Like most little boys and girls, my little boy was not his usual self, with 4 teeth (2 eye teeth and the 2 teeth directly below) cutting skin.
He had the regular symptoms – nursing frequently, crying out in pain, sleeping lightly, and off food – except for passionfruit. Passionfruit, he was throwing back by the dozen.
I love that he can get relief from a natural fruit that is relieving for the gums because of its natural properties. Thank you nature! The soft sweet gel is means there is no chewing. Passionfruit keeps up his energy and blood-sugar, and at the same time boosts his immunity with the high concentrations of vitamin C.
It’s of little wonder he is drawn to this beautiful fruit, when the passionfruit flower (and the fruit itself) have traces of elements that sedate, calm and reduce inflammation – or so I’ve read. (Please do your own research.) Apparently this fruit was used traditionally in tribes to settle hyperactive or aggravated children, and even to induce sleep, and passion fruit flower can settle a child enough to help them fall asleep peacefully. A perfect teething aid, along with chamomile (our other ‘go-to’ for teething). More info on the benefits of passion fruit for toddlers, check out this link.
Last week I posted this information on Facebook and their enthusiasm for trying this natural alternative was exciting. And yet I have a teething ‘fixer’ that is even more powerful than passion fruit or chamomile put together … woo hoo!
‘What is it’, you ask?
Back in the seventies, scientists ‘formally’ discovered a source of natural pain relief that was recorded as 200 times more powerful than morphine. It was (and continues to be) this: the decreased firing rate of neurons in the central nervous system, brought about by opiate molecules locking onto special receptor sites of neurons in the central nervous system. This activity of opiates, and decreased firing rate of neurons, immediately decreases pain.
There is a more commonly known name for this activity, and it starts with an ‘E’ …
ENDORPHINS. Yay! we all know the number 1 way to release endorphins, don’t we?
It is to SMILE. To LAUGH. To feel good and to do things that make you happy.
So my number one priority when my little one is in teething pain is naturally, to help him feel happy by releasing endorphins.
I tickle him to bits. I chase him and tackle him and blow raspberries on his tummy. I get him to have a good giggle, and because it’s so irresistible and makes me laugh really hard, I make him giggle some more. I swear I can see the pain erasing from that little body of his while I do it.
Pain and the fear of pain creates more pain for all of us. Therefore it’s important to not talk about teething being such a bad thing in front of our little children. Instead, help them feel safe, and help them focus on the things that they love and the activities that release endorphins. Keep the mood light and positive. Get into the sunshine and play. Prevent accidents. Dance. Sing songs. Move your bodies. Increase the love between the family with lots of touch, cuddles, kisses and nursing. Speak nicely and lovingly to one another. Be silly and turn everything into silly business. Don’t reach for the medicated teething gel if you can help it … get your hands onto your baby and tickle and cuddle!
That old saying ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ is not just a saying – it’s a scientific truth.
Day by day we aim to repair our bodies and have trust, faith and optimism for the future. You can join me as I walk to wellness in the private facebook group Joanna Haley Homestead (Journey to Wellness)
Joanna Haley, Author