Natural Health

"Mother Nature, mothers, grandmothers - yes, even fathers and grandfathers - are the best doctors around, because they do not share the typical doctor's compulsion to interfere with the body's efforts and ability to heal itself." ...Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn

Doctor Mom

According to Dr. Mendelsohn 95% of childhood illnesses do not require medical attention, and yet it's probably a safe estimate to say that 95% of parents (especially first time parents) rush their children to the Pediatrician at the first sign of a Sniffle.   Of course doctors then feel obliged to do something so you don't feel you've wasted a trip (not to mention your money) so they prescribe an antibiotic even though the majority of the time treatment is not indicated.  I've often heard that doctors have a private joke - "The common cold lasts for 7 days with treatment and a week without."

I can not stress enough the importance of breastfeeding in the health of your child. Breastmilk is loaded with antibodies, immunoglobulins, nutrients, and living cells. Scientists are discovering wonderful new components in human milk all the time - the majority of which can never be duplicated by artificial breastmilk manufacturers.

Possibly due to our long-term battle with thrush I am really concerned about the over use of antibiotics - I'm not alone.  More & more bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics prompting health care professionals to use progressively stronger, broad-spectrum drugs which in turn create more antibiotic resistant stains of bacteria and viola` ~ you have "superbugs" - bacteria which are resistant to all existing antibiotics.  And what about the newest trend, antibacterial cleaning products, why risk helping the normal bacteria in you home turn into antibiotic resistant "superbugs" when plain old-fashioned soap & water works just as well without the risks?  But what really scares me is the newest wonder of modern antibacterial technology - Microban®. It's supposed to provide resistance to the growth of bacteria, molds and fungi and their odors.  They're putting it in items such as toys, high chairs, pillows, mattress pads, blankets, cutting boards, and sponges.  Who knows how safe this stuff really is or what it may lead to.

Our bodies have an amazing ability to heal themselves as long as we let them. As a parent I know how hard it is to watch your child suffer through a nasty cold or ear infection without wanting to do something to relieve their misery. Unfortunately the first thing most parents reach for is the children's acetaminophen & the cough syrup. Using allopathic medicines, while they may relieve some of your child's suffering (and yours), interferes with the bodies natural healing process. Fevers are the bodies way of burning an infection out - if you try to control it you only hinder the bodies ability to get rid of the infection. Every symptom has a specific purpose in helping the body to heal - instead of interfering with the process support it. Homeopathic and herbal remedies are a wonderful, natural way to support the bodies immune system and give it a boost when needed.

There are better ways to ease your child's discomfort than reaching for the Tylenol® :

With a lot of TLC and a little help from Mother Nature you child will get better. At this point I feel I must add that there are circumstances when modern medical technology can be life-saving. As a parent you can probably trust your instincts to tell you when something is seriously wrong with your child - don't ignore it.

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Natural Mothering: Holistic Page
First on-line: 12/05/1997