Mama's Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Living (17 page)

—John Muir (1838–1914), Scottish-born American naturalist
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A Sickness of the 21st Century @ 109

Let us a little permit Nature to take her own way;

she better understands her own affairs than we.

—Michel Euquem de Montaigne (1533–1592), French writer
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The field has eyes, the wood has ears; I will look, be silent, and listen.

—Hieronymus Bosch (1450–1516), Dutch painter

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Shall I not have intelligence with the earth?

Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself?

—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), American writer

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Besides the motives that have been mentioned, it may be added that the
Great Khan is more disposed to plant trees because astrologers tell him
that those who plant trees are rewarded with long life.

—Marco Polo (1254–1324), Italian merchant and traveler
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All my life throught, the new sights of Nature

made me rejoice like a child.

—Marie Curie (1867–1934), Polish-born French chemist

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I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits,

unless I spend four hours a day at least—and it is commonly more
than that—sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields,
absolutely free from all worldly engagements.

—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), American writer

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Chapter 6

Ourselves, Our Children,

Allergens, and Happy Cells

Use the folk medicine recipes in this chapter only

under the guidance of your child’s pediatrician.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

—Russian proverb

FACTS

Up to two million or 8 percent of children in the United States are estimated to be affected by food allergy. If one parent has allergic disease, the estimated risk of a child to develop allergies is 48 percent. The child’s estimated risk grows to 70 percent if both parents have a history of allergy.21

As you know now, allergens are irritating substances that provoke high sensitivity in the human body. When children are small (from one month to three years old), allergens that affect them can be milk, eggs, peanuts, oranges, and strawberries. Later on (ages three and up), allergens might include medical drugs, detergents, fragrances, weeds, molds Ourselves, Our Children, Allergens, and Happy Cells @ 111

and mildew, substances found in home air ducts, flower pollen, and other substances that penetrate their body through their delicate skin. Animal dander from the hair of domestic pets including dogs, cats, and rabbits can be allergens on contact, as can bird feathers and fur jackets. Any allergic reaction can develop into illness.

Infants and young children usually become ill more readily than older children and their illness may be more intense. This is because the immune system of an infant or young child is not as developed as that of an older child. Allergies and other ailments contracted by infants and children up to six years old develop fast and have a tendency to spread through the body in a matter of hours. For example, small inflammations (blisters) on an infant’s skin may indicate a “general” sickness—sepsis.

Diathesis is a heightened (abnormal) sensitivity of mucous membranes and skin to external irritants. Symptoms usual y appear during the first months of a child’s life. In the second half of the first year of an infant’s life, these signs became much clearer. Some food products show up as diathesis. Closely monitor your child for any reactions from these foods: milk, eggs, cheese, chocolate, cocoa, nuts, oranges, strawberries, soda, or any canned beverages. Consider that diathesis, provoked by sugar or foods that are rich in carbohydrates, is common as a first al ergy. One of the first signs of diathesis, which may appear in the first two or three months of a child’s life, is “milk scab,” yel owish, crusty patches that form on the child’s scalp and above the eyebrows. Some mothers try to remove these scaly patches only to find that they form again and spread to the baby’s cheeks. At first the skin on the cheeks will redden and then become rough to the touch. Dry or wet eczema and its accompanying itching may follow.

Wet eczema is not pretty. First, a rash, which turns to blisters, appears on the skin. These blisters eventually burst, leaving small, wet wounds that dry and form scabs. Dry and wet eczema require different treatments and, once healed, they can return.

Children’s skin rashes typical y occur from three months to six years of age, especial y during spring and summer. Be sure to include an assortment of fruits in your child’s diet to afford him the natural vitamins that strengthen the immune system. Remember that organic produce is best because it is not sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals, which can also prompt al ergic reactions. Skin rashes in the form of itchy red bumps or knots may also develop as a result of eating food allergens. Usually these red knots find a comfortable place in the nooks and crannies of the upper and lower extremities. 112 ^ Mama’s Home Remedies

Some children may exhibit a high sensitivity of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, irritation of the genitals and/or conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes. The structure and color of the tongue and its mucous membranes change dramatical y from red to white. The occurrences of exudative diathesis may remind one of ocean waves, rolling by turns to the shore. Many children maintain clear, clean skin between the periods of acute conditions, and when children reach the age of two or three, the skin rashes disappear as suddenly as they appeared. But children are vulnerable and may experience respiratory reactions to allergens. They might develop bronchitis or bronchial asthma, due to the lack of appropriate medical treatment at the proper time.

A friend of mine has two sons who were born five years apart. Both suffered a harsh form of exudative diathesis from one month old up to four years old. Skin rashes developed behind their ears in the form of wet, blistered eczema. When the blisters burst, they left small, bleeding wounds. It took several weeks for these wounds to dry and heal.

Then two to three weeks later the condition reappeared. The two boys suffered this diathesis for four years with antiseptic baths and time being the only remedies.

Children with diathesis need special care and attention

r 1. Use only natural fabrics such as cotton blankets and diapers for your baby.

r 2. Cloth should be soft and able to “breathe.”

r 3. Use a mild, unscented natural soap to wash anything that comes in contact with your child.

r 4. Detect food products that provoke alergic reactions in your child and exclude them.

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r 5. If your child is food sensitive, introduce foods one at a time, every week in turns, to detect more easily which one prompts an al ergic reaction.

r 6. I believe that it is helpful to substitute organic buttermilk or organic kefir as an alternative to milk. When your child is three months old, give him homemade vegetable puree. Consult a physician specializing in the treatment of al ergies if a reaction occurs.

r 7. Every child requires individualized treatment based on his or her al ergies and environment.

r 8. Give your child a massage. It wil make him/her stronger to fight diseases.

r 9. Give your child a seated bath twice a day with chamomile or calendula (pot marigold). Put one tablespoon of chamomile flowers or calendula into a cup. Add boiling water. Infuse for 10

minutes. Then pass it through strainer or nylon sieve and pour this liquid into the bath water.

r 10. Make a pink bath. Add one tiny pinch of potassium permanganate to the warm bath water to create a pale rose color. It is an excel ent antiseptic and keeps a child’s skin clean and healthy. r 11. Combine one teaspoon each of chamomile, calendula, and oak bark with one quart of boiling water. Let steep for 10 minutes, filter, and pour into a warm bath. Bathe your child for 15 minutes. r 12. Combine a pinch of potassium permanganate and boric acid with two cups of warm water. Soak a swatch of soft cotton in this light pink liquid and apply as a compress to wet eczema.

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Allergy and colds

Children prone to allergic reactions often get sick with colds. Prepare them to fight it.

r 13. Combine one quart of water with one teaspoon of sea salt, five drops of iodine, and two to three tablespoons of vodka. Soak a swatch of soft cotton in this lotion to rub on your child once in the morning during the cold seasons of the year. Later bathe the child in a warm bath. The lotion wil nourish your child’s skin and help him/her to fight al ergy and colds.

Here are folk remedies that heal skin rashes and improve metabolism. r 14. Mince one teaspoon dandelion root and combine with one cup boiling water in a glass jar. Seal and cover with a warm fabric. Steep for one to five hours, filter into a pitcher, and store in a cool place. Take two tablespoons three to four times a day 30

minutes before meals.

r 15. Mince one tablespoon burdock root and combine with ½ quart boiling water in a large glass jar. Seal and cover with flannel or wool fabric to keep it warm. Steep for one to five hours, filter into a pitcher, and store in a cool place. Warm and drink ½

cup three to four times a day. This is a strong blood purifier and effective cleanser for children and adults, especially when excess toxins create skin problems, arthritic pains, and digestive sluggishness.

r 16. Use the infusion in #15 to treat skin rashes, sores, and infections external y by applying a burdock compress to the affected area. r 17. Give your child several glasses of spring water to drink every day. Add a slice of organic lemon, apple or quince to make it more appealing. This helps to fight al ergic reactions associated with Ourselves, Our Children, Allergens, and Happy Cells @ 115

colds or food allergies. Quince juice can help rid the system of toxins and is also effective when applied externally to skin disorders.

r 18. Add two cups of boiling water to one tablespoon of dried agrimony leaves. Infuse for 8–10 minutes. Strain and pour into a glass jar. Use this infusion to wash sores, wounds, eczema or soak a sterile pad in the infusion and apply to the affected area. This herb provides an effective treatment for children suffering from diathesis and eczema.

r 19. To four cups boiling water, add one tablespoon licorice root, 1½

tablespoons dandelion root, and 1½ tablespoons burdock root. Steep for 30 minutes and strain. Children may take two to four ounces twice a day. Adults may take 8–16 ounces twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.

r 20. To ½ quart of boiling water, add one teaspoon each of elecampane root, gentian herb, and yarrow and steep for 30 minutes. Take one tablespoon three times a day for one to two months before meals.

r 21. Prepare this natural medicine, using the same method as in

#18. Add the water to ½ tablespoon diced licorice root and ½

tablespoon diced heartsease. Drink up to one cup a day. Always remember to complement al treatments with fresh organic fruit or vegetable salads after dinner.

r 22. To one quart of boiling water, add one teaspoon heartsease (aerial parts) and one teaspoon chamomile flowers and steep for two hours covered with a towel to keep it warm. Strain and drink. Children may take
only
⅓ of this infusion; adults may drink three times a day.

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All allergic conditions

Internal use:

r 23. Make strawberry liquor (for age one and up). Combine eight ounces of dried or fresh strawberries with one pint of water and one tablespoon of honey or unrefined sugar in a saucepan. Stir constantly over medium heat until dissolved. Boil it to reduce by half, cool, and pour into a dark glass bottle. Seal with a cork stopper. Do not use a screw-capped lid because liquors and syrups ferment in closed bottles and can explode. Children may take one teaspoon two or three times a day.

r 24. Make a chamomile infusion. Add eight ounces boiling water to one tablespoon chamomile flowers. Steep in a glass pitcher for 20

minutes. Take one tablespoon three to four times daily.

r 25. Try a peppermint infusion. Add one tablespoon peppermint leaves to ½ cup boiling water. Cover and steep for 20 minutes. Take one tablespoon three times a day.

r 26. To make a simple calendula (pot marigold) infusion, add one tablespoon calendula flowers to four ounces boiling water. Steep for one hour. Take one tablespoon two to three times daily. r 27. Eggshel powder. Carefuly and thoroughly wash three to four eggs (organic/free-range chicken eggs). Boil them for 10 minutes. Cool and peel eggshel from membrane, then grind into powder in glass, stone, or ceramic bowl. Use a mortar and pestle. Never use a metal bowl. Before you give one pinch of eggshell powder to your child, add five drops of natural lemon juice.

^ A baby six months to one year old takes ¼ teaspoon of

eggshel powder.

^ A child 1–1½ years old takes ⅓ teaspoon.

^ Children from 1½–2 years take ½ teaspoon.

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The eggshell powder healing process is a long one, but there is another benefit; it contains a significant amount of calcium. In any case, it can be taken from several weeks to a month until the allergy is eliminated, but even over time the method is harmless.

r 28. Young nettle usualy bears juicy leaves in April or May, depending on its geographical location. Cut the upper 10 inches of nettle stem with leaves. Wash wel and dice, then place the pieces in a one-quart glass jar fil ed to the top with cold boiled water. Leave it to infuse for eight hours. Give a child this infusion blended with various juices or compotes of fresh cherries, cranberries, or gooseberries. This effective and tasty treatment cleans al ergens from the blood and calms the digestive and nervous systems.