Monsoon offers much needed respite from the sweltering heat, but it also brings with it a range of common ailments that mostly affect the kids. Even if we have a lot of options to address children’s health issues these days, mothers always keep some natural remedies ready at home to offer immediate relief to their kids. Orissa POST spoke to a few mothers who rely on traditional methods to fight their children’s ailments.
Pratima Rayguru, a teacher from Bhubaneswar, says, “Children are most vulnerable to infections during this change of season. Everyone knows about the antioxidant properties of turmeric. So, I find turmeric milk is best to prevent common monsoon ailments like cold, cough and fever. I also prepare Kadha, an Ayurvedic recipe that helps fight infection. My grandma used to massage my feet with warm mustard oil added with garlic cloves when I suffered from cold as a kid. This worked well. So, I apply this on my children when they suffer from cold and cough.”
Sriparna Nayak, who has a young daughter, says, “I have seen my mother using the herbs and spices available at home to treat ailments like cold. I make sure that my daughter Naisha takes warm water in the monsoon. This helps a child when she suffers from sore throat. Boiled milk also helps fight infections that affect kids due to a sudden fall in temperature. I also make Naisha wear socks at home in the rainy season as walking barefoot can lead to fungal infections.”
A homemaker from Banki, Kshyanaprava Subudhi finds home remedies work best for common monsoon ailments. “I don’t take my daughters too often to the doctors when they suffer from cold and cough. The best way to improve the children’s immune system is to give them a cup of warm water with a spoon of honey and ginger and lemon juices added to it. I also serve hot food to my family and I do this to keep various infections at bay. Kesar milk is also an option as it contains some disease-fighting qualities.”
Suryakant Pradhan, a city-based physician, offers a couple of health care tips for the season. He says, “This is the time when one can get affected by diseases like cold, cough, flu, indigestion, food poisoning, malaria, typhoid, jaundice and fungal infections. If a kid has a runny nose, sore throat, cold and fever, he may have contracted flu. It is okay if the condition improves within a day. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor without delay. Besides, the elders should make sure that all family members wash their hands before eating and after defecation. Consuming warm water also keeps you hydrated and helps your immune system. Gargling with salt water two to three times a day helps to treat a sore throat, ease tonsillitis, prevent upper respiratory tract infections and treat dry cough too.”
BRATATI BARAL, OP