Healthy Remedies for Kids

9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy – Naturally

Create your own kit of healthy remedies for kids to have handy for those minor burns, itches, and tummy aches. We’ve dug through the research to find what home remedies actually work! Here are 9 simple ways to keep your kids healthy using natural ingredients – many of which you probably already have around the house.

9 Simple Natural Remedies You’ve Got at Home to Help Kids 

Here are 9 simple (and research-backed) common household natural ingredients that are healthy remedies for kids:

• For a Cough: ginger, honey
• For Nausea: ginger 
• For ADHA: play in green space 
• For Sun Burns: aloe vera
• For Skin Burns and Minor Wounds: turmeric, honey
• For Mosquito Bites: Citronella, neem, cold compress, baking soda

 

Healthy Remedy for Kids with Coughs: Ginger and Honey

For generations, a bit of ginger, or a spoonful of honey, perhaps with a bit of fresh lemon juice, has been used as a healthy remedy for kids whose cough was interrupting their sleep. Health authorities note ginger has been traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as an expectorant and cough suppressant to help relieve bronchitis as well as coughs and cold. Here’s some sweet news to spread: honey is a healthy remedy for kids with coughs, suggests scientific evidence. In the study, 300 children with a cough, were given 10g of honey about 30 minutes before bed and noted symptomatic relief from nocturnal cough and sleep difficulties. 

Healthy Remedy for Kids with Nausea: Ginger

When your kid says, “My tummy hurts”, ginger is the first natural remedy that probably comes to mind. Perhaps because studies have found ginger to be effective in treating vomiting in pregnant women and patients undergoing chemotherapy, or that ginger is well supported by historical and scientific evidence to support digestive health. New research suggests ginger is a healthy remedy for kids suffering from vomiting: a European study presented (not yet published), looked at 141 children (ages 1 to 10) with acute gastroenteritis to see if ginger improved the condition more than placebo, in a randomized trial. The results suggested ginger could reduce vomiting episodes by 20%. Mighty-Mango flavored Ginger Rescue Chewable Ginger Tablets are a safe, drug-free, fruity, kid-friendly option that offers ginger actives known to help digestion and ease nausea.

Green Space for ADHD Symptoms

Wiggling your toes in the grass can be a delightful, mood-boosting, grounding experience – kids love to do it, too! In a nationwide study, researchers found children’s symptoms of ADHD were reduced when activities were done in a green outdoor setting, in comparison to an indoor location. Let’s go outside and play! Unstructured outdoor play is important for the healthy growth and development of kids, say researchers – when outside kids explore, take risks and socialize. 

If you’re looking for nutritional options for kids with ADHD, you may find the research on omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids interesting. A review of 16 clinical trials noted eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and gamma-linolenic acid (DHA, an omega-6) shows promise as adjunctive therapy to help symptoms of ADHA in children.

Healthy Remedy for Kids with Sunburns: Aloe Vera

Kids love to play outside, but when their skin is exposed to too much sunlight, they can get a sunburn. Aloe vera has been used as a traditional medicine of Mexico and other countries for its anti-inflammatory purposes. The gel of the Aloe-Barbadensis leaf offers a cooling sensation that is soothing to a sunburn. Scientists note that aloe vera is helpful in healing skin wounds.

Healthy Remedies for Kids with Skin Burns: Turmeric, Honey

Ouch! There’s nothing as awful as the cry of a child who has burnt themselves, perhaps while helping in the kitchen or being too curious about a hot pan. Turmeric has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic Medicine to relieve pain and inflammation and assist the healing of minor wounds such as cuts and burns, and minor skin irritations. In acute, minor cases of a skin burn, honey may be helpful with wound healing and pain relief. According to researchers, honey’s wound healing abilities are due to its antioxidant content, anti-bacterial actions, and presence of hydrogen peroxide. Honey may be a healthy remedy for kids with minor skin burns or wounds.

For Mosquito Bites: Citronella, neem, cold compress, baking soda

Pesky, biting mosquitos can really put an itch into your kid’s adventures outdoors. Besides wearing protective clothing (long sleeves, pants), using DEET or other insect repellents, in a systematic review in the journal Itch, researchers list citronella and neem, as well as some essential oils as potential ways to deter mosquitos from nibbling on your children. If your child is finding those bug bites are itchy, it’s the histamines at work under their skin. A cold compress, scientists say, can be soothing on itchy mosquito bites. The Mayo Clinic suggests a baking soda paste on itchy mosquito bites is another home remedy that can help soothe the itch.

 

As there’s nothing more heartbreaking than a sore or uncomfortable child. Every parent and grandparent will enjoy knowing about these common household items research shows are helpful, healthy remedies for kids – share this article with other parents. Go on, spread the news! From baking soda to honey, ginger to turmeric, let’s help others know about healthy remedies for kids so our little ones can enjoy lots of happy, joyful, imagination-filled days.

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References

• Effect of honey on nocturnal cough and sleep quality: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Pediatrics 2012 Sep; 130(3): 465-71.
• Evidence for clinical use of honey in wound healing as an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-viral agent: a review. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod 2013 Aug; 8(3): 100-104.
• A potential natural treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: evidence from a national study. Am J Public Health 2004; 94(9): 1580-1586.
• Do omega-3/6 fatty acids have a therapeutic role in children and young people with ADHD? J Lipids 2017; 2017: 6285218.
• Therapeutic efficacy of ginger on vomiting in children affected by acute gastroenteritis. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Geneva, Switzerland, 11 May 2018. 
• The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy. Integr Med Insights 2016; 11: 11017.
• The effect of aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wounds: a systematic review. Iran J Med Sci 2019 Jan; 44(1): 1-9.
• The importance of outdoor play for young children’s healthy development. Porto Biomedical Journal 2017 Sep-Oct; 2(5): 157-160.
• Beat the bite: pathophysiology and management of itch in mosquito bites. Itch, 2019 Mar; 4(1): e19.