Jinger Duggar Reveals She’s ‘Anti-Medicine’ Following Daughter’s Trip to the ER
Jinger Duggar opened up about her views on modern medicine following a recent emergency room visit for her daughter Felicity, 7.
“Yes, I’m becoming more and more ‘crunchy,’” Jinger, 31, acknowledged during the October 29 episode of the “Jinger and Jeremy Podcast.” This came after Jeremy Vuolo described her health perspective as “a little crunchy.”
“But I don’t think I’m extreme about it,” she added. “Maybe I should embrace it even more. … I’m increasingly conscious of what’s around us at home.”
The couple shared that Felicity’s health scare highlighted Jinger’s “crunchy” tendencies, explaining that while they hosted a wedding, Felicity suffered from severe pain due to an ear infection.
“I thought, ‘Okay, time for pain medications,’” Jinger recounted. “I had a bottle of children’s chewable ibuprofen, so I gave her the recommended dose of two tablets.”
Jeremy noted that taking the ibuprofen was significant for Jinger, who remarked, “I’m not a fan of medicine. I’m anti-medicine.”
Felicity was in such distress that she asked for “the whole bottle” of ibuprofen. Jinger even sought out any doctors among the wedding guests, but no one was available.
“Everyone at the wedding said, ‘You should take her to the ER,’ since her eardrum might have burst,” Jinger recalled. “After checking her symptoms on ChatGPT, it advised going to the ER immediately. Even after medication, her pain persisted for an hour.”
Ultimately, Jeremy took Felicity to the ER, emphasizing that Jinger isn’t completely opposed to modern medicine. However, there was a discussion when the ER doctors suggested giving her an antibiotic.
“They wanted to administer it right away,” Jinger explained. “I hesitated, thinking, ‘I don’t want her on antibiotics, as they disrupt gut health.’ Especially with flu season approaching, it’s crucial to maintain beneficial bacteria.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, children’s ear infections can sometimes resolve without antibiotics, and “watchful waiting” is an option before other treatments are considered. However, if a healthcare professional recommends antibiotics, it’s essential to complete the entire course as prescribed, even if symptoms improve, to avoid a recurrence of the infection.
After a few days without complaints of pain, Jinger consulted her “very crunchy” friend Audrey Roloff, who suggested ear drops that had been effective for her kids. Jinger noted that the drops appeared to help Felicity.
Jeremy pointed out that Jinger’s family had a distinct approach to medicine compared to his own upbringing.
“We weren’t particularly ‘crunchy,’ but my mom didn’t just throw Tylenol at us,” Jeremy reflected. “However, you do seem to have an aversion to it.”
Jinger clarified that her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, were not entirely against medicine, despite their strict religious beliefs. (The Duggar family adhered to the teachings of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, which imposed conservative lifestyle choices.)
“Tylenol and ibuprofen were common in our household,” Jinger shared. “However, we generally avoided a lot of medications. No one was on prescriptions, and while we were fairly healthy, our diet wasn’t particularly nutritious.”
Jinger also shared her preference for “healthier” cleaning products and mineral-based sunscreen on the podcast.
“I don’t use sunscreen all the time,” Jinger admitted, “which is probably why I have more wrinkles. … I prefer mineral-based sunscreens over the conventional ones, particularly the sprays, as I find them quite toxic.”
Reflecting on her “crunchy” habits, Jinger expressed that she doesn’t always have the time to research every ingredient, but she’s increasingly diligent about “reading labels” and monitoring what goes into her family’s diet, including avoiding seed oils.
“Yes, we absolutely enjoy a McDonald’s ice cream cone,” Jinger commented. “So we’ll go treat ourselves, but it can’t be an everyday occurrence. We’re making conscious choices that benefit our family.”
