Natural Cures for Sinus Infection in Children
There’s nothing more disturbing, especially to a parent, than to watch your little one sick, unable to breathe properly. We’ve all had that overwhelming desire to find and do something that would help our child to feel better from a sinus infection. Our readers have sent us many suggestions and reports on what worked – or didn’t – for them.
What are Sinus Infections?
Sinus infections, or sinusitis, occur when the moist air spaces around the nose become irritated and swollen. Usually sinusitis follows on the heels of colds or bouts with allergies and is a very common ailment. There are four sets of sinuses, or hollow spaces. They are lined with mucous membranes that are the same as those lining the nose and mouth. When nasal passages become swollen and produce more mucus, the sinuses do as well. When mucus cannot drain from the sinuses because the drainage system is blocked, the mucus becomes trapped in the sinuses. This becomes a breeding ground for viruses, bacteria and fungi. The initial cold has now become a sinus infection.
Symptoms
The symptoms for sinusitis vary according to the age of the child. Young children often have colds and a slight fever. However, if a fever develops 5-7 days after the onset of the cold symptoms, this indicates an infection has set in. The infection might be sinusitis, but could also signal the development of pneumonia or another infection, so get a diagnosis from your doctor.
Kids don’t develop the sinuses in the forehead until they are 6-7 years old. These particular sinuses aren’t formed sufficiently to get infected until the child is a young teen. So a pre-teen with a cold and a headache probably does not have a sinus infection.
The most common symptom of sinusitis in teens is that cough that won’t get better. This normally starts about a week after the beginning of the cold, the fever, congestion and ear ache. Teens may also suffer from headaches, nausea and pain behind the eyes.
Natural Remedies for Sinus Infections in Children
The goal of sinusitis treatment is to eliminate the infection and to relieve inflammation and clear the nasal passage to make breathing easier. Lowering the risk of developing sinus infections or reducing their frequency is important. When the sinus infections do develop, there are a number of effective natural remedies.
Prevent and Treat Sinus Infections with Moisture
Prevent your home from becoming abnormally dry during the winter heating season. Use a humidifier with a few drops of Eucalyptus or Rosemary Essential Oil and keep the humidity in the home at 45-50%. Keeping the sinuses moist makes them less prone to infection. Don’t forget to clean the humidifier often to prevent the growth of mold.
Once the sinus infection has taken hold, use a steamy shower before bed to help the child feel less congested. During the day, you can just fill the bathroom with steam from the running shower and spend time in the bathroom with the child.
Don’t forget to teach the child to wash his or her hands thoroughly and often (as well as everyone else in the home).
Saline Rinse
Irrigating nasal passages with a mixture of sea salt and water helps to loosen mucus and eliminate infection.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Organic apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular treatments for sinus infections. Use 1-2 teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water twice a day (honey optional). Some children refuse to drink the vinegar water, so ACV capsules might be an option.
There are many successful treatments for children’s sinus infections. Please share your favorites with us!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Respiratory Virus (EV-D68) Remedies for Children
Respiratory Virus (EV-D68) Remedies for Children
by Mama to Many
September 15, 2014
A respiratory virus is going around my community and my family. A couple of friends have mentioned the possibility of it being EV-D68, that enterovirus that’s been putting young children into the hospital. I looked up the symptoms and such and it certainly seems to look like that, but we haven’t had it tested nor am I a doctor.
What the CDC and Other Websites Are Saying About EV-D68
Enteroviruses are typically found in the gastrointestinal tract and may spread to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system. I read that these RNA viruses cause 68 different illnesses, including polio and hepatitis A, but this virus most often resembles a severe cold.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that: “Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is one of many non-polio enteroviruses. This virus was first identified in California in 1962, but it has not been commonly reported in the United States.” The CDC further stated that EV-D68 is primarily affecting children because they have not yet developed immunity from previous exposures to these viruses.
What was surprising to me was how many websites described the symptoms, causes, concerns etc. and went on to say that, “there is no treatment.” The peoples’ comments were often of fear and concern that they would get this virus “that has no known treatment.” It is a virus which antibiotics would not cure. There is no vaccine. There is rather an attitude of, “Oh, no, what will we do?”
Now, I am not blowing off concern for this sickness. Anything that is putting significant numbers of children into the hospital is a concern. And even a mild cold is a concern for the very young, the elderly and those with other health problems.
Frankly, I was dismayed that mainstream health websites could only offer the suggestion of “hand-washing to prevent the spread of the disease.” While I agree that this is a great first step, there are TONS of things that can be done, in my non-medical opinion, to fight this virus!
My Family’s Experience With This Virus
I don’t know if this is the virus we have going on at our house, but if it isn’t the same, it is surely similar. I will share some of what we are doing in case it would be helpful to anyone else.
In the last few weeks, several of us have had the beginnings of a cold. The first thing I do is to start giving people with cold symptoms lots of Vitamin C – 5 grams of it at a time, at least 3 times a day. I have been using Nutribiotic Electro-C for this and find it is tolerated well by my family. 1 teaspoon has about 6 grams of C, plus some other vitamins, and it is non-GMO.
Vitamin C alone seemed to fend off whatever was going on with several people and I thought nothing more of it.
Then I started to feel unwell. I was taking Vitamin C, but not a lot. I was also busy and not doing what I ought to have been doing (resting, fluids etc.). So on Tuesday, I woke up with a miserable sinus infection. I rarely get sinus infections. The headache from it was debilitating. I tried Earth Clinic’s remedy of salt, hydrogen peroxide and water in a neti-pot. Wow! That was amazing! I could immediately clear my head of all kinds of junk. I have repeated this treatment a couple of times a day since. I love this remedy. It is cheap, and easily available to so many.
My daughter, who has a history of asthma (including one hospitalization for it), had no warning of sickness coming on. She woke up with a fever, wheezing and nausea. I had her taking vitamin C, though not as much as I would have liked. (She was pretty picky about her fluids that day.) I also started using her nebulizer to give her breathing treatments. I was watching her like a hawk, very concerned that we were going to be going to the emergency room after all. We tried several different things in the nebulizer: colloidal silver, albuterol and very much diluted hydrogen peroxide. I do use a pulse-oxygen meter on her to check her oxygen levels.
Interestingly, the hydrogen peroxide helped her oxygen numbers the most, even more than prescription albuterol. We mixed 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide and 35 drops of distilled water in the medicine cup of the nebulizer. Epsom Salt baths usually made her feel better for a while (1 cup per bath, with some lavender essential oil). She would drink an herbal tea I had made for her. (The recipe is below.)
She remained stable, but her breathing was not great. Finally, I realized, "She isn't really wheezing," and started thinking I needed to treat the virus aspect more. So before she went to bed, I gave her Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I also gave her some Natural Calm, a magnesium supplement, since the Epsom Salt baths seem to help her a lot. She ended up sleeping all night. No coughing or wheezing. The next day, I focused on antivirals (Coconut Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract and Vitamin C). We continued with the nebulizer, but just a few more times.
My Treatment for this Virus
I am continuing to give my whole household Coconut Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract and Vitamin C, whether sick or well! Here is what I do:
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil – 1 Tablespoon three times a day for adults, 1 teaspoon 3 times a day for smaller children. Use an in-between dose for older children and teens. It is food and I don’t worry about giving “too much.”
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) – 2 drops in 3 ounces of juice for small children, 3-4 times a day. Give 1 tablet to everyone else, also 3-4 times a day.
Vitamin C – given 3-4 times a day. Ideally, use 5 grams each time. More can be taken and it can be taken to “bowel tolerance.”
Garlic Oil – I was rubbing this on my daughter’s back, over the lung area, hourly, the day she was the worst. I put a few drops into the ears at the first sign of ear pain.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil – for night time coughing, 1 drop of Eucalyptus Essential Oil on a cotton ball near the head of whoever is coughing. I couldn’t find the Eucalyptus Essential Oil one night, so I rubbed a drop of Pine Essential Oil onto the bottom of the feet of my three year old who was coughing a bit. He didn’t cough again all night.
Diluted Hydrogen Peroxide in the nebulizer – 5 drops hydrogen peroxide plus 35 drops distilled water, nebulized several times a day for those with a severe cough. I was using it even more often for my daughter on her worst day.
Mama to Many’s Cough Tea Recipe (use dry leaves)
Place leaves into a quart mason jar. Add boiling water. Let tea sit for 15 minutes. Strain through a coffee filter. Adults drink 1-2 quarts a day. Children drink 1-3 cups per day.
There are SO MANY other things that could be used instead of or in addition to the recipe above. For example, you could use Colloidal Silver, Elderberry Syrup, Hot Vinegar Tea, etc. etc. etc.
Links for More Information
For more information and ideas on treating specific symptoms of EV-D68 or any cold virus, please see the following links.
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/colds.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/coughs.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/sinus_infection.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/ear-ache-remedies5.html
~Mama to Many~
------------------------------------------------------
Did you try Mama's remedies or do you have a natural cure for respiratory viruses like EV-D68? Please share your feedback with us!
by Mama to Many
September 15, 2014
A respiratory virus is going around my community and my family. A couple of friends have mentioned the possibility of it being EV-D68, that enterovirus that’s been putting young children into the hospital. I looked up the symptoms and such and it certainly seems to look like that, but we haven’t had it tested nor am I a doctor.
What the CDC and Other Websites Are Saying About EV-D68
Enteroviruses are typically found in the gastrointestinal tract and may spread to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system. I read that these RNA viruses cause 68 different illnesses, including polio and hepatitis A, but this virus most often resembles a severe cold.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that: “Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is one of many non-polio enteroviruses. This virus was first identified in California in 1962, but it has not been commonly reported in the United States.” The CDC further stated that EV-D68 is primarily affecting children because they have not yet developed immunity from previous exposures to these viruses.
What was surprising to me was how many websites described the symptoms, causes, concerns etc. and went on to say that, “there is no treatment.” The peoples’ comments were often of fear and concern that they would get this virus “that has no known treatment.” It is a virus which antibiotics would not cure. There is no vaccine. There is rather an attitude of, “Oh, no, what will we do?”
Now, I am not blowing off concern for this sickness. Anything that is putting significant numbers of children into the hospital is a concern. And even a mild cold is a concern for the very young, the elderly and those with other health problems.
Frankly, I was dismayed that mainstream health websites could only offer the suggestion of “hand-washing to prevent the spread of the disease.” While I agree that this is a great first step, there are TONS of things that can be done, in my non-medical opinion, to fight this virus!
My Family’s Experience With This Virus
I don’t know if this is the virus we have going on at our house, but if it isn’t the same, it is surely similar. I will share some of what we are doing in case it would be helpful to anyone else.
In the last few weeks, several of us have had the beginnings of a cold. The first thing I do is to start giving people with cold symptoms lots of Vitamin C – 5 grams of it at a time, at least 3 times a day. I have been using Nutribiotic Electro-C for this and find it is tolerated well by my family. 1 teaspoon has about 6 grams of C, plus some other vitamins, and it is non-GMO.
Vitamin C alone seemed to fend off whatever was going on with several people and I thought nothing more of it.
Then I started to feel unwell. I was taking Vitamin C, but not a lot. I was also busy and not doing what I ought to have been doing (resting, fluids etc.). So on Tuesday, I woke up with a miserable sinus infection. I rarely get sinus infections. The headache from it was debilitating. I tried Earth Clinic’s remedy of salt, hydrogen peroxide and water in a neti-pot. Wow! That was amazing! I could immediately clear my head of all kinds of junk. I have repeated this treatment a couple of times a day since. I love this remedy. It is cheap, and easily available to so many.
My daughter, who has a history of asthma (including one hospitalization for it), had no warning of sickness coming on. She woke up with a fever, wheezing and nausea. I had her taking vitamin C, though not as much as I would have liked. (She was pretty picky about her fluids that day.) I also started using her nebulizer to give her breathing treatments. I was watching her like a hawk, very concerned that we were going to be going to the emergency room after all. We tried several different things in the nebulizer: colloidal silver, albuterol and very much diluted hydrogen peroxide. I do use a pulse-oxygen meter on her to check her oxygen levels.
Interestingly, the hydrogen peroxide helped her oxygen numbers the most, even more than prescription albuterol. We mixed 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide and 35 drops of distilled water in the medicine cup of the nebulizer. Epsom Salt baths usually made her feel better for a while (1 cup per bath, with some lavender essential oil). She would drink an herbal tea I had made for her. (The recipe is below.)
She remained stable, but her breathing was not great. Finally, I realized, "She isn't really wheezing," and started thinking I needed to treat the virus aspect more. So before she went to bed, I gave her Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I also gave her some Natural Calm, a magnesium supplement, since the Epsom Salt baths seem to help her a lot. She ended up sleeping all night. No coughing or wheezing. The next day, I focused on antivirals (Coconut Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract and Vitamin C). We continued with the nebulizer, but just a few more times.
My Treatment for this Virus
I am continuing to give my whole household Coconut Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract and Vitamin C, whether sick or well! Here is what I do:
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil – 1 Tablespoon three times a day for adults, 1 teaspoon 3 times a day for smaller children. Use an in-between dose for older children and teens. It is food and I don’t worry about giving “too much.”
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) – 2 drops in 3 ounces of juice for small children, 3-4 times a day. Give 1 tablet to everyone else, also 3-4 times a day.
Vitamin C – given 3-4 times a day. Ideally, use 5 grams each time. More can be taken and it can be taken to “bowel tolerance.”
Garlic Oil – I was rubbing this on my daughter’s back, over the lung area, hourly, the day she was the worst. I put a few drops into the ears at the first sign of ear pain.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil – for night time coughing, 1 drop of Eucalyptus Essential Oil on a cotton ball near the head of whoever is coughing. I couldn’t find the Eucalyptus Essential Oil one night, so I rubbed a drop of Pine Essential Oil onto the bottom of the feet of my three year old who was coughing a bit. He didn’t cough again all night.
Diluted Hydrogen Peroxide in the nebulizer – 5 drops hydrogen peroxide plus 35 drops distilled water, nebulized several times a day for those with a severe cough. I was using it even more often for my daughter on her worst day.
Mama to Many’s Cough Tea Recipe (use dry leaves)
- 1 Tablespoon Mullein Leaf
- 1 Tablespoon Hyssop
- 1 Tablespoon Peppermint (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon Comfrey
- 1 teaspoon stevia leaf (optional)
Place leaves into a quart mason jar. Add boiling water. Let tea sit for 15 minutes. Strain through a coffee filter. Adults drink 1-2 quarts a day. Children drink 1-3 cups per day.
There are SO MANY other things that could be used instead of or in addition to the recipe above. For example, you could use Colloidal Silver, Elderberry Syrup, Hot Vinegar Tea, etc. etc. etc.
Links for More Information
For more information and ideas on treating specific symptoms of EV-D68 or any cold virus, please see the following links.
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/colds.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/coughs.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/sinus_infection.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/ear-ache-remedies5.html
~Mama to Many~
------------------------------------------------------
Did you try Mama's remedies or do you have a natural cure for respiratory viruses like EV-D68? Please share your feedback with us!
3 Ways to Grow Longer Eyelashes Naturally
3 Ways to Grow Longer Eyelashes Naturally 
Who doesn’t want longer lashes? I love having long lashes and if I can get them without using the toxic glues needed for fake eyelashes (that often fall off) or chemicals in store bought mascaras, that’s perfect! Natural is always the best way and you can look very pretty and natural by working on growing your own lashes naturally. So here’s 3 great ways to grow longer eyelashes naturally that I have found to help.
Fake lashes are pretty popular, but I don’t like using the fake lashes, even for special occasions because they tend to not look very natural looking and plus, I don’ t like that you have to apply the glue to your skin. Yuck, who knows what kinds of chemicals are in that and it’s especially not good, because you have to put it so close to your eye and the skin around the eye area is super sensitive.
Sometime last year, in the fall or so, I started experimenting with using different methods to grow longer eyelashes naturally! So, I wanted to share an update with the ones I’ve been experimenting with and how they’ve been working!
I’ve been using a combination of 3 ways to grow longer eyelashes, using castor oil, a homemade eyelash boosting mixture, and massage! As you can see in my before and after picture (below at the end of the post) my eyelashes have definitely grown! That’s me in the picture above, it was taken about 2 weeks ago and you can see how great my eyelashes are looking! I’m so happy with the results!
I think using castor oil has worked wonders for helping to grow my eyelashes! Castor oil is used not only for increasing growth of eyelashes, but also for growing your hair and for eyebrows too! It contains beneficial antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which in combination with a rich source of nutrients aids in encouraging hair growth.
How to Use it:
Make sure to use a natural and hexane-free brand of castor oil (I use this one). To use it, just wash your eye area until it is clean of any makeup or products. Then, use either your finger or a cotton swab to lightly apply the castor oil from the roots of the eyelashes to the ends of the lashes. You only need a drop or two to cover the lashes for each eye, a little goes a long way. Apply the castor oil at least a few times a week.
I was reading about the benefits of using lavender essential oil and how it can increase eyelash growth so, I made this quick DIY recipe to use on my eyelashes. Lavender essential oil helps get rid of harmful free radicals and has been shown to help significantly increase hair growth. One study found that in 86 patients who use lavender to treat hair loss, over 44% saw significant hair growth. Coconut oil is a perfect carrier oil to mix it with because it is soothing and nutrient rich, plus it’s antibacterial and antimicrobirial.
What you need:
How to Use it:
Mix the coconut oil and lavender together and use your finger or a cotton swab to apply it along your eyelash roots down to the ends of your eyelashes.
Massaging the eyelid area and near the lashes helps increase blood flow and circulation, which encourages your lashes to grow! This made perfect sense to me when I found this tip as I also do it for my hair! Every night I massage my scalp to help increase hair growth.
How to Do it:
Just use your fingers (be sure to wash your hands first) to gently massage the eyelid area along the lashes. Preferably, do it once a day or at least a few times a week.
I’ve been using each one of these methods 2 to 3 times a week for almost a year. Sometimes I occasionally forgot to do it or had a busy week, but for the most part, I tried to do each one at least 2 times a week. Note: Even though they’re longer, I don’t think they have grown much thicker. It’s hard to tell.
I’m very happy with my results! My eyelashes have definitely grown noticeably longer. In the picture above, I do have mascara on; it’s my all natural homemade mascara, which I think definitely helps my lashes to look even longer too! So, I think it’s a combination of both that has given me such great results!
It’s been almost a year since I started using these natural ways to grow longer eyelashes. But, you don’t need to wait that long to see results. I think within 1 month and definitely by 3 months, I noticed longer lashes!
Have you tried any natural ways to grow longer eyelashes?
Who doesn’t want longer lashes? I love having long lashes and if I can get them without using the toxic glues needed for fake eyelashes (that often fall off) or chemicals in store bought mascaras, that’s perfect! Natural is always the best way and you can look very pretty and natural by working on growing your own lashes naturally. So here’s 3 great ways to grow longer eyelashes naturally that I have found to help.Fake lashes are pretty popular, but I don’t like using the fake lashes, even for special occasions because they tend to not look very natural looking and plus, I don’ t like that you have to apply the glue to your skin. Yuck, who knows what kinds of chemicals are in that and it’s especially not good, because you have to put it so close to your eye and the skin around the eye area is super sensitive.
Sometime last year, in the fall or so, I started experimenting with using different methods to grow longer eyelashes naturally! So, I wanted to share an update with the ones I’ve been experimenting with and how they’ve been working!
I’ve been using a combination of 3 ways to grow longer eyelashes, using castor oil, a homemade eyelash boosting mixture, and massage! As you can see in my before and after picture (below at the end of the post) my eyelashes have definitely grown! That’s me in the picture above, it was taken about 2 weeks ago and you can see how great my eyelashes are looking! I’m so happy with the results!
Here are the 3 Ways to Grow longer Eyelashes Naturally:
1. Castor Oil
I think using castor oil has worked wonders for helping to grow my eyelashes! Castor oil is used not only for increasing growth of eyelashes, but also for growing your hair and for eyebrows too! It contains beneficial antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which in combination with a rich source of nutrients aids in encouraging hair growth.
How to Use it:
Make sure to use a natural and hexane-free brand of castor oil (I use this one). To use it, just wash your eye area until it is clean of any makeup or products. Then, use either your finger or a cotton swab to lightly apply the castor oil from the roots of the eyelashes to the ends of the lashes. You only need a drop or two to cover the lashes for each eye, a little goes a long way. Apply the castor oil at least a few times a week.
2. DIY Eyelash Growth Boosting Recipe (using coconut oil and lavender essential oil)
I was reading about the benefits of using lavender essential oil and how it can increase eyelash growth so, I made this quick DIY recipe to use on my eyelashes. Lavender essential oil helps get rid of harmful free radicals and has been shown to help significantly increase hair growth. One study found that in 86 patients who use lavender to treat hair loss, over 44% saw significant hair growth. Coconut oil is a perfect carrier oil to mix it with because it is soothing and nutrient rich, plus it’s antibacterial and antimicrobirial.
What you need:
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil (see it here)
- 2-4 drops lavender essential oil (see where I get essential oils)
How to Use it:
Mix the coconut oil and lavender together and use your finger or a cotton swab to apply it along your eyelash roots down to the ends of your eyelashes.
3. Massage Eyelids
Massaging the eyelid area and near the lashes helps increase blood flow and circulation, which encourages your lashes to grow! This made perfect sense to me when I found this tip as I also do it for my hair! Every night I massage my scalp to help increase hair growth.
How to Do it:
Just use your fingers (be sure to wash your hands first) to gently massage the eyelid area along the lashes. Preferably, do it once a day or at least a few times a week.
My results:
I’ve been using each one of these methods 2 to 3 times a week for almost a year. Sometimes I occasionally forgot to do it or had a busy week, but for the most part, I tried to do each one at least 2 times a week. Note: Even though they’re longer, I don’t think they have grown much thicker. It’s hard to tell.
I’m very happy with my results! My eyelashes have definitely grown noticeably longer. In the picture above, I do have mascara on; it’s my all natural homemade mascara, which I think definitely helps my lashes to look even longer too! So, I think it’s a combination of both that has given me such great results!
How long does it take to see results?
It’s been almost a year since I started using these natural ways to grow longer eyelashes. But, you don’t need to wait that long to see results. I think within 1 month and definitely by 3 months, I noticed longer lashes!
Have you tried any natural ways to grow longer eyelashes?