So, what is a parent with a sick child to do? First of all, it is important to remember that a cold will run its course, and your child will feel better
probably within a week. The common cold is not life-threatening, even though it is certainly no fun. To deal with a cough, a recent study showed that buckwheat honey actually works better than over-the-counter cough medications and better than a placebo for relieving coughs due to upper respiratory-tract infections. Raw honey has known antiviral, mucus releasing (expectorant), immunity building and anti-inflammatory properties among others, which would help a cold, and it is thick and goopy, so it coats the throat which also probably helps. Grandma's honey and lemon tea is probably just the ticket, providing the water is not too hot, so as not to destroy those precious enzymes. Obviously, pasteurized honey has been cooked destroying the helpful ingredients leaving not much more than a pot of sugar, so look for raw. Because Clostridium botulinum bacteria may be present in both raw and pasteurized honey, it should not be given to children under the age of one, as children this young do not have an adequately developed immune system to handle it. Lots of fluids (water) is a good idea, and a saline solution (1/4 teaspoon sea salt in a cup of water) can help keep the nasal membranes moist, as can using steam or a humidifier. Getting lots of rest and washing hands frequently will help. Remember that nose mucus is part of our immune system's response to the virus, so it should not be considered a bad thing even though it is uncomfortable. For this reason, overuse of decongestants may delay recovery. Babies however, can't blow their nose, so when they are congested they can't suck or sleep. Gravity can help, so put your baby in a car seat to sleep. Using a rubber-bulb syringe to gently suction the mucus out of the baby's nose a few seconds after using saline nose drops is another idea. Colds are caused by viruses, so antibiotics will not work. If your child is showing no improvement in a week, see your doctor to rule out anything more serious. Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
