A health tip by Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento

With the recent news about cough and cold medicines’ potentially harmful effects on young children, more parents are looking for natural remedies to treat their child’s cold or flu infections.

Since there is no cure for the common cold or the flu, we can only treat the symptoms they cause.  Medications can help reduce the effects, and possibly the duration, of these infections.  For those looking for treatments that are more natural than chemical, here are some suggestions:

Rest: this one’s obvious, but anyone of any age needs to take it easy while infected with the cold or flu. 

Drink warm liquids: in addition to relieving sore throats, warm liquids can deliver needed nutrients to bodies that are fighting infection.  Chicken soup has protein and electrolytes.  Older children can drink tea to get a dose of antioxidants. 

Breathe with steam: sometimes the steam from a warm bowl of soup or a hot bath can soothe congested nasal passages and cut down on the chills.  If you want a lot of steam, invest in a humidifier.

Don’t skimp on the tissues: encourage your child to blow her or his congested nose often. Sniffling and keeping mucus inside can lead to sinus or ear infections. 

Keep clean: be sure to keep germs at bay.  Discard used tissues, wash pillow cases and blankets, and wipe down commonly touched surfaces like doorknobs and light switches.  This should keep the germ count down and help to prevent other family members from catching the infection.

Eat or drink ginger: whether used in a dinner recipe or boiled in water to make a tasty beverage, ginger can help to ease a queasy stomach.

Nourish and hydrate: your child may not feel like eating or drinking much, but try to ensure she or he is getting nutrients.  Proper nourishment is needed for bodies that are fighting an infection.

Older children and adults can try salt gargles for sore throats or Neti pots for nasal congestion.  Other alternative medicines like zinc have experts debating their effectiveness, but these should not be used on children.

Of course, parents need to seek professional medical advice or care when their child is sick.  Call your pediatrician or advice nurse to discuss your child’s symptoms and your approach to treatment.  Keep a careful eye on your child’s symptoms – if they do not subside or new ones appear, your child may be suffering from another type of infection or need professional treatment. 

For more information about the FDA’s findings on pediatric cold medicine, check Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region’s health news page.

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