It's that time of year again when all the kiddos head back to school, ushering in the unofficial end of summer vacation and the beginning of an exciting new year of learning. It's a busy time and can be stressful for both kids and parents. One of the biggest stressors is the exposure to new flu/cold bugs due to your child being surrounded by so many other kids. It seems one little bug can spread into an epidemic overnight.
The exposure to more bugs or pathogens is actually a very good thing.The more of these pathogens your child's immune system is exposed to, the stronger their immune cells will be over time. It's like learning to read--the more words you get to see and recognize--the stronger and faster your reading skills become.
The problems start when your child actually gets sick. Not only are they miserable, but so is the rest of the family, as they bring these lovely bugs home to share (not to mention the loss of school and work time for everyone). Here are some of my favorite "kids immune support" items and ideas:
Colostrum
One of my favorite immune supporters for so many reasons. For starters, it's FOOD! Colostrum is the first milk that a mother produces after a baby is born. Cow milk is not at all similar to human milk, but cow colostrum (and the colostrum of all mammals) is identical. Colostrum contains the immune cells that do not yet have an identity to them, so when we eat it as food, either as a newborn baby or as an adult, our immune system can absorb and use it right away. And because it's food, you don't have to worry about your kids overdosing. (and the chewable lozenges taste great!) Give your child a couple chewables every day to prevent illness, but if they start to get sick, increase that dose to one chewable every hour until they are better.
Warming sock treatment
An old-time favorite, this therapy strengthens the immune system by increasing the movement of blood. (Everything that heals the body is carried in the bloodstream; make that move more effectively and you instantly facilitate healing.) You will need one pair of wet cotton socks (any type of fabric blend is fine, just wet them then wring them out), and one pair of dry socks (the higher the wool content the better). The therapy is simple: at bedtime, warm up the feet by soaking in hot water for one-two minutes (you can skip this step if the child is already asleep). Place wet cotton socks over feet and then cover with dry wool socks. By morning, the wet socks will be dry and your child will most likely no longer be ill.
Colloidal silver
Silver is one of the strongest anti-microbials we known of; it will kill most any invading pathogen, yet is safe for the human body. It can be taken orally: follow bottle directions and continue for 10 days, even if you think the child is all better. It may also be placed topically on skin, into nostrils for sinus infections and colds, dropped into the ear, gargled--anywhere it is needed for direct contact. This one you can overdose, so stop after 10 days. It's virtually tasteless, so kids don't mind using it.
Sambucus/Elderberry
If you need something that even the pickiest kid will love, reach for Elderberry. It's a strong anti-microbial and it also tastes great! It's also good for immune support, as well as a nice cough syrup.
Avoid sugar
I have probably beaten this recommendation to death, but that's because it's so important. Sugar is a drug, pure and simple, and pathogens feed on it! That's why they fill petri dishes with it--it grows bad organisms that cause illness. Keep it away from your kids, and they will be healthier.
Regulate body temperature
Remember your mother telling you to bundle up when you go out in the cold? (Along with telling you to drink plenty of water, gets lots of sleep and tons of other good advice!) She knew what she was talking about. We don't often think about temperature changes as being stressful, but it's one of the biggest stressors our bodies face. Changing temperatures by going in- and outdoors when it's cold or hot takes a lot of energy for the body to stay balanced. Wearing layers of clothing can make a big difference between getting ill or staying healthy.
Avoid stress
One of the most powerful learning tools you can give your children is how to deal with stress. Teaching them about prayer, meditation, breath work, exercise--even hypnosis--can go a long way in supporting their immune and nervous systems, which can help avoid depression and panic attacks later in life. Counseling is one of my favorite tools; it's helpful to have professional support
before you feel stressed, so you have the proper skills to deal with stress when it happens.
These are just a few simple ideas that should help decrease the number of flu/cold-related illnesses your family has to face this year. Remember to start these therapies at the very first sign of a symptom for the best effect. An ounce at the beginning is worth a ton of trying to reverse an illness once it has taken hold of the body. If you don't see symptoms resolve in two-three days, call your favorite physician for proper treatment.
Here's to a healthy and happy school year!
Dr. Susan Godman
