I've noticed on this sight that many of you all do not like conventional medicine and avoid medicating when possible. I am just wondering your reasons.

I would never take anything unecessarily, but I do keep our med cabinet well stocked.

Yesterday I had an awful sinus headache, I could hardly function, I took two Advil and felt 100% better.
My daughter was up with a rough caugh a couple nights ago, I gave her some Tylenol "Simply Cough" and she went right back to sleep.

I just think that God has given wisdom to researchers, chemists, pharmacists, etc. to invent them to heal.

I have looked into alternative stuff and just don't feel comfortable. It sounds good, but there is absolutely no guidelines from the FDA to the people who produce these products.

I know of one family whose child had a prolonged ear infection. They were trying to treat it "naturally" and it went into mennigitis. I have also heard of strep going untreated and turning into rashes and scarlet fever.

I'm not downing alternative treatments, I'm just anxious to hear from you all if they are truly successful and what guidelines to you use for brandnames, amounts, frequency, etc.
[whatconfused]

I feel much the same way that you do.

I won't take anything (or give my daughter anything) unless it's completely necessary....it makes me sad when people over medicate their kids...it's not called for....and I believe that it can be harmful...

Some people that I used to babysit for would give their kids (without being sick or anything) tylonal (not childrens either) to put them to sleep at night...granted, it's probably a little bit better than the "olden" day wiskey...but still...it's not necessary!

I'm all about seeing if things can clear up on it's own...(being sick, being in pain....things like that)...but I'm also all about using medication when it's absolutely needed....

I also hold the belief that God gave us advancements as blessings and that we should embrace his gifts to us when needed...he works through everyone and in many ways...even children's cough syrup! LOL
I hold off and try a few days of vaporizors, vicks, warm drinks, higher Vit. C foods, and Tylenol or Tylenol cold and will try to clear up any colds/flu/etc this way first...if no help for a week or getting a lot worse, then we hit the docs and if needed take an antibiotic...but we've only needed an antibiotic once for a major sinus infection for the little guy!
I avoid as much as possible, but am very happy to use the medicines I have available to aleve my little ones symptoms if necesary!

I avoid it all unless my day/sleep/work is being interfered with. I assume I'll treat similar symptoms for the kiddos, with whatever their doctor recommends.

we don't use meds here, opting for natural remedies to help the body heal itself
meds generally cause a rebound effect
coughing is a good thing..a normal ole cough..it's ridding the body of junk It's best not to suppress that with cough syrup
sinus meds can be over drying while in use, then once it wears off, causes the rebound effect in which you end up worse off than before you started
fevers are a good thing, it's your body's natural way of defending itself from an infection..a fever means your body is doing it's job..let the fever run it's course Don't suppress it with Advil and the like

I basically believe our bodies can handle little colds/infections/what not. If my child appears lethargic, I will intervene by adminstering meds or more likely if it's *that* bad, we'll go see a dr then. Otherwise, it's just chill at home, keep downing fluids, drink some herbal teas, up the Vitamin C and rest.

This goes for strep throat and ear aches too. Repeated treatment of ear aches actually worsens things. Your body grows immune to the antibiotics, so they no longer do the job they are supposed to do. Your body does not develop it's own natural immunity to such things, thereby allowing repeat infections. We just let it run it's course, doing what we can to make the ill one comfortable without meds. But ya know, I've only had one child ever have an ear ache. It instead, was me, who had the repeat infections. After the 3rd or 4th one, I had had enough...I realized I couldn't keep getting meds for it..heck yeah it hurt, that's why I went in in the first place. I don't generally go to a dr! But, like I said, enough was enough and I looked into my research again and knew it was the wrong thing to do. So I let that one run it's course and that was it. I haven't had one since and that was 5 years ago.
At least 2 of the kids have had strep throat as well...only once, it ran it's course and that was that.
Pink eye as well. Treated homeopathically and that was it. No repeat occurrences. We had one year where 2 or 3 kids had it a couple of times. And that was it. Not had it since.

I believe the body can fight quite a bit on it's own and medicines only impede that natural process. Through little colds and infections the body builds up immunity and can fight off more things in the future. But it can't build up that immunity if you are constantly suppressing things with medication.

And I just hate penecillin/amoxicillin! But I'll stop now ;)

Balance is the key. Good health habits and proper nutrition. I try to avoid illness with proper diet and natural supplements, but don't hesitate to use modern medicine when necessary. Balance. Not too much of one to the exclusion of the other, and all directed of the Lord through prayerful consideration. :D

We tend toward natural/alternative approach to most things. I believe God has given man the wisdom to know how to treat many medical issues, but I also believe that He gave us the earth in all its bounty which is good for both preventing and treating many medical issues. We use pharmaceuticals for a few things but generally avoid them.

I do wish there was more research on the effectiveness of various natural remedies! Unfortunately it takes a lot of money to do the type of testing the FDA requires which generally need tens of thousands of participants and whole staffs of people to manage the research. Since a natural substance cannot be patented (in the US), it isn't worth it for a medical company to take on the enormous expense of research only to have a competitor sell the same product. In recent yrs, there seems to be some interest among government and educational institutions to focus part of their research budget on herbs and other natural remedies. Hopefully that trend will continue. I believe there are many effective remedies out there that have only been researched minimally, if at all.

With our ds we are a little more aggessive with trying to get colds, sinus infections, etc. cleared up because he has asthyma and it is very scary when his breathing capacity gets low and it is very dangerous too. A cold or sinus infection can make his breathing capacity be reduced rather quickly so I watch him very closely. With dd I let things go a little longer unless there is a fever involved, now a low grade fever for a couple of days is okay but of course not a high grade fever and I jump right on that. During the day I rarely give her anything for coughing but if it is keeping her and the rest of the family up at night, then I give her nighttime cough medicine.

Stephanie :D

mostly we try to give our bodies a chance to take care of things on its own, then we'll go to the drugstore or dr if things get worse or there are dangerous symptoms.

I agree with Tara. I believe that God had given us scientists and wonderful knowledge, and sometimes medical intervention is necessary, but, I also believe that he created within our bodies the ability to heal itsself, if given the chance.

Just alittle research will tell you what these medications can do to the body...Tylolnol for instance is horrible on the stomach and the liver for one. Infact, all the medications you put in the body have to go through the liver, and they all leave behind traces that they have been there. Just look at the possible side effects and think about it, the same things happen to everyone, just more severe in some than in others.

I have 2 BIL who died from taking too much medication. All prescription, prescribed to them. The most amazing thing is that they did not die while they were taking the meds, but after not taking any for a period of time, eventually their liver and other internal organ had been damaged too much and couldn't go on anymore. One was 38 and the other was 29. (granted, they took ALOT of meds)

Recently, it was big news that peditricians have discovered that giving antibiotics helped ear infections to heal a whopping 2-3 hours faster than without. Think about what happens to your children when you give antibiotics...they get the "poopies" and rashes, not to mention the fact that antiobiotics kill all the bacteria, not just the bad but the good too. (which is why so many women get a yeast infection when they are taking antibiotics)

I have a trusted supplier of colloidal silver, (natural antibiotic) works for my family. We are rarely sick and when we are, it doesn't last long. Home, Rest, and Liquids.

Ditto Tara and tobikay.

I once heard a natural-health-minded doctor say on the radio, "If you have a headache, it's not due to a lack of Tylenol in your body." Yes, sometimes medical intervention is necessary in emergencies, but generally medical technology has spoiled Westerners, causing us to believe bodily discomfort is a bad thing that must be stopped ASAP. Therefore people don't bother trying to uncover the root of the aches, pains, etc. Stress? Vitamin/mineral deficiency? Dehydration? Eating wrong foods? Exposure to chemicals? So people go on fighting the same symptoms b/c medications typically just cover them up.

yup - I agree with the nature girly's and also med girly's and have learned a few things reading this thread- Tara's post was helpful. I think God does bless us with research for med.s but I think they are to be used as an absolute last result. you asked for things and brands I use:

First- I'm am pretty new to this so, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!!! But, my mind set came from my mom who was pretty intent on being more natural with us and I second the healthy eating and suppliments as preventative measures though I personally am not good at it.

For cold symptoms- we use echinacea- tea, pills for us and liquid form for Em. It helps boost your emmune system tramendasly!! We sware by it and always have it stocked. It just helps your body do what it is ment to do anyway. Disclaimer- it is not for dailey suppilmentation- it is only for a short time during your illness and is actually Amazing if you can catch your illness at the very beginning. Along those lines are the product "Air Borne" I'm sure alot of you have heard of it. It's effervesant tablets of immune boosting herbs (I believe Ech. is included in the list) stock up on it if you are going to be or have been in a germy place.

Allergys- just heard about this (well, reminded as I'd heard it before)- Find LOCALLY made BEES honey and take that when seasonal allergys rear their nasty little heads.

Homeopathic medicines by Boiron- OH, MY WORD- can.not say enough about these. Homeopathic med. (as I understand it - remember I'm new to this) is the herbs and such that help your body do what it does. Had a nasty cold and went to try a few of these things. Cleared me up in MINUTES and helped me heal right up. Ex. I was enduring a soar thought that I was barely able to swallow with for a couple of day taking Ib profin and not doing well, finally broke down and went to the health food store and got one box of soar throat stuff and one capsule of nasal drip stuff (you can mix and match because there are no drug interactions- though here again if you have any questions talk to doc or nutriconist) and was cleaed up and back to new by the next night. I also will say the other benefit to this is that you don't get that mediciney feeling that you get from cold med.s. I HIGHLY RECOMEND looking into this brand though it is expensive.

I also stock up on IB profin as I like that it's a pain releaver that also is an anti inflamitory. My monkey girl has a weird temdancy to bop her face into things and get fat lips so, while I like natural stuff for sickness I like her pain from injuries to be immediately alievated.

well, that's where I fall- med.s have there place for sure but if I can I want to try to be natural where I can be. -ren

Ditto Tara and tobikay.

I once heard a natural-health-minded doctor say on the radio, "If you have a headache, it's not due to a lack of Tylenol in your body." Yes, sometimes medical intervention is necessary in emergencies, but generally medical technology has spoiled Westerners, causing us to believe bodily discomfort is a bad thing that must be stopped ASAP. Therefore people don't bother trying to uncover the root of the aches, pains, etc. Stress? Vitamin/mineral deficiency? Dehydration? Eating wrong foods? Exposure to chemicals? So people go on fighting the same symptoms b/c medications typically just cover them up.

YUP.
read this after I posted- the other homeopathic thing is that it targets what's wrong to support it's healing.

aah yeah, we've used the Boiron brand stuff a time or two as well. For those times when whatever it was hit like a brick

and what's the name of those kids tinctures?? Healthy Kids? They have stuff like "Temp Assure" though I've never used that one. As well as an Echinacea blend, another for Colic and calming, indigestion, teething ?? Just about anything you can think of...herbal 'concoctions' without the alcohol base of the regular tinctures.

not to mention the fact that antiobiotics kill all the bacteria, not just the bad but the good too. (which is why so many women get a yeast infection when they are taking antibiotics)
Aah, thanks, that's what I was trying to 'spit out' previously LOL

Oh and on the echinacea ... as mentioned ... not to be taken as a daily supplement. It actually works *best* when taken at the onset of a cold. That's when it does it's bestestest work hehe Otherwise, a 6 week on, 1 week off cycle is recommended (I think that's right..no more than 6 weeks on I remember, just can't recall for sure if it's only 1 week off, or if it should be more...research for yourself ;) ).

That stuff is so pricey though, and I have a crew here. So, I opt for teas. I like to keep Eyebright tea and Gypsy Cold Care tea on hand. They're delish!! And very helpful when ya feel some yucky coming on. Cheap too ;)

We keep it natural too! We're generally healthy people, but it took several years for me to break dh of his "run for the antibiotics and Excedrin" ways :lol: . We use rememdies right from the kitchen cabinet, as well as different vitamins, herbs and essential oils. Off the top of my head:

-eat an orange if you are nauseaous or queasy
-drink peppermint leaf tea for indigestion
-viral infections (colds, flu) take vitamin C supplements
-stronger infections (bronchitis, measles, chicken pox) take vitamin C and A supplements
-for a headache, rub a slice of lime on your forehead
-for toothaches/teething, rub essential clove oil on the spot
-for congestion add some eucalyptus to hot bath water or sniff horseradish

The "Airborne" stuff didn't work for me. I've been drinking it faithfully since cold weather set in, and as I sit here I have a nasty cold and feel terrible. I took it when the cold symptoms started and they didn't seem to help. Oh well, it's just a cold. I think the Airborne failure is what inspired me to start this thread. I would like to try more natural remedies, but just can't seem to trust that they will work, and I don't want to waste $. We do tend to be sick a lot. I blame the kids being at school. I think schools try to be clean, but classrooms are pretty much germfests.
I went to a Thanksgiving dinner at my daughter's school. It was so nice and all the teachers and students did a lot of work, but the things I saw made it difficult to eat.
For example: 1. there was a plate of jello jigglers that every child in line touched and played with.
2. I was a child dig in his nose, grab a roll and put on his mommy's plate
3. I saw a child handle 3 or 4 rolls before choosing one.
4. There were too many sneezes and coughs over the food to count!
It probably would have made a funny video!
UGH! No wonder I have a cold. Oh well, The dinner with my daughter was worth a sore throat and stopped up nose.

We try to use preventative measures first : wash hands, keep clean, food safety, eat a healthy diet etc

Secondly prayer: Just a few weeks ago, DH had been peeing MASSIVE amounts of blood (like over 50% of his urine was blood) for over two weeks... he finally went into the prayer closet before he went to bed and gave it up to God, and the next morning it was GONE!! [dance] Jesus is the healer in this house! [jesuschristsign]

He is still getting an ultrasound to be certain everything is OK, but are positive God healed him, he's had no pain or blood or any problems since. I asked him why he didn't go and pray about it before 2 weeks and he said "because I'm stupid and of little faith" LOL Anyway PTL we are sooooo glad God took care of that problem! God is so good to us. The doctors had not a clue what was wrong, as usual :roll:

We do take medicines if things get bad... we are not against going to the doctor etc... I try to avoid antibiotics if I can because it always gives me a yucky yeast infection (TMI I know)

Right now I avoid medications because I am breastfeeding... it was annoying because recently DH and I both had some kind of flu-like bug...[fever] he could take nyquil and I couldn't... i was annoyed... he got to feel better and I didn't until we were better... :?


Anyway that's how we operate. We avoid medications for as long as possible but sometimes they are necessary, and that is OK too. The important thing is that your family is healthy and taken care of.

I'll make just one more point if you don't mind...

The purpose of all this scientifically developed medicine is to make something better, to fix the problem if you will. Therefore, a person takes high blood pressure meds, their blood pressure goes down. At this point, you are supposed to be working on whatever is causing the high blood pressure if you can, ie. loose weight, stop smoking, better diet, etc. Diabetic takes med to control blood sugar while doing what they can to control it with diet and such.
Advil and tylolnol and such don't "fix" any problems, they just make it so that you don't notice the problem. So, for the most part, if a medication is not going to fix my problem, I will typically look elsewhere for a solution. I do understand that sometimes you just gotta stop the pain, or stop the cough or whatever, and that is fine, just so long as you allow your body to work as God intended, although with a bit of intervention.

EmJoFunny you should mention that headache comment, back when I was still working (all of last week in fact) for the chiropractor, I developed a whole line of posters with saying such as "Ear infections are not the result of a lack of antibiotics" and that headache one you mentioned, and "stress is not the result of a muscle relaxant shortage".

I just think that God has given wisdom to researchers, chemists, pharmacists, etc. to invent them to heal.

DITTO!

My son takes a few different medicines for his asthma/allergies. While I am wary of certain medicines...such as an oral steroid... the others I pay heed to.

Right now I avoid medications because I am breastfeeding... it was annoying because recently DH and I both had some kind of flu-like bug...[fever] he could take nyquil and I couldn't... i was annoyed... he got to feel better and I didn't until we were better... :?

Been there, done that. :wink:

Right now I avoid medications because I am breastfeeding... it was annoying because recently DH and I both had some kind of flu-like bug...[fever] he could take nyquil and I couldn't... i was annoyed... he got to feel better and I didn't until we were better... :?

Been there, done that. :wink:


haven't we all. :D

kymommy wrote:
I just think that God has given wisdom to researchers, chemists, pharmacists, etc. to invent them to heal.


We use medicine if we have to. I have tried homeopath & naturopath at different times as well. For our daughter, I am very thankful for modern-day medicine. She had leukemia when she was 31/2 yrs. She is done all her treatments and is healthy. Praise the Lord! We had many people praying as well! I have depression and am thankful for my med.'s too!
I know God will heal me in his time. :P

I am torn on this one. There have been times that I have refused to use certain medications, like albuterol sulfate (especially inhaled with a nebulizer machine) for my son, choosing instead to use herbal supplements. I am convinced if I had followed doctor's orders, my son WOULD have developed the asthma that they diagnosed him with, but here he is in his third year, with no chronic breathing problems. Sometimes, I question the moral side of the medication issue... Lots of people that want to and do administer drugs to their children, crediting God with the scientific minds that created the drugs, also adamantly oppose to other types of medical research. It bothers me a little bit too, that the greek word for withcraft literally means "the use of or administering of drugs." Then again, I smoke cigarettes and consume caffeine, so even without Tylenol or Robitussin, i am a hypocrit on that one, kwim? If natural remedies were more affordable I would probably replace the few times that I use/administer drugs with homeopathic alternatives, but often, my budget prohibits the purchase of such items. Herbs for Kids is a great company for buying liquid herbal supplements; they are pretty affordable and ship quickly.

I think there's a balance to the issue. In our culture we are so quick to reach for a "cure" for every discomfort, many of which just mask our symptoms without actually healing us. But that's definitely not on the same level as folks with chronic conditions, who have very little choice but to rely on medications. Yes, doctors have been elevated to a god-like status by many, but we need to trust the Great Physician and His healing powers...especially since He is the one who gives doctor's their abilities. Like I mentioned before, we are a healthy family so I don't know what it is like to need regular medication. If ever faced with that I personally would seek out a holistic remedy first, but if none is available then I would seek out mainstream medicine as a last resort; I have so little trust in modern medicine.

For those of you who use natural remedies, is there a book that you would recommend for a newbie? (Maybe one with a biblical perspective.) Thank you in advance. I'm new here and don't get to post often, but I want you ladies to know I appreciate all of your advice and encouragement, even when you don't know you're giving it :D

Our family is generally healthy, but we are also thankful for the dr.s and perscriptions that are available. I try not to go to the Dr. often but when I do, I am glad they are available. I've recently been really tired and dizzy and just generally not feeling well. I assumed that it is because I am nursing and have a baby who is up at night and all of the things that go with that.

I went to the Dr after a couple of weeks, and found out that I have hypothyroidism. I am lacking a chemical that the body NEEDS, and I never would have known it if I had not had blood work done to test. I feel better now than I have in years, and am so thankful that they were able to find it.

I understand trying to treat naturally and letting the body run it's course, but definately think that God has blessed Drs with knowledge and I feel that I am lucky enough to gain from their knowledge.