The cold and flu season is here and we are doing all we can to prepare for it. I mentioned last week our family received the H1N1 flu vaccine. We did it based on the recommendations of our family doctor and my father (also a doctor, an ENT). Mr. Ferrero Rocher and Truffle both have asthma which makes any sickness they get a whole lot worse and with little Hershey here now we also worry about her tiny body and immune system. Other preventative measures we are doing include increasing our vitamin C and E intake, stocking up on hand sanitizer, making non-toxic disinfecting spray, and giving lessons on proper hand washing, especially for the littler ones.

No matter how much we try to avoid sickness, it is inevitable that we will catch something. Because we live so far from town and the nearest store I have learned to stock up on medicine so that we are prepared when sickness hits. Who wants to make an emergency trip to the store that takes an hour just for the driving? Not me! Stocking up is a must.

I think I must have inherited my dislike for over the counter medicine from my mother. That’s funny now that I think about it. A doctor’s wife that dislikes medicine? Ha! She avoids taking any and all medicine whenever she can. I’m the same way. I hate the groggy feeling I get from cold and sinus medications. Is that how my children feel when I give them medicine too? I often feel bad about that. When I get sick I like to go the more natural route taking echinacea and goldenseal to fight colds and taking Boiron’s Oscillococcinum when the flu symptoms first start. They really help! My husband, who doesn’t take those, ends up being sick at least three days longer than I am. But what do I give my kids? I don’t know enough about herbs and natural remedies to even know what is safe for them. The poor things end up being drugged up with over the counter stuff and walk around like zombies because of the effects. Many of the ingredients in these medications are even under review by the FDA because the affects of them are still unknown in children. Kind of scary! Earlier this week, thanks to Michelle at Scribbit, I learned that Boiron has released a new line of children’s products. Hurray!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was to hear that news. Wednesday, on our weekly shopping trip, we stocked up on Children’s Oscillococcinum, Coldcalm Pellets, and Children’s Chestal. And I mean STOCKED UP! I do not want to run out of this stuff. (Psst! $1 off coupon on their website!)

I prefer homeopathic remedies to conventional medicine if I know what to use. Just add that to my ‘going natural’ list of “no poo”-ness, homemade laundry soap, and cloth diapering lifestyle. I do appreciate the marvels of modern medicine. Heaven only knows what would have become of Truffle and Fudge when they both contracted RSV and pneumonia when they were each about 3 months old. It was stressful seeing them suffer struggling for air. We are grateful that we had access to oxygen masks, antibiotics, and even the steroid treatments needed for Truffle. I am so glad the option is there, but for me it’s kind of a last resort after trying everything else. Thankfully, those have been the only times we’ve had to rely heavily on conventional medicine.

I like that homeopathic medicine is becoming more mainstream. I use Boiron products because they are readily available in stores where I shop but I’d like to know what you prefer. Do you know about homeopathic treatments and stick strictly to using them? Or do you rely on OTC medicine to relieve the symptoms of sickness? Do you fall somewhere in the middle, like me? Are there any natural tricks you use to relieve sickness like lemon juice and honey for sore throats?

Answers please!!

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