Pre depature Immune Boosting Ideas

[WCMouse]

Dear All;

This has probably been covered before, thus sorry for bringing up again. Any ideas on good ideas to make sure all arrive and stay healthy during the park visits and cruise. We will all be eating healthy before and as healthy during the trip as well as taking our vitamins, but are there any reccomendations that others have used to keep all healthy while confined with many in close quaters? Thanks

 

[Jordan's MOM]

WASH YOUR HANDS!!! It is the #1 way to cut down the risk of getting sick. Plain soap and water are best but the antibacterial gels are ok if you are away from a sink. We carry them into the park to use after our hands have been all over the railings. Remind kids not to put their fingers etc in their mouths and try to keep hands away from faces. Pray a lot and then don't worry. I do take medications along just in case we get sick on a trip.


jordan's mom

 

[Dani 61]

I think the most important thing is to slow down. We've travelled a lot with our kids and have had many medical disasters befall us- my youngest was even BORN 9 weeks early- on vacation! What I have learned is that people on vacation are distracted, tired and accident-prone. Try to get a good night's sleep and drink lots of water- my kids carry water bottles. Keep the kids covered up- unless it's REALLY hot there are lightweight fabrics that are easy to wear. This prevents scrapes, bug bites and sunburn. Shoes and socks are far better than sandals.

Keep in mind that on a vacation, your schedule is really disrupted and you may not notice if a child is feeling ill, and they may not complain since they're having so much fun. The younger they are, the more you have to watch them. When my daughter was three, we were in Hawaii and I noticed she seemed a little warm. Thank God I had a thermometer, her temp. was 104 degrees, and she had a kidney infection. Had we been at home, I would have picked this up a lot sooner, probably while it was still only a bladder infection.

 

[Kate-n-sam]

Don't use the air blower thingie on the plane, you will share the germs from the guy 20 rows behind you.

Also, carry some Zicam. I was so skeptical of this stuff, but since I've been using it I have not had a cold really take-hold of me in 10 months. It can be used for kids age 3 and up. Even DH uses it, now that's something, lol.

Good luck!

 

[KIS]

Kate-n-sam,

What is zicam?

KIS

 

[Kate-n-sam]

Zicam is a homeopathic remedy for colds. Their ads claim it will reduce the length and severity of the common cold. Works for me! It is widely available, I buy it at Walmart. I'm sure it would be available at large chain drug stores as well. Also there are several different types available, we prefer the single use swabs for the nose. I believe there is a nasal spray and lozenge too. In my opinion it's worth a try. Good luck!

 

[KIS]

Thanks, Kate-n-same! KIS

 

[topgumm]

Oh boy is this down my alley!!

As Dental hygienist and resident germo-phobe, I have a few great tips I have picked up on the way(through life!)

Zicam, Zicam, Zicam, I can't say enough great things about this product. My pediatrician, my neurologist and several pediatric nurses I know swear by the stuff, as do my whole family. You can use it preventively once to twice a day on trips like WDW or DL.

Drink plenty of water, the statistics on colds when people are dehydrated is really phenominal.

Hand sanitizers, preferably the ones with alcohol so as not to create resistance amoung nasty bugs. Hand wipes for the extra nasty times.

Personal air filters for the plane have worked wonders for me. Travel Smith or Sharper Image are good places to look. They also carry blankets you can purchase so you don't have to use the airline's(that are usually repackaged/unclean)

Elderberry is an herb you can get in some childrens vits. that is very good for supporting the immune system. I like Sea Buddies Immune Defense.(www.enzy.com)

"Airborne" is also a product you can buy at most drug stores specifically for use on airplanes for the immune system.

One last one I use is "Skinvisible" antimicrobial skin protector. I only like to use it on trips or in large crowds,etc. You apply this on clean hands and it works for "4 hours"!! It is not supposed to wash off. Pretty amazing. www.skinvisible.com

Sorry it went so long, I go crazy when someone gets me started. I also agree with the above post, Pray alot!!

 

[AspiringCindy]

We use Zicam and Imu Stimu( homeopathic immune booster).

 

[sha_lyn]

Vitamin C, Elderberry, Echinacea and goldenseal are all great for fighting off viruses and bacterial. I don't recall a childrens formula that contains goldenseal. For DD we use sambucol for kids. It contains elderberry and echinacea.

topgumm listed some great ideas. IMHO the most important being drink lots of water.

 

[topgumm]

AspiringCindy,
I am totally cracking up at the NJ/ purgatory comment under your name! My parents grew up in NJ, Woodbury to be exact. Now personally, I love Ocean City-the shore, etc. But I understand the comment from my trips that took me to Newark.

Off that subject, where do you buy Imu Stimu and do you know the company name?

sha_lyn, I love that Sambucol product too. I saw that today in Henry's. I don't think they are using goldenseal as much any more. I heard from an herbalist that there was some problem with supply or quality(or something). Thanks for the kind word on the ideas, I realize I can go a little crazy at times. My husband asks if "we are prepping for surgery" during those moments.

Also don't forget how important sleep, lack of stress, and moderate exercise are for the immune system. Some of those are easier to come by during travel than others! I also try(repeat try) to keep my kids away from sweets when they are sick. But that is obviously out the window at WDW

 

[AspiringCindy]

I buy Imu Stimu at a health food store. I don't remember the Co. name(because I am out of it), but it comes in a liquid form with an eyedropper. I vaquely remember it containing echinacea and clove along with 1 or 2 other things!

Originally posted by topgumm
AspiringCindy,

Off that subject, where do you buy Imu Stimu and do you know the company name?

 

[sha_lyn]

There is also a great natural med for the Flu called (OK I'm out of it so the spelling is probably way off) Oscillicosium. It is fairly new here, but has been on the market in Europe for years. The med is very small pellets with each dose in a small tube. For pevention I've read that one capfull (the tiny cap off the tube) 2x a day works great. When we were all exposed to the flu this yr and I began to show symptoms I took 1/2 a tube 2x a day and gave the kids a capful 2x a day. Other than my very mild smptoms, non of us were sick.

 

[tjmw2727]

I just saw a news report on Zicam, prompting me to do some searching and I found some disturbing information. I have used the quick dissolve tablets myself and done the swabs on my girls, once each. NEVER AGAIN

To me the risks are not worth the benefits - just though I would post to those who are interested. This is one of several I found including a new class action suit reported on the AM news here.


<<<On October 14, 2003, Dennis and Debra Christensen of Almena, Michigan, filed suit against the marketers of Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel , a homeopathic product claimed to "reduce the severity and duration of common cold symptoms even when treatment is started as late as the second day after onset of illness." The suit alleges that Dennis Christenson sustained permanent loss of his sense of smell following a single application of the product. Several similar cases were reported at a meeting of the American Rhinologic Society in September 2003. The case report authors state that direct application to the inner lining of the nose has long been known to produce loss of the sense of smell.>>>>

To risky for me!!
TJ

 

[sha_lyn]

could you give a link? The only "bad" thing I have heard is that it doesn't seen to be as effective as claimed.

Oh and before anyone mentions the study that "proved" that Echinacea does not work. The study was done using the wrong part of the plant. I can't remember if it is the roots or berries that are effective. Whichever it is, the other was used in the study.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by sha_lyn
could you give a link? The only "bad" thing I have heard is that it doesn't seen to be as effective as claimed.

Oh and before anyone mentions the study that "proved" that Echinacea does not work. The study was done using the wrong part of the plant. I can't remember if it is the roots or berries that are effective. Whichever it is, the other was used in the study.

If your asking for the link re Zicam - that was me and sure.
The quote I referenced was from:

http://www.homeowatch.org/legal/zicam.html

The CBS and ABC morning news both had stories this am so I also found information on both of their news sites,
www.zimmreed.com/FSL5LS/news/Zicam.html

If that dosen't work just try abcnews.com and cbsnews.com and use the search.

FWIW I googled Zicam and found several news stores and suits dating back to the 1980's.

Its one thing if the product dosen't work, but there is even the slightest risk that it could cause damage esp to my kids that's a big problem for me.

Hadn't heard anything about Echinacea.
TJ

 

[topgumm]

I am really glad you noted the concerns about Zicam! I found some intersting sites to check, as well. http://www.coldcure.com/anosmia/anosmia.html
This site is understandably a commercial site for a zinc product, but none the less it is informative.

Also take a look at http://www.businesswire.com/biowire2k/pharmaceutical.shtml

Most of the previous lawsuits I read about were for patent infringements. The one Homeowatch web site that was mentioned seems to me to be a little overboard in general. They claim to be a qwackwatch site but they seem a bit qwacky to me-or maybe fanatic.

The company that makes Zicam just recently came out with a mouth spray, and other forms of delivery of zinc. Maybe people who are wary could feel comfortable with those.

Bottom line is you need to feel absolutely convinced that what you use is right for you or your children. Do your own research and find out for yourself. Hopefully those that use this forum always check with their own doctors and health professionals before taking our "un-professional" word for fact. As a dental hygienist , I am well versed with dental products and their research. As for medical products, I look to those medical professionals I respect for that advice.

I am really glad that the concerns were brought up for all of us to be more informed!

 

[sha_lyn]

wow... that's interesting. I don't use the zinc throat drop tyoe products because they give me a very sore throat. I had thought of the nasal type. glad you guys gave me the heads up.

 

[juliesue]

The best way I know is to make sure everyone gets plenty of SLEEP! A tired body is much more suspectible to germs. All of these other remedies seem okay - but the cheapest and most effective methods I've found are SLEEP and hand washing.

We've had a sick family member on a Disney vacation, and while it was not fun at the time, it is a vacation that we all remember and talk about.

 

[CluvsJ]

This is a little more condensed information about Zicam potential side-effects.

HTH!

http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/zicam/zicam.html