A few years ago, he was hospitalised for croup and his blood oxygen level dropped so low that he had to wear an oxygen mask for a couple of days. There was a croup epidemic at that time, and the children's ward was full. It was really scary listening to them coughing like that, especially through the night. That was a wake up call for me to find the best remedies and treatments for respiratory illnesses that has helped him stay well and get over infections quickly.
Common respiratory infections like colds, influenza, and acute bronchitis are not bad in themselves; with each infection you build up your immunity naturally. However, the condition can deteriorate pretty quickly in children because their immune systems are weaker.
I've compiled a short list of these treatments, some of them I've discovered through my research and some have been passed on by my grandmother and aunties.
Healing Diet. With asthma running in both sides of the family and a nut allergy on top of that, his diet has always been nut-free and we try to avoid sugar, wheat and dairy products. I've listed some articles below that take the hype out and provide evidence on why certain foods must be avoided.
The basics of a healthy diet is the same for all ages and is really very simple: whole, seasonal, and sustainably-grown food. It's not realistic to expect children to get all the essential nutrients from their food, though. Supplements are still needed and again, it doesn't have to be complicated. A high quality multivitamin, preferably one with iron such as Floradix or Clinician's MultiVitamin and Mineral Boost throughout the year.
Vitamin C. As soon as the colder weather arrives, I start giving him more Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in divided doses. That is, two to four times per day depending on how busy we are. The dosage depends on need. I'm not a big fan of megadoses, but I do increase the dosage up to bowel tolerance when fighting an infection. The Mayo Clinic has published a comprehensive guide to Vitamin C supplementation.
Rest and warmth. Nip it in the bud by staying at home as soon as the first symptoms appear. It is dismaying to see so many children who continue going to school with full blown symptoms. Not only are they at high risk of prolonging the illness and developing complications, they also spread the infection to other children.
Healing Soups and Herbal Teas. Taking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated is a well-known treatment for respiratory infections. However, children are never keen on drinking water or juice all day. So I include healing soups or, if they can't swallow chunky pieces of food, clear broths. Here are a few delicious healing soup recipes:
- Super Immune Boosting Chicken Soup
- Seriously Healing Soup
- Homemade Bone Broth
- Super Soups (Vegetarian)
Herbal teas are another absolute must haves in our household. I usually buy an organic tea blend and have it at hand all throughout autumn and winter. My favourites are the Expectorant Tea Blend from the Wellington Apothecary and the Immuno Boost Tea from Artemis. My son loves to stir some honey on his warm tea himself, though I have to keep a close eye on how much he puts in it!
Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey. We have two ways of taking this wonderfully effective remedy. First is to mix a teaspoon each with a cup of warm water for drinking once a day. The second way is to make a delicious homemade cough syrup using this recipe from Mary Younkin.
Aromatherapy. Getting some sleep is nearly impossible if you have a congested nose and a cough. Good thing my grandmother has taught us a very effective remedy: aromatherapy massage with diluted essential oils. I find that my son is ok with the most commonly available essential oil, eucalyptus, diluted in an almond oil carrier. But to stay on the safe side, read this Essential Oil Blend Recipes for Babies and Children. I rub the diluted oil on his chest, back, arms, legs, hands and feet just before bed time and this helps him sleep soundly. Last night, I had to listen closely to make sure he's all right because he was sleeping so quietly. No coughing at all! A very deep healing sleep.
REFERENCES
I have put together a list of evidence-based articles that helps explain the rationale behind this treatment plan:
- The Dangers of Cow's Milk by Linda Fonden Palmer
- Got Proof? Lack of Evidence for Milk's Benefits by Dr. Mark Hyman
- Against the Grain by Michael Spector
- Managing Respiratory Infections with Herbs
And a couple of videos on pediatric massage:
