What home remedy if any do YOU use to treat a cold in your child
Honey and lemon really works to calm a cough and soothe a irritated throat. Lots of cuddling works wonders too :)
Honey and lemon, lots of fluids and rest. I just recommended the honey & lemon to my oldest (in his 30's) a few nights ago for his bad cold and cough and he said it worked ; )
Lots of vitamin C and D.
Sovereign Silver for an immunity boost: http://www.natural-immunogenics.com/
And this in the tub water for congestion: http://www.auracacia.com/dspCmnPrd.php?p=p&cn=Clearin...
HTH!
Sleep. Hot showers if they're stuffed up.
Traditional Medicinals teas. I usually make a big pot of mixed Gypsy Cold Care and Echinacea Plus tea, with honey. It's available anytime. Actually, I often make this for a drink all W. as a early preventative.
I make sure nourishing food is available but I don't push it. I do become a short-order cook for anything that sounds good. They usually like canned chicken noodle soup, butter, and toast. Other than honey in the tea, I eliminate all sugar.
If they're unhappy, I explain what their body is doing and praise them for their courage and patience in letting their body heal itself. In our house, illness is a sign of a strong body working hard to protect itself.
Chores, usual responsibilities, and bedtimes are eliminated. They sleep when they sleep, wake when they wake, and can sit around and watch movies. I will almost never discipline a sick child for poor behavior, unless it's really extreme. We spend a lot of time reading together or playing board games. If the weather is cooperative, I set up a hammock so they can be outside a bit. Basically I spoil them rotten for a few days. (My kids don't malinger. They'd much rather be healthy.) And do keep in mind, this only happens when they're *really* sick. A couple sneezes doesn't trigger it.
There is always a bit of a transition when they're on the mend and we're going back to regular bedtimes, group meals, limited screen time, and chores. There is some complaining. But that only takes a few days.
Soup, lots of liquids, plenty rest, cool mist humidifier for congestion. Sometimes extra Vitamin C or Cold Eze with zinc.
If someone ever discovers a "cure" for the common cold they'll be an instant zillionaire.
Neti pot to help relieve the sinus congestion and pressure.
Lots of fluids. Homemade soups. Lots of TLC. Carmex on the lips and under the poor sore nose.
Vitamin C ,fluids, hot bath ,warm washcloth to face to help with congestion, and chicken soup.
CVS brand vapo-bath... use generously :) Run a humidifier, pump your kiddo full of fluids and extra vitamin C, and lots of cuddles and coloring books!
Hope your little one feels better soon... my kids have only had one week of school so far and my 6 year old has a cough already :[
It depends on what kind of cold. If you mean stuffy nose, then we use eucalyptus oil. I make them sniff it (they love the way it smells) after I have rubbed some in my hands to warm it up. I also rub some on their chest mixed with almond oil. It helps tremendously. The oil molecules are inhaled, which causes healing. We also use Thieves' oil, which is good for sore throats. I mix it with almond oil and rub on their throat if they have a sore throat. It smells a bit like cinnamon, so it smells nice, too. We use homeopathic spongia tosta for coughs. It is effective for us. If caught soon enough, it helps reduce/minimize croup also. I would recommend it as well as the eucalyptus for croup. Then, we also use aconite (homeopathic) for coughs as well. Depends on if it is a wet or dry cough whether we use the aconite or spongia.
And, lots of sleep, water, homemade soup, vit C and D. If you use a whole chicken to make your broth, you get the gelatin out of the bones which is what helps with the healing properties of chicken noodle soup. I don't recommend the store bought stuff. It's mostly junk.
By the way, we almost never have to go to the doctor. We deal with things at home very effectively. Broken bones, deep wounds needing stitches, those types of things we go to the doctor for. The rest, pretty much, we deal with at home. Most of my children have never needed antibiotics. I prefer it that way. ;)
Hot steamy shower/bath. Either let the kiddo play while you take a hot steamy shower, or if they're young enough, hold them in the shower with you for a 20 minute steam.
Now that my son's older, he loves Toy Story campbells soup. I put extra meat in it. When he's sick, this is his special treat and we say "Oh no! Don't eat me!" "Don't eat Woody!" "I'm going to eat you Woody!" It puts a smile on his face and he gets good warm broth in his tummy.
Elderberry syrup and echinacea
i just try to offer water and juices since water tastes nasty when im sick. steam up the bathroom and let them breath in the mist that helps a ton
I put Vicks on the bottom of their feet and then a pair of socks on at bedtime and let them sleep the night like that. Unkers also works. Best thing I've found.
Sleep & TV & McDonalds.
I'm dead serious.
The number one way to prolong any kind of illness is to shut your immune system off. Physical activity does that (it's called the immune/adrenal response... the adrenal system trumps the immune system. The idea being is doesn't matter if you recover from the illness, if a bear is eating you).
If you can actually SLEEP & REST when you're sick, you'll recover a zillion times faster than if you're playing or working... because every time your immune system shuts off the bacteria or virus breeds like CRAZY and your immune system has to play catch up. Kids have a HARD time resting when they're sick but getting better/coming down with/ OR on meds that make them FEEL better... even though they really need the rest. Voila the TV. They can lie on the couch and doze/watch movies and let their immune systems seriously kick some butt.
Why McDonalds? Same as chicken soup. The high fat content, moderate protein content, and the 'predigested' nature of it.
Antibodies (what render microbes innert) are almost pure fat, with just a little bit of protein thrown in for structure. Your bones start churning out MILLIONS of antibodies when your sick (1 antibody to 1 microbe). It's why people feel achy when they're sick. Their bones actually DO hurt, because that part of your immune system is in overdrive.
Your digestive system gets shut off when your immune system kicks on. It's why you're not hungry. Digestion takes a LOT of energy, and the body wants to reroute that energy to the immune system. So any food you give a sick person needs to be as broken down/ "processed" as possible. Soup is super broken down by the cooking process. Most of the nutrients are in the broth. It also usually has high fat content (which you want). McDonalds is so "unhealthy" when you're well because it's so processed. Well... it becomes HEALTH food when you're sick. You get the fat and protein for your immune system, without having to work for it / redirect energy to your digestive system.
My M. always used Vicks above our lips (beneath our nose) and she rubbed it on our chest. If there was a fever she would soak our socks in alcohol and we would sleep while wearing them. Hope this helps in some way. And remember "Feed a cold starve a fever."
Ruben n Candi
My M. swears by this "home remedy". She says putting Vicks Vapor Rub on the soles of the feet and wearing socks over that while sleeping calms/stops a cough. I've tried it and it seemed to work. (Be careful to put the vapor rub on the bottoms of your feet. Do not get it around your toenail cuticles as it may burn.)
