A Mother's Guide of Natural Remedies for Minor Childhood Conditions

As a mother and lover of all things natural and organic, I utilize a number of natural remedies in order to treat various minor childhood conditions. I would like to share what I have found to be effective in helping to relieve a variety of symptoms that my own children have experienced.

Restlessness

Chamomile tea and lavender oil are wonderful in helping to treat restlessness in a child. Chamomile tea has a calming effect, and it does not have any side effects. However, if your child has an allergy to flowers, you may choose not to utilize this.

You can rub lavender oil onto the bottoms of your child's feet or put a few drops into his or her bath water to help him or her relax as well. If you feel that the lavender scent is too strong to apply alone, you may dilute it with olive oil prior to placing it onto your child's feet.

Stomach Upset

Peppermint tea or candy and acidophilus (one of the "good" bacteria that is found in yogurt) are beneficial in helping to relieve stomach upset. Peppermint tea helps to calm the digestive system, and if you cannot get your child to drink the tea, hard peppermint candy also works well.

Acidophilus can be ingested by having your child eat yogurt, or you can purchase Culturel, an over-the-counter form of acidophilus combined with the prebiotic chicory root, from your local drugstore.

Eczema/Dry Skin

Coconut oil and olive oil are fantastic for helping to relieve eczema. I still use coconut oil on my three-year-old son after his bath in order to help his skin absorb more moisture, and it has been most effective. If your child is allergic to nuts, do not use coconut oil; in this situation, use olive oil instead.

Sunburn

Aloe Vera gel is superb for helping to relieve the pain of sunburn. I usually apply the aloe vera gel immediately after sun exposure in order to calm the burning sensation as well as tone down the redness.

Cough

If your child has a cough, local raw honey is wonderful for coating the throat and helping to ease the cough. If the cough is severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, please consult your child's physician or health care provider. Too, if your child is under the age of one, it is recommended not to give him or her honey.

Cuts, scrapes, or minor wounds

Three marvelous natural remedies for cuts, scrapes, and minor wounds are raw honey, peppermint oil, and lavender oil. Raw honey is naturally anti-bacterial and is a great salve for wounds. Peppermint oil and lavender oil help to cleanse and prevent infection as well. Simply clean the cut, scrape, or wound with cold water, and then, apply one of these three substances to the wound.

Diaper rash or skin irritations

Vitamin E is highly beneficial in treating diaper rash and other minor skin irritations. Simply bust open a gel capsule of Vitamin E, and apply the contents to the skin. This powerful vitamin will assist the body in healing the irritated skin.

If you have any hesitations or concerns regarding using these natural remedies to treat your child, please consult your child's physician or health care practitioner. May you and your children enjoy many happy, healthy days.