Natural ways to increase breast milk supply

I have stated this before- I am a very avid breastfeeding supporter.  Breastfeeding hasn't necessarily always been easy for me, but when I think of all the benefits, it is definitely worth it.  There are many people that have struggles making and/or producing enough milk.  These are methods that can help your body do so more efficiently. 

Starting with the simple things, that we all know we need to do- just specifying.

• Water - Breastfeeding women need to drink 3.0 liters, or about 13 cups per day.  When you are low on milk supply, making sure you are drinking enough could help a lot.  The best thing to do is always have water nearby and drink it whenever you are thirsty.  Listening to our bodies cues can be the most beneficial.
• Calories - on average, a breastfeeding mom needs to consume about 1800-2200 calories per day (sometimes more).  Again- it is very important to listen to your bodies cues and eat whenever you feel hungry.
•  Fenugreek - seed capsules, tinctures and teas can be purchased in many health food stores and online. You can also buy empty gelatin capsules and buy bulk fenugreek seed powder to make your own capsules.  Fenugreek seeds contain hormone precursors that increase milk supply. 
• Blessed Thistle - can be consumed, powdered, in capsule form found at your local health foods store. The leaves, stems and flowers of blessed thistle can also be stewed in hot water to produce an aromatic tea that provides both extra fluids and the herb's lactation-enhancing properties.  
• Make sure you are not over working yourself and make sure you are getting enough sleep.  Both can be VITAL in the production of breast milk.
• Rescue Remedy - (I swear by this for numerous things.)  This is a homeopathic remedy that is useful for triggering the letdown reflex. You take four drops under the tongue up to five minutes before pumping or nursing. Rescue Remedy can have a slight sedative effect, so use with caution.  
• Mother’s Milk Tea -This tea is a very mild galactagogue containing fenugreek.  Some women find that drinking several cups a day is all that is needed of fenugreek to boost their supply.  An easy way to drink it is to brew a few cups very strong and cool it.  It can be drunk either iced straight or mixed half and half with apple juice. 

Nursing is so worth all the hard work and very beneficial for you and your children.  If you are wanting to nurse, stick with it and try everything you can before you give up.  Good luck!

Baby Acne

Most mothers and fathers out there have had to deal with their precious little ones getting baby acne at some point.  It's not fun and studies have shown that it can be painful, like adult acne can be.  Some information about baby acne...

•  The greatest thing believed to cause baby acne is hormones passed from the mother to baby during birth, but should go away by about 6 months.
• The next biggest cause is believed to be allergic reactions to food, laundry detergent and/or soap, fabric softener.  If acne persists past 6 months, these are more likely the causes.
• Babies can even be allergic to different than normal or rough fabrics they are not used to.  

 Both of my children had a mild case of baby acne at some point, but my daughters was definitely much worse.  I decided to change her bath wash and body lotion when it wouldn't go away, and that worked, so I didn't need to do anything else.  I have never used any of the methods below, but I have read and researched numerous things that say these natural methods work. 

• Change baby's body wash to a more natural, milder soap.  Whole Foods has some great natural body washes.  My favorites are 'Earth's Best' and 'Burts Bees'. 
• Change baby's lotion (if you're using one- you do not really need to be) to a more natural one.  Whole foods has great lotions, as well.  I like 'Earth's Best' and 'Weleda Baby'.
• Combine 1 tsp. honey and 1 tsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice and apply to skin for 20-40 minutes, then wash with warm water.  Repeat everyday, as needed.
• Wash baby's face after each breast or bottle feeding, with a clean warm wet cloth.
• Raw Garlic - cut open and rub on baby acne.  It can help clean and detoxify skin.

There isn't a lot of options with baby acne, as babies skin is so sensitive.  Good luck on helping your sweet angels.

Migraine Headaches

Being plagued with migraines has never been something I have had to deal with, and I am SO grateful for that.  I know a lot of people that haven't been so lucky.  Here are some well known facts/symptoms of migraines...

• Migraines are most often seen in adults 25 to 55 years old.
• Migraine headaches affect up to 20 percent of all men, and 30 percent of all women in the United States.
• Headaches are the number one health complaint, and affect nearly everyone at some point in their lives.
•  Migraine headaches typically occur on one side of the face, affecting the temple and the eye and causing pain that can be quite severe and often throbbing.
•  Other symptoms of migraine include blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, hot and cold spells, lightheadedness, nausea, numbness or tingling along the affected side of the body, extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and vomiting.
• Allergies, especially those caused by food, are a predominant cause of headaches, especially migraine. (According to research published in The Lancet, food allergies contribute to 93 percent of all migraine headaches.)

 My heart goes out to all that have to deal with migraines.  I remember as a child, my brothers migraines were absolutely horrible for him- and as I got older, my younger sister was plagued with them, too.  I hope that these methods can help some of you, so you don't have to live with these horrible headaches.  A lot of the natural remedies for tension headaches are the same for migraines, but there is a few extra things I have added, that have been proven to help with just migraines...

• Massage Therapy - is a wonderful way to relieve tension and stress.  It is something I would do on a weekly basis if time and money would allow.
• Healthy Diet - I have found that the healthier we eat, (more whole foods, fruits and veggies) the more it can help us all around with our issues.  A cleanse would be a great way to jump start your body.  Click here for my basic cleanse.
  
• Yoga & Meditation - stretches and calms the muscles that are causing pain. 
• Essential oils - chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, and rosemary are the ones that seem to work best.  They should be applied to the head, face and neck, according to where the pain is coming from.
•  Raw Garlic - improve blood flow (I swear by garlic. It is such an easy and powerful natural curing option). Click here for the explanation of how garlic works.  
• Ginkgo Biloba - can be found at your local health foods store.  It is an extract of the ginkgo tree and  improves blood flow.
  
•  Ginger - raw (chop up and swallow whole) or in capsules, found at the local health foods store.  It helps stop the progression of headaches when taken at the first sign of symptoms.
• Cayenne Pepper - can be found in capsules at your local health foods store, or drink Lemon Cayenne Water- Click here for recipe.  One of its main uses is to help improve blood circulation or vasodilation, as it is medically known, by opening up blood vessels, namely the large arteries, veins and arterioles.  It also is a great pain reliever.
• Fresh Squeezed Juices - carrot and celery; carrot, beet, and cucumber; and carrot, celery, spinach, and parsley juices can all help alkalizing the body.
• Nutritional Supplements - used for treating and preventing most types of headaches include: B-complex vitamins, vitamin B3, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, along with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), evening primrose oil, and the amino acid DL-phenylalanine.  All found at your local health foods store.  

I have seen people get rid of migraines with these methods.  I have seen people not get migraines anymore with these methods.  They work.  You just have to find the right combination for you and your body.  Try a few for a couple weeks and if they don't help, move on.  Persistence will find you a cure. 

Lemon Cayenne Water

Some of you might be thinking I am a little crazy with this drink.  It may be gross, but it has an amazing health benefit and can help with numerous things- like, headaches, jump-starting metabolism, cleansing bowels, etc.

Here is the recipe...

• 8-12 oz glass of purified water.
• Juice of 1/2-1 lemon.
•  1/8 tsp.- 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (start with lower increments).
• 1 tsp. Maple Syrup (the maple syrup has to be real- you don't have to use the maple syrup if you don't want).  Maple syrup has a lot of great nutrients in it.

Give-A-Way!

The winner of the Vitamin C supplement and the Echinacea tincture is....

BRENDA!!!

I will contact you to get your address to send it out.  Thanks to all who entered!

I am doing my 1st blog Give-A-Way on Natural Cures Momma! I am excited to give away a couple of my favorite items...

My favorite Vitamin C supplement and my favorite Echinacea tincture.  These will make a great cold/flu stopper, with the season coming up on us quicker than we know.  So, here are the rules...

To Enter: you have to follow me on my blog and enter a comment below on the "Give-a-way" post.  I will give extra entry's for posting a link on your blog, liking me on facebook and/or following me on twitter.  Just leave an extra comment for each of those, below.  Please make sure you put your email address on the comments.  This give-a-way ends on Wednesday, the 17th of August, 2011.  Winner will be chosen on random.org.  Give-a-way is only good for residents of the United States.

Give-a-way is CLOSED!  Thanks again to all who entered.

Please pass along to all of your friends!  Good luck!

Natural Remedies When Trying To Get Pregnant

Trying to become pregnant is such a wonderful and joyous time in your life.  Welcoming new precious souls to this earth is such an amazing blessing.  There is a lot of preparing that goes into planning a new child, like; insurance planning, financial planning, home planning, emotional planning, etc.  One important degree of planning that sometimes gets overlooked, is preparing our bodies for such a big change.  Here are some natural methods that are proven to cleanse, awaken and prepare the body for pregnancy and childbirth...

• Pre-Pregnancy Cleanse - helps cleanse toxins out of your body so it can nurture a baby more efficiently.  Click here for my basic cleanse.
  
• Daily Green Smoothies  - are important for all of pregnancy and beyond.  Click here for my Green Smoothie recipe.
• Chasteberry - an herb found at your local health foods store.  It is AKA Vitex agnus-castus, and is a menstrual regulator that can help increase fertility.  
•  Red Raspberry Leaf - an herb found at your local health foods store.  It is highly regarded for its ability to tone the uterus and muscles of the pelvic region.
• Nettle Leaf - a supplement found at your local health foods store that contains a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals that are critical to good reproductive health, including Vitamins A, C, D, K, Potassium, Phosphorous, Iron, and Sulfur.  Nettle Leaf also contains Calcium – a mineral that affects a woman’s ability to conceive and maintain pregnancy.
• L-Carnitine - found at your local health foods store.  Low sperm counts have been linked to low carnitine levels in men.  Several studies suggest that L-carnitine supplementation may increase sperm count and mobility (get this for your partner, it can't hurt).
• Multi-Vitamin/Pre-Natal Vitamin - I would make sure you and your partner are taking a mulit-vitamin.
• Yoga - is a very good way to prepare your body for pregnancy and childbirth.  Yoga can also release harmful toxins from your body.  

I used a lot of these things when I was preparing to become pregnant with my last child.  I believe they all helped a lot.  There is also an herb combination that has been known to help with infertility.  If you have problems with infertility and would like to find out more info, click here.  If you are already dealing with a doctor, I would check with them and make sure it will not affect anything you are already taking/doing.  Good luck on this blessed time in your life!

Basic Cleanse

Here are the guidelines for the Basic Cleanse that I use.  It is used to cleanse your body of harmful toxins.  I try to do some sort of a cleanse (besides when I am pregnant or breastfeeding; before you get pregnant is fine) a few times a year.  

• Eat a huge green salad the night before the cleanse.  Make sure all that is on your salad is vegetables (no cheese, croutons, etc.).  For dressing use only lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and seasoning; to taste.
• A couple hours after dinner, drink cranberry fiber drink.  Click here for recipe.
• First thing in the morning drink a full glass of purified water with the juice of a 1/2 of a lemon.  If you are really daring, add an 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (cayenne pepper is a great bowel cleanser).
• For breakfast eat only fresh fruit.  No bananas, though.
• Mid-Morning drink at least 4 glasses of purified water.  If you are hungry have an apple and/or some freshly squeezed vegetable juice.
• For lunch eat a huge green salad topped with any vegetables.  For dressing only use lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and seasoning; to taste.
• Drink at least 4 glasses of water through out the afternoon.  If you are hungry have an apple and/or fresh squeezed vegetable juice.
• For dinner have a large portion of freshly steamed vegetables and/or a bowl of homemade vegetable soup.  You can also have another green salad.  Again, use only fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and seasoning; to taste.
• If you are hungry in the evening, eat another apple (or two).
• First thing the next morning drink a full glass of purified water with 1/2 lemon (with the 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, if you wish).
• For breakfast enjoy a Green Smoothie.  Click here for the recipe.

You made it!  If you would like to continue on for longer, you can put some rice protein powder in with the nightly Cranberry Fiber Drink, or the Green Smoothie (found at your local health foods store).  If you do not like (or refuse to eat) the dressing for the salad, use a vinaigrette with preferably, no refined sugar in it.  Be positive when you are cleansing and don't give up!  

Cranberry Fiber Drink

• 3 T freshly ground golden flax seeds
• 3 T unsweetened cranberry juice
• 3/4 cup purified water

Mix it and drink before it thickens up.

Great drink for a good source of fiber.  Also used in my basic cleanse.

Natural Energy Boost

Everyone needs an energy boost from time to time.  We all go through times when it is so hard to get out of bed and the all day dragging just becomes normal.  There are a lot of reasons that you may be feeling fatigued.  Here are some of the more popular reasons for needing a "pick me up"...

• Lack of sleep/high stress levels.
• Physically over-doing it/emotional exhaustion.
• Nervous system over-stimulation: using short term stimulants like caffeine, sugar and nicotine.
• Poor nutrition in your diet: eating not enough fresh fruits and veggies and too much refined flours, sugars, corn syrup and more.
• Mental illness, such as depression and/or anxiety can make you overly fatigued.

Some of the things listed above, we can change, or make somewhat better.  That would be a healthy start in changing your energy levels.  Here are a list of things that will help boost your energy the right way, all natural...

• Ginger Root - supplement found at your local health foods store.  It is an herbal tonic for the adrenal glands, which produces the body's energizing hormones.
• Ginseng - supplement found at your local health foods store.  It is a useful herb to combat stress and fatigue, to maximize stamina, and to build strength. 
• Multi-Vitamin - make sure you are taking a multi-vitamin (we need it for the lack of vitamins we get in our diets). 
• B-complex vitamin - B vitamins are very powerful and have been proven to help increase energy.
• L-Carnitine - found at your local health foods store.  It is a nutrient that helps the body turn fat into energy.  It is produced by the body in the liver and kidneys and stored in the skeletal muscles, heart, brain, and sperm.
• SAM-e - a supplement that you can find at your local health foods store.  It is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine.  It's found naturally in the body and is increases levels of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.  Studies have shown that taking SAM-e and L-Carnitine together can be a very good natural energy booster.
• Green Smoothie - starting your day with a green smoothie (or even an all fruit smoothie, if you are afraid of the greens).  Click here for my favorite Green Smoothie recipe.
• Make sure you are staying hydrated through out the day- preferably with water!

If you would rather just take one supplement, Naturallydirect.net has a energy supplement that I have heard is good.  I have never tried it myself.  Don't get overwhelmed, as I post quite a few options.  You don't have to use all of them.  Try the things that best suite you, as we are all unique (and wonderfully so).

Green Smoothie

I wanted to share my recipe to the 'green smoothie' we drink.  I think drinking smoothies everyday, or as much as possible, can have a major health benefit.

• Golden Flax Seeds: 1-2 T (I buy at whole foods and grind right before consumption).
• Spinach/Kale (or any leafy green): 1 good sized handful or about 1 cup
• Fresh Fruit: 1/2 banana, 2-3 strawberries, 1/2 an orange (you can honestly use any fruit you would like.  I change it up on a daily basis, but this recipe is my fall back).
•   Pomegranate Juice: 1/2 cup (cranberry juice is also good).
• Ice: 1/2 cup
• Vitamins: Multi-vitamin powder.  I don't always add vitamins to mine, but it is a good way to take them.

It will look green, or even brownish/green.  Don't let the look of it turn you away, as it tastes quite delicious (your body will start craving them and all of their sweet healthiness).  Starting your day out with a smoothie can be a great boost in your energy and it's a great way to cleanse your system.  When I start my days out with a green smoothie, I have a healthier mindset and don't want/need to indulge in unhealthy snacking.  It simply starts your digestive track on the right foot.

Enjoy!

Tension Headaches

Whether headaches are a frequent visitor at your house or a once in a while acquaintance, they are no fun!  I have to say, I am not one of those people that get migraines on a daily or weekly basis, and I am so thankful for that.  I do get plagued with tension headaches quite often, which I know don't compare to migraines, but are no fun either.

Some facts/symptoms of tension headaches:

• Tension headaches affect women slightly more often than men.

• Tension headaches typically begin during the adolescent years and peak in the 30's.

•  By far the most common type of headache is a tension headache, which is caused by tension occurring somewhere within the musculoskeletal system and/or the muscles of the face, head, or neck.

• Symptoms of tension headaches usually begin in the back of the head or neck, and then spread upward and forward to encompass more of the head and face.

• The pain tends to be dull but persistent, as if a tight band was wrapped around the skull.

Headaches are so hard to deal with.  They can literally ruin your day.  These are some things that do wonders with tension headaches...

• Massage Therapy - is a wonderful way to relieve tension and stress.  It is something I would do on a weekly basis if time and money would allow.
• Healthy Diet - I have found that the healthier I eat, (more whole foods, fruits and veggies) the less tension headaches I get.  If I get a lot of tension headaches in a short period of time, I usually try a whole foods cleanse.
  
• Yoga & Meditation - stretches and calms the muscles that are causing pain. 
• Essential oils - chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, and rosemary are the ones that seem to work best.  They should be applied to the head, face and neck, according to where the pain is coming from.
•  Raw Garlic - improve blood flow (I swear by garlic. It is such an easy and powerful natural curing option). Click here for the explanation of how garlic works.  
• Ginkgo Biloba - can be found at your local health foods store.  It is an extract of the ginkgo tree and  improves blood flow.
  
•  Ginger - raw (chop up and swallow whole) or in capsules, found at the local health foods store.  It helps stop the progression of headaches when taken at the first sign of headache symptoms.
• Drink lot's and lot's of water.

I hope that some or all of these options can help you like they have helped me.  Always remember a calm and collective attitude when trying new things.  No use in stressing and making the problem you're having get worse.

Common Cold & Flu

 Everyone has had it... everyone hates it.  I have the kind of immune system (and so do my children) that if I ever use an antibiotic, I end up getting another sickness just days after I finish it.  Antibiotics kill ALL bacteria, good and bad, so your body is very vulnerable after you are done with it.  The vicious cycle never ends, unless I find a cure to the problem.  There were times where my son and I were sick for months (yes, months!) straight!  And everything we would get usually started with a common cold.  Here are the methods that I find work best...

• Vitamin C - 3000-5000 mg per day (literally load up on it!).

• Tincture of Echinacea - as directed on bottle, 3-4 times per day (I put it in fresh squeezed OJ, to get more Vitamin C).

•  Raw Garlic - At least 2-3 raw cloves per day, 4-5 cloves a day if possible. Chop a clove into 5 or 6 pieces and then swallow the pieces whole like pills.  Raw garlic acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, without the added antibiotic side effects of the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, or the development of yeast infections or thrush. The antimicrobial property in garlic, allicin, is very sensitive to heat and is destroyed when cooked. In order for it to work, it needs to be raw. Swallowing the cloves with orange juice helps with the taste for me. Allicin is also what gives garlic its pungent odor, so the deodorized garlic capsules that some companies offer are essentially useless, if they are being taken for the antimicrobial properties. However, deodorized garlic is still beneficial for its blood pressure reducing properties and for stimulating the immune system. 

• Xlear - a nasal spray that is a combination of xylitol and saline nasal spray that has shown to be effective in soothing and moisturizing the sinuses and nasal passages (I swear by this stuff for my whole family).  It's usually found on any grocery store's pharmacy counter, or drug section.

•  Probiotics - found at any health foods store.  Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.  They basically add good bacteria to your body, to help fight off your illness.  I like Udo's Choice and Nature's Way brands.  They need to be kept cooled, so I would only buy if they have been kept in a refrigerated section.

•    Drink lot's and lot's of water!

I have found the most important part of stopping a cold before it starts (or at least before it gets too bad), is so it does not develop into anything more severe.  Like: a sinus infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, etc.  I have cured a sinus infection with these methods, but would seek medical attention for any of the others.  If you need to take an antibiotic, these methods still work wonders in building your immune system back up.  I would start when your antibiotic cycle is almost through.  Best of luck!      

Anxiety & other mood disorders

 

For those of you that have ever suffered from anxiety or are currently suffering from anxiety; know how heartbreaking it is; to not feel right or comfortable in your own skin or circumstances.

Some well known facts about Anxiety...

• The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness and dread.

• Anxiety is considered to be a normal reaction to a stressor. It may help someone to deal with a difficult situation by prompting them to cope with it. When anxiety becomes excessive, it may fall under the classification of an anxiety disorder.

• Anxiety is a generalized mood condition that can often occur without an identifiable triggering stimulus.

 After I had my first child, I started to get worried about things.  Overly worried about things I could not change.  I would create horrible accidents in my head and would be obsessively worried that they would come to happen.  I would lay awake at night, crying, not even knowing why.  I would feel so stressed, with an uncontrollable heart rate, and have no clue why.  The list goes on.  I finally decided to read a book, called 'The Mood Cure'.  Possibly one of the best decisions of my life.  It gave me hope that I could change my fate- and that I didn't need to suffer or feel like this anymore.  Here is a list of what I used (from the book and researched other ways) that seriously worked.

• SAM-e - a supplement that you can find at your local health foods store.  It is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine.  It's found naturally in the body and is increases levels of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.
• Folic Acid - found in green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruit, beans and fortified grains.  Also found in a B-complex supplement.  FYI: Folic Acid is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies because of poor diet, but also because chronic conditions and various medications such as aspirin and birth control pills can also lead to deficiency.
• 5-HTP - a supplement that you can find at your local health foods store.  It is produced naturally in the body and is used to make the neurotransmitter serotonin.  It is short for 5-hydroxytryptophan.  FYI: Experts say that it should not be combined with antidepressants.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids - this is the good fat needed for normal brain function.  Our bodies can't make omega-3's on their own, so we must obtain them through our diet.  I obtain mine through 'golden flax seeds'.  I grind them up and put them in a fruit smoothie (they work best when they are ground or "opened" - flax meal also does not work as proficiently, as it is best when you grind right before consumption).  
•  Gaba Calm - a subliminal supplement that you can find at your local health foods store.  It is a synergistic blend of the very nutrients upon which your body relies to combat stress and remain in a serene state when faced with over stimulation: the key neurotransmitters GABA, Taurine, and Glycine.
• Rescue Remedy - found at your local health food store (I have also seen it at Harmon's, in Utah).  It is a spray formula that is made up of a five individual flower remedies that help you cope with the different emotional aspects of stressful situations

These honestly worked miracles with my anxiety (I know I say that a lot).  I noticed a difference in the way I felt almost immediately.  I would pop a 'Gaba Calm' tablet into my mouth if I started having any ill feelings or emotions.  Now it has been more than a year and I don't have to take any of these anymore and feel great!  They cured me!  I have talked with numerous people that have used these same remedies with depression, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis (after receiving medical attention), addiction to drugs, baby blues, and so on.  Here is another small list of things I didn't personally try, but know people that have.

• St. Johns Wart
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B6
• Avoiding Caffeine and Alcohol
• Reducing or cutting out intake of sweets

Be patient with yourself and be diligent when you decide what you're going to use.  Don't give up after a day or two.  Best of luck.

My lovely friend, Mastitis

I am currently breastfeeding my second child.  I absolutely love breastfeeding and I am a very avid supporter of the cause.  This time around hasn't been the easiest, as I have been plagued with mastitis for (currently) the 4th time.

Some facts/symptoms of Mastitis:

• Mastitis appears to be the body's way of telling mom to SLOW DOWN.

• Typical mastitis symptoms include a fever of 101.3°F (38.5°C) or greater, chills, flu-like aching, malaise and systemic illness.

• Mastitis may come on suddenly, and usually affects just one breast.

• There may be red streaks extending outward from the affected area.

• Very sore and/or painful breasts (usually it's just a specific area on one breast).

Mastitis always seems to occur when I am over-doing it, so it has been my time where I tell my husband to take the kids, and let me rest (besides nursing, nursing, nursing)!  Here is what I have discovered that has cured my mastitis is just a couple days...

• Do NOT decrease or stop nursing when you have a plugged duct or mastitis, as this increases risk of complications (including abscess).
• NURSE, NURSE, NURSE! - Nurse your baby for as long as possible
• Raw Garlic - At least 2-3 raw cloves per day, 4-5 cloves a day if possible. Chop a clove into 5 or 6 pieces and then swallow the pieces whole like pills.  Raw garlic acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, without the added antibiotic side effects of the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, or the development of yeast infections or thrush. The antimicrobial property in garlic, allicin, is very sensitive to heat and is destroyed when cooked. In order for it to work, it needs to be raw. Swallowing the cloves with orange juice helps with the taste for me. Allicin is also what gives garlic its pungent odor, so the deodorized garlic capsules that some companies offer are essentially useless, if they are being taken for the antimicrobial properties. However, deodorized garlic is still beneficial for its blood pressure reducing properties and for stimulating the immune system. 
• Tincture of Echinacea - as directed on bottle, 3-4 times per day.
• Tincture of Oregon Grape Root - as directed on bottle, 3-4 times per day.
• Vitamin C - 3000-5000 mg per day (literally load up on it!).
• Cold or Warm Compresses - I've talked to women that like cold, and some that like warm, but I have tried both and they both worked for me.  Rotating between the two would probably be ideal.
• Hot Shower or Bath - let the water just run over your breast and massage toward the nipple. 
• REST, REST, REST! - This is your time to rest, ladies.  Take advantage of feeling like garbage and just lay in bed.  It is what your body needs.

If you feel a plugged duct or mastitis coming on, a great way to kick it before it gets worse is to put a whole cabbage leaf inside of your bra, right next to your breast.  This has worked wonders for many people I know.  If you would like to find out more information on plugged milk ducts or mastitis, I really like kellymom.com.

If you do not start feeling better with-in 24-48 hours, seek medical attention.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!

I am very devoted (dare I say obsessed?) with finding natural curing options for the everyday sickness and beyond.  I love the idea of using natural grown herbs, foods and more to cure illnesses that plague us all.  Sickness is NEVER fun and it NEVER comes at ideal time.  This blog is going to be devoted to sharing many natural curing options that really work.  That have cured me, my family and friends without antibiotics or harsh medicine.  I hope you enjoy...