Grace Filled Life Now Blog

Blog Post 4 (BP4) *Not medical advise* *Educational purposes only* *Contains some affiliate links*

This is so wild that about the time I start to write this blog post, the runny noses and coughs hit our house. Nothing like some real time content to pass along to you.

Now, I will preface this with the fact that I am not an all-or-nothing gal. I do believe that the conventional medical system has it’s time, place and purpose. But it is not my first resort in most situations.

I am also not a medical professional, just a momma who has done some research here and there and feel these methods work best for us. I will also preface this with, please do your own research to make sure these methods will be a good fit for you and your family before you start them.

Another item I would like to mention is that if this is the beginning of your holistic and alternative medicine journey, there will be an adjustment period. You will need to reframe your way of thinking about illness recovery and medicinal interventions.

For example, I was always told, a fever (due to viral infection primarily) was bad! I was always told to start fever reducers and get that fever down as quickly as possible. This is counterintuitive to the way the body was created. The fever is the body’s way of killing the virus or bacteria that is trying to invade the body. It basically ‘cooks’ the intruder, kills it and then the cleanup crew comes along and removes the debris. Can you imagine the body going to work to remove the invader, raises the body’s temperature to eliminate this intruder then we give fever reducing medication? I can only imagine the body is saying “Excuse me! I’m working here!” Giving fever reducers can and usually do slow the process of illness recovery instead of assist in it.

A fever should not be feared. But is should be monitored. Monitoring the child is an effective way to gage the healing process. If they are eating and drinking (at a minimum drinking fluids-small sips continuously) and are not becoming lethargic, their body is handling the situation at this point. One child may be alert, eating and attentive with a 103 degree fever, while another may not. Monitor fluid output as well. Are they urinating at least 4 times within a 24 hour period? If they are drinking but not having any fluid output, that may be a sign that additional intervention is needed.

Here are my 5 go-to holistic remedies I implement as soon as a fever or sniffle occurs in our house.

1. Tinctures / High Quality Vitamins & Minerals
   • I have been using Dr. Green Mom and Earthley Wellness tinctures for a couple years now with much success. Cough-Be-Gone, Sinus Saver and Elderberry Elixer are a few of our favorites from Earthley Wellness. Something to remember when starting with tinctures is that they are meant to help the body heal naturally not put a bandaid on the issue and make the symptom disappear. So illness recovery may seem slower than you may initially be thinking. Typical window for viral illness recovery can be 3-10 days depending on the virus. I also will add in additional vitamins C and D as well as zinc. I prefer to take vitamin c and zinc together as they are known to work synergistically with each other. BeeKeepers Natural Spray tastes great and is easy to use and keep on hand. Colloidal Silver is a great addition as well. It tastes like water so it is easy for kiddos to consume.
2. Extra Rest/Down Time
   • I encourage approved movies/cartoons during this time to help promote rest and recovery for the body. While my child’s mind might not want to slow down when they are needing some extra recovery time, the body needs that extra time to give all it’s resources to removing invaders instead of using energy to run around the house. I opt for shows that are minimal excitement and energy and that will keep their mind busy. Reading extra books and snuggles are also great options.
3. Increase Fluids/Outdoor time
   • As mentioned above, fluids are essential. Continuous sips (especially with the flu) is more effective that taking gulps of water periodically. While getting fluids in any way possible is key, drinking large quantities of water with an uneasy stomach could induce vomiting which will detract what we are trying to do to help the body heal; leading to more dehydration. I do not use Pedialyte, Gatorade or Powerade if possible. If I absolutely cannot get them to drink anything else, those will be my last resort. Instead I opt for, plain water, water with a pinch of Redmond Salt and honey, homemade “pedialyte” or whole fruit juices. If weather allows, getting sunlight will help the body heal quicker. Fresh air will also promote healing. Sunlight directly on the skin, i.e. no sunscreen, lotion etc. is best. Depending on the time of day, will depend on how long I would sit in direct sun. Morning and afternoon would be my ideal times.
4. Red Light Therapy
   • This therapy is the newest addition to our regimen. I use the Therasage Tri-Lite. Red light therapy works to stimulate the body’s mitochondria which are the “powerhouses” of the cells in the body. When these mitochondria are stimulated the body can experience increased circulation and reduction in inflammation due to increased cellular energy. I lay the red light mat on the front or back of the torso and let it go to work. According to HealthLight, “the most effective wavelength for red light therapy is between 630 and 700 nanometers (nm). Within this range, 660nm is the most commonly used wavelength for red light therapy. This wavelength has been shown to penetrate deep into the skin and tissues, increasing blood flow. Other effective wavelengths for red light therapy include 630nm and 850nm.” The Theresage Tri-Lite generates three frequencies per diode, covering a broad spectrum of red light (600, 630, 660nm) and near-infrared light (810, 830, 850, 900, 910, and 980nm). With all that being said, if I lived in an area of the country where I could be outside daily without risk of frostbite at certain times of the year, I would opt for the real deal ☀️ instead. You will get the most red light from the sun at sunrise and sunset when the sun is at the lowest point on the horizon. During summer months, I tend to not use my red light often. Plus this option is free with all the benefits.
5. Epsom Salt/Detox baths
   • I will often use a lukewarm bath when we have a fever running through the house. This method works great to bring temporary relief and help the body through the healing process. The magnesium from the epsom salt can help to promote relaxation and relieve the body from pain and inflammation naturally. Avoid making the bath too cold as this could promote shivering which could make the body raise the temperature higher. I do not wash with an soaps when taking an epsom salt bath. I also avoid putting lotions on the skin when fever is present so that it does not trap the heat in the body.

There you have it. My top 5 go-to holistic remedies when a cold or flu strikes in my household. The key takeaway is that holistic remedies are not a “quick fix”. The intent is to assist the body in doing what it was created to do and that is, heal itself. The body was designed so it could heal itself when put in the correct situations. It is our job to help provide those situations so it can heal on its own.

Dr. Green Mom has a great article on fevers with additional information.

As always, thanks for stopping by! I look forward to sharing more life, fun and adventure with you! Be sure to leave a comment; I’d love to hear from you.

Don’t forget to subscribe before you go so the next blog post can be delivered straight to your inbox!

Until the next one..