I'm sold!

I have recently been doing a lot of reading on herbal remedies. It just comes naturally after reading Nourishing Traditions and making a conscience decision to try and feed my family with healthy foods staying away from processed foods and chemicals in foods. Lately there has been a lot of negative talk about cough syrups for children. The FDA discourage children under the age of 6 to take it at all now.

I have become friend with a lady I met through Azure Standard co-op and she has been into medicinal herbs for quite awhile and I am learning a lot from her. She introduced me to a couple of books, one which is called “Family Herbal” by Rosemary Gladstar.

Recently the children one after another became sick with the “crud”, coughing head congestion, etc. But...those who started symptoms later had it less because I was able to nip it in the bud...that's my theory anyway. I'm hooked and hope to do a lot more herbal research for my family AND my farm. I already by herbal wormer for the goats and have gotten other herbal remedies for them during pregnancy for the goats so maybe I can make my own.

The boys had the sickness the worst but with diligence we have been able to ward off prescriptions and doctor visits.

I didn't start the herbal cough syrup until after they were coughing for a couple days and so that is why I think it got the best of them. But I did start the cough syrup when I learned about it and also started them on echinacea tincture immediately. As soon as I did start the syrup though the symptoms would be relieved. No nonstop coughing at night or otherwise.

Charissa got it slightly less, mostly just a cough. Started her on the syrup and echinacea.

James and Kelsey both woke with sore throats one day, I pumped them with fresh squeezed lemon and honey and echinacea tincture and it never developed into anything more. They took echinacea for a few days but then were able to stop.

Joseph complained of earache's a few times but each time he did I put a few drops of homemade garlic oil in his ear and that would relieve the pain and nothing more ever came of it.

I'm sold and I will continue to research and read on ways to help my family be healthy. It is very rewarding.

After researching the vitamins in herbs my friend created a mineral tincture out of 3 herbs that she uses in place of store bought vitamins. This tincture (which is very tasty) along with kelp capsules, give you all the minerals and vitamins that your body needs. And it is more natural and more readily absorbed and available to your body. Even Joseph likes it.

I have so much more to learn and I can't wait dig deeper into this new world of tradition medicines we can grow in our own garden. It was and will continue to be very satisfying to help my family like this.