Avoid seafood in inland areas
•    Carry wet wipes to wipe hands before eating
•    For vegetables, cook them, boil them, peel them, or don’ t eat them
•    Carry a water bottle with a carbon filter or sterilizer in it
•    Order meat well-done
•    Use filtered/bottled water for everything (even brushing teeth)
To prevent traveler’s diarrhea:
1.    Tincture*** of 1 part each: dandelion root, hops, catnip, chamomile, and artemesia taken 30 drops before each meal
***Caution: this tincture should not be ingested by pregnant or lactating women.  Instead, include the following two suggestions:
2.    Betaine HCl: 2 capsules taken before each meal
3.    Lactobacillus acidophilus: 1-2 capsules taken 20 minutes before each meal with a cup of water
4.    The use of antibiotics is controversial.  With rest and conservation of energy, most cases clear up within 5 days.  Consider antibiotic use under the following circumstances:
•    Stool analysis confirms bacterial cause
•    Blood mixed in with diarrhea or high fever
•    Symptoms continue for greater than 48 hours without sign of improvement
•    Passing of greater than 6 stools in 24 hours
•    If you are completely unable to stop, rest and recuperate during your travels.

If you think you may have a bacterial or parasitic infection (blood in stool, high fever, worsening symptoms, and very frequent bowel movements), proceed to the nearest hospital or urgent care clinic.   Next week’s topic: Naturopathic first aid!

Staying healthy on a budget. March 4, 2009

For some time now, I’ve been wanting to address how Naturopathic medicine is the way to go in these times of economic hardship.  The type of medicine I practice relies on the healing power of nature and the wisdom of the  body’s innate ability to heal itself.

We have to get back to the basics of eating simply, living simply, enjoying time outside, and loving what we do.  This, my friends, is how we improve quality of life even when times are tough.  This is naturopathic medicine.

I came across an article today in the NY times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/health/03brod.html?_r=1&ref=health

It gives a number a solid recommendations on how to alter your grocery shopping list to save money, but eat healthy.  It’s so important that we don’t let this economy prevent us from achieving our health goals.  Otherwise, we end up paying the price later as a result of having made the unhealthy choices.

I challenge each of you to make one change this week in the following areas:

1. save money at the grocery store by choosing a healthy meal

2. save money by finding something fun to do IN NATURE (it’s free!) rather than spending money on going out

3. Get back in touch with someone you want to spend time with, or find time to do something you love to do.

I’ll post what I did this week to rise to the challenge, and I welcome you to comment here as well.  Let yourself be an inspiration to others!

Knitting with purpose. February 18, 2009

Check out this article from the BBC today:

It turns out that knitting, amongst other things, can actually prevent you from developing dementia.  I love to knit, try to do the crossword puzzle at least once a week, and we play a lot of Scrabble at home too.  Keeping your brain active keeps you protected from early-onset memory loss.   So grab those needles, pens, or puzzles, and stay healthy!