Has your family been attacked by the cold or flu virus yet this school year? Nothing makes me feel more helpless than when my kids are sick. Here are some of the natural ways I keep my kids comfortable while helping them fight their battle with the cold and flu viruses.
Natural Cold and Flu Treatments for Kids
Apply a menthol rub
to help relieve congestion.
to help relieve congestion.In business since 1868, and located in Minnesota, J.R. Watkins is one of America's oldest apothecary manufacturers. J.R. Watkins has a line of menthol products including the Original Menthol Camphor Cough Ointment is made with natural ingredients. This menthol ointment works wonders when rubbed on the chest and back of my kiddos when congested. Rubbing some Vapor Rub on the bottom of your kiddos' feet before putting on the wet socks in the “wet sock treatment” listed below will also help with coughing. I have no clue how, but it works!!
Soothe chapped, irritated skin.
My kiddos get sore, irritated patches under their noses and around their mouths practically all winter long. Runny noses from cold and flu make these dry patches even more painful. Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Company Calendula Salve has worked wonders on their sensitive skin! All of Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve products are organic and Eco-friendly.
Use an eye pillow to help relieve a headache or insomnia and to help your cold and flu patients relax.
Herbal Animals are the neatest little buddies ever! We have recently adopted Abra K Zebra. Abra's lavender scent is known to relieve headaches and aid in relaxation, and he was originally meant to be used as a “sick buddy”, but his cuteness instantly made him my daughters new BFF.
Use the Wet Sock Treatment
Yes, I said wet socks. When anyone in my family shows the first sign of a cough, fever, stuffy nose, it's wet sock treatment for them that night. Just follow these five easy steps:
- At bedtime wet white cotton socks with very cold water.
- Wring them out.
- Put them on your child's feet.
- Cover with wool socks. Darn Tough manufactures wool socks for kids in Vermont.
- Put your patient to bed.
- In the morning the socks will be dry. Repeat for at least 3 nights.
My daughter cannot stand wet socks on her feet, so I wait until she is already asleep and then I put them on her. Sneaky mommy! The cold socks are said to increase circulation and strengthen the body's immune system. Check with your doctor before trying the wet sock treatment as some existing medical conditions might not be compatible.
Are you still looking for ideas? Not sick yet and hoping to save yourself? Check out this article on healthy practices for cold and flu season. It also includes a Ginger Tea recipe you'll want to try.
Are there any natural items or remedies that you use when your kids are sick? Please share your cold and flu remedies!
Disclosure: USA Love List received some products in this post unconditionally for review purposes. Our opinions are always our own, and we aim to write fair and balanced reviews to promote only the very best of American-made.
Those are some wonderful natural remedies. I am definitely going to try the wet socks remedy the next chance that I get.
The “wet sock” treatment sounds interesting. Although it does give me chills thinking about it. It just might work though….
Normally I love this blog, but this post is garbage. How about you just stick to sharing products made in the USA, without the nonsensical medical remedies and woo?
Thanks! I’ll have to try this!
Thanks! So helpful!
Wet socks? That’s completely new to me! I don’t know if I could stand it, lol. I have a horrible cold right now…& I’m using lots of Vitamin C. I might have to try the wet sock thing.
these are fantastic! i will have to try them!
That is the craziest thing I have heard. Wet socks?! okay I am so going to try this. I have done some crazy things to avoid/heal but not wet socks…yet.
last “cold” season we discovered that Zinc works wonders for us. So we all start taking it even before the cold starts and if usually kids were sick at least twice a month ( I blame it on school of course) or sometimes more this year –nothing at all.
I;ve never heard of wet socks. Sounds counterintuitive, but I might try it!
I have heard aall but the wet socks. I mean I am middle age and have never ever heard of it. Its worth a try though and cant hurt although I would put a towel or bag over them too or it woud make for a messy bed.
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for commenting! There is no need to put a bag or towel on your feet as well. If you wring out the socks enough they are not soaking wet and the wool socks act as a barrier so that your bed doesn’t get wet.
The lemongrass calendula body rub sounds incredible!
Interesting post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on natural remedies.
All of these natural remedies are wonderful and I would like to try them. We try to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids when ill.
I have never heard of the wet sock treatment – not even from my grandmother who was the “queen” of home remedies! I’ll try it on my self next time I feel under the weather.
These all sound great! Well, maybe not the wet sock because I'm weird about stuff on my feet, but why not give it a try? It might work.
Arrgh! The wet sock treatment gives me the creeps/chills just thinking about it. I think I'd rather be sick! Our favorite tricks, also Made in the USA, are chewable orange Vitamin C tablets and the pressurized saline spray to loosen congestion.
I'm intruiged by the “wet sock” treatment – I've never heard of that, it's certainly worth trying.
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