Home Remedies for Children
There are as many home remedies for children as there are childhood illnesses. Fortunately, most old-fashioned home remedies work just as well as prescriptions and they can save you a trip to the drug store when your child feels miserable. Home remedies tend to be less costly, less dangerous and have fewer side effects than prescription drugs.
When treating children with home remedies, you need to keep in mind that your child is smaller and weights less than an adult, so you should adjust any home remedies accordingly.
Home Remedy for Child Fever
Fever is quite common in children. If it is a low-grade fever, it is simply a sign that your child’s body is fighting off the infection on its own and isn’t really a cause for concern. You can, however, reduce the fever and make your child more comfortable with a cup a catnip tea sweetened with molasses and sipped two or three times a day. Other effective teas include chamomile and peppermint tea.
You can also make a tasty drink from holy basil tea mixed with a half cup of milk, a teaspoon of sugar and ¼ teaspoon of powdered cardamom. The sweet taste and soothing warmth of the mixture will quickly reduce a child’s fever. If you have raisins in your kitchen, soak about two dozen in ½ cup of cold water, mashing the plumped raisins. Strain through a clean cloth for a potent tonic and flavor with a teaspoon of lime juice.
Chicken Pox Home Remedies
One of the most common childhood illnesses is chicken pox. You can reduce the fever with one of the home remedies for children shown above, but the itching rash will need separate treatment. A soothing soak in warm water with two cups of colloidal oatmeal is extremely effective or, if you have fresh peas, cook them in clear water, strain the peas out and dab the cooled water onto the rash for instant relief.
Another excellent skin soother is made by soaking two teaspoons of marigold flowers and one teaspoon witch hazel leaves in a cup of water. Apply this liberally to the rash to soothe and prevent your child from scratching. Another excellent home remedy for the chicken pox rash is pure honey. Slather the rash with honey and leave in place for at least fifteen minutes. This will cool the heat and itch and is a natural antibiotic, preventing a secondary skin infection and promoting healing. Honey used in this manner will also minimize scarring from the rash.
Home Remedies for Whooping Cough
Whooping Cough is a childhood disease that is seeing a resurgence. The trademark dry, hacking cough following by a deep, guttural whooping sound is a sure sign that this infection of the lungs has taken hold. One of the best home remedies for children with whooping cough is syrup of garlic. Give your child between five drops and a teaspoonful, depending on his or her size, two or three times a day to reduce the spasmodic coughing.
A teaspoon of fresh ginger mixed into a spoonful of honey will also soothe the throat and ease the cough. If you don’t have ginger, try a teaspoon of fresh radish juice mixed 50/50 with honey and a dash of salt given by mouth three times daily.
Another concoction can be made from five drops of almond oil, ten drops of white onion juice and ten drops of ginger juice. Given three times a day, this is a powerful soothing agent that also has antibiotic properties to help heal the infection.
Orange juice is an excellent drink for any kind of lung or throat infection. It boosts the immune system, stimulates the appetite and re-hydrates the body, giving it energy to fight off illness. It’s one of the simplest and most delicious home remedies for children with any type of childhood illness.
Home Remedies for Children Mumps
Mumps are another childhood disease that is becoming more common after years of being virtually wiped out. It’s most common in children between the ages of five and fifteen and leave them miserable with swollen glands and a low grade fever.
To treat the swollen, painful glands, combine asparagus seeds with an equal amount of fenugreek seeds ground into a paste and applied to the swollen glands. An alternative home remedy for children is to combine crushed margosa leaves with turmeric and make a paste to put on the swollen glands. While the glands are swollen, avoid spicy food and highly acidic foods, as these can irritate already inflamed salivary glands.
Treating Stomach Aches
One of the most common ailments of childhood is a simple stomach ache. This may be caused by eating too many sweets, eating a food that is too spicy, or a minor intestinal bug. These usually go away on their own, but while your child has an upset stomach neither you nor your child will rest comfortably. You can boil a teaspoon of cumin seeds in four cups of water to reduce it down to one cup of liquid, then add ½ teaspoon of sugar for a simple syrup that soothes the stomach. Cool it to room temperature, then give your child one teaspoon every three to four hours. Another one of the best home remedies for children with an upset stomach is letting them sip ginger or peppermint tea throughout the day.
Home remedies for children help alleviate the pain or discomfort of being sick and can quickly reduce a fever; however, if your child’s fever rises above 103˚ Fahrenheit, you should contact their pediatrician for guidance.