Choosing Preventive Healthcare for Children

Natural vitamins and minerals along with herbal medicines have been used to cure many sicknesses and diseases. Every culture, language, and tongue on earth has an inspiring story to tell about a formula of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that have healed family and friends. Our children are our most prized possessions on earth and it is up to us to keep them happy, healthy, and wise. But without good health, the state of being happy and wise is highly unlikely.

Preventive health care

Natural vitamins and minerals along with herbal remedies act as preventive remedies against sickness and diseases that could attack the immune system of our children. The ideal is that if our children's body is maintained with proper nutrition and vitamins, the need for traditional medicines is greatly reduced. For example, if the Johnson family who lives across the street has trained their children to eat healthy foods and take their vitamins and herbs consistently, when the cold and flu season or any other epidemic comes around, the Johnson's children's immune system will be strong enough to fight off these viruses. The Johnson children will be healthy and strong. Because of the awareness of their health, they will possibly avoid many health problems. Therefore, as parents we must consistently encourage our kids toward natural vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies as a choice for maintaining good health. Below are a few of the most powerful vitamins and herbal medicines for children.

Types

Chewable Multiple Vitamins and Minerals-perhaps the most powerful form of nutrition for a child, helps maintain strong bones and organs, gives energy and strength, fights fatigue, comes in many flavors

Chewable Vitamin C-supports the immune system, muscle development, also fights against free radical that cans breakdown the body's defenses

A & D Vitamins-supports good vision as well as normal growth in children, also helps digest proteins. These two vitamins are essential for the proper forming of the tissue and cells. Strong bones and teeth results in the proper use of Vitamin D.

B-complex capsules-B vitamins are excellent for a child's overall health. It supports the nervous system, provides energy, circulation, and helps produce enzymes which help digest food

Here are lists of herbal medicines that are as equally powerful as natural vitamins and can be taken as substitutes for natural vitamins:

Probotic-a safe alternative medicine, good for the gastrointestinal tract, immune, and diarrhea issues, empowers the natural defense of the body

Fish oil-contains fatty acids and is used to maintain healthy joints and bone structure, healthy skin, and helps cardiovascular functions,

Garlic, High Potency- an excellent herb for the circulatory system, Garlic attacks free radicals that attempts weakens the immune system of a child. This herb gives colds and flu a hard time. It can be purchased with a protective covering that eliminates the smell of garlic on the breath.

Ginkgo/Gotu Kola Concentrate with Bacopa-an herbal combination that provides circulation in the brain, helps children concentrate in stressful situations, fights against aging and fatigue. This is a good herb when children need to settle down and focus on homework or any other situation needing focus.

Allergie-Hayfever/Pollen-this is a great alternative herbal medicine for the summer when children are out and about or when pollen fills the air. Use to treat minor hayfever and pollen allergy symptoms, watery eyes, respiratory congestion, and runny noses

Ultimate Echinacea-another herb that performs like Vitamin C, Echinacea is a powerful immune system alternative. It keeps kids healthy and strong during the long winter months.

St. John's Worth-a very popular herb for mild depression and fatigue, up lifts the spirit and provides motivation

The above group of natural vitamins and alternative medicines offers several advantages over their traditional counterpart.

No Side Effects

The most wonderful thing about vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements is there are no side effects. Traditional medicine is rigged with tradeoffs. For example, traditional drugs may offer relief from severe back pain, but with the possible side effects of headaches, nausea, or vomiting. You may get relief in one part of the body but have to endure discomfort in another part. This is the threat of using chemically related medicines. None of us want our children to suffer this kind of trauma. "Many people prefer to use herbal medicines because in many cases, they exert beneficial effectswithout the side effects caused by many pharmaceutical drugs." Also" vitamins are chemically unrelated substances and all are organic. Organic substances are those that contain carbon and come from materials that are living, such as plants and animals; or that were once living, for example, petroleum or coal. It is impossible to sustain life without all the essential vitamins." (Reaveley)

Less Expensive

With the skyrocketing cost of traditional healthcare and medicines wrecking havoc on many families and communities, the thought of natural vitamins and herbal remedies comes as a welcome solution. The cost of medical prescription drugs is sucking the very quality of life out of many Americans. This situation leaves the door wide over for natural vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements. The cost is less and most products can be found on the shelves of local mall stores or on internet sites. A good idea is to talk to a certified herb specialist in order to learn to distinguish between low and high quality vitamins and natural medicines.

Non Addictive

Another great thing about natural vitamins and nutritional supplements is that they are non addictive. Dependency on traditional drugs has destroyed the lives of thousands, including the young and old, the ordinary and the famous. It has made no difference. Therefore children need to be taught about the dangers of traditional medicines. Emotional chaos and painful withdrawals could be results of becoming dependent on powerful prescription drugs. Therefore, many parents have found safety in vitamins and herbal remedies for their children as well as themselves. If children are given a good knowledge of the importance of natural vitamins and minerals at an early age, they will most likely make the right decisions now and later in their lives.

Warning

What if your child is already on traditional medicine? Is it still safe to turn to natural vitamins and herbal medicines? These are tricky questions and must be answered with great caution. Although natural vitamins and herbal medicines are becoming a choice for many Americans, it is important to find a doctor familiar and unbiased toward these natural medicines. The interaction among chemical drugs, natural vitamins and herbal remedies may have an adverse effect on the body system of children taking prescription drugs.

Reavley, Nicola. (1998). New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, & Herbs: A completely cross-referenced user's guide for optimal health. (New York: Bookman Press, 1998)