COUGHS, COLDS & CONGESTION: LEARN NEW HOME REMEDIES FOR YOUR KIDS

It’s that time of year again for many of us – less daylight, busy holiday schedules and colds and flus making the rounds.  The discomfort (and even pain) associated with congestion is one of the most common symptoms.  (Not to mention that the inability to breath is just plain annoying.) This post featureshome remedies for congestion that will hopefully get you breathing right and on the fast track to healing the next time you’re battling congestion.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #1 – Tomato Tea

From Earth Clinic, a great site for home remedies, the top choice for sinus congestion is a recipe called “Jean’s Famous Tomato Tea“.  This recipe has received rave reviews for its ability to clear congestion. (Follow the link to read more from Jean and all the feedback from others at Earth Clinic.)

TOMATO TEA RECIPE

2 cups V8 Juice?2-3 cloves Garlic crushed (use more if you can)
?2 T Lemon Juice?Hot Sauce (the more the better, so as much as you can handle)
Mix and heat in a pan or in the microwave.
Sip slowly and re-warm as needed to get the full effects of the fumes. Let it sit in the back of your throat to bathe it. Suck the fumes through your sinuses and also down into your lungs. Its all natural and healthy, so drink as much of it as you want or need until you are SURE the infection is gone. This is past the time when you “feel better.”
This appears to be the best recipe, but from the comments, people often don’t have the right ingredients. Don’t let that hold you back. Use whatever you have available. Below are some substitutes that may not work as well or as fast, but will still help. I’ve listed them by their likely effectiveness:

Tomato Tea Ingredient Substitutes:

V8 Juice – tomato juice, vegetable juice, canned or fresh tomatoes crushed, tomato soup (if really desperate, try another kind of fruit juice, vegetable soup or even chicken soup. You’re aiming for high Vit C content)
Garlic – garlic in olive oil, dehydrated garlic, garlic salt (aiming for the strong anti-bacterial/fungal effects)
Lemon Juice – Fresh lemons, bottled juice, limes, lime juice, oranges, frozen lemonade
Hot Sauce – ANY kind of hot sauce works, fresh hot peppers, cayenne pepper, dried pepper flakes (if really desperate, try horseradish, black pepper or even mustard. You’re aiming for the highly anti-bacterial/fungal properties of capsaicin which is found in hot peppers, and its effectiveness at clearing out the sinuses.)

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #2 – Apple Cider Vinegar

Whether you drink it, inhale it, gargle it or squirt it up your nose, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is another popular choice for treating congestion. For drinking, some folks take a shot of it straight up, others add lemon juice and cayenne, or mix it with water and honey. Popular proportions on Earth Clinic are 6 ounces of water, two tablespoons ACV, two – four teaspoons honey, consumed warm, every 6 to 8 hours.
To inhale ACV, boil some ACV on the stove and breathe the fumes, or mix a drop or two in your saline nose spray. (Make sure not to overdo it, and keep things clean.)  Read more about ACV and sinus congestion at Earth Clinic.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #3 – Steam – With or Without Herbs

A hot, steamy shower is a godsend when you’re stuffed up, but you can sneak it a little relief in a much smaller area by using a bowl of boiling water tented with a towel. Take a large bowl and add fresh or dried herbs such as eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint or New England Aster. (A few drops of high quality essential oils may also be used, or you can skip herbs altogether, but in my experience they do help.) Pour in boiling water. Lean over bowl and inhale as best you can, tenting your head with a towel to trap the vapors.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #4 – Hot Tea – Herbal or “Regular”

Hot tea with lemon and honey has been a congestion fighting favorite of mine for years.  Momma always stocked Lipton tea bags, but now I buy my black, green and oolong in bulk, and sometimes enjoy some tulsi(holy basil) tea blends as well.  Lemon is a great mucus clearer on it’s own, and con provide extra vitamin C, and honey is naturally antibacterial, so do include them in your brew.

For extra “oomph”, try herbal tea such as mullein, sage, ginger, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, wild thyme and blackberry. (Source – New York Sinus Center.)

To make an herbal tea, cover 2 teaspoons dried leaves or 1/4 cup fresh leaves with 1 cup boiling water, steep for five to ten minutes, then strain and enjoy.  (For ginger root, use about a 1/2 inch piece of fresh root, or 1/2 tsp-1 tsp of dried root bits.)  I like to steep in a tea pot or cover my tea mug to keep the vapors from escaping. If you’ve really got a stubborn cough or cold, check out the recipes for Cough-Be-Gone and Sore Throat Syrup and Cold and Flu Tea.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #5 – Foods

Livestrong.com suggests the following foods to help fight sinus congestion:

Pineapple

Omega 3 Fatty acids (found in cold water fish, nuts, eggs, fish oil, cod oil and flaxseed)

Garlic

Fluids (see hot tea)

Spices and Herbs

Vitamin C

Apple Cider Vinegar

The Holistic Herbal suggests limiting the following foods to reduce mucus:

Dairy products

Grains

Sugar

Potatoes and other starchy root vegetables

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #6 -DIY Vapor Rub

Simply take a small amount of coconut oil or palm shortening (about an ounce) and add a good quality essential oil (eucalyptus, mint or wintergreen)  (7-10 drops or more if needed) to get the strength you want and mix well.  Never use essential oil directly on your skin – always use a carrier oil.  Spread on the chest area or dab under the nose. I have found that oil pulling will also help loosen mild congestion, as will salt water gargles, but these are generally less effective than the above remedies, at least for me. Mountain Rose Herbs carries the herbs, spices and oils mentioned above, as well as tea making equipment, salve containers and just about anything else you need to make your own home remedies.

Author,
By Laurie of CommonSenseHome.com

QUENCH SUMMER’S THIRST WITH SAFER DRINKING WATER

No matter where you are in the country these days, chances are it is hot. From pediatricians to summer camp counselors the advice is currently the same: Make sure you keep hydrated. There are some 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth, but when it comes to summer thirst, it’s the tap water that matters. And while most tap water is fit to drink, that’s not always the case.

Though water companies and municipalities check and purify their water, a lot can happen between those tests and your tap. Water may pass through old lead pipes. It might acquire toxic vinyl chloride from PVC pipes. It could be over-chlorinated or contain bacteria picked up along the way. Here’s how to keep your family hydrated with safe water:

First, get a Consumer Confidence Report from your water supplier. All public water systems serving at least 15 connections and 25 year-round residents must supply these annual reports, which summarize your water’s quality at the source.

To make sure it’s arriving in a similarly drinkable state, test your water at a lab like Suburban Water Testing Lab or National Testing Labs or ask your supplier or environmental officials to direct you to a local lab. Testing is tricky because you’ll need to specify the contaminants to check for. Here’s some guidance:

Always test for lead, which remains all too common in water supplies.

If your water company disinfects with chlorine, check for trihalomethanes, toxins created when chlorine reacts with natural organic chemicals in water.

If you live in an agricultural area, look for pesticides.

If you live in an industrialized or urban area, or near a waste dump, research your neighborhood on the Environmental Defense Fund’s Chemical Scorecard which summarizes local toxic releases. Test for any pollutants the Scorecard lists for your zip code.

Well water is different than municipal water. Private well owners should check for nitrates and bacteria. For more information, visit the EPA’s website for private well owners.  If your kids are at a summer camp with well water and you’re concerned, ask the camp owners if they’ve tested their water.

If your water has specific issues, like discoloration or odors, consult this EPA Home Water Testing Fact Sheet to see what your test should cover.

Results will dictate what if any further steps to take. If you need filtration, our Find the Right Water Filter Easy Step will help you secure a safe water supply—the only kind worth drinking to!

Special thanks to Aisha Ikramuddin, who wrote the original June 2007 post from which this has been adapted.

Author,

Alexandra Zissu

4 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CHILD’S ASTHMA TRIGGERS

Some 6.8 million American children have asthma. Help your child breathe easier with these asthma-fighting tips:

TOP TIPS FOR BEATING SEASONAL ALLERGIES

Are you or your loved ones sneezing, wheezing and reaching for tissues? Welcome to spring – and seasonal allergies.

Every year, pollen and mold trigger uncomfortable allergic reactions from February to early summer across the United States. In severe cases, it can take allergy shots and prescription medications to alleviate the symptoms. For those seeking relief without visiting a doctor, try these tips:

Neti Pot

This teapot-like device can relieve congestion and sinus pressure by flushing mucus out of nasal passages. When used correctly, neti pots are generally considered safe, even for children. To prevent infection, prepare a saline nasal rinse at home. Use distilled or boiled and cooled tap water and clean the device thoroughly between uses. For a hassle-free option, try a ready-to-use nasal spray, available for purchase in drug stores.

Spring Cleaning

Good housecleaning habits can help keep allergies at bay:

Keep windows and doors closed when possible and leave shoes outside.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean floors and carpeted surfaces.

Regularly launder outdoor play clothes, bed sheets and pillowcases. Machine dry instead of using the clothes line. Pollen and mold can cling to fabric when it dries slowly.

If your pets spend time outdoors, consider bathing them more frequently during allergy season.

OTC Medications and Herbal Supplements

Antihistamines, nasal steroids, decongestants and cromolyn sodium are all common over-the-counter medications used to treat the symptoms of allergies. Available in spray or capsule form, they work by blocking the release of histamines that trigger allergy symptoms or lowering mucus and sinus pressure.

In clinical trials, some herbal supplements and nutrients, such as butterbur, have shown potential for curbing allergy symptoms. But they may not be as effective or safe as medication, especially for long-term use during allergy season.

Avoid Triggers

If you know what causes your allergies, take steps to avoid the triggers:

Check local weather reports for pollen and mold counts and stay indoors when they’re highest, generally at midday and in the afternoon. Plan kids’ outdoor playtime for the morning.

When you garden or mow the lawn, wear a face mask and goggles to block pollen and mold from entering your nose, mouth and eyes. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask.

Minimize other allergy triggers such as foods, insect bites and chlorine, which can exacerbate symptoms.

Author,

Megan Boyle

STRAWBERRIES TOP THE LIST OF WORST FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUES

One of your kid’s favorite fruits is hiding a dirty secret.

Of all the fresh fruits and vegetables available for sale in the United States, sweet, sun-kissed strawberries are the most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues, according to EWG’s 2016 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

This year, for the first time strawberries top EWG’s Dirty Dozen list of produce with the highest amount of pesticide, even after you’ve washed them. Other dirty produce includes peaches, nectarines and apples – previously No. 1 for five years running. Click here to see the full list.

EWG analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose tests found nearly 150 different pesticides on thousands of produce samples from 2014, the most recent year available. Nearly three in four fruit and vegetable samples contained residue from at least one pesticide.

But the results aren’t all bad. EWG’s Clean Fifteen list names the produce with the lowest amount of pesticide residues. Avocados lead the pack, with less than one percent showing any traces. Sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, frozen sweet peas and onions rank among the clean fruits and veggies as well. Click here to see the full list.

EWG’s 2016 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce aims to help parents make healthy shopping choices. Here are our top tips for putting this information into action:

Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, regardless of where they fall on these lists. The nutritional payoff is worth it.
To limit pesticide exposure, buy organic produce whenever you can. But if your options or budget are limited, focus on choosing organic versions of the Dirty Dozen to get the biggest benefit for your family.
Always wash fruits and veggies before eating, whether they’re “clean” or “dirty,” organic or conventional. Rubbing produce under running water removes not only pesticide residue, but also dirt and germs from handling.

US researchers confirm Zika causes birth defects

The mosquito-borne Zika virus causes birth defects, including a syndrome in which babies are born with unusually small heads, US health authorities attributing scientists confirmed on Wednesday after months of debate and uncertainty.


"Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have concluded, after careful review of existing evidence, that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects," said a statement from the federal agency.


The decision was based in part on a series of studies in Brazil, where thousands of babies were born last year with birth defects, coinciding with a spike in Zika virus infections among the general public.


"This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak," said CDC chief Tom Frieden.


"It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly."


There was no "smoking gun," or single piece of evidence that offered conclusive proof, said the full report, published in New England Journal of Medicine.


Rather, the decision was made based on "increasing evidence from a number of recently published studies and a careful evaluation using established scientific criteria," said the CDC.


Further studies are being launched to "determine whether children who have microcephaly born to mothers infected by the Zika virus is the tip of the iceberg of what we could see in damaging effects on the brain and other developmental problems," Frieden added.


Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in Uganda, but the virus was poorly understood and symptoms have typically been mild, including rash, joint pain and fever. Most of those infected report no symptoms at all.

Zika was first identified in Brazil in early 2015, and a surge in infants born with microcephaly began nine months later, in September.


Brazil has confirmed 907 cases of microcephaly and 198 babies with the birth defect who have died since the Zika virus outbreak started, officials there said last month.


The Brazilian health ministry said it is still investigating 4,293 suspicious cases.


"The severe microcephaly and other brain anomalies that have been observed in many infants are consistent with an infection occurring in the first or early second trimester of pregnancy," said the report in the New England Journal of Medicine.


Until now, no mosquito-borne virus has been known to cause birth defects, and the last infectious pathogen known to cause an epidemic of birth defects was the rubella virus more than 50 years ago.


Experts reviewing the evidence of microcephaly in Brazil found a similar increase in the birth defects in French Polynesia, which was hit by an outbreak of Zika in 2013 and 2014, though the number of microcephaly cases was small, totaling just eight.


Microcephaly is a rare defect that occurs in six out of every 10,000 births in the United States.


The lack of clarity on whether or not Zika could be established firmly as a cause of birth defects may have contributed to poor public understanding of the virus and its risks, the report said.


A recent poll of Americans found that one in four were unaware of any association between Zika and birth defects, and one in five believed, wrongly, that there was a vaccine to prevent it.


Women who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant are advised to avoid the more than 30 places in Latin America and the Caribbean where Zika is circulating, and to wear mosquito repellant if they live in those areas.


While is now known to Zika cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects, the actual risk of such birth defects remains unknown.


Indeed, some women who were infected with Zika while pregnant gave birth to apparently healthy children.

The CDC said it would not change it recommendations for women who are or want to get pregnant. They should continue to avoid traveling to Zika infected areas. Their partners should either use condoms or abstain from sexual contact while the woman is pregnant.


"Establishing this causal relationship between Zika and fetal brain defects is an important step in driving additional prevention efforts, focusing research activities, and reinforcing the need for direct communication about the risks of Zika," said the CDC.


"While one important question about causality has been answered, many questions remain."

FDA TAKES A BABY STEP TO LIMIT ARSENIC IN RICE CEREAL

The Food and Drug Administration has for the first time proposed a limit to the amount of inorganic arsenic that manufacturers can allow in infants’ rice cereal. The question is whether the new “action level” – 100 parts per billion – is low enough to protect children’s health?

Before taking action, the agency tested 76 samples of infants’ rice cereals and found that nearly half met the proposed action level. Most were at or below 110 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic, just 10 percent above the proposed limit. You can read the FDA’s full risk assessment report here.

Rice and other plants take up arsenic from soil and irrigation water, but rice absorbs much more than other crops, potentially endangering people who eat a lot of rice or rice-based foods. Arsenic exposure can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular and lung disease, diabetes and cancer, especially of the bladder, lungs and skin.

The FDA is particularly concerned with children’s exposure, which can be two-to-three times higher than adults’ and typically peaks when a baby is around eight months old. Studies suggest that in addition to increasing the risk of cancer, arsenic exposure during pregnancy and childhood can lower a child’s IQ.

At the 100 ppb limit in rice cereal intended for infants and young children, the FDA’s proposal mirrors the one set by the European Union in June of last year. The EU also mandated limits for white rice (200 ppb), parboiled rice and brown rice (250 ppb) and processed foods made with rice, including pasta, crackers and rice cakes (300 ppb).

Experts in arsenic and its health effects have criticized the EU limits as too high to offer meaningful protection. Healthy Child Healthy World also questions their effectiveness. At 100 ppb, the FDA’s proposed maximum is only slightly lower than the current average for baby cereals on the U.S. market. Most companies won’t need to do anything to comply.

A lower level would do more to protect infants. At 90 parts per billion, manufacturers would have to buy rice grown in less contaminated areas or mix it with other grains in order to drive down the amount of arsenic in baby cereal.

Even then, Healthy Child Healthy World recommends that parents limit the amount of rice cereal they feed babies. Here are steps parents and pregnant women can take to protect their little ones from arsenic exposure.

The FDA will accept and consider public comments on its draft proposal through July 5. Click here to tell FDA to take stronger steps to limit babies’ exposure to arsenic.

And though the FDA action focuses on baby cereal, its report highlights the serious risks of cancer for anyone who eats rice frequently. There’s no easy fix for this, but the agency’s report does confirm some good news: Cooking rice in extra water and then draining it is an effective way to lower the amount of arsenic your family consumes.