What is an Oatmeal Bath?

As the name suggests, an oatmeal bath is when you soak in oatmeal-infused water. Although this sounds like a potential plumbing disaster, there is a trick to this age-old remedy: oatmeal flour. Dumping rolled oats into your tub would indeed clog the pipes, but when powdery-fine oatmeal flour is mixed into warm water, the result is a silky, “milky” bath that soothes even the most irritated skin.

How to Make an Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal bath ingredients

• Warm tap water
• 1 cup of  colloidal oatmeal (you can make your own—see directions below—or purchase colloidal oatmeal here.)
• Soft towels for patting dry
• After-bath emollient or body butter

How to make colloidal oatmeal

If you don’t have colloidal oatmeal on hand, you can make your own:

1. Place one cup of regular, raw oats into a clean coffee grinder, high-powered food processor or blender.
2. Grind oatmeal into a fine powder.

Note: If one tablespoon doesn’t dissolve easily into one cup of water, the powder is not ground fine enough. Continue grinding until your test results in milky, silky water.

How to Give an Oatmeal Bath

1. Fill the tub with warm bath water. Hot water (usually described as 120 degrees Fahrenheit) can scald or irritate already sensitive skin, so stick with warm water—about 90 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. (A simple bathtub thermometer like the one you use for your newborn bath can make this process easier.)
2. As the water is filling the tub, pour one cup of colloidal oatmeal into the tub.
3. Stir and mix well with your hand. Once mixed, the water should feel silky and look milky.
4. Soak for 10-20 minutes.
5. Rinse off with fresh, lukewarm water.
6. Pat skin dry.
7. Apply an emollient within three minutes of drying off to help seal in the moisture. Using an emollient (instead of lotion) protects the skin barrier. (You can use real lanolin or this raw shea butter to make a whipped butter.)

Benefits of Oatmeal Baths

Wild oats—officially known as Avena sativa—have been used in personal care products for millennia.

• In 2000 BC, ancient Egyptians soaked in a wild oat baths to calm anxiety, as well as burns and eczema.
• Ancient Romans used oat baths for relieving sun burns.
• And in the 19th century, oat baths were used to soothe hives.

Why oatmeal? Why not quinoa, or wheat? Oatmeal contains a compound called avenanthramides that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. (source) In fact, there is so much evidence that supports the healing properties of wild oats that colloidal oatmeal has officially been classified as a skin protectant by the FDA. (source)

Oatmeal baths for rash/general irritation

Itchy, dry skin? Rashes? According to a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, oats excel in soothing irritated and dry skin, because they are so high in starches. These starches help strengthen the skin barrier. Specifically, the compounds in the oats promote “lipid regulation in skin” which means your skin retains moisture better.

Oatmeal baths for hives

Hives appear as red welts and can be itchy and painful. It’s a common sign of allergies, so if you notice hives on your little one, be sure to check for other signs of food allergies. In the meantime, these types of baths can help soothe the skin. (source)

Oatmeal baths for eczema

If you have eczema, it’s especially important to protect the skin barrier, and because colloidal oatmeal is a classified skin protectant, soaking in it (and then following up with an emollient moisturizer) is a great way to treat inflamed patches. It also helps reduce the need for topical steroid cream. (source, source)

Oatmeal baths for poison ivy

If you encounter poison ivy, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests washing the area (and any clothes that came into contact with the plant) to remove as much of the oil as possible, then soaking in an oatmeal bath and applying calamine lotion and/or cold compresses afterwards.

Oatmeal baths for diaper rash

Oats are rich in vitamin E, which can help soothe your baby’s bottom and resolve diaper rash. Because oats also have a saponic, or soap-like, quality, these types of baths can even help prevent diaper rash in the future.

Oatmeal baths for chicken pox

According to the American Academy of Dermatology oatmeal baths can help relieve some of the itch when children develop the painful blisters associated with chicken pox.

Oatmeal baths for sunburn

Rich in vitamin E, the ant-inflammatory properties of the oats soothe scorched skin. (source) And because vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps block UV-B rays—the rays responsible for sunburns—soaking in oatmeal also helps your body repair any damage resulting from sunburn. (source, source)

How About You?

Have you made an oatmeal bath for your little one? Do you make your own colloidal oatmeal?

The post How to Make an Oatmeal Bath (And Why You’d Want To) appeared first on Mama Natural.

In this post, we’ll unpack:

• What lice is (and how it spreads)
• What lice looks likes
• Home remedies for lice
• Plus, how to prevent lice

What Is Lice?

As gross as it sounds, lice is a parasite that feeds on human blood, and believe it or not, there are actually three different types of lice: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice. Head lice—what we’ll be talking about here—is also known as pediculosis capitis. (source)

Though the term lice is broadly used, head lice is different than the other two forms of lice, so take heart in knowing that just because you or your child has head lice does not mean that you have body lice or fleas. And fortunately, head lice don’t carry diseases. Phew! (source)

How Do You Get Lice?

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t get lice from being dirty.

Lice actually thrive in clean hair, because they can stick to the clean hair better. (source)

So where the heck do they come from?

Lice is contracted from head-to-head contact with an infected individual.

So in school age children, this could look like touching heads to tell a secret, hugging, bumping heads, or smiling cheek-to-cheek.

Though it is possible to transmit lice from sharing hats, combs, clothing, and barrettes, it’s not the most likely method of transmission. In fact, in one study found there were zero lice on school carpets, even though there were over 14,000 (!!) lice on the children’s heads. (source)

How Common Is Lice?

For this reason, lice is most common in young kids. They are in close quarters at school or daycare, and they are likely to be close enough for head-to-head contact.

Once someone in your home is affected, it may spread quickly through other head-to-head activities include hugging, sleeping in the same bed, or cuddling.

Girls also tend to get lice more often than boys because girls, on average, tend to have longer hair.

What Does Lice Look Like?

There are three stages of lice:

1. Nit

This is the egg, which the female louse “glues” to the hair, about 4 mm up from the scalp. The egg remains in hair for about eight or nine days before hatching into the nymph.  (source)

Home Remedies for Lice – Say Goodbye for Good – Nit

The above image depicts nits; notice that the eggs are all attached about the same distance from the scalp. (source)

2. Nymph

Once hatched, the louse is referred to as a nymph; you may even see the empty egg/shell casing left behind. It takes a baby louse about 10 days to mature into an adult capable of reproducing. (source)

nymph head lice

The image above illustrates the difference between the nits, nymphs, and adults. The nymph is directly in the center. (source)

3. Adult louse

The adults, which are about the size of a sesame seed, have six legs and are tan/white in color. (source)

The image above shows just how small the adult lice really are; those black lines are the teeth of a comb! (source)

Signs of Lice

Are you itchy just reading this? (Me too!) Creepy-crawly feelings aside, how do you know if you have lice?

Below are the most common symptoms of lice:

• Tickling sensations on the head
• Problems sleeping (lice feed more at night, so itchiness may be more severe at night)
• Persistent itching of the scalp
• Sores on the head
• Bumps on the neck
• Visible nits attached to the hair shaft

Nits vs. dandruff: how to spot the difference

Not sure if you have nits or dandruff? Try this quick test: brush your hair. Nits are usually stuck on and don’t brush right off, whereas dandruff can be brushed off.

What to Do If You Get Lice

If you or your children have lice, the number one rule is don’t panic! Remember lice do not carry dangerous diseases and there are many natural options. Lice is much more of an inconvenience than anything else. You got this, mama!

That being said, lice do spread easily so it’s important to act swiftly.

• Treat infected people immediately (more on that below).
• Treat your home shortly thereafter (we’ll cover that too).
• If applicable, alert your child’s school or daycare immediately, so that other parents can catch lice early in their kids. Don’t be embarrassed to make this call. As mentioned above, lice are not an indication of dirtiness.

Conventional Lice Treatment

While it’s super easy to head over to the drugstore and pick up a lice treatment, I have some not-so-great news: Traditional lice treatments (both OTC and prescription) are loaded with chemicals and pesticides. In fact, there are some downright scary pesticides in those shampoos and rinses such as pyrethrum extract and permethrin.

• One study from France found that pesticide-laden shampoos increase children’s risk for leukemia.
• And another UK study found that traditional lice treatments increase the risk for brain tumors.

And most (99.6 percent) lice are “super lice,” which means all of those pesticide-laden shampoos don’t have any effect on them. (source) Toxic chemicals without any real louse-killing benefit? No thanks.

Natural Home Remedies for Lice

Luckily, there are plenty of natural home remedies for lice that are very effective. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics says:

“The ideal treatment of lice should be safe, free of toxic chemicals, readily available without a prescription, easy to use, effective and inexpensive.”

1. Combing (aka the surest way to get rid of lice)

Combing the lice and nits out one by one with a fine-tooth comb is the most effective home remedies for lice, and it should be done regardless of any other method you choose. The other methods simply serve to make the combing process easier.

What you need to comb out nits: 

• A fine-toothed lice comb (Skip the plastic combs, and use a metal one instead. They will hold up better. This one has two sides: one for long hair and one for short hair)
• A magnifying glass, if your comb doesn’t have one
• A bowl of clean, soapy water
• Natural detangler spray, or diluted apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle
• Paper towels
• Clips to hold back your child’s hair in sections

How to comb out nits:

1. Spray detangler or apple cider vinegar all over your child’s hair. (You could also use some fractionated coconut oil in a spray bottle.)
2. Brush the entire head once over. Use a regular wide-toothed comb for this step.
3. Part your child’s hair into sections. Clip it and secure.
4. Starting at the scalp, use the lice comb and comb the first section of hair. Pull the comb from the scalp to the ends. You may notice lice and eggs.
5. Dip the comb into your bowl of water and/or wipe it on the paper towel.
6. Repeat each section a few times. Comb each section until you comb through the strands and no lice appear on the comb.
7. To keep the combed hair separate from the uncombed hair, twist and secure clean hair in a mini bun close to the head. Use a clean clip to secure the combed hair.
8. Repeat this process for each section of hair.
9. When you’re finished combing, wash the hair.
10. Clean your tools in hot, soapy water.
11. Wash any clothes or towels that were used or worn during this process.
12. Vacuum the area where you were combing.
13. Repeat every two to three days until cleared.

Note: This process can take up to three hours, especially if your child has long or curly hair. Before beginning the comb-out process, make sure your child has had a snack, had a potty break, and is ready to sit for a bit. Many mamas take advantage of a little screen time here, but you could also try playing an audio book. If weather permits, some parents also prefer to do this on a back porch or stoop to minimize cleanup.

2. Suffocate the lice with oil

A 2010 study from Brazil found that coconut oil was more effective in killing lice than most OTC medications. (source) To suffocate the lice with coconut oil, you must let the oil sit on your hair overnight, then comb your hair.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Rinse your hair and let dry.
2. Apply coconut oil, so that all of the hair is saturated.
3. Apply a plastic shower cap.
4. Leave the shower cap on for at least eight hours. (If you choose to do this overnight, throw an extra towel over the pillowcase to prevent staining the pillowcase.)
5. Follow the comb-out method listed above.

3. Try garlic

Fun fact: Garlic is one of the oldest home remedies for lice. It has been used since the 600s AD! (source)

Simply rub garlic oil on the scalp to help kill any live lice. For extreme cases, you can try a garlic hair mask, which is more potent than the oil.

To make a garlic hair mask:

1. Mash ten cloves of garlic.
2. Add three tablespoons of lemon or lime juice to create a paste.
3. Apply this as a hair mask, and let rest for 30 minutes.
4. Rinse, then follow the comb-out method listed above.

4. Soak with hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has been used for decades for wound care, but hydrogen peroxide is also a staple in many naturally-minded cleaning closets. Many mamas find that this method is much easier for kids to deal with because it is does not have as strong of a smell as the ACV. As a bonus, this spray will help clean any scabs or scraps on the scalp that occur due to excess itching.

To make a hydrogen peroxide spray:

• Mix of 1 part food-grade hydrogen peroxide and 3 parts water.
• Use this spray prior to the comb-out process listed above.

Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to soak your lice comb, as well as your barrettes and wide-toothed combs. Pour a little into a bowl and soak.

5. Try iodine

Interestingly, bathing in diluted iodine is a treatment for horses that have horse lice (source). Horse lice is not the same as head lice, but it is interesting that, anecdotally, many individuals have found that iodine has worked for them as well. Just don’t bathe in it!

To help kill the nits:

• Apply two to three drops of liquid iodine on your scalp

6. Use apple cider vinegar

Remember that the female louse glues her eggs to your hair? Apple cider vinegar can help loosen the glue that holds nits in your hair.

Try soaking, rinsing, or spraying on the apple cider vinegar. You can use this as your detangler spray as well. Follow up with the comb-out method.

How to Treat Your House for Head Lice

Once you start treating your hair with the above home remedies for lice, you also need to treat your house. Treating your house may seem like a big production, but this will help prevent any further infestations. If it seems overwhelming, make a checklist and just focus on one task at a time.

• Treat linens and clothing: Wash all clothing and bed linens in hot water (130F degrees or higher) for at least 20 minutes.
• Treat stuffed animals and coats: Dry-clean anything that’s not machine-washable; alternatively, you can put these items—stuffed animals, coats, etc—in sealed plastic bags for two weeks.
• Clean hair tools: Soak brushes and combs in hot, soapy water, then place in a bag and leave in the freezer for two days.
• Wash the floors: Vacuum floors and furniture. Don’t forget to vacuum curtains as well. Empty the canister and throw away the trash immediately.

Do You Need to Cut Your Hair If You Get Lice?

Tempted to go chop off your mane? Before you cut your hair, know this: cutting your hair has never proven to be one of the more effective home remedies for lice, because lice live so close to the hair shaft.

To eliminate those nits (which are only 4mm away from your scalp), you’d need to shave your hair, which is not a desirable option for many people–especially when it’s not necessary. Instead, stick with the natural home remedies for lice listed above.

Do Pets Need to Be Treated for Lice?

Worried about having to do a three hour comb-out on your dog? Don’t worry!

Head lice don’t live on household pets, so you can leave that item off of your to-do list.

How to Prevent Lice

With all this talk about combing out lice and nits and eggs, you probably have one question on your mind: These home remedies for lice are great, but how do I prevent lice in the first place?! Unfortunately, it’s very hard to prevent lice with 100 percent certainty, especially if you have kids ages 3-11.

Use essential oils

Studies show that ginger, eucalyptus, tea tree, cedarwood, and lavender essential oils are highly effective ways to prevent lice.(source, source) There are many ways to use essential oils, but most mamas successfully keep lice at bay by:

• Adding kid-safe essential oils into your normal shampoo
• Making a preventive hair spray
• Making a preventive hat spray

Note: Not all essential oils are safe for use around small children. Eucalyptus is not safe for children, but if you or your partner have lice, be sure to use it when you’re not around small children. Read this essential oil guide to learn more.

How to make a preventive hair spray

What you need:

• A spray bottle
• Detangling spray or hair gel
• Essential oils

What to do:

1. Add 2% of your essential oils (any combination of tea tree, lavender, cedarwood, and/or lemon) to your detangling spray or gel. (Note: For a 2% dilution, add 12 drops of essential oils for each 1 ounce of detangling spray.)
2. Spray or apply each morning when you get ready for the day (or when you get your child ready for school).

How to make a preventive hat spray

What you need:

• A spray bottle
• Essential oils
• Witch hazel

What to do: 

1. Add 12 drops of your essential oils (any combination of tea tree, lavender, cedarwood, and/or lemon) to one ounce of witch hazel.
2. Store this solution in the fridge and make only enough for one week at a time, as there are no preservatives in this recipes.

Other ways to minimize your chances of getting lice:

• Don’t share brushes or hair accessories (and teaching your child not to share brushes)
• Don’t share clothing, especially hats
• Avoid close contact with anyone infested

How About You?

Have you or your children ever had lice? Which home remedies for lice worked for you?

The post Home Remedies for Lice: Say Goodbye for Good appeared first on Mama Natural.

But let’s start from the very beginning. In this post, we’ll cover:

What Is Pink Eye?

Conjunctivitis is an eye condition in which the conjunctiva (the clear lining that covers the white part of your eye) is inflamed. The inflammation usually causes the eye to appear pink, which is how conjunctivitis earned its nickname: pink eye.

What Causes Pink Eye?

Pink eye can be caused by allergies, bacteria, or viruses. (More on that below!)

But regardless of what causes the infection, an eye infected by pink eye is red, super itchy, and also plagued by white or yellow discharge.

What does viral pink eye look like?

(source)

Viral pink eye is very watery (the eye generally looks glassy) and usually spreads from one eye to the other through contact. The above image clearly shows how red and inflamed the conjunctiva can get. (source)

What does bacterial pink eye look like?

The above image depicts bacterial pink eye, a type of conjunctivitis characteristic of oozing and crusted pus. (source) If you wake up with your eye “stuck” shut, you may suspect bacterial pink eye is the culprit. (source)

What does allergic pink eye look like?

The above image depicts allergic conjunctivitis. (source) Allergic pink eye does not have the thick mucus that a bacterial infection has. Instead, the eye is super inflamed and itchy. 

Signs of Pink Eye

Wondering if you have pink eye or if your eyes are just bloodshot from not getting enough sleep? Sleep-induced bloodshot eyes typically don’t have any other symptoms other than red eyes.

If you have pink eye, you’ll probably also experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Your eye is red and/or uncomfortable
• Your eye is producing yellow or white pus or mucus
• It’s hard to open your eye due to excessive crust
• You’re in pain or having trouble seeing due to watery discharge and mucus
• You eyes is sensitive to light
• Your eye is itchy
• You just had an infection and/or still have signs of infection (i.e. fever)

Note: Pink eye can affect just one eye or it can affect both eyes at the same time.

If It’s Not Pink Eye, What Else Could It Be?

Not all red, swollen, irritated, or crusty eyes are due to pink eye. According to WebMD, the following conditions may cause similar symptoms:

• Seasonal allergies
• Excessively dry eyes
• A sty
• Iritis (an inflamed iris)
• Chalazion (an inflamed gland along the eyelid)
• Blepharitis (inflamed or infected skin along the eyelid)

If you suspect your symptoms may be a result of something other than pink eye, contact your healthcare provider. They can do an eye exam to rule out other conditions.

Conventional Treatment for Pink Eye

If you do have pink eye, treatment depends on the cause of your conjunctivitis.

For bacterial pink eye:

Bacterial pink eye is caused by a bacteria like streptococcus pneumonia or staphylococcus aureus. Your doctor can prescribe drops, or ointments, like bacitracin, erythromycin, or moxifloxacin, for bacterial pink eye. (source)

In most cases, though, you don’t need antibiotic eye drops unless the pink eye is caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea (which is rare, especially in children). (source)

For viral pink eye:

Since conjunctivitis is usually viral, antibiotics won’t help, and may even cause harm by reducing their effectiveness in the future or causing a medication reaction (i.e. allergic reaction to antibiotics). In fact, studies show that viral pink eye is the most common type of pink eye and often does not require medical treatment. (source)

For allergic pink eye:

Up to 40 percent of pink eye cases are caused by seasonal and indoor allergies like pollen, dust mites, and mold spores.

However, most people do not seek medical treatment for allergic pink eye. (This is likely due to the fact that many people self-treat allergies rather than seek medical treatment for seasonal/indoor allergies.) The best course of action here is to address the allergens that cause the pink eye.

Home Remedies for Pink Eye

When you first suspect that you have pink eye, there are two things you should do before trying any home remedies for pink eye.

• Stop wearing contacts. If they are disposables, toss them and wear your glasses until your eyes are better. If you do not have disposable lenses, clean your contacts thoroughly, according to the directions provided by your eye doctor.
• Stop wearing eye makeup. Throw away anything that came in contact with your eyes, and buy new makeup when you’re better.

Next, try one of more of these home remedies for pink eye to reduce symptoms of bacterial and viral pink eye and ease discomfort.

Apply a cool compress

Cool temperatures soothe itchiness and discomfort.

1. Soak a soft cloth in cool water (just a few degrees under lukewarm, so aim for 80-90 degree F)
2. Wring it out
3. Press gently on the eyelid.

Note: Always use a clean cloth each time you wipe your eyes to prevent re-infection, and if you’re wiping your child’s eyes, be sure to wash your hands afterward.

Apply a warm compress

Alternatively, you can use warm compresses (around 90-98 degrees F) to loosen any crusted eyelashes, but once the mucus loosens, don’t overdo the warm compresses—it can worsen symptoms.

And, remember, always use a clean cloth each time you wipe your eyes to prevent re-infection. If you’re wiping your child’s eyes, be sure to wash your hands afterward.

Use breast milk

Squirt what in your eye?! Yep, breast milk has been used for centuries to help squash infections, and mamas today still swear by it. While some studies found that breast milk added more bacteria to the eye (source), it’s important to note that anecdotal advice for this is more than abundant. Why? Breast milk helps to reduce inflammation. (source)

How to use breast milk as a home remedy for pink eye:

1. Hand-express or pump some milk into a clean container.
2. Using a clean eye-dropper, administer a few drops into your eyes.
3. Apply every few hours.

Make honey eye drops

Manuka honey has been used for millennia to treat eye conditions. That’s right: millennia. In the 300s Aristotle himself wrote that “pale honey” was a good remedy for “sore eyes and wounds.” Studies support his hypothesis, too: honey is proven to fend off bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). (source)

To make Manuka honey eye drops, you need:

• Manuka honey
• Clean water
• An eye dropper
• A clean jar

Directions:

1. Boil 1/2 cup of filtered water, and let it cool.
2. Pour into a clean jar.
3. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of Manuka honey.
4. Using the clean eye dropper, administer a few drops every few hours. Be careful not to let the dropper touch your eye, otherwise you risk re-introducing bacteria.

Use colloidal silver drops

Colloidal silver, which is silver particles suspended in water, has been used since the Roman and Greek times for treating infections. In fact, colloidal silver was used to treat infections from ancient times even up to the 1940s (when Penicillin was invented). A 2011 study confirms that colloidal silver is effective in treating fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. (source)

To use colloidal silver as eye drops:

• Apply 1-2 drops of colloidal silver in each eye
• Repeat up to four times per day

Take probiotics

Probiotics are a good way to support your body during an infection, but probiotics may have an extra helpful role to play when it comes to pink eye. A study published in Fraefes Archives of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology found that probiotic drops in the eyes helped reduce symptoms of pink eye. (source) Granted, it took two weeks for the participants to see a resolve, so if you go this route, you may want to use this method in conjunction with other home remedies for pink eye.

Alternatively, you can take oral probiotics and support your body from within.

Try neem oil

Neem oil is the oil extracted from the medicinal plant Azadirachta indica. Studies show that neem oil is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and even antimalarial. (source)

To use neem oil as one of your home remedies for pink eye:

1. Apply a thin layer of neem oil on your eyelids.
2. Do this right before bed, as the oil might make it temporarily difficult to see.

Make saline washes

Saline washes are helpful for cleaning your eyes and removing some of the built-up pus and mucus.

To make a sterile saline wash, you need:

• 1 teaspoon of non-iodized table salt
• 8 ounces of filtered water
• A pot
• A sterilized (boiled) mason jar
• An eye dropper

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Add salt to boiling water.
3. Once the salt dissolves, remove from heat and let it cool.
4. Use a clean eyedropper to drop this solution into your eyes once or twice per day.
5. Store unused saline wash in a clean mason jar with a lid.

Use tea bag compresses

Green tea is a well-known source of antioxidants, but green tea can also be used to reduce the symptoms of pink eye. In fact, thanks to the catechins in green tea, this tea has demonstrated antibacterial properties. (source)

To make a green tea bag compress:

1. Boil 8 ounces of water.
2. Pour the water over two organic green tea bags.
3. Let the tea bags cool completely.
4. Lay one tea bag over each eye until their coolness dissipates and the tea bags starts to warm up from your body heat, about 10 minutes.

*To make the most out of each tea bag, you can also soak a cloth in the tea and apply that cloth to your eyes.

Try a holy basil compress

Holy basil, also called Ocimum sanctum, has proven antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. (source)

To make a holy basil compress:

1. Boil 8 ounces of water.
2. Steep 1-2 tablespoons of organic holy basil leaves in the water for 10 minutes and let cool.
3. Soak a clean cloth in the tea and apply to your eyes for about 10 minutes once or twice per day.

Apply aloe vera

Aloe vera, that skin-soothing plant we all know and love, also has antibacterial properties, according to a 2018 study. Even better news: aloe vera gel is safe around the eyes. (source)

If you suspect you have pink eye, take a few drops of aloe vera gel and wipe it around your eyes and on your eyelids two to three times per day.

Try turmeric

Turmeric, the star spice in Golden Milk, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. In fact, a 2017 study revealed that curcumin, a component in turmeric, is effective in reducing symptoms of eye diseases like pink eye. (source)

To use turmeric as one of your home remedies for pink eye, boil 1 teaspoon of the spice in 8 ounces of water and apply the cooled liquid with cotton pads. Alternatively, you can use tea.

To make a turmeric tea:

1. Boil water.
2. Pour over two organic turmeric tea bags.
3. Let cool.
4. Apply the tea bags to your eyes.
5. Use the remaining tea liquid and soak clean cotton pads in the tea, and apply to your eyes for about 10 minutes once or twice per day.

Note: Turmeric stains, so be cautious with any drips.

How Long Does Pink Eye Last?

If you wake up with an eyelid crusted shut, you bet your first question is how long will this last?! There is good news though! With these home remedies for pink eye:

• Bacterial pink eye can disappear within as little as 24 hours
• Viral pink eye, on the other hand, has to run its course, and can last for 7-10 days

In the meantime, try as many of these home remedies for pink eye as need be. Even though a virus must run its course, you can still find relief from your symptoms.

Is Pink Eye Contagious?

Very! In fact, pink eye is one of the most common reasons for school absences.

According to the National Eye Institute, pink eye is the most common eye condition with over three million cases each year. Wow!

How to Prevent Pink Eye

To reduce your risk of becoming one of those three million pink eye cases, follow these tips:

• Wash hands often, and encourage your children to do so as well
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth; if you do, be sure to wash your hands after
• Wash towels and pillows often with hot water (130F or higher)
• Don’t share anything that touches your eyes, including makeup
• Always wash your hands before and after inserting contact lenses
• Use goggles when swimming and try to avoid letting water in your eyes (easier said than done)

How Long Is Pink Eye Contagious?

• Bacterial pink eye is contagious for about 24 hours
• Viral pink eye is contagious for 10-12 days! (source)

Check your child’s school policy for returning to school after a case of pink eye. Many schools require the child to be free from pink eye for 24 hours before returning. This may seem like a long time, but use this opportunity to love on your child and play games and bond.

When to Call the Doctor

Although most cases of pink eye are treatable at home, you may want to check in with your doctor if:

• The suspected pink eye occurs on your newborn
• You or your child have other signs of infections that are getting worse
• You tried the above home remedies for pink eye, but symptoms persist

How About You?

Have you ever had pink eye? Which home remedies for pink eye worked for you? (And which ones didn’t?)

The post Home Remedies for Pink Eye (& Why You Usually Don’t Need Drops) appeared first on Mama Natural.

When Do Babies Develop Their Own Immune System?

Have you ever wondered why babies—so little and fragile—aren’t born with rock-solid immune systems ready to tackle the world? When a baby is in the womb, the immune system must “back down,” so that baby can tolerate the mother’s cells. (source) Once baby enters the world and is no longer relying on mama to sustain him/her, their immune systems must grow and evolve from scratch.

How breastfeeding helps boost baby’s immune system

Although the immune system is weak at birth, breastfeeding plays a major role in the early development of the immune system. When baby drinks mama’s milk, he/she receives:

• Helpful IgA antibodies
• Anti-idiotypic antibodies
• Growth factors
• T and B lymphocytes
• Helpful or “good” bacteria, such as bactericidal lactoferrin

All of the above are special nutrients in human milk that help to boost baby’s immune system. (source)

How the immune system continues to grow

The immune system continues to evolve throughout early childhood through:

1. Outdoor playtime: When children play outside (especially in dirt), their immune systems get a little boost. Unfortunately, as outdoor playtime decrease in our society, kids are not getting enough of the “good” bacteria from dirt. (source) Did you know kids who grow up on farms and are always outside tend to have stronger immune systems, less allergies, and less asthma?! (source)
2. Coming into contact with germs: Studies show that children exposed to other children (e.g. in a daycare or playdate setting), have stronger immune systems. (source)
3. Getting sick: It’s so sad to see your little one feel under the weather, and although it sounds backwards, colds and other minor illnesses are one of the best natural immune boosters for kids. Every time your child catches a cold, their body creates antibodies that help their bodies learn how to fight illnesses and infections. In fact, a 2018 study revealed that children who caught many colds when they were two had 33 percent less colds when they were in elementary school. (source)

Signs Your Child Has a Weak Immune System

If it seems like your child is always catching a cold, don’t panic. Kids’ immune systems are still developing, and because of that, they are more susceptible to colds and infections. There are many factors (like those above) that influence how quickly your child’s immune system develops.

That said, you may suspect your child could use some natural immune boosters for kids if s/he:

1. Is frequently sick
2. Is sick for long periods of time, or seems to take longer than others to kick colds
3. Has difficult gaining weight, or is underweight
4. Has back-to-back thrush infections

Tip: If your child has more than eight ear infections in a year, more than two severe sinus infections in a year, or is struggling to gain weight, it may be worth a trip to the pediatrician to rule out a serious, but rare, condition called Primary Immune Deficiency. (source)

Natural Immune Boosters for Kids

The good news is that there are many natural immune boosters for kids that can help decrease the frequency and severity of illness:

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is one of the most powerful natural immune boosters for kids (and adults!). During sleep, your body takes time to repair itself, but it also takes that precious time to produce infection-fighting white blood cells. In fact, a 2007 animal study found that a lack of sleep caused the body’s white blood cell counts to dip, and without those white blood cells, you are at risk for getting sick. (source)

The solution? Make sure your little ones are getting enough sleep. Not sure how much sleep your child needs? Check out Mama Natural’s sleep chart here.

Exercise regularly

We know exercise is good for so many reasons, but did you know it’s one of the best natural immune boosters for kids? Exercise can reduce colds by up to 67 percent! (source) In a 2008 study, researchers noted that individuals who exercised were less likely to develop an upper respiratory infection, and even if they did catch a cold, those colds were less severe and shorter in duration.

There are many ways to use exercise as a natural immune booster for kids: 

• Visit the park—even in the fall and winter months!
• Take family walks. 
• Play frisbee, tag, or T-ball in the yard. 
• Park in the furthest parking spot when shopping to encourage your child to walk more.
• Try mommy and me swimming or yoga classes.

Take antibiotics only when necessary

While there is a time and place for antibiotics, overusing antibiotics can cause antibodies to become resistant to the medicine. (source)

In order to help antibiotics remain effective (for when you really need them), try following these tips:

• Never use antibiotics for a viral infection, because viruses are simply not affected by the antibiotics.
• Avoid antibacterial soaps or antibacterial hand sanitizer, because these soaps can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. (source)

If antibiotics are medically necessary, you can rebuild your child’s gut health by making sure they get probiotics—take them at least two hours after the antibiotics.

Boost up zinc levels

A 2008 study found that zinc deficiency actually contributed to immune dysfunction. That’s because zinc helps the body produce T cells, which are part of the immune system. (source)

Copper and zinc are antagonists and kids tend to eat copper-rich foods like chocolate, whole grains, and potatoes and skimp on zinc-rich foods like oysters, shellfish, and red meat.

Work to incorporate foods high in zinc regularly like:

• Chickpeas: You can make an easy-to-eat hummus for younger children.
• Seeds: Pumpkin, hemp, and sesame seeds
• Cashews, including cashew butter or cashew milk
• Eggs: for a protein-rich breakfast
• Ground red meat: in spaghetti or burgers

Get plenty of phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are compounds that are naturally present in plants (including fruits and vegetables) that serve as the plant’s own defense against illness. Phytonutrients strengthen the plant’s immune system by defending it against bacteria, viruses, and free radicals. (source) When you consume these phytonutrients, your immune system benefits for the same reasons. You may recognize phytonutrients by their specific names: lycopene and carotenoids are two common ones.

You can find phytonutrients in:

• Tomatoes (Cooking tomatoes actually concentrates the phytonutrients!)
• Camu camu powder
• Green vegetables like broccoli and spinach. Or try this tropical smoothie.
• Onions and garlic
• Carrots
• Fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, and basil (Try this pesto!)

Take probiotics

Probiotics are one of the best natural immune boosters for kids, because you are literally arming your immune system with good bacteria. Probiotics consist of live cultures that become part of your gut microbiome. How does this affect your immune system?

Ninety percent of your body’s immune system resides in your gut, so when you supply the necessarily live cultures to your gut, you support your immune system.

Babies and older children can both benefit from probiotics—here are some of my favorite probiotics for kids and babies. You can also eat probiotic-rich food like yogurt. 

Some kids with leaky gut benefit from this Restore product.

Get lots of vitamin D

You probably know that vitamin D plays a vital role in bone health, but according to a 2011 study, vitamin D also supports the immune system. Specifically, vitamin D encourages an immune response when the body is threatened with foreign invaders. (source)

The best sources of vitamin D: 

• Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D, but if you live in cloudy/rainy climates, you may get enough natural sunshine.
• Vitamin D drops are often suggested for breastfeeding babies, and mom can supplement at 6,400 IU per day to give baby what he/she needs through the breast milk. (Source) Consider a vitamin D/K blend so that your minerals stay in balance.
• Vitamin D-rich foods, like fatty fish (salmon and mackerel), eggs, grass-fed beef, and egg yolks.

Eat vitamin A-rich foods

Vitamin A is another vitamin that can boost your immune health. In a 2015 animal study, researchers found that this vitamin played a specific role by protecting respiratory health. Vitamin A deficiency compromised the “immunity of the airways.” (source) Considering the airways are one of the first places that your body comes into contact with invading germs, it’s a good idea to make sure your child receives adequate levels of this vitamin.

Look for vitamin A-rich foods such as:

• Liver
• Egg yolks
• Pasteurized butter
• Cod liver oil which also contains vitamin D and K!

Use a saline rinse or neti pot

A neti pot can help your immune system by flushing mucous from your nasal passages and cleaning out harmful bacteria from your sinuses. Best to do when sick or very congested but not daily as you don’t want to disrupt sinus microbiome.

Here’s what to do:

1. Fill your neti pot with salt water (with distilled, or boiled and cooled, water)
2. Have your child tilt his head sideways
3. Instruct him to lean over the sink
4. Insert the spout of the pot into the nostril that is higher 
5. Remind your child to breath with his mouth—not his nose
6. Tilt the pot so that the water follows through the nostril and out through the bottom nostril

If your child isn’t interested in the neti pot (many kids won’t be!), you can use a saline spray too.

Another option is using the Restore nasal spray to help build up your sinus microbiome and strengthen the immune system. Xlear works similarly.

Drink plenty of spring water

Staying properly hydrated assists your immune system in many ways. In fact, drinking enough good, clean water (Spring water is ideal) is one of the best natural immune boosters for kids. Hydrating helps your body fight off colds and flush out bacteria in your urine, which can reduce your child’s risk of developing a urinary tract infection. (source)

To make water more appealing to children, add:

• lemon slices,
• strawberry slices,
• or pineapple and mint leaves.

And don’t forget, there are lots of fruits and vegetables with very high water content. See a comprehensive list in this post.

Maintain good oral health

Believe it or not, your oral health can affect your overall health. Studies show that oral infections can increase your risk of autoimmune diseases. (source) Yikes! That’s because your mouth is another part of your microbiome (and so is your skin, sinuses, genitals, etc.)

Here’s how to ensure your kids have good oral health:

• Help your child brush his teeth until he is around eight years old (source)
• Brush twice a day for two full minutes
• Floss daily
• Schedule regular check-ups with your holistic dentist. Find a holistic dentist here.

Get glandulars

The thymus gland supports the immune system by producing lymphocyte cells (aka white blood cells), and remember that white blood cells are the body’s “army” against germs. But here’s the catch: this gland starts declining (aka shrinking) during puberty! What gives?

Researchers are making the connection with thymus gland extract and improved immune support, even long past the natural gland has shrunken. (source)

If you choose to supplement, avoid synthetic thymus gland extract and choose a good a grass-fed version.

Try massage

Massages are relaxing, but they also have many health benefits, including increasing your white blood cells. In fact, in just one 45-minute massage, your body will create more white blood cells! Massaging your baby can also facilitate healthy weight gain and improved motor skills. Relaxing and good for baby’s overall health!? What’s not to love about that?

Tips for incorporating massage into your daily routine:

• Massage your child as part of their bedtime routine: Use a lavender-scented lotion for an extra relaxing touch
• Massage your baby after a warm bath
• Play peaceful music and take the opportunity to bond with your baby

Spend time outside

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” – Norwegian Proverb

Many parents worry about taking kids outside in the winter months, but the truth is that getting outside won’t cause you to catch a cold. In fact, in many Scandinavian countries, parents let their babies nap outdoors during the winter months—they believe it’s one of the best natural immune boosters for kids. (source, source)

Try forest bathing—spend time taking in nature, breathing in the fresh air, and peacefully immersing yourself in your surroundings. When done mindfully, forest bathing and spending time in nature can actually increase the NK cells (the cells that destroy invading viruses and bacteria) that boost your immune system. (source)

Get a pet

If you’ve been on the fence about getting a pet, now is your chance! Studies show that sharing your home with a pet can improve your immune system and reduce your chance of developing allergies or asthma.

Here are the stats:

• Petting a dog for just 18 minutes stimulates IgA production (source)
• Newborns who share a home with a cat have a decreased risk of asthma (source)
• Animals reduce stress levels (and stress can sabotage your immune system) (source)

Start a garden

Remember earlier when we mentioned that children who played in the dirt had stronger immune systems? Well, you don’t have to miss out on that benefit if you don’t live on a farm!

Try:

• Window boxes
• Indoor herb gardens
• Small outdoor plots for sewing easy-to-grow herbs

Keep sugar to a minimum

Refined sugar is so tough on the body:

• Bacteria thrive on the acidic environment of refined sugar. (That’s why sugar contributes to tooth decay!) (source)
• Too much sugar can also wreak havoc on your gut health, and that is bad for your immune system because your gut houses much of your immune system. (source)
• Sugar also leads to inflammation throughout the body. (source)

For these reasons, it’s a good idea to avoid processed sugar. If the kids want something sweet now and then (who doesn’t?), try one of these desserts: paleo pumpkin bites,  grain-free pecan pie, or mini chocolate bundt cakes.

Try reishi

Studies show that reishi and other mushroom blends enhance the natural immune system and help the body fend off “bad bacteria” and germs. In fact, reishi has even been shown to increase the white blood cells that fight cancer! (source)

The reishi mushroom can be eaten fresh, but it’s also widely available in powdered form. For kids, try this delicious reishi mushroom hot chocolate. 

What About Immune Stimulants?

I know what you’re thinking—isn’t elderberry syrup one of the best natural immune boosters for kids?!

But before we discuss elderberry syrup, let’s back up a second, and discuss immune stimulants. Immune stimulants are substances (both chemical and natural) that stimulate, or encourage, the immune system to take action.

Immune stimulants are different from substances that support the immune system; rather than strengthening the immune system, the immune stimulants tell the immune system to act.

Some say elderberry syrup and echinacea are immune stimulants. Although elderberry syrup reduces the severity and duration of colds (source), you may want to save it for times when your child gets sick to avoid potentially sending your immune system into overdrive.

What About Daily Vitamins?

It’s best to receive as many nutrients as possible from food sources. Multivitamins, if used in abundance, can cause mineral imbalances.

In a large study conducted by doctors from John Hopkins University, researchers discovered that multivitamins do not reduce the risk of contracting certain diseases. In fact, vitamins can cause damage by delivering too much of certain vitamins. (source)

Also, children get a lot of nutrients per pound of body weight, if they’re eating a relatively healthy diet. An average toddler eats 1,000-1,500 calories a day, which is as much as some small adults! Most kids don’t need extra vitamins.

If your child eats a nutrient-poor diet

If you want to fortify a bad diet, try natural food-based items like:

• Camu camu powder for vitamin C
• Cod liver oil for fat soluble vitamins A, D, and K
• Kelp powder for trace minerals, including iodine
• 1 Brazil nut for selenium
• Red meat 2X per week for zinc or one of these zinc lozenges a few times per week
• Probiotics to boost immunity
• 4 oz. of coconut water per day for potassium
• 1 tsp. of bee pollen for B vitamins, assuming your child isn’t allergic to bee stings!

Bottom line: Usually multivitamins aren’t needed as natural immune boosters for kids. However, if your child does have a true deficiency, speak with your child’s healthcare provider about any supplement needs.

Remember…

At the end of the day, don’t fret if your child gets a cold. It can be hard to watch your child feel yucky, but remember to take the opportunity to give them extra snuggles and TLC. And the silver lining: Getting colds can help your child build up their immune system.

How About You?

What do you think are the best natural immune boosters for kids? I’d love to hear about what has (and hasn’t) worked for you!

The post The Best Natural Immune Boosters for Kids appeared first on Mama Natural.

In this post, we’ll answer all of your questions about swimmer’s ear, including:

Swimmer’s Ear Video: 6 Natural Remedies That Work!

What is Swimmer’s Ear?

Swimmer’s ear, known as acute otitis externa in the medical community, occurs when water gets trapped in the ear. Water can generally flow in and out of the ear, but when water gets trapped, it breeds bacteria or fungus. This causes inflammation, irritation, and infection.

What Causes Swimmer’s Ear?

The condition is called swimmer’s ear, because it usually occurs from prolonged time in the water—not from a little water getting in the ear during a bath or shower. But it is possible to get swimmer’s ear without ever stepping foot in a pool. A scratch or other irritation to the ear canal can allow bacteria to grow, resulting in swimmer’s ear. (source)

Other less common causes of swimmer’s ear include:

• Moist areas where bacteria usually breed, like hot tubs or polluted water
• •Excessive cleaning of the ear canal with cotton swabs
• •Contact with certain chemicals such as hair spray or hair dye
• •A cut or scratch in the ear canal
• Other skin conditions like eczema or seborrhea

Why Do Some Kids Seem More Prone to Swimmer’s Ear?

If your child doesn’t swim much, but tends to get swimmer’s ear frequently, you may wonder what gives!? Though there aren’t any studies that specifically link swimmer’s ear to gut flora or high-sugar diets, there is plenty of evidence to suggest our microbiota and our diets are directly associated with certain conditions, like inflammatory bowel disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, diabetes, obesity, cancer, allergies, and asthma.

Since swimmer’s ear results from inflammation of the ear canal, some experts believe there could, therefore, also be a connection between gut flora, diet, and swimmer’s ear.

“A poor diet with high sugar increases inflammation,” says Integrative Pediatrician Dr. Joel Gator Warsh. “While your body is dealing with that inflammation, it isn’t dealing with other infections as efficiently leading to overgrowth of bacteria like swimmers ear.”

If your child gets frequent swimmer’s ear, try giving him/her probiotics and eliminate as much refined sugar from his/her diet to see if that helps. It’s worth a shot!

Swimmer’s Ear Symptoms

Ear pain is the number one sign of swimmer’s ear. Just touching the ear may be painful when you have swimmer’s ear. If severe, the pain may even spread to the neck, face, or side of the head.

Other signs of swimmer’s ear include:

• itching
• a feeling that the ear is blocked or full
• fever
• decreased hearing
• jaw pain
• swollen lymph nodes
• redness of the ear

Home Remedies for Swimmer’s Ear

If caught early, swimmer’s ear is easy to treat. With careful cleaning and some home remedies to help reduce bacteria and inflammation, your little swimmer will be back in the pool in no time. Always check in with doctor before trying home remedies.

To get rid of swimmer’s ear at home, try the following:

1. Onion juice

There’s evidence that onion juice has been used to treat ear infections since the 1800s. Though there’s anecdotal evidence abound, scientific evidence is limited. Research suggests quercetin—a flavanoid that’s highly concentrated in onions—has anti-inflammatory properties, but results are inconsistent. Another study suggest onions have powerful antibacterial properties, keeping cholera bacteria from growing in petri dishes.

How to treat swimmer’s ear with onion juice in two ways (source):

• Cut an onion in half, warm it up, wrap it in a towel, and hold it against the opening of the ear for about 20 minutes until it cools.
• Grate an onion, place it in a fine mesh sieve, and let the juice drip out into a bowl. Using a teaspoon or a dropper, place a few drops into the ear canal.

2. Garlic

Garlic has antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticarcinogenic properties that are useful for treating a variety of ailments, including athlete’s foot, colds, and swimmer’s ear. (source) Why? Research suggests its organosulfur compounds may elicit anti-inflammatory immune responses.

How to treat swimmer’s ear with garlic: 

• Place a few drops of garlic (or mullein) oil in the ear. Let sit undisturbed for a few minutes. Repeat twice per day. (You can make your own garlic oil at home by grating garlic into olive oil. Let it sit overnight, then strain the oil to remove any pieces of garlic.)

3. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is delicious, but it also has antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial properties for the human body.

How to treat swimmer’s ear with coconut oil:

• Place 3-5 drops on a cotton swab and dab on the outer part of the ear and canal, being careful not to go to deep into the ear and touch the ear drum, says Warsh.
• Or wet a cotton ball (5-10 drops) with coconut oil and tape that to the outside of the ear covering the canal. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, allowing the fumes to enter the ear.

4. Apple cider vinegar

There are so many uses for apple cider vinegar, it’s no surprise this wonder ingredient can help with swimmer’s ear, too. The vinegar’s acidity is supposed to kill and stop the spread of bacteria in the ear. (source)

How to treat swimmer’s ear with apple cider vinegar: 

• Place a few drops of undiluted apple cider vinegar (white vinegar will work, too) in the ear. Let sit for 15 minutes. Repeat as needed throughout the day.

5. Rubbing alcohol/vinegar solution

This mixtures helps relieve swimmer’s ear, because the alcohol combines water in the ear and then evaporates. The acidity of the vinegar helps prevent bacteria from growing. (source)

How to treat swimmer’s ear with a rubbing alcohol and vinegar solution: 

• Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol with 1 part apple cider vinegar. Apply a couple of drops of solution in each ear. Repeat twice per day.

6. Hydrogen peroxide

Though there is some question as to whether hydrogen peroxide (3%) can affectively kill bacteria, it has been proven to limit the spread of bacteria and eliminate fungus, making it an effective way to manage a slight case of swimmer’s ear. (source)

How to treat swimmer’s ear with hydrogen peroxide: 

• Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide (room temperature) with 1 part water to minimize discomfort. Place a few drops on a cotton swab and clean the ear canal, being careful not to penetrate the ear too deeply, or place a few drops directly in the ear. If using drops, leave in for approximately 30 seconds.

7. Heat

Heat not only helps relieve discomfort, but it can also help evaporate any water in the ear. Use a hair dryer set on low to blow warm air into the ear, or wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and hold against the ear for 20 minutes. (source)

Swimmer’s Ear Drops

Some cases of swimmer’s ear are stubborn and require antibiotics. Call your doctor if ear pain becomes severe or if symptoms persist for more than 5-7 days. (source)

A doctor may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to help get rid of the infection. Often the ear will begin to feel better before the full course of antibiotics is complete, but it’s important to use the ear drops for the duration of the prescription. Stopping too soon may cause the infection to return.

In more severe cases, doctors may place a medicated wick, or a small sponge, into the ear to allow drops to reach the ear canal. In these cases, follow-up appointments are necessary to monitor progress, clean the ear, and replace the wick as needed.

If an infection develops that affects more than the ear canal, oral antibiotics may be prescribed. (source) You can support your child’s gut by taking high-quality probiotics after treatment or these spore-based probiotics during treatment.

How to Apply Ear Drops Correctly

No matter if you’re using a home remedy or prescribed ear drops, here’s how to apply ear drops for maximum efficacy:

• Lie down with the affected ear facing upwards
• •Place drops in the ear until the ear is full
• Remain lying down for a few minutes (or up to 15 minutes, as directed) to allow drops to be absorbed

How Long Does Swimmer’s Ear Last?

As soon as the pain begins to subside, the one thing your kid probably wants to know is when can I go back in the pool again? The answer depends based on the severity, but with proper treatment, most symptoms ease within 3 days and most cases clear completely within 7-10 days. (source)

Can You Lose Your Hearing From Swimmer’s Ear?

In extreme cases, the skin in the ear canal may swell so much that it begins to close over the ear drum. This can lead to muffled or decreased hearing. Sounds scary, right?! Luckily, any hearing loss is temporary—your hearing will be back to normal as soon as the swelling subsides. (source)

How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear

Though proper precautions can certainly minimize the chance of getting swimmer’s ear, there is no way to entirely prevent it—besides staying out of the pool, but as discussed above, even that’s not foolproof.

The best way to avoid swimmer’s ear is to keep ears clean and dry, which prevents bacteria from forming and growing. These steps can help:

• Drain ears after swimming, showers, or baths: After time in water, turn or shake your head to each side to facilitate draining. As an alternative, you can lay on each side for 5 minutes or use a hair dryer set to low to evaporate water.
• Avoid cotton swabs after showers or baths: If there is water in the ear, cotton swaps can push wax buildup further into the ear, trapping water behind it.
• Rinse ear canals after swimming: If swimmer’s ear is persistent, place a few drops of the rubbing alcohol and vinegar solution mentioned above (or apple cider vinegar or hydrogen peroxide) in ears after swimming or bathing.
• Use wax ear plugs while swimming: Properly fitting ear plugs can help prevent water from entering the ear canal in the first place.

How About You?

Did you or your child ever get swimmer’s ear? What natural remedies worked for you?

The post Swimmer’s Ear: 7 Natural Remedies That Work appeared first on Mama Natural.

Cod liver oil has been used for hundreds of years. It used to be a staple in American households in the 1920-1950s because it helped reduce colds, flus, asthma, and even treated rickets! My grandmother swore by it. Mike’s grandmother, who just turned 94 this week, takes only one supplement or medication each day and, you guessed it, it’s cod liver oil.

Cod liver oil is great for everyone, including kids! But getting kids to take it can be… challenging to say the least.

Cod Liver Oil Benefits

I believe its greatest benefit is the high levels of fat soluble vitamins A, D and K. These are super important for a child’s immune systems and overall vitality. It’s also been found that fat soluble vitamins help us absorb the minerals from our diet more effectively. Weston A. Price, a dentist in the 1900’s that traveled the world to study nutrition, found that the cultures with the highest longevity rates consumed 10 times the amount of vitamin A compared with the diet of his time (and that’s when people were still eating cod liver oil, beef liver and raw whole milk!)

Cod liver oil also contains omega 3’s and fatty acids like EPA and DHA. These are essential for a child’s brain development, intelligence, and vision.

The Best Cod Liver Oil

You want to be sure you purchase the highest quality of cod liver oil since most store bought brands use chemical solvents to extract the oil and they tamper with the vitamin A content for fear of toxicity.

So, some good brands to try that are truly pure include:

Excellent brands:

Rosita’s Raw Cod Liver Oil: Available for purchase here.

Standard Process Cod Liver Oil capsules: My kids just chew them or you can cut open and mix with OJ. Available for purchase here.

Good brands:

Swanson’s Double Strength Cod Liver Oil capsules: Available for purchase here.

Please note: I no longer recommend Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver oil based on some testing that shows it being rancid.

How to Feed Cod Liver Oil to Kids

Let’s face it, cod liver oil doesn’t taste like honey. It’s a challenge to get this straight up in your child’s mouth. So, here’s how I get my 2.5 year old son Griffin to not only put it down, but to love it!

• Get a little ramekin. Put an ounce or so of fresh orange juice in the ramekin. It’s important to put the juice in first as the cod liver oil will otherwise stick to the bottom.
• Add your cod liver oil.
• Take a little syringe and administer this way. Griffin loves it and even likes pushing the  juice mixture into his mouth himself.

Cod Liver Oil Dosages for Kids

A conservative dosage recommendation would include:

• Children age 3 months to 12 years: A dose of that provides about 2,500 IU vitamin A, a few times per week.
• Children over 12 years and adults: A maintenance dose that provides about 5,000 IU vitamin A, a few times per week.
• Pregnant and nursing women: A dose that provides about 10,000 IU vitamin A, a few times per week. Always talk to doctor or midwife before taking any supplement.

Concerned about intake? Here’s information about Vitamin A toxicity, as well as Vitamin A for fetal development.

How about you?

Do you take cod liver oil? Do you give it to your kids? Share with us in comments below and thanks for tuning in!

The post Cod Liver Oil for Kids: How to Give It and Why You’d Want To appeared first on Mama Natural.

Enter Stephanie

It is very disheartening to watch your child in discomfort due to a rash or hives. Rashes are for the most part a mystery—even to Western medicine, we know it is an inflammation of the skin, but finding the exact cause can of this painful skin condition can be difficult. Thankfully, we can relieve the symptoms (redness, inflammation, pain, and itching) with the help of alternative medicine.

Epson salts have been used since the time of Hippocrates, and are widely recommended by practitioners of both Western and holistic medicine. However, their use for kids has not been well-researched. Magnesium sulfate, the name for this naturally occurring compound, helps in many ways from regulating over 300 enzymes in the body to eliminating toxins from the cells. And because there is no doubt of it’s therapeutic properties it is okay to use for children—as long as you always err on the side caution. My rule of thumb is to use half a cup per bath tub for kids over 12 months, and 1/4 cup for babies under 12 months.

Calendula, chamomile, and lavender are widely known for their healing properties; they soothe the skin, relieve itching and irritation, as well as inflammation. (If you’re looking for a natural poison ivy treatment, find it here.)

Children’s herbal bath for rashes and hives

If you’re looking for a quick all-natural remedy for skin conditions like rashes and hives, check out this DIY recipe below.

What you’ll need

• 1/2 cup Epsom Salts (where to buy)
• 1/2 cup dry calendula petals (where to buy)
• 1/2 cup dry chamomile flowers (where to buy)
• 1/2 cup dry lavender flowers (where to buy)
• Small muslin bag, or cheesecloth and ribbon (where to buy)

How to use it

Put all the dry flowers and petals in the muslin bag, if using a cheesecloth, put them in the center and tie all the ends together with a ribbon.

Fill the tub with warm water (not hot, it only makes it worse) and hang the muslin bag or cheesecloth from the faucet and allow the water to run through it. During the bath, squeeze the bag directly over the affected areas.

After the bath, it is important to dry the skin by only gently dabbing and applying a moisturizer. My favorite for cases like rashes and hives is an herbal infused baby oil (see the tutorial here).

What about you?

What herbal remedies have you used with your children? Share with us in the comments below!

Stephanie Heald is a mom, a wife, and a currently a nursing student with a focus on alternative medicine. She writes at Naturally Mindful, where she makes going green and healthy attainable to families getting started in the wonderful world of eco-consciousness. She believes in real food and living as natural as possible…and why not, leaving behind a better planet for our children. Visit her on Facebook or on Pinterest.

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