Back-to-school season is a mixed blessing – we’ve had all summer to enjoy more time outdoors with a less scheduled, less hectic, more free-range lifestyle that the extended break from school affords, but now it’s time to put a little more structure in place and for our kids to get back into the classroom and the routine of school. However, being back in a classroom with 30 other kiddos and all the gunk kids tend to carry and pick up also means more exposure to the things that can make them (and you!) sick.
Aside from the school supplies and new shoes, I always start my kids on a special regimen during back to school. First of all, to help keep my kids healthy, I give them the Smarty Pants Multivitamin with Omega 3s and Vitamin D, every day, regardless of the season.
I think my “Travel Pack” is one of the best gifts I’ve ever given my kids’ teachers. This trio of products that I’ve created myself is my personal favorite for maintaining health, especially during the back-to-school season. I also use the Travel Pack for my own kids, especially during the school year.
Every day I give my kids a dropper full of my Elderberry Tincture from the Travel Pack as a preventative. This is also a great buffer for kids and adults alike during flu season or during travel. I give it to my kids up to 3 times per day if they’re already feeling a cold or flu coming on.
In my new book, The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies: The Power of Plant Medicine I explain: “Taken early blue elderberry reduces the chance of catching the flu. Taken after a flu infection, it reduces the spread of the disease throughout the body and lessens the severity and duration of the virus. Blue elderberry is one of the best anti-virals out there and there has been much research supporting its effectiveness. It is deemed safe for children and my kids take it in the form of a tincture or syrup.”
Also from the Travel Pack and available in my apothecary, is Usnea Tincture. Usnea is great for illness prevention during back-to-school season, let your kids just spray it right into their throats. I have them use this as a daily “go-to” tincture as it helps to ward off illness like bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infections, strep throat, colds, and the flu. Because it acts as an antiviral, antibiotic, antimicrobial, and antifungal it’s especially great for anyone who is around large crowds of people on a regular basis (like a classroom!) Because the outer portion of the Usnea lichen contains antibiotic compounds that rival penicillin, it’s an excellent preventive during back-to-school season.
The third product I use with my kids during back-to-school is my All-Purpose Salve. It’s my #1 selling salve, and for good reason! I have them use the All-Purpose Salve directly on their hands by rubbing a little in every morning before school, and literally right inside of their noses, to coat each nostril. This might sound strange, but it’s proven in my experience to prevent germs from taking hold. This herbal salve has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties so it’s a great countermeasure to all the sneezes and coughs kids are exposed to in the classroom environment.
I think this review of my Travel Pack from a customer who works as an ER nurse sums up just why it’s such a great product for staying healthy:
“I work full time as an RN so I spend a lot of time working closely with sick people, especially during cold and flu season. It’s important for me to try to minimize the likelihood that I end up sick. Aside from not missing work I really don’t want to bring something home to my family. I use the First Aid Salve on a daily basis for wounds to promote quick healing and as a lip balm, in my nose, and on my hands at the end of a shift to prevent getting sick. During flu season I use the Usnea Spray at least twice a day for prevention. If I have any type of respiratory symptoms I will use the Usnea more frequently and add the Lungwort. I ordered Elderberry Tincture for my daily routine of flu prevention. I made it through this busy flu season unscathed while many of my coworkers have had to stay home sick!” – Nathan P
