Colds are the bane of our existence, in my humble opinion. You’re not sick enough to stay in bed, whine, and be waited upon; but you sure don’t feel good, and you have to do your normal life-stuff with all the cold symptoms hanging around, your new bff. Ick. When it’s your baby who is fighting the cold, you still feel the pain. Stuffy noses, sinus pressure, congestion waking baby and you up at night. Runny noses getting sore during the day. Achiness and fatigue making everything more difficult. Coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and general no-fun components of the cold: we need to get rid of them.
Cherry Cough Syrup
Wong gives a recipe for a cherry cough syrup which seems wonderful to me. I’ve adapted it a bit to work for babies; he makes his with honey, which isn’t safe for babies under a year old.
Use about 3 cups of fresh, unpitted, washed cherries; put them in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Add 1 sliced lemon and let the whole pot simmer for a good 20 or 30 minutes. Strain out the cherries and lemon, return the liquid to the saucepan, and put it back over heat. Add 1 1/2 cups of raw or brown sugar and simmer gently, stirring continually, until the mixture gets syrupy. Remove from heat, let cool, and store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Keep it in the refrigerator. Give 1 to 2 teaspoons to babies, as needed, to soothe coughing. Give 1 to 2 tablespoons to toddlers and children as needed for coughing.
Mullein
A reader recently asked me about using mullein for babies, and I didn’t have an answer at the time. Since then, I’ve done a little research and here is what I’ve found: mullein is “used as an expectorant, decongestant, and mucus reducer” according to Wong. Page recommends it as an “anti-spasmodic and astringent herb, effective for a wide range of respiratory problems.” She also mentions its expectorant properties. That sounds great, so far. However, Avila and Fetrow say not to give mullein to children; why not, they don’t say.
Castleman states that mullein should not be given to children under 2; for older children, dosage should be adjusted according to the child’s weight. Both Castleman and Duke recommend mullein for coughs and colds. Duke says that a mullein flower tea “provides throat-soothing mucilage and also has an expectorant effect” (138). Mullein has a bitter taste, which Duke recommends masking with the addition of lemon, other herbs, and/or honey (147).
My conclusion on mullein is this: it doesn’t fit into the “safe herbs for babies” category. It sounds like an effective (if bitter) herb to use for older children and adults. I’ll give it a try, but in the meantime for babies, I’ll stick with
Licorice, Anise, Chamomile, and Lemon Balm Infusion
These herbs will fight colds, increase healing time, and reduce the symptoms. Licorice is soothing for coughs and sore throats. Anise is an expectorant and antiviral. Chamomile I’ve already talked about at length. Lemon balm has a host of good benefits: antiviral, antioxidant, plus it is a sedative and soothing to the stomach, which can get kind of iffy with lots of mucus draining down into it. And the bonus is that all of these herbs taste good. Licorice tastes like, well, itself. Anise tastes like licorice. Chamomile is mild and sweet and kind of apple-y. Lemon balm (surprise) tastes lemony.
To make the infusion, take 1 teaspoon each, dried, of the four herbs (crush the aniseed a bit). Steep the herbs in very hot water for 10 to 15 minutes (keep it covered to trap the steam). Sweeten with sugar to taste (honey for babies over a year old). Give 1 to 2 teaspoons by eyedropper, or for older babies dilute half-and-half with water and give in a bottle or sippy cup.
The only caution about this tea is that licorice, used long-term, can have an adverse effect. So don’t drink this tea every day for the next year, or give it to your baby every day for the next three months. Use it for the duration of the cold or flu, then discontinue. Or just drop the licorice.
Eucalyptus Aromatherapy
For helping deal with the stuffiness and loosen up those congested areas, a little eucalyptus aromatherapy is wonderful. Page says it has “strong antiseptic properties” and recommends it “externally for chest congestion.” Follow the same instructions given for using lavender for aromatherapy.
Get the book: the information you need, when you need it.
Disclaimer:
I am not a medical professional or a certified herbalist. The information provided on this website and all related publications, whether print or digital, whether implied or explicit, are not intended to be taken as medical advice; it is for informational purposes. I assume no liability for what you choose to do with this information. You should always be cautious and use common sense, do research and consult professionals when it comes to medicine, both herbal and otherwise. Consult your medical care provider for professional health advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
Sources
Avila, Juan R. and Charles W. Fetrow. The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corporation, 2000.
Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs. Rodale, 2009.
Duke, James A., Ph.D. The Green Pharmacy. New York: Rodale, 1997.
Houdret, Jessica. Practical Herb Garden. London: Hermes House, 2003.
Page, Linda, N.D., Ph.D. How to Be Your Own Herbal Pharmacist: Herbal Traditions, Expert Formulations. Healthy Healing Publications, 1991, 1997.
Wong, James. Grow Your Own Drugs: Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Fixes. London: Collins, 2009.
-
Image courtesy of |Chris| on Flickr.