Cough cold and flu season is in full swing and there is nothing worse than being uncomfortable...unless it's your child who is suffering.
I find myself reaching back to our old tried and true family traditions to get over the hump.
Here are some things we reach for before we call the doctor.
*I'm not recommending that you don't seek medical attention.. This is just what we try first.
For an ear ache: Nothing beats warmth to ease the pain in the ear. My mom always warmed either vegetable, baby or olive oil and put a few drops in our aching ear and then placed a small piece of cotton in. A hot compress works too. One of my friends told me of how her mom use to boil raisins, wrap them in a cheesecloth and hold the bundle to her ear...there is something in the raisins that soothed the pain. I've also read that a roasted onion or piece of garlic is very effective.
For a sore throat: Of course tea and honey is a given. Honey has natural antibiotic qualities and warm tea just feels good on the throat. Certain types of tea are nice though, like chamomile, and one we especially like called "Organic Throat Coat" by Traditional Medicinals. It contains licorice root and that is found to coat the throat and help the pain. Gargling with warm salt water is a wonderful thing to help as is apple cider vinegar mixed with water. One of the craziest but effective treatments I've tried is this...slathering vicks on the throat and wrapping toilet paper...lots around the throat...sort of like a turtleneck. I guess the tp forces the vicks to penetrate into the throat. Silly, but works! I just learned of this one but will definitely try if I need it...drain about 2 oz of Garlic Dill Pickle Juice (preferably Vlassic) into a small glass and add 2 cloves of fresh garlic. Drink the juice and eat the garlic. My friend Angela (who is a professional singer) swears by it!
For an upset stomach: Pepto Bismol never worked here! But ginger in any form does. Ginger ale, candied ginger...great for kids to chew on. I've also been reading that cinnamon is helpful in this area. My mom used to give us a little bit of coca cola when we had nausea and I never knew why it worked until I babysat for a nurse and had to take care of her sick children...she boiled the cola down and asked me to give them the remaining syrup over a little bit of ice. It's sweet so kids don't mind it. Just validated that my mom was right! I think you might still be able to buy cola syrup at the pharmacy, but it is just as easy to drink the coca cola. She also gave us saltine crackers or pretzels. Worked most of the time. The crackers or pretzels seem to absorb the stomach acids and the salt encourages thirst which helps little ones drink fluids. Nibbling on bananas help too. They are full of nutrition yet bland enough to get into most kids.
For a cough: You must must must have a humidifier(see our pick here and save 15%) The air in the winter is so dry and this is a staple in our house. My all time favorite cough reliever is another crazy one. I read about it on Facebook years ago and tried it once when we were on vacation and I suddenly got a cough. Take vicks vapo rub and spread it all over the soles of your feet and put socks on. There is something about the eucalyptus in the vicks that is absorbed through the feet that works. I slept like a baby. You can also slice an onion and put it in a small dish. Cover it with honey and let steep overnight. Remove the onion and take a spoonful of the remaining honey several times a day to quell a cough....it works great.
For a headache: We don't get headaches often thank goodness, but when we do, depending what time of day it is, the first thing I try is a little caffeine, either in tea or coffee or a little piece of chocolate. If that doesn't work, I have a wonderful eye bag that I got from a yoga class years ago and everyone in my family has used it. It is a silk eyebag filled with flax seeds. It weighs just short of 6 oz and the but that little bit of pressure triggers the areas of nerves that relieve headaches. The flax seeds are cool and I think that helps too. Lay down with that for a half hour and the headache is better.
To stay hydrated: Of course we hope our kids will drink lots of water, juice, or the old stand by chicken soup, but sometimes it's hard to convince them they need to drink. Freeze pops, popsicles or good old jello (though I would stay away from red or green...especially if you're dealing with an upset tummy!) work to get some fluids into them.
To Prevent colds in the first place wash your hands, eat well and get enough sleep. According to the Cardiff University Common Cold Center, keeping your feet warm can go a long way in heading off a cold. Studies have shown that when your feet are cold,.blood vessels in the nose constrict and the immune system doesn't work as well, Check out our favorite sock here! Read more about the study here.
One of the best remedies that I relied on with my son was cuddling. When he didn't feel well, we'd cuddle and I'd read his favorite books or we'd watch a movie until he fell asleep. Same as my mom did with me and what I hope he'll do for his kids!
*Try our No-Cook Play Dough for a fun activity.
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