Despite the addition of the word "Green" to the 2009 list of Banished Words published annually by the Lake Superior State University, people are still "Going Green" more and more. People are buying more organic and looking for natural cures for things like the common cold. Besides, we all know that those medicines we buy over the counter, especially for cough, don't really work very well.
It's funny because I was watching War of the Worlds
yesterday and the thing that killed the aliens was the common cold. And here we are trying our damnedest to get rid of it when it comes calling! I mean it's no wonder with the weather changes going on, at least around here, that people are getting sick. Frankly, I am sick of the weather changes. It's literally 80 degrees one day (yes, in January) and 50 degrees the next day. But, I digress.
Willow has been sick with congestion and a cough more than I would have liked this "winter". (That is in quotes since I don't think 80 degrees in winter is cold enough to be called winter.) With the FDA warning parents about over the counter cough and cold medicine for children, natural cures are what people are looking for! I have talked about Alternatives to Cold Medicine before, but let's talk a look at some natural ways to give relief to your children (and yourself for that matter) when they are sick with a cold.
FIRST, let's take a look at 4 common natural cold remedies and see if they really work.- Zinc: this is a supplement that some people take which supposedly prevents the formation of proteins that the cold virus needs to reproduce. However, there is little scientific evidence to back up that claim. There are currently 14 published scientific studies on the effects of Zinc in treating the common cold. Unfortunately there was no significant difference in the duration of the cold between the groups that took the zinc and those that were given a placebo.
- Vitamin C: this vitamin is supposed to boost your immune system and hence resistance to the cold virus. However, experts disagree as to weather or not it is effective in people (it has been shown effective in animal testing). Studies show that vitamin C taken after a cold has started is ineffective. However, those who took it as a preventative measure it can slightly reduce the duration of a cold. (I take vitamin C every day).
- Echinacea: like vitamin C, echinacea is supposed to boost your immunity. Two conflicting studies have recently been published. In a 2007 study by the University of Connecticut, researchers concluded that taking echinacea as a preventative reduced your odds of getting a cold by 58% and decreased the duration of a cold by 1.4 days. But a study conducted by the University of Virginia, published in 2005, showed no benefits.
- Chicken Soup: soup, chicken in particular, is supposed to sooth inflammation. However, no studies have been done to determine this claim. The main reason behind the lack of the study is that there is no way to form an effective placebo. Experts agree that it doesn't appear to help fight a cold. However, at the very least, eating chicken soup (or any soup really) when you are sick can help prevent dehydration.
So, is there anything that you can do? The answer is a resounding YES!!- Blow your nose! Nothing helps get out the mucus like blowing your nose. Sniffling just sucks it back into the sinuses and that's not what you want. But, you don't want to blow too hard and if you have a baby good luck trying to get them to blow their nose. I have said time and again how I use Little Noses Saline Spray/Drops
for Willow. And the other day she actually handed the bottle to me and laid down on the floor so I could give her some relief.
- REST! Giving your body the opportunity to rest is some of the best medicine for the common cold as it allows your body to fight the cold instead of expending energy on other things. However, getting a toddler to "rest" is an adventure. I try to get Willow to nap more when she has a cold but if she can't suck her thumb, forget about it. For me, it's really hit and miss with this one. I try, but like I said, it doesn't always work.
- Gargle. make some warm salt water (1 tsp salt mixed with warm water) and gargle 4 times a day. This brings relief to a dry, soar throat. If you have a "tickling" cough, you can try an astringent gargle (like tea with tannin) to help tighten the membranes in your throat. You can also use honey with raspberry leaves and lemon in hot water. Let it seep like a tea and when it's cooled to room temperature you can gargle with it. But you have to be careful with honey for children under 1 year of age.
- Drink Hot Liquids. Hot liquids can relieve sinus pressure, soothe a sore throat, and prevent dehydration. I haven't tried to get Willow (15 months) to drink hot liquid but she will drink beverages that are warm.
- Take a Steamy Shower. A hot steamy shower can relax you while soothing and hydrating nasal passages. This is another one that can be difficult for a toddler. I know I LOVE a hot shower or bath but I can tolerate something that is hotter than I normally have the temp at. I don't think Willow would be able to. What you CAN do is get a humidifier for your baby's room. This will hydrate the air they breathe and can have the same effect for the whole night. I have this Adorable Humidifier - Animals - Frog
humidifier for Willow, but you can choose whichever works for you. They come in a wide range of prices and can last a long time!
- Use a Salve Under Your Nose. Vicks or another mentholated salve placed under your nose can help to open your breathing passages and sooth the skin, which is likely irritated from all the blowing and wiping. Menthol, eucalyptus and camphor all have mild numbing properties that can help ease the pain. Vicks offers a "baby" version of their formula called Vicks BabyRub
. It's very distinctive because it has a pink cap. This has helped tremendously with Willow. If you find they rub it off their nose, you can always rub it on the chest and back.
- Apply Hot and Cold Packs to Sinuses. Depending on the type of cold you have you can choose which is more comforting for you. If you don't want to buy a reusable pack you can make your own hot pack with a wet washcloth in the microwave for 55 seconds or a bag of frozen vegetables for a cold pack.
- Sleep With an Extra Pillow. Elevating your head can help drain the nasal passages while you sleep. For babies and toddlers, you can purchase a crib wedge that can elevate your baby. (Examples here
, and here
)
- Don't Fly Unless Necessary. The change in air pressure that occurs during flight can be extremely painful for your ears, depending on the severity of the cold.
If you or your baby/toddler/child have a cold, try these suggestions before resorting to over the counter medicines that often don't work as well as you'd like them to. Heck, you might be surprised at how effective they are!
I hope I have been able to help!!
