If you are reading this I imagine you are a concerned mama (or papa) trying to keep everyone in your household alive during flu season. I definitely hear ya. We went through it a few years ago, and it is still pretty sharp in my mind. This post explains what I learned about supporting my family with natural remedies while they healed from the flu – without pharmaceutical intervention.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for products I use and love. I make a very small commission if you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. 

Natural Support for the Flu Ridden Family

OK, first things first because I know it will be asked. NO- we do not get the flu shot. And besides that one horrible flu season a few years ago, my kids never had the flu. This blog post explains in great detail why we DO NOT get the flu shot and goes into CDC and other statistics on the dismal flu vaccine efficacy.

Flu Symptoms:

• quickly rising fever to over 102-103 degrees
• fatigue
• aches “achy bones”
• congestion
• cough
• chills
• watery eyes
• sore throat
• nausea and vomiting
• diarreah
• loss of appetite

Our Family Flu Experience

Back in 2017, my oldest daughter who was 8 years old at the time, was the first to develop symptoms of the flu just before Christmas. She and my other two daughters had just come home from playing with neighbors who I found out had just had their flu shot the day before. I was knowledgeable that the Flumist nasal spray (which sheds flu) was no longer on the market but it made me wonder if perhaps the injected version (which they had) could cause some sort of shedding? Then this study came out and it just makes you go hmmmm. (Update: they relaunched the FluMist vaccine in 2018 without any safety or efficacy studies.)

The very next day my two little ones, ages almost 3 and 5 came down with the same exact symptoms. Their flu symptoms lasted about 4 days, which is normal. My husband was by far was the worst off. He didn’t get off the couch for 5 days and had lingering symptoms for a while after. At times I felt like after over a week of care taking and endless fever monitoring I couldn’t take another minute of sickness…and then I got it myself!

Prevention:

One of the most discouraging parts about my entire family getting the flu was that I TRIED SO HARD TO PREVENT IT. I make my own elderberry syrup and all of my girls took it each morning along with 4,000iu Vitamin D3/K2 drops. They were taking Beta Glucan for immune support most days a week, multivitamins daily and a probiotic. We eat very clean and their diets are mostly organic.

I was thinking perhaps a little unrealistically (since they had never had the flu until then) that I was in control because of my crunchy mama efforts. I had to give myself plenty of grace and accept getting sick as just part of life. Sometimes kids get sick, but it’s what we do after that that can make a big difference.

Best things to do for flu prevention:

• Wash hands for at least 30 seconds with warm water EVERY TIME you come home from being out and before you eat.
• Taking the supplements I mentioned above and below is helpful.
• Eat a diet full of organic fruits and veggies and healthy fats such as flaxseed or coconut oil in smoothies and avocado or cod liver oil. Avoid most sugar and dairy during flu season.
• Appropriate amounts of sleep is essential during the winter months especially.
• As much time outside as possible.

Basic Care Reminders for Flu and Fever:

• REST REST REST. Let your children/family (and and self) rest as long as you need to recover. Don’t get impatient and break fevers just to be active. Your fever is forcing you to be still and rest so the immune system can do its job. This is what is leading to complications and pneumonia in so many people! Fevers are doing their job. Read on.
• Fevers up to even 103 and 104 degrees can be normal as long as the child/person is comfortable and not in distress. Adults tend to reach discomfort before 103 degrees whereas younger children can tolerate a higher temperature.
• I will reduce uncomfortably high fevers with a warm bath during the day or if it is at bedtime and I’m concerned about fevers rising too high through the night (or we all just need good rest,) I will give a small dose of Motrin (children’s dye free ibuprofen) to lessen the fever. My girls tend to get severe ear aches when their fevers get near 103. We give garlic mullein drops in the ears and will usually reduce fever at this point. But like I said- only if it is causing great discomfort or it nears 104. Fevers in younger children often go higher. Another option are homeopathic suppositories for fever.
• Let fevers alone for several days to fight the infection (unless dangerously high- see above.) Fevers fight infection and by lowering it too soon it could mean recurrence and complications of flu symptoms. After several days if the fever is still lingering and stubborn I might break it to offer relief but they still need to rest and continue with supplements and care.
• If vomiting is occurring it is so important to hydrate in small sips. I made my daughter “lemonade” water with ice sweetened with stevia to restore electrolytes. Chicken broth can do this as well as long as not salted. Small sips are key otherside it will trigger vomiting again.
• It is VERY IMPORTANT to clear out your child’s nose often if congested. Sometimes this is several times per hour. Older kids and adults can use any of these nasal irrigation products. (We use the Neti Pot.) If they are a baby or toddler using the Nose Frida nasal aspirator has been a life saver! I drop in a few drops of saline first and then sing them a song as they lie on the floor to allow the saline to work through the nose. Then you gently “suck” through the tube and remove the mucous. Sounds gross, right? But it’s amazing how much comes out and how happy your child is afterwards because they can breathe again!!! Sometimes I’ve had to restrain my older babies and toddlers in this process by straddling them and holding their arms to their sides with my knees. Then I use one hand to hold their head still. I would post a video of this but can you imagine the comments!? Hopefully my description here helps. 
• If your child will drink apple cider vinegar and water with honey and lemon, this can help thin mucus out, especially if they have a stuffy nose. 1 Tbsp in a pint of water is plenty or 2 Tbsp in a quart throughout the day. Make sure to sweeten with honey.
• Cool cloths on the forehead and even belly can take the edge off of a fever. Some of my kids liked this and some didn’t so don’t force them if it is not comfortable.
• A warm bath is often pleasant once you get in and can lower fever. It’s taking off the clothes that can be miserable for someone with chills and fever. Letting them wear clothes into the tub and then having them take them off once they are in the water helps! The change in scenery from the couch or bed is nice too. Some lavender essential oils in the tub can be soothing as well.

Nutritional and Supplement Support for Flu

• Loss of appetite is common with flu. Frozen fruits such as frozen bananas, blueberries, and strawberries were a big hit in my house. These are all loaded with antioxidants and healing nutrients. If I had the fresh ingredients to make fresh fruit popsicles I would have.
• Homemade chicken broth is wonderful nourishment for someone with flu.
• A clove of pressed and chopped garlic taken with water is antibacterial and antiviral (and anti-cancer!) x 3-5 daily.
• Sugar is the enemy of a functioning immune system. No sugar while recovering from the flu.
• Taking the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum was extremely effective in lessening my symptoms and duration. My family’s flu took 4-6 days for each person to get over and symptoms lingered for weeks with my husband. I took Oscillococcinum on the day my symptoms started and I was better by day 3 with no lingering symptoms or relapse! I’m a big fan and highly recommend for both kids and adults at onset of flu symptoms.

Supplements and Dosage:

• At onset of symptoms: Oscillococcinum every 6 hours x 3 daily until recovered
• Elderberry syrup 1 tsp x 3 daily for adults, x 2 daily for kids (You can also purchase from Amazon)
• Vit D3/ K2 drops: 4,000iu for kids, 10,000 iu for adults
• Daily probiotic
• Colloidal silver 1 tsp x 3 daily both
• Beta Kids each morning (dosage on box)
• HIYA Kids Food-Based, Organic Multivitamins (50% off your first order!)
• Dr. David Williams Vitamins (adults) x 2 packs daily
• Garlic cloves pressed and chopped x 3-5 daily
• We diffused in bedrooms and put immune support essential oil on the bottoms of feet.

Also recommended: Vitamin C high dose, Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver Oil, On Guard, Thieves or immune support Essential Oils on feet and Garlic Socks. We also took ACF, another immune boosting supplement well known for being able to knock out bacterial infections, but I’m not quite sure how much it helped with the flu this year. ALJ herbal is what we typically use for chest congestion to prevent bacterial infection and pneumonia and Hyland’s NIGHT Cold and Cough for Kids along with a humidifier at night if persistent coughing is keeping kids awake.

Budget Friendly Approach

If you are in a budget friendly season, buy the Oscillococcinum (~$20.00) and make your own elderberry ($20.00 for a pound bag + $8.00 for honey), + the D3/K2 drops ($18.00). Also keep nasal irrigation going and garlic is inexpensive as well as making garlic socks for the kids. That’s where I would start and it will help so much!

Wrap Up:

I’m realizing that post-flu life is a lot like post-child birth life. You forget how painful it was and are proud of yourself for going through it. Now two years later, I can see the benefits of having gone through it as a family. We haven’t had any sickness (next to a runny nose or minor sinus funk) since. I feel and see a robustness in my children and myself that wasn’t there before going through the flu and managing the symptoms properly without intervention.

At times our flu experience was definitely scary but I reminded myself that all of the sleeping and resting, high fevers, and even the vomiting was doing its job. If your child or loved one seems in distress or their fever will not come down with reducer, or they exhibit problems breathing or symptoms of pneumonia – please seek emergency care.

I hope you all are getting well and on the mend if you are reading this while going through the flu. Please know that it is completely normal as a caretaker to spend a week in your pajamas and find yourself lonely. Facetime or Skype a friend, find a fun series on Netflix and take breaks for yourself. Take a long, hot shower and put on a bra before going back to care taking for the needy family. It will be over soon. <Hugs>

I would love for you to chime in on the comments and share your ideas and experience with the flu. There are so many wonderful ways to heal. 

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The post How My Family Beat the Flu At Home With Natural Remedies appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

Each fall I make a big purchase of all of the natural remedies I use to keep my family healthy through the colder winter months here in Georgia.

These are seriously my family’s secret sauce for prevention, quick healing, and avoiding the doctor since the birth of my first daughter in 2009. As with any natural remedy, they need other action steps such as sufficient rest and sleep, excellent nutrition, and consistency with use. But I bet you already knew that. 

The BEST Natural Remedies for Cold and Flu

(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. See complete disclosure.)

 For Everyday Wellness and Prevention:

Beta-1, 3D Glucan: This first supplement is my FAVE for all year prevention and wellness. I have been taking Beta-1, 3D Glucan since I began healing my cancer naturally in 2008 and attribute it to keeping my immune system strong and working properly. Phyllis and Kim at Ancient Elements offer excellent bundles for stocking up.

Beta Kids: Same awesome Beta-1, 3D Glucan product but just in kids’ dosing and a sweet chewable.

Dr. David Williams Multi-Vitamin: My favorite multi-vitamin. Quality ingredients, covers all of your bases nutritionally, easy to travel with. This also needs to be purchased directly from the company and you can get up to 25% off your order by using this link.

Adult Daily Probiotic: I like Jarrow brand for its shelf-stable formula, quality, and affordability. Buy at Amazon.

Kids’ Vitamins: I love Animal Parade Vitamins. Taste good. From whole food sources. Tested. And my kids love them. Buy them at Amazon.

Kids’ Probiotic: These were highly rated to maintain integrity and to contain the probiotic organisms they claim to have. And my kids love the taste. And they’re affordable. Buy them at Amazon.

Vitamin D3: I give 2,000-4,000iu to my kids and I take up to 10,000iu daily. When the sun isn’t out, this combo from Thorne is next best. Buy at Amazon.

Dr. Bronner’s Soap: I make this hand soap with Dr. Bronners’ castille soap and we wash often with warm water to best prevent cold and flu. Buy at Amazon.

For Treatment or Cold and Flu Infection:

I continue the preventative measures above and add the following when dealing with fever, cold, flu, cough, stuffy nose, etc.

 For Adults:

ACF: You just can’t beat it. It has knocked out persistent sinus infection, bronchitis (even when the doctor said I needed an antibiotic) and helped shorten the flu. We buy 4-5 bottles at the beginning of winter. Buy at Amazon.

Colloidal Silver: Used as an antibiotic and antiviral and can be taken by all ages. You can buy well made but pricey colloidal silver, but there are also some really great generic colloidal silver, too. For name brand I recommend Sovereign Silver here Amazon. For generic colloidal silver go to Silverbiotics at Amazon.

Elderberry Syrup: I prefer to make my own elderberry syrup at home, but you can purchase it on Amazon.

Apple Cider Vinegar: As a preventative drink 1-2 ounces daily mixed in 32 ounces of water and stevia or honey. Drink throughout the day. This will dry up your sinuses, reduce headaches, and help with persistent coughs from drainage. Also helps with sore throat! Buy from Amazon.

Garlic: Great antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral. Simply chop 1-2 cloves and take with a spoon. Chase with water. Take 3-4 times daily for treatment.

 For Kids:

ACF for Kids: My kids actually take half doses of adult ACF, but this is a great and more tasty option for intense immune support for kids. Buy on Amazon.

ALJ: This is a helpful herb that babies as young as 6 months can take to help bring up mucous out of the chest. I love giving my kids ALJ to prevent infection when they have colds. I give 10 drop on a spoon 3-5 times daily. Buy at Amazon.

Hyland’s Cold N Cough-Day: I use this for my kids’ runny and stuffy nose and cough during the day. Buy at Amazon.

Hyland’s Cold N Cough Night: I use this for my kids’ runny and stuffy nose and cough throughout the night. Buy on Amazon.

Sniffles and Sneezes: Another option for runny and stuffy nose and cough. Buy on Amazon.

Calms Forte for Kids: Helps with sleeping when sick and fevery! Buy on Amazon.

Elderberry Syrup: I prefer to make my own elderberry syrup at home, but you can purchase it on Amazon or at your local health store.

And of course a shout out to BREAST MILK (not for sale on Amazon….but you might find some on Craigslist!) 

Check out my other natural remedy posts HERE!

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The post The BEST Natural Remedies for Cold and Flu appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

Update: 12/2018: Our 5 Year experience with Samaritan Ministries can be found HERE. This post is extremely thorough with detailed needs and sharing experience.

Update 4/1/15: You can read about our most recent homebirth experience with Samaritan Ministries HERE.

Last year I wrote a post about Christian healthcare sharing ministries and had no idea that it would become my most popular post on Green Drink Diaries. Apparently more people are looking for alternatives to the federally mandated “Obamacare” than I originally thought!

Today I’m going to go back over some basics of Samaritan Ministries, the Christian healthcare sharing ministry we decided was best for us and also tell about our experience. Americans have only until February 15th, 2015 to make their decisions regarding federally-supplemented health insurance for 2015, so it’s perfect timing for research into other options as well.

For my full run-down on how Christian healthcare share ministries works a a whole concept, click HERE.

For my side-by-side comparison of the largest and most popular 3 Christian healthcare share ministries (Medi-Share, Christian Healthcare Ministries, and Samaritan Ministries) click HERE.

OK, now onto my review of Samaritan Ministries after one year of membership….

Our Samaritan Ministries One Year Update:

It has actually been about a year and three months since we joined SM, and I have not one complaint. The organization as a whole has experienced tremendous growth since the passing of the Affordable Care Act, and yet as a member I haven’t felt any of the growing pains.

Remember that the primary reason we joined was to be part of a group of people who believed in healthcare choice and freedom- such as the choice to use alternative medicine for cancer care.

We have been asked in almost every monthly newsletter to pray for the staff as they grow in numbers to accommodate the growing ministry. I love feeling included in the ministry and connected to other members by doing this. It is just SO DIFFERENT from insurance!

One issue that was surprising occurred earlier in the year when there were three months in a row of needs prorated by 80% because there were more needs than shares from members. (Remember that the “share” is the month each family agrees to send to another member, for instance my family of 4 sends $405 monthly to another member.) “Prorated by 80%” means that what usually is 100% paid for that month is only 80% paid because there just wasn’t enough funds to share that month. Your need will continued to be shared each month until enough money is gathered, but for that month in particular there isn’t enough.

After the third month, we were ASKED (not told) to vote on whether we thought monthly shares needed to be adjusted or raised. After a ballot was sent out and given a month to send back in, the members agreed that there needed to be a raise in our monthly share amounts to accommodate the rising care of health care costs.

The Samaritan Ministry share rates are now currently: (Updated 10/5/16)

Rates for those under 25 years old are less expensive- so check with SM if that is you.

Even though we, as a ministry decided that raising our monthly shares was the best solution to the rising costs of medical care and proration issues, there have been several months, including the last four in a row, that our share rates were reduced because of more shares than medical needs filed! This past month (January 2015) ours was $336.15, reduced $68.85 from our usual $405.

I chuckle at the idea of an insurance company ever REDUCING a premium. (:

FILING A NEED- TMJ Headaches:

This past summer I began having really bad headaches when I woke up in the morning. I never would have thought they could be TMJ related, but thankfully I quickly figured this out. I called SM to see if they covered issues arising from TMJ, and sure enough as long as if it was a medical issue (such as severe ongoing headaches or ear pain,) they covered it 100% (after my $300 personal responsibility which can be reduced if I ask for and receive any discounts from my doctor for being a self-pay patient.) We also prayed for healing over the phone, which I’m still not used to after a call to SM.

It only took one trip to the dentist to have my jaw and bite patterns examined to solve my issue. After $180 in discounts for being a self-pay patient, I only ended up paying $399 out of pocket. Since I received $130 in bill reductions from my dentist, I was able to file for the $99 that was over my personal responsibility of $300, plus the $130 in bill discounts that I asked for that came off of my $300 responsibility. So my total NEED that was published with other members was $229 ($130 + 99.)

Sure enough, it was super easy to fill out the NEED paperwork and after attaching all of my itemized bills, within 60 days I was sent a checklist of the members to expect checks from and received those checks promptly. I must also add that my checks both came with cards and one lady even sent a special book on healing prayer which really touched my heart. Again, SO DIFFERENT from insurance!

FILING A NEED- MATERNITY:

Update: 4/1/15 You can read about our homebirth experience with Samaritan Ministries HERE.

Shortly after my TMJ need was taken care of last summer, I began racking up more bills for my current pregnancy. My husband and I knew we wanted to look into having a home birth (for a variety of reasons I’ll discuss in a later post,) but so far we are eligible to file for my prenatal appointments and ultrasounds (one for conception dating and the other for the twenty-week anatomy scan.)

One thing to note about Samaritan Ministries is that the $300 personal responsibility is waived if you chose home birth with a midwife as your birthing choice. I will go into much more detail once I actually file my need and after the baby is born in February. Until then, you can learn more from the SM Guidelines below. I highlighted the sections in blue that are particularly exciting for women who prefer unmedicated childbirth.

Taken from the Samaritan Ministries Guidelines:

In general, maternity needs include bills for prenatal care, delivery, postnatal care and miscarriage, and are treated like any other medical expense. There are specific Guidelines for types of maternity needs that are publishable (Section A) and the initial unpublished amount (Section B).

A. Maternity Needs that are Publishable

1. General Rule—Publishable maternity needs include bills for prenatal care, delivery, postnatal care, miscarriage, and congenital conditions.
Publishable services include those of doulas (up to $500), midwives, doctors, and/or nurse practitioners. There are special criteria for publishing needs of the child from genetic defects and hereditary diseases. See Section VIII.A.
2. Separate Needs—Bills for all pregnancy and birth-related complications of the mother will be published as a part of the maternity need. (Note from Cortney: meaning if you choose a hospital birth, you are only accountable to a one-time $300 responsibility.)Routine postnatal care of the child, including no more than one routine outpatient doctor visit, will be part of the mother’s maternity need.Any pre-birth need of the child or a post-birth need of the child beyond routine natal care will be considered a need separate from the mother’s maternity need. When there are complications (anything beyond routine natal care) from, or as a part of, a multi-child pregnancy, the expenses for each child will be considered a separate need. Exception: If a multi-child pregnancy is the result of the use of fertility drugs, in vitro fertilization, or other artificial means, all pregnancy and birth related complications of the children will be treated as one need.

3. Adopted Child—Medical expenses of the birth mother and an adopted child, for which the adopting parents are liable and which are publishable the same as other maternity needs, less any credit amount to which the member is entitled under the federal adoption income tax credit due solely to those medical expenses. However, any physical condition which the adopted child has prior to the adopting parents being legally responsible for the child’s expenses, or prior to his effective date within his parents’ membership, will be considered a “condition that existed before membership” under Section VII.

4. Early Publication—If a maternity care provider will reduce the normal charges if a member prepays some or all of the bill, we
will consider publishing the maternity need prior to the birth. The member must request an estimate and submit it with the Need
Processing Form. If the resulting bills are less than the pre-paid amount, the member must contact Member Services who will advise
where to send the surplus.
B. Initial Unpublishable Amount/Proration

1. Like any other need, only the portion of a maternity need that exceeds $300 will be eligible for publication. See VI.A.1 and 2.

2. Home Births—Home births have the initial unpublishable $300 waived and are not subject to prorating (see VI.D) because they
reduce overall maternity costs.

3. The initial unpublishable $300 is waived for a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
C. Limits on Maternity Needs for Pregnancies Beginning Prior to Membership

1. General Rule—If a member became pregnant prior to her membership, the amount that she is eligible to have published for her maternity needs from the pregnancy will be equal to the total amount the member has sent in monthly shares from the beginning
of her membership or from when added to an existing membership. The same amount will also be available for the child’s maternity
needs, which is limited to extra costs related to a premature birth. If a member terminates the membership or allows it to lapse for any reason, and later rejoins, the amount available for maternity needs will be calculated from the date of the most recent start of her membership.

2. Expenses Prior to Membership—Any maternity expenses that are incurred while the mother is not a member are not publishable
except as a Special Prayer Need.

3. Routine Maternity Expenses After Membership—All routine pre- and postnatal care of both the mother and child incurred on or after the effective date of membership will be publishable as part of the mother’s maternity need limit.

4. Complications and Conditions Through Birth—Any complication of the mother or baby which is treated, discovered, or produces
symptoms through birth, will be considered a condition that was evident prior to membership and the bills will not be publishable except as a Special Prayer Need, until the applicable waiting period has occurred. See VIII.A for genetic defects and hereditary diseases and VII.A and B for all other conditions.

5. Complications and Conditions After Birth —Any complication of the mother which first produces symptoms and is first discovered
after birth will be considered part of the mother’s publishable maternity need. Any complication to or defects in the child which first produces symptoms and is first discovered after birth, will be a regular need of the child’s if the child is a member at birth. See
Section II.D. However, all needs of a child related to a premature birth will be treated as a maternity need separate from the mother and subject to the special maternity publishing limit. See paragraph 6 below.

6. Premature Births—The publishable amount limit for the mother’s need is doubled for a baby born prematurely requiring extraordinary care. The premature baby’s maternity need publishing limit is not doubled.

The post One Year Update on My Experience with Samaritan Ministries (Non-Obamacare Healthcare Coverage/ Sharing) appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

I follow several blogs in the natural health world, and I’m seeing that ’tis the season for an awesome list of healthy gift suggestions! I would love to offer my ideas as well, but honestly- I really haven’t bought any new, healthy stuff lately. I already have my staples for the kitchen, make most of my own hygiene and beauty products, and overall am a minimalist in nature, so I only buy what I need and what is useful. It’s also a season of survival and routine in my house of two small children and a baby on the way in 12 weeks, so my idea for you today is one that I actually loved doing two years ago: WINTER WELLNESS BASKETS!

Winter Wellness Baskets:

Below you can find some ideas and suggestions for what to put in your basket, but it’s really up to you. I’d love to see your pictures, too if you create your own baskets this holiday season. I tried to find the pictures I took of my baskets two years ago, but in typical “me” fashion, I can’t find them. I could keep looking or get this post out before Christmas! The good news is, if you’re not wanting to make your own baskets, the above basket is for sale through Amazon.com for less than $40.

Much of what I buy to put in my baskets are from Vitacost.com because it remains the most affordable place online to buy holistic and natural health products. If you’re a first time buyer there, you can use my coupon code to receive $10 off!

The great part about these baskets is you can spend how little or how much you would like. I received such wonderful feedback from my family and friends who received these because they were useful after Christmas for pesky winter illnesses. I also included a card that I wrote the health benefits for each item and how to use it included in the basket. You will definitely want to include this and can see an example of what I wrote HERE. Otherwise, your loved one won’t know how to use each item and get the results you know the product offers.

***Please note that the below items were chosen for their thriftiness-to-health-benefit ratio. I settled on products that were moderately priced and still contained the health benefit for my loved ones.***

Individually Wrapped Contents Ideas: (I included 2-3 of these per basket.)

Green Tea

White Tea

Emergen-C

Elderberry/ Zinc Lozenges

Stevia Packets

KIND Bars

Smaller Items:

Lip Balm Stick

Peppermint Glycerine Soap

Coconut-Papaya-Vanilla Soap

Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

Xylitol Gum

Larger Items:

ACF

Raw Honey

Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar

Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

Elderberry Syrup

Homemade Deodorant (Yes- I actually gave this out in used baby food jars as a gift one year!)

Vitamins:

Vitamin D (Only need 1-2 a day since they are 5,000 iu)

Vitamin C

Babies and Kids:

Elderberry Syrup for Kids

Food-based Multi-Vitamin for Kids

Vitamin D Drops

Affordable Baskets and Containers Online:

Light Wicker Basket- Set of 8

Natural Color Baskets- Set of 2

Small Baggies in Bulk:

Small Plastic Bags 2 x 3 inches

Tips:

• Buy packs of supplements that are individually wrapped for easy presentation.
• Put vitamins that are not individually wrapped in small baggies (see above.)
• Pack one large presentation piece such as a bottle of liquid vitamins or immune boosting supplements.

I would love to hear how your gift baskets go! Let me know of any of your fabulous, unique ideas in the comments section.

The post Holiday Gift Idea: Winter Wellness Baskets appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

I’m glad to be getting a headstart on this year’s winter wellness list since just this past weekend it dropped below freezing here in Georgia. I learned a lot last year about the remedies in my winter medicine cabinet after a horrible flu had me in bed for a week over Christmas. The flu is a different animal than the common winter cold and it took rest, time, and a combination of these remedies to fully recover. On the other hand, my daughters did great last winter with only a few minor colds they quickly rebounded from.

So this year’s list is edited slightly from last year as I learned a few new therapies I liked better and simplified a bit too…

 Winter Wellness Preventative Measures (daily):

1. EAT “Ruffage”. YES- I like this word to describe raw vegetables and fruits. It’s just more….visual. Although it may be commonsense advice, keeping your colon healthy and flowing in the winter months is very important for boosting your immunity. So much of your immune system exists within your colon. Fruits and veggies are also going to be your primary source for fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Eating healthy does not have to take tons of extra time. I make all of my food for the day in the morning before work. Getting up a little bit early, or making four salads on Sunday night (for the week) or adding a green smoothie isn’t going to take too much extra time, and the benefits could be well worth it! If eating cold food doesn’t sound appealing to you because it’s 20 degrees outside, then supplement your salad with a cup of your favorite soup. I love using my crock pot for making bone broth and then adding tons of veggies for a vegetarian soup.

2. Take a Daily Food-Based Multi-Vitamin and Probiotic- You may wonder why this would even be necessary if you’re already eating plenty of raw fruits and veggies? I look at it as insurance…the soil our fruits and vegetables are grown in has definitely been depleted of its natural vitamin and mineral content, so we can’t depend on our diets alone. I like Dr. Williams brand of vitamins, but if they aren’t quite in your price range OR you don’t like taking that many caplets (there are 8 in each Dr. Williams packet), I also like Rainbow Light brand. My daughter takes Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Vitamins and also a daily probiotic from Nature’s Way.

3. Take Vitamin D3- 2,000-4,000 IU Daily- Buy a brand like Vital Choice which has an Omega-3 rich oil base to receive anti-inflammatory benefits too! For my daughter, I use Vitacost’s “Baby-D” drops which only contain olive oil as an additional ingredient and is very affordable! I give her 800-1,200 IU twice a day in cold weather season. For those on a budget, use Vitacost’s 5,000iu Vitamin D capsules.

What to do when Acute Cold and Flu Hits Home (as-needed):

1. For acute IMMUNE BOOSTING to fight ANY illness, my favorite one-stop supplement is ACF.

If you buy this at Whole Foods you will pay a pretty penny, so I recommend buying it now at Vitacost.com where it is almost half the cost ($15.59 compared to $27) and BEFORE you’ll need it. We keep a stock in our pantry of both ACF Fast Relief Immune Support, Children’s ACF, and Cough Relief ACF. (When we are out of Children’s ACF I give my daughter a half dose of the adult tonic- although warning, the taste is intense!

2. Nature’s Antibiotic: Garlic- If you don’t want to purchase ACF, a very affordable and practical alternative is to just take crushed, fresh, raw organic garlic as soon as you feel illness coming on. I find this to be just as effective as taking ACF without the pricetag (if you can get past the gag reflex a tablespoon of crushed garlic on your tongue can induce.) When I had the flu last Christmas I exhausted my ACF stores and still had a chesty cough several weeks later that I was fearful would result in pneumonia. I began taking 1 large clove of crushed and chopped garlic every 3 hours, chased by water. My cough was instantly improved and within 2 days I was completely recovered (and didn’t smell too badly of garlic.) Follow this protocol for several days after your symptoms are relieved, just as if you were taking a prescription antibiotic.

3. For Cold and Cough- Hyland’s DEFEND Cold and Cough Nighttime and for KIDS- Children’s Cold and Cough Nighttime is still my favorite.

4. For Sore Throat- I gargle 1 – 2 Tbsp Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar and swallow when I have a sore throat. I also have used honey mixed with a dash of cayenne pepper when my throat feels super sore.

5. For Congestion you can’t beat a Neti-Pot or similar nasal irrigation systems. Also, if post-nasal drip is a problem for you, I find Neti-Pots extremely helpful! I purchased mine at Walgreens which came with the solution used inside to help dry up mucous.

For my infant daughter, I love the Nosefrida Snot Sucker. Even if you don’t have kids, you need to click on this link to see this thing. You literally suck the snot out of your kid’s nose. (Don’t worry- it has a filter you’ll also need to purchase, as if that makes the gross-factor better.)

6. Humidifier- I like Crane’s Cool Mist Humidifier for sore throat, congestion, and coughing. When our sinuses are dried out in the cold winter months, they are more prone to overreact with mucous at night AND be more vulnerable to additional microbes and bacteria during the day. Keeping them moist at night is extremely helpful! (This humidifier is pretty easy to clean as well and only requires daily emptying and weekly cleaning with water and vinegar.)

Save MONEY on Your Family’s Winter Wellness:

Most of the links above are from Vitacost and are the lowest prices out there. If you use my Vitacost referral code, you can save $10 on your first order over $49 and continue to get great Vitacost prices on any future orders. I’ve been using Vitacost for several years now, and if you’re going to live a more “natural” lifestyle, savings like this are a MUST!

Get your $10 off HERE.

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Before this pregnancy and a 5 hour road trip with my girls by myself, I had never had a urinary tract infection (UTI.) Not even after 10 years of teaching elementary school and “holding it” a gazillion times for the sake of not leaving my students alone in the classroom. But when both of my daughters finally fell asleep on our solo summer road trip after an hour of whining, crying, and complaining, I just kept driving and ignored my urge to “go.” 5 hours later, I had myself my very first UTI- and it was no fun at all.

For days I tried cranberry juice first. No improvement. Still burning, still trickling, and still having to pee every 10 minutes.

Then I added apple cider vinegar and drinking baking soda water to raise the pH of my urine. This definitely decreased the burn, but things still trickled on out and I still had to “go” every 10 minutes- too often even for a pregnant lady.

So after two weeks or so, I finally ran across this article by Dr. Mercola on D-Mannose. The article claimed that 85-90% of UTI’s can be remedied with the following D-Mannose protocol:

• For adults, take 1 tsp of D-Mannose powder ever 2-3 hours for 2-3 days or continue until symptoms are relieved. (children take 1/2 tsp)

I strongly suggest you read the entire article, as it helped me gain confidence in the protocol and understand why it was working.

I also STRONGLY recommend buying only this powder by KAL. I tried both Vitacost and NOW brands of D-Mannose powder first and they didn’t make a difference. I’m really glad I tried one more time after reading these reviews on KAL D-Mannose, because it worked within the first two doses.

The taste for D-Mannose is sweet since it is a certain class of sugar. I mix it with about 2 oz of water and it tastes like subtle sugar water.

You can purchase KAL D-Mannose online or at a local Vitamin Shoppe for under $30.

The post My Favorite Natural Cure For UTI’s (because it works!) appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

Let’s first get this straight. “Morning” sickness for me is not just in the morning. It is all day. For many WEEKS. It’s like having the stomach flu for a month and a half. No fun here, but thankfully a beautiful reward in the end. Oh, I haven’t mentioned yet…baby#3 is on their way and due in February. These natural remedies for morning sickness have been my savior.

When I have pregnancy-induced nausea, I can’t even talk about GREEN things without getting the dry heave feeling in my throat (hence the 6 weeks that have passed since my last post!) It has been this way with all of my pregnancies, and thankfully my body was able to hold onto its healthy state (and cancer-free) even though I am not eating my usual Budwig, green smoothie, salad, and juice routine.

So what have I been doing to deal with this? Not the usual natural/crunchy wisdom has worked for me (like wretched ginger! Bleh!), but here are a few things that did.

10 Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness (that work!)

1. Carbonated Spring Water: I drank lemon Trader Joe’s brand carbonated spring water. It kept me burping instead of throwing up and was helpful in settling my stomach. La Croix would also work.

2. Chocolate Disguised Green Smoothie: For several weeks when my nausea started, around my 4th week of pregnancy, I couldn’t drink ANY smoothies, nonetheless GREEN ones. I made this smoothie to get greens in me and some other nutrition as well. One word: CHOCOLATE (and you can skip out on the greens until you’re ready.)

3. Mints, Mints, Mints: I had mints on me at all times to get me through nausea. I especially found these handy in church where the air could sometimes feel stale. My favorites are Tummydrop Mints, or simply Trader Joe’s Organic Peppermints.

4. A Nose Plug: My husband came up with this brilliant idea. Most of my hard-core nausea (the kind that resulted in running to the bathroom) was triggered by smells. By wearing this nose plug, I couldn’t smell anything. I wore it in short bursts when I felt like I was about to throw up from any smell. It really, REALLY helped and often kept me from losing everything I had in my stomach. THIS ONE is my favorite because it adjusts easily and for comfort.

5. Learn Your Puking Pattern: As time passes, you may start to see a pattern in your sickness. Make sure you eat a protein dense snack or light meal about 30 minutes before you typically get sick. This helped me a lot for my afternoon sickness I would get before dinner. A small protein smoothie really helps!

6. Sea Bands: I wore my Sea Bands, or accu-pressure wrist bands for 10 straight weeks during my first pregnancy. They really worked to alleviate my nausea. My subsequent pregnancies weren’t helped by Sea Bands as much, but I think they’re still worth the try if you’re running out of options. They come in several colors like PINK, BLACK, and GRAY.

7. Peppermint Oil: When my nose plug looked too weird (like in restaurants or the grocery store,) I would bring a rag sprinkled in 5-10 drops of peppermint oil with me to breathe through. The peppermint aroma really calmed my stomach. doTerra, Young Living, or the more affordable NOW brand (which I used) would all be fine choices.

8. Side Napping: Many days in the early afternoon, I would lay down in the couch on my side and watch my girls play or turn on a show/movie for them. I knew it was only temporary which helped with the mommy guilt and I felt A LOT better!

9. Protein in Bed: Eating something dense with protein before getting out of bed can help with the queasiness in the morning. Almonds, pumpkin seeds, or organic/ low-sugar yogurt helped me a lot. Also, if you get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night, taking a swig of a protein smoothie can help, too- just make sure it’s kept cold while it sits overnight.

10. Small Protein Smoothies Often: This just follows the rule of not letting your stomach stay empty and your blood sugar drop too low. That is what can make us sick. I have a lot of smoothie recipes HERE, but a simple protein powder and almond milk smoothie will do the trick.

Bonus #11: Activated Vitamin B6: At the recommendation of Dr. Izabella Wentz, I’m adding this as something to try. There are several studies out there that a simple capsule in the morning and before bed can reduce morning sickness by up to 50% or more. (HERE is just one of those studies.) For anyone suffering from all day nausea, this is a great relief! She recommends this brand of activated B6. Taking anywhere from 25mg to 225mg a day safely (divided into 3x daily.)

Hopefully if you’re dealing with morning sickness, you’ll know after reading this that you are in good company! (: I also hope that you’ll find some of my suggestions even a little bit helpful or they’ll encourage you to problem solve your own coping strategies. Help a sister out and let us know below in the comment section what has worked for you! (:

The post 10 Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness (that work!) appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

Hi there! Here are a few of the natural remedies we find helpful during these winter months of cold and flu season.

This mini-guide is an excerpt of the “Prevention”, “Colds and Congestion”, and “Flu” section from my new A-Z Natural Remedies Guide! The book is full of solutions I have learned as a holistic cancer survivor and mom of 6 who aims to use natural remedies as a “first do no harm” approach. These are the remedies THAT WORK! So far, we have made it through 15 years of parenting without antibiotics or other pharmaceutical intervention by sticking with these natural remedies.

Grab the entire guide which consists of herbal, homeopathic, and other natural solutions for over 50 ailments like:

• coughs
• headaches
• anemia
• broken bone care
• hand foot and mouth
• pregnancy
• postpartum issues
• anxiety
• lice
• bronchitis

and over 50 more!

There is also a bonus section on our family’s decision on vaccine choice and “vaccine preventable” diseases that covers risks, benefits, and treatment options both natural and emergent.

GRAB THE GUIDE HERE! (Hard Copy) (Digital Copy)

Preventative Measures:

Oh boy, it’s that time of year! I know in our house we have already had to break out and use some of these natural remedies. Here’s this year’s revised list of what I use to keep my family healthy in the winter months. I arranged the list from what I think is most important to the extra “nice to have” goodies.

1. EAT “Ruffage”. YES- I like this word to describe raw vegetables and fruits. It’s just more….visual. Keeping your colon healthy and flowing in the winter months is very important for boosting your immunity. So much of your immune system exists within your colon. Fruits and veggies are also going to be your primary source for fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Eating healthy does not have to take tons of extra time. I make all of my food for the day in the morning before work. Getting up a little bit early, or making four salads on Sunday night (for the week) or adding a green smoothie isn’t going to take too much extra time, and the benefits could be well worth it! If eating cold food doesn’t sound appealing to you because it’s 20 degrees outside, then supplement your salad with a cup of your favorite soup.

2. Take a Daily Food-Based Multi-Vitamin- You may wonder why this would even be necessary if you’re already eating plenty of raw fruits and veggies? I look at it as insurance…the soil our fruits and vegetables are grown in has definitely been depleted of its natural vitamin and mineral content, so we can’t depend on our diets alone. I like Dr. Williams brand of vitamins, but if they aren’t quite in your price range OR you don’t like taking that many caplets (there are 8 in each Dr. Williams packet), I also like Mary Ruth’s brand.

• For Children: Hiya Vitamins: If you want to give a daily multivitamin to your children, I highly recommend HIYA vitamins. They are a high-quality, food-based vitamin made from organic fruits and vegetables. They also taste REALLY good and my kids still ask me for them which helps with taking them consistently! Click HERE for 50% off your first order.
  
  

 4. Beta-1, 3D Glucan- I originally started taking this immune modulating supplement when I began my holistic cancer regimen in 2008 and have continued for 16 years now! There are MANY instances when sickness has gotten everyone around me but I either didn’t get sick at all or recovered much faster than everyone else.

For Children:

• Beta Glucan: Immune Ready Kids This is the immune support I prefer for my kids 2-9 years old in the winter months (2 gummies daily.) This is the children’s dose for Beta Glucan and also includes Elderberry, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc. Use promo code ACM for 10% off.
• Beta Glucan 100: With over 200,000 studies proving efficacy since the 1960’s, this one is a no-brainer for us. For kids 10+ in age, I recommend the lower dose (and lower priced) Beta Glucan 100+ blend. It also includes Vitamin C, Selenium, and Vitamin D. Check the dosing for your child’s age bracket. Use promo code ACM for 10% off the Beta Glucan 100.
  

3. Take Vitamin D3- 2,000-10,000 IU Daily

• Vitamin D3: I take 10,000-15,000iu in spring, fall and winter and 5,000iu in summer. Studies show that overall health is better in people who have optimal Vitamin D levels. Cancer rates are much lower, too! The optimum blood level of Vitamin D, (measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), is generally recommended to be between 40–60 ng/mL to ensure adequate health benefits, including cancer prevention and immune support. Perhaps start with the lower dose of 5,000 and have your Vitamin D levels tested to see if you need a bit more Vitamin D supplement daily.

4. Gut Health Care: 

• ACV-Ginger Health Drink: Mix 1-2 Tbsp ACV (apple cider vinegar with “the mother” like Bragg’s), 1/2 tsp ginger powder or 1 tsp fresh ginger juice, 1 quart water, and stevia to sweeten (can also use honey) and add ice. Drinking this along with eating probiotic rich food like plain unsweetened yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, etc. leads to a stronger immune system, as 70% of your immune function (via your gut-associated lymphoid tissue) powers up in your gut!
• Gut Health Routine: An easier (and tastier) way to optimize your immune system is through a gut health regimen. My favorite is the Plexus Triplex system. (Feel free to message me at cortney@anticancermom.com for more information and an invitation to my Anti-Cancer Mom group for Plexus users for cancer prevention.)
• If Amazon is more of your thing (and I totally get that! then my favorite simple probiotic is Jarrow EPS.

Acute Care: When the Cold and Flu Visits

Colds and congestion are common viral infections that primarily affect the upper respiratory system, causing symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, and general discomfort. Congestion occurs when the nasal passages become swollen with excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe through the nose. Colds are usually caused by rhinoviruses and can last for 7 to 10 days. 

This is a loaded section, but I am so happy to bring some of these awesome remedies to help you confidently and more easily get through your next pesky cold and flu season!

Remedies for Children:

• Nose Frida Nasal Aspirator: For little ones who can’t blow their nose, keep nasal passages clear from mucus by using the Nose Frida nasal aspirator combined with saline drops as many times as mucus is running out. There is a reason this has 30k+, 5-stars on Amazon. I am convinced it literally saves babies’ lives, as it keeps mucus from getting into the lungs, and babies out of the hospital! Always make sure to add a few drops of saline first.
• Chest Rub: Use a breathing essential oil blend on the chest with mint and eucalyptus to clear sinuses. 
  • Chest rub for babies.
  • Chest rub for kids
• Saline and Colloidal Silver Spray: Big kids use colloidal silver spray or any saline spray before blowing to clear nasal passages. (You can use this spray for your nose and throat. Clean the tip with alcohol after each use.)
• Effective Nose Blowing: Teach bigger kids not to suck their snot in and to take the time to blow their nose. I teach mine not to suck their snot back in.
• Homeopathy: Use KEY homeopathic remedy for ALL respiratory problems and to help with sleep at night. (See all homeopathy for colds below.)

Remedies for Adults:

• Nasal Irrigation: Rinse nasal passages out with a Neti Pot w/ saline rinse 3 times daily using warm, filtered water and a saline or xylitol rinse. Blow nose gently. Nasal irrigation is a common practice in many eastern cultures to remove viruses and bacteria from the nasal cavity before they can replicate and spread.
• Nasal Rinse: Use a saline or colloidal silver spray between Neti Pot sessions and before bedtime.
• Gargling: Gargle warm salt water 3x daily. Gargling is a common procedure in Japan and other Southeast Asian countries to reduce viral load in the throat.
• Nebulizer Machine: Nebulize Colloidal Silver: Continue nebulizing colloidal silver a minimum of three times daily. 1 tsp in the nebulizer each session until it runs out, usually about 10 minutes.
• Chest Rubs: Use a breathing essential oil blend on your chest with mint and eucalyptus to clear sinuses.(Vicks or DoTerra Breathe + coconut oil work the best here!)

Cold Symptoms Homeopathy for Adults and Children:

Use KEY homeopathic remedy for ALL respiratory problems and to help with sleep at night (see highlighted section below.)

Homeopathy can be tricky because you have to match the remedy perfectly to the symptom for it to work. 

I came across this remedy combo when my girls were little and sick and I just needed them to be able to stop coughing and sleep! I bought a bottle of homeopathic Hyland’s Cold and Cough, and amazingly it worked! They could breathe, stopped coughing and slept soundly and I did, too! 

The only problem is that we would spend hundreds of dollars every winter in Hyland’s bottles since each bottle only included enough doses to last 4-5 days PER CHILD.

One day, I cut the label off on the bottle and went to find the remedies in my homeopathy box, and to my delight I found almost all of them! 

I started to make the “blend” with the individually-bought vials of pellets and haven’t bought a $14 bottle of Hyland’s ever since!

For this remedy you will need to buy the 30c potency of the following homeopathic remedies vials (the bottles). You can also try using single remedies for the specified symptoms(see below), but I find that if I use all of the remedies at once, my kids get complete relief.

I purchase my remedies from Washington Homeopathics, which is the most cost effective option, but there are Amazon links below. These remedies can last YEARS, depending on how often you use them. There are 900 pellets in the large vials from Washington Homeopathics and you need 4 pellets per remedy dose. The Boiron remedies on Amazon have about 80 pellets per vial. You will only need 2 – 3 pellets of those when you make the combo remedy.

How to make homemade “Highland Homeopathy Blend” (copycat recipe) 

In a small glass jar (I use one clean old baby food jar for each of my kids) or a medicine cup combine 3-4 pellets each of: 

• Allium cepa (watery nose and eyes, cold, hacking cough, sore throat)
• Hepar sulph (cold, sneezing)
• Hydrastis (rattling/ tickling cough, sinus congestion, sore throat)
• Natrum mur (dry cough, sore throat)
• Phosphorus (hoarse/ dry cough, nasal congestion, chest congestion)
• Pulsatilla (moist cough, cold, post-nasal drip)
• Sulphur (chest congestion, nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose)
• (At bedtime add Coffea cruda and/ or Chamomilla which will help with sleeping)

Also research and experiment with “water dosing” for homeopathy to stretch your homeopathic remedies even further!

(BUTTON FOR REMEDIES GUIDE)

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