Soothing Illness Naturally

This is part three of my All Better Naturally series.

If your child is already sick what can you do to ease their discomfort and soothe them naturally?

Quieting a Cough

Throw out that chemical cocktail called cough syrup. My kids hate the stuff anyway. If your child is older then six months then try some essential oils or herbal teas. Expectorant herbs like thyme, eucalyptus, mint, licorice, and anise will help bring up mucus in a productive cough. For non productive coughs use slippery elm, peppermint, or lemon balm.

Perhaps you could make them an herbal Popsicle by boiling the herbs in water, letting it cool, mixing with a bit of juice, and then freezing in Popsicle molds.

A drop or two of essential oils added to a half cup of massage oil will also make a great chest and back rub for your kiddos.

Getting Them to Rest

Aromatherapy – put a few drops of lavender or sweet orange essential oil on a handkerchief and tie it somewhere on their bed or use a diffuser.

Practice focused breathing before bedtime as a way to slow nervous energy.

Breathing Troubles – Do some yoga! Yoga really helps in teaching deep abdominal breathing. I recommend the YogaKids video series.

Other Symptoms? Try chamomile for upset stomach and crankiness, senna for constipation, slippery elm for a sore throat, ginger for nausea, and green tree in general for illness. Hope you feel better soon!