What is an effective and safe natural cough medicine for children?
Choosing cough medicine for children should not be done carelessly, because not all types of cough medicine sold on the market are safe or suitable for children, especially toddlers.
Instead, parents can use home remedies or natural cough medicines for children to help relieve the symptoms.
In children, coughing can cause discomfort, restlessness, fussiness, and even make it difficult to sleep at night. This cough condition can last up to 2 weeks.
Can you imagine how much your little one suffers when he has a cough?
Therefore, Parents need to know how to relieve cough in children, including choosing natural cough medicine for children. This article outlines some recommendations for natural cough medicine for children that Parents can try.
List of Natural Cough Medicines for Children
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The way that Parents can do when children have a cough is to manage their symptoms. Parents can also help children get enough rest so that they feel more comfortable and the recovery process is faster.
According to the Healthline health page , parents need to pay attention to the sound of their child’s cough to help you choose the best home remedy and so that you can explain the cough correctly when you have to see a doctor.
As an example:
- A deep cough coming from the chest. Likely due to mucus in the airways.
- A harsh cough coming from the upper throat. This may be due to infection and swelling around the larynx (voice box).
- Mild cough with sniffling. This could be due to postnasal drip from the back of your child’s throat.
Here are some recommended natural cough medicines for children.
1. Stay Hydrated
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Staying hydrated is especially important when your child is sick. Water helps the body fight off illness and keeps the airways moist.
One way to make sure your child gets enough water is to have them drink water, milk, smoothies , and other types of healthy drinks frequently.
If your child refuses milk or doesn’t want to eat much, he or she may need more water.
Offer water at least every hour or two, but don’t force them to drink it constantly.
2. Offer Honey
Honey is a natural sweetener that can help soothe a sore throat. It also has antibacterial properties and can help fight infections.
Quoting from Healthline , for toddlers over one year old, Parents can give a spoonful of honey several times a day. However, keep an eye on the accompanying sugar intake.
You can also try mixing honey into warm water to make it easier for your child to consume. This has the added benefit of helping to hydrate your child.
However, honey is not safe for children under one year of age due to the risk of botulism .
3. Elevate the child’s head when sleeping
Try to position your child’s head slightly higher with a pillow.
However, it feels difficult because children tend to move a lot when sleeping, parents can try lifting one end of the mattress.
You can do this by placing a rolled up towel under the mattress at the end where your child’s head rests.
However, parents should ask their pediatrician first before trying this method.
Also note for Parents: babies under 1.5 years old should not sleep with any pillow.
4. Using a humidifier in the room
Adding moisture to the air helps keep your child’s airways from drying out and can thin mucus . This can help relieve coughing and congestion.
When purchasing a humidifier, choose a cool-air humidifier.
Cool humidifiers are safer for children and just as effective as warm humidifiers.
If possible, use purified or distilled water to slow the buildup of minerals inside the humidifier.
Run a humidifier overnight in the room your child sleeps in. During the day, run it in any room they spend time in.
If you don’t have a humidifier, you can try steaming your little one with hot water. Sit in a steamy bathroom to give your child temporary relief.
5. Use Nasal Drops or Nasal Spray
Saline nose drops are generally considered safe. These salt or saline drops can soften mucus or thin the mucus to help your little one cough it out.
Typically, nasal sprays contain oxymetazoline , which can relieve nasal discomfort.
Follow the instructions on the bottle to safely administer nasal drops, Parents .
Parents can use these saline drops before bed or in the middle of the night if your child wakes up due to coughing.
6. Apply Balm
Ask your pediatrician before using any balm.
If you’re using balm , applying it to your child’s feet may be safer than on their chest, since toddlers may touch it and then get it in their eyes.
never everUse the balm on babies under two years old, and never put it on a child’s face or under their nose .
7. Use Essential Oils
These herbal products are gaining popularity and some of them may be effective in relieving coughs or muscle pain when applied topically.
8. Give Chicken Soup
There’s nothing better than warm chicken soup to cure the common cold and flu! Studies have shown that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties.
Its high temperature acts as a vaporizer. This helps loosen mucus in the nasal area and clears the nasal passages.
Make sure you cut the chicken pieces well and that the soup is not too hot.
Parents can also use small pasta such as macaroni as a substitute for rice to make it easier to chew.
In addition to soothing your child’s cough, chicken soup can help them feel better by providing essential nutrients.
9. Warm Drinks
Besides soup, parents can also try warm drinks, because this is a natural flu and cough medicine that is effective for toddlers.
Warm drinks help thin the sticky mucus in the nose and throat area. Plus, they can clear the throat and nasal passages, and make it easier to cough.
Plus, warm water soothes a dry throat and keeps your child hydrated.
Parents can try decaffeinated tea mixed with honey and warm water to help relieve cough symptoms in children .
Or you can also try one of the popular home remedies in India, namely warm milk with honey and turmeric.
10.Cool Mist Humidifier
Parents can use a cool-mist humidifier to clear congestion if your child is older than 2 years old.
Products containing aloe vera, lavender,rosemary, and eucalyptus can help improve the quality of sleep at night.
However, consult your pediatrician about which is best.
11. Starfruit is one of the natural cough medicines for children
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Star fruit is a traditional medicine that can treat coughs, food poisoning, and sore throats.
The study entitled Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola L.): From Traditional Use to Pharmacological Activity reveals the pharmacological and medical activities of this fruit with the Latin name A. Carambola.
In one of the discussions mentioned, that star fruit contains total phenolics of 1429 and 2099 µg/g fresh weight; proanthocyanidins 896 and 1321 μg/g fresh weight; total flavonoids 103 and 148 μg/g fresh weight and vitamin C content is 190 and 144 μg/g fresh weight.
Phenolics act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging.
Its benefits can help the body absorb vitamin C , help treat allergies, viral infections, and repair cells damaged by free radicals.
12. Galangal
Galangal orkaempferia galangais one way to help relieve coughs in children .
This spice has traditionally been used for antibacterial, treatment of hypertension, asthma, rheumatism, digestive disorders, colds and headaches, relieving stomachaches and toothaches.
In the article entitledPharmacological importance of Kaempferia galanga (Zingiberaceae): A Mini ReviewIt is explained that kencur powder mixed with honey can be used as an expectorant to treat productive coughs and chest pain.
In addition, oil made from kencur can be applied to the nose area to relieve nasal congestion.
13. Ginger Can Be a Natural Cough Medicine for Children
QuotingMedical News Today, ginger can relieve dry cough or asthma , because it has anti-inflammatory properties.
A 2015 study found that ginger, along with other natural remedies such as honey, can be beneficial in traditional medicine.
The study also noted that ginger can be a natural cough remedy. However, it should be noted that ginger tea can cause stomach upset or heartburn in some cases.
14. RootsMarshmallow
Rootmarshmallowis one of the herbs that is often used as a treatment for coughs and sore throats.
This herbal medicine can relieve irritation due to coughing caused by its high mucus content. Mucus is a thick, sticky substance that coats the throat.
A small study some time ago found that herbal cough syrup containing the root ofmarshmallow, along withthymeAndivy, effectively relieves coughs due to colds and respiratory tract infections.
The method is to add hot water to dried marshmallow root and then drink it. However, keep in mind that this herbal medicine has side effects, namely stomach ache.
15. Gargle with salt water
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Gargling with salt water can relieve sore throats and symptoms associated with the common cold.
This method can help loosen mucus and reduce pain.
To do this, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and then use it to gargle.
Let the salt water sit in the back of your throat for a few moments before spitting it out. However, this method can only be used for children who are old enough to gargle.
16. Eat Fruits Containing Bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme that comes from pineapple and is found mostly in the core of the fruit.
This substance has anti-inflammatory properties and may also have mucolytic properties, which means it can break up mucus and expel it from the body.
Pineapple juice can reduce mucus in the throat and suppress coughing.
However, bromelain is also a type of allergen and can react with the use of certain medications such as blood thinners or antibiotics.
Before giving pineapple juice, make sure your child is not allergic to this fruit.
17. Avoid Foods That Trigger Coughs
One of the most common causes of cough is acid reflux.
Avoiding foods that can trigger an increase in stomach acid is one way to reduce coughing.
The foods and drinks that most often trigger acid reflux include caffeine, chocolate, citrus fruits, fried foods, fatty foods, spices or spicy foods, and tomatoes or tomato-based products.
18. Probiotics
As quoted fromHealthline, a number of studies have shown that probiotics reduce the number of people who experience upper respiratory tract infections.
This food does not directly cure coughs. This substance helps balance the gastrointestinal flora and maintains the body’s immunity.
Some foods that contain probiotics include yogurt, kefir, tempeh, and kombucha.
When to Call a Doctor?
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According to the Medical News Today page , parents should talk to a doctor if their child shows the following symptoms:
- Coughing non-stop,
- Chest pain that persists when not coughing,
- Earache or ear drainage,
- Sinus pain,
- Recurrent fever , or fever that lasts more than 3 days.
When to Seek Care?
Parents should seek immediate medical care for a child who exhibits any of the following symptoms of difficulty breathing:
- Difficulty breathing when not coughing,
- Pulling in the ribs while breathing,
- Wheezing or loud noises when breathing,
- Blue discoloration of the lips or face when coughing,
- Severe chest pain.
Parents should call emergency services immediately if a child shows signs of severe respiratory distress, such as:
- Severe difficulty breathing,
- Blue discoloration of the face or lips when not coughing,
- Unconsciousness or loss of breath.
Mother’s Experience About Natural Cough Treatment for Children
Natural treatment is still one of the options taken by a number of mothers when their child coughs.
Septiani, one of the memberstheAsianparentCommunity, looking for natural cough medicine that can be used by her two-year-old child.
Meanwhile, Endang Sulis has her own way of dealing with coughs in children, namely by exposing the child to sunlight every morning.
Then, he also suggested using kencur as a natural medicine to treat coughs.
Popular Questions Regarding Natural Cough Medicine for Children
Where can a child with a cough be massaged?
LaunchTimes of India, massaging a number of points on the thumb can help relieve coughing, swollen throat, and shallow breathing.
This massage point is felt at the base of the thumb, which is the sore fleshy area at the bottom of the thumb.
To do this, place the thumb of the other hand in the center of the painful area and press gently. Do it gently.
What fruits can relieve cough?
Pineapple is a fruit that can help relieve coughs.
This fruit contains bromelain which is an enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties and has mucolytic properties, namely it can break down mucus and remove it from the body.
This substance is found mostly in the core of the fruit.
Thus, things related to cough in little ones and various natural cough medicines for children that are recommended. Hopefully it is useful and little ones get well soon,Parents.
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Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
