‘Tis the season when normally healthy, happy kids become snuffling, miserable victims of head colds and sore throats. As their noses become achingly raw and their coughs start to sound more like a barking seal, parents scramble to find something to ease their children's discomfort and send their colds packing.
Yet many over-the-counter medicines don't always help lessen their symptoms, and also come with age restrictions and unwanted potential side effects (OK, maybe drowsiness isn't always undesirable in a cranky, congested kid). And some natural medicines, including Echinacea and massive doses of vitamin C, haven't always delivered the benefits once hoped for.
But there are gentler remedies that can both help stave off colds as well as lessen their snotty symptoms, according to Dhaval Dhru, MD. The answer is herbal and spice teas.
Dhru was an ear, nose and throat surgeon at a clinic in Federal Way for more than 20 years before deciding that conventional medical practices weren't always serving his patients well. He also watched as family members, prescribed more and more pills for chronic conditions, remained sick or developed new problems from the side effects of the medications.
"Our approach to medicine is pharmaceuticals and surgery, rather than lifestyle, diet and healthy living and preventing the diseases," he said. So in 1999, Dhru shuttered his practice and began studying Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurveda is an approach to good health founded in India thousands of years ago. It encompasses a wide range of practices, and the ones that Dhru focuses on include herbal remedies, healthy diet, yoga and exercise.
He is now an associate professor and chair of the newly established Department of Ayurvedic Sciences at Bastyr University. The Kenmore-based university is one of the nation's largest institutes of natural medicine and research.
To treat a head cold, Dhru suggests a tea made of ginger, cinnamon and lemon grass, if you have it. The ginger is an anti-inflammatory agent that produces heat in your body, helping fight the virus and bacteria that are causing the cold symptoms. The ingredients and warm fluids also can loosen the mucus and allow it to drain https://www.papsociety.org/prednisone/.
Tulsi tea – a drink made from a powder or leaves of the tulsi plant, which is a variety of basil – also works well to prevent and treat colds, Dhru said. The slightly minty tasting plant also has heating properties and is an anti-inflammatory agent, he added.
These Ayurvedic concoctions have withstood the test of time, but there is limited research from the conventional scientific community proving their effectiveness. However, researchers have demonstrated some of the healing properties of certain popular Ayurvedic ingredients, including ginger and turmeric.
While the laboratory research could be more extensive, "This is a traditional knowledge," Dhru explained.
Dhru, who was trained in Western medicine, says people don't need to choose between conventional and natural medical care. They can work well together.
"These are all complimentary approaches," he said. "This is more like your grandma's chicken soup recipe that you can use along with whatever else you are doing. This is not necessarily in lieu of Western medical attention."
For a child suffering from a sore throat, Dhru advises gargling with turmeric and salt. The ingredients provide heat, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Another option is drinking "golden milk," also made from turmeric.
If it's a chest cold plaguing your kid, Dhru recommends a version of the ginger tea that adds some licorice powder. The licorice can help coat and soothe a sore throat.
Given the low concentrations of the herbs and spices in the teas, they should be safe for using with young children, but concerned parents can review the remedies with their pediatrician.
Dhru also urges people to make sure they purchase their ingredients from trusted sources. A few years ago, U.S. researchers published studies showing that some Ayurvedic ingredients were contaminated with heavy metals.
