Karis has had a lovely cough, cold and congestion for almost four weeks now. It kept coming and going, leaving us with a very fussy, clingy baby. We are finally nearing the end of it, as I see her smile coming back…thanks to these wonderful home remedies that Grandma Edmonds mixed up together for (thanks Mama!). We visited the doctor today to make sure nothing serious was happening in her body, and low and behold she said that I was doing it right. She recommended me to continue the ear ache and stuffy nose remedies listed below. I think the key is to catch it early on, which is what I failed to do.
COUGH/CONGESTION: Mix 3-4 drops of Eucalyptus oil with 1 Tablespoon olive or sesame oil. Rub on back, chest and neck a few times each day. For child over 1 year old: Blend together with 4 Tablespoons honey, 2 drops of eucalyptus oil, 1 drop typme oil, 1 drop tea tree oil. Use 1 Tablespoon of this mixture in warm water to drink.
HYDRO THERAPY - Place child in tub of warm water, 2-3 inches. Leave water running so it’s almost hot. Saturate 4-6 wash clothes or cloth diapers in hot water. Places clothes in layers on back and chest. Keep cloth hot by re-rinsing layers and reapplying to back and front. The goal is to keep as much moist heat on child without burning the skin. Do this for 10 minutes or as long as child can tolerate. Take the cloth and rinse them in cold water. Apply to back and chest in the same manner. Keep re-rinsing and applying for as long as child can tolerate, at least 3-5 minutes. Do this 3-4 times daily until congestion is gone. (This one can be a bit of a challenge, depending on the age of the child - Karis (at 9 months) did very well for two times, then started freaking out. But it is worth a try!)
EAR ACHE: This is a good recipe to use as a preventative as well! Press 2-3 garlic cloves in 2 Tablespoons olive oil. Let warm on stove for 15-20 minutes. Strain garlic from oil. Lay child on side and drop 2-3 drops of garlic oil in ear and massage lower outer ear for a few minutes. Wait for half hour or so before doing the other side so oil won’t drain out. 3-4 times daily.
STUFFY NOSE: Warm 1/2 cup filtered water with 1/8 tsp salt. Lay child across lap with face up and head tilted back. Spray salted water up each nostril. Child will think they’re drowning! Make sure they hold head back for a few seconds and then sit up and let water run from nose. 3-4 times daily.
Use a humidifier everywhere!
It is working for us with a little patience and perseverance! Being that this is my first baby, this is all new to me. Do you have any other natural remedies that I must know about? Please share. I am all ears…
February 12th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Good timing. This time of year we either have a child with a cold or one about to get one. And what is in that cough medication anyway?
Good WFMW Thanks.
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February 13th, 2008 at 12:34 am
I had five children…two of them had ear aches. One night I had to call the doctor and it was a stranger to us. But he gave me a homeopathic treatment to give once the ear ache was cured…The encredible thing is that my 18 month old little boy never , never had again ear problems (he is now 25!!)When his older sister came up with another ear infection, I treatet her the same way and she just has to be carefull if she goes swimming not to keep her head under the water!
Strangely our triplets never had ear infections!
They had coughs and colds and fever…all the time!
When I had to clean there nose I Had to put there head in a position that would make the saltie water go up one side and down the other…
Now we still put saltie water up are noses but we buye it with “cuivre”(coper?) in it to make us stronger…
Good luck and tell us more about your litlle daughter! How old is she? You look so sweet the two of you!!
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February 13th, 2008 at 5:41 am
I have used salt water in the past and it works so well. But you are right about the drowning thing. If you have a largish child then you might need another pair of hands.. one to hold down and one to put the drops in. The best thing about this is is makes them sneeze which helps to clear any blockages. Just be ready with a tissue or two.
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February 13th, 2008 at 7:27 am
this is fabulous lindsay….i’ll pass this along….had someone ask me about the ear infection…i knew my daughter in spain - knew and she verified what you’ve written…but WOW…here it is all in one fantastic linky love source. blessings! lylah
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February 13th, 2008 at 8:01 am
This is a great tip. Are there any remedies for adults?
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Lindsay replied on February 13th, 2008:
We have found Apple Cider Vinegar as a great health booster to strengthen the immune system in prevention. If you feel a cold coming on, drink several glasses a day (2 tsp to 1 cup water).
We also like Emergen-C. This is a powdered vitamin C that is great mixed in with juice or water. Raspberry flavor is my favorite. We pump ourselves with this if we sense a cold coming on. This is available at Fred Meyer’s nutrition. Great to have on hand!
Echinacea & airborne are also a good supplement at the outset of a cold. Hope that helps!
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Charlene replied on November 13th, 2008:
Also a great natural “remedy” is simply putting a
Q-tip covered in hydrogen peroxide as you feel
the first tickle in your throat or feeling of
unwellness. If you don’t catch it on time you’ll
still get sick, then can use the other remedies to
help you get back to wellness. If you do catch it
on time you will know because you will start to
feel better again and the cold will not take hold.
I’ve only been sick with a cold/flu once in the
last 3 years and I have 2 yooung children (a 2 1/2
yr old) It’s truly amazing!
and a 1 yr ol)
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Lindsay replied on November 13th, 2008:
I am a little confused…where do you put the Q-tip? Thanks for sharing!
Charlene replied on November 13th, 2008:
Hi Lindsay,
Sorry I should have clarified. The Q-tip
goes in your ear as you would if you were
cleaning out your ears. As long as the
hydrogen peroxide gets into your ear canal
you’re good! (a very cool feeling)
Charlene replied on November 13th, 2008:
I also like to use hot water with lemon juice
and honey when I do get sick. The lemon juice
acts as a natural detoxifier and the honey helps
to loosen up and release the phlegm (not to
mention suppressing a cough-dry or productive).
I used this remedy the other night (I didn’t
get ahead of the cold as quickly as I usually
do)after a long spell of coughing and I had my first
night of full recovery sleep!
February 13th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Since going to a chiropractor, my family and I have barely had any colds, etc. I personally have not had a cold since April of last year. Before that my chiropractor would have us take Agrisept. A few drops in water or OJ, and in a few days symptoms would disappear.
Main thing during colds and sinus times, is to decrease dairy intake. Dairy increases phlegm. As a whole my family I don’t drink or eat a lot of dairy for this reason. My husband and I both have sinus problems. And since all but eliminating dairy in our diets, have had no issues w/sinuses.
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February 13th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I like airborne and zicam, and they can be given in small doses to children. It’s true that milk can produce more phlegm, but breastmilk doesn’t. The most important thing is to nurse, nurse, nurse your baby! When sick, the best thing for everyone is rest, some small exercise every so often (to keep the lymphatic system pumping), and looooots of fluids.
Astragalus, echinacea, and the above mentioned remedies are most helpful at the beginning of the cold. Large doses of vitamin C, as well as taking Zinc and Selenium, are helpful to beat a cold.
Garlic oil ear drops can treat outer and sometimes middle ear infections, but they won’t infuse far enough to help inner ear infections. I use a few drops of tea tree oil dissolved in olive oil for that. I could go on and on about this subject. I wrote about it a little here:
http://lilirishlass.blogspot.com/2007/10/lazy-saturday.html
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Tia replied on February 13th, 2008:
Yup, Mrs taft, I was thinking dairy in the lines of cheeses and regular cow’s milk.
I thought of Zicam and Airborne, but I wasn’t sure if they are classified as natural or not.
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February 13th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Thank you so much for these! It’s nice to have a comprehensive list, especially since I want to prevent the unnecessary use of antibiotics in my wee ones.
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February 13th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
We have used the garlic oil for earaches many times and it WORKS. Also, for an adult or even an older child who would tolerate it, you can put a peeled garlic clove just inside the ear (like a hearing aid) and it draws the inflammation out.
A website we refer to quite often is http://www.bulkherbstore.com. You can look up remedies for various ailments, and you can order herbs directly from them. We’ve had great success with that company.
Thanks for your post!
Bev.
http://www.pufferfishdiaries.blogspot.com
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February 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I have a 5 month old baby who is starting to get congested with lots of mucous. I was going to try the salt spray, but was wondering what you used to spray the solution into her nose.
I just recently discovered your blog and have been enjoying visiting daily now. Thank you.
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Lindsay replied on February 15th, 2008:
Jacque, you can buy a clean dropper at the store, but I just used one from a liquid multi-vitamin that I have. I just wash it out good after each use.
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February 13th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Another way to do moist warmth without a bath is to make a rice bag (see: http://prettybabies.blogspot.com/2008/02/if-martha-stewart-and-macgyver-had-kid.html)
and use that. Just be sure that you don’t get it too hot for her little skin. It might feel nice on the sore ear, too.
We’re just getting over a bout of this at our house, too, so I feel your pain. I’ve been using Vicks Early Defense religiously all winter, and it has really been working. We got sick the one time I took them to the play area at the mall and forgot to use it. Oops.
Hang in there!
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February 13th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
A lot of people swear by a frew drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear will shoot down a cold in the early stage. I also use homeopathic antimonium tart for the snot gurgles, allium for thin runny snot and watery eyes with irritated eyes, and pulsatilla for thick green snot and ear pain. Herbal Valerian is good for coughs as it is a smooth muscle relaxant and a strong chamomile is good for an irritated airway.
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February 14th, 2008 at 7:44 am
At the first sign of congestion (and a few times a day until the illness is gone) put several drops of breastmilk in each nostril. I was blessed to be given this advice when my daughter was a newborn and it has been so helpful for us.
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June 24th, 2008 at 6:59 am
I JUST found your blog today and am loving your information. I clicked on this post ( know it was written months ago) b/c two of my kids have had pneumonia this summer. UUUGH! I use Mullien leaf when the kids start to have any cough. I use it too and find it to help stop my coughing. I just use a dropperful in the kids’ orange juice and they never question it (I do not give them meds often so they hate most meds).
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October 24th, 2008 at 4:24 am
We are now carrying Dr. Hauschka homeopathic remedies for cold & flu. The company has been doing these remedies for over 70 years!
Also, I love your ear remedy with garlic. . .I have been doing this for years with my children and I am always amazed at the results. They can be in so much pain and then wake up completely fine!
Pam
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