Herbal Remedies

As a parent, whenever our children feel the slightest bit of discomfort, there’s an all around panic. This is especially true for most first-time parents who immediately run to the doctor whenever their child gets sick. It’s either that or they start giving their children with everything they can find in the medicine cabinet.

Although neither one is wrong, physicians lately agree that prescribing antibiotics and other synthetic drugs to children is not recommended. In fact, most ailments that affect children clear up within a few months. However, if it makes you feel better, you can treat him with over-the-counter drugs. Or better yet, herbal remedies. In using herbal remedies, you can boost up your child’s immune system without compromising his health with any side effects.

Then again, let’s face it. Whenever it’s time to give them medicine, children will run away. So how do you keep yourself from having to chase them around the table? Simple: Make your herbal remedies so good your children will look forward to it. With that in mind, check below for some herbal remedies you can prepare for your children whenever they’re down with the flu or the cold.

Herbal Remedies for Flu

Influenza, shortened to “flu” and sometimes known as “grippe”, is caused by a virus that infects the upper respiratory tract, including the throat, nose, lungs, bronchial tubes, and middle ear. Symptoms include body aches, cough, hot and cold sweat, fatigue, headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, throat pain, and lack of appetite.

To treat these symptoms, you can prepare herbal remedies by mixing 1 tsp. of bayberry bark, 1 tsp. grated ginger root, ½ tsp. cayenne powder, and 1 cup of boiling water. Let these herbal remedies sit for at least 20 minutes and afterwards, serve these herbal remedies as tea drink. You can also add flavorings, like sugar, to make the drink more tempting for your child.

Herbal Remedies for Cold

An infection somewhat similar to the flu, cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. The flu lasts for about 12 days while the cold has a shorter lifespan – usually around two weeks. There are several homeopathic and herbal remedies to deal with colds. You can let your child take Vitamin C and Zinc lozenges when symptoms first appear. A mixture of Echinacea and goldenseal extracts can also boost the immune system.

Colds often result in congestion and to treat this, prepare herbal remedies for congestion. Put eucalyptus oil in 2 cups of boiling water and let the child breathe in the steam. If suffering from sore throat, gargle a mix of water and pure tea tree oil.