Somehow Baby Lovey got a pretty good scratch on her arm. How? Who knows...but I'm thinking that Grace Elizabeth probably had something to do with it...It puffed up real good and then scabbed over...as it should. Well today, while heading to Michaels, Grace decided that it was time to remove the scab off her little rolly polly arm. Eva was screaming...blood was dripping, we had a full out drama queen break down right there in the back seat. At the time, all I could do was wipe off the blood with a baby wipe and continue on with my errand. When I got home, I went for the first aid kit and then stopped dead in my tracks... Do I really want to put Neosporin on my baby child's arm? What's in that stuff anyways? Hmm...let's see...Active Ingredients: Each gram contains: Polymyxin B Sulfate (5,000 units), Bacitracin Zinc (400 units), Neomycin Sulfate (3.5 mg) Inactive Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Cottonseed Oil, Olive Oil, Sodium Pyruvate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), White Petrolatum. Polymyxin B Sulfate seems to be relatively harmless- no known allergies reported or links to cancer or reproductive issues. Bacitracin Zinc had a small risk of allergies reported- none to be really concerned about. I'm sure that more people are allergic to chocolate. But Neomycin Sulfate on the other hand? It's been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity (non-reproductive). So let's see if I'm gathering this correctly- the active ingredient in which the wonder ointment was named after is toxic. Ooooh great! Let me slather that all over my child's open wound. Now some of you reading this will think I'm overreacting...and maybe I am. But I have a real problem with allopathic medicines these days. It seems that you have to risk life or limb just to reduce your risk of having a scar. But you're probably saying, I've never heard of anybody getting cancer from using neosporin. Well no, probably not. But have you ever heard of bioaccumulation? I read a book some time ago called, "Having Faith: An Ecologists Journey to Motherhood", by Sandra Steingraber. In her book, she opened my eyes to the environment we are living in and how it affects our overall health. We are surronded by millions, if not billions of toxins in our environment every single day. And as the laws of physics taught us in elementary science class, matter cannot be created nor destroyed. Therefore, each time we come in contact with these toxins, they are stored in our bodies. And over time, our cells can no longer function properly, therefore resulting in reproductive problems or cancers. It's really simple science when you think about it. So that is why I get so anal about taking as many toxins out of our environment as I possibly can. Because I know that once they are in our bodies, they are there eternally. But there is a better way. Many people are turning to the age old medicine of holistics. Not just hippy crunchies like myself- normal people like you too. Because if you think about it, it is all biblical. Did He not give us everything we needed in the beginning? If you look hard enough, you can find a solution to every health ailment, yes, even cancer, in the very environment in which he gifted to us back in Genesis.
I got online and found some good suggestions. I'll be working in my days to come to gather some of these items that I don't already have for my holistic first aid kit. What are you going to put in yours?
Bach Rescue Remedy: I used this when I was pregnant with Grace, and I was working a very stressful job. I have to say, this stuff tastes like a little reminiscent of brandy, but man does it do the job. Better than the prozac I used to take back in highschool! I highly recommend also the rescue remedy sleep!
Essential oils: My personal stash includes, tea tree oil, lavendar, and peppermint. But naturalnews.com also suggests adding clove oil to your bag of tricks. Evidentally it's good for toothaches and ailments of the mouth. It also relieves nasea when taken in warm water (just a few drops). Tea tree oil is a powerful antiseptic and antifungal. It also treats athletes food, acne, and bumps and scrapes. Lavendar is not only soothing and relaxing, it treats headaches and burns. And peppermint oil, my absolute favorite- the best remedy for those annoying tension headaches. Rub a drop on each temple and bam- headache gone!
Homeopathy:
Belladonna 30c- Excellent for fevers and inflammation.
Chamomilla 200c- Probably my personal favorite: this little beauty has been nicknamed, "mommy's little helper". Nothings soothes a teething child quite like it. It can be a wonderful aid during labor. This homeopathic remedy will soothe even the fussiest of babies. And while you're giving one to baby, take some yourself- you're probably just as frazzled as she is!
Miscellaneous:
-Aloe Vera: Classic remedy for burns!
-Bentonite Clay: I hear this stuff is grand for diarrhea
-Vitamin E capsules: Wonderful for it's healing properties- dab a little on wounds to reduce scarring
-Papaya tablets: Natural antacid- skip the tums and go straight for these. These are wonderful for pregnancy!
-Good ol fashioned hydrogen peroxide: This has multiple uses, and I love things that are multi-taskers! Use it as a wound cleanser, mouth wash, or ear wash. The possibilities are endless!
-Olive Leaf Extract: I've just been introduced to the miraculous benefits of olive leaf, thanks to my friend Erika. It is a powerful anti-viral- it kills anything from the common cold all the way up to the herpes virus. Take a dose at the first symptoms of a cold and poof, it's gone.
-Garlic: All my crunchy friends have been raving about the wonders of garlic. Evidently it's pungent aroma is good for other things than flavoring your spaghetti sauce. Use garlic for treating a yeast infection, treating athletes foot, using as an ointment for wounds, garlic oil in the ears for ear aches/infections, treating coughs and sore throats, de-worming both humans and pets, to lower your blood pressure, and to thin your blood.
-Colloidal Silver: This winter, we all got nasty colds. We probably had bronchitis- but since we wouldn't be willing to take the standard treatment for bronchitis (respiratory inhalers and antibiotics), we chose to stick it out and beat it naturally. I did two things: I started us all on high quality whole food supplements, extra vitamin D, cod liver oil, and colloidal silver. Now colloidal silver dates back eeyons ago and is still being used in hospital burn units today. Colloidal silver is a powerful natural anti-biotic. This. stuff. works. Within days of taking the silver, my bronchitis symptoms diminished and I was completely healed within a week. Here is an interesting article which cites the history of silver usage.
-Black Elderberry: I almost forgot you! Friends swear by it...but I have yet to try it myself. It is known to stop viruses from attaching themselves to your body. This is a powerful immune system supporter and can be frugally made at home (bonus!) My sister in Christ, blogged recently about how she makes her elderberry syrup. Check it out!
In the days to come, I will exlore more herbals remedies, something that has piqued my interest for some time, though I have yet to feel the energy to complete. Expect recipes for healing salves and ointments as dive a little deeper into my crunchy lifestyle.
Chamomilla is also good for toddlers having a long-duration topic-nonspecific tantrum. Ask me how I know. Mommy's remedy of choice there is Sepia, for irrational frustration, impatience and anger (and also pelvic prolapses? weird). We also slather coconut oil or another oil on pretty much everything. Weleda calendula baby oil for scratches, diaper rash, cradle cap, dry skin, acne, razor burn...list goes on. Ooh, eucalyptus oil, or camphor oil, for respiratory congestion. Castor oil (topically!) for swelling. Apple cider.vinegar for indigestion.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've heard not to give CLO while sick, because it suppresses inflammation - normally great, but part of the solution when you're sick. Have you heard anything like that?
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't Ally- but that's really interesting. I'll definitely be looking into it. It didn't seem to bother us- but I did start the silver regimen before the CLO. Good to know for next time!
ReplyDeleteOh yes- I loooove coconut oil. I've actually been using it on my face lately instead of regular moisturizer- not too much though-- but it's been working fabulously! I use it on Eva's bum along with a little shea butter and tea tree oil. That combination also works wonders for her eczema.
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