Croup is a common ailment among children and is characterized by a deep, spasmodic, barking cough, often aggravated at nighttime. There may be heavy congestion in the airway and swelling around the vocal chords making it difficult for a child to breathe. Several home remedies are available that may offer relief to a child suffering from croup. Some remedies, such as herbs, may produce side effects. A licensed health care practitioner should be consulted before using herbs for croup.
In cases of croup, there is often congestion with tightness of the chest and the airways. Sitting with a child in a steamy bathroom is one home remedy that may help loosen chest congestion, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Additionally, an older child can sit with his head leaning over a bowl filled with hot water. A towel should be placed over his head so he can inhale the steam, which may help relief a croupy cough. The water should not be too hot as the steam could burn the child's face. A few drops of eucalyptus oil can be added to the water to help break up the congestion and act as an expectorant, writes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Eucalyptus oil should not be used with homeopathic remedies as it renders them ineffective. A health practitioner should be contacted if croup symptoms persist or worsen.
Homeopathic Spongia Toasta
The remedy Spongia may be helpful for relieving coughs from croup, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The child needing Spongia will have a loud, spasmodic cough that is characterized by the distinctive sound of a saw being drawn through a piece of wood. Other indications for using Spongia include a cough that starts around midnight and is worse when the child lies down. In this instance, the child may need to sit up and tilt the head backward to get a full breath while coughing.
The Medical College of Wisconsin writes about using sweet syrups to relieve a cough and suppress symptoms. The syrup can either be an over-the-counter cough syrup, which most likely will have chemical ingredients; however, a more-natural simple syrup can be made with sugar and water, honey or even maple syrup that will be free of chemical additives. Although the reason the sweet syrups works on coughs is not known, some people hypothesize that they coat the throat and reduce tickling and itching, helping to quiet a cough.