How Our Family Battles Germs Without Medicine

Each year our family gets hit with multiple illnesses. It is usually cold or strep throat, but every time it involves congestion, sore throat, body aches, and headache with an occasional upset tummy. And each time (for the most part) I’m able to get the kiddos and myself feeling better again without medications. Here’s how our family battles germs without medicine.

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What’s my deal with medicine?

Medications are a necessary evil, in my opinion. I don’t necessarily like to use them, but in many cases, they are absolutely necessary. However, my body – as are many other bodies out there – are extremely sensitive to prescription and over-the-counter medications. And by sensitive I mean if there’s an adverse reaction or side effect, I will most likely experience it.

Since my first surgery in high school (appendectomy) in the 1990s to the present, I’ve discovered allergies to penicillin, Zithromax, and doxycycline. The penicillin allergy results in anaphylaxis, Zithromax causes tongue swelling and an itchy throat, and doxycycline causes esophagus irritation. I’m also sensitive to a few antidepressants and several pain medications. Even Motrin causes an upset stomach! So needless to say, my recovery time from surgery – five total including a hysterectomy for endometriosis – is slow and painful. (By the way, here are some tips I learned to prepare for surgery and for faster healing after surgery.)

So that’s my deal with medications and why I’ve had to seek alternative treatments to managing fibromyalgia symptoms and most illnesses. Honestly, because of my experiences, I’d rather seek something other than medicine first. 

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Are ALL medicines off-limits?

Absolutely not! My preference for healing is to use natural methods first for myself and children (I even did a parasite cleanse without medicine); however, I’m not opposed to all medications. My children take seasonal allergies from time to time, I’ve taken antibiotics when natural anti-bacterial remedies fail, and I absolutely give my kids over-the-counter medicine when preferred first options fail to help their pain and discomfort. Without a doubt, I administer prescribed antibiotics when they have an infection such as strep throat. And since antibiotics can destroy the gut, I use probiotics to restore my gut’s healthy bacteria ecosystem.

Everyday Preventative Steps

In addition to my kids attending school, they also attend after school care at their elementary school while I work at a different local elementary after school care. We are exposed to school germs nearly every day, so there are a few ways I keep the germs at bay and our immune systems up.

Note: When using supplements and multivitamins, please use caution.

• Handwashing regularly
• Regular visits to the chiropractor
• MightyVites for kids (these are multivitamins for kids)
• Super B for my oldest daughter and me
• Super C Chewables for me
• Elderberry syrup – 1 tablespoon – during the winter and spring months
• Roll Thieves/fractionated coconut oil blend on feet

For the exception of the elderberry syrup, all of these products can be found here.

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How Our Family Battles Germs Without Medicine

Despite our best efforts, we are not impenetrable to germs. In fact, some germs are good for you, so we welcome those good germs. However, some of those bad germs do make it across our shield of defense, so we have to change tactics a bit. This is how we discovered how our family can battle germs without medicine.

Word of caution: While I do know a slight fever of 100 degrees is an indicator of infection, it doesn’t cause me alarm. The body’s temperature naturally rises when battling an infection even if it’s a slight infection such as a cut or when allergies are irritated. When the fever escalates to 101 degrees or higher, I administer the appropriate amount of Motrin or Tylenol at the correct intervals to bring down the fever and to keep my child comfortable. I also contact their doctor for them to be seen by a medical professional if the fever persists for longer than a day.

Basic Steps 

These are the steps we take in our home when we begin to feel yucky. 

• Raw honey (Do NOT give honey to babies under twelve months of age)
• Elderberry syrup – 1 tablespoon every two hours
• Smoothies (My kids love to drink smoothies when they are not feeling well. It soothes their throats and gives them all the nutritional support they need while tasting delicious.)
• Avoid all added sugars as much as possible (This is NOT easy in our home but we do our best.)
• Echinacea tea with infused honey
• Bone broth (Use caution if you have histamine intolerance.)

These are some other ‘extra’ steps I like to do if I have them on hand. (Find all of theses products here.)

• Ningxia Red (Just two ounces a day can make positive impacts on your body and give it the extra boost it needs to start recovering.)
• Diffusing a respiratory blend (Raven and Frankincense; Peppermint; Thieves)
• Inner Defense (Caution: Do not take Inner Defense within 8 hours of Life 9.)

Like I said earlier, when my kids are running fevers greater than 100 degrees, they see our pediatrician. When antibiotics or other medications are prescribed for infection or other illness, I absolutely administer them as directed. I do not substitute my own remedies in place of medical advice.

And as always, do not use my advice in place of medical advice. I am not a medical professional. These are my own experiences.