Here are some natural
treatments for colds that can be used in children and are also safe
while nursing. When using herbs with children you can usually find
a product made specifically for infants and children. If you can't
here's how to determine the dosage. You take the child's weight
and divide it by 150. The resulting fraction is the portion of the
adult dose to administer. The
first thing you'll want to do is boost your body's immune system.
Echinacea, 2 capsules 3 times per day, and Colloidal Silver are
great immune system boosters. You may also want to boost your
intake of vitamin C, up to 500mg 4 times per day, and eat foods
with plenty of fresh garlic.
Anise and Mullein,
in tea form and taken as needed, are both natural expectorants.
Elderberry, 10ml 2 times per day, is the best antiviral product
on the market, natural or otherwise. It is most effective in fighting
the flu virus, but is also very effective against cold viruses.
Aromatherapy can
be a great tool as well. Lavender and Clary Sage in your bath
are what you'll want to use. Lavender works to relax muscles and
can help soothe coughs and Clary Sage helps alleviate the grumpiness
that tends to accompany colds. What you'll need to look for is
an essential oil. It is the oils of these plants that work, so
something that merely contains a fragrance is going to be useless.
Then what you do is take some unscented liquid soap and add five
drops Clary Sage oil and ten drops Lavender oil and use your finger
to mix the oil with the soap. This emulsifies the oils so that
they mix with your bath water.
Nettle, 2ml 2-5
times per day, is a natural antihistamine. Nettle is also wonderful
for treating seasonal allergies. It's a great alternative to artificial
antihistamines that can affect milk supply.
Some recipes:
Vapor Rub
1/2 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil
1/8 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
1/8 teaspoon rosemary essential oil
1/8 teaspoon clary sage essential oil
1/4 cup olive oil
Mix ingredients
together in a glass bottle (not plastic as the essential oils
will bleed into it making the rub less effective) and shake well.
Massage onto chest as often as needed.
Cough Syrup
1 tablespoon anise
1 tablespoon mullein leaves
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
1 tablespoon rose hips
1 tablespoon slippery elm bark
1 tablespoon lemongrass leaves
1 quart water
½ cup rice syrup
Place herbs and
water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, uncovered. Remove
from heat, cover and let herbs steep for 45 minutes. Strain out
the herbs. Return liquid, uncovered, to low heat and simmer for
15 minutes. Turn off heat and slowly stir in syrup. Let cool completely.
Store in a glass container in the refrigerator for up to 12 months.
Dosage: Up to 20
lbs.=1/4 teaspoon, 21-40lbs.=1/2 teaspoon, 41-60lbs.=1 teaspoon,
61 lbs. and over= 2 teaspoons, taken every 4 hours.
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