December 10, 2009

Simple Home Remedies

'Tis the season.
For runny noses, coughs, and colds.

There is nothing I hate more than having to run one of my kids, in the dead of winter, while dragging all the others through three feet of snow to sit in a waiting room full of other sick kids to see the doctor. Usually its just an ear infection or a bad cough anyway! Not to mention that I personally don't have time to get sick and don't always have the inclination to run out in the negative degree weather to get myself some medicine.
So, I thought I would share the two best home remedies ever! My mom used them on me and that I in turn, use on my kids. I always try these first before I take them in to see the doc. And 99% of the time, the home remedies work.

First up, garlic oil. This stuff is truly amazing. Garlic acts as a antibiotic, anti fungal, anti parasitic, and antiviral agent. But how do you put that to use on your little tiny ones? Simple. That's where the olive oil comes in.

How to make:
Place a small saucepan on the stove and coat the bottom with olive oil. About 1/4 to 1/3 cup. Then thinly slice about two large or three small garlic cloves and put them in the oil. Heat the oil just until its barely hot then turn off the stove. The biggest thing is that you don't want to cook the garlic, just make the oil hot enough to draw the garlic juices out. Just let it sit there while it cools down enough to use. Once its done, discard the garlic pieces.
How to use:

If you are using this on a baby, and I have used it on mine before, several times, always do a test run on the bottom of their feet just to make sure they have no kind of reaction. Just apply a coat and put on their socks. Their skin will absorb the garlic and the oil and finds its way to the infection. If they have no reaction, and mine never have, I have rubbed a little on their chest and back before. I know, not the most pleasant smelling, but it works awesome.

For an ear infection, simply use a medicine dropper to drip two or three drops into their ears and put a little piece of cotton in to keep it from dripping out. You can use this on yourself as well. Its works like a charm. If I'm not sure if my baby has an ear infection or not, I've put it in their ears anyway. Its doesn't hurt them at all and if there is an infection anywhere, the garlic will find it.
Then just store the extra in a glass container.


My second home remedy. Homemade lemonade. (NOTE: You can only use this on children over the age of one year as this contains honey)

This stuff is awesome if you or your kids have a cough or chest congestion. You know when you go to the store and buy cough drops that are lemon honey flavor? Well, honey helps stop the coughing while the lemon breaks up all the congestion. Of course, I did give this recipe to a friend who tried it and woke up in the middle of the night coughing up a bunch of mucus. But the next day, she fell a million times better.
If you or your kids cough a lot a night, try eating a spoonful of raw honey followed by a small glass of warm water.

How to make:

Simple. Peel a lemon and put it in a blender and add about three cups of water. Blend thoroughly. Strain out all the pulp, rinse the blender, then place the lemonade back into the blender. Add about 4 tablespoons of raw honey and blend thoroughly.


At this point you can taste test and decide if you would like to add more honey or water. Drink and let it work its magic. Its best to make it fresh every time rather than make a bunch and store it.

I always have garlic and lemons on hand, just in case.

So there you have it. Happy Healing!

10 super cool people speak:

Sara Lyn said...

Thanks! Great remedies.

Wonder Woman said...

I've never heard of the garlic oil thing. My youngest has a runny nose right now.....maybe I'll pick up some fresh garlic today.

Have I told you that I love the "me or the house" phrase on the bottom of your header? I used to have a memo pad that said that. It was my favorite.

ldsjaneite said...

Good to know if my water is not quite enough to help me through. I just recently learned about the garlic and the feet thing. What's interesting is you're also supposed to be able to taste it about 15 minutes later. But I love the use for the ears. I had enough earaches as a child and this would have given my mother much peace of mind.

Seth said...

Interesting that you emphasized not cooking the garlic. I just read an article the other day saying that fresh crushed garlic is better than cooked or dried because it generates hydrogen sulfide, which can help your heart, etc. (though excessive hydrogen sulfide is poisonous, just to clarify). Yeah, anyway..

So, is garlic oil good on popcorn?

Mama Smith said...

There are SO MANY "HOME REMEDIES"...I do believe with all my heart...that studying herbs and such...will be NEEDFUL...My mother had a friend who was from JAPAN...My mother was ill and he said...he knew just what she needed to help her get better...He went out into the yard, cut up a few different "medicinal" herbs...brewed her up a tea...She was STUNNED how well she felt afterwards...His only comment was this..."In Japan, we don't have a pharmacy on every corner. We learned how to use plants to take care of most of our needs for health." We saved HUNDREDS of DOLLARS by using such simple remedies that Sarah just posted...plus HOURS SAVED...and NIGHTS that we were able to SLEEP more comfortably...

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Tell you what Seth, make a batch of garlic oil popcorn and let me know. I'll even let you guest post! LOL!

Sharlynn R. Heinitz said...

My 7 month old son has a really bad cold right now...runny nose, coughs, the works...I'm excited to try the garlic remedy on him, but I'm just wondering how many times you put the oil on a day? Just once or more? Thanks!

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Hey Sharlynn, sorry to hear about the little guy. That's always so sad.
When my kids were pretty sick at that age, I would rub some on 2-3 times a day. Once in the morning, again in the afternoon, then right before bed in the evening.
I hope he starts feeling better soon!

Brittney said...

ha, i love the sequence of posts here... practical home remedies, and then 5.5 inch heels!

Random thing I noticed - you have the same pot as me - did you get it on a Walmart special with a bunch of other pots?

This sounds interesting.. I have to say I am a medicine girl having grown up with a nurse for a mom, but I'd be interested in trying some home remedies. I do believe strongly in eating healthily, exercising, and getting lots of sleep to prevent sickness because I haven't had to take one ounce of medicine my whole pregnancy! Maybe when sickness does get along I should follow some of the same "natural" treatment methods.

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

LOL! Brittany, you are too funny. But its true. Home remedies and heels. Maybe that should be my blog title!

My dad is a medicine guy and my mom is a natural nut. I like to think that I meet somewhere happily in the middle. Because I use both. =)

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