This Cosy Life: Lately

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Lately

I've taken exactly two pictures this week. Here they are.. the girls with their heads bent together, pouring over their coloring books. Some days they color all day long. No exaggeration. It' s kick they're on, I suppose.
There's not a whole lot to update you on. I'm off this week. Really can't find my rhythm. I have lots of plans on my mind and I'm kind of absorbed by them. I haven't knit in days (gasp!), just have been thinking lots about where I want to go from here.
I am preparing to make a seed order order. So much fun to sit and dream of a warm spring garden, brimming with greens and herbs! I came upon a few pins yesterday... salves, tinctures, teas, that type of thing and ended up finding a whole bunch and stuck them in my Kitchen Apothecary. I was so inspired by Amanda Soule's apothecary cupboard. I really want to set something like that up. All the little things I need in there to heal and soothe my family. I ordered this book, too.
By the way, Kaiya's doctor wants her on a daily steroid in her nubulizer and an antihistamine daily, for gosh knows who when, for her asthma. I've not been doing it daily. I don't like pumping her little body full of that garbage, it really affects her adversely and I really want to find a more natural way of dealing with it. Please know, I will do what it takes to care for my daughter. I won't sit by and do nothing while she suffers and I do give her what she needs when she needs it. But as far as preventive medicine I just feel there must be a better way. Now, I have found a few things that I would like to start trying but I was hoping that perhaps one of my dear readers would have some advice/experience on treating and preventing asthma naturally. I just so happen to run across the book 'Natural Remedies for Your Child's Asthma' and the Goodwill the other day. I'm hoping it will be chock full of great ideas!

Well, the girls are up. Here's to a new day. Have beautiful one, friends!

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eidolons · 695 weeks ago

It's not a cure-all, but at night we put some eucalyptus oil on a broken piece of terra cotta pot near the fan. The moving air gently spreads the smell and helps ease troubled breathing. Both my oldest son and I have asthma - but not severe asthma. We're particularly bad when it's cold or we've been active. I hope that book has some solutions for you. *hugs*

Oh. And I love Rosemary Gladstar's book. I was given a copy for christmas (as I've been too cheap to go out and buy it, though I've wanted it forever). It is truly a trove of awesomeness (though I wish there were some pet remedies in there).

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Lenka · 695 weeks ago

Pretty pictures. I find for my asthma, I rely on the traditional medicines during times of stress or flare ups- catching a cold, etc. When I'm feeling okay, I help by caring for my space and keeping triggers to a minimum. For me, it's all about balance. So hopefully the medications won't be a forever-solution, just short term. Balance is good. Sending good healthy thoughts!

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meredith · 695 weeks ago

i completely understand wanting to turn to herbs first before traditional medicine. of course, the traditional medicine may end up being necessary, but why not try herbs first to see if they help? i do not have any experience in treating asthma, but i thought that i would share that i really love Aviva Jill Romm's book Naturally Healthy Babies and Children. i just checked and she has a section on asthma in there, with suggestions for herbal syrups and tonics and massage. if you don't have that book already, you might want to check it out. i love it so much--it has such a wealth of good information, and it always makes me feel capable and confident when it comes to taking care of my child's health.

i'm getting ready to place my seed order too. that is one of my favorite parts of winter!

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casey · 694 weeks ago

I second the Aviva Jill Romm book! I too want to stock up on having natural remedies on hand. Last winter I made some great tinctures to boost my family's immunity and they seem to work great as we haven't been sick much at all the last 2 winters. In so many cases nature has just what we need to take care of ourselves! I'm off to check out your apothecary board on pinterest. Thanks for sharing.

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heathertiszai 2p · 694 weeks ago

I would look into potential food allergies. My daughter used to get a bad cough every winter. Last winter, she started getting a little wheezy. I cut out gluten and dairy. When the cough went away, I gave her a bagel and cream cheese that she requested. She broke out in hives. We found out she had multiple food allergies. We cut out the offending foods. It took months for the hives to go away, but they did. When we tried reintroducing some of the foods, the hives would return. She can now eat some of the foods, occasionally. This winter she has been tons healthier. She has only gotten one cold and it only lasted for a couple of days, start to finish. Before I tried food elimination, the doctor was suggesting a steroid nasal spray. I just wanted to make sure we tried all of our options before we started that route. I had also tried several herbal remedies and worked with a homeopath, but it was the food that made it better. Food elimination seems daunting, but it has really worked. A good resource is www.nourishingmeals.com. Good luck with whatever path you choose.

1 reply · active 693 weeks ago

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thiscosylife 81p · 693 weeks ago

Thank you for that link! We found out when she was very young that she is allergic (hives, swelling, rashes) to dairy, nuts, shellfish. She was allergic to eggs but can eat them with no reaction now, soy also. For the first 5 yrs we cut out gluten, too because she also has pretty bad eczema and gluten made it awful. She's eating gluten now because it doesn't seem to bother it at all anymore and she's mostly outgrown the eczema (!). I haven't noticed her asthma getting at all worse (maybe even slightly declined as she's gotten a bit older) since eating gluten and eggs. But I can't help but wonder if there's something we can cut out or add to help. I know meat is inflammatory and I don't eat any. She does eat some when we're away from home. Even without an 'allergy' I know there are just somethings that do some people just no good at all.

Anyway, it's really worth it to keep digging and avoid using the steroids. Thank you for the insight!

XO
Julie

This Cosy Life

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Karen in Pa · 694 weeks ago

In case you haven't already tried these: An air purifier by her bed and in the area where they play. Remove all scented products from your home except those straight from your garden. Of course the mold, mold and bug patrol ..... I swear the stink bugs are causing problems we are not aware of yet.

Back to the scented products. Everything has artificial scent these days, packaging, clothing, coffee, anything from the grocery store besides those we recognize, candles and Tide. I have asthma and they set me off immediately; I am not able to walk down some stores aisles and barely make it through the doors of Joanne's Fabrics!

1 reply · active 693 weeks ago

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thiscosylife 81p · 693 weeks ago

Thank you for the advice, Karen! I hadn't tried the purifier. Will definitely get one. I have no 'problems' with artificial scents myself, but just can't stand them in general, so I think our house is about free of them. I'll sniff over everything, though, just about sure. Some really warm summer days I can smell the fabric softener in my neighbors laundry hanging out. It gives me such a headache!

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