Natural Healing: Supporting the Body, Not Fighting It

A quick disclaimer: We are not health professionals, and this is not medical advice. We’re simply sharing what we’ve learned and what we use in our own home. Some of these traditional practices may support comfort or overall wellbeing, but they are not substitutes for diagnosis or medical treatment. When professional care or antibiotics are necessary, we believe in using them.

A Very Personal Introduction

This topic hits a little closer to home for us than most.

Pierre was bitten by a brown recluse spider and ended up in the hospital. Then, just when we thought we'd had our excitement for the summer, I was bitten by one too.

Because apparently one spider bite wasn't enough for this family.

The healing process has given us plenty of time to think about how we care for our bodies when they're under stress. It has also reminded us of something we've always believed: the body is pretty remarkable, and there are simple things we can do to support it.

That doesn't mean ignoring serious symptoms or refusing medical care. It means paying attention, doing our research, supporting the body where we can, and knowing when something needs more than a bottle from the pantry.

What Does “Natural Healing” Actually Mean?

When we talk about natural healing, we're not talking about refusing modern medicine or pretending doctors don't have a place.

We're talking about looking at the whole picture.

What are we eating? Are we drinking enough water? Are we getting enough rest? Are we supporting our digestion? Are we spending time outside? Are we giving our bodies real, nutrient-dense foods instead of living on ultra-processed convenience foods?

And then there are the traditional foods, herbs, oils, and other natural tools that people have used for generations.

The goal isn't to find one magical remedy that fixes everything.

If only it were that easy.

The goal is to support the body while also paying attention to when something needs more than home care.

There is no award for suffering through an infection because you wanted to prove a point.

Natural Tools We Keep Around

Over the years, we've tried and researched quite a few natural tools that have become part of our home.

Things like coconut oil, essential oils, DMSO, and colloidal silver are all things you'll hear people talk about when it comes to natural wellness and supporting the body.

That doesn't mean we believe every natural remedy works for every situation, or that “natural” automatically means safe.

The internet has a way of turning just about anything into a miracle cure, and sometimes a little more digging is important.

Some of these things may have a place in supporting comfort or our own personal approach to healing, but they aren't substitutes for proper medical care. We pay attention to what we're using, we research it, and we're not afraid to call a doctor when something is beyond what we can handle at home.

And that's an important part of natural healing that sometimes gets left out of the conversation:

Being natural doesn't mean being careless.

For us, it's about learning, paying attention, and making informed choices rather than automatically reaching for a medication for every little thing while also recognizing when medical treatment is the right choice.

Preparing for Cold & Flu Season

With fall right around the corner, we're also starting to think about cold and flu season.

Around here, that means doing what we can to keep everyone's bodies supported before the inevitable sniffles start making their way through the house.

And with seven kids, if one person gets sick, there's a pretty good chance the rest of us will eventually get our turn.

Food is one of the biggest pieces of that puzzle.

We believe in feeding our family real, nutrient-dense foods such as raw dairy, eggs, meat, healthy traditional fats, fermented foods, and plenty of whole foods.

Hydration matters too. So does sleep, fresh air, movement, and giving your body time to rest when you're sick.

Then there are some traditional foods and preparations that we've come to appreciate during this time of year, including elderberry and oxymel.

They're not magic potions, and we're certainly not claiming they can prevent every cold that walks through the door. But they can be a simple way to incorporate traditional ingredients into our routines while supporting overall wellness.

Elderberry, Apple Cider Vinegar & Oxymel

These are three of the natural products we love having around the ranch, especially as we head into the colder months.

🌿 Elderberry

Elderberry has been used traditionally for generations, particularly during cold and flu season. Some preliminary research suggests elderberry may help with certain upper respiratory symptoms, although the evidence isn't strong enough to call it a cure or guarantee that it will prevent illness.

We like it as part of a bigger picture: good food, rest, hydration, and taking care of your body.

🍎 Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of those old-fashioned pantry staples that seems to have a hundred uses.

We use it in recipes, dressings, drinks, and traditional home preparations. It's simple, versatile, and something that's been used in kitchens for generations.

It's not a miracle cure, but we don't really need every food in our pantry to be one.

Sometimes useful is enough.

🍯 Oxymel

Oxymel is a traditional preparation made with honey and vinegar, often infused with herbs.

It's an old-fashioned way of combining simple ingredients into something that's easy to incorporate into your routine. Like many traditional preparations, we appreciate it for what it is: a simple, time-tested way to use food and herbs together.

No complicated ingredient list. No fancy laboratory. Just ingredients people have been using for a very long time.

And Yes, Sometimes Antibiotics Are Necessary

We believe in natural approaches, but it’s also okay to use modern medicine when it's actually needed.

Antibiotics can be incredibly important when someone has a bacterial infection that requires treatment. They don't treat viruses like the common cold or flu, but there are situations where antibiotics can make a very big difference.

If an antibiotic is necessary, use it.

If medical care is necessary, get it.

And if you're taking antibiotics, it's worth talking with your healthcare provider about ways to support your gut afterward. Antibiotics can affect the balance of bacteria in the digestive system, which is one reason fermented foods and probiotics are often part of the conversation.

For us, it's not about choosing natural OR modern medicine.

It's about knowing when each has a place.

Supporting the Body Is the Goal

Our experience with these spider bites has been a pretty good reminder that healing isn't always quick or convenient.

Sometimes the body needs time.

Sometimes it needs extra nourishment and support.

Sometimes it needs a little help from traditional remedies.

And sometimes it needs a doctor.

We don't believe in chasing miracle cures or pretending that one remedy is going to solve every problem. We believe in learning where our food comes from, nourishing our families well, paying attention to our bodies, and using the tools available to us, whether it’s natural or medical, when they're appropriate.

Because sometimes nature is the remedy.

Sometimes nature is the problem.

And sometimes you need a doctor.

The goal is to be informed enough to know the difference.