It is officially fall – my favorite season! With it though comes the start of the dreaded cold & flu season. It seems like every year when back to school hits, viruses spread so quickly. Even though we homeschool, we still seem to have our fair share of bugs run through our home. Follow along for my best tips and tricks to help you with remedies for a cold & cough at home.
Please note: All material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. No action should be used based solely on the information contained on this blog. Readers should seek medical advice from a healthcare professional for any matters relating to their health and wellness For the full disclosure, see the link below.
BEING PREPARED FOR COLD & COUGH SEASON
My oldest son woke up yesterday with a fever, terrible congestion, and a sore throat. I immediately went for these tried-and-true remedies. I am happy to say that today he is feeling much better. Fever is gone – just left with some stuffiness. Thankfully, I had everything I needed to care for him on hand.
Usually, I start preparing for the upcoming cold and cough season the end of August. I check all the dates on any products that could expire, make sure my thermometer has good batteries, and that I have plenty of tissues on hand (they’re usually on sale around back-to-school time anyways).
Do you have a bin with cold & cough remedies on hand? I keep mine in our bathroom cabinet. It’s ready to go when the need arises. Everything I use is very simple, but so effective. Items I tend to keep in there besides a few of the products listed below are:
- Thermometer
- Tissues
- small humidifier
- hot pack (mine is homemade filled with rice)
WHAT COLD & COUGH REMEDIES DO I USE?
1) Manuka honey
One of the many benefits of Manuka honey is relieving a sore throat and a cough. As soon as anyone complains of a sore throat, they’re taking a teaspoon of it. I can’t say there are any complaints about it either. Actually, it’s quite the contrary – they’re usually asking me for some. Ha!
2) Homemade cough syrup
I found this cough syrup recipe not too long ago when my youngest son had a persistent cough. Can’t say they love the taste, but it works really well! I did alter the recipe, lessening the amount of cayenne pepper and ginger to both 1/8 teaspoon and added a dallop more of honey because my kids just really do not like apple cider vinegar. The honey has made it at least to where they will take it with something else ready to eat or drink right after to mask the flavor. I’m telling you though, this stuff works!
3) Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is probably best known for relieving nausea, but did you know it can aid in reducing a fever? Here is a really good resource on how to use essential oils on kids. From this, I have created a 10 ml roller bottle of peppermint essential oil and roll it directly on their feet.
4) Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
My mom showed me years ago how to make homemade chicken noodle soup from scratch. I’ve altered it throughout the years to come up with this recipe. SO delicious. Click here to try it out!
I even pressure can it (less the noodles) to have some shelf stable jars of it on hand in case I’m sick and don’t feel like making a batch. It is so convenient to just reheat and cook the noodles.
5) Avoid dairy products & drink lots of water.
Dairy is known to cause mucous. It’s best to limit it or if possible, avoid dairy products all together until your congestion is gone. Instead, drink plenty of water to help thin out any mucous.
6) Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil works wonders on a clogged nose or sinuses. I heat up a pan of water until just steaming hot. Put one drop of essential oil in the pan (I do not recommend exceeding one drop because it is potent). Place a towel over head and pan creating a tent. Breathe in steam and essential oils. Usually effective within a few minutes.
Be careful not to burn yourself on hot pan or steam. This process is not recommended for young children. Eucalyptus essential oil is not recommended for children under 10.
TIPS TO HELP KEEP OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HEALTHY
As soon as one family member comes down with a bug in our family, we usually do a couple things that seems to help keep others healthy. Here are a few tips:
- Wash your hands regularly. We have the sick person use a separate hand towel to dry their hands.
- Daily wipe down surfaces that are used frequently. I love using homemade products with Thieves essential oils.
- If possible, open your windows and allow fresh air to circulate throughout your home. I do this even in the winter by opening almost all my windows for just 5 minutes.
- Wash the sick one’s bedding once they start feeling better. Use warm or hot water if the fabric allows. Wash it all again a couple days later.
- Taking a little preventative dose of the Manuka honey or the homemade cough syrup are some of my secret weapons 🙂
Hope these remedies are as helpful to your family as they have been ours!
What at home remedies does your family use to help with a cold or cough? Let me know in the comments below!
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