healthykids
Sniffl e Patrol
Easy Tips to Keep Kids Healthy This
Winter
A
ccording to the National Insti- ■ Steamed vegetables and soups fortify
tutes of Health, children can get
the body with minerals.
six to 10 colds a year, but with
■ Miso and chicken soup, herbal teas
the Food and Drug Administration’s
and water flush away toxins and
recent warnings about the safety of
keep the respiratory tract moist.
over-the-counter cold medicines for
hances immune function. The dose for
■ Ginger, onions and garlic warm the
children, many parents are looking
body and boost the immune system.
a 150-pound adult is 500 milligrams, or
for new ways to find relief. Here is a
2 to 4 milliliters of tincture, four times
■ Hot water with lemon and honey
rundown of some of safest and most
a day. For children, give a proportional
soothes the throat and chest and
effective alternatives.
amount, based on the child’s weight.
thins mucous.
Lomatium ~ Given in the same dose as
■ Mint tea and peppermint candies
Prevention
echinacea, lomatium also has antiviral
help with tickling coughs.
properties.
Colds, like most illnesses, tend to affect
children whose immune systems are
Foods to Avoid ~ Sugar depresses the
Elderberry ~ Used for centuries,
weak; the best defense is to take steps
immune system and keeps white blood
elderberry syrups are still popular in
to support the body’s natural defenses.
cells from being able to fight infection,
Europe for fighting the common cold
Having children eat well, drink plenty
so it is to be avoided. Although many
and boosting the immune function.
of water, exercise and get ample rest
people drink orange juice for its vitamin
(Elderberry is also one of the best herbal
helps keep their immune systems
C content, 100 percent fruit juices are
remedies for the flu.)
strong. A recommended diet includes
also high in sugar. Switching to water
whole foods, fresh fruits and vegeta-
or teas or diluting juices is a good idea.
bles, and lean proteins. Good basics
Milk encourages the buildup of
Homeopathy
work together to keep kids healthy and
mucous, so it’s best to avoid dairy
Evaluating a child’s symptoms at the on-
active.
during the healing process. Pass on the
set of a cold offers clues for remedies that
milk or switch kids to soy or rice-based
can speed up the healing process and
milks for the duration of a cold.
lessen the severity of symptoms. Give the
Treatment child two or three pellets of the appropri-
Recommended Foods ~ If a child
Herbal Remedies
ate remedy (as noted below) that match-
comes down with a cold, encourage
es his or her symptoms in a 30C potency,
them to eat lightly. This allows their
Medical doctor James Balch, co-author
four times a day. Stop when improve-
body to concentrate on healing, rather
of Prescription for Nutritional Healing,
ment becomes noticeable and begin
than on digesting a three-course meal.
and naturopathic doctor Mark Stengler
again only if symptoms return. If there is
Choose foods wisely; some of the best
are leading natural health experts. They
no improvement within 24 hours, select
natural medicines are found at home in
recommend the following herbs to
a different remedy and/or consult with a
the kitchen cabinet:
counter a cold:
professional homeopath.
Echinacea ~ This popular herb en-
Aconitum ~ Aconitum is useful during
14 Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee
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