Wellness Wednesday: 5 Natural Remedies for Teething Toddlers

First off I want to thank EVERYONE for the out-pour of birthday wishes and crunchy love I received yesterday, I'm one lucky lady! If you haven't gotten a chance to yet, you have 3 days left to enter in my Favorite Natural Product Birthday Giveaway!!(Now over)

Check out the entry form above for YOUR chance to win some awesome prizes!

I had a great day yesterday stuffing myself silly with fattening, delicious food (everyone can use a day off from juicing and organic eating). I got to spend time with family and friends, which is the best part of any day.

Too bad my night didn't get to end on such a high note.

Right around the time I was sinking my teeth into my fully-loaded  bacon cheddar burger with mushrooms, and garlic aioli (it was sinfully good) my 23 month old began crying while shoving his finger into the back of his mouth.

I touched is head, which all of a sudden felt like it was on fire. I thought we had avoided this whole period of growth, but I couldn't deny Nolan was cutting some serious molars.

A few months ago I had purchased an amber necklace and shared the reasons why it is used as a natural aide for teething babies. Since then, we've never had any issues with teething. Nolan would have the tell-tale drooling and minimal crankiness, but it was never unbearable.

Last night that ALL changed. He was crying out in pain, running a temp, and so just laying in a mushy puddle against my chest. He had about 3 ice pops, chewed on a frozen teething ring, a cold wash cloth, and nursed.

Nothing was soothing him.

After a few hours of this I decided to do something I try to avoid...I cracked open the children's ibuprofen. Usually if my kids have a fever I let it run its course. Fevers are an indicator that your body's immune system is trying to fight off some kind of infection by heating up to a temperature bacteria and viruses can't stand.

When you reduce that fever prematurely you can prolong the healing process and actually stay sick for longer.

In most instances I would try a cool compress or bath. But I knew his discomfort was caused more by the pain in his mouth, than the spike in temperature. So to give him some relief I slipped some pain reliever in his apple cider.

It seemed to help for a while, until he was waking up every hour screaming in agony. I wasn't sure at first if he was having a bad dream because he would yell bloody murder from a deep sleep.

So I held him, rocked him, nursed him some more, and prayed we'd be able to get some sleep.

This morning he was like a different child, but I fear when his other molars start to come in we'll have a repeat performance. TO THE GOOGLE!

Here's a list of the top 5 Natural Remedies for Toddler Teething:


1. Chamomile

This herb, commonly found in tea, is a common remedy used for very irritable children with tooth pain. Some ways you an use it for your child are to crush up a chamomile tablet, found at a natural food store, and mix with water. You can also brew a chamomile tea, let it cool, and give it to your baby. Lastly, you can dip a washcloth in the tea, freeze it, and let your child suck on the cloth.

2. Belladona

 
Babies who need Belladona often have fever, may not be thirsty, and my startle easily while asleep. A popular, 100% natural, remedy is Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets. They claim, "Belladonna is included in the Tablets to ease the redness, inflammation and discomfort of the child's gum that often occurs during the teething process." This herb has come under some scrutiny because in large doses the leaves of the plant can be poisonous, but in smaller amounts has value. (As always please consult your doctor and do your own research when it comes to you health)

 3. Chiropractic Adjustments

 They aren't just for an aching back! Fellow crunchy mama Mommypotomus says, " [Chiropratic] helps by reducing cortisol levels and increasing white blood cell counts, which reduces stress and promotes healing for inflamed gums."

4. Amber Necklaces

Mom's in my Granolaville SWEAR by them! Raw, unpolished amber contains large amounts of succinic acid, a natural painkiller that is released against warm skin. Up until last night this worked like a charm and, as you can see Nolan loves wearing his!

5. Gum-omile Oil

 This oil derived from willow bark and clove oil which are natural analgesics, and chamomile can help calm cranky babies. 

At the end of the day you have to do what works for you and your baby. Always consult your doctor and if all else fails, rum works wonders (to help YOU sleep, not the baby!)

What's your natural go-to for teething pain? Share it below, and don't forget to enter my Favorite Natural Product Birthday Giveaway!! 

Hugging my cranky baby in Granolaville, 

   



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Natural Mom Monday: 5 Natural Ways to Cure a Headache

If you're a mom you had one of these at some point in your life....and if you haven't you deserve some sort of prize, award, or at least a firm pat on the back.

I'm dealing with one right now. I woke up around 5am this morning with a dagger-like pain encompassing the side of my left temple. I thought maybe if I went back to sleep, until my typical wake up time, I could miss the stabbing, throbbing pain.

I was OH-so-f-ing-wrong!

While making my kids lunches, it took all of my strength not to lay my face directly on the counter where I was assembling sandwiches. My oldest left first and now it was time to wake my 6 year old, which on a GOOD DAY is like raising a flesh-eating zombie from the dead.

As he sat and ate his breakfast, while watching some insanely lame kids show, I felt a wave of nausea sweep over my body. Sadly it wasn't the show creating this ill feeling. Even my son was concerned, asking," Are you OK Mom? Can I get you anything?"

What a sweet, sweet, boy I have. I finally got him on the bus and headed quietly back to bed with my cup of ginger tea and my sleepy 21 month old. Thankfully this wasn't one of those mornings where he was gung-ho about playing basketball or watching Blue's Clues.

It's now nearly lunch time and you know what, this headache is still lingering. Since I can barely type these words without squinting my left eye, I figured sharing some quick natural remedies would be a good idea for both of us.

1. Ginger tea

2. Water, water, water (dehydration is often the source)

3. Boil a handful of rosemary, place a damp towel over your head and breathe in the steam

4. Herbal tea with lemon

5. Eliminate temporarily caffeinated drinks, chocolate, dairy, red wine, and food with nitrates and sulfates (bacon, processed meat)

At this point I've done the ginger and I'm movin' onto the rosemary steam. Hopefully one of these will bring some relief. After all, I gotta be able to watch Steve find a clue.

Got any natural remedies to relieve a headache? Share them below!

 Trying to Escape the Pain in Granolaville,

Taste it Tuesday: Ginger, It's Not Just a Stripper Name, It Can Actually Benefit Your Health

Until recently the closest I ever got to ingesting ginger was when I had a hangover or morning sickness....or both. Just kidding. I only had a couple of boxes...I mean glasses of wine my whole pregnancy.

But seriously I had no idea what the real deal smelled like, or even looked like. If you put a chunk of it in front of me I would have wondered why there was tiny tree branch on my plate. Then I attended a Holistic Moms Network meeting where the topic was juicing, and my view of ginger completely changed.

Dr. Josh, a local Chiropractor, holistic dad, and all around cool crunchy dude, went through the basics of juicing. He explained the benefits, showed us how the machine worked, and then it was time for a taste test.

He put in pretty normal stuff: an apple, carrot, some leafy greens, and then the curve ball...a nugget of this golden root looking thing, GINGER.


I was a little like, " Hmm I wonder how THAT'S going to taste." But I rolled with it anyway, figuring if it was awful I could just pass it along to my toddler who drink or eat just about anything.

I took a quick swig. Wouldn't you know that fruity, veggie, ginger juice concoction was damn good! SO good in fact, I haven't juiced since then without throwing in a bit of ginger goodness.

This ancient spice is beneficial for a whole lot more than just kicking your juice up a notch. Not only has it been used for centuries in China and East African countries, but western science is finding proof that it has serious healing abilities.

Here are 9 ways Ginger can benefit your health:

1. When brewed in tea it can stop a cough, open up your stuffy nose, or alleviate a sore throat.
2. A study at the University of Michigan found that when applied to ovarian cancer cells the ginger powder caused the cells to die.
3. Next time you are on a boat or a REALLY long car ride, try drinking ginger powder mixed with a glass of warm water to help with nausea or dizziness.
4. Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory properties which can help with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Taken as a tea it can relieve heartburn as well as morning sickness
6. A recent study at the University of Minnesota found it slows the growth of colon cancer cells.
7. It can promote intestinal gas, a common relief for gastrointestinal distress.
8. When ingested, the heat from the plant can cause your body to sweat. That sweat contains germ fighting agents secreted through your skin which can offer protection from harmful bacteria.
9. The oil from ginger root can be rubbed into achy muscles, improving circulation and blood flow

Here are some easy ways to incorporate ginger into your meals via World's Healthiest Foods:

• Turn up the heat while cooling off by making ginger lemonade. Simply combine freshly grated ginger, lemon juice, cane juice or honey and water.
• Add extra inspiration to your rice side dishes by sprinkling grated ginger, sesame seeds and nori strips on top.
• Combine ginger, soy sauce, olive oil and garlic to make a wonderful salad dressing.
• Add ginger and orange juice to puréed sweet potatoes.
• Add grated ginger to your favorite stuffing for baked apples.
• Spice up your healthy sautéed vegetables by adding freshly minced ginger. 

Do you use ginger at home? Got any recipes? Share them below!

Spicing Things Up in Granolaville,

 

 

Wellness Wednesday: Top 4 Natural Cold Remedies

Woman Sneezing

It may start with a sneeze or a runny nose, but most people are aware of the signs that they are coming down with a cold. Contracting a viral infection that leads to the common cold can be mildly inconvenient, or incredibly debilitating, depending on how severe it is.

Most of us don't have time to be weighed down by aching muscles, a sore throat or nasal congestion. Life carries on, even when you feel under the weather. Luckily there are some great ways to reduce or even prevent the symptoms of a cold without the aide of pricey prescription medications or over the counter drugs containing ingredients that you can't pronounce.

Garlic via Flicker: Mullica

Garlic
For thousands of years garlic has been used by civilizations in the East and West as an important medicinal tool. It has been used as a diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, antibacterial, anti-fungal agent. A 2001 study conducted in UK showed the correlation between the daily use of a garlic supplement and a reduced occurrence of the cold virus by 39%. A component of raw garlic, allicin, has been shown to block the growth of certain types bacteria related to the common cold.

Hydrogen Peroxide 
Imagine a cure for bacteria causing ear infections and cold viruses being stopped in their tracks by a $.79 remedy---the pharmaceutical companies would be outraged! It is true, hydrogen peroxide has been shown to combat a cold virus if poured directly into the ear canal. If used when symptoms first appear it can be about 80% effective.

Cayenne Pepper via Flicker: PxLady

Cayenne Pepper
An excellent source of Vitamin A, if you can withstand the heat, cayenne pepper can provide essential nutrients for the health of all epithelial tissues (the tissues that line all body cavities including the respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts). It can also be used to clear congestion because its peppery heat stimulates secretions that help to clear your stuffy nose.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D
One of most recent natural remedies to gain attention, Vitamin D had been previously overshadowed by its counterpart Vitamin C. In the medical community the benefits of Vitamin C against a cold virus remain controversial, but we do know for sure that it is an important anti-oxidant needed to form bones cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. On the other hand, Vitamin D has been proven to help prevent and diminish the signs of a cold. Because they usually occur during the winter months, people have been led to believe that being indoors and in closer proximity to infected people is what causes a rise in colds. But, studies have shown that people deficient in Vitamin D, which the body produces in response to direct sunlight, have a higher risk of respiratory infections and higher levels can enhance your immunity to microbial infections.

If you'd like to really take a natural remedy that packs a punch try this recipe we found for Tomato Tea.

TOMATO TEA RECIPE
2 cups V8 Juice
2-3 cloves Garlic crushed (use more if you can)
2 T Lemon Juice
Hot Sauce (the more the better, so as much as you can handle)

What are your home remedies for a cold? Share in the the comments section below!

Avoiding the Sniffles in Granolaville,

 

Fresh Idea Friday: You Want Me to Put a Banana Where?

Whether topped with ice cream and a cherry, in pie or bread, bananas are a tasty way to amp up any meal. Loaded with vitamins A, E, B6, Potassium and Manganese bananas are not just a delicious snack, they are also good for your bones and eyesight, and can help restore a natural glow to your skin and hair.

Wrinkles

To ward off signs of aging mash up a banana with tablespoon of honey and yogurt. Apply it to your neck and face, let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then rinse. It's anti-aging nutrients can protect the skin from further cell damage and will leave your face with a more youthful glow.

Acne

No matter how old you are having a blemish on your face can put a damper on your day. So the next time you spot a pimple try rubbing the inside of a banana peel on the problem area. Since most acne is caused by irritation from bacteria, the natural anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties of a ripened peel can help clear up unwanted irritation.

Dry Skin

During the winter months, especially, many of us have to deal with itchy dry skin. The lack of moisture in the air, or having an unbalanced diet can cause it to become overly dry which often causes scaling and cracking. By smashing up a banana into a thick paste and leaving it on the affected area for about 15 minutes you can leave your skin feeling like you had an afternoon at the spa.

Warts

These unsightly patches of skin caused by the HPV virus can be painful and costly if removed by a dermatologist. The high amount of potassium in bananas has a caustic effect after long periods of time on skin. It burns away at the wart layer by layer without damaging the healthy skin. Though warts sometimes disappear on their own, you can expedite the process. Save yourself pain and money by taping a banana peel on the wart each night before bed. Within a few weeks the area should be wart free.

Do you have any other uses for bananas? Let me know in the comments section below!


Smelling Fruity in Granolaville,

Fresh Idea Friday: 9 Non-Edible Ways to Use Coconut Oil

Happy Friday Granolaville! Well I've made it through my first week of sharing my holistic living ideas with you all. A BIG THANK YOU needs to be hurled at my ever so patient and supportive husband, my uber cheerleader mom, my kids for not driving me crazy, and fitness expert Liz Cort for her AWESOME guest post on clean eating. But most importantly, thank you to ALL those who have, tweeted, commented, liked, or shared Granolaville here on the interwebs! I'm so excited about creating this community of holistically crunchy peeps, so thank you for being a part of that.

OK, enough with the sappy shizzle....here's some fun stuff you might not know about COCONUTS!

Over the last few months coconut oil has replaced all other oils in my pantry, aside from olive oil. When I began using it we had already become accustomed to coconut milk in lieu of cow's milk (though now we are strictly an almond milk family). My dairy allergic son was even chowing down on coconut yogurt and ice cream. But I had no idea how many uses there were for coconut oil...aside from making delicious almond fried chicken ( I told you I had a weakness).

1. As a lotion. I suffer from SUPER dry skin and so do my two younger sons. You can literally take virgin coconut oil from the jar, rub it in your hands to melt it, and smooth anywhere on your body. Especially in the winter months this works best by applying right after a shower or bath. For super smooth feet generously apply and then cover with socks. They will be just as smooth as those pricey pedicures, for a fraction of the cost, and without getting those nasty germs from the guy with foot fungus.

2. Stop Buggy Itches. Next time a pesky mosquito tries to feast on you, dab a little bit of coconut oil on the area. It's antibacterial properties will prevent scarring and stop the itching. You can also mix with peppermint oil and you'll have a sweet smelling bug repellent.

3. Ward off Eczema. I have first hand experience with this remedy. Though the cause of most eczema is an allergic reaction to foods or an imbalance in the micro-flora in the gut, used topically, coconut oil help protect your skin from outbreaks. Be sure to only use virgin oil to avoid further irritation and don't use if your skin is already inflamed.

4. Fight Foot Funk & Fungus I'm sure my hubby is dying to share with you his slight (and by slight I mean so strong it feels like you were smacked in the face by the smell) foot odor. Who knew that by applying coconut and tea tree oil on smelly tootsies you can cure athlete's foot and funky odor?

5. Remove Rust. If you have any tarnished silverware or metal objects try rubbing oil on it, letting sit for about an hour and rinse.

6. Moisture Your Hair. If you're spending and arm and a leg on fancy conditioners STOP. RIGHT. NOW. If you want luxurious soft locks melt a tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil, like Tropical Traditions or Nutiva by rubbing it in your hands. Apply directly to your wet or dry hair then let sit for 20-45 minutes. I can tell you from personal experience this has worked wonders on my hair.

7. Deodorant. Since traditional, even "natural" deodorants use aluminum as the main ingredient, have been linked to breast cancer and mess with estrogen levels, why not try making your own. Fellow crunchy blogger, Crunchy Betty, has a simple recipe that she swears by. It looks so easy I might even try it.

8. Lip Balm. Coconut oil is a white solid at room temperature, but just the heat from your fingers will leave it smooth enough to apply right to your lips. Bonus side effect----your lips will taste like you've been sipping Pina Coladas on some tropical island. I keep a small BPA free plastic container in my bathroom just for my cosmetic needs.

9. Make-up Remover. Who ever thought it made sense to remove chemicals, dirt and toxins from your face with more chemicals??? Well if you look on the back of any name brand face wash that's what you are getting. Instead, dab a little bit of coconut oil on a slightly damp washcloth and wipe anywhere on your face. It will leave your skin glowing and moisturized.

Do you have any non-edible uses for coconut oil?

Going Coco-nutty in Granolaville,