Mummy Health Kit

Dr. Joelle Johnson’s  ‘Mummy Health Kit’
Dr. Joelle practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness located at 142 Erickson Dr. 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca to book today.

I have had a lot of moms ask me what I use to take care of my family and children especially when they are sick. I have a very busy house with 3 little boys and our chiropractic clinic. I have a lot of natural ‘things’ on my mom health kit and the following blog are some of them.

Of course being a chiropractor my family knows that getting adjusted increases the immune system response and when we are getting sick or already sick the children will get adjusted as soon as possible (in my case I will adjust even at 3 in the morning). I will use a lot of natural remedies with things from my kitchen, vitamins, homeopathies or essential oils. I  give them a multi vitamin, vitamin D, probiotics (Kombucha is our new love) and Omega 3 fish oils on a regular basis.

Fevers: These are a good thing as it is the normal immune response to an invader, low grade fevers are generally virally based, increased are usually bacterial. You body raises the temperature to heat/kill of the invaders so depressing this response and stopping the fever usually causes the illness to last much longer. By raising the body temperature the virus, bacteria or even cancer cells are killed off. I do not suppress the fever with our family, instead I manage the discomfort. I will adjust the boys as soon as I can, especially in the upper neck-specifically the C1 vertebra. I use the homeopathies Belladonna and Arnica for the chills and aches and fever ‘pain’. I will either put a drop or two of peppermint on their feet or use apple cider vinegar socks. I put a cotton pair on the feet that have the vinegar on them and another pair over top to draw out toxins and thus reducing the discomfort.  If they are uncomfortable a nice warm (not hot) bath with Epsom salts and peppermint oil helps immensely to reduce the aches and manage the fever as well.

Nausea/vomiting: The body is invaded by pathogens via our skin (abrasions and cuts), inhalation (nose/colds/coughs) and ingested (nausea and vomiting). This is not pleasant for anyone and especially little children. I will usually carry peppermint oil in my purse at all times, a drop rubbed on the belly (dilute if sensitive with a carrier oil such as olive oil) works amazing. If the children are vomiting I will also adjust them as the violent act of vomiting affects the back and neck spine and thus causes more discomfort and nervous system irritation, this will restore the nervous system to a healthy place. I utilize the homeopathies such as ipeca, nux vomica for the nausea and vomiting and arsenicum for diarrhea. I recommend drinking ginger honey tea or coconut water for the electrolytes.

Ear aches/infections: I will first adjust the upper neck area and I also adjust the ears, I often teach parents this ear adjustment to do at home several times a day. This allows the eustacian tubes to drain the fluid/mucous. Most ear ‘infections’ are virally based so antibiotics will not work to kill viruses. In our house we will make garlic oil- take some garlic juice off of some crushed or chopped garlic and mix it with olive oil. You can also take some full cloves, crush them with the flat of the knife and let them sit in the olive oil to get the garlic infused into the mixture. I always have some handy as it works great for fungus and skin infections topically. I will then put the garlic-olive oil mixture into the ear several times a day for about a week. The garlic is a natural antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral, plus the olive oil sooths the sore ear canal also. Some children’s ear pain can be from dryness in the ear canal causing the itch and often kids are pulling on their ear lobes or sticking the finger in the ear, I recommend the oil for this as well. DO NOT use the oil in the ear if you have a ruptured ear drum or suspect one, you’re your heath care provider have a look at the ear to check this. I will also use belladonna if the boys have the sharp ear pain to alleviate it. Traumeel ear drop are always on hand and I will use them for the sharp painful ear ache/infection. It has Arnica in it which is great for general pain and inflammation. I will occasionally use lavender oil around the ear (not in it) to sooth. I will also show parents how to help drain the lymph nodes at the front of the neck to aid in ear drainage and recommend Phytolacca to drain the head and cervical lymph nodes. With our children I will use a drop of oregano oil to a tablespoon of olive oil and massage and drain the lymph nodes around the ear and neck-careful if it is too strong it can cause a redness and burning sensation, test is on the inner arm first before applying to the sensitive neck area.

Bumps, Bruises and body aches:  Kids fall….lots and get bump bruises and abrasions all the time. Whenever my children have a nasty fall or wipeout I make sure I check their spine and adjust it as needed, often small issues can become larger ones with our children if we do not take care of them. Many parents will comment the issue came from a fall or accident that happened prior to them bringing in their child to be assessed. If it is a nasty injury I will give them Arnica to help with the pain and inflammation as well as apply it topically to the area, the gel however should not go over an open wound. Some parents ask about growing pains, my question is why should it hurt to grow? Most children have ‘growing pains’ in their legs and knees, often resulting to some insult or trauma from the pelvis or low back, thus some nerve irritation causing the pain. Often by adjusting the child’s pelvis the ‘pains’ stop. I will also recommend to the parents to use the Arnica gel over the area of pain, especially in the middle of the night.