Cough

Elan seems to be coming down with a cough. He We had a rough night last night because he was obviously not feeling well. It's such a helpless feeling when you can't make them more comfortable. Of course, with little ones, medication has been a hot topic lately. Do you or don't you? Personally, when it comes to my own illnesses, aches, and pains, I try to stay away from medication whenever possible. I'm not quite a hippie, but I prefer more natural ways to remedy the situation. When it comes to Elan, I kinda feel the same way, but I can't feel his pain or discomfort, so I'm quicker to act (reach towards "medication"). Of course, this is only after I have explored less aggressive options. Here are some things that we try.

No fans- The ceiling fan is immediately turned off. 

Hot Lemonade-  This is my favorite. Heat a cup of water for 30 seconds in the microwave, squeeze in half of a lemon, add 1.5 teaspoons of honey (local), and mix. Drink up. It's tasty and soothing.

Humidifier- This is also controversial. Some doctors recommend the warm, moist air, much like what you could get from a steamy shower. Others are now recommending the cool, moist air. We go for the warm, moist air. We don't use this in the warmer months, though. So, I won't be taking out the humidifier this time around. Also, I don't use the gel that is sold to put in the machine, just plain water.

Vicks VapoRub- I guess some might say this is medicine, since it is medicated. But it's not an oral medication, so I'm not counting it. Growing up Vicks (commonly referred to a "beeks") was applied to the chest and back. I recently learned that many people put it on their children's feet and put socks on. Doctors can't really explain why this works, but it does.

All Natural Cough Syrup- This is our last resort. It's sold over the counter in most places. I'm not sure what the brand is. It doesn't seem to make a huge difference, so I prefer not to use it.

How about you? Do you know of any home remedies that seem to work for coughs?