You know the saying about the best laid plans?  Well, we awoke to the sound of serious coughing from our boy.  Not a good thing for a child who has suffered from cold-induced asthma and major bronchial upheaval. 

As we've headed into flu season, we've wrestled once again with the flu shot scenario.  For the past several years we've gotten them (all but the husband) because of son's high risk of complications.  We've avoided the flu (all but the husband!) and so in many ways it has seemed a no brainer.  Why it no longer is so simple is because we've felt like we needed to help our son keep from becoming dependent on the inhaler and various cold meds AND even flu vaccines. 

I grew up in a family where "sinus problems" are prevalent.  Decongestants, antihistimines...a constant battle with sinus infections.  As I've found myself using them more and more with my children, I've felt terrible uncertainty regarding how they would affect them long-term.  It's always so "easy" to justify their use--wanting them to rest; not to suffer. 

As we've taken on the task of eating healthier, it's become a natural extention of that desire to examine all health issues.  Recently, Kerimae over at Happy Home shared about LearningHerbs.com.  The site offers a lot of introductory, free info on how to actually use some natural remedies.  A free tutorial made it easy to learn a few basic things.  I didn't expect that I would get to put them to trial so soon.

So, as son woke up this morning coughing--a lot--we put him back to bed and began treatment.

First, it was a ginger, honey & lemon tea.  And actually, he had been drinking this since the day before when he said his throat hurt.  The combination are things that are good for immune system as well as specific cold symptoms.  

So boy has rested today and Mommy has been in school.  Lab class, if you will.  After a quick trip to the store, I made up a batch of cough syrup:  chopped onion simmered in honey.  I added a bit of Ecinacea to his tea, as well.  Soup for lunch:  chopped onion, garlic & chicken broth.  And a garlic/olive oil infusion for applying to the feet at night.  Weird, I know...but a great way to get extra garlic in the system.  Garlic helps the lungs.  I also roasted some garlic for toast for an extra boost for all of us.  Whew!  Do my hands stink!  All that garlic and onion chopping!  All of these things were explained in detail through the LearningHerbs.com site and their free e-course "Supermarket Herbalism".

The good news is that it all seems to be working.  He's not getting worse and that is a good thing!  It's also interesting to me that his sweet little 8-yo self has been so willing to try everything.  Even daughter has wanted to try everything.  The husband smiled at me.  Like "good job" smiled.  It does feel good learning about healthier alternatives and giving them a try.  We'll see how things go overnight to know for sure if we are on the right track.

If you know me at all, you know that this stuff is so far out in left-field for me.  But not for long.  The Lord has really burdened my heart over the last several months with taking more of an active role in the health of my family--including myself.  It's a long road, but one that can truly bless.  I know that anything God made that can help us is a good thing.  Many of the sources of information and searches have made it quite clear that what God has meant for good, man takes and distorts.  My prayer from the start has been, and will continue to be, that He make it clear what information is profitable for us and His glory.  We will not be worshipping the creation, just the Creator!