Saving children from coughing: the best onion-based recipes

Onions, due to their healing properties, are used in many areas of traditional medicine. It is used to treat diseases of the respiratory system, diseases of the skin, joints, etc. For prolonged dry cough in children, onion juice is used in pure form and as part of mixtures, syrups, and decoctions.

Beneficial properties of onion juice

There are about a dozen onions useful substances, helping the human body. In addition to natural essential oils, the effect of which manifests itself in the form of the familiar effect of irritation of the mucous membranes, it contains:

• vitamins A, B, C, PP;
• nutrients - calcium, phosphorus and iron;
• natural acids – lactic, malic;
• herbal antiseptics – phytoncides.

The product has an antiseptic and bactericidal effect. Onions strengthen the immune system, relieve inflammation, thin and remove mucus from the respiratory tract.

Onion juice not only softens and removes phlegm, but also has a bactericidal effect, i.e. destroys pathogenic microflora. This prevents the disease from developing into complications, provided that drug treatment is started on time.

During potentially dangerous periods (cold season, unfavorable epidemiological situation) products based on onion juice are used to prevent influenza, acute respiratory infections, ARVI, bronchitis, tonsillitis, etc.

Recipes for products based on onion juice

Not every child will agree to drink onion juice, because... in its natural form, it instantly irritates the mucous membranes. In folk medicine there are various recipes where onions are combined with other ingredients, complementing its healing properties.

Attention! Onion juice-based products are contraindicated for children under three years of age. If your baby has a cough, you should contact your pediatrician.

Onions with honey

Natural honey is known for its calming effect on the bodyIn addition, it improves immunity and overall tone, fights bacteria. Combined with onions, it is a powerful antibacterial and immunostimulating agent that quickly soothes a child’s irritating dry cough.

The simplest cough recipe for children – onions with honey in the form of a paste. If the honey has thickened, you can slightly heat it in a water bath. Just grate the onion and then mix the ingredients. Give the remedy to a coughing child several times a day - after each meal and before bed for several days. As a preventive measure, 1 tsp is enough. every evening before bed.

Attention! Honey can cause allergies, so you should first check to see if you have a reaction to this product. If you are generally prone to allergic reactions, it is better not to risk it and replace it with sugar.

With sugar

Sugar neutralizes the bitter taste of onions and can replace honey in folk cough remedies. To prepare, grind 2-3 onions in a meat grinder or blender, put them in a jar and add sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Leave for about four hours in a warm place to release the juice. After this, take 1 tsp. three times a day.

Decoctions and infusions

Heat treatment of onions slightly reduces the content of phytoncides in the final product, but neutralizes the bitter taste.

To make sweet onion broth, peel one medium onion, chop finely, mix with half a glass of sugar and leave for 3-4 hours under the lid to release the juice. Then mix thoroughly and transfer to a saucepan, add 200 ml of water and cook over low heat for half an hour.

After this, allow the mixture to cool and pour it into a jar with a lid. Take several times a day, always at night. Adults and children over 10 years old are given 1 tbsp. l., and small ones - 1 tsp.

A similar remedy, but without long cooking, is prepared by infusion. To do this, grind 0.5 kg of onion in a meat grinder or food processor, add 2 tbsp. l. sugar and honey, then pour in 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 60-90 minutes. During this time, onion juice is released as much as possible. The infusion is taken as many times a day as meals, plus once before bed.

Onion syrup for cough

If you experiment with the amount of sugar, you can prepare onion cough syrup for your child:

1. Peel and chop 0.5 kg of onion.
2. Add 2 cups of sugar.
3. Pour in 200 ml of water.
4. Stir and cook for at least three hours over low heat.

When ready syrup Once it cools down, it is better to filter it through cheesecloth. If desired, you can add 2 tbsp. l. honey Take it after meals, slightly warmed up. With this method of preparation, the onion taste is not felt, so the syrup can be given to children.

Onions with milk

Combination of beneficial substances onions and milk helps fight dry cough, transforming it into moist due to the softening of sputum. A wet cough causes less pain to the child and brings relief when coughing.

Place a peeled and cut onion in 400 ml of milk, put it on the fire and cook until the onion softens.Then cool the mixture, add 40-50 g of honey and stir until completely dissolved.

Onion decoction with apple and potatoes

Traditional medicine calls this decoction a powerful expectorant., due to its ease of preparation it has become quite popular.

The onion, apple and potato are thoroughly washed, peeled, cut into large pieces, pour 1 liter of water and put on fire. Cook until the water level is reduced by half. The broth is filtered and given to the child to drink throughout the day, sweetened with honey.

How to treat children's cough with onion decoctions

The chemicals in onions affect not only the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes: when they enter the digestive tract, they can also have an irritating effect, so when treating, it is worth taking into account the general well-being and medical history of the child.

Children over three years old are given decoctions, syrups, infusions with onion juice 3-6 times a day, 1 tsp. After 10-12 years, you can switch to an adult dosage - 1 tbsp. l. several times a day and before bed.

Attention! When treating cough in children with onion decoctions, carefully monitor the child’s well-being. If allergic reactions or other undesirable effects occur, treatment should be stopped immediately.

Indications for use

The therapeutic and preventive effect of onions for coughs in children is also confirmed by doctors. It stimulates the production of sputum, converting a dry cough into a wet one, and thereby facilitates coughing.

Onion juice effective for tonsillitis, bronchitis, ARVI, flu, colds, since, along with sputum separation, it fights pathogens - bacteria and viruses.

Prevention is to strengthen the immune system and destruction of pathogenic microflora entering the body.

Side effects and contraindications

A clear contraindication for using onions for coughs in children – age. Treatment with onion decoctions is prohibited for children up to three years of age.

Other general contraindications to treating cough with onion juice:

• diseases of the digestive tract;
• disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas;
• diabetes;
• individual intolerance to onions or other components of medicinal mixtures.

Side effects from onion juice treatment are rare and are almost always caused by exceeding the recommended dose. They may manifest as bloating due to gas formation. In children, an overdose of onions can cause increased drowsiness and lethargy.

Advice from pediatricians to parents

When it comes to respiratory diseases, citizens are unanimous: onions, along with other natural remedies, are an effective therapeutic and preventive remedy. However, we must not forget that each child’s disease can occur individually, therefore, when treating with folk remedies, it is necessary not only to take into account contraindications, but also to carefully monitor the body’s reactions to the components of the medicinal product.

Attention! Drinking onion juice and decoctions helps recovery only if all doctor’s recommendations are followed. These are accompanying products that are used together with medication and physiotherapeutic treatment prescribed by a specialist, but not instead of it!

The famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky, like the reviews of most other doctors, is against traditional methods of treatment in such situations. He believes that stimulating sputum production does not bring benefit, but only increases the likelihood of complications.

Conclusion

Treating cough with onion juice is an affordable method that many people use at home. But when it comes to children, any treatment tactics must first be discussed with the attending physician.