2 Year Old with Cough and Upper Respiratory Infection
Hi Ted, I know you must be bombarded with questions and I appreciate the time you set aside to provide answers. I was hoping you can help me with the health of my two year old child. She has been on antibiotics for the past four weeks for a mild ear infection, sinus infection and most recently for a skin irritation that the doctor thought might be infected. We decided enough is enough and have been treating the skin with essential oils, specifically tea tree oil and lavender. So far, she is making inconsistent progress. It looks much better but some days seem worse than others. The current problem is that she has congestion once again and has seemed to develop a cough that is intermittent. I can tell she has sinus congestion and a nasal drip. The phlegm seems to be slightly green that she coughed up this morning. I'm worried that we may dealing with yet another upper respiratory infection. My course of action for the past day has been fresh green juice in the morning (kale, celery, lemon, spinach, dandelion, apple, garlic and apple cider vinegar). I also give the baby probiotics and cod liver oil all in the hope that I am strengthening her immune system. I am seeking your advice because we no longer want to give her antibiotics for every mild infection yet are worried these things can develop into something worse. Any advice/remedies you can provide are greatly appreciated. Our current concern is the cough/upper respiratory infection. Thanks, Mike
Dear Mike:
A simple small pinch of xylitol or a xylitol powder 10% used as a nasal spray, or xylitol taken in the mouth will reduce some infection. Someone at the moment is already marketing xylitol used against ear infection of the child.
It should be noted that getting the body alkalized is an important one to get the body to recover. A small child on basis of weight may need only 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/4 glass of water to alkalize the body. Or a more tasty remedy of 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice plus 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/4 glass of water taken two or three times a day. Once the body is alkalized, the body's immune system should be sufficiently lifted and respond better to the other essential oil remedies.
Some zinc gluconate might be needed but for a child about 12 mg of it or 1/4 dose of human adult of 50 mg zinc gluconate should be sufficient for a couple of days and then stop.
Sinus congestion for children I found most helpful is the N Acetyl Cysteine, about 25-50 mg. and this will cause the mucus to be quite watery, but will help restore liver function too.
Vitamin C sodium ascorbate can also be helpful but perhaps just 50 mg should be sufficient.
Ted