1 Mother 2 Another

Several months ago Cora was experiencing
intermittent chest pains. I was reasonably certain it was some sort
of heartburn and treated it homeopathically, since it never seemed
to immobilize her. But after about a week of it, I began to worry
she was having some sort of heart attack (I know, I know, but
I’m a mommy) or something and I was missing all these signs,
so I took her to the pediatrician. Just in case.


The pediatrician felt around and asked Cora a few questions.
“Where does your chest hurt?”


Cora pointed right around her heart. “Here”.


“And what does your mommy give you when it hurts?”


“Fennel seeds.”


The pediatrician blinked. I slouched down further in my seat.

“And do you eat them?”


Cora nodded.


It’s true. When my girls are having some sort of food-related
gassiness or acid reflux-y type thing, I give them fennel seeds.
Take a pinch, swallow them with water, and five minutes later your
stomach doesn’t hurt any more. I swear.


Fennel seeds have worked so well for Cora that she now prefers it
over Tums, and will refuse to take Tums. She’s got a
love-hate relationship with wheat, so too much of it will give her
a crabby stomach and she’ll go running for the fennel seeds.
She now carries a small vial in her backpack so she can pop a few
during school if her stomach acts up – all her idea, I
promise.


But back to the doctor.


Our doctor, fortunately, is very open to homeopathic treatments and
had already heard about the fennel seeds – in fact, uses them
herself. So I wasn’t turned into to CPS. Cora, it turned out,
had some random acid reflux and the doctor suggested Tums with
every meal for a week to blot it out, and Cora (successfully)
argued – er, petitioned – the doctor to allow her to do
fennel seeds instead. I added a bit of ginger-infused water when
necessary, and a couple days later, she was fine.


We now have fennel seed vials in backpacks, purses, bathrooms, and
cars – just in case. Yes, we’ve officially become those
people.