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