Our grandmothers know better than any doctors how to treat their beloved grandchildren. And surprisingly, their decoctions and compresses put the children back on their feet much faster than pills and injections. I want to introduce several of the most well-known folk methods of treating children.
Decoctions made from dried herbs and fruits (lime, chamomile, rosehip) brewed with boiling water and left to infuse for 15-20 minutes. Such a decoction is very effective in removing toxins; it relieves the burden on the kidneys, as during a cold or infectious disease, the kidneys work at double the speed.
Fennel decoction (pharmacy dill) helps with abdominal pain in infants. The essential oils of fennel have a spasmolytic and soothing effect. To prepare dill water, take a teaspoon of fennel seeds, pour boiling water over them, and let them infuse for 10 minutes. Then strain the seeds and, for better taste, add sugar or honey to the infusion.
For dry cough, you can rub the baby’s chest and back with goose fat with a few drops of tea tree or fir essential oil. It’s not so much the fat that helps but the massage movements that improve the circulation of the respiratory system. This stimulates expectoration and helps the child transition from a dry cough to a productive one.
Mustard powder is used for warming the feet. Pour water at a temperature of about 40°C into a basin and dissolve mustard powder in it. You can also put dry mustard in socks and put them on the baby for the night. This artificially raises the temperature, helping the child fight viruses.
For the treatment of mild rhinitis, nasal passages are usually warmed using a hot boiled egg or hot fabric pouches filled with cereal. However, for sinusitis or purulent otitis media, it is better to consult a doctor.
Nasal instillation with a few drops of warm saline solution, chamomile, calendula, or sage decoction is very effective for rhinitis. For very young children, breast milk can be instilled into the nose.
Onion tincture is very effective for colds. Take a head of ordinary onion, chop it finely, then add 2 tablespoons of sugar or a tablespoon of honey and leave for 12 hours. Phytoncides contained in onion juice penetrate the body through the lungs and stomach, killing pathogenic bacteria.
Baked onion is used to draw pus from boils or splinters. For this, half of an onion is cut into hemispheres and baked on a pan covered with a lid. After that, the film from the inner side of the hemisphere is removed, and it is applied to the abscess. After a few hours, the abscess will open, and pus will drain.
Cabbage leaf is flattened with a hammer, then smeared with honey and applied to the affected area. This method is very effective for drawing out shallow abscesses and reducing local inflammation. However, remember that such treatment will be more effective with a comprehensive approach.
A cotton swab soaked in geranium juice is inserted into the affected ear. Such procedures are done several times a day. Geranium is an excellent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. However, remember that geranium juice should not be used to treat damaged eardrums or purulent discharge from the ear.
Flowers of geranium
For burns on the affected area of the skin, a compress with aloe or kalanchoe juice can be applied – this is an excellent means of disinfection and rapid healing of thermal burns.