Natural Health Remedies for Children

1. Honey for the Common Cold

The common cold is caused by different types of viruses. Symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, sore throat, itching eyes, mild body aches and a general feeling of illness.

For children suffering from the common cold, raw honey is a good remedy due to its antimicrobial properties. It also helps reduce nighttime coughing and improves sleep. Mix together 2 teaspoons of raw honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Give it to your child 3 or 4 times a day for a few days.

In case of fever, do not forget to give your child a sponge bath to help reduce body temperature. Also, give your child homemade chicken soup to boost immunity.

Note: Do not give honey to children under age 1 as it can cause infant botulism.

2. Ginger for Asthma

Asthma in children is steadily increasing. It is a lung disease with typical symptoms being wheezing, coughing, tightness around the chest and shortness of breath. The condition can be triggered by allergies, air pollution, respiratory infections and a humid climate.

Ginger is a time-honored natural treatment for asthma. Its anti-inflammatory property helps reduce airway inflammation and inhibit airway contraction.

• Mix together equal amounts of ginger juice, pomegranate juice and honey. Give your child 1 tablespoon of this mixture 3 times a day. You can also give your child ginger candies.
• During an asthma attack, massage your child’s chest and back with warm mustard oil a few times. It will help clear the respiratory passages and restore normal breathing.

3. Olive Oil for Earaches

Earaches in children can be very uncomfortable. The pain can be sharp or dull that comes and goes or is constant. Most often, childhood earaches are caused by ear infections and fluid buildup in the middle ear. They can also be due to the common cold, blockage in the nasal passage and an increase in air pressure.

The best treatment for earaches is olive oil, which works as a lubricant and helps get rid of ear infections.

• Put 3 or 4 drops of lukewarm olive oil into your child’s ear canal. The oil will cause the wax to soften, which you can remove with cotton swabs or ask an expert to do it. Be sure not to put the cotton swabs too far into the ear.
• Applying a warm washcloth around the affected ear can also help relieve pain.

4. Asafetida for Toothaches

The most common cause of toothaches in children is tooth decay and cavities. They can also occur due to a small scrap of food caught between the teeth, which can be removed with brushing and flossing under your supervision.

Asafetida, also known as hing, is a good remedy for toothaches.

• Fry a pinch of powdered asafetida with clarified butter. Using a cotton swab, apply it on the affected part of your child’s tooth.
• If your child is old enough to ‘swish and spit’, a salt water rinse is another effective remedy. Make the rinse by adding ½ teaspoon of table salt to a cup of warm water. Stir to dissolve the salt. Have your child rinse his mouth thoroughly with this solution.

5. Fennel for Stomachaches

Almost all children suffer from stomachaches at one time or another. They can be due to constipation, indigestion, gas, acid reflux, stomach flu, food poisoning, overeating, colic and swallowing air.

Fennel seeds are a good way to help relieve stomach pain in children due to gas or indigestion.

• Add 1 teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds to 1 cup of hot water and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, add a little honey and have your child drink it slowly 2 times a day.
• You can also give your child a small amount of roasted fennel seeds to chew after a meal.
• Another good option is to give your child warm water to drink at regular intervals while experiencing a stomachache. This will help expel gas and also prevent constipation.

6. Turmeric for Coughs

Coughing is one of the most common health problems in children. Coughing is a response to a blockage or irritant in the throat or upper respiratory passages. It can be due to a viral infection, the common cold, flu and other health problems like asthma. It is often accompanied by an itchy throat, chest pain and congestion.

Turmeric is a good remedy for coughs due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral action.

• Mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of warm milk and give it to your child to drink twice daily. For a dry cough, mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1 teaspoon of honey and give it to your child 3 times a day.
• Drinking warm lemonade can also help treat coughs in children.

Top 10 Kitchen Solutions for Common Pains

Here are the top 6 kitchen solutions for common pains. 

1. Cloves for Toothaches

A toothache, be it mild or acute pain in the teeth or around the jaws, can make anyone go crazy. Common causes of toothaches are cavities, an infection, a cracked tooth, and gum disease. Cloves are the best home treatment for tooth pain. A compound in cloves, called eugenol, has a natural anesthetic property.

• Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation.
• Another option is to dab a little clove oil on a cotton swab and put it on the aching tooth.

Moreover, the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of cloves help prevent infection. Hence, you can even use a toothpaste that has clove as one of the main ingredients to brush your teeth twice daily.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar for Arthritis Pain

With age, many people suffer from some kind of arthritis, which is inflammation of one or more joints in the body. Arthritis can affect the knees, hips, hands, fingers or other joints throughout your body.

One of the main symptoms is pain, which can be mild to acute. For any kind of arthritis, the best home treatment is apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar helps reduce pain and stiffness in the joints, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, it helps the body absorb various nutrients from the food you eat. It also helps get rid of the buildup of toxins in the joints and connective tissues.

1. Mix 1 teaspoon each of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of warm water.
2. Drink it twice daily, before eating a meal.

3. Turmeric for Joint Pain

Joint pain in the knees, shoulders and hips can make it difficult for you to carry out your day-to-day activities. For any mild joint pain, your spice rack contains the best medicine in the form of turmeric.

Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that is comparable to that of over-the-counter NSAIDs.

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and a little honey in a glass of warm milk.
2. Drink it twice daily, at least for a few days.

4. Olive Oil for Earaches

An earache is a very uncomfortable condition that affects children more often than adults. Usually, earaches are due to ear infections, fluid buildup in the middle ear, colds, wax in the ear, or blockage in the nasal passage. For treating an earache, you can use olive oil that has anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial properties.

• Put 3 or 4 drops of lukewarm olive oil into the ear canal using a dropper. It will also help prevent infection and stop buzzing sensations inside the ear.
• You can also put a warm, moist compress around the affected ear for a few minutes to get relief from earache pain.

5. Peppermint for Headaches

People of all ages suffer from headaches from time to time. They can be due to dehydration, stress, tension, restlessness, colds, sinus problems, migraines, spending time in the sun and lack of sleep.

Instead of taking an over-the-counter painkiller, try drinking a glass of water. In most cases, headaches, even migraine headaches are caused by dehydration.

Peppermint is also a good home remedy for headaches. Its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and calming properties have a positive effect on headaches.

• You can use peppermint oil to massage your temples or drink a warm cup of peppermint tea sweetened with honey.
• Another option is to add a few drops of peppermint oil to a small pot of boiling water, then inhale the steam for a few minutes.

6. Fennel for Menstrual Pain

Menstrual pain or cramping is a common problem for many women. It can be a dull or throbbing pain in the lower abdomen, lower back or thighs during the initial days of a menstrual cycle. Fennel can help alleviate this menstrual pain as well as cramps.

The antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of fennel help relax the muscles in the uterus and reduce pain. It also helps rebalance female hormones.

• Add 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds to a cup of hot water, cover and steep for 5 minutes. Strain, add honey and drink this fennel tea a few times a day.
• You can also simply chew a spoonful of dry roasted fennel seeds.

Home Remedies for Joint Pain

1. Massage

Massage therapy helps relieve joint pain by improving circulation and soothing inflammation. In fact, several studies indicate that regular massage can improve pain, stiffness and range of motion in the affected joint.

To massage the affected area, use warm oil like coconut, olive, mustard, castor or garlic oil and apply gentle pressure while massaging.

2. Hot and Cold Compresses

Alternating hot and cold compresses can also help ease joint pain. Heat therapy helps decrease pain, increase blood flow and relax sore muscles and joints. Cold therapy reduces inflammation and numbs the areas around the affected joint.

1. Wrap both compresses in separate towels before using them. They should not be applied directly to the skin.
2. Place the hot compress on the affected area for about three minutes.
3. Remove the compress and immediately put a cold compress in its place for about one minute.
4. Repeat the process for 15 to 20 minutes a few times daily until you get relief.

Note: Do not use heat therapy if the affected area is red, hot and irritated. Do not use cold therapy if you have circulatory problems.

3. Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a popular home remedy for joint pain due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is particularly beneficial for those suffering from arthritis.

• Swallow one teaspoon of finely ground fenugreek seeds followed by a glass of lukewarm water. Do this daily in the morning until you get positive results.
• Alternatively, you can simply soak one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in water overnight and eat them the next morning.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is an excellent Ayurvedic remedy for joint pain. It contains an active ingredient called curcumin with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

In a 2009 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers compared the effectiveness of this compound to ibuprofen and found that curcumin was as effective as ibuprofen for pain relief in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

• Mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder and a little honey in a glass of warm milk. Drink it daily, at least for a few days.
• Another option is to take 250 to 500 mg turmeric capsules three times daily until you are satisfied with the results.

Note: Talk to your doctor before including either of these remedies in your regular routine. Turmeric may interfere with certain medications, such as blood thinners, and may worsen gallbladder problems.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar helps reduce joint pain by eliminating accumulated toxins from the joints and connective tissues. Due to its alkalizing effect, it is particularly beneficial for those suffering from arthritis. Plus, it is rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus.

• Mix one to three teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar and a little honey in a cup of warm water. Drink this solution two or three times a day, preferably before meals. You can continue this simple treatment on a regular basis because, in addition to helping with joint pain, it is good for your overall health.
• You can also massage the affected area with a mixture of one tablespoon each of apple cider vinegar and olive oil. Do this daily until your joint pain is gone.

6. Cayenne

Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsaicin with natural analgesic or pain-relieving properties. In a 2010 study published in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, researchers found that applying gel containing 0.0125 percent capsaicin helped relieve mild to moderate pain in women suffering from knee osteoarthritis.

• Slightly heat one-half cup of coconut oil. Mix in two tablespoons of cayenne pepper powder. Apply it on the affected area, leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse it off. Do this a few times a day until you get relief from the pain.
• Alternatively, you can use a capsaicin cream topically on the affected area daily.Ginger is an excellent natural remedy for muscle and joint pain, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers studied its effects on osteoarthritis patients with knee pain and saw encouraging results
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• • Drink ginger tea, or include fresh ginger root or dried ginger powder in your daily diet. To prepare ginger tea, cut up a small piece of ginger root, boil it in a cup of water for 10 minutes and strain it. To improve the taste, you can sweeten it with honey.
  • Another option is to mix equal amounts of ginger, turmeric and fenugreek powder. Take one teaspoon of this mixture daily in the morning and evening until you are satisfied with the results.