• Sleep Aid and Muscle Relaxer: most people are familiar in chamomile teas benefits as a sleep aid because of it’s relaxing and soothing properties. I find the pure chamomile flower is best for relaxation. It can help you sleep and help with cramps and muscle aches.
• Stomach Soother: Camomile tea was always prescribed in my household as a child. I think it came down from my great grandmother who practically raised all her children, grand children, and even a few great grand children. When I have an upset stomach, I like to combine the chamomile with mint for a wonderful anti-nausea tea.
• Digestion and Detoxification: Chamomile not only soothes an upset stomach, but helps with digestion in general. It can calm irritable or irregular bowls; has been shown to help regulate blood glucose levels; and can help detox the liver. After a heavy or large meal, I like to add a little crystillized ginger as a sweetener to my chamomile tea. Ginger is also known for it’s digestive and detox benefits. Or if you are feeling like you need to detox, adding a slice of lemon (purifier) to your tea always adds benefits to the stomach, kidneys, and liver. Honey can be added to both of these for a little extra digestive boost!
• Allergy, Asthma, and Congestion: I would guess that chamomiles anti-inflamatory properties help in soothing allergies, asthma, and congestion. Again, the combination of chamomile, ginger, and honey are the best tea for these symptoms. Combined they can act as an expectorant to remove congestion and sooth inflamed sinuses and bronchials.

It is very important to know the source of your chamomile, especially if you are going to drink it daily like I do. I highly recommend purchasing organic for anything you are using for tea as any sprays or toxins will concentrate as the herbs seep. I was lucky enough to get mine from a friend, Jardel, who got an extra order from More Than Alive.com. In their own words More Than Alive is the Internet’s trusted resource for comprehensive family health information. It is [their] goal to bring you the information that will keep you abreast of the trends affecting the health industry today. They sell and have a lot of good information on bulk herbs, bulk foods, and essential oils. I recommend that you check out their website.

References and Resources

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I hope to be writing more about our experiences with the naturopath very soon , but for now will share a few helpful and natural ways to fight the flue season:

1. Elderberry Syrup: Many of you know I give my children Elderberry Syrup as a preventative for cold and flu during the fall and winter. I usually make my own (see links below for recipe), but occasionally buy it when I run out. In most places (lower elevations), you have missed elderberry season, but they can still be found is some of the higher elevations. If you are going to purchase it, I recommend Nature’s Way Sambucus Syrup. It tastes the best.
2. Boiron – Oscillococcinum: The naturopath we see recommends taking oscillococcinum preventatively as well as when you have the flu. I only do this preventatively when you know something is going around because it it expensive. She recommends giving the kids a half of a serving (vial) at night to help them fight any viruses.
3. Buffered Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an amazing antioxidant. Vitamin C can help your body fight whatever ails it, but is also great in fighting inflammation due to allergies, asthma, or virus. Our naturopath recommends buffered vitamin C, which is easier on the stomach and gives us 2000-4000 mg a day when fighting something. Now this is a very high dose, and I would not recommend taking over 2000mg/day without first consulting your child’s doctor. But Vitamin C does help get the virus flushed out of the system sooner!
4. Peppermint Essential Oil: peppermint oil helps to open the vascular system, which in English means it helps to keep all the fluids flowing (blood and mucus) as to help prevent infection. We use it on our foreheads and the base of the neck for headaches. For congestion we place it around the ears (outside front and back) and down to the lymph glands in the neck. You do not need a lot of oil for this. Be careful, if you get too much it will burn. If the oil alone is too strong, Badger Organic Headache Soother  is great with peppermint and lavender and easy on skin. We also use peppermint oil as aromatherapy for nausea. I usually place it on a Kleenex or on their PJs. Note: Essential Oils should NOT be used on infants without a consulting a doctor.
5. Lemon Foot Wrap: I have written about this fever reducer before and it is the best I have found. I don’t usually treat a fever until it’s over 102 F, so I haven’t used it often, but it always works when I do. Here are the directions

• Warm 4 tbsp lemon juice with 1/2 cup water.
• Soak a pair of cotton socks in the warm lemon water thoroughly.
• When they are cool enough but still warm,put them on.
• Place a pair of wool socks over them and leave on for 20 minutes.
• It is recommended NOT to use a lemon wrap more than 3 times in a 24 hour period.