Mom's Medicine; How to Protect Your Kids, Husband, and Parents Against More than 100 Health Problems and Medical Emergencies

by Editors of Prevention Magazine

• ISBN13: 9781579544904
• ISBN10: 1579544908
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2001-09-08
• Publisher: Rodale Books

Summary

Moms Medicine emphasizes natural remedies and covers diverse topics, such as anti-aging diets for elderly parents, and how to stop a teen from joining a gang. From the trusted editors of Prevention magazine, this empowering book will instill busy moms with the confidence to handle every medical woe that comes their way.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xv
PART ONE The Basics of Mom's Medicine
Here you'll learn what equipment you need to take care of your ``patients.'' And since many of the remedies recommended in this book are herbal, we include a basic guide to herbal medicine and how to use it to better take care of your family
What to Keep on Hand	3	(8)
Herbal Medicine for Moms	11	(12)
PART TWO Mom's Medicine for Kids and Teens
Kids and teens are the main ``patients'' for the majority of moms. In this section, we go beyond covering simple problems such as pulling out splinters, which you probably already can do, to tackle various problems--both physical and emotional--that require more complicated approaches
Acne	23	(5)
Asthma	28	(6)
Bad Grades	34	(7)
Bullies	41	(6)
Cavities	47	(6)
Colds	53	(6)
Constipation	59	(5)
Dating	64	(7)
Drugs	71	(9)
Eating Disorders	80	(5)
Fever	85	(6)
Gangs	91	(8)
Hay Fever and Allergies	99	(6)
Loneliness	105	(8)
Night Terrors and Nightmares	113	(5)
Overweight	118	(5)
Sex	123	(8)
Sibling Rivalry	131	(3)
Stomachache	134	(6)
Stuttering	140	(4)
Teen Rebellion	144	(6)
TV Addiction	150	(4)
Vomiting	154	(7)
PART THREE Mom's Medicine for Men
Some women claim that the hardest ``children'' to take care of are their husbands. In this part, our experts offer you not only remedies to take better care of your husband when he's sick but also support tactics to teach him to take better care of himself
Abdominal Fat	161	(4)
Back Pain	165	(5)
Baldness	170	(3)
Bursitis and Tendinitis	173	(5)
Diabetes	178	(6)
Flatulence	184	(4)
Gout	188	(5)
Heart Disease	193	(5)
Hemorrhoids	198	(4)
High Blood Pressure	202	(5)
High Cholesterol	207	(6)
Impotence	213	(3)
Inhibited Sexual Desire	216	(4)
Kidney Stones	220	(5)
Premature Ejaculation	225	(4)
Prostate Problems	229	(7)
Smoking	236	(7)
Snoring	243	(6)
Sports Addiction	249	(4)
Sprains	253	(4)
Stress	257	(5)
Ulcers	262	(9)
PART FOUR Mom's Medicine for Older Folks
When you were little, your parents cared for you with the love and wisdom they had learned from their parents. Now it's your turn to take care of them. Learn how to handle the most common problems that affect older people
Arthritis	271	(5)
Dementia	276	(9)
Heart Palpitations	285	(3)
Hip Pain	288	(4)
Incontinence	292	(5)
Insomnia	297	(6)
Intermittent Claudication	303	(5)
Macular Degeneration	308	(5)
Memory Problems	313	(7)
Mobility Problems	320	(8)
Muscle Soreness	328	(5)
Neck Pain	333	(4)
Night Vision Problems	337	(5)
Nutrition	342	(6)
Osteoporosis	348	(6)
Parkinson's Disease	354	(6)
Phlebitis	360	(5)
Pneumonia	365	(5)
Poor Concentration	370	(9)
PART FIVE Mom's Medicine for Mom Herself
Even the best doctors have to take care of themselves. If they don't, then what good are they to their patients? The same applies to you. In this part, our experts tell you how to combat the ills that most affect women so that you can stay in tip-top shape
Anemia	379	(5)
Breast Discomfort	384	(6)
Cancer Prevention	390	(5)
Caregiver Stress	395	(5)
Chronic Fatigue	400	(8)
Colds and Flu	408	(5)
Constipation	413	(5)
Depression	418	(6)
Inactivity	424	(4)
Infertility	428	(6)
Menopause	434	(6)
Menstrual Discomforts	440	(5)
Overweight	445	(6)
Tension Headaches and Migraines	451	(6)
Urinary Tract Infections	457	(5)
Vaginitis	462	(5)
Varicose Veins	467	(6)
Yeast Infections	473	(8)
FIRST AID
Basic Lifesaving Techniques	481	(6)
Here we present some of the basic first-aid techniques you should know in case of an emergency
First aid for Children	487	(14)
Step by step, you'll learn what you should do if the unexpected---and dreaded---happens and your child is hurt
Bleeding	487	(1)
Breathing Problems and Suffocation	488	(1)
Minor Burns	488	(1)
Severe Burns	489	(1)
Choking	490	(2)
Convulsions without Fever	492	(1)
Drowning	493	(1)
Electric Shock Injuries	494	(1)
Eye Injuries	494	(2)
Falls	496	(1)
Finger or Toe Injuries	496	(1)
Frostbite	497	(1)
Head Injuries	498	(2)
Poisoning	500	(1)
First aid for Adults	501	(16)
When it's an adult in a dangerous situation, the steps you take vary only a little, but we've included these specific directions to prepare you just in case
Broken Bones	501	(2)
Broken Nose	503	(1)
Burns	504	(1)
Choking	505	(3)
Drowning	508	(1)
Electric Shock	509	(2)
Falling	511	(1)
Open Wounds	512	(1)
Poisoning	513	(1)
Seizures	514	(1)
Severed Appendages	515	(2)
Index	517

Excerpts

Chapter One

What to Keep on Hand

                                          Without instruments, a doctor (male or female) can only help so much. Certain equipment is necessary for diagnosis and treatment. The same applies to you as the doctor of the house. In this chapter, medical experts will let you know some of the basic things you'll need in your home to keep your family members healthy and to treat them for minor problems if they come up.

Medicines

    The following items are worth keeping in your medicine cabinet.

    Acetic acid. For athlete's foot and poison ivy. Example: Domeboro.

    Alpha hydroxy products. To relieve dry skin and to prevent acne, use a moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids. To make wrinkles less apparent, to help eliminate a double chin, and to prevent scarring, use an alpha hydroxy cream. Example: Alpha Hydrox.

    Antacid. To relieve heartburn. A good choice is Mylanta, which contains a combination of magnesium and aluminum.

    Antibacterial soap. To prevent burns and open wounds from becoming infected; to treat chafing, jock itch, and boils; and to prevent body odor. Example: Lever 2000.

    Antihistamine. For eczema, poison ivy, and motion sickness. Example: Benadryl.

    Baby powder. To relieve rectal itching and to prevent various skin problems such as blisters, boils, and chafing. Generic brands are readily available.

    Calamine lotion. For itchy skin caused by poison ivy or sunburn. Generic brands are readily available.

    Colloidal oatmeal bath. To relieve itching caused by sunburn, rashes, shingles, and psoriasis. Example: Aveeno Bath Treatment.

    Cotton swabs and cotton balls. For applying medicines topically. Generic brands are readily available.

    Cough medicine. For a productive cough (one that gets rid of phlegm), use a brand containing guaifenesin, such as Robitussin. For an unproductive cough (a dry cough that keeps you up at night), use a brand that contains dextromethorphan, such as Robitussin DM.

    Decongestant. To relieve a stuffy head caused by allergies, a sinus infection, or a cold. Our experts recommend brands that contain pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed.

    Elastic bandages. For treating knee pain, sprains, tendinitis, and bursitis. Example: Ace bandage.

    Fiber supplement. For occasional use, when eating foods high in fiber doesn't relieve constipation. Metamucil, which contains psyllium fiber, is a good choice. Taken with meals, a fiber supplement can also prevent overeating.

    Hydrocortisone cream. For itching and inflammation caused by rashes, poison ivy, or razor burn. Generic brands are readily available.

    Nasal spray. For a stuffy nose, use one containing oxymetazoline, such as Afrin.

    Pain medicine. For headaches and minor pain. Because certain pain medications are better for certain conditions, you should keep three different kinds on hand: acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. For example, you should give acetaminophen rather than aspirin or ibuprofen if your adult "patient" has an ulcer, an earache, or pain associated with a bruise or open wound. You should also avoid giving aspirin if your loved one has a fever or gout. But if your loved one is having chest pains that may be from a heart attack, having him chew one aspirin may help save his life.

    To know what pain relievers to give to children, ask your pediatrician or see the specific instructions in the chapters that recommend them.

    Pepto-Bismol. For a stomachache, diarrhea, or nausea. The pink stuff's active ingredient, bismuth, is also available in generic brands.

    Petroleum jelly. To treat chapped lips and psoriasis and to prevent scarring, chafing, saddle sores, and hangnails. Generic brands are readily available.

    Thermometer. To take a temperature to determine whether your loved one is running a fever.

First-Aid Kit

    You should also keep a well-stocked first-aid kit on hand so that you're prepared for any emergency. Here's a list of items to get your kit started.

    Antibiotic ointment. To prevent blisters, burns, cuts, and other open wounds from becoming infected. Example: Polysporin.

    Butterfly bandages. To keep the edges of a wound together.

    Disposable latex gloves. To wear whenever administering first aid to another person to protect yourself from picking up diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

    Face mask. To wear when doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation or when giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

    Hydrogen peroxide. To clean an open wound or to use as a mouthwash to disinfect irritated gums.

    Ipecac syrup and activated charcoal. For treatment after swallowing certain poisons.

    Reusable, instant-activating ice bags. For icing injuries.

    Rubbing alcohol. To sterilize tweezers before using them.

    Saline solution for contact lenses. To moisten sterile gauze used to bandage a broken bone that breaks through the skin or to wrap up a severed appendage so that you can take it to the hospital and possibly have it reattached.

    Sterile gauze. To bandage open wounds, burns, blisters, and corns.

    Tweezers. To remove dirt or debris from an open wound, a tick that is attached to someone's skin, or a splinter.

Vitamins and Minerals

    For adults, a multivitamin serves as an insurance policy, says Cathy Kapica, R.D., Ph.D., professor of nutrition and dietetics at Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School. "It doesn't excuse one, however, from eating a well-balanced diet."

    One caution: Make sure that the multivitamin you choose for your man does not contain extra iron, says David Meyers, M.D., professor of internal medicine and preventive medicine at University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City. Most men get too much iron in their diets already, and excess iron has been linked to higher risk of heart disease and cancer in men.

    For each nutrient that follows, listed as well is the Daily Value established by the Food and Nutrition Board, which is the minimum amount one needs of each nutrient every day to stay healthy at the most basic level. Throughout this book, our experts recommend getting more than the Daily Value for many of these nutrients to help in healing, to combat fatigue, and to prevent illnesses such as heart disease.

    In addition to a multivitamin, you might want to consider making sure your family eats foods that are good sources of these vitamins and minerals to help them reach the optimal amounts recommended by our experts.

    Calcium. Builds strong bones and teeth. Daily Value: 1,000 milligrams for people younger than 65 and 1,500 milligrams for people older than 65. Food sources: milk, yogurt, and cheese.

    Magnesium. Involved in metabolism and nerve functions. Daily Value: 400 milligrams. Food sources: meats, poultry, dairy products, cereal, and dark green leafy vegetables.

    Vitamin C. Strengthens resistance against infection and helps form collagen, which fortifies blood vessel walls and forms scar tissue. Daily Value: 60 milligrams. Food sources: oranges, cranberry juice, cantaloupe, broccoli, red and green peppers, pink grapefruit, and kiwifruit.

    Vitamin E. Combats heart disease and certain cancers. Daily Value: 30 IU. Food sources: vegetable and nut oils, sunflower seeds, whole grains, wheat germ, and spinach.

    Zinc. Strengthens immune system, helps in the healing of wounds and sperm production. Essential for brain function. Daily Value: 15 milligrams. Food sources: red meats, poultry, eggs, and oysters.

Herbs

    Among the healing herbs that our experts recommend throughout this book are the following:

    Aloe. For burns, including sunburn, and to relieve rectal itching. An aloe poultice can draw a splinter to the surface of the skin. Aloe vera juice can also help relieve constipation.

    Arnica. For sprains and muscle soreness, and to speed the healing of bruises as well as other injuries due to trauma.

    Calendula. Also known as garden or pot marigold, this herb is effective in treating blisters, canker sores, chafing, and razor burn.

    Chamomile. To help settle an upset stomach and to relieve gas.

    Echinacea. Also known as coneflower, echinacea strengthens the immune system and helps fight off colds, ear infections, flu, pneumonia, and perhaps even Lyme disease.

    Ginger. Contains anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful for people with arthritis, bursitis, or tendinitis. It can also help relieve gas, diarrhea, nausea, motion sickness, allergies, bad breath, and hiccups.

    Ginkgo. Improves bloodflow to the brain, keeps you mentally sharp, and elevates your mood. May help relieve impotence, depression, back pain, and absentmindedness.

    Ginseng. May boost energy and libido. Can help relieve stress, burnout, and impotence.

    Goldenseal. To help fight ear infections, pneumonia, and a cough associated with a cold. It can also ease the pain and speed the healing of canker sores and gum ailments.

    Kava. To relieve muscle cramps, muscle soreness, and restless legs that keep you up at night.

    St. John's wort. For moderate depression, seasonal affective disorder, and fatigue associated with mild depression.

    Saw palmetto. For frequent urination or incontinence caused by an enlarged prostate.

Foods

    Keeping the right stuff in your kitchen can keep your family healthier. Here are a few foods that our experts suggest keeping in your refrigerator and pantry.

    Bananas. To help relieve diarrhea and muscle cramps. Eating potassium-packed bananas as part of a regular diet can also help relieve the pain associated with sciatica and can even help bring down high blood pressure.

    Cayenne pepper. To help relieve congestion, a stubborn cough, a sore throat, and bad breath. Cooking with cayenne on a regular basis can help lower cholesterol.

    Chewing gum. To help relieve bad breath, dry mouth, heartburn, and even an in-flight earache.

    Chicken soup. To unclog a stuffy nose and to slow the body's phlegm production. Homemade chicken soup would be better, but condensed, canned chicken soup does work.

    Fish. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines may relieve depression, skin rashes, and eczema. They can reduce the pain and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis and may prevent and even reverse heart disease.

    Flaxseed oil. To help relieve constipation, dry skin, eczema, and rashes. Also available in seed and supplement form.

    Garlic. Can help fight off colds and flu as well as athlete's foot, relieves a nagging cough and diarrhea, and helps lower cholesterol, making your blood less likely to form dangerous clots. Of course, fresh garlic is best, but if you're worried about repelling your friends and coworkers as well as vampires because of garlic's notorious odor, fear not. Odor-free garlic capsules are readily available.

    Hard candy. For a sore throat or hiccups.

    Honey. To help relieve constipation, heartburn, a sore throat, bad breath, and even a hangover.

    Horseradish. To relieve congestion.

    Lemon. To soothe wasp stings or to get rid of body odor. It is also an ingredient in remedies recommended by our experts to relieve a cough, a sore throat, bad breath, and hiccups.

    Milk. To relieve and prevent muscle cramps, to prevent kidney stones from forming, and to soothe sunburn. Just make sure that your family members are drinking fat-free or low-fat milk so that they're not clogging their arteries or putting on extra pounds.

    Olive oil. Use as your regular cooking oil for a healthy heart.

    Orange juice. To help curb nicotine cravings, prevent kidney stones from forming, and help soften the stools of those with diverticular disease of the colon.

    Sports drinks. To prevent muscle cramps, replenish fluids lost during a bout of diarrhea, or prevent symptoms caused by inflammatory bowel disease. Gatorade is one brand to try.

    Vinegar. White vinegar as a remedy to soothe wasp stings, as eardrops to help dry up moisture and stop any itching, and as a soak to get rid of foot odor. Apple cider vinegar as a digestive aid to ease heartburn and as a rinse to fight dandruff and dry hair.

    Wheat germ. To help restore coenzyme [Q.sub.10] levels in the hearts of people with angina and to relieve restless legs that wake you up in the middle of the night.

    Yogurt. For an energy boost to relieve that early-afternoon slump. Eating yogurt is also a good way for those who are lactose intolerant to get their calcium. They generally can tolerate yogurt because the lactose is digested by the live bacteria found in most yogurt.

Other Helpful Items

    The following items don't fall under the other categories but are recommended by experts elsewhere in this book for problems that your family is likely to face. So add these to your in-house doctor's medicine cabinet.

    Art supplies. To work through emotional and psychological problems such as bad dreams, a midlife crisis, and envious feelings. All you or your loved one needs to give art therapy a try is an unlined pad of paper and some colored pencils or markers.

    Date book. Keeping better track of one's appointments and scheduling weekly chores can help change bad habits such as sloppiness, chronic lateness, and absentmindedness. It can also help when one is trying to kick an addiction. And if sexual desire is down, you can try setting a date for sex. Maybe you and your husband will discover that it's a real libido lifter ... and the one appointment that you're most likely to keep.

    Heating pad. To speed the healing of bruises and to relieve back or neck pain, arthritis pain, heartburn, or an earache.

    Humidifier. To keep skin and nasal passages moist, especially during the winter months. It will help relieve dry mouth, dry skin, eczema, bronchitis, laryngitis, and nosebleeds.

Excerpted from Mom's Medicine by . Copyright © 2001 by Rodale Inc.. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.