In the last three weeks, I have seen numerous posts on Facebook on families and kids falling victims to the stomach flu. I’ll also get inbox messages on what they can do to prevent or reduce it naturally. The bad thing about the stomach flu is you already have the bug before you even know it. It can take 24-48 hours for it to rear its ugly head. It is especially hard when our kids get the stomach flu as it typically will run it course through all of them. Two years in a row I have dodged the stomach flu while it went through my family and it really has to do how well we eat, rest and take care of ourselves (and a lot of hand washing!) So here are my tips on What To Do When The Stomach Flu Strikes:

Homeopathic Solutions are approved by the FDA and while this is still a new area for me, I have found great results using homeopathic tablets. My kids love taking them for teething, restlessness, and I have used the cold tablets myself with excellent results.

Acute Stomach Flu:

Start with Oscillococcinum at the very beginning or if exposed. (I have used this when I have felt the flu coming on and it worked extremely well, I always have this stuff on hand!)
Then Arsenicum album 9C is best, but 30C is fine: 5 pellets once at the beginning.

Then Alternate:
Nux Vomica for nausea (if vomiting – feels better after vomiting, tongue is often coated, aka white)

AND

Ipecac for nausea (if vomiting – does not feel better after vomiting, tongue is NOT coated)

Both 9C or 12C is best, 30C is fine: 5 pellets every 30-minutes to an hour and then spread out as they feel better.

Diarrhea Homeopathic Solutions:

Podophyllin: for yellow (often squirting) diarrhea. 12C, 5 pellets after each stool
Croton tiglium: Also for yellow profuse diarrhea (often squirting)- common in infants) may be excoriating to “bottom” 12C, 5 pellets after each stool.
Aloe: Urgent diarrhea often with mucus and a lack of sphincter control. 6C, 5 pellets after each stool
Cinchona (China): Diarrhea with lots of smelly gas and often bloating. 6C, 5 pellets after each stool

For Severe Abdominal Cramping:
Colocynthis: 12C, 5 pellets as often as needed

1.) Forgo the Lysol and get Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. Lysol is full of nasty chemicals that can actually cause more harm than good, especially when we are sick. The toxic fumes can make it harder to recover. I like Dr. Bronner’s and use it to clean just about everything in my home. For times like these I use the soap infused with Peppermint Oil as it is great for those with indigestion, nausea or vomiting. You can buy this at Target, Whole Foods, specialty stores or order online. And yes, I clean everything with this soap.

2.) Stay hydrated! Smart Water has all the electrolytes added without the nasty sugars, dyes or preservatives found in Gatorade or other like electrolyte drinks. I actually make our own Pedialyte Recipe and have a bottle of Smart Water and Coconut water on hand so I am prepared:

1/2 cup of Smart Water
1/4 cup of plain coconut water
2 Tablespoons of Organic Unfiltered Apple Juice

Drink after each vomiting or diarrhea episode.

3.) BRAT Diet: This comes after you are able to keep clear liquids down. Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. Here is what I recommend first. Toast with coconut oil sprinkled with cinnamon. I eat coconut oil every day for its anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, AND anti-carcinogenic properties. So guess what, it helps to kill viruses, including stomach flu viruses. This is one of my secret weapons when my family gets the stomach flu. I double up on eating this stuff and put it in everything I am eating. I’ll up to almost 3 Tablespoons per day during this time period. I also double up when I am sick as well.

4.) Cinnamon, yes cinnamon! My Greek grandmother always gave us cinnamon in our applesauce when we were sick and now I know why! Greeks love to cook with cinnamon. Cinnamon is a:

* Powerful antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, astringent and anti clotting properties.
* It has been shown to suppress E. coli, staphylococcus, and candida albicans (yeast overgrowth).
* Intestinal astringent, dries excess mucus, relieves abdominal spasms while warming and notifying.
* Decreases diarrhea and symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

Aim to add 1/2 tsp to a half cup of unsweetened organic applesauce. Kids will love it on toast too.

5.) Probiotics is a must! In fact, the whole family should be taking them daily. The major reason why the stomach flu virus comes alive is that it takes over the gut, invading it full of the bad bacteria. The stomach or the intestines can’t handle the sudden surge, it then has to purge it out because it has taken over. This causes an imbalance of the good and bad bacteria. It is important to replace our gut with good bacteria to help restore our gut health, but to also make us less prone to other cold, throat, upper respiratory viruses. For adults, Renew Life Critical Care Blend taken first thing in the morning and 12 hours later before bed for 15-days. Then go to your normal probiotic. Kids, same thing morning and night, but they are just doubling their normal probiotc. Renew Life Ultimate Flora for kids Research does show kids that take probiotics cuts colds symptoms

6.) Rest. Put on the kids favorite movie and let them chill.

7.) Homemade chicken and brown rice (no-noodle) soup and please don’t eat those saltines! Saltines actually have really junkie ingredients that can delay you getting better, you are best eating dry toast. Brown rice is great post stomach flu as it helps to begin binding in the body.

8.) Homemade Pediasure is best. I have learned that pediasure and pedialyte drinks are also full of junkie ingredients that can actually suppress your immunity, plus it is a waste of money if you don’t use it within 24 hours. Try my own Anti-Nausea Recovery Smoothie instead:

This is a nice treat when one is ready to keep solids down

3/4 cup of rice milk (no dairy, it is hard to digest when coming off the stomach flu the digestive track when healing)
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 tsp of raw, local honey (at least raw)
1/2 tsp of coconut oil (heated and added slowly while blending)

Blend and drink up!

9.) Adults can enjoy sipping on peppermint tea or chammomile tea, which both have soothing properties. Add a stick of cinnamon if you please to help alleviate stomach distress. You can dilute some tea with water if your child will drink it.

Once you have the stomach flu, it is ideal to let it run its course. However, take steps to help alleviate symptoms and ease back into eating foods. Going for heavy foods and sugary foods right away is tough for our digestive systems to handle. Remember sugar supresses immunity!

You can also read on my previous post: What Healthy Jasmine Does When She Gets Sick

Pictures are from Freedigitalphotos.net