Cold and cough are one of the most common infections that infants and kids catch. With monsoon and climate changes, chances of catching an infection are much higher. Kids get cold quite often because their immune system is still not mature. Every bout of cold will make their immune system stronger against cold viruses. On an average, kids catch cold 6-8 times a year. Most colds clear up within 1 week, but some last for as long as 2 weeks
Most doctors do not prescribe any medicines for regular colds, as they want the immune system to build up its own resistance.
These few home remedies will help in providing relief to the children when they catch a cold. These remedies will help to reduce the discomfort caused by cold and would help also in fastening the process of eliminating the cold.
These remedies can be used for infants as well and are effective for children of all age groups.
Nutmeg powder application
Rub nutmeg on a flat grinding stone while adding few drops of water until it forms a smooth paste. Heat this paste for a couple of minutes. Apply this warm paste on your baby’s forehead, chest, back and soles of the feet. Make sure it is not too hot but it needs to be warm while applying. Immediately cover the chest and back with their regular clothes.
Jaiphal contain a compound called myristicin, which helps clear the respiratory passage and provides instant relief.
Roast around 3 tbsp of Ajwain (aka carom seeds/ ova) for 5-7 mins on a pan. Tie this hot ajwain in a muslin cloth and the dab it on the chest. Make sure that it is not too hot. I generally make the potli using a muslin cloth with a double layer initially and then remove one layer as the seeds get colder. This way I am able to do the hot fomentation for a longer duration.
The thymol, present in ajwain gives it the antimicrobial properties and thus helps to relieve congestion.
Take a camphor tablet and crush it. To this, add about ½ tsp of mustard oil (less or more depending on the size of the camphor tablet) enough to make a paste consistency. Mix it well until the camphor dissolves and apply this paste t o the spine and the soles of the feet.
Instead of plain mustard oil you can also heat some ajwain in the mustard oil and use it for faster relief.
Roast 3-4 strands of saffron and powder it. I normally put these strands on a small spoon and keep the spoon directly over the flame. The moment the saffron starts changing colour, take it off teh flame. Using the fingers crush the saffron into a powder. To this add a tbsp of honey and mix well. This can be had directly just like a syrup.
One tbsp of this can be given to a child of 2years up. Below that you can start with one tsp and gradually increase the dosage. This can be given upto 2-3 times a day.
Similar to saffron, roast one clove and powder it. To this add honey, mix well and have it like a syrup. The dosage of this and frequency is same as that of saffron and honey. Cloves take longer to roast and powder than saffron, so to make it easy I keep roasted clove powder ready at home so i just take a pinch of the powder, add it to honey and give it to the kids.
Image courtesy:www.daganghalal.com Besides these remedies regular steaming and dabbing drops of eucalyptus oil on the clothes of the children also soothes them and provides relief from congestion
I have been working in the software technology services space for over 15 years. In my professional life I help in implementing quality standards like ISO, CMMi & Six Sigma to make developers and testers jobs easier & process oriented. Through this blog I am sharing similar techniques coupled with age old wisdom from my mom and grand mom to make our living healthier and medicine free. To work in any new field, it helps if you read and train too, and I did the same. Have got a diploma in Naturopathy from Mumbai to enhance my knowledge and skills on this topic that I am passionate about
I was in dire need of these tips as I am myself struggling at home to take care of cold of my daughter. Will use some of these immediately. Loved the image that you have used on top with tissue paper. It couldn’t have been any better to describe the cold. 🙂
Very apt remedies. Rather than rushing to doctors and giving medicines, I too try and use home remedies. Putting one drop of mustard oil in each nostril while the kid is sleeping and rubbing oil in the sole is effective as well
My son is quite prone to catching cold and I always prefer home remedies to treat his problem. Thank you very much for writing these wonderful remedies .
Our whole family is suffering from cold this time. I have used ajwayan potli but did not know about others. They are new to me. Would try them today itself.
22 Comments
Lovely blog …Was not aware about nutmeg … and the other remedies are great .. will definitely try them 👏🏻
Thanks a lot! such kind words always motivates us 🙂
Good read I knew ly abt nutmeg paste and saffron + honey….thnx for sharing ur home remedies
These are really helpful remedies dear. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
these effective remedied you shared here. are so easy one can definately try and few like ajwai potli etc are something I can vouce for.
I was in dire need of these tips as I am myself struggling at home to take care of cold of my daughter. Will use some of these immediately. Loved the image that you have used on top with tissue paper. It couldn’t have been any better to describe the cold. 🙂
Thanks for sharing these handy as well as effective home remedies, I knew about a couple of these but will definitely try the new ones if required.
Perfect homely remedies, thank you so much. Will surely keep them in mind.
Kids have lot of problems in winters thank you for helpful post, this helps a lot.
These remedies are really helpful … I have used these remedies for my son in winter. That’s why I know very well about these remedies.
Very apt remedies. Rather than rushing to doctors and giving medicines, I too try and use home remedies. Putting one drop of mustard oil in each nostril while the kid is sleeping and rubbing oil in the sole is effective as well
Thanks for sharing this important information with us.
I remember I used to have nutmeg and honey to cure cold.
Great , I remember having shared a similar information few months back, but I didn’t knew of saffron and honey. Shall try that out.
My house help told me about ajwain potli. Though I am not sure if it worked or now. Steam definitely helped in our case.
My son is quite prone to catching cold and I always prefer home remedies to treat his problem. Thank you very much for writing these wonderful remedies .
That was really helpful I have no idea about any of these.. But thanks to u I learnt something today
Our whole family is suffering from cold this time. I have used ajwayan potli but did not know about others. They are new to me. Would try them today itself.
Most of the solutions you listed down here are easily available at home. Nice blog.
Omg! I just adore your writing style dear !
This is very informative.. I knew few from this tips but rest o didn’t know.. Thank you for sharing.. It is gonna helpful for sure..
Thanks for sharing the Bea home remedies will surely try.. It’s very much helpful for me
In winters catching a common cold for kids is very easy, in facf for every one. Hence sharing these tips will be very helpful for all