Natural remedies for winter illnesses - includes related article on emergency symptoms

Linda B. White

Just because your children are more likely to become sick is no cause for despair. A little home-remedy know-how can go a long way toward preventing illness and treating it when it occurs.

Winter brings a flurry of seasonal delights: sledding, skating, and brisk walks through fallen leaves. Winter also brings the likelihood of illness. Because cold air holds little moisture, our noses and throats become dry and irritated, which increases our vulnerability to infection. Also, we tend to spend lots of time inside with doors and windows shut tight, sharing the air we breathe--"germs" and all. To top it off, many viruses are more prevalent in the colder months.

Just because your children are more likely to become sick is no cause for despair. A little home-remedy know-how preventing illness and treating it when it occurs.

Please do not consider home care a replacement for medical treatment. When your child is sick, you should not hesitate to ask for help. Sometimes a phone conversation will provide reassurance that you can handle your child's illness at home. Other times, a visit to the doctor is in order [see "Emergency Symptoms"]. Always check with your physician if your sick child is under two months of age, or if your child has not improved within three days of home treatment.

General Measures

Home remedies work best when they are introduced at the first sign of illness. Whatever that symptom may be, you can help your child move toward self-healing by zeroing in on a few simple measures.

* Eliminate sweets and other highly processed foods. Junk foods deplete the body's reserves of vitamins and minerals, resulting in an increased infection.(1) Foods with a high sugar content reduce the ability of white blood cells to fight bacteria.(2)

* Avoid dairy products. Milk often aggravates such conditions as asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and middle ear infections.(3)

* Encourage fluids in the form of water, herbal teas, dilute vegetable and fruit juices, clear broths, and, for nursing infants, breastmilk. Sickness--especially when accompanied by fever, vomiting, or diarrhea--increases the body's fluid requirement. In addition to replenishing the lost fluids, liquids help loosen coughs and clear stuffy noses.

* Humidify the environment. A cool-mist, and frequently cleaned, humidifier in your child's room will help alleviate dry throat nasal passages, and help decrease your child's vulnerability to infection. Also keeps your child away from tobacco smoke, which places youngsters at risk for a number of medical problems, including an increased likelihood of respiratory tract infection.(4)

* Slow down the pace of life. Keep your child quiet and snug. Introduce soothing activities, such as reading or listening to soft music. Sickness is sometimes a sign that life has become too hectic.

* Give your child a massage, one of the oldest forms of healing, and one that comes instinctively to parents. Massage can lower stress levels, stimulate blood circulation, relieve muscle aches, and promote an overall sense of well-being. Some practitioners advise against massaging over bruises, wounds, and rashes, and against giving deep massages during fevers, which may only increase circulation and in turn elevate the body temperature.(5)

* Practice visualization, either by itself or in conjunction with massage. To begin, seek out a warm, quiet place in which your child can lie down and close her eyes. Then help her imagine herself getting better. She might picture herself playing and laughing. Or she might envision her white blood cells as animals (her favorite kind?) that are busy finding and attacking the "germs."

* Try hydrotherapy, the therapeutic use of water. As a general first-line treatment for colds, sore throats, and flus, give your child a hot footbath with a cold compress to the forehead.

* Supplement your child's diet with vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A has three essential infection-fighting roles: keeping healthy the cells that line our body surfaces (a primary defense against infection), stimulating and directly killing viruses. Infections quickly consume the body's stores of vitamin A.

Our bodies can, however, convert carotenes--a type of plant pigment--into Vitamin A. Beta-carotene has immune-boosting effects of its own.(6) And unlike vitamin A, which can cause toxicity when taken in high amounts for long periods of time, beta-carotene is safe.(7) Michael A. Schmidt, in his book Childhood Ear Infections, recommends a daily dose of 5,000 units of vitamin A and 5,000 units of beta-carotene for children with infection.(8)

Vitamin C plays a vital role in enhancing immune functions and tissue healing. Dr. Lendon Smith, author of Free Your Kids Right, recommends vitamin C every one to two hours at the following doses: 50 to 100 mg for infants under 6 months of age, 100 to 200 mg for 6 to 12 months old, 500 mg for 1 to 5 year olds, and 1,000 mg for children 6 and up. After the first 24 hours, taper the dose a bit, maintaining fairly high levels until your child's symptoms have resolved. Increasing the vitamin C dosage too rapidly can cause diarrhea, in which case, you may continue giving the vitamin frequently, though in smaller amounts.(9)

The B vitamins (B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, biotin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid) also contribute to optimum immune functioning. Most children's multiples containa good balance of this vitamin family.

Zinc is critical to many immune functions. Studies have shown that zinc protects against colds and reduces the duration of colds and sore throats. High doses of zinc, however, can depress immunity. During illness, SChmidt recommends a daily dose of 50 to 10 mg for children one to three years old and 10 mg for children four and up.(10)

* Go for the garlic. Among its many virtues, garlic is a formidable antimicrobial, effective against many bacteria (including streptococci), parasites, fungi, and a few viruses. It also induces sweating (thereby helping to reduce fevers) and promotes the explusion of mucus from the respiratory tract (aiding in the relief of coughs and colds).

During cold and flu season consider giving your family prophylactic garlic once a day at the onset of the first sniffle. Cooking destroys some of the therapeutic effects of garlic, so serve it up raw--in salad dressings, juices, dips, and smoothies. If your child objects to the taste, or if others object to the smell, switch to "deodorized" garlic available in capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts at most natural food stores.

Because its active ingredients are absorbed through the skin, garlic may also be used externally. To prepare a poultice, mix a crushed clove with a small amount of olive oil; then apply a protective layer of olive oil to the bottom of your child's foot, add the garlic paste, bandage in place with a soft cloth, and leave on for a few hours. If your child has sensitive skin, try rubbing garlic oil [see Earache for recipe] on your child's feet instead.

* Giving immune-strengthening herbs in the form of freeze-dried herbs or liquid extracts. To calculate the proper dose for your child, use Clark's rule: divide your child's weight (in pounds) by 150, then multiply this fraction by the recommended adult dose printed on the packaging.

Herbal medicines can be given externally as well as internal. According to Tammi Morgan, CH, a Denver-based herbalist, children absorb herbs well through the skin.(11) You can rub an hebal tea or extract on your child's feet, add an herbal infusion to the bathwater, or wash your child with a sockful of herbs. Feather Jones, president of Turtle Island Herbs, says that nursing mothers can drink herbal extracts or teas, wait 15 to 30 minutes, then breastfeed their infants.(12)

Medicinal herbs should not be taken lightly. Although most whole plants are considered safer than their pharmaceutical derivatives, herbal remedies have powerful effects. Teas made of mild herbs (namely, chamomile, catnip, peppermint,, and elder flower) have been proven safe for people of all ages. If you are unsure about the safety of a particular remedy, especially if your child is an infant, consult a practitioner versed in herbal medicine.

One of the best-known immune stimulants is echinacea (purple coneflower), which also has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as an excellent safety record. Steven Dentali, PhD, director of Research and Development at Eclectic Institute, recommends that children be given echinacea extract "liberally at the onset of infectious illnesses--five to ten drops in warm water every two hours."(13) Marshmellow root (althaea root) and red clover are even gentler for children, says Catherine Hunziker, owner of WishGarden Herbs.(14)

The following immune boosters are also helpful, but should not be given to children under one year of age without guidance forom a healthcare practitioner:

Lomatium, both immune-stimulating and antiviral, is particularly useful for colds, flus, sore throats, and other viral respiratory infections. This herb can cause a full-body measles-like rash that disappears within three to five days of discontinued use.

Osha (Ligusticum) is an antirival herb often recommended for sore throats and coughs. This herb is not recommended during pregnancy.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis), a good antiseptic, is effective against a variety of bacteria, and particularly beneficial for inflammation of the mucous membranes. Morgan cautions that because goldenseal can be strong medicine for children, internal use should be restricted to acute illnesses only, and limited to just a few drops of the extract at four-hour intervals for up to three days. Goldenseal is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Astragalus, both immune strengthening and antiviral, is sometimes recommended as a treatment for stubborn respiratory infections and as a tonic for lowered resistance to disease.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) is an immune booster commonly recommended for colds, bronchitis, nausea, and stomach inflammation. This herb is not recommended during pregnancy.

Bee pollen, propolis, and honey all have antimicrobial effects. Propolis, a resinous plant substance collected by bees, is the strongest of the three. Do not give bee products to children under one year of age.

Specific Illnesses

Following are some of the most common winter illnesses, along with home-care tips to help facilitate the recovery process.

Fever

Fever--a sign of illness, rather than an illness per se--is the body's natural response to infection. Elevated core temperatures enhance immune defenses. In fact, research has demonstrated that lowering body temperatures will interfere with the healing process.(15)

Keepin in mind that among children under eight years of age, and especially among infants, fever is an unreliable indicator of the severity of illness. Young children cann be very sick with a low or even subnormal temperature. Conversely, they can be cheerfull and active while running a significant fever. Evaluate ilness by your child's behavior, not the thermometer.

Home treatment. Fever increases the body's need for fluids and can lead to dehydration, which alone can elevate body temperatures. Therefore, be sure to encourage clear liquids. Fever also raises the metabolic rate. You can make up for this energy loss by serving nutritious meals, appetite permitting, and by giving vitamin supplements.

Generally, you do not need to give fever-reducing medicines. In fact, it is often best to simply let a fever run its course. Many pediatricians, however, recommend acetaminophen when temperatures exceed 102 [degrees] F and cause discomfort or physical depletion. Aspirin, on the other hand, is not recommended, particularly during viral illnesses, because it has been linked with Reye's syndrome, a severe condition involving inflammation of the brain and liver. Check with your doctor before giving any fever-reducing medication to an under-four-month-old infant.

Herbal anternatives to acetaminophen will often increase comfort levels. Some herbs, such as catnip, are good for "cold" fevers, which take their course when a child is pale, shivers, and complains of feeling cold. Others offer relief from "hot" fevers, which unfold when a child is flushed, sweaty, and complains of feeling hot. Elder flower and yarrow aid in hot fevers because they increase sweating, which helps the body cool itself. If diaphoretics (substances that induce sweating) do not alleviate your child's discomfort, try salicylate-containing herbs such as aspen bark, pansy, white willow bark, and wintergreen.

What feverish children sometimes need more than anything else is help relaxing. For fretful children, Jones recommends the following calming herbs: oat straw, oat seed, catnip, and chamomile. (The latter two herbs have fever-reducing as well as tranquilizing properties.) Skullcap and passionflower help ease insomnia. Saint-John's-wort can help unwind extremely excitable children.

Hydrotherapy can also help. For mild fevers of 99 [degrees] to 102 [degrees] F, a hot (to tolerance) half-bath or footbath will raise your child's body temperature. An "artificial fever" of this sort can theoretically speed the healing and break the fever. Finish your hydrotherapy treatment by briskly rubbing uyour child with a cold, wet washcloth.

To bring down a higher fever, you may try a tepid sponge bath. If your child shivers, warm the water. Never subject your child to an ice-cold bath or an alcohol rub.

Call your doctor if your feverish child is under three months old, of if your child has a fever of over 105 [degrees] F, has a history of febrile seizures, has run a fever for more than three days, or is acting extremely irritable or lethargic.(16)

Colds

Colds are caused by viruses and can almost always be treated at home. Often, the runny, stuffy nose is accompanied by a mild fever and sore throat. Sometimes the cold virus will spread to the eyes as well [see Conjunctivitis] or settle in the chest [see Cough.]

Home treatment. At the onset of cold symptoms, start your child on extra fluids, vitamin C, echinacea or marshmallow root, and garlic. Onion is also helpful, as is chicken soup, which not only contains lots of nutrients, but has been shown to lessen cold symptoms.

If your child's nose is stuffy with scanty discharge, try nose drops. To make your own solution, mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 4 ounces of warm water. Also keep a well-cleaned humidifier running in your child's room.

Another simple remedy for nasal congestion is steam inhalation. To prepare, add aromatic herbs (sage, eucalyptus, thyme, rosemary, or wintergreen) or their essential oils to a pot of boiling water, turn off the burner, and let steep. After 5 to 10 minutes, remove the pot to a table. With your child standing over the steam, form a tent by draping a towen over his head, or let him breath the steam in through a cardboard roll. After a couple of minutes, take a break; then repeat. Afterward, you can strain the water into a warm bath, and let your child soak.

Herbs to give internally include yerba santa, wild cherry, sage, peppermint, elder flower, and horehound. For two-time-honored tea blends, try peppermint-elder flower and yarrow-wintergreen-lemon verbena. If a stuffy nose keeps your child awake at night, offer one of the calming herbs listed above [see Fever].

Occasionally, a bacterial infection will complicate an ordinary cold, giving rise to a middle ear infection, sinusitis, bronchitis, or even pneumonia. It is therefore best to call your doctor anytime your child appears to be getting worse instead of better.

Influenza

The influenza or "flu" virus, like the cold virus, causes stuffy noses, sore throats, and coughs--only more suddenly, and with concomitant muscle aches, headaches, fever, and general misery.

Home treatment. Flue therapy is similar to cold therapy. You can give your child, in addition to echinacea, such immune-boosting, antiviral herbs as lomatium or osha. Also beneficial are teas made of some combination of catnip, elder flower, peppermint leaves, and yarrow.

To ease aching muscles and fever, prepare an herbal bath. Steep 1/4 cup each of marigold, thyme, lavender buds, elder flower, and mugwort in 1 quart of boiling water for 10 to 20 minutes; then strain the blend into a warm bath, and let your child soak. For a simpler recipe, use only a handful each of rosemary and peppermint.

Flue symptoms usually subside as rapidly as they come one, often within three days of their appearance. Influenza can, hoewever, become complicated by pneumonia or ear infection. If your child worsens or fails to recover within three to five days of the onset of flu, call your doctor.

Sore Throat

Ninety percent of all infectious sore throats are caused by viruses. The remaining 10 percent are caused by bacteria, chiefly streptococcus.(17) Telltale signs of strep include recent exposure to the bacteria, sore throat accompanied by headache and stomachache, and a yellowish-green nasal discharge. Typically, the throat and tonsils are very red and flecked with patches of white. The only sure way of differentiate a viral from a strep infection, however, is to take your child for a throat culture.

Strep throat is conventionally treated with antibiotics to limit contagion and help prevent rheumatic fever--an uncommon yet serious illness characterized by fever, arthritis, and inflammation of the heart. Antibiotic therapy, which is not without side effects, does not decrease the risk of poststreptoccal glomerulonephritis (a kidney disease).(18)

Colorado pediatrician Jerry Rubin, MD, prescribes a 10-day course of antibiotics along with vitamin fortification, followed by a two- to four-weeks course of bifidus bacteria (for ages one to five) or acidophilus bacteria (for ages six and up) to replace "friendly" bowel bacterial killed by the antibiotic. For children with recurrent strep throat, Rubin uses a "holistic preventive maintenance program" encompassing nutritional supplements and lifestyle modifications.(19)

Home remedies. The following herbs have traditionally been used to treat sore throats:

* Slippery elm bark, a demulcent given as a tea or in lozenges.

* Licorice root, a demulcent given alone or as a tea. To make licorice root tea, pour 1 cup of water into a pot, add a 5-inch-long piece of licorice root and 2 tablespoons of honey (strictly for children over one year of age), boil 5 minutes, and strain. Severe the brew as tea, and let your child such on the root.

* Rose hips, a good source of vitamin C, can be given as a tea or a marmalade. To make rose-hip marmalade, boil 1 cup of rose hips in 1/2 cup of water until tender, pass the pulp through a sieve to keep back the seeds, boil again with sugar until the mixture gels (or omit this step and sweeten to taste later with honey or applesauce), cool, and store in a jar in the refrigerator. Delicious by the spoonful or as a spread.

* Echinacea, antiviral and immune boosting, given in freeze-dried or extract form.

* Usnea, an antibacterial extract that can be diluted in water and given as a drink three or four times a day, or as a gargle every two to three hours. Laboratory tests have proven this lichen effective against streptococci and staphylococci.(20)

* Goldenseal, given internally two or three times a day, or as a gargle every two hours for no more than three to five days. This herb has antibiotic properties effective against streptococci, although it tastes so bitter that you may have a hard time convincing your child to stick with it.

* Ceanothus (Red root), a successful remedy for acute tonsillitis and pharyngitis involving enlarged lymph nodes.(21) Dentali recommends diluting 4 or 5 drops of extract in water or tea, and giving it to your child every two hours. Gargling with this solution will also help, if your child can withstand the intense taste. Because ceanothus is a strong herb, avoid giving it to your child for more than three days.

Other helpful herbs include wild cherry bark, fennel seed, marshmallow root, yerba mansa, and yerba santa.

Call your doctor if your child's sore throat has not improved within three days of onset, or if your child runs a high fever, complains of severe throat pain, develops a rash, has trouble breathing, begins drooling (a sign of epiglottitis, a life-threatening infection of the tissue flap covering the trachea), develops a croupy cough, or otherwise begins acting very sick.(22)

Cough

Coughs are usually caused by viral inflammation of the trachea and bronchi, typically following a cold or as part of a flue syndrome. If your child's cough is nonproductive (does not bring up phlegm), a cough suppressant can be helpful, particularly if the cough interferes with sleep. Productive coughs, on the other hand, should not be suppressed and are best aided by expectorants--medicines that thin the airway mucus and promote its expulsion. Most often, a cough will start out dry and hacking, and become loose and productive as the illness draws to its natural end.

Home treatment. The more fluids your child takes in, the looser the respiratory tract mucus will be. Warm liquids, in particular, help relax the airways, so give your child warm apple cider (spiced with cinnamon sticks, ginger, and cloves), lemonade, or tea. Also humidify your child's room, or use steam inhalation.

A good herb of choice is osha, which is antiviral, immune stimulating, and known to soothe both dry and congested coughs. Herbal expectorants include licorice, wild cherry bark, horehound, and coltsfoot. Herbal demulcents, which soothe inflamed mucous membranes and are particularly beneficial for dry coughs, include licorice, coltsfoot, and mullein. Marshmallow root is both demulcent and immune stimulating.

Call your doctor immediately if your coughing child is under two months old, or develops high fever, chills, rapid and shallow breathing, and chest pain (sings of pneumonia); has difficulty breathing; has blue-tinged lips while coughing; passes out during coughing fits; or has possibly aspirated a foreign body. Call during office hours if your child's cough has not cleared within three weeks of onset (within three days of onset for infants under three months old), of if coughing markedly interferes with sleep or causes bad chest pains. Also call during office hours if your child develops fever, chills, and a cough productive of yellowish-green or brown phlegm (signs of bacterial bronchitis), or if your child develops hoarseness, a seal-like barking cough, and wheezing on inspiration (signs of croup).(23)

Conjunctivitis

Infectious conjunctivitis, or pink-eye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva--the clear membrane covering the eye and inner surface of the eyelid. The affected eye becomes watery and may burn, and the white part of the eye appears pink. This condition is usually caused by a virus. Should a bacterial infection set in, the discharge will turn yellow and your child's eyelashes will probably he matted together after sleep.

Conjunctivitis is highly contagious. So be sure that your child does not share washcloths or towels, and encourage all family members to maintain good hand-washing hygiene. For bacterial conjunctivitis, keep your child home until the completion of one full day of antibacterial treatment or, ideally, until the yellow discharge has stopped.

Home treatment. Drs. Agatha and Calvin Thrash, in their book Home Remedies, recommend either ice-cold compresses to the eyes (changed every 2 to 3 minutes for half an hour) or hot compresses (applied for 3 minutes) alternated with cold compresses (applied for 30 seconds) a total of four times.(24) Repeat the procedure three or four times a day until the eye has cleared.

Oral doses of echinacea and goldenseal can help combat the infection. Eyebright tea may be given as well.

Eyewashes can also help clear the infection. Use only sterile water, or water that has been boiled and cooled. If you make a solution from an herbal liquid extract, be sure the extract is a water-glycerin base free of alcohol. When using fresh herbs, strain the infusion through a paper coffee filter to remove any plant particles. In either case, pour the solution into an eyecup or a clean bowl large enough for your child to dip his face into. Strive for a 30-second wash on each eye (even if only one appears reddened), then cleanse the out eyes with a cotton ball soaked in the same solution. To be maximally effective, eyewashes should be given every one to two hours, using a fresh wash each time.

For mild conjunctivitis, you can pour tepid eyebright tea into an eyecup for soaking. Follow up by applying the warm tea bags or a poultice of the leaves to your child's eyes. This tea bag-poultice remedy works well with chamomile flowers too.

A goldenseal eyewash is particularly helpful for discharges that have turned yellow. Dr. Amy Rothenberg, an Enfield, Connecticut, naturopath and teacher at the New England School of Homeopathy, recommends a dilute solution of sterile water mixed in an eyecup with 5 to 7 drops of goldenseal liquid extract. If the solution burns, dilute it further.(25) Dentali and Morgan both report a good track record for dilute solutions of rose extract (leaf and petal).

Call your doctor immediately if your child begins acting very sick, his eyelids are red or swollen, his eyes are constantly blinking or tearing, or he complains of eye pain or blurred vision. Call during the office hours if your child is less than a month old, or has symptoms of middle ear infection, has had pink eyes for more than a week, or has a yellow discharge that has not responded to 24 hours of home treatment--in which case, your doctor may want to prescribe antibiotic eyedrops or ointment.(26)

It is time for topical antibiotics, according to Wheat Ridge, Colorado, ophthalmologist Larry Underwood, MD, "when there is copious, rapidly accumulating yellow-green discharge."(27) Rubin reassures parents that topical antibiotics are very effective against bacterial conjunctivitis and, because "they don't affect the inner body," are without adverse consequences.

Earache

Most childhood earaches are due to middle ear infections, many of which complicate a cold. Symptoms in babies are vague--runny nose, irritability, poor appetite (refusal to nurse), and fever. An older child may tell you his ear hurts, when in fact the pain may be referred from an enlarged lymph node in the throat. Only a peek into the ear with an otoscope can confirm the diagnosis.

If the eardrum looks red and bulging, most pediatricians will prescribe a 10-day course of antibiotics. Interestingly, Rosie Hague, MD, an infectious disease fellow at the Denver Children's Hospital, notes that "the vast majority of acute otitis media [middle ear infections] are viral in origin." Why, then, the routine use of antibiotics? To treat a bacterial infection if there is one, to help prevent complications such as mastoiditis (infection of the bone behind the ear), and to try to safeguard against chronic middle ear infections, which can impair hearing and thereby impede language acquisition.(28)

Critics point out that antibiotic therapy does have side effects, does not shorten the course of disease, and may actually increase the chances of recurrence. Yet, even critics admit there is a place for antibiotics.

Ear infections can be serious. If your child has ear pain and you suspect either infection or trauma (including the insertion of foreign objects into the ear canal), take her to the doctor. If your doctor decides that your child needs antibiotics to help combat an infection, do not feel discouraged.

Home treatment. The following complementary therapies work best when begun early. Give your child garlic and vitamins as described under General Measures. In addition, Rothenberg recommends hot footbaths and, using wet washcloths, 3 minutes of hot alternated with 30 seconds of cold applications to both ears. Herbal remedies include oral doses of echinacea, goldenseal, or licorice root.

Eardrops may be made with a blend of garlic oil and mullein oil, which has pain-relieving as well as some antiviral and antibacterial properties. Jones adds Saint-John's-wort for its pain-reducing, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Because of the potential for garlic to irritate the ear canal, she recommends that only one-fourth of the mixture be composed of garlic oil. Two notes of caution: do not use eardrops if your child has ear tubes, and do not instill eardrops before visiting the doctor, because the oil will obstruct the doctor's view of the eardrum.

To make garlic oil: add 4 crushed cloves of garlic to a jar with 1/4 cup of olive oil, let stand one to three days at room temperature, strain, and store in the refrigerator for a maximum of six months. Mullein oil is available through natural food stores. To use the oils, draw them into an eyedropper and hold under hot running water until comfortable to the inside of your wrist. Have your child lie down, put 2 or 3 drops into the affected ear (both if you are uncertain which ear hurts), then plug loosely with a clean cotton ball. Repeat two or three times a day for no more than four days.

Andrew Weil, MD, states that "Sometimes this treatment [eardrops made of garlic oil with or without mullein oil], combined with oral doses of echinacea, will end a middle-ear infection, if you get on it at the very start."(29)

When a winter illness strikes, do not attempt to employ every method listed as a home treatment. Instead, pick and choose from the information provided. Experiment until you find the remedies that best promote self-healing. Simplify, streamline, and tailor the treatments to you and your child.

One last reminder: caring for your fretful bundle of love may expose you to infection and cost you precious sleep. So make sure you, too, are getting a good supply of immune boosters. If you tend to be susceptible to "whatever goes around," add echinacea, garlic, and cayenne. Rest when your child naps. Treat yourself to a warm bath. In short, take care of yourself, too.

Notes

(1.) Lendon Smith, MD, Feed Your Kids Right, 2nd ed. (New York: Dell, 1984), pp. 43-44.

(2.) Michael Murray, ND, and Joseph Pizzorno, ND, Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (Rocklin, CA: Prima, 1991), p. 63.

(3.) Michael A. Schmidt, Childhood Ear Infections (Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1990), pp. 61-62.

(4.) Richard Sagall, MD, "Your Smoke--Their Health," Pediatrics for Parents (Jan 1988): 3; abstracted from The Journal of Respiratory Diseases (July 1987): 31-36.

(5.) Jacques Myers, CMT, in a telephone interview (19 May 1993).

(6.) See Note 2, p. 64.

(7.) James F. Balch, MD, and Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing (Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1990), p. 5.

(8.) See Note 3, p. 156.

(9.) See Note 1, p. 55.

(10.) See Note 3, p. 156.

(11.) Tammi Morgan, CH, in a telephone interview (28 Oct 1992). All subsequent citations refer to this interview.

(12.) Feather Jones, in a telephone interview (29 Oct 1992). All subsequent citations refer to this interview.

(13.) Steven Dentali, PhD, in a telephone interview (27 Oct 1992). All subsequent citations refer to this interview.

(14.) Catherine Hunziker, in a telephone interview (28 Oct 1992).

(15.) Robert S. Mendelsohn, MD, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor (New York: Ballantine, 1984), p. 81.

(16.) Barton D. Schmitt, MD, Your Child's Health (New York: Bantam, 1987), p. 307-308.

(17.) Ibid., p. 457.

(18.) See Note 2, pp. 510-511.

(19.) Jerry Rubin, MD, in a telephone interview (28 Oct 1992). All subsequent citations refer to this interview.

(20.) See Note 11.

(21.) Michael Moore, Herbal Tinctures in Clinical Practice (Albuquerque, NM: The South-west School of Botanical Medicine, 1989).

(22.) See Note 16, p. 459.

(23.) See Note 16, p. 471.

(24.) Agatha Thrash, MD, and Calvin Thrash, MD, Home Remedies (Seale, AL: Thrash Publications, 1981), p. 108.

(25.) Amy Rothenberg, ND, in a telephone interview (28 Oct 1992). All subsequent citations refer to this interview.

(26.) See Note 16, pp. 412-413.

(27.) Larry Underwood, MD, in a telephone interview (19 May 1993).

(28.) Rosie Hague, in a telephone interview (1 June 1993).

(29.) Andrew Weil, MD, Natural Health, Natural Medicine (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990), p. 282.

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