As a child’s immune system is still developing, it is normal for him to fall prone to common illnesses like cough, cold and mild fever. These illnesses are easily curable but if it recurring thing in short intervals, parents should take serious actions to curb. If the child is suffering from cough and cold caused by air pollution, parents should take protective measures to keep the child’s respiratory organs safe and prevent them from long-term damage.   Senior pulmonologist, Dr. H. Paramesh in his research paper titled, “Air pollution and Allergic Airway Diseases: Social Determinants and Sustainability in Prevention and Control” which was published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics states that, “Chronic cough cases among children have multiple side-effects as they lose sleep and aren’t able to focus on studies”. He also stated that in 2017, air pollution was the major cause of chronic cough cases in children below 18 years.   Air pollution can affect your child’s health severely and also lead to other diseases like asthma and bronchitis. To protect your children from hazardous air, please make sure that they never leave home without a high-quality air pollution mask. You can also install air purifiers and air purifying indoor plants to help keep the air clean. For hundreds of years, home remedies have been given prime importance for the sheer fact that they work wonders, are easy to prepare and the ingredients are such that we generally have them at home. To cure your child’s cough and cold caused by air pollution, there are few effective home remedies that you can try. Also read: Pollution Related Wheezing – Is your child safe?  

Home Remedies for Cough and Cold Caused by Air Pollution

#1. Basil

Basil or ‘Tulsi’ is perhaps the best home remedy for not just cough and cold but for many other diseases as well. It has air purifying qualities and leaves a wonderful aroma in the surroundings. It contains powerful antioxidants and natural antibacterial properties which helps in keeping your body healthy and active. To cure your child’s cough and cold, simply take a handful of fresh basil leaves and make a paste from it. Give your child a spoonful and let is work its magic. Another way to use basil is to boil a few leaves in plain water on have it with some black tea.  

#2. Ginger

Much like Tulsi, ginger is also full of antioxidant and medicinal properties. It also serves the purpose of being anti-inflammatory. As children can be fussy and may dislike the taste of ginger, you can try the following way of using it as a remedy for cough and cold caused by air pollution. Peel and grate a 2-inch ginger into a bowl, squeeze out the juice from the ginger and get rid of the pulp and add a spoon of honey to the juice. Give your child a spoon of this mixture.

#3. Jaggery

Jaggery or ‘Gur’ acts as a detox and helps cleanse the liver by flushing out toxins from the body. It is full of antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium. It also helps in building stronger immunity by boosting resistance against infections. To give your child relief from cough cold caused by air pollution, boil a cup of water with a pinch of ajwain and a teaspoon of jaggery. Feed this to your baby twice and day and it will work in no time.  

#4. White onion

Generally available in the months of April and May, white onions are great source of Vitamin E.It also has antihistamine effects and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. To get rid of cough and cold caused by air pollution, extract the juice of a white onion and feed it to your child. If your children are slightly older, you can just slice up the onion is small pieces and your child can have it alongside his lunch or dinner. Also read: Pollution Masks: Protect Your Kids From The Dangers Of Air Pollution  

#5. Lemon

The benefits of lemons are endless. A lemon is a rich source of Vitamin and promotes hydration. It aids in digestion and also helps in losing weight. It would seem that lemons are the most wonderful things. While using lemons as the cure for cough and cold caused by air pollution, you have a plenty of options. Simply sucking on a lemon can be effective as well but the bitterness of it may not be something children enjoy. You kids can drink hot lemon water with sugar or hot lemon tea. You can also boil a half a lemon, a little bit of ginger and a pinch of turmeric in hot water.  

#6. Turmeric

Another source of antioxidants that mothers trust for their kids in turmeric. Not only does it give our food its beautiful colour and homely aroma, it is also beneficial for our skin and aids in digestion. Most Indian women like to give their children a warm glass of milk with a pinch of turmeric before they go to bed. To use it as a solution to treat cough and cold caused by air pollution, boil a glass of water and add a pinch of turmeric and salt each to it.  

#7. Honey

Although your child’s incessant and whooping cough may sound dangerous, it is the worst thing that could happen. It helps clear mucus from the airways. As honey is easy to consume, there are many ways to incorporate it into your baby’s day to day meals. You can smear it across toast or just give them a spoonful to swallow. Hot lemon with money or tea with honey is a good way to get rid of cough and cold caused by air pollution. Also read: Doctor Speaks: Solutions To Protect Your Children From Pollution  

#8. Vitamin C rich fruits

Did you know that Vitamin C is essential for the repair, growth and development of tissues in the whole body. It repairs and maintains cartilage, bones and teeth while also helps in absorbing iron. Fruits like oranges, kiwis, lemons, guavas and grapefruits are some fruits that are enriched with Vitamin C.  

#9. Carrots

Carrots too are full of antioxidants and also contain Vitamin A which helps in vision loss. It also reduces heart diseases and aids your respiratory organs to function better. We know that most children hate eating carrots but you must convince them that carrots are good for them and will help them get better, faster. Bribe them if you must, tell you child that you will buy him his favourite chocolate bar right after he recovers from the cough and cold. Also read: Delhi Pollution : How badly are your kids affected?  

#10. Garlic

Garlic has healing properties and his full of nutrients like Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and is also full of fiber. It has also been found that the active compounds in garlic can reduce blood pressure. For quick results, have your child swallow a spindle of garlic. It should not be chewed and just directly swallowed. Another way to use garlic to cure cough and cold caused by air pollution is to heat some sesame oil to a boiling point and add few pieces of garlic in it. Bottle this up and rub a few drops of this oil on your baby’s chest. This information is brought to you by Dettol Siti Shield.    

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