EFFECTIVE HOME REMEDIES FOR BABIES
"Home remedies are just supplementary approaches. Always seek a qualified physicians advise for any illnesses."
Below are some home remedies, which I have heard of, read about and some which are tried and tested and proven to be effective time and again. I owe a lot to my parents who believe strongly in the power of herbs and home remedies. My father has written down many remedies, some of which Iam putting in for the benefit of the people at large. I would love to have contributions from visitors too.
Babies
Our precious little ones. We would’nt want anything to happen to them, but it is well known that the immune systems of babies below the age of one year are immature. Hence, they are very susceptible to falling sick with slight changes in weather, diet, etc. Indians don’t like to give babies western medicines at the drop of the hat, it is for this reason that most Indian households stock up on medicinal herbs to tackle common situations such as gripes in the middle of the night or a sudden rise in body temperature. These are also popularly known as Dadi Ma ke nuskhe
Home Remedy (Naatu Vaidyam & Ayurveda)
In India all new born babies are given some herbs (These herbs refer to Naatu Vaidyam and Ayurveda) which are freshly rubbed on stone with some water and administered to the babies after bath, this is known as janam ghutti in the north and in Tamil it is called Orakyara Marundhu (Herbs which are rubbed and administered). Each herb which is part of the janam ghutti has a function, which not only strengthens the digestive system, prevents the child from getting coughs, colds, fevers and infections, induces good sleep patterns and brings about general well being in the baby.
According to Indian tradition, whenever an infant cries abnormally for a long period of time, the first step should be to change his clothes and make him wear loose, comfortable, fresh clothing. It is advisable to avoid synthetic clothing as this affects the baby's sensitive skin and may cause itching and a rash. If the baby continues crying, lightly press the baby's stomach, ears and back. The baby will react immediately if it is experiencing pain in any of these areas.
Home remedies for Stomach Ailments
STOMACH PAIN (COLIC)
If a baby (less than nine months of age) has a pain in the stomach, the recommended remedy is to crush 10 to 15 grains of dill seed (known as “Suva” in India) in a teaspoonful of water. This extract should be mixed with a few drops of mother's milk and administered to the baby.
Home Remedies for Coughing in Children
Children are vulnerable to cold and flu, and this is the reason that it should be prevented from becoming severe. Home remedies can work in favour of hildren because it shortens the duration of cold and cough. Mentioned below are some of the home-made solutions that are more effective than over-the-counter cough medications to treat coughing in children:
1. Honey Syrup – Honey is a natural antibiotic, replete with exceptional ability to kill pathogenic bacteria through several mechanisms. Moreover, honey is equally effective to heal human cells that are important for the immune response. You need to add 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerine to honey for preparation of honey syrup. Make sure you soften honey by warming it for a brief time in a microwave before mixing it with glycerine.
2. Salt Water Gargling – Gargling with salt water helps to soothe a sore throat by clearing mucus from the throat. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to warm water and stir it well. Check if it isn’t too sour for your kid. . If not then go ahead and add 2-3 drops of lemon in it solution. Gargling for three to four times a day will make him feel better.
Before your child gargles let him practise gargling with plain water. Make it seem fun activity by teaching him gargling sound. You can do so by gargling before them. Make sure:
he holds water in his throat without swallowing it,
spits out water rather than swallowing it.
4. Honey and Cinnamon Powder – Heat one tablespoon of honey and add a pinch of cinnamon powder to it.
5. Turmeric Milk – Heat up one cup milk and add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder in it.
6. Humidifier and Hot Bath – Using a humidifier also can help ease cough and just cold. Similarly, hot tub bath can help treating coughing in children by loosening secretions in the nose.
Natural Home Remedies for Diaper Rash
While the causes aren't pleasant, the solutions to stopping this rash are straightforward, and can be accomplished with these simple home remedies. You can cure the rash in a few days and, with a little effort, keep baby rash free for the remainder of diaperhood.
Home Remedies from the Cupboard
Baking soda. If baby's bottom is very raw, try giving a sitz bath for 10 minutes, 3 times per day. Add 2 tablespoons baking soda to the tub of warm water.
Cornstarch. A nice patting of cornstarch helps dry up damp areas and reduces friction caused by elastic in diapers. When applying, first shake the cornstarch into your hand far from the baby's face. Avoid store-bought talcum powders, as recent studies have shown that talcum is dangerous for babies to inhale.
Maalox. This medicine does more than treat heartburn and stomach upset in adults. It can prevent diaper rash on babies by cooling irritated skin and neutralizing acid. With a cotton ball, apply a small amount of the liquid to baby's bottom. Allow to dry before diapering.
Oatmeal. Add 1 tablespoon dried oatmeal to your baby's bath. It's soothing and helps protect the skin.
Vinegar. Urine is an extremely alkaline solution and can burn the skin just like an acid. To balance out the equation, try adding 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse water when you wash the baby's diapers. The vinegar helps neutralize the ammonia found in urine, gets rid of any soap buildup, and gets rid of diaper smells. You can also go directly to the source by wiping the baby's bottom with a solution of 8 parts water to 1 part vinegar.
Home Remedies from the Refrigerator
Cranberry juice. When urine soaks the diaper region, the result is a high pH that irritates the skin and promotes diaper rash. A solution for older infants is to give them 2 to 3 ounces of cranberry juice. Constituents in the juice prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder, which also helps prevent infection.
Teething Relief:
While you can't take on your baby'steething discomfort, you can help take it away with these mom-tested remedies.
1. Chewing. Teething babies love to chew, and for good reason: The gumming action provides counterpressure, which relieves the aching pressure of new pearly whites pushing up and out into the mouth. Bumpy rubber teething rings, rattles, and other teething toys work well (including — your baby has probably figured out — the plastic bumper on a crib rail). Chewing is even more effective when the object is icy cold and numbs the gum. Try a frozen wet washcloth, or, to combine a snack with chilly relief, give frozen fruits like bananas and plums in a baby feeder mesh bag (so large chunks of gummed-off food can't pose a choking risk), but only under adult supervision and with baby sitting or propped upright.
2. Rubbing. Your finger rubbed firmly on baby's gums can provide the same soothing counterpressure. Your baby may balk at first because it seems to hurt initially, but the counterpressure soon brings relief.
3. Cold drinks. A bottle of icy cold water can offer chilly relief to achy gums for babies over six months (when water can be introduced), or, if baby doesn't take a bottle or balks at sucking, give (ice-free) water in a cup.
4. Cold food. Like icy food to suck on, chilled food to eat, such as yogurt, blended peaches, and applesauce (once they've already been introduced to your baby), can be more appetizing than warm or room-temperature foods, and can ease achy gums.
5. Pain relief. If chewing, rubbing, and sucking chilly foods don't do the trick, break out the baby acetaminophen, or try a topical numbing agent or pain reliever — but only after checking with your pediatrician.
