Home Remedies for Common Health Issues in Children

Common health issues in children include cough and cold, stomach ache, diarrhoea and asthma. Most of these are not serious problems and can be tackled at home. Here are a few home remedies to help fight minor health issues. However, at any point, if you sense the situation needs medical treatment, consult a doctor immediately.

Cough and Cold: A bit of lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric or black pepper powder when added to a tablespoon of honey makes a soothing yet effective antidote to colds and coughs, sore throat and sneezing. Most effective if taken 3 to 4 times a day.

Adding a teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of warm milk is very effective if had twice a day. In case of fever, a sponge bath helps reduce temperature.

Note: Do not give honey to children under age 1 as it can cause infant botulism.

Asthma: Typical symptoms of Asthma are wheezing and shortness of breath. Ginger candies help reduce airway inflammation making breathing easy. You could also mix ginger juice with equal amounts of pomegranate juice and honey and give your child 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

Stomach Ache: Stomach aches are common in children and the main causes are constipation, indigestion and gas. Chewing a small amount of fennel seeds after a meal reduces stomach ache considerably. You may add 1 teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds to 1 cup of hot water and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain, add a little honey and let your child sip it twice a day.

Having warm water at regular intervals is good for relieving gas and preventing constipation.

Diarrhoea:  Our body’s way to flush out germs in the form of watery stools, often accompanied with abdominal pain, is termed as diarrhoea. This occurs due to stomach infection caused by contaminated food or water.

Unripe bananas help combat diarrhoea owing to their high pectin content and since they are rich in potassium, help replenish electrolyte loss. Boiled potatoes, broths, white rice and curd also help combat diarrhoea.

Toothaches: Toothache is common in children and is caused by tooth decay and cavities. While brushing and flossing can help remove stuck food, asafoetida (hing) works well to get relief from toothache.

You may fry a pinch of asafoetida in clarified butter and using a cotton swab, apply it on the affected part.

If your child is old enough, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in warm water and ask him to rinse his mouth thoroughly with it.

Earaches: Earaches can be sharp or dull with irregular frequencies and the usual causes are common cold, nasal blockage and increase in air pressure. They can also be caused due to ear infections, dirt accumulation and fluid build-up.

Before taking your child to the doctor, you may try putting 3 or 4 drops of lukewarm olive oil into the ear canal. Olive oil, which also works as a lubricant, softens the wax which can then be removed easily with a cotton swab. Applying a warm cloth around the affected ear also helps relieve the pain.

Minor Wounds: Kids often hurt themselves leading to redness, swelling or bleeding. Such wounds should first be cleaned of dirt and germs using an antiseptic before patting the wound dry. Then apply coconut oil on the wound and cover it with a bandage. The wound shall heal if repeated twice or thrice for a few days.

Coconut oil has antibacterial properties that prevent infection and its anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties promote faster healing.

NOTE: These are home remedies & NOT an alternative for actual medication. Consult with your medical practitioner for any concerns.

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