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Article #1: Natural cough remedies

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Question: Sometimes it seems the coughing congested area, making sure it is not too
will never end, especially during cold hot to the touch, and cover with a
and flu season. The pharmacy shelves are terrycloth towel to retain the heat.
stocked with cough syrups full of As the onion poultice cools on your
chemicals, alcohol and dyes. Are there child’s chest, prepare another one to
natural cough remedies to try? replace it.
Andrea Candee replies: Try some of these This procedure can be repeated several
easily prepared cough remedies made from times using fresh onions for each
nature’s pharmacy. poultice.
Onion-Honey Cough Syrup The Onion Pack
Here’s a sweet and delicious cough I’ve never seen anything work faster to
remedy your child will love to eat! The stop incessant coughing than a pack made
anti-inflammatory properties of both of yellow onion. When my sons coughed
honey and onion help relax coughing through the night, remaining asleep while
spasms and soothe irritated tissue. Onion I lay awake, I’d head for the kitchen
and honey are anti-microbial, as well. to prepare this remedy. By the time I
Research reveals that onions, as well as would get from the bed to the door, the
garlic and cayenne, produce an irritation coughing would stop!
in the stomach lining that signals the The medicinal properties of the onion are
lungs to release a flow of secretions contained in its fumes and the inhalation
that help thin sticky, thickened mucus. of them is what does the trick. The room
Can you recall how peeling an onion won’t smell so fabulous in the morning,
brings tears to your eyes? That’s the but I always figured it was worth a
same mechanism in action. This is what night’s sleep.
makes onion such a good expectorant, Thinly slice a small yellow onion, place
breaking up congestion in the lungs. in cheesecloth, folding it over to make a
Mountain Rose Herbs. A herbs, health and self-contained “pack.”
harmony company. Since 1987 Place in a 200-degree oven for just a few
In a small saucepan, mix together 1 cup minutes to warm it.
honey; 1 medium, yellow onion, chopped; Place on your child’s chest, taping in
and 1 tablespoon thyme leaf (more, if you place with surgical tape and covering
use it fresh). with a nightshirt.
Cook the above ingredients until the Chest-Relaxing Ginger Rub
onion is softened. When your child’s chest feels tight as
Serve warm by itself, eaten by the a result of cold or flu and coughing is
teaspoonful, over mashed potatoes or with painful, a ginger rub will bring herbal
your child’s favorite vegetable, meat heat to the chest. Ginger’s stimulating
or chicken. properties increase circulation and help
Small amounts may be eaten several times loosen things up, with greater comfort
a day, if desired. being the happy result. I can remember
The healing properties of thyme have times when this remedy was so effective
often been called upon in another of my that the next night my son required an
passions, directing children’s theatre. onion pack to stop the incessant coughing
Sometimes, the fledgling thespians’ from all the loosened phlegm!
vocal chords don’t hold up for multiple To prepare this rub, mix together 1
performances, so I share the formula with tablespoon each of powdered ginger
their parents, suggesting they use it (Zingiber off.) (purchased from a health
throughout the day. I also recommend that food store, where it will not have been
they send their children to the irradiated) and a non-petrolated
performances with a container of petroleum jelly (also available at a
honey-sweetened thyme tea. School plays health food store).
don’t usually have understudies, so you The mixture will look rather like brown
can imagine how important in the frosting. But don’t eat it — spread
microcosm of the little actors’ world a it on your child’s chest, then cover
remedy for laryngitis can be! with a cotton T-shirt.
Thyme-Honey Syrup A reddening of the area is normal and
Thyme is an excellent expectorant as well indicates that the ginger is increasing
as an anti-microbial herb, and honey not circulation to the capillaries near the
only soothes but acts as a preservative surface of the skin.
as well. I keep this wonderful-tasting In the morning, the petroleum jelly will
syrup in my refrigerator all winter long. have been absorbed and the ginger will
It can be used for colds, coughs, have worked its magic, as indicated by
laryngitis and sore throats. your child’s ability to breathe more
Steep 1 ounce of dried thyme leaf (Thymus easily.
vulgaris) in 1 cup boiled water, covered, Another wonderful reason to use ginger: A
until cool. Brigham Young University study revealed
Strain; mix the liquid with 1 cup of that this herb significantly decreased
honey. nausea and diarrhea associated with the
Store refrigerated in a glass jar. It 24-hour flu.
keeps well for several months. Aromatic Congestion Oil
Give undiluted doses of 1 teaspoon to 1 Blending together any of the following
tablespoon several times a day as needed. oils will create a treatment that deeply
Thyme-Eucalyptus Bath penetrates tissue, stimulating blood flow
Another way to benefit from the to the lung area, helping to open air
anti-microbial properties of thyme is in passages. In addition, the herbs are
an inhalation bath. As thyme is also a anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.
bronchodilater, it’s a good way to help Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
relieve the constricted breathing that Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
can be experienced with a chest cold, Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
pneumonia or bronchitis. Lavender (Lavandula off.)
Eucalyptus helps stimulate secretions and Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
is anti-microbial. Before immersing your Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
child in this bath, be sure that the Hyssop (Hyssopus off.)
eucalyptus is well tolerated. I have For children under 8 years of age, blend
found that some allergic, asthmatic 6 drops of combined essential oils in a
children experience just the opposite: a teaspoon of carrier oil such as almond,
constricted, heavy feeling in the chest. apricot kernel or grapeseed. For the
Steep 2 tablespoons dried thyme leaf in 1 older child, increase the dilution to 10
quart of boiled water for 30 minutes; drops to the teaspoon of oil.
strain; add to bath water. The congestion oil may be rubbed on the
Add 4 to 6 drops essential oil of chest and back in the morning, afternoon
eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and stir and at bedtime. Cover with a cotton
into bath water. shirt.
Teach your child how to breathe deeply Continue treatment until congestion
while bathing. loosens and your child is more
Heavy-Duty Onion Poultice comfortable.
To break up heavy lung congestion, as in You may expect a slight reddening of the
pneumonia, or to soothe the inflammation skin due to the oils’ circulatory
of bronchitis, consider the enhancing effect. If your child exhibits
anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, more than just a slight reddening or a
secretion-stimulating action of this rash, discontinue use.
treatment. It takes some preparation, but Several drops of the congestion oil may
the results are well worth the effort. be used in a bath.
Simmer a large, thinly sliced, yellow For inhalations, add a few drops of the
onion in water until just softened. congestion oil to a pot of hot water,
Place the onion on a piece of white cloth encouraging your child to breathe deeply
(cheesecloth, cotton diaper or linen over the water.
napkin) and fold it up to make a packet. Several drops of the oil may also be
Carefully apply to your child’s added to a vaporizer.






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