HOW TO TREAT THE FLU....NATURALLY

 

 

 

 

Over the past week I have been asked several times what the best home remedies are for the flu. Even some people that normally would run right to the ER or their GP for a solution have been asking me this, mostly because they DID go to the doctor who has simply told them to wait it out and take fever reducers, with some adding Tamiflu for a variation on that theme.

 

So, rather than repeatedly answering this question, I'll list my suggestions here for ease of use. I have quite a few suggestions, and you will find varying degrees of success with any of them or in combination, because each person responds a little bit differently....also, with lots of options, its easier to just grab and use whatever ingredients or resources you already have available at home, rather than dragging your feverish self (or worse, your delirious child) out to get supplies to comfort.

 

So, lets start at the beginning.

 

PREVENTION: Homeopathic Influenzinum can be used prophylactically. I have seen many different protocols, and each homeopath and ND seems to have their own preference.

This is what works for us. I give everyone (even the babies) in the house the same dosage and frequency. Starting in mid November or early December, we do 1 dry pellet once a week for 4 weeks, take one week off, and then a final dose in the 6th week. All in a 30c or 200c (whichever I have on hand) potency.

 

ONSET: You know, that moment when you first feel like something is not quite right?

If you have homeopathic remedies around you could reach for Ferrum Phosphoricum.

 

DURING: Many different options here. The most important two, that are NOT really optionally, available to everyone, and affordable is SLEEP AND WATER (Yes, most people can fight the flu just fine with only those two aids).

OTHER IDEAS: Echinacea, garlic (crushed and swallowed several times a day), the wet sock treatment, vitamin C, vitamin D3.

Onions can also help fight the flu in several different ways. The two most common are: covering the feet in oil adding sliced fresh onion and covering with socks, and putting a fresh sliced onion in a bowl beside the sick bed (or couch, if that's where you spend your sick time). Both of these are based on the idea that onions draw toxins out of the local environment and into themselves, so DO NOT EAT the onions after, they WILL be toxic.

There are also several other homeopathic remedies that may help more than the influenzinum or the Oscillococcinum (that you can find in almost any drug store). If you don't have your own repertory and meteria medica to research the correct matching remedy there is a great listing here that shows the differences in symptoms for several of the most common remedies used successfully for the flu. Do keep in mind that it is a limited list though, and not to discount remedies that aren't listed, such as arnica, chamomilia, and pulsatilla which can also be well indicated in the flu.


So if you happen to come down with the flu you now have the tools to fight it, naturally. If you have any remedies to add to this list, feel free to comment with what has worked for you, so we can share with others.

 

 

Now and Then

Every once in a while I get to thinking about how much my life has changed. The biggest change for me has been the way I think, and view the world. I been raised in an everyday all American home, with normal mainstream ideas and ideals. Then, ten years ago I had my first child. They say children change everything but I had no clue how much. Things didn't change overnight, of course. I started off my journey in parenthood doing everything "normal", following all the rules and advice handed down by more experienced parents and doctors and the common child rearing handbooks (like "What To Expect", and "The Girlfriends Guides") that conveniently echoed the words of wisdom the aforementioned resources gave me.
Incidentally, I have an infant child now that is the same age as my first son was back those ten short years ago (and I have two others in between, now ages 8 and 2). At several different points in time between then and now I came to the conclusion that listening to everyone else and following their advice was just not working for me, or my kids. Those other people didn't have to live in my home and face the consequences of their advice, I did. So we made changes, some little and gradually, others huge and abruptly....and never without resistance from those omniscient advice givers who were offended at my audacity of choosing my parenting and family lifestyle path for myself instead of continuing down the path most often followed.

So let's see what a few major and minor changes amount to in one short decade...

NOW vs. THEN:
•attachment parenting vs. authoritarian parenting

• Cloth diapers (and wicked cute covers and snaps) vs. disposables (and dioxin burns, and sticky tape tabs)

• Naturopaths, homeopaths, chiropractors, vs. Pediatricians

• Home remedies and self treatment vs. Emergency room trips

• Home birth vs. hospital birth (cesarean)

• Coconut oil vs Mary Kay

• Baking soda and apple cider vinegar vs. shampoo and conditioner

• Whole food vs. genetically modified, pesticide sprayed, boxed, bagged, prepackaged, nutrient depleted wannabe food

• Intact immune systems vs. vaccine compromised

• Homemade cleaning supplies vs. Tide, shout, Windex

• Vinegar and sunshine vs. bleach

• Unschooling vs. regular school

• Garlic and homeopathic remedies vs. antibiotics and antivirals

• Stay at home mom vs. working full time and attending college full time (I missed so much)

And most recently...

• Gluten free vs. whole grain

So many things can change in such a short amount of time and I'm so glad. I can't even imagine (nor do I want to) what life would be like for my family if I had not started taking steps off the beaten path.  I hope to continue being adaptable and make whatever changes necessary to offer my children the best opportunities for them that I can. I hope they learn from watching, so they can continue to change and grow instead of wallowing when they have moments and situations in their lives that aren't working for them.

Writing this list out, I can't help but wonder what the next ten years will bring, and what I  would be able to add on this then. I'll just have to wait and see....