Don’t be a Victim to a Toothache this Holiday Season

One of the most awful feelings is that of a toothache. To make matters worse is a toothache during the holiday season. Not only does it inhibit your consumption of the delicious food that is the holidays but it can be difficult to get an appointment with a dentist. So today I'd like to provide some all natural ways to help you deal with a toothache.

Why do I have a toothache?

The likely source of a toothache is due to an infection or abscess. This happens when decay penetrate the hard exterior of the tooth and extends into the soft tissue, known as the pulp, in the center of the tooth. Bacteria then infiltrated the tooth causing inflammation and ultimately an infection. The pain that results can be deep, sharp and throbbing. Other common symptoms associated with a toothache include:

• Pain with chewing.
• Hot and cold Sensitivity that may persist after the stimuli is removed.
• Slight bleeding around the tooth or gums.
• Swelling around the tooth or jaw.

Other Reasons for a Toothache

Infection is the most common explanation as to why you have a toothache; however, there are other reasons for the pain. Other dental related issues including:

• Gum disease
• Tooth fractures
• Tooth extraction

For any of these issues a dentist appointment should clear things up. There are also more serious issues that can cause a toothache. If you experience any of the following issues, seek professional medical attention immediately:

• Issues of the ears, sinuses or throat.
• Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ: jaw pain that radiates giving the perception of a toothache.
• High fever or chills: may be an indication that the infection has spread.
• Recent head Injury: the tooth pain may be an indication of more serious issues.
• Facial rash.
• Jaw pain coupled with chest pain: the jaw pain may be referred pain from other areas and can be an indication of a heart attack.
• Trouble swallowing, extreme pain and bleeding from the gums: in individuals with compromised immune systems, diabetes or have taken a regimen of steroids recently these symptoms may indicate the need for a more aggressive treatment.

Natural Remedies for a Toothache

The first thing to do when you have a toothache is to go to the dentist. Infection can spread quickly and it is important to get it under control. When you can't make it to the dentist because it is a night, weekend or holiday here are some suggestions.

• Address the infection: A Fever is an important sign that an infection is present. The western approach is to take antibiotics. If you choose this approach, be sure to take Probiotics to counteract the effects that the antibiotics have on your gut flora. If you choose an herbal approach to fighting the infection, antimicrobial herbs are invaluable. Blasting your system with a tincture of Echinacea and goldenseal can help get the infection under control, but this means taking several milliliters every couple of hours.
• Garlic: Garlic is another great antimicrobial herb that can be valuable for a toothache. You can take it internally (remember that the antimicrobial properties are destroyed by cooking) as food or place a slice of garlic on the tooth for 20 minutes to increase circulation and fight infection.
• Clove Essential Oil: Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil is one of my go-to remedies for toothaches. Eugenol, one of the constituents in cloves, helps to anesthetize the pain and fight infection. I find the best way to apply clove essential oil is to put several drops on a cotton ball and apply it directly to the affected tooth. It doesn’t taste good and the salivary glands really kick into high gear when you use it but it helps with the pain tremendously! If you are using this for a child only use one drop of clove and soak the rest of the cotton ball with olive oil. If you are unable to obtain the oil you can crush or chew a whole clove and apply it to the site of the pain. Overuse of clove essential oil can cause gum damage so be sure to only use this in acute emergency situations.
• Salt Water Rinse: In a glass of warm water add 2-3 teaspoons of salt. Swish the salt water in your mouth several times before spiting it out. Do this with the entire glass. It will help to clean and disinfect the infected tooth and help to draw out fluid that may be causing swelling. For added antiseptic power, add 1-2 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil.
• Fresh Ginger: Cut a slice of fresh ginger and remove the skin. Place the chunk of ginger directly over the sore tooth and bite into it. It should take away the pain almost instantly. Replace with a fresh piece of ginger periodically.
• Turmeric: This bright yellow spice has amazing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and help to increase circulation to the infected tooth. Add a few drops of water to a teaspoon of turmeric to make a paste and dab it on the sore tooth. To amplify this remedy, add a drop of clove and tea tree essential oil.  
• Green tea and Chamomile tea: Green tea contains constituents that can treat infection and reduce inflammation. It is also very easy to obtain from any grocery store, convenience store or restaurant. Drink 2 cups a day to help with a toothache. Chamomile tea will help to relax you and your nerves by gently sedating the nervous system. It can also help to fight the infection, and is safe for children to take. For an adult take up to 3 cups of tea daily (1/2 to 1 tsp of dried flower in 1 cup of hot water steeped for 10 minutes). For children follow the guidelines for using Herbal Remedies for Kids.
• Spilanthes: The leaves and flower heads of Spilanthes acmella, known as the toothache plant, are an amazing asset when you have a toothache. It’ analgesic property can numb the gums and relieve toothaches when the leaves or flowers are chewed. It is also a relative to echinacea, which is evident in its ability to stimulate wound healing, reduce swelling and treat bacterial, viral and fugal infections.  

Followup to the toothache

When using these herbal remedies, is not uncommon for the toothache to go away; however, it is still important to go to the dentist. If the infection persists, it can penetrate the root and then you run the risk of losing the tooth. Also, chronic dental infections are correlated to an increased risk in stroke. Plaque and bacteria can enter the blood stream through the mouth causing blood clots. So take care of your teeth.

Sources:

Gladstar, R. (2001). Rosemary Gladstar's family herbal: a guide to living life with energy, health, and vitality. North Adams, Mass.: Storey Books.

Mars, B. (2007). The desktop guide to herbal medicine. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications.

Mars, B., & Fiedler, C. (2011). The country almanac of home remedies: time-tested & almost-forgotten wisdom for treating hundreds of common ailments, aches & pains quickly and naturally. Beverly, Mass.: Fair Winds Press.

White, L & Foster, S. (2000). The herbal Drugstore: the best natural alternatives to over-the-counter and prescription medications. Emmaus, PA: Rodale.

Wildwood, C. (1996). The encyclopedia of aromatherapy. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.

http://www.tbyil.com/Toothache.htm

http://www.homeremediesweb.com/toothache-home-remedy.php

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/toothache/article_em.htm

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/spilanthes.php

5 Must Haves For the Cold and Flu Season

It has been quiet some time since I last posted. I would like to formally apologize to my readers for the lack of commitment that I have displayed these last few weeks. I couldn't find the drive or motivation to speak my truth due to some personal hardships. Sometimes, it’s hard to help others when inside you feel as though you can't help yourself. But I now realize that for me, helping others means helping myself.

Today I would like to help everyone survive the winter with 5 must haves for the cold and flu season.

1. Probiotics

Probiotics are the first must have for the winter season. With the majority of our immune system in our gut, by keeping our gut healthy we are also able to keep our whole system healthy and prevent illness before it happens. There are many ways to take probiotics. My favorite is through fermented foods like sauerkraut, miso soup, yogurt, temphe and kefir to name a few. I feel that it is an evolutionary treatment to utilize food as medicine. If you are unable to incorporate these foods into your diet, then a supplement will do. There are so many different kinds of probiotics supplement that I am sure you can find one that fits your needs, as well as your wallet. I suggest switching between a few different kinds of probiotics supplements. This way you can get several different strands of probiotics into your system, making a sure your variety of gut flora is strong and healthy. Check out a previous blog post on Probiotics for more information on the topic.

2. Homemade Veggie Stock

This is my favorite thing to have on hand for the winter season. It is so easy to make and store and it’s jam packed with vitamins and nutrients to help heal the body. Click here for instructions on how to make it. Be sure to add lots of kitchen herbs like parsley, rosemary, basil and thyme to help increase the effectiveness of its healing properties. Once it is strained, you can use it to make chicken or vegetable soup or can drink it as a tea to nourish and re-hydrate.

3. Echinacea

Echinacea is amazing at helping the body fight off invaders. It helps in several ways. First it increase our body’s own defenses by increasing macrophage, neutrophil, monocyte, eosinophil and B-lymphocyte activity and initiating destruction of the pathogens. It also provides a physical enzymatic barrier by impairing the pathogen’s ability to penetrate and destroy healthy cells. It is effective against both bacteria and viral infections anywhere in the body and is safe for all ages.

Some people use echinacea preventatively for daily immune support; however, this is not an appropriate use of this herb. Continued use, decreases the effectiveness of this important herb. My suggestion would be to only use echinacea when you feel an illness coming on and to cycle use: 5 days on and two days off.

At the first sign of illness take frequent small doses. Hoffmann suggests 1 to 4 ml of tincture (1:5 in 40% etoh) 3 times a day or a decoction of 1 to 2 tsp of root in one cup of water taken several times a day. I will also note that echinacea is a sacred plant of the Native Americans and because it has been exploited in the wild, many species of echinacea are now at risk. I suggest only using the cultivated Echinacea pupurea to preserve echinacea in the wild.  

4. Elder berries and flower
Elder is another herb that is a must have for the cold and flu season. The flower is an excellent diaphoretic, inducing sweating and helping to reduce fevers. The berry has amazing immune enhancing properties. It helps to increase cytokine production which strengthens the cell membrane to prevent viral penetration. In vitro it is effective against 10 strains of the influenza virus and helps to decrease the duration of flu symptoms by 3 to 4 days. It is a sacred plant to the Gypsies, claming it has abilities to help all ailments of man kind.

Both the flower and the berry can be made in to an infusion. 1 cup of boiling water over 2 tsp of herb, infused for 10 minutes and taken 3 times a day.

One great way to utilize the healing properties of both echinacea and elder berries is to make a syrup. It is great to make a large batch in the early fall and then have it throughout the winter season. I made a large batch in July and I just ran out. When I feel a cold coming on I take a tablespoon every couple of hours for several days. Usually I feel better after the first day but it is important to continue to take it for the extra day to ensure that I have kicked the bug. Click here for direction on how to make this winter must have.

5. Garlic

Garlic is an herb that most people have in their kitchens year round and don’t even realize its healing properties. Its sulfur and volatile oils are powerful antiseptics against bacteria, viruses and parasites. The volatile oils are excreted through the lungs, which is why you get garlic breath if you eat a lot, making it especially useful for infections in this area, including bronchitis, catarrh, colds and flus. It also supports the growth of gut flora while killing off the bad bacteria. During acute infection, I suggest 1 clove 3 times a day. It is best to ingest garlic as food, but the active ingredient in garlic is destroyed with cooking. My favorite way to get a lot of garlic into my system is to add chopped garlic to soup right before it is served or to add a lot of garlic to some salsa and chew it as quickly as possible. If you can stand it go ahead and chew on a clove.

Thank you to all my readers for your continued support. I hope you find this blog helpful in keeping you healthy for the winter season.

Sources:

Gladstar, R. (2001). Rosemary Gladstar's family herbal: a guide to living life with energy, health, and vitality. North Adams, Mass.: Storey Books.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: the science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.

Levy, J. d. (1997). Common herbs for natural health (Rev., expanded ed.). Woodstock, N.Y.: Ash Tree Pub..

Alternatives to High Blood Pressure Medication

So it has been awhile since I was able to post last. I’m so sorry to all my readers for not being more on top of things. Life has a way of taking over. My posts last week were about common pharmaceuticals and I would like to continue with blood pressure drugs. As Americans gain weight and become less active, high blood pressure becomes more and more of an issue. Young kids are being diagnosed with high blood pressure and instead of making lifestyle changes, these kids are becoming doomed to take prescriptions for the rest of their lives.

So let’s talk about alternatives, but before I do, I must remind you that below are suggestions to do before you start taking medication. Although many of these alternatives are safe to do in conjunction with prescription drugs, it is important to consult your health care professional prior to doing so because your blood pressure will need to be monitored as you progress. Plus, if you are attempting to come off of blood pressure medication, it is important to do it under the supervision of your doctor.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is defined as the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels. Systolic pressure is when the heart is contracting and when pressure is at its highest. Diastolic pressure is when the heart relaxes and blood pressure is at its lowest. Blood pressure is expressed as: systolic / diastolic mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Below is a chart that defines the parameters for blood pressure.

	Systolic	Diastolic
Normal blood pressure	Less than 120	Less than 80
Prehypertension	120-139	80-89
Hypertension	140 or higher	90 or higher

High Blood Pressure and Hypertension

Blood pressure naturally fluctuates based on your current activity level. If you are sleeping it remains low, but if you are running it will increase to accommodate the current stress on the body and heart. When your blood pressure stays high for extended periods of time, including when you are resting, then there is grounds for diagnosis of high blood pressure or hypertension. Currently, 1 in 3 adults in the US has high blood pressure and African Americans are twice as likely to have elevated blood pressure in comparison to Caucasians. If there is no other health issue present to be causing the high blood pressure, this is called primary hypertension. If your high blood pressure is being cause by another medical problem then you are said to have secondary hypertension.  

Long term high blood pressure can be damaging to many parts of the body, but the cardiovascular system takes brunt of the force, leading to arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, an enlarged heart, kidney damage or stroke. But the worst part about hypertension is that for many people they don’t know that they have high blood pressure because it often presents itself with no symptoms. For this reason it is referred to as the “Silent Killer” because you won’t know about it until it is too late.  

Common Blood Pressure Prescriptions

Two blood pressure medications made the top 10 most prescribed drugs in the US, Lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide, so I thought I would provide a little information about them.

Lisinopril (brand name Prinivil) was the third most prescribed drug in 2010. It works by blocking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). This relaxes the arterial walls and decreases blood pressure, allowing the heart to work less. It does come with some side effects, including dizziness, headaches and fainting. The side effect that is usually makes the most impact is lisinopril’s ability to decrease sexual function and libido. His would definitely discourage me from taking it.

Hydrochlorothiazide (brand name HydroDIURIL) was the tenth most prescribed drug in 2010. As a diuretic, it works by decreasing the fluid load in the body and therefore decreasing blood pressure. Side effects include lightheadedness, increased blood sugar, increased uric acid and decreased potassium, magnesium and zinc. A long term disruption in electrolyte balance is a recipe for disaster. Decreased blood magnesium and potassium increases the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Alternatives to Blood Pressure Medication

There is a reason the pharmaceuticals are so popular among the American culture: because Americans like a quick fix. We are so busy that taking the time to fix ourselves is out of the question. I’m here to encourage you to take back your health. If you do some of the alternatives provided, you will not only help your blood pressure, but you will also be affecting your entire body including your emotional state. The time you take for you is an investment in your health. Specific alternatives to blood pressure medication include:

• De-Stress: here is a blog post about getting your stress under control http://theverbalherbal.blogspot.com/2012/08/natural-ways-to-cope-with-stress.html
• Get moving and drop some pounds: exercise can decrease your blood pressure even without losing weight, but dropping some pounds and getting to a healthy body weight can lower your risk of heart disease by 2/3’s!
• Make healthy lifestyle choices: decrease your consumption of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine
• Increase Fruits and Veggies: so many different studies state that different fruits and vegetables can decrease blood pressure, so I interpret it as eat a lot of them and eat a variety
• Decrease your intake of Salt
• Hoffmann suggests the following supplements
• Mg 800-1200 mg/day
• Vitamin C 500-1000 mg/3x a day (in one study, low levels of vitamin C accounted for 1 in 4 cases of high blood pressure)
• Vitamin E 400-800 IU/day
• Coenzyme Q10 50 mg/2-3x a day
• Fresh Garlic 4000 mg/day

The Herbal Approach to High Blood Pressure

When it comes to herbs, it is easy to take a multifaceted approach to blood pressure. So many herbs have many different valuable heart healthy actions. With pharmaceutical if you want an ACE blocker and a diuretic you would have to take two different drugs. When it comes to herbs, one herb can do both of the actions.  Here are some of the herbal actions that you may wish to incorporate into your treatment plan:

• Cardiac tonics: help to strengthen and tone the cardiac system (hawthorn, linden)
• Hypotensives: lower blood pressure (hawthorn, linden, yarrow, cramp bark, valerian)
• Vasodilators: open the blood vessels to help relieve some of the pressure
• Diuretics: decreases the build up of excess fluid in the body (hawthorn, yarrow, linden)
• Vascular tonics: nourish the tissue of the veins and arteries (hawthorn, linden, yarrow
• Circulatory stimulants: increase peripheral circulation  

A Few Herbs in Detail

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp): Hawthorn is the most well known and effective cardiac tonic around. Its proanthocyanidins and several falvonoids help to increase the hearts metabolism allowing for better nutrition and more rhythmic contractions. It also decreases the release of ACE which is linked to high blood pressure and it protects the heart tissue from oxidative damage. In the early stages of heart disease, hawthorn can be more effective than drugs with fewer side effects. It can be taken with blood pressure medications; however, you need to do this under a doctors supervision because it can increase the effectiveness of the drugs resulting in the need for less.

Garlic (Allium sativum): Garlic is such a wonderful herb and it is so easy to incorporate into daily life, just by adding it to food. Allicin is its major active constituent and, crazy as it sounds, it is not found in garlic. Instead, garlic contains allinase and alliin in isolated little blocks within the garlic clove and when they mix together via chewing or crushing the clove it creates allicin, which based on studies, can lower systolic pressure by 20-30 mmHg and diastolic by 10-20 mmHg.

Linden (Tilia platyphyllos): Linden is another valuable cardiac tonic that is also very relaxing. It helps to prevent the development of arteriosclerosis and hypertension.

If you have been diagnosed with prehypertension or hypertension it is important to take action immediately. Above, I have provided numerous ways to get your heart healthy and avoid the silent killer.

Sources:

Duke, J. A. (2000). The green pharmacy herbal handbook: your comprehensive reference to the best herbs for healing. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Reach.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: the science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.

Rybacki, J. J. (2004). The Essential guide to prescription drugs 2004 (Pbk. ed.). New York, NY: HarperResource.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp/

http://www.allicinfacts.com/allicin01.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20361714

http://www.healthiertalk.com/get-your-blood-pressure-under-control-naturally-2627

http://www.therichest.org/nation/americas-most-popular-drugs/ 

Natural Alternatives to Blood Thinners

As my post stated on Monday, I want to speak about some of the common pharmaceutical that are taken today and provide alternative things you can do to avoid having to take them for the rest of your life. I wanted to start with blood thinners. A friend of mine asked about natural alternatives to warfarin. His dad takes it and does not like the side effects. This is the information I have on the subject.

 Before I go any further, I would like to stress that the suggestions listed below are steps that can be taken prior to going on pharmaceutical. Many of these drugs can have dangerous interactions if you combine natural alternatives with the pharmaceuticals. Also, if you are currently on blood thinners and wish to come off of them you should contact your doctor. Coming off of long term pharmaceuticals is not something that you should do on your own. It requires a doctor’s supervision and often blood tests to monitor your levels.

What’s the Purpose of Blood Thinners?

The term “blood thinners” is a little misleading. They don’t technically thin the blood. Instead, they decrease the blood ability to clot which, theoretically, allows the blood to flow more freely leaving the blood vessels unblocked. A more accurate term is “anticoagulants”. They are given to people at risk for heart attacks, strokes and aneurisms and, as the population ages, more and more people will be advised to take blood thinners.

Commonly Used Blood Thinners

Warfarin (brand name Coumadin) was originally developed as a rat poison and, disturbingly, it is still used this way. It works by blocking the action of vitamin K which interferes with the production of 4 essential blood clotting factors. This causes the blood not to clot properly. What makes it so dangerous is that it has a very small therapeutic window, which means that if you take a little more than the suggested dose there can be serious consequences. This can be fatal when prescribed to older individuals, which it often is, who have problems remembering. Take your pills, forget you took them and take them again, spells disaster and can lead to serious internal bleeding and even death. Warfarin is so effective at preventing clots that any minor fall needs attention because of the risk of bleeding. Even if you don’t fall, one of the main side effects is severe bleeding, internal and external. It also has a whole list of other side effects, along with a long list of drug, herb and food interactions.

My friend asked specifically about warfarin, so I wanted to focus on that, but I did want to give a little information about other blood thinners that are used. Aspirin is the most commonly prescribed blood thinner. It works by decreasing prostaglandin G/H synthase which suppresses platelets ability to make thromboxanes therefore inhibiting blood clots. Long term use of aspirin can cause stomach irritation, stomach bleeding, ulcers and liver toxicity. Plavix (brand name clopidogrel) is another common blood thinner, last year bringing in 9.2 billion dollars in sales. It works by inhibiting ADP-induced platelet aggregation and has similar side effects as other prescription blood thinners.

Alternatives to Blood Thinners

Rather than addressing the symptom of an unhealthy lifestyle (blood clots), we should be striving to address the problem. A healthy diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, getting adequate sleep and making healthy lifestyle choices are all necessary to maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system and keeping our blood vessels clot-free. If we do this then we won’t need to worry about blood thinners. For added insurance, below is a list of other ways to make sure your blood remains a safe and healthy viscosity.

Eat foods high in salicylates: Salicylates block vitamin K, which helps to coagulate the blood. Prunes, cherries, cranberries, blueberries, grapes and strawberries are all foods that are high in salicylates.

Increase your intake of Omega-3s:  Omega-3 fatty acids help to thin the blood by decreasing cholesterol, making it less likely to clot. Foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, lake trout, mackerel, flax seeds, avocados and sesame seeds. Supplements are also available.

Drink more water: 55% of blood is made of plasma and 90% of plasma is water. Dehydration effects all areas of the body, including your blood, so to keep your blood flowing smoothly, make sure to drink plenty of water.

Exercise: Exercise helps to increase blood flow and decrease clotting, so get up and get moving.

More B6: Vitamin B6 has been shown to decrease excessive clotting. You can take a supplement or just increase your intake of food containing B6 such as whole grains, sweet potatoes and legumes.

Supplement with Vitamin E: Vitamin E has been shown to be as effective at thinning the blood as prescription medications.

Herbs

Hawthorn: Hawthorn is an amazing tonic that helps to normalize the function of the cardiovascular system. It decreases the risk of developing coronary disease by dilating the coronary arteries so that blood can flow more freely and it protects the blood vessels from oxidative damage.

Ginkgo: Ginkgo helps to improve blood flow in many ways. First, ginkgolides, especially ginkgolide B, decreases platelet activating factor (PAF) and therefore reduces blood viscosity allowing blood to flow smoothly. It also acts as a vasodilator, improving circulation.  

Garlic: Garlic helps to decrease serum cholesterol and prevent peroxidation of fats which, in turn, decreases the buildup of arterial plaque. 9 different substance in garlic effectively inhibits platelet activating factor and thin the blood.

Ginger: Ginger decreases platelet aggregation and its antioxidants keep cholesterol and blood fats from forming plaque in the blood vessels.

Turmeric: Turmeric can decrease the buildup of arterial plaque that can cause stroke and heart attacks.

Overall, there are many ways to thin the blood; however if the main goal is to prevent a heart attack or a stroke, the best way is by strengthening and tonifying the entire cardiovascular system, not just by thinning the blood. I hope you have found this helpful and my next post will be about blood pressure medications.

Sources

Duke, J. A. (2000). The green pharmacy herbal handbook: your comprehensive reference to the best herbs for healing. Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Reach.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: the science and practice of herbal medicine.

Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.

Rybacki, J. J. (2004). The Essential guide to prescription drugs 2004 (Pbk. ed.). New

York, NY: HarperResource.

http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=page.view&pid=12

http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/blood-thinners-anticoagulants.html

http://www.forresthealth.com/Coumadin-Alternatives/

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginger-000246.htm

http://www.healtharticles101.com/top-10-natural-blood-thinners-for-thick-blood/

Using Herbal Remedies for Kids

So often kids and babies are overlooked in the application of herbal remedies, which is unfortunate.  I think that herbs are often not an option for parents because there is a lack of knowledge about plant medicine and a lack of preparation. Today I would like to provide a little information to parents about the use of herbal remedies with their children and suggest a few herbs to have on hand for when your child gets sick.


There are many reasons why herbs should be used in children. First, their sensitive little bodies respond so well to the mellow and soft effects of herbs. This healing response to herbs is almost inborn, stemming from thousands of years of use. Second, where herbs have historically been proven safe, the long term effects of most pharmaceuticals are unknown. There is such a wide use of drugs without adequate knowledge of their effects. New drugs should only be considered safe once enough time has passed to see the true long term effects. Is this risk of using possibly unsafe pharmaceuticals a chance you are willing to take with your children? Herbs may be slower acting and less potent than pharmaceuticals, but herbs don't upset the natural balance of these tiny bodies.


So often people think of herb and western allopathic medicine as ether one or the other. But herbal medicine can work as an alternative or complementary to western medicine. If you plan on mixing western pharmaceuticals with herbs I suggest consulting you doctor or herbalist first to make sure there are no interactions. Using herbs as an alternative doesn't mean ignoring what your physician has to say. We can take the information they provide us with, for instance their diagnostic skills, and then apply a more natural means of treatment. It's also important to know when it's time to seek professional medical treatment. When there is severe trauma or severe or worsening infection, please seek professional medical help. It is better to be safe than sorry.


There is often a concern regarding the safety of herbal remedies. The recommended herbs for children are ones that are mild and gentle and have been used on children for thousands of years; however, it is important to be clear that even the safest and most researched herbs can cause a reaction in some people. I recommend doing a dose test to be sure your child or even you for that matter won't have an allergic reaction to an herbal remedy. To do so, make a tea from the herb. Then apply a small amount to the inner arm. I usually do it to a small patch of skin in between the wrist and elbow. Wait 24 hours. If you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, discontinue use and you now know that this is not an herbal remedy to be used. If there are no signs of an allergic reaction, try a small amount internally. Again, if there are signs of allergic reaction, discontinue use; otherwise it should be ok to receive the herb at a regular dose.


The next question becomes, what is the appropriate dose for a child. I prefer to use Clark's Rule to determine dosage for children. Clark's Rule is as stated:


                      Child's weight in pounds ÷ 150 (average adult weight) = % of adult dose


So if a child weighs 35 pounds and the adult dose of a tincture is 5ml, the equation would be solved as follows:
  
                     35 ÷ 150 = .23 which would be 23% of the adult dose
                     .23 x 5ml = 1.15 ml would be the child's dose


This equation can be used for any preparation of herbs. If the child is still breast feeding, the best way for them to get the healing properties of herbs is through the mother's milk. The mother should drink several cups of herbal tea a day.

Now that you know the how to calculate dosage for children, it is important to know what herbs to have on hand. Making sure that you are prepared, is the one thing that makes herbal medicine successful with kids. As soon as you recognize the warning signs to sickness, start treatment immediately. Fatigue and dehydration are two issues that often lead to illness. Some herbs to have on hand include:

• Astragalus
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Echinacea
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Lemon balm
• Licorice root
• Marshmallow root
• Mullen
• Nettles
• Oats
• Peppermint
• Thyme

These herbs have been used safely for thousands of years and are invaluable when it comes to treatment of health issues in children. There are also many methods of application that can be useful and easy to get children to take. An herbal tea is very healing and can also be made into popsicles or herbal jello as other ways to get kids to take herbs. Adding small amounts of fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate to the tea can make them more palatable to children. You can also take the tea and add it to a bath. We absorb more through the skin then we realize. There are also herbal candies, and tasty syrups that are kid friendly. Alcohol based tinctures can also be used for children. If you are worried about the alcohol content in the tincture you can evaporate the alcohol by adding the tincture dose to 1/4 cup of hot water and letting it sit on the counter uncovered for several minutes. You can also purchase glycerin extracts of the herbs that are more kid friendly.


Overall, herbs are an excellent contribution to the health of children. They can be used as an alternative or in conjunction to western medicine. Treating your children via natural means is a great way, as parents, to get more involved in the health of your children and focus more on prevention. Be sure not to underestimate the healing power of a little TLC and some rest. That alone can be enough to heal the worst sickness. If you would like to know more about natural healing for children, any of the books listed below are wonderful tools for parents. 

Sources

Gladstar, R. (2001). Family herbal: a guide to living with energy, health and vitality. North Adams, MA: Storey Books.

Romm, A. (1996). Natural healing for babies and children. Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press.

 Romm, A. (2003). Naturally healthy babies and children: a commonsense guide to herbal remedies, nutrition and health. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.

Stop the Itch with Natural Remedies for Athlete's foot

Athlete's foot, or tinea pedis, is a fungus that can be itchy and bothersome. It can cause cracking and peeling between the toes and on the sides of the feet with red, itchy patches. It is contagious and can be spread on pool decks and public showers. So this summer let's try and keep our feet free of athlete's foot with ways to prevent and ways to get rid of this nasty fungus.

For preventing athlete's foot, first and foremost wear flip flops on pool decks and in public showers. I'm not a germaphobe but there is something about my feet touching the floor of public showers that makes me cringe every time. Tinea pedis thrives in moist, warm conditions so be sure to thoroughly dry your feet after you get out of the shower. Be meticulous and dry in between your toes. Some suggest getting the hair dryer out so that you can make sure those feet are dry. Expose your feet to as much sunlight and fresh air as possible by wearing flip flops and sandals. Also take a pass on wearing socks made from synthetic fibers or pantyhose.


Topically, there are many things you can do to get rid of Athlete's foot. My favorite is to do a foot soak in half vinegar and half warm water for about 15 minutes. It may sting at first but keep with it because after several consecutive days of soaks the fungus will go away. Make sure you thoroughly dry your feet after they are done soaking. I also suggest rubbing several drops of lavender essential oil and several drops of tea tree essential oil directly on the affected area. This blend of oils can also be put on a cotton ball and then rubbed on the inside of your shoes, helping to get rid of any lingering fungus and bad smells. Garlic is another ally against foot fungus. Garlic powder can be sprinkled on you feet and in your shoes or fresh garlic can be dipped in a little olive oil and applied directly to the foot. Be careful when you are using fresh garlic because it may burn the skin.

If athlete's foot continues to be a reoccurring problem it may be time to address any internal fungal overgrowths that might be present. Take probiotics to help replenish your good bacteria. Pau d'arco and black walnut are two stand out herbs that can be taken both internally and externally to help with fungal infections of all sorts. Echinacea may also be helpful to boost the immune system.

Don't let the itchy redness of athlete's foot continue. With these tried and tested tips, you are bound to have happy feet.


Sources

Duke, J. A. (2000). The green pharmacy herbal handbook: your comprehensive reference

to the best herbs for healing. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Reach.

Gladstar, R. (2001). Rosemary Gladstar's family herbal: a guide to living life with

energy, health, and vitality. North Adams, Mass.: Storey Books.

Battaglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane:

International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy.

Fontaine, K. L. (2005). Complementary & alternative therapies for nursing practice (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001878/