8 Natural cold remedies for kids (and mamas)

Its that time of year again, when coughs and sore throats spread amongst the family like wildfire. Often something picked up at school or at the daycare, it can set you back a few days. To help you fight it off with mother nature we have compiled a list of natural cold remedies to ward off those bugs this winter. Hopefully you don’t need to use them, but if you do hopefully you can start with a gentle approach with the kids and help them build up their immune systems. Here are our 8 top tips:

1. Listen to your body: Although common sense, this is a difficult one for many of us. Usually when I cold starts, we have trouble slowing down and having an early night. Even though we know we are getting sick. We simply power on, and then it often gets worse. So next time stop and listen to your body.

2. Humidifier in the room: Surprisingly helpful, this simple solution can really make a difference to your night. How it works is you get yourself a simple humidifier that you plug in the room with a bit of water. You can then add a few drops of eucalyptus. The room then fills with a lovely fresh eucalyptus smell and helps relieve congestion.

3. Relieve congestion: One gentle way to relieve congestion is to sit in a steamy bathroom or have a long warm shower. You can also add eucalyptus on this occasion, or pour hot water into the sink and breathe in the steam with a towel over your head. This can help loosen the mucus and help your body get rid of it. 

4. Plenty of fluids: Spoil your body with a stream of lovely warm fluids, to help wash away the congestion. Here it is important to avoid lactose, as it can actually increase mucus congestion. Instead try a lovely herbal tea with ginger and honey. You could also enjoy a warm homemade broth or chicken soup, washed down with plenty of water

5. Probiotics: Support your immune system, with immune strengthening supplements in your diet. You could get this from kefir (preferably water kefir as then you can avoid lactose), sauerkraut, kimchi or other fermented foods. If you don’t like the taste of these you could also take probiotic supplement found at the health food store.

6. Saline nasal spray: For young toddlers and baby’s congestion can be especially tricky. In these cases, a saline nasal spray can be especially helpful to loosen clogged mucus.

7. Salt water gargle: For older children with sore throats, a really simple and effective solution can be gargling with salt water. How you do this is, heat up a cup of water and ad a spoonful or two to the water. Mix it up and make it as salty as you can handle. Then gargle a few times for 20seconds and spit it out. Make sure you don’t drink or eat anything for a few minutes in order to have the best effect.

8. Eucalyptus chest rub: Another essential item for the home medicine box is a eucalyptus chest rub, such as Vicks. You can massage this into your child’s chest before they go to sleep, and this can help ease congestion during the night. This one works well in combination with a humidifier or after a steam session.

These are all our top natural cold remedy tips. What natural remedies work well with your family?