A New Series: Natural Children’s Remedies (Part 1)
Even before over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold medicines were pulled from store shelves based on the latest recommendation from the FDA, I had my doubts about the safety of these and other “medications” marketed for the under two population. My son will turn one this week and I am fortunate that he has yet to be sick enough to warrant medication. This week begins a new series highlighting all-natural children’s remedies for everything from the simple cold to bedwetting. If you have specific questions regarding a product or symptom, be sure to drop us a note.
There is no cure for the common cold, yet I find it to be one of the most annoying types of illnesses. In my experience, over-the-counter decongestants, cough suppressants, and antihistamines are costly, contain many untoward side effects, and are relatively ineffective. Here are some recommendations for the most common cold symptoms:
Congestion:
When I was a child, my mother would mix salt in warm water and put it in my nose to ease congestion. To this day, nasal saline is a natural, effective decongestant. Couple that with the bulb syringe (to physically remove the mucus and those nasty cold bugs) you’re given after you’ve delivered your baby and you’ll both be breathing a sigh of relief. According to Dr. Alan Greene, salt has anti-viral properties so load up on the chicken soup. Check out Little Noses Saline Spray/Drops by Little Remedies or Baby Ayr Saline Nose Spray/Drops.
Get steamy. Thick mucus is difficult for the body to get rid of. Warm moist air (steam) thins mucus, thereby easing congestion. Add a drop of eucalyptus and lavender oil to your vaporizer and you’ll both be breathing easier in no time.
Get Vertical. Gravity is particularly beneficial for babies as it keeps the head above the heart, thereby decreasing congestion.
Cough:
Get Bee-sy. Honey can be used to reduce the amount and severity of coughing. Use half a teaspoon 30 minutes before bed for children ages 2-5, 1 teaspoon for children ages 5-11, and 2 teaspoons for children ages 12-18 (Dr. Alan Greene). Remember that infants under the age of one should not be given honey due to the risk of infant botulism. Check out The Synergy Company’s 100% Organic Healing Honey.
Extra credit: Read about the sweet healing properties of organic honey here.
Eat chocolate. Yes…That’s not a typo. According to one study, dark chocolate may actually be superior to over-the-counter remedies as a cough suppressant. Why? Theobromine, an ingredient in chocolate is the answer. I won’t go into the medical jargon of why it works but the ingredient was found to be 33% more effective than codeine in preventing cough. Dark chocolate contains the most per ounce and there are no side effects. One more fabulous reason to eat chocolate!
Guilt-free indulgences: Endangered Species Organic Smooth Dark Chocolate and Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate. Just what the doctor ordered.
Herbal Remedies. While it is prudent to use caution when broaching the topic of herbs and children, here is an herbal remedy that has been advocated by renowned pediatrician Dr. Robert Sears.
Sinupret is a plant-based cough and cold medicine that relieves nasal and chest congestion, helps to clear out mucus, and boosts the body’s own immune response to infections (Dr. Robert Sears). Not for use in children under the age of 2.
Hyland’s Homeopathy, Herbs for Kids, Natra-Bio, Traditional Medicinals, Boiron, and Zand Herbal Formulas offer homeopathic remedies for common childhood symptoms. Always check with your pediatrician before giving your child any herbal remedy.
Don’t forget the importance of rest and hydration when your child is sick with a cold. Stay tuned next week as we discover all-natural ways to alleviate the most common childhood complaints.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
My grandmother-in-law told me about the steam trick. With all the recalls they had last year, involving children’s decongestants, I think steam is definitely the best way to go!
June 27th, 2008 at 12:09 am
I prefer “natural” remedies to medication in almost all cases. For colds and stuffed noses and little illnesses, I usually just stick with the “plenty of rest and plenty of liquids cure.”
July 1st, 2008 at 4:01 am
[...] Caryn Baily’s post on peekaboopicks, “Lavishly Green” (love the name Caryn!) turned to DrGreene.com for great recommendations on natural remedies to replace over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold medicines. This post is the first of her new series “Natural Children’s Remedies“. [...]