We have to face various minor illnesses, such as cold or mild fever, throughout the year. Normally what we do is pop in a pill available over the counter but that is not the ideal method to deal with the problem. There are many natural ways for treating any illness without having to depend on medication.
Treating Minor Illnesses Naturally
In this section, we will look at various options we have in terms of natural treatments for various common ailments, both for young kids and grownups.
Infants/Young Kids
For infants breast milk is the best option and it has all the antibodies your baby requires to defend from diseases. Young kids need to take a lot of water, vegetable smoothies, milk, and fruit juices to remain hydrated. Apart from food items, essential oils are also important for infants and have a direct beneficial effect on their nervous system.
Massaging these oils onto their chest and feet is the ideal option but you should mix these essential oils with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil to avoid skin irritation caused by direct application of essential oils. Some essential oils and their benefits:
- Lavender: This essential oil helps with colic, diaper rash, teething and tummy pains.
- Lemon: It is useful in case the infant has running nose and you will have to dilute it and rub it onto feet and spine.
- Roman Chamomile: If the infant is having diaper rashes or diarrhea then this oil can be quite beneficial.
Adults/Children aged 12+
Grown up people need to make sure they get enough sleep during the day as it is the most effective way of avoiding illnesses. A good deep sleep has excellent restorative properties for your body. Let us look at natural remedies for some of the common problems:
- In case of nasal dryness, you can put some drops of eucalyptus oil in boiling water and breathe in the steam for effective relief.
- If suffering from anxiety, you will find sniffing couple of drops of lavender oil to be quite soothing.
- At times when you are feeling sick, a cup of Chamomile tea can help calm the nervous system as well as have soothing effect on the stomach. Put 1 tsp of Chamomile tea in boiling water and add 1 tsp of raw honey as well as half lemon to it and drink.
Summary
There are a number of natural remedies for most of the common illnesses, and it is always better to use these natural remedies instead of relying on pills.
