Top 17 Folk Remedies for Super Effective Cough Relief in Children

The vitamin C in rice water, combined with the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of water spinach, helps soothe the throat, heal injuries quickly, and boost the body's immunity. For the respiratory system, injecting fluid extracted from water spinach under the skin has shown to reduce coughing. Using a high dose of water spinach extract also demonstrates positive effects in cases of lung congestion.

Ingredients:

• 5 – 10 fresh water spinach leaves, plenty of water, 1 bowl of rice water (rice water after straining, allowing the cloudy part to settle down, only taking the clear part on top).

Instructions:

• Wash the water spinach thoroughly, grind into a paste
• Then mix the freshly ground water spinach with rice water and boil for about 20 minutes
• Strain and let the water cool for the child to drink
• To maximize the effect, it is recommended to give the child the remedy about 1 hour after eating
• Give the child three doses a day. While treating a child's cough with this mixture, it's advisable to avoid giving the child pungent foods such as chicken, crab, shrimp, etc.

Lemon balm leaves (thick leaves) combined with brown sugar or honey contain essential oils such as phenol compounds, salixylat engenol, and other components. These ingredients have antibiotic, antibacterial, and cough-relieving properties. Thanks to these components, our ancestors used this type of leaf to effectively treat coughs and throat inflammation.

Ingredients:

• A handful of lemon balm leaves, brown sugar, or honey.

How to make:

• Clean the lemon balm leaves, chop them finely, and steam for 30 minutes with brown sugar or honey
• Strain the liquid for the child to drink while it's still warm
• This remedy is easy for children to take due to the aromatic scent of lemon balm leaves and honey
• After only 2 doses, the child's cough will noticeably reduce
• Lemon balm leaves have the effect of treating coughs, nourishing the lungs, and effectively relieving phlegm.

Thanks to its natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, ginger is present in many respiratory disease remedies such as prolonged dry cough, productive cough, sore throat, and tracheitis. Garlic contains many active anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients, suitable for treating bacterial infections causing coughs.

Ingredients:

• 5g brown sugar, 2-3 cloves of garlic, a few slices of ginger, a little distilled water.

How to make:

• Boil the mixture of brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and water for about 10 minutes, strain the liquid for the child to drink
• It's best to drink the mixture when it's warm
• A small note is that garlic and ginger have a strong odor, so it's recommended to give it to the child before meals.

According to traditional medical documents, catfish bone has a warm, spicy taste; it has the effect of dispelling foul odors, preventing allergies, good for the digestive system, and has the ability to expectorate, effectively treating acute coughs and sore throats. People often choose catfish bone leaves with a flat shape, using them when fresh or drying them in a cool place for gradual use.

Ingredients:

• 1 handful of catfish bone leaves, 1 handful of chives, brown sugar (if brown sugar is not available, it can be replaced with regular sugar)
• Catfish bone leaves are effective in treating coughs, tracheitis, and flu fever.

How to make:

• Finely chop catfish bone leaves, mix well with a little sugar, steam for 30 minutes
• When the mixture is cool, strain the liquid for the child to drink
• Mothers can give the child several doses throughout the day.

Honey along with green kumquat has long been a precious remedy passed down in folklore for its effectiveness in respiratory diseases. Families should prepare a mixture with warm water and drink it in the morning right after waking up. This method is suitable for all age groups, including the elderly and young children.

Ingredients:

• 2 - 3 green kumquats, honey.

How to make:

• Clean the kumquats, cut them in half, leaving the peel and seeds intact because they have a warm property and help soothe coughs
• Mix kumquats with honey or sugar, steam to use
• Give this mixture to children to drink several times a day, each time 2 teaspoons, as a replacement for cough syrups.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, white or white roses are sweet, non-toxic, with a cool aroma, and have a cool nature. The ingredients contain plenty of sugar, vitamins, and essential oils that can effectively treat coughs and soothe the throat. The sweetness of brown sugar and white rose petals will soothe the baby's sore throat during a coughing fit.

Ingredients:

• 15g white rose petals and a sufficient amount of brown sugar

How to make:

• Take 15g of white rose petals and a sufficient amount of brown sugar, decoct or steam with water for daily consumption
• Use when still hot, continuously for 1 week
• Effective in treating coughs caused by blood stasis due to lung deficiency.

Licorice root has a cool nature, sweet and mild taste, possessing both antibacterial properties and soothing the throat. Mothers can give the baby licorice root-infused water when the baby experiences a coughing fit. It is advisable to buy licorice root from traditional Chinese medicine stores to ensure safety. According to some traditional Chinese medicine documents, licorice root has a harmonizing nature and sweet taste, providing benefits such as relieving coughs, detoxifying, and cooling the body.

Ingredients:

• 3g lotus leaves, 3g licorice root

How to make:

• Infuse in boiling water and drink as a tea substitute.

Aside from being used as a food ingredient, onions are also known as a folk remedy for various respiratory conditions such as flu, runny nose, and cough. Due to the mild nature of treating cough with onions, it is suitable for various age groups, especially young children.

Ingredients:

• Prepare half an onion, peel it

Instructions:

• Peel and slice the onion, then put it in a pot
• Pour about 500ml of water, bring it to a boil. Simmer for about 10 more minutes and then turn off the heat
• Wait for the water to cool completely, then strain the water for use
• Use onion water until the cough subsides completely.

Aside from being used as a vegetable to stimulate appetite and enhance flavor, marigold is also a medicinal herb that aids digestion, relieves coughs, and disperses cold conditions. The medicinal part is the leaves, used fresh or dried in a cool place (avoid sunlight to retain the aromatic essential oils).

Ingredients:

• Marigold leaves
• Honey

Instructions:

• Wash and chop the marigold leaves, steam with honey for 20 minutes
• Strain the water for the child to drink
• To maximize effectiveness, mothers should give the child to drink continuously for 3 - 5 days
• According to traditional Chinese medicine, marigold is mild and has a highly effective cough treatment.

Male papaya flowers and cherry blossoms are medicinal remedies used to treat various inflammatory conditions, most commonly coughs and sore throats. For young children, parents should use only 1/2 a coffee spoon to achieve the desired effect, letting the child sip gradually from the tip of the tongue, from less to more.

Ingredients:

• Male papaya flowers
• Cherry blossoms
• Perilla leaves

Instructions:

• Prepare 10 grams each of male papaya flowers, cherry blossoms, perilla leaves, and 5 grams of rock sugar.
• Place the medicines in a porcelain bowl and steam them for about 15 minutes.
• Boil until it boils, pour the medicine into a bowl, let it cool a bit, then drink.
• It is recommended to take the medicine twice a day after meals, continuously for about 2 - 3 days to reduce cough and throat inflammation.

Pear has a sweet, slightly sour taste and is inherently cool in nature. It helps moisten the lungs, nourish the blood, relieve cough, reduce hoarseness, and soothe throat irritation. The secret of treating cough with pears has long been applied in traditional Chinese medicine as a precious remedy for respiratory diseases.

Ingredients:

• 1 large pear, finely ground rock sugar, 3 star anise seeds (available at traditional Chinese medicine stores).

Instructions:

• Wash and peel the pear, core it, and remove a portion of the pear flesh. Then add rock sugar and star anise seeds into the pear.
• Steam the pear for about 30 minutes.
• Give the remaining pear water to the child or let the child eat the pulp, which is even better.
• With this mixture, it is recommended to give the child 1 teaspoon each time, twice a day, continuously for 3 days.

White radish is not only used to cook many dishes, but it also helps treat various ailments, especially cough. According to traditional Chinese medicine, this type of radish has a cool taste, and its seeds have a balanced, sweet taste, effectively addressing digestive symptoms such as bloating, fullness, and indigestion.

Ingredients:

• 200g fresh white radish
• 800ml filtered water

Instructions:

• Wash the white radish thoroughly, peel it with a clean knife, and cut it into pomegranate-shaped pieces.
• Put the prepared white radish into a pot, pour filtered water to submerge the radish.
• Place the pot on the stove, bring to a boil for about 15 minutes. Then cool it down, strain to remove the residue, and collect the water.
• Divide this water into several portions and give it to the child several times a day.
• Regular consumption will help alleviate throat congestion.

Basil leaves are known for their main function of relieving congestion, dispelling wind, and warming the body when exposed to cold. In traditional Chinese medicine, basil is recognized as a herb with a spicy taste, warm nature, mild fragrance, and its effectiveness in promoting the flow of vital energy. Basil is a safe herbal remedy for cough in adults and children.

Ingredients:

• Basil leaves

Instructions:

• Use 20 grams of basil leaves, grind them finely, and mix with hot water for drinking, or cook them with porridge for daily consumption.

During the kumquat season, mothers, don't forget to prepare the 'treasure' of preserved kumquat with rock sugar for your child to use in winter. The essential oils in the kumquat peel will stimulate the respiratory system, aiding in relieving phlegm. Moreover, the abundant vitamin C in this fruit helps boost your child's immune system, preventing colds and flu.

Ingredients:

• Fresh kumquats 1kg, rock sugar 1kg.

Instructions:

• Take the kumquats, cut them close to the stem using scissors (avoid tearing with hands as it may crush the fruit), wash them, then rinse with boiled water and let them cool and drain
• Place the kumquats in a jar, sprinkle rock sugar on top, and seal the jar
• Keep in a cool place until the rock sugar dissolves, then it's ready to use.

Beyond just lemon juice and peel, the seeds of the lemon fruit are also an effective remedy for various illnesses. During the transitional weather or sudden changes, when respiratory diseases are common, don't overlook the following lemon seed remedies, especially if you have young children at home.

Ingredients:

• Lemon seeds
• Rock sugar
  

Instructions:

• Take 5-6 lemon seeds, add 1 teaspoon of rock sugar, and grind them into a smooth paste
• Add a teaspoon of water, put it in a clean bowl
• When the rice cooker is dry, put the bowl in, steam until the rice is cooked
• Remove the bowl, let it cool, drain the water, and give it to your child to drink 4-6 times a day, 1-2 teaspoons each time. This remedy is suitable for children aged 1 and older.

Daikon lemon is a variety of lemon with a robust tree, large leaves, and unique fruits. Daikon lemons have large, thin, juicy skins and an enticing fragrance, making them popular among consumers in Vietnam. When soaked with some ingredients like honey and rock sugar, daikon lemons can produce highly effective medicinal remedies.

Ingredients:

• Daikon lemons 1 kg, honey 1.5 – 2 liters. Choose large, fresh, juicy, and ripe daikon lemons.

Instructions:

• Rinse the daikon lemons with water and let them dry. Slice the lemons into thin slices and place them in a soaking jar. Cover with a porcelain plate and soak in a glass jar for 3 - 6 months.
• When drinking, take a spoonful of daikon lemon and honey into 250 ml warm water, add 2 fresh lemon slices. Drinking 3 cups a day will effectively aid weight loss.

Golden turmeric contains approximately 0.3% curcumin, 25% terpenic acids, 5% essential oils, etc. The curcumin component in turmeric helps in antioxidation, antibacterial properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and effective cough relief. Thus, using turmeric for cough treatment is an extremely efficient and safe method for both adults and children. Parents can completely trust and feel assured when using turmeric to treat their children's cough.

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh turmeric root
• 2 tablespoons pure honey

Procedure:

• Wash the fresh turmeric root, peel off the outer layer, and then grate or grind it.
• Mix the grated turmeric with pure honey thoroughly and strain to extract the drink.
• Consume 2-3 times a day, 1-2 teaspoons each time. After the first application, you will easily notice relief in throat discomfort.