‘Tis the season…for getting sick.
Between going back to school, the change in the weather in general and the increased “inside time” most climates experience in the fall and winter, the germs just seem to spread faster, don’t they?
Of course when you feel off (or awful) you know more sleep, more liquids (but not sugary ones), and homemade chicken stock in your soup is the first line of defense…but what else can you do without relying on over-the-counter medications, doctor’s visits, and even prescriptions?
LOTS!
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to make a commitment to at least explore natural options when your family gets sick this winter…and having resources at your fingertips is definitely the first step.
I’ve covered quite a wealth of natural remedies for illnesses and other general “feel icky” situations here at KS – which means we’ve experienced them in the past five years, to your benefit! I thought it might be a helpful start to the sick season to compile all my “get well” resources in one place for you. You can pin it, bookmark it, or put it right on your desktop to refer to when the sick bugs hit your family…
This post is sponsored by TriLight Health, where their goal, like mine, is to keep you well and get you better when you’re not. Thanks for making this information free and easy to find, TLH!
When the Sick Bugs Hit
Stock your Natural Remedies Medicine Cabinet: A little of everything, from natural antibiotics for fighting infection to cough and congestion remedies to preventative methods for avoiding the sick bugs or fighting them before they get the best of you.
More specific remedies for what ails you below…
Ginger helps with tummyaches, nausea in pregnancy, sore throats and cold symptoms and even immunity boosting before you’re sick! This great roundup of ginger home remedies has the answer for all your “sick season” needs.
For you amateur herbalists, I had some help on this Top 5 Herbs for Cold and Flu Season post…
One of my earliest forays into natural health was just trying garlic…it does amazing things and is probably right in your kitchen!
4 Home Remedies to Knock Out a Cold…
Throwing up? Diarrhea? If you don’t want to buy white bread and crackers, try this real food solution to the popular “BRATY” diet
Heal an earache in 30 minutes or less
If that earache is an ear infection…you might not need a doctor’s visit.
More on ear infections, fighting battles, losing, and natural possibilities for antibiotics
…and recovering if you do have to have antibiotics
Yep, whooping cough. All three kids had it, and it started with my fully vaccinated child, ironically. Read part one of the whooping cough story HERE and follow to the other two from there…
Bet you won’t guess two really off-the-wall symptoms of pneumonia in toddlers that we got to experience firsthand…you’re welcome for my taking the hit so you can just read about how to treat pneumonia naturally at home!
Ever heard of salmonella? Read my friend’s terrifying story and it will convince you to crack down on handwashing with your children immediately.
I Just Don’t Feel Well
Have you read the symptoms of parasites and how to get rid of them?
Natural remedies for pain relief and headaches
Tooth pain? Try oil pulling. You’ll be surprised at how many other ailments it may help…
The best prevention for everything that I know of! Time for me to get back into this habit as my nose runs from the cold my kids brought home…
Sometimes your owies are something you can’t take care of in a few days:
Annoying Skin Thingys That Pop Up
This category doesn’t really address viruses and bacteria, but I notice that people often experience more “weird skin ailments” in the dry winter air than other times of year. These buggers tend to be things that docs have trouble identifying or treating – but I’ve got some ideas for you to help yourself:
Our experiences just this summer: Naturally Soothing Your Itchy Eczema
A wonderful guest post success story: Curing Baby Eczema via an Elimination Diet
Got a weird rash? You should read about how I discovered my own candida and then the important part: 3 Steps to Fighting Candida Naturally
Warts are super annoying, and even doctors say they’re notoriously hard to get rid of. We’re two for two in my family in getting them to FALL OFF without a doctor’s appointment, plus this post includes a plethora of other methods from the whole KS community.
Phew! That should be plenty to keep you busy troubleshooting your seasonal, viral, bacterial and chronic difficulties.
Thanks again to our sponsor, TriLight Health, where good health is so important to them, they paid for this post without even a mention of their products so you could have the resources you need!
(Ok, I feel badly about that. Did you know their Lympha Rub is literally my favorite cold and flu season product, and it’s the least expensive item on their site? It’s a must-have for sure to battle coughs and congestion. Plus we often rely on Scout Out at the first whiff of a sniffle, sore throat or cough – the natural antibacterial properties of the herbs in that blend make me feel like I’m bringing out the big guns, and I love having it around.)
There. I feel better now. I hope you’ll give TLH a visit and say “hello” from a KS reader!
Pin for Later!
Need More Baby Steps?
Here at Kitchen Stewardship, we’ve always been all about the baby steps. But if you’re just starting your real food and natural living journey, sifting through all that we’ve shared here over the years can be totally overwhelming.
That’s why we took the best 10 rookie “Monday Missions” that used to post once a week and got them all spruced up to send to your inbox – once a week on Mondays, so you can learn to be a kitchen steward one baby step at a time, in a doable sequence.
Sign up to get weekly challenges and teaching on key topics like meal planning, homemade foods that save the budget (and don’t take too much time), what to cut out of your pantry, and more.
Katie Kimball, CSME is a trusted educator and author of 8 real food cookbooks. She is passionate about researching natural remedies and making healthy cooking easier for busy families. She’s been featured on media outlets like ABC, NBC and First for Women magazine as well as contributing regularly on the FOX Network.
A mom of 4 kids from Michigan, she is a Certified Stress Mastery Educator and member of the American Institute of Stress.
Catalina via Facebook says
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Kristie says
I just pinned this to my Immune Boosting Ideas board. I have read many of the articles before, and I like that you put them all in one place. 🙂
Alisha via Facebook says
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lynda says
Hi Katie, this is a great post. You know, I’m finishing up a cold right now and don’t have the energy to pour through all these posts. Is there by chance a remedy you can readily recommend for thick congestion. It’s sort of draining down the back of my throat but clumps up at my soft pallette. (sorry for the gross factor) I’ve been doing hot teas w cayenne, but not helping. Also did about 3 times of a turmeric drink with all kinds of anti-inflammatories in it. Basically done being sick but 3 days now of clump. 🙁 Thanks.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Hey Lynda,
I hear you on the energy!! Other things you might be able to try:
* peppermint or eucalyptus EOs are very clearing
* steam treatment with a towel hooded over your head, maybe with an EO in the water if you’ve got them
* gargling with salt water might help
* sipping apple cider vinegar water might help
Hope you find some relief – sounds like sleep will be your best friend! 🙂 Katie
lynda says
Been doing some of these sporadically, but realizing I need more focused attempts, thanks!
Lenetta says
Perfect timing, Katie! I was wondering what you recommended for after abx, and I wasn’t looking forward to navigating the search box. 🙂 some friends and I have been having a very interesting convo on group b strep, and I also want to be prepared if I have another c-section & abx with that. Does K just drink the fast-track? Under the usage tab, it says to use in your favorite gf bread recipes. Ummm…
Hope you are well, the weeks are counting down quickly! Can’t wait to hear about the birthing decisions you made, and you know I’ll be anxious to hear your birth story. 🙂
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Hey Lenetta!
All the kids just take a spoonful of the Fast Tract. It does seem like not a good idea to bake with probiotics!!! That was on the Miessence site? Odd…
🙂 Katie
Lyn via Facebook says
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