How to Use Home Remedies to Treat the Croup

Croup is a terrible cough that normally occurs in children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years of age. Croup is an inflammation of the voice box and windpipe where mucus builds up, and your child will have a hard time breathing when infected. Since the croup affects the voice box and the windpipe, the coughing will sound like a dog barking. Symptoms include a loud barking cough, labored breathing when inhaling, hoarseness, wheezing in the lungs when breathing, mucus buildup, and cold symptoms. The croup will normally last for 5 to 6 days and can be treated at home with remedies that are usually used for the common cold, but you will also need to take your child to the doctor.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken broth
• Garlic
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• Steam from the bathroom
• Humidifier
• Juice

1. Give your child warm chicken broth simmered with garlic, thyme and oregano. This can help soothe the throat and fight infection. Make sure your child is also getting enough liquids, especially warm liquids like herbal teas and steamed, distilled water.

2. Make sure your child is getting enough Vitamin C to help boost her immune system. That will help her fight the infection off. Other vitamins to help treat the croup include zinc, vitamin A and Vitamin E.

3. Turn the shower or bath tub faucets on. Leave them running until the bathroom is steamed up. This will make a temporary steam room, and it will help loosen the mucus buildup in your child's airway. Sit in the bathroom for at least 15 minutes with your child to allow him to breath the steam in.

4. Place a humidifier in your child's room. Run it and sit with him. This can help to relieve your child's cough and treat croup.

5. Take your child outside to breath in the cool night air. The cool night air can help add humidity and moisture to your child's airways. It can also ease the cough and other symptoms caused by the croup. Make sure to keep your child bundled up.

Tips & Warnings

• Calm your child by rocking him. Talk to him. Sing and read to him. It is important to keep your baby calm while he is going through this difficult time. Keep your child's head up high to help him breath easier.
• Do not give your child any milk while he is sick with the croup. Milk will cause more phlegm to build up and make the symptoms of the croup worse. If your child has more symptoms like a high fever, trouble swallowing, sore throat, drooling, and sitting up with a leaning posture, seek a doctor because your child might have something more serious than the croup.

Resources

• The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
• Home Remedies for the Croup
• Croup Home Remedies

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