SAN DIEGO -- Back-to-school means a time for new books, new friends and new germs.

Before you stock up on cold, cough and flu medicines, you might want to look into some natural alternatives for your medicine chest.

"It seems like they are getting something every couple of weeks," mother Hollie Gandy.

Familiar medications can ease a cough, stifle a sniffle and stop an earache. If that doesn't work, most parents take the next step.

"Just call the doctor or go into see the pharmacist," Gandy said.

But there may be a more natural way to treat back-to-school bugs.

Sprouts nutritionist Patti Milligan said natural herbs can sometimes work as well as some of the potent chemicals in over-the-counter medicines.

"The garlic is the natural antibiotic that may want to kill any bug that wants to live," Milligan said.

In fact, herb-based remedies are gaining in popularity, 10News reported.

One herb blend for calming queasy stomachs even made headlines in Oprah's "O" magazine.

Gandy said she is trading in some of her over-the-counter childrens' remedies.

Her children now use an herb-based ear drop.

"We've tried some of the ear drops for swimmers ear and earaches," Gandy said.

You can also help prevent a cold by adding some immune-potent foods to your grocery list.

"Mangoes are the No. 1 immune boosting foods. They have a co-mingling of vitamin C along with zinc. We definitely know that the body fights viruses better if your blood level of vitamin C stays consistent all day long," Milligan said.

There is a natural alternative for just about every common childhood ailment, including pink-eye. Milligan said try a chamomile tea bag compress.

Gandy said she is eager to learn more.

"It's interesting to see that there (are) other things that you can do that are definitely more helpful to your body," Gandy said.

Milligan said try tea tree oil or cocoa butter to get rid of head lice.

Electrolytes can help ease diarrhea and increasing omega 3 fatty acids and eating a bowl of hot oatmeal in the morning can help reduce stress or anxiety.