Preventing Colds in Your Kid

Tips on keeping you children cold and flu free this season

by Dr. James P. Blumenthal, DC, CCN, DACBN

The cold and flu season is about to visit and our kids are surrounded by everyone else's kids. This is a great time to "cold-proof" your kids, and it's easy to do the natural way. Antibiotics don't work on viruses, and parents should never give aspirin to a child with any fever because it can lead to a horrible neurological nightmare called Reyes' Syndrome*. Much safer and more effective natural tools include calcium citrate and barley water.

As long ago as 1948, Dr. Royal Lee taught that the body's main weapon for preventing viral diseases is calcium. Now, there are several forms of calcium and not all will work for this. Calcium citrate (especially when combined with Vitamins C and F) protects against many viruses, reduces joint aches, and brings down a fever when the immune system is done using it to kill the 'bug'.

Fevers are an interesting topic by themselves. We think of them as part of the 'bug' but they are really part of our body's response. When our immune system gets turned on and is working hard, we heat up to try to kill the 'bug'. Heat breaks down the DNA in both bacteria and viruses; however, bacteria have a protective coat so the body has to turn the heat up hotter to kill bacteria than it would for a virus. That's why viral fevers are usually below 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit, as opposed to the temperature of bacterial fevers, which can be much higher.

Barley water is an age-old remedy good for most childhood complaints from fevers to erupting teeth. To provide your child with added relief, make barley water by soaking a cup of pearled barley in a quart of water in the fridge overnight. Drain off the water and give it to a child with any kind of illness. Better yet, give it to them before they get sick to keep them healthy. Happy and Healthy Holidays!!

*As with any medical advice, always check with your own doctor before making any significant medical decisions. For additional information on Reye's Syndrome, visit www.reyessyndrome.org.