Natural Remedies For Cold and FluColds and Runny Noses in ChildrenNatural remedies are ideal for treating cold and flu symptoms. They're safe, effective and they will help to build your childs immune system. Children's immune systems learn to deal with viral and bacterial infections through practice and experience. Natural medicines for cold and flu help to facilitate this process. It's normal for children to get sick, especially in child care. A cold should not last any longer than five to seven days in a healthy child. If your childs colds last longer than this, they have a constant runny nose or they're experiencing recurrent colds you need to focus on building up their immune system. Working with a natural therapist experienced in children's health care is a good idea. The following suggestions can be used at home to treat the symptoms of cold and flu such as a runny nose. It's a good idea to keep a stock of appropriate natural medicines in your first aid cabinet so that you can start treatment at the first sign of infection developing. What causes a runny nose during a cold? A runny nose usually starts when a cold is starting to get better. When the cold virus first infects the nose and sinuses, the nose starts making lots of clear mucus. This mucus helps wash the virus out of the nose and sinuses. After two or three days, as the body fights back, the mucus changes to a white or yellow colour. As the bacteria that usually live in the nose grow back, they change the mucus to a greenish colour. This is normal. It doesn't mean your child has an infection that needs to be treated with medicines like antibiotics.
A clear runny nose is often the first symptom of the body fighting a viral infection. It can last anywhere from 3 to 7 days. A runny nose lasting longer than this (and especially without fever) is usually due to an allergy. It is normal for the mucous to be thicker and slightly coloured (white to yellow) after waking from sleep in the morning or after a day sleep. The mucous will change back to thin and clear after several hours of being up and awake If the mucous changes to a thick, fluorescent coloured green or yellow, that remains this way throughout the day, usually indicates a secondary bacterial infection and can be treated with herbal formula designed specifically for bacterial sinus infections. The clear and runny mucous is one of the 1st mechanisms of defence against invading viruses. Viruses enter the body through the upper respiratory membranes (nose and sinuses) or the mouth. The clear, watery mucous is designed to try and ‘flush’ the membranes of the sinuses and nasal passages clear of invading viruses or allergens. It is therefore best not to give anything designed to suppress this in the early days. A runny nose dripping backwards can produce a very wet sounding cough. Although the cough can sound similar to the cough of bronchitis, your childs chest will sound clear when listened to. There are four different types of coughs that may develop with colds and flu.
Giving medications to dry up a runny nose in the early days of a cold prevents your childs body and immune system from eliminating the virus and you will increase the risk of your child developing a more severe infection. Antibiotics are not effective for cold and flu treatment so don't be tempted to use them 'just in case'. Treatment:
It’s normal for kids to lose their appetite while sick, DON’T PANIC, they’ll usually start eating normally again when they’re ready and feel well again. Using the chicken soup or beef/lamb broth with either rice or noodles ensures that they are receiving nutrition, electrolytes and fluid to help prevent dehydration.
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