Stocking an Herbal Medicine Cabinet & Herbal Nurturing Giveaway

The winner for The Graham Family Ministries 12 Week Holiday Planner is Shirley.  Expect an email from me today!  Congratulations!

Here in east Tennessee, the weather has begun to turn and we have been fighting colds over the last three weeks.  I lamented that I’d not begun preparing for winter illness sooner, because I was not prepared for the runny noses, coughing, and congestion.  How do you deal with winter sickness?  Do you seek to prevent it?  Do you treat it with over the counter medicine, or have you ventured into herbal treatments? Today, I want to share with you why I’ve chosen to use herbs for my family and where I’ve found helpful information.  It’s definitely been important to me to spend time researching before just diving in.  Next Monday, I’ll get a little more specific on what I use, why I use it, how I use it, and where I purchase my herbs.

Why Herbs?

For better or worse, I’m a purist in several aspects.  Neither my husband or I are favorable toward medicine (though sometimes it is necessary and we’re thankful for it), for a few reasons.  Often times, pharmeceutical medicines treat only symptoms without getting to the root of a problem.  For true healing to take place the source and cause must be located and then appropriately treated.

In addition, pharmaceuticals are often made from plants in nature (a good thing!) that have been tampered with and turned into chemicals (a bad thing!) and mixed with a  cocktail of artificial colors, flavors, and various other chemicals or pharmaceuticals.

Out of a desire to live a consistent lifestyle, it would be contradictory to go to such lengths to consume whole and natural foods, yet turn to pharmaceuticals that are very far from whole and natural.  We want to be good stewards of our bodies, but most often than not, pharmaceuticals do more damage than good.  So, enter herbs!

For the past several years, I’ve been learning about herbs and their many nutritional and medicinal benefits. As I began researching–which is still in progress–I learned that they are so beneficial and helpful in preventing sickness as well.  Being the healthy skeptics that we are, I strive not to just believe whatever I read because someone makes a claim, but to do good research.  It’s taken time, to be sure!

So, slowly, we’ve been incorporating more herbs and herbal remedies into our lifestyle.  Neither of our children have ever had antibiotics, and I’ve not taken antibiotics except for a potentially dangerous infection last year, in a little over three years (and I regret both times!).  However, I attribute my children’s health to the Lord’s protection of them, and not due to what I’ve done.  They’ve had minor sickness, but nothing that is unusual and can’t be treated at home.  We’ve been so blessed!

Helpful Resources

I have found several resources I consider to be trustworthy.  I’m not a doctor, just a mom that believes it’s part of my role as a mother to be responsible for my children’s health and nutrition.  Please make sure to do your own research and not to take my word for it.

Many of the resources I’ve come to appreciate are moms who have done lots of research themselves.  And, there have been several older women who have taught me things, but haven’t written books!  There are many other books I’ve not yet read but would like to, because I’m still in process!

Shonda Parker. I appreciate Mrs. Parker for several reasons.  First of all, the amount of research she’s done on herbs has been amazing and commendable.  She has even created a course for moms to go through with the end goal of becoming an herbalist.  Secondly, she is holistic, in the sense that she recommends an overall healthy lifestyle that consists of consuming whole, real foods, exercise, and the use of herbs.

Mommy Diagnostics: The Naturally Healthy Family’s Guide to Herbs and Whole Foods for Health

This book is a great tool for learning to recognize common childhood diseases and illnesses.  She also walks you through a practical month-by-month plan of how to stock your herbal medicine cabinet, in a cost-effective manner.

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Naturally Healthy Woman

Mrs. Parker discusses different areas of concern in women’s health and discusses the use of various herbs to support proper fertility, hormonal health, and other common issues.

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Naturally Healthy Pregnancy

I appreciate this book because Mrs. Parker makes it clear from the beginning that preparing for a baby doesn’t begin after conception, but long before.  With lots of helpful information about how to prepare our bodies for conception, she also includes information for during and after pregnancy.  She also has page after page of herbs, their uses, and if they are safe during pregnancy & nursing.

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Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Storey Medicinal Herb Guide)

I like this book because we like to avoid pharmaceutical antibiotics as much as possible.  It’s fascinating to learn the number of natural antibiotics in nature!

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Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Remedies for Children’s Health

Recipes for remedies for colic, teething, cradle cap, fevers, and more.  The author is not a believer, so read with a grain of salt.

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Lastly, I’m excited to share with you my new favorite go-to for herbal remedies:
This ebook, written by Michele of Frugal Granola, is a wonderful tool!  I have been so impressed with the wonderful information, remedies, and ideas for teaching children that she has included.

Michele has spent 10 years learning, researching, and implementing herbal remedies.  She compiled her  go-to recipes into one book with specific instructions.  At the end of each recipe, she includes a section dedicated to how you can include your children in the preparation of the remedy.

Each recipe costs under $5 to prepare, which is music to any frugal mama’s hears!  This last week, I prepared the Immune Booster Syrup, and Tara asks for it daily!

Michele has offered one reader a copy of her ebook! If you are interested in winning a copy, leave a comment below sharing why you’d like to win.  Giveaway will end Saturday, November 13th at midnight.  Update: This giveaway is now closed.