Sugar and onions protect children's colds: the most effective cough recipes

Children's bodies are easily susceptible to viruses and cold, especially in the autumn-winter period. The child’s illness develops rapidly: in 2-3 days a mild cold can develop into a cough. Despite the fact that syrups, teas and tablets are available in pharmacies around the clock, parents are more often inclined to use traditional medicine recipes as a safe and proven method of treatment.

In this article, we will look at a remedy for treating children’s cough based on onions and sugar, and we will study the best recipes and schemes for its use.

Useful properties of onions with sugar

Onions are a natural antibiotic and antiseptic. Thanks to the vitamins and minerals included in its composition, the vegetable has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and healing effects.

Besides, onion affects the phlegm in the child’s bronchi, helping to cure a cough.

The principle of action of onions in the fight against children's cough:

• being an antiseptic, the vegetable destroys pathogenic bacteria and viruses;
• the juice dilutes the mucus accumulated in the respiratory tract;
• activates the natural defenses of the child’s body;
• has diuretic and calming effects on the child's body.

Sugar does not take a direct part in eliminating unpleasant symptoms. This is a component of the medicine, giving it a pleasant taste and stimulating the secretion of onion juice. The fact is that sugar has the property of absorbing moisture, therefore, when it gets on the surface of the onion, it draws out all the medicinal juice from its cells.

Indications for use

Onions with sugar are indicated for home treatment of an incipient cough in a child over one year old. Both wet and dry coughs are treated with this composition.

Effect on cough

Dry cough, which irritates and injures the mucous membranes of the child’s throat, is treated due to the fact that onions dilute thick, viscous sputum, and it is easier to expectorate during coughing. Onions with sugar reduce the strength and frequency of dry cough attacks, soften a child’s irritated throat and speed up the removal of mucus.

A wet cough, what is commonly called an expectorant cough, is also treated with sugar-onion mixtures. The folk method helps to more actively evacuate mucus from the lungs and bronchi, strengthens the internal strength of the body, helping to speed up recovery from the disease.

Important! Onion-sugar remedies help in the fight against diseases such as laryngitis, inflammation of the larynx, and bronchitis.

Age limit

When starting to treat a child for a cough with onion-based medicine, it is important to understand that it has an age limit: the sugar-onion mixture is contraindicated for babies in the first year of life due to the risk of allergic reactions to onions. Allergies manifest themselves in the form of rhinitis, soreness, itching and pain in the throat and nose, in the form of shortness of breath, coughing and sneezing.

An allergy after taking a sugar-onion mixture may also be indicated by sudden onset of conjunctivitis, swelling of the eyelids, and increased lacrimation. Abdominal pain, stool upset, nausea, vomiting and contact dermatitis on the hands can also be a consequence of allergies. After identifying symptoms, you need to stop treatment with folk remedies.

Attention! Systemic manifestations of onion allergy, angioedema and anaphylactic shock require not only cessation of treatment, but also an immediate call to the ambulance team, since the condition threatens the child’s life.

Medicine recipes

Let's look at several simple and effective recipes for onions with cough sugar for children.

Onion with sugar

This medicine is not used immediately, it is allowed to brew.

Ingredients:

• large onion – 1 pc.;
• sugar – 3 tbsp. l.

Preparation:

1. The turnip is peeled and cut into cubes.
2. Place in a container and cover with granulated sugar.
3. Leave the mixture for 8-10 hours.
4. After infusion, the onion pulp is removed.

Quick onion syrup

The recipe is suitable for cases where treatment does not require delay. It can be quickly prepared and used immediately.

Ingredients:

• large onion – 1 pc.;
• sugar - in the same volume as onion puree.

Preparation:

1. The onion vegetable is crushed with a blender or passed through a meat grinder.
2. The puree is covered with sugar in a 1:1 ratio.
3. Place in a dark, cool place for 30-40 minutes.
4. The container will be filled with the juice released from the onion - this is used.

Onion-sugar broth

For preparation you will need:

• onion – 1 pc.;
• sugar – 200 g;
• boiling water – 200 ml.

Preparation:

1. The peeled vegetable is finely chopped and placed in a pan.
2. Mix with sugar and pour boiling water.
3. Simmer the mixture over low heat for 1-1.5 hours.
4. Cool.
5. The onion dissolves in the syrup and becomes transparent.

How to treat children's cough with onions

The scheme for using onion-sugar medicines for children's cough is simple: elixirs are given to children after meals 2-3 times a day. We looked at three recipes: infusion, syrup and decoction, all of them are given to children in the same dosage, regardless of age.

The difference in use is that the infusion and decoction should be swallowed, and the syrup should be slowly dissolved so that it gently envelops the sore throat and smoothly descends into the lower respiratory tract, where it acts directly on the phlegm. In addition, the decoction is given to the child one dessert spoon, and the syrup and infusion - one tablespoon 2-3 times a day.

Let's summarize:

1. Infusion - 1 tbsp. l. 2-3 times a day after meals.
2. Syrup - 1 tbsp. l. 2-3 times a day after meals.
3. Decoction – one dessert spoon 2-3 times a day after meals.

Children should take traditional cough medicines for no longer than 6-7 days. If cough symptoms do not disappear within a week, you should consult a doctor.

Side effects and contraindications

Despite the beneficial properties, this folk method has contraindications. As we have already said, onions are contraindicated for babies in the first year of life. In addition, it is not recommended to give this remedy to children who have been diagnosed with:

• chronic liver disease;
• gallbladder disease;
• gastritis;
• peptic ulcer;
• inflammation in the genitourinary system;
• allergy to onions.

Side effects can manifest themselves in the form of an allergic reaction, which is mentioned above, in the form of lethargy, increased gas formation and bloating. Symptoms may occur due to an overdose of the drug.

Reviews from pediatricians

Pediatricians are cautious, but recommend onions with sugar for children's coughs. Experts advise not only to study contraindications, but also to visit a pediatrician before starting treatment.

Tatyana, Krasnokamensk: “I consider onion-sugar compositions effective not only for treating an incipient cough in children, but also for additionally enriching the body with vitamins. As a vitamin supplement, I recommend giving young patients two teaspoons of the medicine after breakfast.”

Julia, Svobodny: “I always tell my patients about the importance of one point: you cannot force a child to drink onion medicine. The point is that onions (even if they are hidden behind the taste of sugar or honey) is a product that not everyone can tolerate the taste. Don’t torture your children, turn to other recipes or pharmacology, although this will not be a natural medicine.”

Diana, Surgut: “Onions rich in vitamins are useful if there are no contraindications, of course, but I, as a doctor, urge all parents to begin treatment with a consultation with a pediatrician. A mild cough can hide a serious illness. A parent is simply unable to hear wheezing in the lungs and see other symptoms of complex and dangerous diseases that need to be treated with medications and under the supervision of a doctor.”

Conclusion

Treatment of children's cough with sugar and onion medicines is a simple and effective method if you follow the dosage and exclude contraindications.These recipes are not suitable for children under one year old, as well as for children with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and allergies to vegetables.

The main recommendation of doctors and traditional medicine experts is strict adherence to the dosage and duration of treatment. After a week, if the child’s cough has not gone away, contact the clinic.