How to Get Your Child Through The Cold-Flu Season Naturally
Source: Happy Healthy Kids
6 Common Sense Measures to Keep Your Child Healthy & Prevent Illness
1) Wash those hands!
A recent study shows that plain water & soap beat alcohol-based hand sanitizers
2) Stay hydrated
Minimum daily amount(ounces) = body weight(pounds) / 2
3) Blow your nose
Use XClear Nasal Spray preventatively. Each night & after every exposure
4) Fresh air & daily exercise
This is for all seasons; recommended 20 minutes per/day
5) Enough sleep
Toddlers 11-14 hours
Preschoolers 10-13 hours
Grade schoolers 9-12 hours
Teenagers 8-10 hours
6) Get zen & minimize stress
Use SOS approach: Slow down, Outside in nature, Sleep
Common Myths When Your Child Has Fever
Fever is not dangerous! Do not give Tylenol too quickly. Fever is the immune system’s natural response. It slows down the bugs and allows us to get over the illness faster.
Fever does not cause brain damage. Brain damage happens if there is a neurological disorder.
A high fever does not indicate how serious the infection is! Observe how the child is acting to find out the stage of infection. If a child is still active and talking like normal, your child is fine. If your child is tired and the immune system is compromised, take your child to the doctor. Use your gut instinct as a parent. Read more on “When you should take your child to the doctor” on the following page.
Problems with Suppressing Fevers
Reducing fever artificially with acetaminophen prolong illness as if can suppress the child’s immune system. A better approach to healing is rest and sleep.
Acetaminophens stresses the liver and reduces the level of glutathione (GSH) which helps to fight infection in the body.
Use Ibuprofen instead if the child is uncomfortable.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” - Benjamin Franklin
Foods for Boosting Your Child’s Immune System
Liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, tuna, spinach, broccoli, butter, eggs, red and yellow peppers, apricots, cantaloupe, mangoes, bell peppers, butternut and other winter squash
Eat a rainbow: Each colour has different phytonutrients and different antioxidants that our immune system can benefit
Top Vitamin C foods: Papaya, citrus fruit, spinach, broccoli, berries, bell peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, pineapples, brussels, cantaloupe
Olive oil, brown rice,nuts/nut butters, trout, avocado, seeds/seed butter, whole grains, oatmeal, soybeans, sweet potatoes, legumes (beans, lentils, split beans), dark leafy green vegetables, butternut squash
Probiotics with a punch, yogurt (dairy/almond, coconut, cashew), kafir (dairy, coconut, water), kombucha, kvass, natto, tempeh, sauerkraut, real pickles/pickled vegetables, raw/unfiltered apple cider, miso, kimchi
Choice of Immune-Boosting Supplements
• Vitamin D3: sunlight, cod liver oil, sardines, salmon, fatty fish, cow’s milk, eggs, caviar, mushrooms
Dosage: Under six months old give 400 IU (or 10 μg); Over six months old use 1000 IU per 25 lbs
• Mega-3 Essential Fatty Acids: Fish oils
Dosage: Cod liver oil ½ tsp per 25 lbs
• Probiotics: See Dr. Elisa Song’s probiotic guide
Dosage: Under 2 years old use infant-specific dosage; Over 2 years old use same dosage as adults
• Ultra Flora brand: to prevent cold and flu-like symptoms. Use during cold/flu months
The Biggest Problem with Sugar
Studies often suggest parents watch children’s sugar consumption. The science behind is to protect the immune system. Sugar can reduce the immune system by 50% in 30 minutes. Thus, trying to keep sugars down is essential.
What Do You Need to Know About Tamiflu?
According to the Cochrane 2014 Review, Tamiflu may help with flu if symptoms were under 48 hours. However, Tamiflu does not reduce the number of hospitalizations. Also, Japan has banned Tamiflu for kids under age 17.
The Biggest concerns of using Tamiflu:
• Common side effects of headache, nausea, vomiting
• Risk of anaphylaxis, serious skin conditions, kidney problems and psychiatric events (sudden confusion, delirium, hallucinations, unusual behaviours or self-injury)
When Should You Take Your Child to the Doctor?
The Flu is a viral infection from influenza A and B. Trust your mama and papa ‘gut’ but also be aware of the conditions below:
• Fever in a child under 3 months old
• Fever more than three days long
• Your child’s immune system is compromised
• Seizures
• Signs of difficult breathing, rapid breathing (more than 40 breaths per minute), flaring of nostrils, grunting with exhalation, blue lips, wheezing
• Signs of dehydration (check urine output: no urination in over 6-8 hours)
Signs that Your Child Might Need Antibiotics
• Complications of the flu: ear infections, sinus infections, lung infections, wheezing/breathing difficulties, dehydration
• Bacteria complications ‘Super-infections’ of the flue are treated with antibiotics
• If fever more than 4-5 days; prolonged congestion, runny nose, cough for 2-3 weeks (possible sinusitis or bronchitis/pneumonia)
• Your child gets better but suddenly worsens, or develops a newer or higher fever: possible signs of viral becoming bacteria infections and needing antibiotics
Problems with Antibiotics
Antibiotics do not work against viruses. It kills both good and bad bacteria and can lead to gut dysbiosis. Those can cause increased intestinal permeability, risk of allergies, asthma, attention and behavioural problems, anxiety/depression, and autoimmune illnesses.
Protect Your Child‘s Gut If She Needs Antibiotics
To prevent gut dysbiosis:
• Take a broad-spectrum probiotic
At least 1-2 hours after antibiotics
For at least 1 month after stopping antibiotics
• Wat fermented food
To prevent leaky gut:
• L-glutamine 500-1000 mg daily (can be found in bone broth)
• Zinc 10-30 mg daily
• Take some bone broth
The #1 Homeopathic Medicine for Flu & Use
Oscillococcinum (Best if started at the onset of symptoms)
• 1 dose(=vial) 3 times over a 24-hour period (Same for both children and adults)
• 1 dose, once a week as prevention. It is for respiratory tract infections, not just influenza
An Effective Herbal Medicine for Flu
Dosage: Children take 1-2 tsp, 3-4 times a day; Adults take 1 tablespoon (3 tsp), 3-4 times a day
Windbreaker (TCM remedy) or Herbal prescription from your TCM practitioner (Ask Us!)
Dosage: any of the Gentle Warriors Dosage guideline
• Under one year old: ½ dropperful, 3 times a day
• 1 – 2 years old: 1 dropperful, 3 times a day
• 3 – 6 years old: 2 dropperful, 3 times a day
• Over 7 years old: 3 dropperful, 3 times a day
• Adults: 4 – 6 dropperful, 3 times a day
Choosing your child’s Probiotic: The Strains Matter
Probiotic supplements differ in the variety of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species that are offered. Each strain has a different and unique action on our gut, immune system, brain, metabolism, mood, hormones, and detoxification, to name a few! You want your child to gain maximum benefit from the probiotic they're taking.
Bottom line: Choose a probiotic with as many different strains as possible.
Babies need probiotics too!
Especially babies who were born by cesarean section, are formula-fed or have problems with thrush and reflux. The gut microbiome of infants is predominantly compromised of Bifidobacteria species. After 2 years of age, the gut microbiome looks pretty much the same as an adult and is predominantly Lactobacillus species.
Infants/Kids under 2: Use an infant probiotic
Kids 2 and older: use the same probiotic as an adult
Infants should get 5-10 billion cfu/day; children over 2 years should get 10-25 billion cfu/day or more if they have a chronic health concern.
Infant probiotics:
Klaire Ther-biotic for infants
Jarrow Baby's Jarro-dophilus
Children’s probiotics:
Klaire Ther-biotic Complete and Children’s chewables
Metagenetics Ultra Flora Spectrum capsules
Orthomolecular Orthobiotic
The best way to support your child’s gut is with FOOD!
Feed your child:
Clean, unprocessed, phytonutrient-dense, whole foods
Prebiotics to feed those probiotics (garlic, onions, chicory root, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke, fermentable fibre, resistant starch)
Fermented foods (Yogurt, kefir, kombucha, miso, sauerkraut "real" pickles, kimchi, natto, tempeh, and more!