Chinese Treatment for Cough

Thanks Xiao Yun, for sharing this info. Mummies whose kids who often cough, pls dont hesitate to refer to the below.

因咳嗽有外感咳嗽和内伤咳嗽之分，而外感咳嗽又分风寒咳嗽和风热咳嗽，不同类型的咳嗽在用药上是完全不同的，食疗的方法也就不同。在这里教家长一个简单的区分方法，就是观察孩子的舌苔。如果舌苔是白的，则是风寒咳嗽，说明孩子寒重，咳嗽的痰也较稀、白黏，并兼有鼻塞流涕，这时应吃一些温热、化痰止咳的食品。如果孩子的舌苔是黄、红，则是风热咳嗽，说明孩子内热较大，咳嗽的痰黄、稠、不易咳出，并有咽痛，这时应吃一些清肺、化痰止咳的食物。内伤咳嗽多为久咳、反复发作的咳嗽，这时家长应注意给孩子吃一些调理脾胃、补肾、补肺气的食物，具体方法如下：

风寒咳嗽 　

1.生姜+红糖+大蒜 孩子患了风寒感冒，喝温热的生姜红糖水能起到很好的治疗作用，如果孩子同时还伴有咳嗽，可在生姜红糖水里再加2～3瓣大蒜一起煮，要用小火煮10分钟，把蒜头的辣味煮掉，这样孩子才肯喝。
2.蒸大蒜水 取大蒜2～3瓣，拍碎，放入碗中，加入半碗水，放入一粒冰糖，把碗加盖放入锅中去蒸，大火烧开后改用小火蒸15分钟即可。当碗里的蒜水温热时喂给孩子喝，大蒜可以不吃。一般一天2～3次，一次小半碗。大蒜性温，入脾胃、肺经，治疗寒性咳嗽、肾虚咳嗽效果非常好，而且方便简单，孩子也愿意喝。 　
3.烤橘子 将橘子直接放在小火上烤，并不断翻动，烤到橘皮发黑，并从橘子里冒出热气即可。待橘子稍凉一会，剥去橘皮，让孩子吃温热的橘瓣。如果是大橘子，孩子一次吃 2～3瓣就可以了，如果是小贡桔，孩子一次可以吃一只。最好配合大蒜水一起吃，一天2～3次。橘子性温，有化痰止咳的作用。吃了烤橘子后痰液的量会明显减少，镇咳作用非常明显，而且孩子都愿意吃。 　4.麻油姜末炒鸡蛋 将一小勺麻油放入炒锅内，油热后放入姜末，稍在油中过一下，随即打入1个鸡蛋炒匀。孩子风寒咳嗽及体虚咳嗽时，每晚让孩子在临睡前趁热吃一次，坚持吃上几天，就能收到明显效果。
5.梨+花椒+冰糖 梨一个，洗净，横断切开挖去中间核后，放入20颗花椒，2粒冰糖，再把梨对拼好放入碗中，上锅蒸半小时左右即可，一只梨可分两次吃完。蒸花椒冰糖梨对治疗风寒咳嗽效果非常明显，但有的孩子不喜欢花椒的味道，家长可自己选择。

以上是治疗风寒咳嗽的食疗方，家长在运用这些方法治病的同时，还应注意以下性寒凉的食物不能让孩子吃：绿豆、螃蟹、蚌肉、田螺、蜗牛、柿子、柚子、香蕉、猕猴桃、甘蔗、西瓜、甜瓜、苦瓜、荸荠、慈姑、海带、紫菜、生萝卜、茄子、芦蒿、藕、冬瓜、丝瓜、地瓜等，这些寒凉的食物在孩子受凉感冒丶咳嗽的时间，尽量避免吃。

风热咳嗽

1丶梨+冰糖+川贝： 梨洗净，靠柄部横断切开，挖去中间核後，放入2-3粒冰糖，5-6粒的川贝,川贝要敲碎成末，把梨上部拼对好，也可用牙签插紧，放入碗中，上锅蒸30分钟左右即可，分2次给孩子吃，此方有润肺丶止咳丶化痰的作用，是一个非常普及的治疗风热咳嗽的食疗方，有的家长孩子一咳嗽就做给孩子吃，有时挺管用的，有时孩子却越吃咳嗽越重，所以家长一定要注意，不是什麽咳嗽都可以用此方法的，必须是风热咳嗽，孩子的舌苔是红的或黄的，痰是粘稠发黄的，孩子的内热重，咳嗽还伴有咽痛，胸痛时，可用此方，效果较好。还有各种的消炎药及多数的止咳药都对风热咳嗽有很好的治疗效果，所以在多种原因引起的咳嗽中风热咳嗽是最容易治愈的。而现在的孩子普遍贪凉，热了有空调，一年四季都在吃寒凉的水果，一年四季都在吃冷饮喝饮料，所以现在风热咳嗽的孩子明显减少。家长在选择食疗方时应注意看孩子的舌苔，如果风寒咳嗽，舌苔是白的，而川贝苦丶寒，吃了此方，是寒症以寒凉药治，尤如雪上加霜，适得其反。
2丶煮萝卜水： 白萝卜洗净，切4-5薄片，放入小锅内，再加大半碗水，放火上烧开後，再改小火煮5分钟，关火，等水不烫了，温的给孩子喝，对风热咳嗽丶鼻乾咽燥丶乾咳少痰效果是不错的，特别是2岁以内的宝宝，就单煮白萝卜水给孩子喝，就能起到顺气丶化痰丶止咳丶消食丶健胃丶清热丶生津的作用，可以一日喝2-3次。
3丶还可以给孩子吃下列食物 ①杮子：性寒，能清热丶袪痰丶止咳，但孩子一次只能吃一只杮子，因杮子性大寒，吃多了孩子会肚子不舒服。 ②西瓜：性寒，夏天孩子有风热咳嗽，可多给孩子吃西瓜，西瓜能治一切热症。 ③枇杷：性凉，能润肺化痰丶止咳，适宜热咳吐黄脓痰的孩子吃。 ④荸荠：性寒，家长可以了2-3只荸荠去皮，切成薄片，放入锅中，加一碗水，在火上烧5分钟即可。给孩子喝荸荠水，能化痰丶清热，对热性咳嗽吐脓痰者效果好。 ⑤还可以给孩子用冬瓜煨汤丶炒丝瓜丶炒藕片丶炒苦瓜，同样可起到消内热丶袪火丶止咳的作用。 孩子风热咳嗽时，辛辣丶容易上火的食物不要吃，如羊肉丶狗肉丶乌骨鸡丶蚕蛹丶鱼丶虾丶枣丶桂园肉丶荔枝丶核桃仁丶樱桃丶辣椒，应禁止食用。

内伤咳嗽 就是指那些长期的反复发作的慢性咳嗽，或是因感冒发烧引起的,感冒丶发烧症状已消失丶咳嗽就是一直不好，各种消炎药丶止咳药都用了，仍止不住，虽然咳嗽的程度有所减轻，但孩子仍会常常咳嗽，这时家长可以运用食疗的方法帮助孩子恢复。反复咳嗽的孩子，使用的消炎药和止咳药多，这类孩子的胃口较差丶没有食欲。舌苔也几乎都是白苔，所以家长先要调理好孩子的脾胃，配合补肾丶补肺丶补血的食物，提高孩子的身体素质。具体的做法如下：

1丶前面介绍的治疗风寒咳嗽的食疗方，都适合内伤咳嗽的孩子食用，而风热咳嗽的食疗方对久咳不愈的孩子应避免食用。
2丶煮山药粥： 取山药一段，去皮，节成小块，放入食品粉碎机内，再加半碗水，将山药加工成稀糊状，倒入小锅内，放火上烧，一边烧一边搅，以防糊锅底，当山药烧开了，冒泡了，关火。最好是在孩子空腹吃，喂给孩子吃，做好的一碗山药粥可以分2-3次喂孩子食用。山药健胃丶补肺气丶益肾精，滋养强壮，适合脾胃气虚，肺肾不足所致的虚劳咳喘。但山药内所含的淀粉酶，又称消化素，能分解成蛋白质及碳水化合物，所以有滋补之效，这种淀粉酶怕高热，在持久的高热中久煎，功效可以丧失。因此，在煎煮时，不可过久。运用此方法加工的山药粥最适合婴幼儿食用，不但能止咳治哮喘，还对小儿的厌食丶虚汗多丶流口水丶气虚胆小等病症也有很好的治疗效果。
3丶红枣+白果： 此方适合2岁以上的孩子食用。取红枣3粒丶白果3粒去壳，放入小锅中，加上大半碗水，放火上烧，中火烧10分钟即可。让孩子吃红枣丶白果，并喝水，每天一次，最好是每晚睡前给孩子吃。红枣性温，益气补气，健脾和胃，白果性平敛肺气，定咳喘，并有固肾的作用，所以对一些久咳不愈，反复感冒丶发烧丶咳嗽的孩子家长每晚给孩子吃红枣白果汤效果是很明显的。还可以同时治疗遗尿症，但红枣和白果的量一定要掌握好，只限於3粒，量多了孩子容易上火丶气滞。
4丶核桃+芝麻+红枣+蜂蜜或黄酒： 核桃仁半斤，黑芝麻2两，红枣半斤，核桃仁和黑芝麻可以放入粉碎机里碾碎，红枣去核切碎，将这三样放入大碗中搅均匀，再放入一饭勺的蜂蜜（夏天用蜂蜜，冬天用黄酒），3饭勺的水，因蜂蜜比较难搅均匀，所以先将蜂蜜和水在炉火上加热，蜂蜜化开了，趁热倒入碾碎的核桃仁丶黑芝麻丶红枣中，用筷子搅拌均匀，在大碗上要加上盖子，再放入大锅里去蒸，大火烧开後改小火40分钟即可。每天早晚给孩子吃一勺。核桃仁性温，有补气益清丶润肠补肾丶敛肺定喘丶止咳化痰的功效，芝麻性平，有补血丶明目丶祛风丶润肠丶生津丶补肝肾的功效，大枣性温，有补中益气丶健脾和胃丶补血的功效。这三样常用的补品合起来可以起到补血丶补肾，调理脾胃丶润肠的作用，再加上蜂蜜的补虚丶润燥的作用，可以使此方补而不燥，冬季用黄酒可加强补肾丶养血的功效。此方不但能治小儿久咳丶支气管炎丶哮喘，而且对小儿的便秘也有非常好的治疗效果，同时此方小儿可以长年食用，对增强孩子的体质效果很好，那些热衷於给孩子吃补品的家长不妨动手自己做。

Natural Remedies for toddler's Cough - lotus root powder drink

Got this from my favourite Ou Yang Ying's book. Post it here as requested by some mummy friends.

Ingredient A
5 red dates (remove the seeds)
20 wolfberries
750cc water
1 piece old ginger

Ingredient B
10g pure lotus root powder
5g brown sugar

Boil ingredient A for 30 minutes
Mix ingredient B in cold water. Add to A after 30 minutes. Bring it to boil again for a little while , then turn off the heat. Serve warm

Toddler Cough natural remedies

I got all these from the web.

• You should not give your child (especially a baby or toddler) OTC cough medicine without first checking with your doctor. (guazi: Even babycenter also says no cough medicine to be given to kids below 4 years old! )


• Run a hot shower bath and let the baby inhale the steam while she is in the bathroom. The congestion will go. Sit in the bathroom with your child for about 20 minutes. The steam should help your child breathe more easily.
  
• A cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom might help with sleep.

• Cool beverages like juice can be soothing. But do not give soda or orange juice, as these can hurt a throat that is sore from coughing.
  
• A warm bath can give relief. One can add eucalyptus oil or thyme or perhaps sage oil to the bath water. The vapor form these essential oils clear up the airways of the baby, so that she can breathe easily. Also, it provides relief to a sore throat.
  
• One can give herbal tea made of thyme or sage. One should check out with one’s physician at what age one can give the baby herbal tea.
  
• Licorice tea contains anti- bacterial properties and is a good remedy. It fights the bacteria that cause coughing. It helps in soothing the throat and calming the respiratory tract. The baby can sleep comfortably.
  
• Mix olive oil with essential oils and then apply it on the baby’s back and chest. Small babies should be covered well to build up body heat so that the essential oils vaporize well.
  
• Breast milk is also good to treat a baby’s cough.
  
• Honey + Lemon 1 teaspoon of honey * 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (freshly squeezed) Stir mixture in a little bit of drinking water and drink immediately. Take this 2-3 times a day.



• 
  Restful sleep.
  



• Give plenty of fluids to keep the mucous membrane and throat moist




• Check out home remedies by Ou Yang Ying in my later post.
  
• Gargling with salt water is good. If the child is above 4 let her gargle several times with saline water.

What to do when your kid starts to cough?

I like to jot down all these important reminders I read from the web. It serves the purpose of constantly reminding me not to give medicine if it’s not necessary. Yeah, I want my boy to grow up healthily and doesn’t rely on medicine. I want his immune system to be strong so that he can recover by his own when he is down with fever, flu or cough.

Excerpt from Kidshealth.org
(http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/childs_cough.html#)

Because most coughs are caused by viruses, doctors usually do not give antibiotics for a cough. If the cough is caused by a virus, it just needs to run its course. A viral infection can last for as long as 2 weeks. Unless a cough won't let your child sleep, cough medicines are not needed.

When to Call the Doctor
Most childhood coughs are nothing to be worried about. However, call your doctor if your child:
· has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe
· is breathing more quickly than usual
· has a blue or dusky color to the lips, face, or tongue
· has a high fever (especially if your child is coughing but does NOT have a runny or stuffy nose)
· has any fever and is less than 3 months old
· is an infant (3 months old or younger) who has been coughing for more than a few hours
· makes a "whooping" sound when breathing in after coughing
· is coughing up blood
· has stridor (a noisy or musical sound) when breathing in
· has wheezing when breathing out (unless you already have a home asthma care plan from your doctor)
· is weak or cranky

Natural Remedies for Fever/Cough/Flu

miki prune extract


burdock

korean bamboo salt

Friends were telling me to blog down about the natural remedies that I apply on my self and my family. I wish to share with all of you what I consume during virus fighting time:

Sore throat/flu/runny nose/cough
1. Drink lots of fluids, preferably water or fresh organic juices. Or Pure Aussie Mineral.
2. Drink bamboo salt pearl honey or Korean bamboo salt. For kids, little bit will do.
3. Gargle throat with apple cider. For adults only.
4. Take Miki prune extract. Suitable for kids too.
5. For cough, brew soup with South and North almonds, dry figs, dried mandarine tangerines and Chuan 1 Bei4 Mu3/ Song1 Bei4 ( more effective if the coughs have phlegms) Suitable for kids too. 6. If your kid doesn’t wanna drink the soup above, mix it into his milk.
7.If your kid is coughing with lots of phlegm, stop giving Formula milk, give him Organic oatmilk. Shaun is taking oatmilk since 1 yo. So far so good!
8.If your kid keeps coughing at night, can try dripping essential oil in a bowl of water and put it in one of the corner of the room. Can try Albas Oil. Essential oil which is made from Eucaplytus is good.
9.If you are coughing ( adult), try licorice tea. Very effective. The licorice tea I bought before is not suitable for kids, so I never give Shaun this.

Fever
Fever is not an illness, it’s a symptom. The brain calls for the body to increase heat to kill virus. And the body acts like thermostat too, where it seldom exceeds 42 degree. It’s good to let the kid have fever to activate the army in his body to fight against the external attacks. This will build up his army , thus his antibody or immune system. Let your child build up his own immune system by not relying on western medicine. If it’s necessary to take medicine, try to detox after that.

1.Keep sponging with lukewarm water.
2.Make big china barley and green bean soup. Mix into his drink or milk.
3.Give Korean Bamboo salt. For kids, give little bit will do.
4.Give Korean Bamboo salt pearl honey. Bamboo salt can reduce heatiness and has anti-inflammatory effects.
5.Give honey and lemon
6.Give organic fruit juices/water/soup
7.Make veggie soup with Burdock . Burdock has cooling effect and it’s used to fight fever since ancient time in Japan.
8.Give Miki Prune Extract
9.There is NO NEED to give paracetemol if the fever is below 39 degree and the kid is still active and eating. It’s also ok if he doesn’t eat, can give plain porridge or bread, maybe not 5 grains rice as it’s heaty.
10.It’s normal for kid to be a bit lethargic, not necessary to give medicine unless he looks ill , then bring to see doc or give medicine if fever reaches 39. He is alright if he is still active as usual.
11.Wear loose clothes, preferably 100% cotton with holes kind.
12. To detox if you have taken western medicine or taken vaccination, take kumpu, wheat grass, barley green, algae.