Tired of antibiotics making your kids sicker than whatever originally necessitated them taking it to begin with?
I was. Antibiotics made my 2 littlest, sick, sick, sick. Causing C-diff, and diarrhea for 6 weeks on end. Six weeks later, after 3 or 4 different rounds of $80 [a pop] antibiotics, to fix what the first kind caused, our pockets were $400 lighter after medicine costs and each subsequent office visit charge. We went through that twice in one season, once with each of our two youngest. Ack!
So when they came down with a juicy, nasty sounding cough after some holiday get together, I panicked. I wasn't ABOUT to take them in to the doctor, just so they could prescribe an antibiotic and start us on the whole horror journey again.
I've found that liquid echinacea drops to be wonderful and effective for my little ones [1-6 years old], - for coughs, colds, earaches, etc.,-- if you can find them in a tasty base like: Herbs For Kids Sweet Echinacea
, but I had run out of mine and couldn't find any more that wasn't going to run $15 for a 2 oz bottle.
So, to the internet I went in search of a natural antibiotic/expectorant kid friendly medicine.
And here is what I came up from the information I found and using things I had on hand. Did it work? Yes. It DID. Beautifully. [Echinacea Capsules: the powdered contents of about 30-40 emptied -- bottle of Spring Valley 100 capsules found at walmart for $4]
Added bonus, ALL all of my kids LOVE it! They actually ask me for it at the first sign of a cough or sore throat. My 4 year old even went so far as to get it out of the fridge, along with a serving cup, and brings it TO me. "Mommy I've got a juicy cough."
**For a funky cold, accompanied with a gross juicy cough and fever, I gave my kids 4 (2-4 TBSP) servings a day, and ALL 3 were completely better within 5 days, without any need for a Dr. visit or any prescription antibiotics-- GOING ON 13 YEARS NOW**
Honey Lemon Cough Medicine in Fennel Green Tea base.
1 TBSP fennel seeds **natures Mucinex** [ simmered in one of those metal strainer tea balls found at walmart for about $2]
4 cups water
1 or 2 tsp chinese 5 spice, [ this stuff is potent tasting, so start with 1 tsp and add according to taste preference] **ginger, and Star Anise are BOTH natural antibiotics**
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon **natural antibiotic**
40 capsules worth [ removed from capsules] of Echinacea powder
**contents of 8 Dong Quai capsules [*this ingredient is optional, I had some, so I used it. *helps with lung congestion**--NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY**
Bring to boil, simmer together on low, covered, 30 minutes to 1 hour
Remove from heat, add 1 cup honey **natural antibiotic**
1/3 cup lemon juice **natural antibiotic**, 3 green tea bags [ seep for 20-30 minutes, then remove]
pour into mayonnaise sized jar or similar sized container with lid, that will hold at least 4 cups liquid
Store in refrigerator for up to 4 months. Shake before serving.
**You can, of course, use fresh lemon juice, organic /raw honey, etc, but sometimes you just need to be able to do what's easiest and work with what you are more likely to have on hand. I have done it both ways and always gotten excellent, consistent results for the last 13 years I've been using this.
SERVING SIZE: 3 times a day [or up to 5, without any risk of harm.] My kids actually go in and help themselves when they start coughing!
1 tsp to little folks over 6 months old- but under 2 Yrs
1 Tablespoon for 2 or 3 year olds
2 TBSP 4-5 yrs old
1/4 cup for kids ages 6-and older
**Here's the science:
ECHINACEA: Extracts of Echinacea species have been used traditionally in North America for the control of symptoms of colds, influenza, and other diseases, and some of them have become very popular as “herbal medicines”. Recent studies have revealed that preparations derived from certain species and plant parts, but not all of them, possess potent antiviral activities, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, particularly against membrane-containing viruses. Thus all strains of human and avian influenza viruses tested (including a Tamiflu-resistant strain), as well as herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinoviruses, were very sensitive to a standardized Echinacea. In other studies the influenza virus was also inhibited.
HONEY:
Honey has been used intuitively for hundreds of years as a wonderful natural antibiotic by many different cultures. Research has shown the unusual antibacterial activity of honey, leading to a greater understanding of the ability of honey to kill pathogenic bacteria through several different mechanisms. In studies, honey was effective against many different drug resistant bacteria.
In one scientific test, Dr. Shona Blair used honey to treat E. coli. Dr. Shona Blair saw that honey "attacks" bacteria from several different angles; that the bacteria were overwhelmed and unable to develop resistance, and the bacteria died. In today's world where many antibiotics have become ineffective, honey was able to kill not only the E. coli, but many other types of bacteria.
Honey not only possesses significant antibacterial activity, it has also been shown to actively promote healing by directly stimulating human cells that are important in the immune response to help disease and wounds healing.
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LEMON:
Lemon helps promote health by quickly alkalizing the body and like honey will kill any bacteria. This is a perfect choice for a quick cough remedy.
Fennel and Star Anise:
The Greeks used teas made from fennel and anise for asthma and other respiratory ailments. Both of these herbs contain creosol and alpha-pinene, which help to loosen bronchial secretions. Fennel also has a calming, antispasmodic effect on coughs and bronchitis.
Dong Quoi "Angelica Root":
Angelica /DONG QUOI is a good herb to add to treatments for colds , congestion and fevers. Angelica root is warming and stimulating to the lungs, helping to ease chest congestion—It is generally used as a stimulating expectorant - and a useful agent in feverish conditions. Angelica is a good remedy for colds, coughs, pleurisy.
one of the best old fashioned remedies for colds and coughs.
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FENNEL SEED: Fennel helps clear mucus from the lungs.
Fennel has more in common with anise than just the licorice like aroma. Both fennel and anise seeds contain creosol and alpha-pinene, chemical constituents that help to loosen congestion and make coughs more productive,and fennel contains much more. Fennel also calms the dry, hacking cough of bronchitis.
CHINESE 5 SPICE: [Anise, ginger, cinnamon, fennel, cloves, licorice root]
*STAR ANISE: For: Expectorant, coughs
Anise enjoys considerable reputation as a medicine in coughs and pectoral affections. In hard, dry coughs where expectoration is difficult, it is of much value. It is greatly used in the form of lozenges and the seeds have also been used for smoking, to promote expectoration. The volatile oil, mixed with spirits of wine forms the liqueur Anisette, which has a beneficial action on the bronchial tubes.
*LICORICE ROOT has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, and is an expectorant.
*CINNAMON: One of the most well-established properties of cinnamon is the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria responsible for human infectious diseases.
*GINGER: In Chinese medicine Sheng-jiang (fresh ginger) is used for colds due to wind and cold, coughs, vomiting. Ginger raises metabolism, induces sweating, and helps to dispel pathogens from the body.
Yep! That's 7 Natural Antibiotics in a Green Tea base-- that your kids will LOVE and won't strip their bowels of healthy flora!
