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.