Allergies
Q. I appreciate you doing this eMag for us. I look forward to future issues and will pass the word along about it. Hopefully you can help me. I have a 5 year son who is an explosive sneezer who keeps a stuffy nose most of the year. He is so stuffy right now that he has to eat with his mouth open to be able to breathe. Consequently he gulps air and burps a lot. Not much helps when trying to teach table manners. I use Pantothenic acid to try to help dry him up some, as well as Vitamin C tablets. Ephedra has a tendency to make him irritable. He has been diagnosed as having allergies and put on Flonase nasal spray, a new steroid nasal product. What herbs would be safe to give him, on a regular basis, to help control the sneezing and drainage?
I told a friend about the Cramp bark since she had been confined to bed for contractions this being her 5th month of pregnancy. The local herbalist didn't have any, but recommended another herb to her, which has controlled her contractions and she is doing very nicely now.
Pama
A. For herbal help for allergies, have you tried freeze-dried nettles? I get mine from Eclectic Institute and take 4-6 daily as an adult. Adjust his dosage according to his body weight. I also use Quercezyme from Enzymatic Therapy, 2 capsules taken 30 minutes before each meal (www.enzy.com). A new formula I recently found was Aller-Aid by Nature’s Plus (their HerbalActives line of products, www.naturesplus.com). I find it particularly helpful for my airborne allergies and safe for long-term use. We’ve found that the Tri-Light Herb formula NR Glow works wonderfully well for allergies. If your son cannot take capsules, their liquid nettles is great for daily help. We also give my daughter with asthma a daily dose of ginkgo biloba TincTractTM from Tri-Light (www.trilightherbs.com). Ginkgo inhibits platelet activating factor (PAF), which is a part of the asthma episode process. Do you work at reducing allergens in the home: mattress and pillow covers (or putting them into the dryer daily to kill dust mites), liquid detergent, HEPA air filter for his room, HEPA filter on vacuum or a HEPA vacuum cleaner, etc.? I might also use some Red Root to help increase lymphatic drainage as well as have him jump on a mini-trampoline daily to get his lymph system working efficiently. Dr. Mary Ann Block’s video, Treating Respiratory and Ear Infections Without Antibiotics is an excellent instructional aid for parents wanting to learn how to do effective lymphatic massage in the home (www.theblockcenter.com).
Dairy Allergy and Alternatives A Tip from a Naturally Healthy reader
Q. Maria was wondering if she was getting enough calcium. Congratulations, Maria! I was 41 when I gave birth to my sixth baby 3 years ago. Regarding non-dairy calcium sources, I just thought I'd share a few bits of information my daughter collected for one of the newsletters she edits for her wholefoods penpal club.
You probably grew up, as I did, being told to "drink your milk" and "eat your meat." Fortunately, there are alternatives so that you can get the two *nutrients* those statements were focusing on -- calcium and protein.
Calcium is found in dark green veggies; however, oxalic acid which is found in spinach, rhubarb, chard and beet greens, binds with calcium and reduces absorption.
Some non-dairy sources are: collard greens, sesame seeds, soybeans, tempeh, tahini, almonds, pinto beans, sardines, pink salmon, "nutmilk", and broccoli. Blackstrap molasses and figs also contain calcium, but if you are challenged with candida, you probably want to avoid those two "sweets".
For those who react to the protein alpha S1 casein in cow's milk, goat milk is a possible dairy alternative, because it contains only traces of alpha S1 casein. It is more easily digested than cow's milk, and it has the added benefit of being high in calcium. I even read where you can make a "zucchini milk". Haven't tried it myself, but it is an alternative if you're feeling adventurous.
Caffeine and phosphates found in soft drinks keep one's body from absorbing calcium properly.
Animal protein is high in phosphorus, which can increase calcium loss from the bones. Animal protein creates an acidic condition in the body, and the body attempts to restore balance by taking calcium, an alkaline mineral, from the bones.
Soy protein, found in tofu, does not seem to increase calcium excretion in the same way as protein from animal sources. The amount of calcium in tofu depends on the coagulating agent used to precipitate the soy protein in the process of making tofu. Tofu which is prepared with calcium sulfate will contain more calcium than tofu made with nigari (magnesium chloride).
Other sources are: spinach, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, wheat germ, oatmeal, lentils, kidney beans, cornmeal, eggs, peanut butter, brown rice, soybeans, and shredded wheat.
Browse through your local library for vegetarian cookbooks. They address the issues of calcium and protein and offer creative recipe ideas that I think will meet your candida dietary restrictions at the same time.
Hope this offers you more options!
Pat
A. Pat, share away with one another. We welcome any tips any of you would like to share. Simply e-mail your tip or question to askshonda@naturallyhealthy.org
Allergies - Food?
Q. I was just studying the Naturally Healthy Family Home Study Course and was so happy to see your eMag when I turned on my computer. I must tell you what a blessing your ministry has been to me. When I first started studying herbs, I found it very confusing. The books I read had a lot of terminology I didn't understand, or just weren't practical. God has blessed you with a writing style that is so easy for me to understand! Thank you for all the work you do.
Now for a question…I have a close friend (soon to be family through marriage) that has been sick for a year and a half. The symptoms are that she gets run down easily, is often sick, and has continual rashes and canker sores in her mouth. She has been to doctors who could not diagnose the problem. At last, a homeopathic doctor said it was food allergies. He said she is allergic to wheat, soy, corn, eggs, chicken and many fruits and vegetables. She has drastically altered her diet, but with no lasting improvement. Do you have any suggestions for nutritional support for her body?
Thanks again,
Diane
A. Has she ruled out, by blood tests at her physician’s office, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? I have a friend with this, and some of your friend’s symptoms sound familiar. Immune stimulation with supplements, rest, good diet could be a real help. Some allergy symptoms can occur during episodes in our lives of illness. What was the method of ascertaining the food allergies? An elimination diet is the very best method of diagnosing food allergies. While I would need more specific information about her diet and lifestyle to offer personal recommendations specifically for your friend, some general measures to take to support the body when dealing with allergies and decreased resistance to infection are:
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Rotation Diet Make certain that the diet is varying constantly the foods being ingested. When dealing with food allergies, eating one food or several foods over and over only increases the potential for sensitivity to occur to those foods.
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Nutrient deficiencies? The U.S. RDA for vitamins and minerals is only meant to prevent deficiency diseases, not for the purpose of preventing or relieving diseases in general. Read in Week Nineteen of your NHF Home study Course the Recommended Optimal Nutrient Intake (RONI) levels and check to see if those dosages are being taken in by food or supplements each day.
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Supplements for the Allergy-Prone Person Essential Fatty Acids each day in the form of Flaxseed Oil or Perilla Oil (Entrox by Natural Factors is excellent, www.naturalfactors.com); Vitamin C with bioflavonoids (Quercitin is best for the allergic individual) 1,000 mg daily minimum; and perhaps a product for "Leaky Gut Syndrome" such as LGS by NF Formulas (www.nfformulas.com). For the child with food allergies needing daily supplementation, Blue Green Minerals may be considered (www.trilightherbs.com) as well as Tri-Light Herb’s LivCare formula.
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Specific Immune Support Echinacea taken each day at 500 1,000mg daily for immune stimulation, along with Burdock root (500 1,000mg daily) or Dandelion root (1,000-2,000mg daily) or Milk Thistle (standardized product supplying at least 70% silymarin taken three times daily) for liver support. I might add to that Astragalus at a daily dosage of 1,500mg daily and Licorice root (a deglyzzhrinated licorice product) supplying 500mg daily.
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Specific Support for the Skin and Canker Sores Licorice and Chamomile tea rinsed in the mouth several times daily. Zinc lozenges supplying 23 mg of elemental zinc every 3-4 hours may be considered for supportive therapy up to one week’s duration.
Children’s Health
Acne
Q. A friend asked me last night if I had any suggestions for her son, aged 15, who has problems with acne. I'm sure she's aware of all the obvious foods to avoid, but do you know of anything else that might help? Are there some herbs that could help clear it up? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Kris
A. The herbal programs, DermaKlear by Enzymatic Therapy (www.enzy.com) and AcneStatin, available from SelfCare catalog (www.selfcare.com) are both very good. Tea tree oil used on the acne lesions has been shown to be quite effective for acne. Internal use of burdock root and echinacea taken twice daily for a couple of months with the tea tree topical treatment show good results also. A good diet high in real foods is essential for this problem.
Asthma
Q. I have a 3 year old son who has been diagnosed with asthma. He doesn't have asthma attacks, per se, more like coughing fits. It is worse at night. I have been given a nebulizer to use with medication, which does help to ease the coughing. However, it also changes my son’s behavior. He is more aggressive and angry when on this medicine...like Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.
I was wondering if there are any natural remedies I might try that might help to ease asthma symptoms (in our case, the main symptom is coughing with some wheezing). It could not be in pill form, because I couldn't get him to swallow that yet...I am not familiar with tinctures, liquid supplements, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Blessings,
Dawn
A. I use ginkgo biloba TincTract by Tri-Light Herbs preventively for my daughter with asthma. She also has the cough variant type of asthma that is more like coughing "fits" than wheezing. We also avoid her triggers, nebulize her with Cromolyn Sodium in the spring (her "hot" time) on a daily basis, have given her lobelia, in small doses, during an attack as well as ephedra, also in small dosages. I do not recommend the use of ephedra in children for this purpose, unless you are under the care of a physician well-versed in herbal medicine. Quite frankly, we discovered that treating with the nebulizer early in the coughing "fit" caused fewer nebulizer treatments overall and many times avoided progression to steroid drugs to help open her airways again. Asthma is not an illness to take lightly. The heart has to work very hard to get oxygen to the rest of the cells in our body when our airways are not allowing maximum or much of any air flow. This places the child (or others) at risk for a heart attack, not a mild risk. I work preventively and treat with medication early to reduce use of lots of pharmaceuticals.
Asthma and Pneumonia
Q. I've been enjoying your information. Now I have a couple of questions. My son was just diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and was given Cefzil(antibiotic) Prelone Syrup, and an inhaler. He usually gets
asthma symptoms with any URI, but doesn't have any problems otherwise. This is his second bout, and that time my daughter also got it and ended up in the hospital for 5 days, then on home IV antibiotics for 5 days. Here are my questions:
He had a chest x-ray--anything I can do naturally to counteract this? He had 2 in 1996 also. I stopped the Echinacea/Golden Seal liquid while he's on all this stuff, because I didn't want too many interactions going on. He gets "high" and a little hyper after each dose of Prelone and was hallucinating until I cut the dose back to 1 tsp. per days (was 1 1/2 tsp.) with doctor notification.
In other words, would there be anything you could recommend I give him or do when this is over? We seem to have lots of outside and dust allergy problems, but this had a viral source. With spring, we are all bothered by whatever is in the air. Is there a liquid allergy formula for kids? Could you also recommend a good type vacuum for allergy prone families?? We all get some asthma symptoms with URI, not just my son.
Thanks for your help---boy, do we need it right now!!!
Blessings,
Cathy
SHONDA’S COMMENTS: Boy, do I know what you are feeling. This is the third year that we have not had at least one visit to the ER due to pneumonia and severe asthma. Praise the Lord for strengthening my daughter’s breathing processes!
I think the Blue-Green Minerals or spirulina are great for providing extra nutrition for those who’ve had x-rays with resulting negative effects on the body. Algin is actually supposed to draw radioactive materials from the body via colon, as I’ve read in herb books. I did have one clinical case of a woman who had a hysterosalpingogram that used the algin because other x-rays and dye tests had made her so ill. The algin prevented all of her "radiation" side effects. Just an extra educational note: Echinacea has been used to heal burns caused by radiation therapy in cancer treatment.
I always use echinacea when administering antibiotics to my family due to echinacea’s documented ability to enhance antibiotic activity. Echinacea actually makes your antibiotic more effective and stimulates your own immune system at the same time. What a wonderful herb!
Liquid Nettles Tinctract on a daily basis with ginkgo also for asthma prevention would be my daily regimen for allergy-suffering kiddos. The Al-R-G formula by TriLight is specifically for allergy prevention. You might try that as well.
As for vacuums, you might want to check online for The Allergy Store: any canister, HEPA vacuum is the type allergy-prone families should look for when choosing vacuum cleaners. If this is not within budget, try to at least get the HEPA filter bags for your vacuum cleaner. The big thing with allergies and vacuuming is vacuuming early in the day to allow the "things" stirred up to settle back down before nightfall when most asthma symptoms flare up.
Bedwetting
Q. What do you recommend (if anything) for a nearly 9 year old bedwetter? (He weighs about 60lbs) He has had an interesting pattern of staying dry. He was first consistently dry at nearly 7.5 years old. At that time, he was dry every night for about 7 months. Then, he had a 4 month spell of being wet nearly every night, followed by 6 months of dry nights. Now, we are a week into being wet every night, and sometimes more than once during the night. Before we try DDAVP, I wonder if you have some suggestions. I also wonder if it could be tied to a growth spurt and periods of really deep sleep, because he grew quite a bit last year. I don't know if last year's growth corresponds to the bedwetting period, but this time we are checking. I measured him today, and intend to measure again when the wet night cycle is finished, but in the meantime, I wanted any suggestions you might have. Am I way off base in suspecting a growth spurt?
I appreciate any advice you have. So does my washing machine! :)
Jennifer
A. I’ve not heard of a correlation between bedwetting and growth spurts, but I’ve not researched this area enough to know for certain there is not one. I’ve found food allergies and hypoglycemia to be the most common underlying problems contributing to bedwetting in older children. Identify and eliminate any food allergens. Make certain the diet is high in complex carbohydrates with absolutely no refined foods or sugars after 7:00 p.m. I have long recommended giving a teaspoon of herbal minerals (I like Blue Green Minerals from Tri-Light Herbs, 1-888-HERB-KID or www.trilightherbs.com) combined with 1/2 teaspoon of licorice root TincTract (also from TriLight) 30 minutes before bedtime. This has worked very well for many. You might try allergy products containing the bioflavonoid, Quercitin, as well as the enzyme, bromelain, from raw pineapple and freeze-dried nettles as well as possibly bee pollen if the "wet" times correlate with environmental allergen times of the year. One young man finally found the reason for his bedwetting at age 12 when his mother had him allergy-tested: fast food hamburgers. Those eliminated, dry nights ensued.
Children’s Ear Infections
Q. My 20 month old has been suffering from ear infections for several months. I attempted to treat it with Rhea's Naturecillin, but it didn't work. After two rounds of pharmaceutical antibiotics and still fighting them, someone told me to try the Naturecillin and goldenseal. This seems to be keeping them at bay, but there is still an enormous amount of fluid behind his eardrums. I have learned I must do something about this, as if unchecked, it tends to rebreed infections. I have NO idea what can be used in one so little that can dry out this fluid. If there is something, where can I get it and what dosage for a 26lbs, 20month-old infant? Any ideas would be much appreciated as I do not want to use over-the-counter medications as they may help then only end up causing rebound increased mucous production problems!
May the Lord God Almighty bless you and yours!
In Him, April
A. I have found the TincTracts by Tri-Light Herbs to be the most effective for children, as well as the easiest to get them to take. For recurrent ear infections with much lymphatic fluid build-up, we use for our children in the 25 pound range - ViraMune (1/4 teaspoon 3-4 times daily or every two hours during acute phase of illness) and Lungs Plus (1/4 teaspoon 2-3 times daily) to deal with mucous. Lymphatic massage using the LymphaRub is quite effective to get the stagnant lymph fluid moving. You can reach them at 1-800-HERB-KID or www.trilightherbs.com. Another treatment would be visits to an Osteopathic doctor who still does Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT). If you cannot locate one in your area, I would suggest that you contact The Block Center (Mary Ann Block, D.O.) for her excellent video, "Treating Ear and Respiratory Infections Without Antibiotics" for instructions on how to do the therapy at home (www.blockcenter.com). Once the child is over 3 years of age, you might also consider giving Scout Out 3-4 times daily as well as the ViraMune and Lungs Plus (if needed for coughs).
Colds and Ear Infections
Q. I would like to subscribe to your Naturally Healthy Living eMag. Also, I have a couple of questions. I have 4 children ages 5 ,3 ,2, and 3 months, I am also nursing. I was wondering what you would recommend for them for the coming colds, ear infections, etc. I really need some help since I don't know anything about this, and I want whatever I buy to be the best and SAFE for them and me since I am nursing. What is the best to help ward off or alleviate colds: Echinacea & Thyme, Triple Echinacea & Goldenseal, Scout Out, or ViraMune? I have the Tri-Light catalog, so those are the products I prefer to use for my children. I also would like something that could help prevent the cold from going into the ear, so what is the best for that and/or ear pain?
I so appreciate any help you can give me. I don't want another winter full of antibiotics, but I feel very confused when trying to order these things because I know so little. So any guidance is greatly appreciated! Also, I want to know correct dosages. I don't just want to be guessing on the amount I would be giving them. (someone at Tri-Light said there weren't dosages on the bottle and just to guess, I can't imagine doing that) PLEASE HELP! :)
Thank you VERY,VERY much. I am sure you are very busy so thank you for your time!
Sincerely, Cicely Drummond
A. Well, I’ll tell you what’s in my cabinet at present as we get ready for the winter. Echinacea and Thyme for daily dosing to avoid colds and flu, etc. I give for prevention:
11 year old - 1 teaspoon daily
8 year old - 1 teaspoon daily
6 year old - ½ teaspoon daily
4 year old - ½ teaspoon daily
1 year old - ¼ teaspoon daily. Same dosages for Peppermint and Yarrow for prevention.
If they get the sniffles, I give Viramune to keep the lymph system flowing and immune system stimulated at dosages:
11 and 8 year old - ½ teaspoon every 2 hours
6 and 4 year old - ¼ teaspoon every 2 hours
1 year old - 1 dropperful (1/8 teaspoon) every 2 hours.
If the infection progresses to ear infection, I add either Triple Echinacea and Goldenseal or Scout Out, whatever’s on hand at Viramune dosages above. I also put ear oil made from: garlic oil, tea tree oil, St. John’s Wort oil, Mullein Oil and grapefruit seed extract in glycerin in their ears to relieve pain and fight infection. I perform lymphatic massage on them during colds and other respiratory ills and feed them lightly with plenty of fluids for prevent dehydration.
If they develop a cough, I give either Lungs Plus (wet, mucous-y) or Wild Cherry Coffaway (dry, irritating) at ½ to 1 teaspoon whenever they are coughing a good deal. I do not exceed 4 doses daily for the little ones. And, I have them drink plenty of water, eat lighter foods (fruit, vegetables, light grains, very little if any meat, no dairy) and spicy foods for those that like them.
I prefer the Tri-Light herb formulas due to slow and low-heat processing that releases more of the active components of the herb into the liquid glycerin. My children prefer the Tri-Light over other brands due to greater glycerin content (tastes sweeter), which I like better due to longer storage capabilities without refrigeration. They are also less expensive, a big plus for our big family.
Constipation in Newborns
Q. I have a question about constipation in newborns. I have client who has a 4 month old baby. She has stopped breastfeeding (the cause of the beginning of problems) and has her baby on a soy formula. The regular formulas seem to upset the baby and give colic. But he has a real problem with constipation. He has usually one stool a day, but it is quite hard the consistency of an adult stool. Baby cries and really has a hard time passing the stool - Mom usually has to use a lubricated thermometer to help the baby get started. I had really encouraged her to try to re-establish breastfeeding, but now the baby is to the point that it is refusing the breast. Are there any suggestions for herbal things for a baby this young. He seems to be gaining weight well. I have suggested trying goat's milk instead of formula. Would diluted prune juice be okay to use for a baby this young?
For Healthy Moms & Babes,
Judy Jones, CPM
A. Judy, I do wish mothers could understand how important breastfeeding is to a child. The very best medicine for baby is momma’s milk. Since re-establishing the milk supply is not possible, I, too, would suggest a goat’s milk formula that will have to be personally made up in the home. Diluted prune juice would be okay, although I hesitate to recommend for such a young child. I do not like introducing solid food until babies are at least nine months old; however, this is a different situation. The lubricated thermometer is not a good thing as baby’s body will adjust to "needing" this help, so that he cannot go without it. The LiquiLax or Move E-Z by Tri-Light Herbs is a possibility for use as well as the prune juice. She can try the juice first, then on to Move E-Z or LiquiLax as necessary. I would assume baby is allergic to the soy formula as well since he is having such a difficult time with constipation while using the formula. She definitely needs to look into other formula alternatives. Tri-Light has a website: www.trilightherbs.com to find their herbal products as well as an toll-free number, 1-800-HERB-KID. One of my Naturally Healthy Family Home Study Course graduates, Diane Woehlke, has "tweaked" a goat’s milk formula from a book she once read. You can contact her at herbmednurse@aol.com, and she has graciously agreed to provide you with her recipe!
Diaper Rash Remedies
Q. Does anyone know how to treat severe diaper rash herbally? I started rotating possible treatments today -- applying tea tree oil (in case the source of the rash is fungal), applying a combination garlic/goldenseal/Vit E oil (to combat infection), applying 40,000 IU Vit E/grapeseed/calendula oil (for healing), calendula ointment (for healing), and I even tried applying a mixture of plain yogurt and acidophilus. The rash is red, raised, and bumpy (pimply looking) and a few are turning into open sores. Baby is 2 years old.
I was also wondering how long before you can expect to see results because I made a doctor's appointment for Monday, but I'm not sure if I'm giving these alternative methods enough time to "work". I'm concerned that the doctor will recommend cortisone -- does anyone know of a natural alternative if it comes to that?
Thanks!
Pat
A. Gee, Pat, sounds like you are doing all the right things. I should think that the rash would be better by now. I sometimes make up my own healing ear and boo-boo oil: Equal parts St. John’s Wort, Mullein, Garlic, Tea Tree oil and Grapefruit Seed extract with a little glycerin mixed in. Works quite well. If I buy a healing oil, I usually by the Soothing Salve Drops from Tri-Light Herbs at 1-888-HERB-KID (www.trilightherbs.com). Recently I began to use a combination of Emu Oil, Calendula and Tea tree oil for yeast infections highly effective. Be careful of placing pure tea tree oil on baby’s skin (or any sensitive skin, for that matter) as it can burn and cause inflammation itself. Prior to use of prescription medicines for yeast on the bottom, my local pharmacist suggested use of "Boudreaux’s Butt Paste." The name may not be nice, but it is very effective (contains Boric Acid) in a short amount of time. Doctors do not usually prescribe cortisone if a yeast infection is suspected; rather, some type of anti-fungal medication is usually prescribed.
Pat’s Follow-Up E-Mail to Reader’s Tips:
Thank you, Claudia, for the advice to dilute the tea tree oil; I was using a cream that was already diluted, but it's good to be aware, as I also have a small bottle of the undiluted stuff sitting in a dark corner of my bathroom cabinet =). And thank you, Karen, for the information on how to "diagnose" if the rash is nasty regular or nasty fungal. According to your descriptions, it wasn't fungal.
I've also picked up over the years of having babies that if the rash is located near an "exit", then it would a good idea to check what's going in their mouths, as that type of rash (irritation) may be a symptom of an allergy to what's going in. It's irritating going in, and it's irritating going out.
>> A paste of aloe vera gel with some golden seal may help <<
Wasn't sure if Karen meant internally or externally...the little bits here and there that I've read on goldenseal has me cautious when using with children. Perhaps you or Claudia are better informed regarding potencies or amounts? Or perhaps Shonda can elaborate on the pros/cons (I do remember reading that pregnant women are not suppose to take it internally).
Rachel, I've never had too much success with the "airing out" technique. Their bladders just couldn't hold out long enough =(.
I wanted to let everyone know that Abby recovered in *record* time, thanks to a combination of prayer and the wonderful alternative remedies different people suggested =). She went from open sores to 95% better the next morning! Didn't have to take her to the Doctor (whew) -- I had such great success taking her to the Great Physician that I think I'll continue with "a sure thing" <G>
Luke 6:38 to all...
Pat and Baby Abby
SHONDA’S ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Goldenseal should not be used internally with children under 3 unless there is a specific and definite need; although, it can be used externally for the bottom, diaper area, for bacterial infections.
Dry Eyes
Q. I have a question about my 19 year old son. Lately, the outer corner eyelids of his eyes are not attached to the eyeball by the surface tension generated by the secretions of the lacrimal glands. Does that make sense?. He does stay out late a lot and his diet is a typical fast food and restaurant style diet since he is in college. Do you have any suggestions as to what to do?
Thank you
Maggie
A. My suggestions for him probably would not be what he wants to do. Come home early. Get more rest. Chuck the fast food. Increase fruits and vegetables. Get on a good multi-vitamin/mineral/herb supplement. DRINK LOTS OF WATER - 2 QUARTS DAILY. Moisturize that eyeball!
Eczema
Q. My name is Sandra. We have four children in Pa. My interest in herbs is an extension of healthy eating, I suppose. We have tried to support our bodies with good food - herbs seem to be the next natural step to take. I've read the discussion of eczema. We plan to follow the advice to use Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and flax oil. We have done the EPO before, with good results, but I thought maybe just the flax oil would do after I ran out of EPO. Not true. I was wondering if the licorice extract, which they recommend in a topical application, burns? Any other ideas? We will be taking a break from milk for a while too.
I had thought the liver would need support. Dr. Murray says this is true for psoriasis and the silymarin (could you please tell me the pronunciation of this word?) is suggested. I have used Liv Care by Mother's Choice - is this my best source of silymarin for a child? Is eczema different from psoriasis in this regard?
Thanks! Sandra
A. Silymarin is pronounced sil-ih-muh-rin. The Liv Care is an excellent source of silymarin, the active constituent of milk thistle. Although LivCare is not standardized, I feel this is the best source for non-capsule or tablet-taking children. Eczema and psoriasis are both related to fatty-acid deficiency and food allergies. Have you identified and eliminated food allergens?
The licorice extract does not burn. SimiCort by Enzymatic Therapy may be used topically for eczema as well, as well as Health-e-Skin’s Pure Emu Oil (www.health-e-skin.com).
Eczema
Q. In one of the last digests, someone had mentioned eczema. You had said that it is usually caused by fatty-acid deficiency and food allergies. My daughter just turned 8 months old, and a few weeks ago I took her to the pediatrician for a rash under her chin and an oval patch on the side of her face. She had the rash under her chin for probably 2 months or so, but I assumed it was from drooling so much. The severity of it would come and go. I tried lanolin, cocoa butter, even Balmex, but nothing seemed to help. One night the rash got so red and sore and I thought perhaps I should take her to the doctor seeing as she had it for so long, plus that's when she developed the rash on the side of her face, also. Anyways, the doctor said immediately it was eczema and gave me some Westcort ointment and Eucerin lotion to put on. The doctor said the westcort is a steroid cream. I'm not sure as if that's good for my baby or not, but within two days both patches of rash were gone. Now though, the rash has returned to the side of her face in the same spot. So, to my questions - finally!! Is this Westcort ointment okay to give her, and could she indeed be lacking fatty-acid with me nursing her almost exclusively still? She gets solids twice a day but hasn't cut out any nursings yet. I order herbs from Tri-Light and maybe should get some LivCare as you mentioned previously. What are your thoughts on this and if she may be lacking fatty-acid, what would you recommend giving her to help boost the deficiency?
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with others...
God Bless,
Cheryl
A. Cheryl, I cannot decide for you if giving Westcort is okay for your daughter; however, I can tell you it does have side effects since it is a cortisone ointment, all steroidal creams have some side effects. There are natural alternatives to these creams, most notably Simicort by Enzymatic Therapy and Chamomile creams, as well as Health-e-Skin Emu Oil (www.health-e-skin.com). Nursing does not prevent fatty acid deficiency or totally prevent food allergies. I nursed my third daughter exclusively beyond 1 year due to severe food allergies (she reacted to just about everything we gave her). We’ve worked hard on her health and only started to see a real change in behavior/health at age 6. The LivCare is an excellent way to gently support the liver, and we use flax seed oil for essential fatty acid supplementation around the Parker home. Get them started early, and they won’t balk at the taste. Another alternative to Flax seed oil is the Blue Green Minerals, also by TriLight Herbs tastes good and has the flax right in the herbal mineral formula!
Eczema
Q. Thank you for all the wonderful information. I have had eczema after the birth of my daughter and have terrible white headswhat can I do to clear them up?
Respectfully, Godspromise
A. Are you taking flax seed oil for essential fatty acids? This is very important. Breast milk contains high amounts of EFAs. Extra supplementation of EFAs is quite a good thing for nursing mothers as it enhances health of mom and baby. Tea tree oil applied to acne lesions has been shown to be an effective antiseptic. White heads occur due, in part, to bacteria growing on the skin. Hormonal changes also contribute to the skin’s susceptibility to acne lesions. Milk thistle (which will increase milk flow, too) can help the liver process the circulating hormones more effectively. A topical ointment for dryness and eczema along with the whiteheads would be Health-e-Skin’s Pure Emu oil (www.health-e-skin.com). Their product does not produce greasiness at all, is well absorbed, will not allow bacterial growth and makes eczema outbreaks go away on the skin’s surface while you work on the problem internally.
Fever
Q. I have read in Dr. Mendelsohn's book "How to raise a healthy child in spite of your Dr." that it is best not to try to lower a fever caused by virus or bacteria, because the body is fighting the virus with the fever. Does this agree with what you have learned? I have Yummy Yarrow and Elderberry from Tri-Light herbs, which can be used for fevers. What does it do for fevers? And does the use of it counteract the body's own mechanisms for fighting the virus?
Thanks,
Kendall
A. Kendall, the information on fevers being a good thing is accurate. For every degree of raised temperature above normal body temp, we get an additional 20,000 white cells working to fight the "invader" germ. The Yummy Yarrow and Elderberry helps to increase the body’s immune response, along with the fever, and the yarrow works especially to increase perspiration, which naturally helps lower the fever, without interfering in the body’s disease-fighting mode. The Echinacea and elderberry both stimulate the immune system. It does not counteract the body’s mechanisms, rather, it actually supports the body’s own antibody actions during an illness.
Fever and Fever Reducers
Q. I’d like to get your advice on fever control for babies and children. About two weeks ago, my 15 month-old had a virus with a steady temperature of 102 degrees. I was faithfully giving her an herbal combo of echinacea with oregon grape root, "Children's compound" by Herb Pharm, and Vitamin C regularly for about 18 hours. When she seemed to be getting hotter, I gave her a dose of Tylenol (I only use it as a last resort if my children seem very uncomfortable.) A couple of hours later, she hadn't cooled down, so I put her in a warm bath and gradually let in some cool water. When I took her out of the bath, I dressed her and held her for awhile. After about 20 minutes, she had a febrile seizure that lasted about 10 minutes. We were getting ready to take her to the emergency room when my husband remembered he had two febrile seizures as a small child. We prayed for her and she immediately started to regain consciousness. After calling her pediatrician, the doctor and I agreed that she probably had the seizure because I didn't bundle her up for long enough after the bath (he said I should have held her in a towel for at least 10 - 20 minutes).
My questions are:
- Do you think I should not let her get to the point of having a fever again (as the Dr. does)?
- What do you think about using Tylenol?
- What herbs should I use to control fever?
- Do you use or recommend homeopathic remedies?
Thanks so much!
Claudia
A. Since I am NOT a physician and not the child’s mother, I could never make the decision as to what you should do for your child. Choosing family herbal care is choosing to self-diagnose and self-medicate unless medical attention is needed. Now, it’s also hard without information to be able to make those kinds of decisions. What has the Parker family done in regard to this issue? Two of my children, my boys, have had febrile seizures. I believe this is due to some protective mechanism for their body that God has given them, and yes, when you abruptly change a child’s temperature status, a febrile seizure can result. With both boys, I’ve allowed the fever to rise until 103 degrees (when they are under 2 years of age), then I choose to treat with Tylenol if all of my natural fever measures are not helping. For my older children, I let the fever go as long as they are not miserable. I am always treating with herbs, vitamins, physical medicine, etc. If they are in extreme pain, I choose a pharmaceutical that I’m comfortable with.
Tylenol can be toxic to the liver. I choose to use milk thistle any time Tylenol is used in this house. I NEVER use Tylenol (acetaminophen) if I have previously given any alcohol tinctures or extracts to myself or my family. Tylenol mixed with alcohol, in any amount, is a risky measure people have died from the combination.
The herbs I use are a combined product of peppermint, yarrow and elderberry as well as feverfew (Yummy Yarrow and Elderberry). In known bacterial infections, I also use white willow. I’m a little uncomfortable using white willow bark during viral infections in children.
I do not use homeopathic remedies. The system of homeopathic medicine would require me not to use my herbs if I were going to use it the way it was intended. I like my herbs and am unwilling to give them up.
Lymphatic Massage
Q. I have not heard of lymphatic massage. What is it? How do I do it? I won't give any more Scout Out to my baby, but need something to help her. She has a terrible cough, and coughs up phlegm, but swallows it again. What can I do to get it out of her mouth? I know this is gross, but need help.
Thanks,
Donna
A. Lymphatic massage that I do when my children are congested: I put my finger behind the earlobes, in front of the neck muscle and behind the jawbone. I basically stroke my fingers down that muscle to the collarbone, one side at a time, using the LymphaRub essential oil formula from Tri-Light. This has always produced dramatic results in aiding the drainage of clogged mucus. In fact, when I had strep throat a few years back, I kept hopping in the tub trying to raise my body temperature even more than it already was and massaging with the LymphaRub while in tub. During one of my bath forays, a couple of the young single women in our church came over for a visit. As my husband was explaining that I was ill, I was leaving the bathroom to crawl back into bed; one of the young women, upon smelling the LymphaRub odor wafting from the open bathroom door said, "Are you having a crawfish boil or something?" As for the phlegm being coughed up, most of us swallow the majority of the phlegm. The issue of health is to keep the bowels open, so that all is passed quickly. For more information and visual directions on how to do lymphatic massage, contact The Block Center (Dr. Mary Ann Block, www.blockcenter.com) for Dr. Block’s excellent video, "Treating Ear and Respiratory Infections Without Antibiotics."
Non-Specific Stomach Aches
Q. Our 8 year old daughter has been having periodic stomach aches for about 8months. I've taken her to the doctor to rule out appendicitis, and the blood tests were normal. The doctor thought it could be stress as her sister who is 18mos older than her had a brain injury a little over a year ago. I think it is more an acid problem; she has a cousin with severe problems with stomach acid. I've noticed her having trouble with pizza and soda. Anyways, as I am "herbally challenged" I was hoping someone would have a natural suggestion for me. Our co-op has something called acidophilus primadofilus,jr. and primadophilus, children under digestive aids for sale. Would one of these be something I'm looking for or is there a better suggestion. Most of Emily's stomach complaints are in the evening :-/.
Thank you,
Peggy
A. Certainly, an acidophilus product would seem to be indicated in this situation. If it were my child, I might want to add something to help specifically aid the digestion. My own son complained of his "chest hurting" for a number of months following a coxsackie infection a few years ago. We ruled out a heart infection or any heart problem and found that this was more a stomach acid problem as he would periodically have his chest hurt and then get heartburn. Sometimes, he actually would throw up. I gave him two products: One, called RF Plus made by NF Formulas that has herbs particularly suited to acidic conditions such as heartburn, ulcers, etc. and the other product was ginger/peppermint capsules, also from NF Formulas. The peppermint can make the sphincter muscle between stomach and esophagus relax causing an increase in heartburn problem. This did not seem to happen in his case, although it is possible. Using plain ginger capsules can be quite helpful. His dosage was: 2 RF Plus and 1 Ginger/Peppermint capsules. A helpful "at-home" test to check for excess stomach acid would be to take 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or water with a lemon wedge squeezed into it with a meal and see if that makes the condition worse or better. If the condition is better, then the problem may actually be too little stomach acid, which would lead to use of digestive enzymes with meals. If the condition worsens, then perhaps some use of chamomile or licorice root with meals might be found helpful.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Q. I have a friend whose third child, 18months old, has been diagnosed with pertussis. Anyone have any herbal recommendations? Shonda, I remember seeing in the Trilight catalog that one of the echinacea or coughing remedies were recommended for whooping cough. Can you give me more info on what herbs would be helpful? This family has given no immunizations to this child as the previous child was permanently injured by them. Our 2 year old has had frequent contact with them, and she is not immunized, either. We have no plans to immunize her. Any recommendations for prevention? I have a newspaper article I clipped last fall saying that whooping cough is far more common than we think. Possibly as many as 1 out of four adults and teens who have had a persistent cough, have whooping cough. They also estimated that most pertussis vaccines have worn off between ages 8 and 10. Interesting.
Thanks, Laurie
A. Echinacea & Thyme may be given as well as Lungs Plus of the Tri-Light products. If you can find Sundew, combined with Thyme, this is a remedy often used in Europe for Whooping Cough (Pertussis). Extra vitamin C may be given as the capillaries of the eye are apt to burst due to the ferocity of the coughing spells. Care must be taken to avoid the complication of pneumonia. I might even give Osha root in very small dosages to an 18 month old, if I thought pneumonia was beginning. I have done an enormous amount of research about pertussis in the last few years. If your child has been with the child who has pertussis, the current recommendation for control of the disease is a round of Erythromycin to prevent the onset of pertussis. Once the disease has begun in earnest, little can be done to lessen severity medically. It’s a nasty disease.
The coughing paroxysms are "reactivated" every time the child gets a respiratory infection for a year. We’ve certainly seen this in children who’ve had pertussis. Immunized children and adults are creating a pool for smaller children to get the disease. We chose to put our entire family on antibiotics to prevent the disease from taking hold after we were exposed to the disease several years ago. I believe, personally, that it is much easier to rebuild from one antibiotic round than risk having the family get pertussis, have to stay in for 6 or more weeks (per family member with the disease), and suffer the disease. We also decided since that was the second time within 3 years that we’d been in contact with a pertussis "outbreak" that we would immunize with DTaP, which is the accellular pertussis vaccination combined with tetanus (which we do anyway due to living on a farm that’s had horses on it) and diphtheria (which I wouldn’t necessarily do except this is a combo shot).
We made this decision based on history of regular exposure, our family’s respiratory weak member with asthma, our hoped-for continued childbearing and quite frankly, seeing the disease first-hand. We did not respond with fear and rush to the doctor. Rather we researched our situation and prayed about what would be the right thing for us and those we come in contact with and chose this path. Your path may be different. I would encourage you to visit the CDC site at www.cdc.gov to gather more pertussis info. The NIH site at www.nih.gov is a good place too. The CDC is considering a booster pertussis immunization for older children. I don’t know how we will handle that one yet. We firmly believe in taking an individual child and situation approach to all immunizations. We do believe it is not in the best interest of our family if we choose dogmatism (either for or against) in this area. Another resource would be the Naturally Healthy Living eMags for all of 2002 we’re doing a series on Immunizations (the one on Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus was in the August issue).
Pinworms
Q. I am nearly at my wit's end with Pinworms--my 6 year old daughter has had them every summer for the past 3 years. I have tried Yerba Prima's "Parasite Purge" capsules, along with AIM Herbal FiberBlend, and it doesn't seem to be making any difference. Is there a difference in effectiveness between capsules and a liquid? How long should I expect this to take? What about using a cleansing enema to flush them out--what could I use in it?
Thanks for any help/encouragement you can give me,
Brenda
A. Pinworms are tough to eradicate because they require, not only herbal or pharmaceutical intervention, household intervention! The entire house must be cleaned from top to bottom, sheets washed in very hot water, towels, too. The eggs may be living in the home and can re-infest the child after herbal therapy.
There can always be a difference with liquid and capsules. Capsules may not be thoroughly absorbed. Liquids begin absorption as soon as they hit the mouth. I usually choose a combo of liquid WormOut and encapsulated garlic oil or powdered tablets and black walnut liquid for children, caps for adults. I encourage staying on the therapy at least two weeks, a month is even better while cleansing the home environment.
Poison Ivy
Q. My 10 year old son has what I think is poison oak for the 3rd time this summer! He seeps, stings and is so miserable. I have tried the homeopathy for poison oak, Vit. C, and tea tree oil. He is getting worse. Can you give me some ideas, please?
TIA, Lucy
SHONDA’S COMMENTS: One of the cheapest and most effective home remedies is lye soap lathered onto the skin and allowed to dry without rinsing. This really helps to dry up the seeping wounds. Another tip sent in by one of our NH Living eMag readers for poison ivy is the following herbal therapy:
From Michelle Witek:
"My son had it 2 times this year. A friend got me the jewelweed, as you suggest, along with another herb called Virginia snake root, also used activated charcoal. For my Timothy, age 10,
Supplement Protocol:
Jewelweed tincture-- 20 drops in 8oz of water - 3 times per day
Virginia Snake Root--20 drops in 4 ounces of a juice/recharge etc. every 3-4 hrs
Activated charcoal --3 capsules every 2 hours (first 4-5 days of active hot rash)
Emergen C (Alacer Co.) --1000mg powder, add to water 1pkt every 2 hours, while awake.
Of course, oatmeal baths, and apply fresh aloe, and the Jewelweed to the skin for relief.
The first occurrence he had in May, we did not start this till 3-4th day when he was red swollen and in much pain. It took up to 10 days to truly clear. His second bout in late June, we noticed and caught it, started the above immediately, and within 7 days, he was quite clear, no sleepless crying nights, as we experienced in May. It is also suggested to give omega 3 & 6 oils for skin healing. We tried, however, it was hard to swallow for him. Please feel free to share this. It may really help those living near woods and wild life. I believe the same would work for poison ivy. Again Timothy is age 10, about 60 #. We own a Koa camp, 30 acres, and he was trimming trees with dad!!! We've since eliminated this from his job description."
Add’l Shonda comments: Goldenseal is also good for drying the surface of a seeping wound, making it useful for poison oak or ivy, if infection begins on the open sores. Echinacea is a good wound healer to help heal the skin where the oil has damaged the skin’s surface.
Respiratory Infections
Q. I just received you book, "Mommy Diagnostics" last Friday and love it! I am trying to learn more about herbs and alternative medicines for my family. Your book, along with my first order from TriLight Herbs came at just the right time. My three year-old started running a fever on Friday night and her lymph
nodes behind her ears were swollen. I began giving her Liquid Light White Willow & Feverfew at 1/8 of tsp. (She weighs about 25 lbs) every 2 hours. I alternated with ViraMune at 1/8 of tsp. She appeared to be better by morning. Her fever was gone by Saturday, but her lymph nodes were still swollen and she began to cough. I have also been massaging behind her ears with Lympha Rub, 2 to 3 times a day. I quit using the White Willow & Feverfew on Saturday night and began to alternate ViraMune and Scout Outevery 2 hours on Sunday & Monday. She developed a cough on Sunday night at bedtime, and I gave her Wild Cherry Coffaway (She only coughs after she has been laying down). When we got up Tuesday morning, both of her eyes looked infected and she had deep circles under them. Today, I have been giving only the Scout Out every 2 hours. She does seem to have drainage that is draining down her throat. Last night, with one of her coughing spells, she threw up a lot of mucous. I'm worried that her infection is worse than I think. The only problem is she acts fine -- no fever and has lots of energy. I made an appointment with a DO, early tomorrow morning (Wed.). I guess I just don't trust my own judgment. My instincts tell me she'll be okay in a couple of days, but I'm worried if the infection has spread to her eyes, could it spread elsewhere? I don't have enough information to discern when do you go to the doctor and when do you trust your instincts. If you can help, I would appreciate it.
Sincerely, Beverly
A. I know I’ve said this before, but there really is no way for me to evaluate your child’s health risks, as I’m not a physician and not the mommy watching over the child day and night. I can, however, tell you what we Parkers do when we encounter similar symptoms of illness. For respiratory infections, I would highly recommend the purchase of Dr. Mary Ann Block’s video, "Treating Respiratory and Ear Infections at Home." Dr. Block actually teaches parents in this video how to do simple osteopathic manipulative therapy themselves to avoid unnecessary doctor visits. As for spreading to eyes, conjunctivitis, infection of the eyes, is usually a self-limiting illness. Herbalists generally treat with goldenseal and/or chamomile eye washes. As for myself with my own children, I usually try to watch my children’s entire behavior during an illness to decide when to call in other help. When my son was lying limply with a 104 fever and a swollen eye, I called the doc. When he sounded terribly mucous-y and was coughing, sometimes even throwing up due to drainage (we call this booger-belly), but running around playing and wanting to eat and drink, I just kept giving him his herbs and waited out the infection. Herbs aren’t overnight miracle healers, usually. The medicinal power is lower, thus, sometimes, it takes several days to a week for results. The big thing I watch for are abrupt changes in the negative direction. Going from running around to lying limply is a sure sign that what you are doing is not working. At this point, I always at least consult with my professional health care provider. It never hurts to have a consult, and, you, as the parent, still have the responsibility and ability to decide which method of treatment you prefer, even after you’ve consulted with a professional.
Skin Rashes
Q. I have two questions. First, I have a four-year old with a rash on the back of his leg that won't go away. I did take him to the doctor and they gave me some anti-fungal cream. It went away for a while, but as soon as I stopped the cream it came back. They said the next step is an oral medication. I don't like that idea. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you!
Diane
A. I have had the most success with the Soothing Salve Drops from TriLight herbs for healing, fungal problems, even bacterial infections on the skin (such as staph). In addition to using the salve drops, I usually use echinacea internally to stimulate the immune system. Recently I discovered the wonderful healing and soothing power of Pure Emu Oil from Health-e-Skin (www.health-e-skin.com). I’ve since combined the Emu Oil with my favorite herbal oils or salve drops for even more potent skin healing. It’s a combination I can heartily recommend and approve of as a professional herbalist and mother of seven!
