Spring has spring and now is the time when sniffles and sneezes crop up at every turn. While we’re trying to enjoy the warm weather and seasonal fun, it’s a good idea to know how to handle any springtime allergies or colds that show up the natural way. Avoiding the medicine head, grogginess, fatigue, moodiness, and synthetic chemicals that come along with using many of the over-the-counter cold, flu, and allergy medications can make a bad situation a lot better – so today we’ll be looking at some of the best natural alternatives your family may want to try.
Herbs
Plant medicines are an amazing way to help the body fight off illness and deal with common seasonal allergens. Each year more and more people start relying on various herbs and herbal blends to help their bodies heal – and kids can benefit from these plants as well. Since most herbs are generally regarded as safe, there are always options for allergy and cold sufferers of any age.
Some of the herbs with the best reputations include:
Nettle
This herb is a champion for allergies. It’s a natural antihistamine that works well in extract, capsule, ot herbal tea form.
Elder Berries
Just about every herbal blend for coughs, colds, and flu contains elder berries. These sweet little herbs boost the immune system and help the body protect and heal itself.
Echinacea
When sickness gets intense, echinacea can be a great alternative to going right for antibiotics. This naturally antiviral and antibiotic herb is super gentle and can be found in formulas for kids at most health food stores.
Soothing Silver
It may sound strange, but ingesting specialized silver called colloidal silver can help destroy all kinds of bad stuff in the body from bacteria to viruses. Colloidal silver should be purchased from a reputable source, and the directions should be carefully followed. It comes in a liquid form that can be taken directly or added to juice.
Salt Power
While it may be hard to get kids to use a neti pot or sinus flush, they may still be able to benefit from the healing power of salt. There are many sea salt inhalers on the market right now that put antibacterial, cleansing, and soothing sea salt in the respiratory system with a simple deep inhalation – much like an asthma inhaler is used. In fact, many people use sea salt inhalers to help deal with everything from allergies and respiratory colds to asthma.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Mixing a teaspoon or two of organic apple cider vinegar into some fruit juice or a smoothie is a great way to help your kids benefit from the mucous-clearing, lymph detoxing, and gut healing that are so helpful when any seasonal illness or allergies hit.
Do you have a favorite all-natural cold, flu, or allergy remedy?
Share it with us in the comments below!