Guest Blog by Katy of Health Little Things
If you’re anything like me you’ll be feeling well acquainted with snot at this time of year-kids and cold germs just don’t mix, or rather they do…. very well! Even with a healthy diet & lifestyle it’s hard to ward colds off completely, so if your little ones are bringing sniffles back from school or nursery and generously sharing them with you, here are some natural remedies to help get you all through the cold & flu season!
Olbas Oil
we all know Olbas is brilliant for helping to clear the airways but did you know that it’s also “virucidal”.which means its effectively kills viruses? I use it most days to help ward bugs off. Olbas advise not putting it on clothes, near eyes or directly on skin, so alternatively I put a few drops on a tissue for my son to inhale and tuck it into a hard to access pocket! I also put a few drops on a muslin and drape it out of reach over the radiator.. (You can use it on babies from 3 months upwards.)
Elderflower
In medieval times Elderflower was known as natures “cure all”. The flowers have antiviral and immune boosting properties and are used to treat cold, sinusitis, flu and fevers. You can find out more about it here
For adults and over 12’s I love this Baldwin’s remedy packed with Elderflower:
Ginger
Ginger has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2500 years to fight colds-it’s known for helping to clear and relieve sore throats and coughing. For adults and children who’ll drink it, the easiest way to administer it is by making a ginger “tea”-grate a 2 inch piece of fresh ginger and pour hot water over it, allowing it to steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool then add some maple syrup or honey and a bit of lemon. You can add it to your baby’s food at around 8 months and give yourself a pick me up by throwing a few slices into your stir fries!
If you’ve got any other natural remedies that have worked for you, we’d love to hear from you! www.healthylittlethings.co.uk
