In Part I of home remedies that make our grandchildren’s lives easier, I concentrated on Terry and Joe Graedon and their home remedies. And now, this Grandma, in an expanded search, I came upon more home remedies we Boomers could use as well. I found a home remedy that I grew up on and, from reviews and testimonials, came a recognition that each family has its own family culture and own family home remedies.
However, science is telling us that we must be careful with all home remedies for babies and children. It is imperative to speak to the pediatrician or doctor before using any home remedies with babies and children, including all the home remedies in Part I or Part II. Dr. Joe Graedon, pharmacologist and author of The People’s Pharmacy, warns about prescribing drugs to infants and children. He is quoted as saying, “[t]heir immature organ systems often deal with drugs much differently than their grown-up version will a few years later, and the differences can lead to anything from uncomfortable reactions to deadly ones.” This Grandma has learned with GG (paternal great grandmother), age 93, that drugs for the elderly should have the same warnings.
Colic
Our youngest daughter had what was diagnosed as colic as a baby. She cried incessantly and it hurt my heart that I could not calm her nor cure her stomach ills. Yes, her doctor prescribed medication which I found did not help. The Graedons recommend Chamomilla 30 (chamomile), crushing a couple of small pellets between two spoons to make them easy for the baby to swallow, and put them under the baby’s tongue. A testimonial said that within a minute or so the baby was asleep and, upon waking, her colic was gone. Sounds too good to be true, but might be worth talking to the pediatrician and seeing if there is any harm in trying.
Also, talk to the pediatrician about acid reflux. This Grandma has been hearing that acid reflux is the new colic diagnosis. WebMD does not directly connect colic with stomach ills. Take a look at this link. On the other hand, WebMD says “more than half of all infants under 3 months old have a digestive disorder called gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD.” Take a look at WebMd.
Prevent vomiting
This Grandma in the hospital recently was nauseous from medication and the nurse quickly took an alcohol pad, opened it, and put the pad on the bridge of my nose, and told me to take a few deep breathes. I immediately felt better and not nauseous any longer. Apparently there is science behind this, and, on www.prevention.com, “[a]ccording to a recent study, emergency room patients who inhaled the isopropyl alcohol-saturated pads saw a 50% reduction in nausea, compared with patients who sniffed pads doused in saline solution.”
Supposedly, you should do no more than three in a 10-minute period.
If you have not heard of the medication, Zofran, check it out on WebMD details Then, check with your doctor about keeping it in your medicine cabinet for adult stomach viruses or any other ailments that cause nausea.
Stifle hiccups
Taking 1-2 Sugar cubes or teaspoons of sugar work because the dry granules stimulate and reset the irritated nerve that is causing the spasms of the diaphragm. You can substitute any coarse substance, such as salt, but sugar tastes best according to the expert, Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers and author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! who recommends this home remedy. To find out 6 things your hiccups are trying to tell you, in addition to this tip, go to this link.
Sore throat
Also, from Prevention.com, a home remedy for a sore throat from another expert, Ronald Hoffman, MD, medical director of the Hoffman Center in New York and author of Alternative Cures That Really Work, is to gargle twice daily for three days with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. “Research shows that fresh garlic juice has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria. The warm liquid soothes inflammation.” I wonder if bottled garlic juice would also work.
Curb a cough
In addition to the remedies in Part I, www.prevention.com has a favorite for this Boomer Grandma in their recommendation to eat dark chocolate! Apparently, one to two squares will do the trick but why not indulge with a reason. Apparently dark “chocolate’s theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation.” Additionally, we all know about honey to calm coughs, and know we must be careful with honey and babies:
“To calm a nagging cough that keeps you awake at night, take 2 teaspoons of honey (1 to 2 teaspoons for kids; don’t give to children younger than 1), along with 500 mg of Ester C 30 minutes before bed. The vitamin C (nonacidic Ester type won’t upset stomachs) boosts the immune system in the early stages of your cough. Research shows that honey works better than either a cough suppressant or no treatment at all for relieving children’s nocturnal cough and promoting sleep.”
Reduce a fever
This Grandma learned from GG (maternal great grandmother) to take a bowl with warm (not hot) water and a wash cloth, and with a baby or child covered with a light blanket, to take one limb out at a time and wipe the wet cloth over the limb and cover it again, doing this with all the limbs, then front and back. I was told to make sure the child was covered except for the body part that was being cooled by the wet wash cloth. I was told to repeat these every ten or fifteen minutes until the fever broke. Yes, I found it successful and also in the generations to follow, as their parents continue to use and pass on this family home therapy.
Prevention.com has two remedies to reduce a fever.
“For a high fever (above 102°F), take a tepid bath, which simply cools the body to match the water temperature. Bathe until your temperature decreases to 101° to 102°F, then sip linden flower tea to lower it even more.”
“Sip linden flower tea, which works in two ways: It stimulates the hypothalamus to better control your temperature, and it dilates blood vessels, inducing sweating. Steep 1 tablespoon of dried herb (available in health food stores) in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes, then sip. Drink three to four cups a day. If you still run hot after a day of sipping tea, seek medical attention.” This Grandma would check with the pediatrician before giving a baby or child linden flower tea.
Burn
In addition to Part I, prevention.com recommends aloe vera gel. I keep it on hand. Apparently, “the soothing and anti-inflammatory gel creates a second skin to protect nerve endings.”
All of the above can work for us adults, but some are solely for us Boomers.
Arthritis
Researching baby and child home remedies brought me to a remedy for arthritis. Gin-Soaked Raisins is a purported arthritis remedy and the five minute recipe is on the website link. Anything with gin cannot be hurtful and eleven reviews give this remedy five stars.
Insomnia
We have all heard of melatonin pills, but this Grandma never paid attention to any foods that might contain melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep patterns. Www.prevention.com recommends eating a handful of cherries or drinking tart cherry juice before bedtime, which contains melatonin.
We have also heard of using a lavendar pillow or spray, and of course, taking a hot bath to relax muscles. I have tried lavender soap, shampoos, and bubble baths on grandchildren and I did not see very much of a difference that was more than the bath itself being a wonderful way to calm and slow down active grandchildren. I must admit giving very long baths to overly sugared grandchildren when Grandpa and I forgot we were also with them through bedtime and not returning them to their parents for their sugar high period!
New grandmas know the parents of a newborn may only listen to experts, and may or may not want all the newest information on the internet. Sometimes the internet gives too much information. See this blog post for ideas on websites grandmas and parents of the newborn and baby can follow together and other great ideas for a new grandma: How to be the Best Grandma in the World with the Most Joy and Least Responsibility.
This Grandma was raised on home remedies that my mother remembered from her childhood in what was called a shtel (small town) in Branszczyk, Poland, and used them on me. She survived the Holocaust, the only Jewish survivor of Branszczyk after the end of the war. I must say I wish I could remember more of those now as I pass them along to the mothers of my grandchildren.
Exploring home remedies is a great reason to connect with those in our families and compile a family history now. A genealogy is not complete without preserving your own family’s home remedies and family culture. You will miss these if you do not have them to have to share with grandchildren with
Joy,
Mema
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