alternative help for a horrible cough?!?

Question

does anyone know the best thing for a cough (sounds like barking!) my 4 yr old son has it & i would prefer to try another way other than antibiotics! the Dr say's he may be asthmatic too if that helps?

Answer 1

Antibiotics won't help with a cold. Make sure he drinks lots of water (LOTS) and gets plenty of rest. An over the counter cough medicine for children may help soothe his throat.

Answer 2

This is alternative section you asking the question in remember ... i have a 3.5year old daughter. For chest things i use aromatherapy oils. I open 3 bottles and wave them under her nose a few times. Have done so ever since she was about 2.5.
She has been in a nursery since 9 months old and , touch wood, only ever caught a tummy bug.
I am a chronic bronchitis sufferer myself, a left-over from whooping cough when i was a child. My cough gets like a bark when the bronchitis plays up.
If my daughhter developed a cough i would use benzoin for her lungs and frankincense to help the qi move. Then i would probably add something like mandarin or ylang ylang for smell. Remember, not on a tissue. Just wave the open bottles under her nose three times a day. If she was really bad i would probably take her to my chinese doctor. She doesn't like treating children but she will prescribe herbs if i insist. Should her cough sound like barking i would take her to a pediatric chinese practitioner i think very highly of. he would probably prescribe herbs that i would sneak into her food, i usually end making the herbal tea more concentrated and then use it as cooking water for rice and peas which she will eat no prob. Another thing that will strengthen lung qi is celery. Radishes will clear phlegm.
Maybe not the best thing for your son but it's all down to what you chose to put your belief into. Classical chinese medicine and aromatherapy have served my daughter well.

Answer 3

It sounds like he may have Bronchitis. I have suffered with it all my Life and yes it does sound like barking because his airway is being constricted. Let him sleep with a cool Mist humidifier beside his bed at nights and an over the counter cough syrup such as Robitussin (which does come in generic) may be needed about 3-4 times a day. Pollen is falling bad also this time of year, well here in the South that is. I hope the Doctor gave you an inhalant for your son because if hes asthmatic he certainly needs one. You can also buy those other the counter. Mom unless he is spitting up a yellowish phylem he does not need an antibiotic, but if he is its a bacterial infection and yes hes gonna need an antibiotic. Hang in there.

Answer 4

Antibiotics are almost never prescribed by GOOD doctors for cough in children, because they know they seldom have any effect.

Next answer is STATISTICAL ONLY and cannot be applied to your son specifically, it can only be a generalisation!
Mild asthma in children is very common it Never gets any benefit from antibiotics!

Bacterial chest infections in children are nearly as uncommon as hens' teeth.

Many doctors still give antibiotics to everyone with a cough.

http://familydoctor.org/680.xml
http://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/physician/download/antibiotic_guidelines.pdf
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/22/earlyshow/contributors/emilysenay/main703463.shtml
http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=21&action=detail&ref=1694

These are just a few of the thousands of sites that discuss this.

Most coughs in children are self limiting, they get better on their own and little that you can do makes any difference. Alternative therapies are certainly useless. The trick is if nothing works give nothing!

Answer 5

Someone else has already mentioned honey, and that is my favourite option. I always remember honey and lemon as a drink helping when I was a kid. Now I always use manuka honey and propolis, which works a treat and is natural. Has been used by neighbours kids (10+) fine, for a 4 yr old would just want to make sure they weren't allergic to propolis first. Should be able to get it from your local health food store, where you can check on the age part, but it comes in a childrens version.

Or have found it here:
http://www.worldofnz.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=48

Answer 6

If you use Transfer Factor for you and your son with regularity, you will avoid getting sick, specially if he is asthmatic. TFP will help your immune system and keep your body defense in alert. Its on the PDR, so you can ask your Dr. or you can buy it yourself, because is natural and any kid after 2 months old can use it and even pregnant woman. here is some information to read. My nephews use it and they are asthmatic chronic and for as long as they use the TF they will be OK. http://wilfredojr.my4life.com/transferfactor.aspx?pmode=7
If you want more inf. contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 7

when coughs sound like barks, it's due to the plegm being trapped inside of the breathing pipe. You need to clear that up.
Go to the kitchen and get some chamomile (even a chamomile tea bag is fine, just rip it open) pour it in a pour with water and let simmer, not boil. Then add a pinch of oregano and sweeten it with honey. Have him drink as much as he wants. By tonight the phlegm should be lose and easier to expectorate.
OR
Saturate almonds in water overnight, peel, grind, add some butter and sugar. Eat 1-2 tablespoons several times a day.
Or make some fig leaf tea if you have access to a fig tree and have him drink it.

Answer 8

by way of fact that's the "determination drugs" section- I take it you're searching for for an determination treatment(?)-- Being a medical expert, I usually lean in the direction of prescriptive treatments,yet there are some determination cough treatments I truly have attempted that labored properly for me contained in the previous and are secure for infants as properly. My very own fave is something referred to as Honey Loquat Syrup-it may in ordinary terms be offered in a wellbeing nutrition shop. that is an exceptionally thick brown syrup and would not style too undesirable the two! possibly attempt finding it up on line to be sure that is right components. would I additionally advise working a funky mist vaporizer in her room as properly-fairly this time of three hundred and sixty 5 days while there are maximum of irritants blowing in the time of the air.sturdy success!

Answer 9

Please consult this site for any condition for advice on natural & alternative remedies; they have a special section called Kidzone or parents & Kids which is wonderful.
Just type in anyrelevant word(S) in search & look thr' results; esp the KIDZONE or Q&A section at the end.
They also have a book out called "What Really Works For Kids" by Susan Clark

Answer 10

I hear dark chocolate (with a high cocoa content) is supposed to help. Also a honey and lemon drink will help soothe his throat if it feels a little soar from all the coughing.