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Paging Dr. Mom: 8 Home Remedies For Little Patients

By Phebe Wahl August 6, 2013

With school starting back, ’tis the season for them to start sneezin’. Don’t dread the dozens of doctor visits just yet, as you may have the cure right there in your cupboard. We asked around and gathered up wisdom from women of generations past who raised their children (somehow!) without having their pediatrician on speed dial. From urban legends that prove true to family folklore, read up on these simple solutions that have stood the test of time.

Honey

To borrow from Ms. Poppins: “A little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down.” Soothe a sore throat with a bit of this sweet stuff by letting them simply suck it off a spoon. A tablespoon of honey can calm a cough by coating the throat. Mix up a special “tea” to treat sore throats using lemon juice, hot water and honey—which is heralded for its anti-septic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant healing powers. If baby gets a burn, apply honey as a salve to help heal. Just don’t forget that honey is not safe to ingest for children under one year of age.

 Who Knew? If you want a cold kicker that will keep them coming back, try mixing one teaspoon of honey with 1/4 a teaspoon of cinnamon, and serve up a “dose” several times a day when they first start to sniffle. Kids can eat it right off the spoon, mixed in “tea” with hot water, or as a dip for fruit. The combo is known to stop a cold in its tracks.

PLEASE NOTE: This information is gathered by a mom, not a MD, so you should always consult your child’s pediatrician before trying to treat something yourself—and especially seek medical attention if the issue seems serious or if there are any pre-existing conditions.

Do you have a home remedy that works? Share your secret and tell us below!

–Phebe Wahl

All photos courtesy of Amazon and Creative Commons via Flickr