• Warming ginger infusion
• Inhalation properties of natural essential oils
• Elderberry syrup

Winter, when it's cold, foggy, and damp outside, and there's hardly any sunlight, is a time when we all too often get colds and infections, often accompanied by a persistent runny nose. A blocked nose can definitely make life difficult—daily life with a runny and irritated nose and, even more so, restful sleep are disrupted. If a preschool or school-age child also has a cold, the problem becomes even more acute. It's helpful to know how you can help yourself and your loved ones fight colds at home and naturally. Here are some tried-and-true remedies.

Warming ginger infusion

• About 8 centimeters of peeled fresh ginger rhizome,
• 1 liter of boiled, hot water,
• Lemon or lime juice and honey to taste.

Grate or thinly slice ginger, then pour boiling water over it, cover with a plate to prevent the essential oils from escaping, and let it stand for at least 4 hours (you can also leave it overnight, which will result in a highly concentrated infusion). Pour the finished infusion into a cup, add hot water, and add lemon juice and honey. Drink this beverage approximately every 2-3 hours, up to eight cups a day, for 3 days. Ginger has a powerful warming effect, has antiviral, expectorant, and antibacterial properties, and also thins mucus in the respiratory tract and helps reduce fever. It is important to note that ginger can thin the blood. Consuming large amounts of ginger during pregnancy is not recommended.

Inhalation properties of natural essential oils

Diffusion of essential oils can be one of the best ways to support healing and prevent the symptoms of colds and runny noses, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. This type of inhalation can even support deeper bronchial infections.

The oils are said to have properties that make breathing easier:

• with oregano,
• thyme
• Mint,

Oregano oil

Because of its carvacrol content, it is recommended for bacterial and fungal infections or as a natural alternative to conventional antibiotics. How can we use oregano oil?

• Water inhalation - Pour one or two drops of the oil into a cup of hot water and inhale the steam.
• Diffuser - It's good to combine oregano oil with citrus oil, which also enhances the diffuser's immunity-boosting and disinfectant properties. Add 6 drops of oregano and 6 drops of selected citrus fruits to the diffuser (orange for immunity-boosting, lemon for disinfection). Run the diffuser for about 1.5 hours 2-3 times a day, then ventilate the room.

Thyme oil

It is used to treat upper respiratory tract complaints and diseases. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and helps strengthen the body's immune system. It relieves runny noses and inflammation of the larynx and bronchi. It is also useful for prophylactic use, as it protects against recurrence of infection. It is especially recommended for asthmatics and people with recurrent sinusitis. How do I apply thyme oil to children over 3 years old?

• Inhalation - Give the child a tissue or cotton swab with a few drops of oil to sniff. We can also place a tissue with oil drops in the child's room, but not directly next to the head.
• Ointment - up to 15 ml of base oil (you can add jojoba or coconut oil), 1-2 drops of oil, and massage into the chest, feet, or neck. This ointment is perfect for day and night use.
• Diffuser - add a few drops of thyme oil and turn it on several times a day for at least 30 minutes, maximum 1.5 hours, then take a break.

Eucalyptus and peppermint oil

They're perfect for large, stagnant mucus in adults and older children. It's best used to make an ointment: for 5 tablespoons of coconut oil, add 10 drops of eucalyptus oil or 10 drops of peppermint oil. You can also combine them in a half-and-half ratio, so 5 drops of eucalyptus oil and 5 drops of peppermint oil. The resulting ointment is applied to the back at the level of the lungs, starting with a small amount, as this can lead to coughing up mucus and a runny nose.

Peppermint and eucalyptus oils can cause respiratory distress in younger children, so they are recommended for adults and older children, while thyme and oregano oils are safer for babies.

Elderberry syrup

Elderberry has mild antibacterial and antiviral properties. It is excellent for preventing colds and the early stages of infections. For prophylaxis, adults should take 3-4 tablespoons of syrup daily, and children 1-2 tablespoons. For a cold, adults are recommended to drink one spoonful of syrup every hour, and children half a spoonful. You can buy ready-made elderberry syrup or make it yourself at home from dried elderberries and your favorite ingredients. For example, adding honey and cocoa makes it more appealing to children, and cocoa also has a strengthening effect.

• 100 g dried elderberries,
• about 3 liters of water,
• 1 teaspoon of your favorite spices (e.g. cinnamon, cardamom, ginger),
• 4 tablespoons cocoa,
• Honey or sugar

Dried elderberries should be poured over water and boiled for about an hour, until the liquid has reduced in volume by about half. Strain the finished infusion through a sieve and pour back into the pot. Boil for about 15 minutes, adding cocoa, spices, and honey to taste (for a sweet enough syrup) until thickened. Pour the finished syrup into sterilized jars.