The natural way to heal sick children

Published on Friday 4 December 2009 09:47

SWINE flu? Well if the kids haven't had it so far, they're almost certainly going to get it. Winter vomiting bug? A distinct possibility. Common cold, sore throat, chest infection, ear ache and assorted viruses bringing various unpleasant symptoms? Yes, every single one of them no doubt on the way to a child near you.

As temperatures begin to dip and winter bites, bringing with it various bugs, coughs and splutters, it all adds up to numerous sick days off school for junior and frustrating time off work to nurse them for their parents.

While grown-ups can fight their own miserable ailments with various concoctions from the chemist, throat numbing lozenges and boozy hot toddies, spare a thought for the youngsters with little more than regular dozes of Calpol and ibuprofen to ease their pain.

For earlier this year new regulations surrounding the use of cough and cold medicines in young children came into force – and cough bottles and decongestants which were once commonplace in many homes have now been removed from the medicine cabinet on safety grounds.

And while older children may still take certain products, questions remain over how effective they are and what side effects they might bring.

If that's not enough, pity Edinburgh's youngsters even more – for a national survey recently suggested they

are the sickliest children in Scotland, suffering more colds, viruses and flu-like illnesses than those anywhere else in the land.

A typical Edinburgh child is unwell five times a year – most likely struck down by colds, stomach aches, sickness bugs, ear infections and diarrhoea – the study by hand sanitiser firm Mentholatum Responsebeta suggests.

Official education statistics also show that Edinburgh's school children are the most likely in Scotland to take a day off sick.

So with this winter's traditional raft of irritating colds, bugs and viruses complicated by swine flu and fewer over-the-counter medicines available to tackle it all, just what can parents do to help keep the sick days at bay?

According to Edinburgh herbalist Anna Canning of Floramedica many are turning to traditional herbal remedies to battle the bugs.

"Parents are becoming cautious about what they buy over-the-counter," she agrees. "But it's about balance. No parent wants to see their child suffer, so there's a place for the likes of Calpol in the medicine cupboard. But at the same time simple plant and herbal remedies can help."

She says just upping your child's intake of fresh fruit and vegetables and topping it up with a few key ingredients can help give their immune systems a welcome boost.

"Garlic is great for the immune system and circulation," says Anna. "Give it to children by rubbing some on toast, add slices of tomato and drizzle it with olive oil."

Onion tea might sound distasteful, but she insists it makes a satisfying and healthy warm drink. "Chop an onion into quarters and boil for ten or 15 minutes. Sweeten it with some honey if you like – it actually tastes really nice."

Anna, who is mum to Martha, 12, and Aiden, eight, says children tend to enjoy the taste of elderflower tea and elderberry syrup which have potent anti-viral actions. Lace it with ginger, she says, to aid its impact on immunity and soothe aches and pains.

Echinacea – widely regarded for warding off infections – is popular among adults and can be given to children too, she adds.

If youngsters are already down with a sore or infected throat, head to the kitchen for some dried herbs. "Thyme and sage work well for a sore throat. Put two heaped teaspoons of either in warm water and have them gargle with it. Or make thyme tea, sweeten it with honey to help suppress a cough and aid sleep.

"And homemade rosehip syrup – just rosehips boiled in sugar – is fantastic for a cough, and packed with vitamin C and antioxidants."

Some parents might opt for the 50 Five Star Kids Nangfa massage at the Balmoral Spa – said to improve their sleep and strengthen their immunity – but Julie McGregor, paediatric herbalist at Thuja Organic Health and Beauty in Morningside, suggests simple herbal tinctures diluted in a child's favourite juice or dropped on to their food to prepare them for the fight against winter ailments to come.

Herbal teas infused with elderflower, marshmallow leaf, mint or lime flowers are other immunity boosters – freeze the tea and offer it as an ice lolly for young children.

"Essential oils and aromatherapy oils are useful too," she adds. "Mix a couple of drops of camomile or menthol oils like peppermint with an egg cup of milk and add to their bath.

"For blocked noses, I use a particular species of slightly mild eucalyptus which you can drop on to the bed clothes or on a tissue to help clear the catarrh."

They are the kinds of herbal remedies our granny probably used – and, according to the MHRA, who ordered the removal of various children's cough and cold medicines from the shelves on health grounds – they may be just as effective as the 'over-the-counter' treatments.

Instead of dosing children up on over-the-counter preparations, the MHRA suggested parents simply fight their children's coughs and colds with good old pain and temperature remedy Calpol and granny's favourite – good old fashioned lemon and honey.

For more information about children's over-the-counter medicines, go to www.mhra.gov.uk or ask your local pharmacist for advice.

Floramedica offers herbal treatments and courses. Go to www.floramedica.org, e-mail [e-mail], or call 07790 885969.

Thuja Organic Health and Beauty, Comiston Road, Morningside: www.thujaorganics.com, 0131 447 7037

TAKE THE RIGHT PRECAUTIONS

IT'S almost impossible to avoid common colds, infections and even the dreaded flu over the winter months.

However, Graham Mackenzie, NHS Lothian's consultant in public health, says following a few simple, commonsense guidelines can help minimise the risks.

WASH UP: "Proper handwashing is a rule for life, not just winter," he stresses. "Wash hands in warm running water with soap for 15 seconds. You don't need clever products, soap does the job." Wash up after visiting the toilet, before handling food, and after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.

USE A TISSUE: A sneeze can transfer thousands of bugs into the air. "Encourage children to use tissues and to throw them away afterwards."

PREPARE FOR BATTLE: Get fighting fit to take on winter with good diet and exercise. "Eat well, plenty of fruit and vegetables and good foods like pasta, rice, bread and potatoes. Fizzy drinks and chocolates are OK as treats but don't go overboard on them," adds Graham.

Don't bother with expensive bottles of vitamins, he adds. "As long as they have a balanced diet with things like oily fish and plenty of dairy produce, they won't need them."

Make sure children stay active too. "Kids should get at least an hour's exercise a day," he adds. "Wrap them up well and make sure they are wearing clothes with reflective details if they are going outside."

REST WELL: Sleep is the body's way of fighting viruses and infections. "Even if everyone in the family is well, it's good to get plenty of sleep. If children are under the weather, then let them rest."

STOCK UP: Make sure the medicine cabinet is stocked with children's paracetamol, ibuprofen and any regular prescription medicines.

TAKE ADVICE: Do speak to your pharmacist, contact your GP or NHS 24, by phoning 0845 4 24 24 24, if you have concerns. Graham adds: "Trust your instincts – if your child just doesn't 'seem right', don't try to self-diagnose."

&#149 And don't forget that potentially dangerous conditions such as meningitis can have flu-like symptoms.