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Sarah M
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| Posted: Sept 01 2008 at 4:46pm | IP Logged
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Well, the weather changed and we were hit hard this last week with the season's first round of colds (and the inevitable sinus infection that I always seem to get  ). Last year, it seemed that someone in our family was constantly sick- we couldn't shake it! I'm curious as to what you ladies do to keep colds and sniffles away.
Vitamin C? Echinacea? What else?
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Sept 01 2008 at 4:52pm | IP Logged
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elderberry.. it's an antiviral and a specific for the flu.
Oh and I just got something the health food store lady told me was a specific for strep.. Usnea. (we thought we'd been exposed.. if we were no one got it)
garlic is good too.. add it to soups and such.
Have you ever tried a Neti-pot? it's a nasal wash thing.. I haven't but I don't really get infections so haven't found it worth it to get.. but friends who have sinus infections have used it and found that it really helps.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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amyable
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| Posted: Sept 01 2008 at 7:26pm | IP Logged
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We (mostly me) keep up a good supply of Vit C, and also I make a homemade broth soup every week - fresh broth is supposed to be good for your immune system (I forget why) 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Sept 01 2008 at 8:06pm | IP Logged
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Sarah -
As to the sinus infection thing, my problems with that were greatly helped when I started to use a neti pot when I feel nasal/sinus congestion developing. Cleaning out the beginning of an infection before it takes hold has saved me many days of misery and antibiotics.
Peace,
Nancy
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organiclilac
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I wish I could figure this one out. After getting a particularly violent cough about 10 years ago, it is not unusual for me to take several months to stop coughing after getting a cold. Last year I tried to be SO GOOD about handwashing, etc. to avoid getting sick, and we didn't get a cold! Instead we got a horrendous flu. I have never been one of those moms who carries hand-sanitizer and is fanatical about disinfecting everything, but I am more tempted every year...
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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Pamin OZ
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| Posted: Sept 02 2008 at 6:11am | IP Logged
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We had the flu so bad this year that I am now fanatical about hand sanitizer.
I read a thing once by a woman with a big family who said that her family was always at the doctor's. And one day she asked him if there was anything she could do- much as she liked him she really didn't want to be there every week. He told her to wash everyone's hands when they came home from church or wherever, or even better, give the little people a bath or a shower. She took his advice and went from seeing him every week to seeing him a year and a half later.
I've always remembered that.
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Pam in Sydney
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paminoz/
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monique
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| Posted: Sept 02 2008 at 4:28pm | IP Logged
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We use Thieves.
We diffuse it, wash our hands with the soap, my hubby uses the bar soap to wash with, we use the hand sanitizer, we take baths in it. I also clean with it. It smells wonderful and is safe for little ones. I also rub it on the soles of our feet to help the immune system. You do have to dilute it with a bit of oil though because it can burn a little. We also take it internally if we feel something coming on.
Watching the diet and keeping out sugars and refined foods also helps. We usually don't get our first round of colds until after Halloween. Yup, you guessed it. The Halloween candy gets us every year it seems.
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Monique
mom to 5
Raising Saints
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lilangels
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| Posted: Sept 10 2008 at 8:34am | IP Logged
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Hello -
This time of year I always dread the round of colds! Part of my fear is that I have asthma and if I get a bad cold it can be real hard on me...and if the kids are real sick and I am tending to them my cathching it is inevitable. SO....it already started this new school year with activity germ swapping despite compulsive hand washing and here is what I did to my 12 year old who was congested and runing a low fever(many of my ideas come from Natural Healing for Children):
1) REST
2) No let up on the daily high vitamin cod liver oil & whole foods vities
3) Echinacea tincture every 2 hour at 1 drop per 2 lbs of body weight until the fever kicked then about 3 times a day at 1 drop per 5 pound of body weight.
4) Acacia (I think that's how you spell it) berry powder in water a couple times a day
5) Lots and lots (about a cup an hour if I could get full cooperation  ) of warm herbal tea - I blended a Calming Tea I already have on hand which is Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Lavender & Fennel with an equal part of Elder - 1 T per cup of water - steep 15 and sweeten with raw honey (we also like a touch of milk in it).
6) She also took a homeopathic cold & flu med which a local doctor used to blend. He no longer can get all the ingredients in the states but we have an old bottle. It is amazing! No, I don't know what's in it.
She was better in about three days and it didn't spread badly - no one else required the same measures.
Yeah, I go a little nuts but it's what I feel I have to do.
Pax, Barbara
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DeAnn M
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| Posted: Sept 12 2008 at 8:27am | IP Logged
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Hi There,
Apple Cider Vinegar for sinus infections. Some people drink it but I couldn't bear the thought of doing that. I put 2 cups of water and 1/2 c. ACV in a pot, covered and heated it until it produced some steam. Just inhale it like like you would if you were giving yourself a steaming facial. I used a small towel to put over my head. You are supposed to stay there for 5 minutes. I had to take breaks in between it was still very effective.
I had a terrible sinus infection when I was pregnant this winter. I didn't want to take antibiotics because I am allergic to amoxycilin (SP?) and I have to take really strong antibiotics for infections. Anyway, I tried many things and this was the only thing that worked. It cleared my sinuses immediately and my fever was gone that evening. I didn't smell very nice for a little while but it was worth it! 
Also, there is a company called, "Herbs for Kids" that makes echinacea/elderberry combination drops to add to juice or water for kids
Hope that helps!
DeAnn
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mavmama
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| Posted: Sept 12 2008 at 11:29am | IP Logged
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Pamin OZ wrote:
| He told her to wash everyone's hands when they came home from church or wherever, |
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I am fanatical about this and have seen the benefits of it. We keep wipes in the van, too, and wash hands after visiting any store or office.
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Liz
Blessed by 4 wonders
dd11, dd911, ds9, ds8
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Sept 12 2008 at 11:39am | IP Logged
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My dh is the Purell King! It's everywhere - all the cars, in my purse, in his backpack...right now ds has a bad cold, so I am washing my hands pretty much every five minutes...
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Topic: Keeping colds at bay
