Over the years, with 6 kids, you can bet that we have had our run with Croupy Coughs.
My second oldest, got croup chronically for about 3 years. You can bet that after a few visits to the ER in the middle of the night, how determined a mama can get to find an alternative way to treat this nasty cough. So here is the wisdom that has worked with us over the years and prevented us from even needing the middle of night visits to the ER. In fact, I have experienced that with most colds and coughs, if you tackle them right away with the right natural remedies, you can defeat those nasty bugs before they grow their armies! After meeting with our Naturopath Dr. Zeff regularly for 6 months, he had taught me how treat my kids using a combination of hydrotherapy and homeopathy. That’s right… no drugs, no needles, no midnight runs to the hospital!
So here is the Simple & Effective Treatment:
1) At first signs of croup (usually at night):
Wrap up baby/child in blanket and sit outside moist cool air is good for the inflammation helps the coughing calm down or make a steam room in the bathroom by turning on the shower. Get the aromatherapy going with eucalyptus and peppermint.
2) Rotate Homeopathy Pellets (Biorin is the best):
Spongia Tosta 30c & Belladonna 30c (rotate them)
If the cough is really crazy bad you can give 3-5 pellets of the spongia tosta to start and every hour take one pellet off the count… 15 minutes after you give the spongia tosta give the Belladonna (1 pellet) … the belladonna helps with the fever too.
Make sure you contact your doctor or get wisdom from a holistic doctor before using.
Disclaimer:
Remember, I am not a doctor, I am a mom who has followed the doctor’s advice, done my own research, and found what works for our kids. 🙂
3) Try Hydrotherapy (click on the link to find a full description in detail)
You can do the full body therapy or just the feet.
Basic of hydrotherapy: Put your baby/child in warm/hot bath ( I add Epsom salt to detoxify), as hot as they can stand for about 10-15 minutes. I add EPSOM Salt to the bath to detox the body {the magnesium in the salt will help relax your child’s muscles as well making it easier for them to rest through the night.
While your child is in bathtub you should have a bowl of ice water soaking a hand towel or washcloth as well as socks… also grab an additional pair of socks- wool preferably.
The point of hydrotherapy is to “SHOCK” the disease/sickness out.
After 15 minutes in the tub, take your child out and lay the iced, wrung out, cloth on the chest and throat. Leave on their chest until it gets hot. This method is also very good for bringing down a fever.
Next, wring out the socks, then rub Vick’s Vapor Rub or essential oils along with a carrier oil like coconut oil on their feet (reflexology/acupressure is great here too). Then put ice-cold socks on the feet following with the wool socks over the top. Then put them to bed.
I honestly was so skeptical of this at first, but desperate and I have used this treatment for all kinds of throat colds and the flu over the past 4 years. I passionately believe it works. From first-hand experience.
Funny Fact: The Vick’s Vapor Rub on feet treatment is actually my grandma’s treatment from back on the farm in Nebraska. She said all they had back then was Vick’s Vapor Rub and they used it for everything. “I treat all kinds of stuff with this stuff… its the miracle salve at our house… I buy it in BULK!” She said. 🙂
Lastly, to prevent Croup:
Apple Cider Vinegar & Local Honey
Elderberry, Zinc & Honey Tonic
Wild Cherry Bark & Honey Tonics
Sambucus {Elderberry Syrup}
You can find all of these at your local Whole Foods Store! We keep them on hand so we can treat the kids with the first symptoms.
Remember, I am not a doctor… just a mama who has been down this road with many babies and youngsters and desires to share what has worked to hopefully help other mamas! 🙂
God Bless and I hope this helps as we hit this next Cold Season!