Natural Remedies and Children: The Pros and Cons

Image via WikipediaAre you a parent?  If you are, there may come a point in time where your child may be faced with a minor medical issue.  This minor medical issue can include something such as head lice, the chicken pox, a severe headache, or a toothache.  While many parents wouldn’t think twice about taking their child to a professional in the medical field, you may want to do so.  Did you know that there are a large number of natural remedies that can be used to treat a wide range of minor medical problems, such as headaches, toothaches, head lice, or the chicken pox?

As nice as it is to hear that there are a number of natural remedies that may be perfect for children suffering from minor medical problems, many parents are still unsure.  After all, parents want what is best for their children.  That is why many parents, especially those who are unfamiliar with home remedies and natural remedies, are a little bit leery.  Of course, natural remedies have their advantages and disadvantages, but so does just about everything else in the world.  With that being said, you may still be wondering if natural remedies are right for your child.  To help you come up with the conclusive answer that is best for your own family, please continue reading on.

As previously stated, natural remedies have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages.  For the advantages, you will find that there are a large number of them.  For example, natural remedies are safe.  In fact, they are much safer than most over-the-counter products, as these products are often stocked full of chemicals that many of us cannot even pronounce.

The ease of use and implementation is another advantage or plus side to using natural remedies as a way to treat minor medical problems in a child.  One of the reasons why natural remedies are also commonly referred to as home remedies is because many of the needed ingredients can already be found inside most homes.  This makes treating a child with home remedies easy and convenient.  It is also important to mention the saved time and money.  Home remedies eliminate travel and costly trips to the doctor’s office or drug store.

Although most home and natural remedies are regarded as being safe, there are still a number of steps that you will want to take when using a home remedy on your child.  For starters, be sure to follow all directions.  Next, never give your child a home remedy that has an ingredient that they may be allergic to or have a reaction with, such as dairy foods.  It is also important to discuss the process with your child.  For example, if you are using mayonnaise to kill head lice, be sure to tell your child not to touch the mayonnaise, let alone eat it.  Generally speaking, using your best judgment as a parent is one of the easiest ways for you and your child to see success with a home remedy.

If you are interested in examining what all of your options are, in terms of natural remedies, you can perform a standard internet search online.  When doing so, it may be best to search for the specific home remedy that you are looking for.  For example, if you are interested in getting rid of your child’s head lice, search with the phrase “natural head lice remedy.”  In addition to using the internet to your advantage, you can also purchase your own printed natural remedy manual, many of which are available for sale both on and offline.

As you can see, there are number of advantages to using home remedies and natural remedies as a way to treat your child when they are dealing with a minor medical problem, such as head lice, the chicken pox, a headache, or a toothache.  Whether your family is uninsured or if your child just has a fear of the doctors office, consider giving a natural remedy a try first.  Both you and your child may be pleased with the results.

Natural Remedies for Acne

Acne is a skin condition that millions of individuals deal with, sometimes on a daily basis.  Although acne is not a life threatening condition, it can cause great stress.  Acne, especially when constantly touched or picked at, can also lead to scaring or even an infection.  For that reason, those suffering from acne often look for different ways to seek relief.

When it comes to seeking relief from acne, there are a large number of over-the-counter products that claim to provide relief.  In addition to simply just appearing on store shelves, a large number of over-the-counter acne medications are also appearing on our television screens and with famous celebrities standing behind the products.  Of course, if you are suffering from acne you can give these over-the-counter products a try, but it is also important to know that you do have a number of different options.  These options involve the use of natural remedies and home remedies, which are a safer way to treat acne, as they do not rely on the use of potentially dangerous chemicals.

There are a number of natural remedies for acne that rely on the use of food.  One of those remedies is that of lettuce.  Saturating lettuce in water for about an hours worth of time will result in a special mixture.  This mixture should then be applied to the skin, acting as a rinse.  This approach is a nice and easy way to get rid of unwanted acne.

Fresh lime juice and milk are another natural remedy for getting rid of acne that comes highly rated and recommend.  With this natural remedy for acne, boil a half of glass of milk.  Once that milk has cooled, add in about the same amount of lime juice.  You can then use a cloth to apply the mixture onto your acne infected area.  As an important reminder, wait until the boiled milk has cooled to an ideal level to promote comfort and prevent burns.

For a small area of acne, ripe tomatoes can be used.  For this home remedy, cut a ripe tomato in half and place the inside, wet portion of the tomato on the pimple or pimples.  Leave it on for about an hours worth of time and then wash off.  A similar approach to this natural remedy and one that still comes highly rated and recommended involves the use of tomato paste. 

As previously stated, those suffering from severe acne put themselves at risk for developing an infection or scaring.  Those who are known to touch or pick at their pimples are first advised to stop.  That is the best way to keep your skin healthy.  With that being said, Aloe Vera can also provide relief.  When applied to the affected area, Aloe Vera can help to promote healthy healing on the skin.

As outlined above, there are a number of different natural remedies and home remedies for those suffering from acne, like you.  As for why these natural remedies are advised, there are a number of different reasons.  If you have ever tried over-the-counter skincare products before, you likely already know that they can be costly.  Imagine that cost added up overtime.  It is also important to note that many over-the-counter acne treatment products have poor reviews.  In fact, did you know that some products actually cause users more problems with rashes and acne than before?  That is why many are now starting to rely on natural remedies instead, as they are affordable, easy to implement, and saf

Sage

Sage is a relative to the mint family. It is common for Sage to be ground, whole or rubbed but is generally in more of a coarse grain. Sage is grown in the United States but is also grown in Albania and Dalmatia. Sage is a very popular herb in the United States and is used quite frequently for flavoring such things s sausage, pork, lamb, and other meats, salads, pickles, cheese, and stuffing. The smell of Sage is very aromatic and distinct.

Sage loves to hang around in the kitchen with Thyme, Rosemary, and Basil. They work very well together. Sage is normally one of the main herbs in stuffing for poultry but is often added to lamb and pork dishes as well. Sage is very strong and should be used sparingly as a little goes a long way. Sage, like many other herbs develops its full flavor the longer it cooks and withstands lengthy cooking times which might be why it is so good when used in the stuffing for the Thanksgiving turkey that cooks for about five hours.

If you grow your own Sage you will find that all you have to do is snip off the tops of the plant with scissors and add it right to your favorite recipe. Sage is still at its best when dried but if you prefer just simply place the fresh Sage leaves in a baggie in the freezer and pull them out as required.

Today, Sage has no medicinal purposes to speak of but back in a different time Sage was used regularly to cure snake bites and was also used to invigorate the body and cleanse the mind. In the middle ages it was quite common for people to make a Sage tea and drink it for ailments such as colds, fever, liver trouble, and epilepsy.

Although there is nothing to solidify these claims it is also said that a chewed Sage leaf applied to a sting or an insect bite will reduce the sting and bring down the swelling. Sage tea has been said to soothe a sore throat and also help in drying up a mother's breast milk and also reduces blood clots. Further it has been known to help with itching skin if it is added to hot bath water. Today, it is mainly the Native Indians who still rely on the herbal powers of Sage.

The word Sage means salvation from its Latin origin and is associated with longevity, immortality, and mental capacity. Sage never loses its fragrance even after being dried out so it is often added to potpourri and is also added to many soaps and perfumes. It has been used in insect repellents and has antibacterial properties which have helped it become a preservative for many things such as meats, fish, and condiments. Sage has a musky smoky flavor and works very nicely for cutting down some of the richness in many foods. It also goes great with almost any vegetable too. Sage is definitely an herb that most people almost always have in their pantry if they do any cooking at all.

Natural Remedies, The Remedies From the Past and the Future?

Garlic, tamarind, mustard seed, dill, cumin, bay leaf, ginkgo biloba, liquorice and a whole lots of others that you can find on a typical family kitchen. Who has not tried the use of natural herbs such as those mentioned above and examples like ginger in the form of a hot ginger drink to remedy a cold that persists, applying natural extra virgin coconut cream on an itchy skin that is irritating, drinking herbal liquid for brain stimulation before an exam or even just having a cup of green tea for a break after an intense 1-2 hours of concentrated work to relax the mind?

Since the dawn of time and across many different cultures, natural remedies were used in pharmacology. Traditional Chinese medicine, African herbal medicine and more recently, the Indian pharmacopoeia were long been used for various remedies to alleviate different kinds of illnesses.

Natural herbal plants are known to have wide range of different kinds of benefits. They can soothe, stimulate, strengthen, prevent or cure. And this knowledge is well known from many centuries and passed on to our current time.

During the time of monastic gardens and throughout the medieval period, advances in science have helped to isolate and synthesise active ingredients in herbal plants for making medicines.

The use of natural herbal plants requires a thorough understanding of the diseases to be treated, the knowledge about the herbal plants themselves, necessary preparations and dosages. The active elements are located in various parts of the herbal plant such as roots, rhizomes, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and even in some cases the bark.

But you have to take caution! A herbal plant may be toxic in higher amount than what is recommended. So do not try and use these known herbal remedies by yourself specially the ready made supplements and see a professional herbalist, a naturopath or your family doctor if you haven't used the herbal plant before. Doing your own research is good but you should always confirm with people who have experience this particular herbal plant or supplement.

Examples of herbal plants the are currently used as natural remedies.

    * Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), caraway (Carum carvi), mint (Mentha x piperita) are know to have properties for easing problems related to digestive system.
    * Mallow (Malva sylvestris), marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) have properties for relaxing the respiratory system.
    * St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) or valerian (Valeriana officinalis) have properties for soothing the central nervous system.
    * Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) and echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) have properties for invigorating the immune system.

Herbal plants are also used as tonic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative, anti-depressant, malignant cell growth prevention and many more.

A single herbal plant can have multiple properties. This is the case of garlic (Allium sativum), which is an antibiotic, an anti hypertensive, an antioxidant and is lipid-lowering.

The beneficial wonders of natural herbal plants, however, have their limitations. Their effectiveness may differ from person to person, depending on the metabolism of the individual and responsiveness of the active ingredients inside our body. So do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you have discomfort and that the herbal plants does not seem to help.

The recommended dosage level of herbal supplements should be followed carefully for it to be effective, higher doses or over dosing can be toxic. It is recommended to follow instructions carefully from the professional herbalist or consult qualified people that can give you proper advice.

You should also take caution in mixing herbal supplements with other medications. It is highly recommended to talk to your pharmacist or herbalist and mention the particular medicine or herbal supplements you are taking to avoid problems later on.

What is traditional natural remedies future?

Traditional natural remedies and modern medicine has greatly benefited from the use of thousands of plant species in order to cure major and minor illnesses. Ongoing herbal and science research and studies are now finding new discoveries and benefits of natural herbal plants. Just think of the discoveries made on Taxol, a plant alkaloid and an active ingredient which helps fight certain cancers. Our hopes in finding cure on major diseases is much brighter if traditional and modern medicine will continuously work together hand in hand for the goal of finding better and effective remedies for illnesses.

More information, discussions and products about natural remedies can be found at Australia Natural Health website http://www.ausnathealth.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_R_Sanchez

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