Tricks of the Trade: A Natural Approach to Raising a Healthy Family

Raising children mindfully in today's world is difficult with the fast-action pace of a modern technological society. Our families are overstressed, over-scheduled and overexposed, creating a somewhat toxic environment of violence and pollutants. Maintaining a sense of emotional balance and building a strong body with diet, exercise, rest and natural approaches will help you raise a healthy, happy family against these odds.

Here are some simple things that you can do to have a positive impact on your family’s overall health and wellness.

Set your intentions for each day

Waking the kids up for school and getting everyone off timely each morning can be stressful. Make the most of each morning by setting your alarm a few minutes early, so you don’t feel rushed. After my own wake-up ritual of a quick stretch and inhaling an uplifting essential oil to set my mind for the day, I’d wake my sleeping children by waving Peppermint or Rosemary essential oils under their noses. Before I knew it, they were waking up refreshed without my constant nagging and were energized first thing to make the carpool on time!

Purify your air

We all know that we are supposed to change our air filters on a monthly basis, but usually forget this task.  If you get in the habit of sprinkling some disinfecting essential oils on them, you are helping to purify the air in your home while giving your house a nice, fresh scent. When the wonderful aroma disappears, it will serve as a reminder that it’s time to change them again. Citrus and pine essential oils work great for this purpose. They are natural airborne disinfectants, so not only will this rid your household air of microbes and germs, but it will also keep your air ducts free from breeding bacterial growth.

Plant a family garden

A fun way to get the family to enjoy eating more vegetables while spending precious time outdoors is to grow your own small vegetable patch or potted herbs. By having your children involved in this activity, they get lots of vitamin D and fresh air while learning that food comes from the earth and not just the grocery store. This connection helps them learn that their bodies are growing, living beings and that fruits and veggies are a better option than processed foods that come out of a package. My children’s greatest joys were reaping the benefits of their toiling in the garden, no matter how small our harvests.

Build up your child’s immune system

Let’s face it, no matter how well you follow all the rules for keeping healthy, there will still be times when cold and flu germs are so prevalent that you and your children are bound to get the sniffles or even a full-blown flu. That does not mean you need to rush to the doctor at every little sniffle or low-grade fever. It’s very important for your body to combat these germs head-on to build up your natural resistances to these microbes. Time and a healthy immune system are what eventually make a person feel better, so you’re better off building up a healthy child vs. suppressing symptoms. Most medications mask symptoms and don’t actually cure the body of a cold or flu, as they are both viruses. The key is to make you and your children as comfortable as possible and give the body the tools needed to “fight the fight” faster.

Use natural remedies

My children rarely got sick, but when they did, they were back to school faster than most because I diffused essential oils at night so they could breath clearly and sleep soundly. I used Ho Wood, Thyme or Basil essential oils that all contain a high percentage of linalool, proven to combat harmful bacteria in the body. In addition to diffusing these oils, I diluted 5-10 drops in an ounce of unscented cream or lotion to rub on their chest and the bottoms of their feet to aid clear breathing and minimize coughing. If they had an earache, I put a drop of Lavender essential oil on a small piece of cotton and gently placed it in their ear while they slept, and their pain went away. I made sure to give them extra sources of Vitamin C and Zinc when a cold came on.  When the children did have to stay home from school, it was warm drinks of fresh-squeezed lemon and honey as well as fresh chicken soup with a vegetable broth of parsnips, celery root, leeks, and other nutritious veggies that were always part of our “prescription.”

Rest promotes recovery

Keeping sick children home until they are feeling strong enough to face the day is paramount, as they will continue to get drained and not have the strength to fight germs if their immune system is compromised. If a low-grade fever ever occurs, adding a drop of Peppermint essential oil in an ounce of milk to the bath or soaking a washcloth with this combination can help keep your child cool and stay comfortable until their fever breaks.

Create a natural first aid kit

When your children are healthy and athletic, there are bound to be extra bumps and bruises as well as sore muscles from healthy playtime and sports. I always carried a supply of a home made “ouch” cream for little bumps and bruises. Five drops of Spike Lavender essential oil in an aloe vera gel works well as a quick on-the-go salve. I also found it handy to keep an inhaler made up of Neroli or Sweet Orange essential oils for the playground to snap them out of their reactive outburst of falling off a swing or taking a tumble.

For more serious muscular aches, pains and bruises, the essential oils of Myrrh, Sweet Marjoram and Helichrysum are extremely effective. The addition of 3 drops of each of these oils into 1 ounce of arnica cream work wonders! I used this combination when my daughter broke her leg when she was 10, and she went on to become a track star in high school!

Make your own bug spray

Spending time outdoors with young children is a must to help them burn off energetic steam; they’re children after all. However, the time of day we usually have to venture outside as a family is also the time the bugs come out to feed. Make your outdoor time insect-free by applying a homemade spray that is naturally safe and repels biting insects. In a 2 ounce base of 10% Rosemary or Peppermint hydrosol, 10% Aloe Vera juice and 80% distilled water, add 6 drops of Cedarwood, 8 drops Citronella and 4 drops of Patchouli essential oils. The scents of these oils have proven time and time again to keep insects at bay.

Keep a natural digestive aid on hand

Pizza and birthday cake are unavoidable at young children’s birthday parties, but providing your children with a healthy snack to bring along, or feeding them right before making their debut, will lessen the damage. However, if they do experience a tummy ache, there are wonderful, safe essential oils to combat this discomfort. Sweet Orange, Cardamom, Ginger and German Chamomile are gentle and safe oils that, when either inhaled or diluted and rubbed on your child’s tummy, can give instant relief.  Use 5-8 drops of any combination of the above essential oils in an ounce of carrier oil or lotion for best results.

Create a nighttime bathing ritual

Last but not least, incorporating essential oils into your children’s daily bathing routine can also ward off germs and illness by supporting their immune system. A bath before bedtime with Lavender or Palmarosa essential oils, which are high in antibacterial components as well as relaxing properties, makes for a great way to wash away the germs of the day and settle into dreamland. Make sure to only add a few drops of the essential oil to an ounce of milk or liquid soap before adding to the bath so the oils are properly diluted in the water.

While we can’t keep our children in a bubble, we can use mindfulness and incorporate gentle nourishing options to their daily regime. These basic guidelines can help you on your way to raising healthy, balanced children in any environment.

The statements made in this article are for educational purposes only. These suggestions are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your physician when necessary.