Back to School - Guard Your Health

Along with the mental challenge of school, your kids will be exposed to more immune system and physical challenges when they start mingling with their peers again. The main thing you can do to guard against ill health is to make sure your kids get good wholesome food and plenty of rest, but there are other ways you can prepare them for the challenges of school too. One approach is to supply your children with a balanced daily vitamin & mineral supplement and a daily dose of vitamin C. These will help keep the immune system strong and help prevent illness from getting a foothold. Even when preventative measures lose out, there are other things to do besides simply bombarding the system with antibiotics. These treatments are low cost, immediately available, and have no side effects. They are safe enough for infants as well as for older folks.

Homeopathy works on the concept of "like cures like." It was first developed in 1790 by a doctor named Samuel Hahnemann from Germany. Through his understanding of chemistry, pharmacology and medicine he began to focus on the symptoms of disease as they are experienced by each individual instead of focusing on the specific causes such as viruses or bacteria. Homeopathic remedies are extremely small, diluted doses of a plant, animal or mineral source which mimic the symptoms the patient is having. The remedy stimulates the body's systems to respond to the challenge of the disease. When symptoms begin to subside, the remedy is discontinued (unlike antibiotics.)

Herbalists use the stems, leaves, bark and roots of plants to treat and prevent illness. Even before the Chinese emperor Shen Nung wrote about their use in 2735 B.C., people on every continent have used herbal remedies to effectively and safely treat or prevent a wide variety of ailments. Herbalists rely on the synergistic interaction of all the ingredients in a plant to bring about results instead of isolating & synthesizing only the so-called "active ingredients." The herbs are administered in the form of teas, tinctures or capsules. Modern research in Germany, Japan, China & Russia has validated these ancient healing traditions.

Bach Flower Remedies were developed by Dr. Edward Bach (1897-1936) and treatment is based on the natural emotion-balancing effects of flower preparations. These dilute natural flower essences have remarkable emotional and mental balancing effects while being gentle and easy to use. The remedy is in the form of a tincture and applied as a few drops under the tongue.

Below is a sampling of health conditions and the natural remedies recommended to treat them. Our supplements staff will gladly answer your questions or direct you to other resources, including reference books, for more in-depth coverage of these topics. Together, we have provided you with a good place to start exploring safe, effective, natural methods of personal care.

Note: This information is provided only as an introduction and not intended to replace the advise of a qualified health practitioner.

Homeopathic Remedies	Treatment For:
Aconite	For acute fevers, especially if shock or fright is part of the situation
Apis mellificia	Bee stings and other insect bites that are red and swollen
Arnica	Bruises, sprains, strains; taken internally as pellets or applied topically as a cream (only if skin is not broken)
Chamomilla	First teething remedy to try; relaxant for teething infant
Hyland's Calms	Remedy for nervous tension and sleeplessness
Nux vomica	Hypersensitivity and irritability; indigestion
Oscillococcinum	When first symptoms of flu appear, fevers, chills, body aches and pains
Pulsatilla	Nasal congestion with yellow mucous; cold symptoms; earache
Rhus toxicodendron	Poison oak or poison ivy

Herbal Tinctures or Teas	Treatment For:
Aloe Vera	Topical pain reliever, excellent for burns - apply the liquid from the plant directly on the affected area
Chamomile	Use flower as a tea or tincture soothes upset stomach; relaxes, induces sleep; helpful for teething
Echinacea	Root used as tincture, tea or in capsule as an antibiotic and immune system booster
Peppermint	The leaf used as a tincture or tea to aid digestion, relieve nausea, reduce fever

Bach Flower Remedies	Treatment For:
Rescue Remedy	Premier remedy for physical or emotional trauma, panic, apprehension, anxiety, especially acute situations
Chestnut bud	Incorrigible behavior; an inability, unwillingness to understand cause & effect or learn from past mistakes
Elm	Feelings of incompetence or fundamental feelings of inadequacy
Gorse	Helps ease feelings of deep despair, usually after a serious family trauma without denying time to grieve
Impatiens	Feelings of impatience & tension, when child is easily irritated & nervous; hyperactive behavior

Recommended Reading
The Homeopathy Home Page An extensive online guide to the world of homeopathic medicine
Smart Medicine for a Healthy Child by Janet Zand Rachel Walton & Bob Roundtree
Homeopathy & Your Child by Lyle W. Morgan II
Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines by Cummings N. Ullman
Bach Flower Therapy - Theory & Practice by Mechthild Scheffer
Neal's Yard Natural Remedies by Curtis Fraser & Kohler

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