Coughing is a symptom of respiratory infections and colds, causing severe discomfort to the child. Some mothers are in a hurry to alleviate the condition of the crumbs with pharmaceutical preparations, but many prefer to use folk remedies, time-tested and experienced. One of them is called viburnum. How is viburnum useful for a child, is it possible to give it for colds or bronchitis in children to fight coughs and what recipes with viburnum are most effective in childhood?
The benefits of viburnum
Kalina can be called a unique plant, very useful for humans. Medicinal properties are noted in almost all parts of the bush - in berries, and in the bark, and in flowers.
- Red viburnum berries are rich in vitamins and polysaccharides. They contain various microelements, organic acids and other compounds, due to which viburnum has a general strengthening and anti-inflammatory effect. That is why red viburnum is so popular with fever and cough.
- Viburnum also has a diuretic and choleretic effect. In addition, its berries promote faster wound healing and have a mild sedative effect.
- Almost all recipes from viburnum are useful for immunity and strengthen health. Given this effect of this plant, its berries are often used in the cold season to strengthen the body's defenses in order to prevent respiratory diseases.
- Despite its bright color, viburnum is classified as a hypoallergenic berry. It is even advised to give it for atopic dermatitis, since regular use helps to get rid of allergies in childhood.
Contraindications
Although viburnum is very useful, it should not be used for:
- Thrombosis tendencies.
- Individual intolerance.
- Reduced blood pressure.
- Peptic ulcer or acidity.
- Increased blood clotting.
At what age can children get viburnum?
A child's acquaintance with viburnum berries can occur even in infancy, since viburnum in the form of compote or fruit drink can be offered to children under one year old. For the first time, it is permissible to try such diluted drinks in small quantities from 6-8 months of age.
In what form to give viburnum to children
The easiest way to include viburnum in the children's diet is to cook compote or tea for the baby with the addition of its berries. These drinks are suitable even for very young children, as they may not include sugar and other additives.
Compote can include other berries and pieces of fruit, as well as dried fruit. The drink will have a tonic effect and give the child many useful substances.
Children over one year old can make mousses, jellies and jelly from viburnum. Juice from viburnum berries under the age of 2 years is given in a diluted form. Also, a child over 1.5 years old can be offered fresh viburnum berries in an amount of no more than 10 per day. For a 3-year-old child, viburnum can be added to baked goods, as well as to make pastille and other sweets from it.
How to prepare and store
It is recommended to pick berries in late autumn, when the first frosts began. Viburnum flowers are harvested and dried in May-June, and the bark in April.
In order to prepare a remedy for a child from viburnum at any time, its berries can be preserved or frozen.
Viburnum berries for cough
Natural juice
When making viburnum cough remedies, recipes for children often include sugar or honey. Many children refuse viburnum juice without adding such sweet ingredients, because it turns out to be quite sour. If the child does not mind unsweetened viburnum juice, this option is great for treating a cough.
To prepare it, clean berries are passed through a juicer, and the resulting juice is poured into a sterilized glass container, tightly closed and stored in the refrigerator. Before use, the juice is diluted 1: 1 with boiled water, and if the child is less than a year old, then more water should be taken (2 or 3 parts). Such natural juice can be added to tea, as well as made the basis of jelly or fruit drink.
Decoction
Every mother is able to quickly help a baby with a cough if she knows how to make a decoction of viburnum:
- Take 2 tablespoons of berries and grind them into gruel.
- Place the grated berries in an enamel container and pour a glass of boiled water there.
- Place the pan in a water bath, then heat for about 15 minutes.
- Strain the broth and let cool.
- Add warm boiled water in a volume of 200 ml.
- Give a coughing child 1/3 cup three to four times a day.
Viburnum with honey
You can prepare a remedy for your child from viburnum berries with the addition of honey according to one of the following recipes:
- Go through and rinse with fresh viburnum. Dip the berries in warm honey (heat it to 30 degrees) and place the container in a warm place for a week. This remedy is taken both for prevention and for the purpose of treating cough, a teaspoon before meals.
- Scald 100 grams of viburnum berries with boiling water, and then wipe them using a sieve. Mix the resulting gruel with 100 grams of fresh honey and leave for 1 week. Give your child a tablespoon of this remedy on an empty stomach to eliminate a chronic cough.
- Combine 50 grams of viburnum berries and 100 grams of honey, heat over low heat for five minutes. After chilling, give a teaspoon up to 5 times a day to babies under 7 years old, and for schoolchildren, a single serving can be increased to a tablespoon.
- Dissolve 100 grams of honey in a liter of warm water, add half a glass of natural viburnum juice, mix, and you will get a sweet fruit drink.
- Pour 500 grams of washed viburnum berries with 500 milliliters of honey and keep this mixture in the refrigerator for three days. Next, heat the viburnum with honey over low heat, stirring constantly. Simmer the syrup brought to a boil for 2-3 minutes, remove from heat and wait for cooling, after which you can offer this tasty emollient and antiviral "medicine" to children with coughs.
- Pour the dried viburnum (2 tablespoons) with 500 milliliters of boiled water, tightly close the container with a lid and leave to infuse overnight. In the morning, strain the liquid and squeeze the berries, then add 4 tablespoons of honey to the infusion. This cough remedy should be taken 75 grams four times a day.
Kalina with sugar
Such sweet recipes with viburnum will effectively help cough:
- Sort out, wash and dry 500 grams of viburnum berries, and then squeeze the juice out of them in a juicer. Pour the resulting pomace with 100 milliliters of water and boil for about 10 minutes. Strain the broth, add juice and 100 grams of sugar to it, mix well and let cool.
- To prepare the syrup, take 500 milliliters of natural viburnum juice and 1 kilogram of sugar, combine them and heat so that the sugar is completely dissolved. After removing the foam, boil the syrup for five minutes, then strain and pour into a sterilized container. Store this product in a refrigerator.
- Collect viburnum berries after the first frost, rinse and cover with sugar (usually viburnum and sugar are taken in the same proportion). Keep this medicine in a glass container in the refrigerator and give it to your child at the first sign of a cold. Eating a little of this viburnum with sugar daily is also advised to prevent diseases in the winter.
How to make tea
There are several ways to prepare such a drink for a child:
- Mash 2 tablespoons of fresh viburnum berries and put in pre-brewed regular tea (green or black). When the drink is infused for 10 minutes, add a teaspoon of honey.
- Take 1/3 cup of natural juice from viburnum berries, pour boiling water and add sugar to taste.
- Take a tablespoon of grated viburnum with sugar, pour 200 ml of boiling water and insist a little. Give the child warm, when the temperature rises, a cough and other cold symptoms appear - up to 3-5 times during the day.
Viburnum bark and flowers for cough
A decoction of inflorescences and leaves of viburnum will help get rid of colds, sore throat and fever. For its preparation, take 100 grams of flowers with leaves and 2 liters of boiled water. After mixing the ingredients, they are brought to a boil, boiled for about 5 minutes, and then infused for 1 hour. They drink this remedy instead of tea, 1 glass three times a day, adding a little honey if desired.
A decoction of viburnum bark is effective for sore throat, since such a remedy helps to eliminate severe cough and hoarseness. The crushed bark should be mixed with boiling water at the rate of 50 grams of bark per 500 milliliters of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, and then let it brew for 5-6 hours in a warm place. Take such a remedy after straining a tablespoon after each meal.
Reviews
Mothers who used viburnum in the treatment of cough in their children confirm that remedies based on this medicinal berry are really very effective in helping to get rid of both cough with ARVI or colds, and from prolonged coughing. They emphasize that after taking viburnum, it becomes easier for the child to cough up, the discomfort in the throat disappears, and the mucus is better coughing up. According to parents, most children do not give up viburnum if honey or sugar is present in the recipe. Allergic reactions to viburnum, judging by the reviews of mothers, are extremely rare.
