Monday, December 26, 2011

Croup 101

Christmas Eve I had my first introduction to croup as a mama.  I was hopeful that we would not need to make a trip to the doctor or ER, and so far we have not needed that trip!  Croup can be dangerous, so parents need to be very careful when trying to treat this at home and should call their health care practitioner immediately with any questions or concerns, but here is a list of what was helpful for us.

*Yellow Onion - yes, raw onion was a lifesaver for us and thankfully, I had a big supply on hand.  I used onion in two ways.  First I FINELY chopped up a raw onion (once in the morning and once in the evening) and left in a bowl next to my son.  Second, I made a raw onion poultice.  I finely chopped half an onion, wrapped it in cheesecloth and warmed it in the oven for a minute or two.  I then rubbed a little vaseline on his chest and placed the poultice on his chest for 30-45 minute increments throughout the day.  If his cough sounded barky, I would try to do it more often, but a 2 year old does not sit still that long! =)

*Herbs for kids - I used their echinacea, cherry bark blend, temp assure and horehound blend

*Cough syrup - I made a homemade thyme and honey cough syrup.  You can find multiple variations of recipes on line.

*For fever - my son's temperature reached 101; using herbal remedies, we were able to keep the fever from going any higher and it soon came down.  We used Herbs for Kids Temp Assure, two different homeopathics (aconitum napellus and cell salt #4 Ferrum Phos), and I sponged his head and feet with mixture that I found in one of my favorite children's herbal resources Gentle Healing for Baby and Child.  I used a large cereal bowl of lukewarm water, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and 3 drops of lavender essential oil.  He found this particularly comforting.

*Essential oils - I used a blend recommended for coughs from Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child.  I used this in a warm bath and on a tissue next to us at night as we slept.  These oils were soothing and helped to ease his respiratory discomfort.

*I also did a diluted chamomile tea which helped to relax him and ease his fevers.

Again, use caution when treating croup.  We were able to keep the barky cough to a minimum (especially with the onion) but use caution and speak to your health practitioner if you have any questions or concerns about your child before using herbal treatments.

(Featured on The 21st century Housewife, Time Warp Wife,  The Frugal Tuesday Tip , Real Food Forager, Happy Hour Projects, Real Food Freaks, Fresh Bites Friday , The Hungry, Hungry Hypo, Fitness, Health, and Happiness , Jo's Healthcare Corner)

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing this excellent post with the Hearth and Soul hop. I was so interested to read about the natural remedies that you have found so effective.

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  2. Other ways to help relieve croup are taking them outside at night in the cold air. Followed by sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running to steam it up. My oldest got croup every winter for the first 3 years of her life. So very not fun.

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  3. Thanks for sharing about this important condition on the Living Well Blog Hop. I will share on my fb site as well.

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  4. Thanks for sharing your healthy tips and doing so with natural products. I am a lover of essential oils and that is all I use in my home for rememdies! Thanks for telling others about how to live a holistic lifestyle. We have a similar passion and that is helping others achieve a healthy and natural lifestyle. :) Blessings! Carrie

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  5. Thanks for sharing your remedies with the Hearth and Soul Hop. My oldest son had croup when he was little and it was scary.

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