Ahh Garlic. It might be my favorite natural remedies. Garlic (along with the next item on the list) is one of the few things on- and of- this earth that is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antiviral. I always sauté vegetables in garlic and oil (either regular olive oil or grapeseed oil for their omega 3 properties and higher smoking point), or slip them in a smoothie. However, if you have little ones around that are too young to ingest garlic, here is an all-natural (though slightly unique) trick that works amazingly well.
This remedy requires two medium-sized cloves of garlic. You take the cloves and slice them long ways into about four-five sections each. You then place each cut-up clove into its own baggy. So now you have about four-five slices of garlic in each little baggy (sandwich size is preferable for little feet). To that you add a few drops of any oil, enough to coat the garlic but not so much that there’s a puddle inside. You then slide the baggies onto the baby’s feet securing them with socks. Ideally, you want to make sure the garlic rests on the bottom of the baby’s foot for optimal absorption. Leave the secured baggies in place for about 15-20 minutes. Do not exceed 30 minutes because slight irritation can occur if the lubrication (aka oil) dries up. Have both a wet and dry paper towel on hand when you remove the socks and baggies to do a quick clean-up. This treatment can be done a few times per day. I’ve done it up-to-four times/day on my boys when they were younger. I always found it easiest to apply when they were strapped in the high chair eating or playing.