Have you ever wondered why constipation happens to you after childbirth?
lack of sleep
eating “quick” foods
too much caffeine
little to no exercise
and…no time for “you”
I get it.
But, this can change.
By the end of this post, you’ll have my tried and true poop remedies to reduce constipation for yourself, AND to save your pelvic floor from any stress.
Yes, read that again 👆 If you’re pooping “wrong”, your pelvic floor will suffer.
Let’s get started.
10 Treatments of Constipation
#1 Go Gluten and Dairy Free
Gluten-containing foods and dairy products can cause constipation due to their inflammatory effects. And, if your body cannot digest these foods {think lack of digestive enzymes}, you’ll have a more difficult time.
Consider…
Changing your full bowl of yogurt for a bowl of chia seed pudding
or 1 tbs. of yogurt at your meal is a great way to add probiotics to your body without too much dairy
Try coconut yogurt, instead of cow’s milk
Explore CA-rich foods and take out the milk
Try an elimination diet for 1-3 weeks and notice if you feel better. If so, eliminate these foods from your diet.
Keep in mind; Gluten-free doesn’t mean buying more boxed foods!>>>>Make whole grains like quinoa, oatmeal, buckwheat, or black rice a priority!
Try oatmeal for breakfast, buckwheat flour pancakes, almond flour cookies, and whole grains for lunch and dinner.
Goat’s milk and goat cheese may be easier for you to digest
When you have dairy or gluten- take a digestive enzyme like Enzymedica to help you process the food
#2 Eat warm, cooked, foods
Ayurvedic medicine states Vata body types -those prone to constipation- need to add warm, cooked foods because their body is dryer and needs more moisture.
Consider drinking hot water with lemon in the morning and adding more soups to your diet.
#3 Drink 8-9 cups of water a day.
When constipated, drink 2-3 cups of water immediately upon waking. Then move your body.
Do you drink coffee? This could be dehydrating you. Try waiting until 11:00 am or after you go to the bathroom to enjoy your cup of coffee.
How much water do you need?
Take your weight, divided by 2, then divided by 8 = # of cups of water a day
For example; 150lbs/2= 75. 75/8= 9 cups of water a day
#4 Try a daily probiotic
Choose a probiotic with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and take it daily for 1-3 months to improve your digestion and aid elimination.
With severe constipation, you can also add a powdered form of probiotic to 1/4 cup of water and have it at each meal =2-3x day.
Babies, toddlers, and big kids can also try this; especially if they were born via c-section.
#5 Add magnesium citrate
Magnesium Citrate assists with constipation aids relaxation and supports sugar cravings.
Start with 200mg at bedtime, but reduce the amount if you have diarrhea.
Taking Magnesium before bed will lead to a soft bowel movement in the morning.
#6 Take a digestive enzyme
Enzymes assist in the chemical breakdown of food into smaller absorbable components. Especially dairy and meat.
Enzymes called amylases break down starches into sugar molecules; proteases break down proteins into amino acids, and lipases break down fat into its parts.
Try Enzymedica if you struggle with eating meat, gluten, or dairy foods.
See all my gut health suggestions when you loginto Fullscript. Plus, you’ll receive 15% off the products.
#7 Take Betaine HCL
Stomach acid is essential for digestion and nutrient assimilation and as we get older our acidity decreases.
Those with heartburn, tend to have too little acidity.
Read that again 👆
So skip the tums and add acid to your diet.
If you struggle with heartburn, try Betaine HCL at each meal. It is life-changing!
Read this article on how to supplement with Betaine HCL and consult your doctor if you have acid reflux or ulcers.
#8 Reduce stress
At one point, I was eating while doing the dishes!
Yes, moms can multi-task, but should we when we’re eating?
Put down the dishes and pause. Take a deep breath. Encourage older children to get what they need during dinner time or some moms eat at separate times from their kids.
Breathing before each meal enhances the digestive enzymes in your body to aid digestion.
Try deep belly breathing 3x a day.
End your meal with chamomile or peppermint tea to aid the digestive process.
#9 Add Flaxseeds
One tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains 2 grams of dietary fiber!
To make:
Grind 1 cup of whole organic flaxseed and store it in a container in the refrigerator.
Take 1-2 Tbs. of ground flaxseed per day to our oatmeal to keep bowels regular.
Stir the ground flaxseed into oatmeal, soup, coconut yogurt, smoothies, or any food that you enjoy.
Safe for kids in smaller doses.
Make sure you drink lots of water after.
#10 Add botanicals
Triphala
Triphala is a traditional Ayurvedic herbal formulation made from Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
Take it at night to reduce constipation. Triphala is gentle and supports regular bowel movements and relaxes the nervous system.
Senna
Senna is known as a safe laxative for occasional use. Moms love Smooth Move tea during pregnancy and beyond.
Chamomile and Peppermint
Both of these botanicals can reduce gas and aid digestion.
In summary, diet is always first. Think of soft foods, filled with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Have oatmeal in the morning with peppermint tea, buckwheat flour pancakes, or a shake with fruit and dates. Make fiber a priority.
If you’re eating all the right things and moving your body, ask your doctor about adding progesterone to your diet if you’re in peri-menopause. This could be one fix your body needs to stop constipation.
Always see your doctor with any health concerns.
xo
Tara
P.S. Ready to learn more? Book an exploratory session to see if I can help you with your symptoms. Book here.
Are you wondering if too many antibiotics have affected your gut health and digestion?
I remember calling the doctor begging for antibiotics for yet another UTI.
In the end, the antibiotics never helped my UTIs; addressing my gut health and healing with herbal medicine did.
By the end of this post, you’ll understand how the 4R approach; taught by functional medicine doctors like Dr. Aviva Romm and Dr. Mark Hyman can help reduce unwanted digestive issues and “heal your gut”.
We know antibiotics destroy the good and the bad bacteria in your gut. Over time, if you don’t replace these good bacteria it can lead to something called leaky gut syndrome. What is leaky gut syndrome?
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut syndrome {LGS} is when fragments of protein and bacteria cross the tight junctions of your gut wall and your body recognizes these fragments as invaders and mounts an inflammatory response to your immune system.
Envision the tight junctions like fingers, spread your hand out and notice the gaps between your fingers. This is what it looks like when the junctions open.
What causes the tight junctions to open?
Food and medications that irritate your gut – have you noticed Advil or Tylenol bother your stomach?
Antibiotics and medications that change the good bacteria – think diarrhea after a round of antibiotics
When they’re open you’re more prone to “inflammation” in your gut
This also can happen to infants as you’re born with tight junctions that are more open
So if you’ve had a few rounds of antibiotics this post is for you!
Our “second brain”, the gut, contains some 100 million neurons; when this system is compromised or “inflamed” disease sets in.
As a women’s herbal educator, I can help you “heal your gut”, but more importantly choose herbal medicine INSTEAD of your current medicine cabinet to reduce the irritation with your digestion.
Skin complaints; acne, skin rash etc.- your back, your tush, and the back of your arms included
Autoimmune disorder
Tired/ poor concentration
Anxiety & depression
Candida overgrowth
Cannot lose weight
Your joints ache
Leaky Gut Syndrome Test
How to Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome Fast
The 4r Approach
What is the 4r approach?
It’s a method created by functional medicine doctors to address the underlying causes of gut imbalances and restore harmony, helping alleviate symptoms and maybe even disease.
The program suggests you: Remove> Reinoculate> Repair> Reintroduce
So, How do you heal your gut?
Remove all triggers: i.e. all allergens and cross reactors like gluten and dairy.
Get off all medications (with Dr.’s approval and replace them with natural remedies ).
Reduce your stress with meditation, exercise, and botanicals.
Heal your gut lining with the 4R approach below.
Although, I’ll suggest supplements to heal your gut. You always want to look at your diet first. Lots of water, fiber whole foods, wild-caught fish, and whole grains are easier on your digestion; rather than reaching for gluten-free packaged foods.
1. Remove
Take out what inflames you.
Remove the top allergens; wheat, corn, eggs, dairy, peanuts, and soybeans. {If you can’t give up dairy…goat cheese and goat milk may be easier on your digestion}
Add in whole grains (like quinoa and rice), organic vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats.
Remove allergens for 4-6 weeks or it may take up to a year to heal your gut with an auto-immune disease.
Encourage whole, organic foods if able, and consider shopping the perimeter of the grocery store.
Kitcheri recipes are often suggested to reduce inflammation.
Leaky Gut Supplements
2. Replace
#1 After 2-4 weeks on the Elimination diet, Introduce a good-quality digestive enzyme containing protease, lipase, amylase, and pepsin.
This is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, too. I like Digest gold by Enzymedica. If you login to my supplement store; you’ll receive 15% off the suggested products. Look under gut health for my suggestions.
#2 Adding bitters, like Urban Moonshine Bitters will trigger the digestive system to produce digestive enzymes, secrete bile, and balance HCI levels in the stomach.
Take bitters 10-15 minutes before your meal.
If you have a lot of nausea with meals or when you take supplements, you might also need some additional stomach acid in the form of a supplement called Betaine HCL or try 1 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar in water with your meals.
3. Reinoculate
Wait 2 weeks for the elimination diet or up to 6 weeks.
Keep in mind===Adding in a probiotic can give you gas and bloating if you do not remove the allergens first.
Add a good quality probiotic to restore your gut flora. I like Klair probiotics. There is also an infant formula for babies and young children struggling with dairy allergies.
You want it to have a minimum of 5 billion CFU in each dose, and a good range of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species.
Also add in fermented foods such as miso, sauerkraut, and kimchee can also be a helpful advantage to your gut, add it to your diet 3-4x week. Although very delicious, kombucha can be high in sugar so consider using it sparingly.
4. Repair your Gut
Include the following supplement for 6 weeks or more to repair your gut. The following supplements can be taken for up to 6 months to help to heal the intestinal lining:
Turmeric
Aloe vera
Marshmallow root powder
DGL licorice (aloe and licorice are not for internal use during pregnancy; these are fine for children) are some of the most effective herbs for healing the gut lining.
They are best taken in capsule or extract form, though turmeric can also be added to foods.
DGL or diglyceride licorice is a great alternative to tums and does not raise your blood pressure.
DGL licorice is available as chewable lozenges.
Davinci labs combine all of these ingredients in their GI benefit product. Login to the supplement store to save 15%!
Zinc
Dosing: 25-40 mg/day for older children and adults.
Take zinc with food to prevent nausea.
Fish oil:
I prefer Carlson’s fish oil
Fish oil is essential for general health in pregnancy and breastfeeding, too.
L-glutamine powder 5-10 gm of powder twice daily for one month. (Much less for kids but talk with your child’s doctor before using and don’t supplement in pregnancy).
The Davinci labs product has this in it!
Here are examples of other practitioners using the 4R approach for healing
If you’re struggling with digestive issues and find you’re avoiding foods – there is hope. The 4R approach is more than an elimination diet. It can heal your digestive tract and reduce bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation for years to come and you may be able to enjoy gluten and dairy once in a while after you heal!
Warmly~
Tara
{Please consult your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.}
How can you reduce anxiety by addressing your gut health?
What if you could reduce your bloating, constipation, AND anxiety at the same time?
Picture this…sleeping better, fewer heart palpitations, and no digestive issues.
Here’s the thing…there’s a connection between your gut and anxiety. Called the…
Gut-brain connection
It’s called, the gut-brain axis and it turns out – when your body experiences inflammation it stimulates the HPA axis and releases cortisol – the stress hormone. source
But, wait up. Don’t worry, you can heal this.
So what can you do about it? You’ll want to “heal your gut”. Let me show you how.
But first, do you have any of these symptoms?
bloating
pain when eating gluten or dairy
skin eruptions
exhaustion
seasonal allergies
recurring yeast infections
achy joints and muscles
This may be due to your gut health.
In this post, I’ll share how functional medicine doctors are teaching us to heal our gut with the 4R approach.
What is the 4R approach?
This method addresses the underlying causes of gut imbalances and restores harmony, helping to alleviate symptoms and maybe even disease.
The program suggests you: Remove> Reinoculate> Repair> Reintroduce
Gut health anxiety and diet
How do you heal your gut?
Remove all triggers: i.e. all allergens and cross reactors like gluten and dairy.
Get off medications (with Dr.’s approval and replace them with natural remedies ).
Reduce your stress with meditation, exercise, and botanicals.
Take out what inflames you. You can get tested for food allergies, but honestly, it may not help. You probably already have an inkling of what foods bother you. The foods to create inflammation are:
wheat
corn
eggs
dairy
peanuts
soybeans
So, what do you eat?
Add in whole grains (like quinoa and rice), organic vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats.
Remove these foods for 4-6 weeks {or it may take up to a year to heal your gut if you have an auto-immune disease}
Encourage whole, organic foods every day
2. Step #2 Replace
After 2-4 weeks on an Elimination diet, introduce a good-quality digestive enzyme containing protease, lipase, amylase, and pepsin.
This is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, too.
This will trigger the digestive system to produce digestive enzymes, secrete bile, and balance HCI levels in the stomach.
Take bitters 10-15 minutes before your meal.
If you have a lot of nausea with meals or when you take supplements, you might also need some additional stomach acid in the form of a supplement called Betaine HCl, or try 1 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar in water with your meals. {click on the links above to see the companies I love}
3. Step #3 Reinoculate
Wait 2 weeks on the elimination diet or up to 6 weeks before adding in a probiotic.
Adding in a probiotic can give you gas and bloating if you do not have enough digestive enzymes
Add a good quality probiotic to restore your gut flora. I like Klair probiotics.
You want it to have a minimum of 5 billion CFU in each dose, and a good range of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species.
Fermented foods such as miso, sauerkraut, and kimchee can also be a helpful advantage to your gut, add it to your diet 3-4x a week.
Although very delicious, kombucha can be high in sugar so consider using it sparingly.
4. Step #4 Repair your gut
Include the following supplement for 6 weeks or more to repair your gut. The following supplements can be taken for up to 6 months to help to heal the intestinal lining:
DGL licorice (aloe and licorice are not for internal use during pregnancy, and these are fine for children) are some of the most effective herbs for healing the gut lining.
Or Choose the GI Benefits Davinci lab within Fullscript for ALL of these ingredients
Do you get heartburn?
DGL or diglyceride licorice is a great alternative to tums and does not raise your blood pressure or affect your gut health as tums do.
DGL licorice is available as chewable lozenges and thus may be the simplest one to give to kids.
Klair labs have one here or Pure encapsulation combines aloe, slippery elm, and marshmallow root together!
Additionally, add these supplements to heal your gut
Zinc:
Dosing suggestions: 5-10 mg/day for children 4-7 years
10-20 mg/day for children aged 12
25-40 mg/day for older children and adults.
An antioxidant supplement
Look for one containing vitamins A and carotenoids, C, E, and selenium. These are often found in a multivitamin.
Pregnant women should get these from their prenatal vitamins only.
Fish oil is important for general health in pregnancy and breastfeeding, too.
L-Glutamine Powder:5-10 gm of powder twice daily for one month. (Much less for kids but talk with your child’s doctor before using and don’t supplement during pregnancy).
This is found in the Davinci blend.
Conclusion
Dysbiosis or digestive issues are common after pregnancy due to the stress of birth, antibiotic use, and poor diet most of us have postpartum. Elimination diets alone will not work unless you add gut-healing herbal remedies to help soothe and support the digestive tract and close the tight junctions.
Additionally, mold inhalation is becoming more well-known for causing digestive issues. Some of the symptoms I had with mold were bloating, constipation, and food sensitivities.
Do you think you’d try this? It’s easier than it seems. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, leave them in the comment area below.
What if we could reduce asthma attacks, by addressing our gut health?
I know it seems far-fetched, but if your child has been struggling with colic, eczema, seasonal allergies, and now asthma – this is called an Allergic Triad.
And, functional medicine doctors are teaching us how this is all connected to our child’s gut health.
**Always use an inhaler as suggested by your doctor and see my precautions below as to when to call the doctor. Plus, you would never use these remedies with an acute asthma attack. *
So what can you do about asthma?
In this post, I’m going to share how we stopped all our medications for asthma-like breathing by addressing my child’s gut health.
First, What is Asthma?
Asthma usually occurs when a substance, that the body sees as a foreign invader creates an overreaction of the body’s own immune system.
During an asthma attack, spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs) constrict and impede the outward passage of air.
Symptoms of Asthma:
coughing
wheezing
shortness of breathing and chest tightening
it can last for a few minutes or several hours
***always use the medicine suggested by your doctor for an asthma attack
70% of children with allergies also have asthma – Dr. Aviva Romm
Two types of Asthma
Types of asthma are allergic and non-allergic; although the two often occur together.
Common asthma-provoking allergens include:
animal dander
cockroach droppings – children in city living have higher incidents of asthma
pollens
mold
pet dander
chemicals
drugs
dust mites
environmental pollutants – The Amish environment provides protection against asthma. ²
feathers
food additives
seafood
dairy products
nuts
yeast-based foods
fumes
mold
tobacco smoke/fireplace
Factors that trigger nonallergic asthma attacks include:
adrenal disorders
anxiety
temperature changes – cold weather
exercise
extreme dryness or humidity
fear
laughing
low blood sugar
stress
viral infection
gut health ¹
Gut Health & Asthma
We know children born via C-section have lower levels of healthy gut bacteria like Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides ¹
Which can create what’s called gut dysbiosis; the bacteria in your child’s gut becomes unbalanced
And.. some moms cannot breastfeed for the suggested 6-9 months and begin adding alternative milk, that does not provide the necessary fatty acids that protect against allergies and asthma – This happened to us!
This imbalance continues into your child’s early life due to diet {or lack of probiotics} and increased antibiotic use.
This gut imbalance has also been connected to eczema²
Asthma development is also associated with respiratory tract infections when children are young
Natural Asthma Treatment
**Please keep in mind, that you should continue to use all medications until you and your pediatrician decide it is safe to come off all medications.**
Here are the 6 steps we took to reduce “asthma-like” breathing.
Step #1 Remove all allergens
Has your child been tested for allergies? If so, have you removed all allergens big and small?
For example, my son has a small allergy to wheat, dairy, red dye, and cockroaches. The allergist suggested not to remove these foods, but when he eats them his immune system is lower and he gets sick more often.
PLUS, he had a nagging cough.
When he is mostly gluten and dairy-free, he doesn’t have a nagging cough and he thrives with health. So even if the food sensitivity is small, try removing this from your child’s diet.
Here are the common food sensitivities your child may have:
milk and dairy
eggs
chocolate
soy
nuts
wheat {gluten is linked to nagging cough, see source}
corn
Step #2 Reduce Toxins In Your Environment
Use a Hepa Air Purifier: A HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter; it works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke.
Use dust covers on pillows and bedding
Use natural cleaning products as much as you can
Remove foods from plastic as soon as you get them home
Have your child drink out of a stainless steel water cup and clean any straws often
Consider a water filter for your water system
Step #3 Reduce Stress
Encourage herbal teas of Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Stinging nettles, and Elderflower
Encourage activities like yoga- to reduce stress
My kids love this video!
Step #4 Improve Your Child’s Diet
Encourage a rainbow of foods or sneak them in with smoothies
To support detoxification look for foods with vitamins A, E, and C
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the heart, kidneys, and lungs work properly. Vitamin A can be found in:
cod liver oil {the #1 source}
eggs
orange and yellow vegetables
Vitamin E supports immune function and reduces inflammation
add foods with seeds like sunflower, almonds, peanuts, avocado, and spinach
Vitamin C reduces colds, flu, and asthma attacks. Vitamin C food sources include:
rose hips
broccoli, cauliflower, and green and red peppers
6 Supplements to reduce an Asthma Attack
B6 supplements
In one study, patients were given 50 mg of vitamin B6 twice daily and reported a dramatic decrease in the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
Omega 3
an anti-inflammatory to reduce inflammation
Food Sources: salmon, sardines, and herring
Dosing
Age 2-12: 1/2-1 tsp. day
We like nordic naturals
Vitamin D
Proven to boost immunity and reduce the common cold & flu. Reducing the risk of secondary infections.
Dosing
Age under 7: 400-800 IU
Age 7+: 800-1,000 IU
Age 12+ 2,000 IU
Zinc
Dosing
Age under 1 year: 2-3 mg
Age 4-8: 5mg/day {check with multi-vitamin}
Age 9-13: 10 mg
Age 14-18: 10-15 mg
Zinc helps prevent Upper Respiratory infections
Vitamin C
Dosing
Age 2-5: 200 mg
Age 6-11 250-500mg
Age 12+ 500-1,000 mg
Buffered Vitamin C to reduce exercise-induced asthma daily – given with food.
Probiotics
Look for a probiotic with Lactobacillus alone or with Bifidobacterium to reduce asthma attacks. Take regularly if your child is taking medication or has taken a probiotic.
Step #5 Reduce Medications
Your child’s gut health is connected to their overall health. When your child takes antibiotics, Tylenol, or Ibuprofen it affects their gut bacteria.
We also LOVE Little Davinci’s migrashield for migraines, allergies, and to reduce asthma attacks. :
Little Davinci’s, which has Butterbur in it. When purchasing Butterbur look for PA-free. Butterbur is known for reducing migraines and coughs.
Personalized tincture blend. I also created a custom tincture blend for my son, based on his inability to breathe in. The breathing in led me to add Ginseng to his tincture.
Personalized tincture blends included: Ginseng, Reishi, and Astragalus.
Book a health consultation to learn about your child’s unique needs for asthma.
Work on healing your child’s gut, removing triggers in the environment, and reduce medications can help reduce asthma symptoms for years to come.
When to call the doctor
Always air on the side of caution and trust your momma instincts when your child does not feel well
If something doesn’t feel right, go to the ER right away
Always use your child’s inhaler; as directed by your doctor
TRUE food allergies; need medical care ALWAYS
Warning signs for allergic reactions:
blue lips
difficulty breathing or speaking
change in voice
swelling of lips and tongue
exposure to true food allergy
fainting, weakness, severe abdominal pain
as well as.. high fevers and screaming sore throats {sign of Strep}
Conclusion
I believe your child can overcome Asthma by healing their gut health and adding in the appropriate botanicals for their unique symptoms.
Begin by addressing your child’s gut health and adding probiotics and additional supplements they may need. Next work on healing their gut with the 4R approach, last add in the appropriate herbal remedies for your child’s health depending on their age and symptoms.
Did you know, eczema is linked to other respiratory illnesses like asthma later in life?
What if we could reverse this -naturally?
Picture this.
not worrying about searching and buying lotions that don’t work
not worrying about breathing problems and inhalers later in life
feeling confident that you know what is right for your child
Here’s the thing.
These Atopic conditions; colic, seasonal allergies, asthma, and food sensitivitiescan change by addressing our children’s gut health.
**But don’t forget. Read my precautions below for when to call the doctor and never stop any medical treatment without talking to your doctor first.
It all comes down to this.
==We need to address your child’s gut health to stop eczema and the Atopic triad: seasonal allergies, eczema, and asthma.
Are you ready?
In this post, we’ll talk about the EXTERNAL and INTERNAL herbal remedies needed to heal eczema.
Eczema: What causes it?
Children typically develop Eczema in their first year of life and it is triggered by top allergen foods like; milk, eggs, soy, and wheat.
In Chinese medicine, they suggest Eczema is due to the surface of toxic heat from the mother’s uterus.²
**When Eczema is triggered by the consumption of peanuts, nuts, or shellfish this suggests a food allergy and you would want to get your child tested.
>>>>You would NEVER reintroduce a true food allergy into your child’s diet unless monitored by your doctor!
There are two ways to address your child’s allergies:
#1 Have your child tested for allergies.
Even if it is a small food sensitivity, remove the food that is bothering your child.
Typically, it would be gluten or dairy.
If the mom is breastfeeding, she can remove these foods from her diet as well.
#2 Try an elimination diet for 2-4 weeks.
Remove gluten and dairy and see if there is a change. {If there is no change, you’ll want to heal your child’s gut with the 4R approach when they are a toddler or older}
Eczema is defined as dry or weeping skin; characterized by severe itchy and possibly burning, cracked, or red skin that can blister and ooze when scratched.
In atopic dermatitis, conventional medicine typically wants to cover the skin up with vaseline or a steroid, but functional medicine doctors are teaching us otherwise.
Plantain salve is a must when you have little kids in the house. Great for poison ivy, scratches, and ANYTHING itchy!
You can try honey and beeswax – Make this combination at home and caution with children under 1 year of age or make this healing salve at home by Wellness Mama
Try this Salt Bath for your child to reduce inflammation and improve Mg levels- just make sure the salt is stirred up first!
Internal Remedies For Eczema
#1 Add a probiotic with Lactobacillus Rhamanosuslike Klair infant
Step #4 Reduce medications and integrate natural remedies
Step #5 Reduce toxins in your environment
When to call the doctor for eczema
Always air on the side of caution and trust your momma instincts when your child does not feel well
If something doesn’t feel right, go to the ER right away
When they’re older, always use your child’s inhaler; as directed by your doctor
TRUE food allergies; need medical care ALWAYS
Warning signs for allergic reactions:
blue lips
difficulty breathing or speaking
change in voice
swelling of lips and tongue
exposure to true food allergy
fainting, weakness, severe abdominal pain
as well as.. high fevers and screaming sore throats {sign of Strep}
Conclusion
Eczema in children is a result of poor gut health caused during pregnancy {moms gut health}, by birth {higher in C-section babies}, and if your child has had medications in the first few months of their lives. This is no fault of your own. Addressing your child’s gut health will get to the root cause of itchy, dry skin and may prevent further problems as they get older.
You’ve heard the rumors… we are facing an epidemic of antibiotic resistance.
Wouldn’t it be great if your doctor had other suggestions when you visited them for your child’s symptoms?
Think about this for a moment, if antibiotics don’t always work and they are causing other health problems, what are we to do?
It all boils down to this.
Was your child born via c-section?
Have they had 1+ round of antibiotics?
Are they struggling with their digestion?
Do they have Atopic conditions like allergies, eczema, and asthma?
If you answered yes to one of the questions above, you may want to be concerned.
Reality is, our children may need a round or two of antibiotics while they build their immunity; especially if they are in daycare or the public school system.
But, what if you knew how to use natural remedies to reduce the amount of exposure your child is receiving from antibiotic use?
What if you knew how to heal your child’s gut, so they wouldn’t have these symptoms and fear of antibiotics not working?
Here’s my promise to you.
By the end of this post, you’ll understand why we need to rethink antibiotics and consider integrating natural remedies to boost your child’s immunity for years to come.
95% of clinicians prescribe antibiotics even when they are not absolutely sure they are needed. – Dr. Aviva Romm
6 Dangers Of Antibiotic Use
1. Antibiotic Resistance
One of the biggest threats to our global health today is antibiotic resistance, the World Health Organization suggests.
“Bacteria, not humans or animals, become antibiotic-resistant. These bacteria may infect humans and animals, and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria.” ¹
Bacterial infections need antibiotics and if you overuse them, they may not work when you need them most. According to the CDC, “Each year in the U.S., at least 2 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and at least 23,000 people die.” Source
We have to consider reducing antibiotics and integrating natural remedies.
2. Food Intolerances (gluten/dairy)
If you haven’t heard the word microbiome yet, get ready to learn more. These communities of gut flora run from our mouth to our anus and affect our weight, mood, mental health, and even our immunity. One of the ways we damage this flora is through yup, you guessed it, antibiotics.
And, children born via c-section are already compromised due to the one dose of antibiotics mom gets before surgery.
If you’re planning a C-section, consider Vaginal seeding to protect your child’s gut flora.
When your child’s microbiome is affected, they may have difficulty digesting gluten and dairy – some of the top inflammatory foods we consume.
One way around this is to try Goat’s milk formula or for the mom to take dairy out of her diet if breastfeeding. Also, mom may want to take a digestive enzyme to help her digest the milk.
3. Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, is a digestive condition in which bacteria and toxins are able to “leak” through the intestinal wall causing headaches, food intolerances, allergies, and joint pain in our child’s health.
Medications that lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome In Kids:
Antibiotics
Steroids
NSAIDS
Acid reducing medication
If your child is taking these medications regularly, you may want to consider the 4R approach. Read more about Leaky Gut Syndrom in kids Here.
4. Clostridium difficile
The leading cause of deaths in the hospital, Clostridium difficile or C. diff. is a bacterium that is normally present in the body in small numbers. When they are out of balance with the rest of your gut bacteria – due to antibiotic use or a compromised immune system, they may cause an infection and result in diarrhea.
This bacteria produces a toxin that causes inflammation of the colon and results in varying degrees of diarrhea, sometimes a bloody stool, and could potentially lead to death. Often, children with a compromised immune system have the greatest risk of getting C. Diff. If your child has a bloody stool, please have it checked immediately for C. Diff.
C. diff can go hand in hand with Celiac disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease; please have your child checked if you suspect they have C. Diff.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may suggest an antibiotic or to take the probiotic Saccharomyces Boulardi daily to replenish your gut flora. Read more here.
5. Eczema
An inflammatory skin condition, Eczema, affects 1 in 5 children and is increasing each year. Known as ‘the itch that rashes’ typically begins with the itch and ends with red, scaly skin. You may also have rough bumps, thick patches or bumps that leak fluid and crust over.
Those with Atopic dermatitis typically have a food allergy to wheat, dairy, peanuts or nuts.
Why is this happening? 3 reasons.
Their microbiome is out of balance – possibly due to medications either from mom or baby
The child or Mom has an inflammatory diet or a food allergy
Environmental toxins
What can you do about Eczema?
Address any gut imbalances in the mom or child’s diet.
Cover the skin with a botanical cream like Calendula.
6. MRSA
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections generally begin as skin infections. The bacterium invades the skin through an open sore, cut, or scrape. For children, the most common source of infection is a simple cut or abrasion.
MRSA is different from other staph bacteria because it has built up a resistance to most of the antibiotics doctors usually use to treat staph infections.
What can you do about it antibiotic resistance?
Encourage your children to wash their hands with just soap and water, NOT antibacterial soap.
Eat grass-fed, antibiotic-free meat, and dairy to reduce exposure to antibiotics.
