Natural cough & cold remedies?

**Michelle** · 06-09-2008, 12:57 PM

We've got a cold running through the family. Lauren has a nonstop cough right now. Her Dr. said that she can't do anything more for her because I gave her 12 hr cough syrup at about 7:30 this morning.

Anyway, I've also given her chamomile tea w/a bit of honey, but I'm hoping there are other things I can do in the meantime?

**SewCrafty** · 06-09-2008, 01:11 PM

Aw poor Lauren

She could probably have cough drops, though read the label so she isn't eating them like candy. Tea with honey is very good. Also my mom's recipe was always canned peaches with toast, oh and you MUST cut the toast up into 4 strips for dunking.

I'm telling you as a small kid this was the best thing about being sick well that and getting to rest on the couch.

Funny but it really does work, keeping something in her stomach to help the meds work better. Also soup of any kind is good except maybe milk based ones as they just bring on more phlem and coughing.

Hope you feel better soon Lauren.

**Michelle** · 06-09-2008, 01:15 PM

Thanks Dee

Yes, she does seem better now that she's got more food in her. She's hungry, so I'm going with that--I'd be more worried if she wasn't eating. No peaches on hand, but I have pineapple. I'll add peaches to the list so Dave can pick some up on the way home from work.

If I suggested soup right now, she'd look at me like I'm

...it's 90º here now

**SewCrafty** · 06-09-2008, 01:34 PM

I hear ya Chelle, it is hot as hades here too. Maybe tonight when it cools down some for the soup. Canned pears too if she likes those, anything soft and slippery so it won't hurt her throat going down.

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 06-09-2008, 02:19 PM

Lemon and honey in tea and mustard plasters to help break up the phlem. I think it's 1/4 cup of flour and 2-3 tbsp dry mustard mixed together with just enough water to make a thick paste. Spread the goop on a dishtowel and put on her chest, and be sure to take it off if the skin starts turning red as the heat from the mustard can leave a heat rash if left too long. It really does work!

**earthymom** · 06-09-2008, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by hippytreehugger4ever

Lemon and honey in tea and mustard plasters to help break up the phlem. I think it's 1/4 cup of flour and 2-3 tbsp dry mustard mixed together with just enough water to make a thick paste. Spread the goop on a dishtowel and put on her chest, and be sure to take it off if the skin starts turning red as the heat from the mustard can leave a heat rash if left too long. It really does work!

I agree and might add, use a non-flower based herbal tea and don't put milk in it. The works wonders.

My kids always wanted refrigerated canned pears cut into small pieces.

**PrairieRose** · 06-09-2008, 08:27 PM

You know what I did with the last cold I had that really seemed to help...? You know at bedtime, after you've been in bed for a few minutes or couple of hours....you get that tickle-ly,mean little cough that you can't get rid of? I had read to take a spoon full of honey so I got up and tried it. I slept all night, no more tickle, the cold was better the next day too.....related? I dunno. Wouldn't hurt to try. Hope you all feel better soon Chelle.

**earthymom** · 06-09-2008, 09:24 PM

Honey is a wonderful food/medicine.

**Siebrie** · 06-10-2008, 05:28 AM

Thyme tea
Thyme honey
ginger tea (but these 3 may be to strong for a little child?)
coca cola
waterbased icecream (no dairy)
crushed ice to suck on
having her head rather high on a pillow (so that the moisture from her nose that drips into her mouth does not tickle the back of her throat)

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 06-10-2008, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by earthymom

Honey is a wonderful food/medicine.

Ditto! And if it is raw honey it contains all of the enzymes which really help the healing process.

Hope your L

auren is on her way to a speedy recovery, Michelle!

**SewCrafty** · 06-10-2008, 06:13 AM

Hey Chelle, how is Lauren feeling this morning?

**Momto2Boyz** · 06-10-2008, 09:44 AM

We had a nasty summer cold hit our house about 2 weeks ago. It was absolutely no fun!

We have a netty pot that we use. The doctor said it's safe for the kids, which is nice (they don't like it much so we don't use it too often). But at the end of the cold when my nose was draining it gave me a horrendous cough that tore up my throat. I used the netty pot and it help clear everything out of my sinus', so it wasn't dripping back into my throat.

DH swears by it, too. He has been using it once a week for the past (almost) year, and he hasn't had a single cold and it has kept his seasonal allergies under control.

You might try it, if you think your daughter would be able to do it. It is a bit scary at first. Even I was really nervous about pouring liquid into my nose and watching it come out the other nostril!

Good luck, I hope you find something that works! Hot showers always help too!

**Didi** · 06-12-2008, 02:31 PM

- tea made from liquorice root (helps dissolve 'slime' in lungs / throat)
- for easier breathing: slice an union and keep this near her bed. It smells, but will make her sleep better.
- Vicks vaporub (on chest + back, or in hot water for inhalation)
- nosespray: cooled down cooked water with some natural seasalt. You can also use this, with a tad more salt, to flush your throat with.