With the dreaded cold season upon us its nice to have some ammunition to be prepared. If your child has a cough, encourage him or her to drink plenty of water to thin and expel the mucus. Eliminate foods that create mucus such as dairy, sugar, junk food, and processed foods. Homemade organic soups are always a good idea when treating a cold. Chicken soup made with onions, garlic and ginger help raise immunity and decrease inflammation and hot barley soup reduces phlegm. Once your child is hydrated with all that nutritious homemade soup, chest and back percussions with a cupped hand helps loosen phlegm so it can be expelled from lungs.
It’s a good idea to keep the bedroom moist at night with a humidifier. However, not all humidifiers are the same. According to Kathleen Ward Brown, ScD, research fellow with Harvard University’s Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk program, cool mist humidifiers essentially create acid rain by sending mineral water droplets into the air where as the steam humidifiers send gas by boiling the water leaving behind the heaviest mineral particles.
Who wants acid rain in their child’s room? Go with the steam humidifier.
Some basic supplements and herbal remedies can help as well:
*Vitamin C enhances immune function and has anti- inflammatory properties.
*Carotenoids (beta carotene) is a potent antioxidant, and helps with
immune function. It also helps with growth and repair of tissues in the lungs.
*Zinc based lozenges help reduce infection and inflammation.
*N-acetylcysteine (NAC) thins phlegm to make it easier to expectorate.
*Eucalyptus or tea tree oil can be added to vaporizer or warm mist humidifier for a calming effect on the respiratory track.
*Licorice tea has antibacterial properties.
*Menthol lozenges made from peppermint can be used as a cough suppressant.
*Garlic has natural antibacterial properties.
*Echinacea/Goldenseal combination enhances immune function and dries up mucus.
*Elderberry helps boost immune system and shortens life of cold.
*Saline mist up each nostril 3x a day can loosen mucus
Always consult a trained physician in the field
Hope this helps!!!
5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies. We develop products that minimize harmful exposure to chemicals, giving baby the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com
