Then and Now...Oregon Grape

Those little ears cause so many problems ! So I am going to back track a little here. When my now 4 year old was around 1 years old he woke up from a nap with a large inflamed poofy eye AND OFCOURSE IT WAS AFTER THE DOCTORS OFFICE CLOSED. I am on the phone with the doctor on call who tells me you needs to watch this carefully because it could be cellulites and a person can lose their eye from that (totally freaking out at this point).  However , he did say that it could be an allergic reaction and told me the dosage of Benadryl to give and if the swelling did not go down to call back.  After, the swelling did not go down, I did not even bother to call the doctor back, of to the ER we went. In the thank g-d all it was, was an ear infection and all the fluid was draining into his eye. We went home with oral anti biotic and eye drops. 

Now let’s fast forward 3 years later and the same thing happens to my youngest son. This time I have a little more knowledge under my belt so I am not panicking as much. However, I still went to the doctors just to double check it was not anything serious. In the end he did not have an ear infection, he did have fluid in his ears and it was draining into his eye socket all because of a cold. However she did want to put him on antibiotics just in case it got infected.  At this point I have learned about an herb call Oregon grape according to http://bestmedicalalternatives.com/?p=656   Oregon grape is widely regarded as a wonderful antibiotic and is used as a lymphatic and liver stimulating blood cleanser. It helps to release stacked away iron from the liver into the blood stream. I always like to have a plan B so I filled the script just incase! However I gave my son Oregon grape 3x a day for 3 days  and after the first day all the swelling went away. 

Little Ushkys (Ears)

So its time for my weekly post!!!! I am excited!!! Since I started talking about remedies for the ear last week I thought why not just keep with the topic. The annoying ear infections were the cause of constant visits to the doctor for my family.  Garlic Oil is an essential in my house that is always readily available.

People underestimate the power of garlic! It has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.  To make garlic oil (I personally use an old baby food jar) Get a small glass jar , Place 3-4 garlic cloves and cover them in olive oil, Let sit for at least 24 hours.

After 24 hours the oil will contain the properties of garlic. Typically when my children will tell me their ear hurts I make a mixture of 1 tsp garlic oil and 1 drop of PURE lavender oil.

(When buying essential oils and herbs I always make sure there are no fillers added and the best place to get that is at Natures Sunshine. In a health store I will typically find the essential oil plus jojoba oil or some other type of oil added which lessen the strength of the oil. At Natures Sunshine everything is 100% pure no filler and there screen there herbs to make sure they have absolutely no chemicals)

I typically will double the mixture so I always have enough and don’t have to constantly make it. I then will pour the tsp of garlic oil and 1 drop lavender oil into a small jar with a pipette that I got at whole foods. I will typically place 2 drops in the ear that is hurting 3 times a day for at least 2 days, even if it doesn’t hurt. BUT I ALWAYS MAKE SURE 10000% THAT THERE EAR DRUM IS NOT RUPTURED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If the ear drum is ruptured I WOULD NEVER PUT GARLIC OIL IN THEIR EAR.

Quick Ear Ache Recipe:

1. Make sure ear drum is not ruptured
2. Get a small glass jar
3. Place 3-4 garlic cloves and cover them in olive oil,
4. Let sit for at least 24 hours.
5. Mix 1 tbs of garlic oil and 1 drop pure lavender oil
6. Place 2 drops of mixture into effected ear, 3 times/daily for 2 days.

The Beginning...

Hi my name is Aliza, I am a mother of three beautiful boys that keep me on my toes J. One of the job descriptions of being a mother is running to the doctor, so between three kids we should have a frequent visitors VIP card! With that being said I will tell you how my journey in to a more natural life style began.

It was the night before my cousins son’s Bris (in the Jewish faith the baby is circumcised on the 8^th day). Of course that day besides going to the bris, work, and having a million other things that needed to get done, my oldest son started crying the evening before that his ear hurt him. The only thing that was going through my head was aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh how I am going to get everything done that I needed to get done and go the doctor???????? So this crazy idea entered my head.

(I have to back track a little here) When my husband and I got engaged I got really sick with fever, nausea and throwing up right before our engagement party. We were leaders in a youth group organization at that time, one of our students mothers was very into healing with herbs. I was so desperate  to be healthy for our party I was willing to try anything. Mrs G (our student’s mother) told me to smell peppermint oil and rub this sticky substance on my stomach. So I did what I was told and 24 hours later I was 100% better.  Now after that thought popped back into my head I figured what do I have to lose to give her a call and ask if she had any “tricks” up her sleeve.  So I did…

Since at that time I had nothing in my house besides regular house-hold items, my options were limited. But, Mrs. G. had mentioned to sauté some onions in a pan with olive oil, let them cool and them place them in a cheese cloth and place it under and around the ear. According to some, onions have properties that are anti-viral and bacterial.  The frying began and the house smelled like onions and when they cooled I placed them in a cheese cloth under and around his ear.   Thankfully my son was sleeping and the onions stayed on his ear.  I left them there for around 20 minutes and then the praying began that this would work! Of course the first words out of my mouth when he got up the next morning was does your ear hurt??!! And he said NO!! I am pretty sure that I was dancing around the house!!!  That night I called Mrs. G to tell her the good news and also to tell her that I need to learn from her how to use natural remedies. 

That is how it all began. I hope to share more of these stories about little remedies that have help me and my family J stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!