Winter is still here and with winter comes colds and flu, especially if you have school aged children who are exposed to every cold germ to come through town courtesy of the school population.  While living naturally does not necessarily mean eliminating the use of all over the counter and prescription medication, it does mean trying to resolve a situation naturally before hauling out the “big guns” of these medications on the first go round.  However recent studies have indicated that these over the counter cold remedies don’t work for children and can often be dangerous.  So, as a mom, it’s very important to me to have natural cold remedies at hand.

These natural remedies are safe enough to use on adults and children alike – I’ve also used these remedies with great success on myself and my three children.  The point that we all need to remember about living naturally and natural remedies – they do not work as fast as over the counter medications and the like, but they are much gentler on the body.

The biggest complaint that I get from my children when they have a cold is the fact that their little noses are all congested.  Congestion is my worst symptom – it’s so uncomfortable to have to breathe through one’s mouth and makes it nearly impossible for me to sleep.   I avoid those nasal sprays and detest those medicines that claim to decongest you.  They never worked for me!  Instead, I use a simple saline spray in each nostril, wait a bit then blow gently.  The salt water serves to loosen and thin the mucus.  For children, drops of saline will also assist them in loosening the mucus.

For a cough, try buckwheat honey. It is said to be more effective than over the counter cough suppressants and can offer antioxidant properties.

For coughs and congestion, try the old standby of medicated chest rub.  Follow label directions and cover the chest and back. I usually layer with a cotton T shirt and a long-sleeved pajama top or old sweatshirt.  The menthol, camphor and eucalyptus in the chest rub helps suppress coughing and clears the airways.

Try these inexpensive and safe natural cold remedies the next time those germs hit.  Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids!