Hi all! My kids just had an exposure to strep throat (we hosted a sleepover with their cousins and the cousins came down with strep throat today). So far no symptoms on our side, although now I'm super nervous. It looks like the incubation time is 2-4 days and regular treatment is with antibiotics. Does anyone have guidance on prevention after exposure? The normal route seems to be just a wait and see approach, but I prefer to be proactive if there's anything I can do to prevent it from digging in. Since it is a bacteria that targets the throat, I was thinking perhaps gargles with mouthwash? I'm not quite sure! Thanks in advance 😊

Over 10 years ago, a friend introduced me to using white vinegar instead of deodorant. My daughter, who was a teenager at the time, started using it as well and we haven't’ used anything else since. You can put it in a spray bottle or just pour a little bit in the palm of your hand and apply! ( if it doesn't quite work just use more! And don't worry about the vinegar smell it will be gone in a few minutes. You can also rinse your underarms after the vinegar has done its magic!) I asked ChatGPT to explain why it works so well, along with a simple explanation of conventional deodorants—and even some “natural” ones—for those who may not be aware of the issues with them. GPT said: Conventional deodorants don’t address the source of odor—they either block sweat glands (antiperspirants) or mask odor with fragrance. Blocking sweat interferes with a normal body function, and layering fragrance over bacteria doesn’t actually eliminate the cause. Many “natural” deodorants aren’t as gentle as they sound. A common issue is baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which is highly alkaline. It can disrupt the skin’s natural pH and cause irritation or rashes—especially in the underarm area. Other alternatives like magnesium sprays or crystal deodorants may help temporarily, but often don’t hold up throughout the day or still focus on masking rather than neutralizing odor. White vinegar works differently. It contains acetic acid, which lowers the skin’s pH and creates an environment where odor-causing bacteria can’t thrive. Instead of blocking sweat or covering smell, it directly neutralizes the compounds that cause odor. It also evaporates quickly, so the vinegar scent disappears as it dries, leaving no lingering smell. What’s left is a clean, neutral result without buildup or residue, and without interfering with the body’s natural processes.

I think it's safe to say that Zote is probably the only laundry detergent that native Mexicans use. Here's a quick bit of advice. It comes in a bar and you have to great it, but it's really soft like cheese. Just be sure you keep it sealed in a plastic bag. I'll let chat GPT tell feel more about it. Zote Amazon US link: https://a.co/d/01lodN0F What makes the white Zote bar so special is how simple and functional it is. It’s traditionally made with a short, old-school ingredient list—things like tallow (animal fat), coconut oil, and minimal additives. That alone explains a lot: fewer synthetic chemicals means fewer triggers for sensitive skin. That’s why so many families in Mexico use it for babies, people with allergies, and even for hand-washing delicate clothes. The white version in particular is the most gentle of the three (white, pink, and blue). It has very little fragrance compared to the pink bar, and it skips optical brighteners and dyes that can irritate skin. So when you say it feels “perfect,” you’re actually picking up on something real—it’s chemically quieter, if that makes sense. Here’s where it really shines: Skin sensitivity: People use it for bathing (even though it’s technically laundry soap) because it doesn’t overload the skin. It cleans without that stripped, tight feeling many modern soaps give. Clothing + skin combo: You wash clothes in it, and those clothes don’t carry irritating residues. That’s huge for kids or anyone reactive to detergents. Stain removal: It’s surprisingly powerful. You can rub it directly onto stains—grease, sweat, even makeup—and it just… handles it. Biodegradable + low-waste: No plastic bottles, no complicated formulas.

My daughter, Amelia, was raised with natural remedies and was very healthy until around age 14 or 15, when she became seriously ill with what was diagnosed as bronchitis. The illness progressed to the point where she couldn’t lie on her back without struggling to breathe, so she had to sleep sitting upright in a lounge chair. After trying to manage it naturally without success, I took her to the emergency room. She was prescribed antibiotics for ten days, but they had no effect. Around that time, I came across information on high-dose vitamin C. As soon as she finished the antibiotics, I started her on it. Within three days, she improved by about 80% and was able to lie down and sleep normally again. A couple of days later, she was completely back to normal. This also works very well for colds and flu and can shorten them significantly (for flu, I recommend the liposomal version below). This has also been used for: - Pneumonia (including cases where people were able to come off oxygen quickly) - Lung infections and respiratory issues - Wound healing and tissue repair - Severe inflammation - General immune support during illness High-dose vitamin C alongside more serious conditions, including cancer protocols, though that’s a much deeper topic. We’ve been using this approach for years, and I wanted to share the original source for anyone who prefers to look at the data and explore it for themselves: https://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1981/pdf/1981-v10n02-p125.pdf For adults, the general approach is up to 40,000 mg of vitamin C in one day, taken in divided doses. One simple way to track this is to place the capsules in a cup so you can see how many you’ve taken. Take: 1,000 mg every 15 minutes (do not exceed this frequency) If you experience loose bowels, stop. This indicates you’ve reached your body’s current threshold. I don’t have a set protocol for young children. The same principle applies—if the dose is too high, the body will signal it clearly, and you simply stop.

I’ve seen so so so many posts about it being used in so many ways and so many parents that swear by, but then I’ve also read questionable stuff on the Internet about it being unsafe. Where does it come from? How is it made? Why is it beneficial? I feel like I’m not able to find solid information About it being beneficial. My one year-old is sick right now with pretty bad congestion and obviously I I’m still a bit limited on what I can give him.