Let’s begin with the first set, revolving around food items and

herbs- Home Remedies for curing chest congestion in babies,

toddlers and kids:

1. Feed a pinch of powdered turmeric dissolved in teaspoon of

warm milk thrice in a day. Preferred age: For babies above
one year of age.

2. Grind acorus plant in water till it becomes a thick paste. Warm

this paste over a low flame and apply it over the forehead to
relieve the headache and nasal block associated with cough
bouts due to chest congestion. Preferred age: As the skin of
baby is sensitive so this remedy should be used for babies
above two year of age.

3. Crush 1 whole medium size garlic well and extract its juice. Add
a quarter spoon of garlic juice with equal quantity of honey and
feed the toddler thrice a day before feeds/meals. Preferred
age: For babies above one year of age.

4. Grind acorus in water and feed a quarter spoon of this paste to

the toddler on empty stomach. Follow it up with milk. This will
lead to vomiting of the cough caused due to chest congestion.
As a result of the vomit, the child will be relieved and sleep/eat
peacefully after that. Preferred age: For babies above one
year of age.
5. Warm a few leaves of tulsi, thick leaved lavender and ruta (pre-
heated) in an iron-pan over a low flame. Crush the warmed
leaves to extract juice. Feed a quarter spoon of this juice to the
toddler thrice a day. Preferred age: For babies above one
year of age.

6. Crush the flower of vasaka plant, found abundantly in rural

India and extract its juice. Mix this juice in equal quantity of
honey and feed the toddler frequently in a day. This will be
effective to cure the cough caused by chest
congestion. Preferred age: For babies above one year of age.

7. Use salt in warm water and help the toddler to gargle. Gargling
helps to sooth the sore throats when found during too much
coughing caused due to chest congestion. It will also help to kill
the bacteria in the child’s throat and reduce swelling too. It will
ensure that the throat remains clear. Preferred age: For
babies above 1.5 year of age.

8. Give one teaspoon honey alone or with equal quantity of other

herbs such as tulsi, mint or ginger to control the night-time
bouts of cough caused due to chest congestion in
toddlers. Preferred age: For babies above one year of age.

9. Chest congestion prevents a toddler from sleeping peacefully at

nights. Make the toddler gargle with lukewarm water and an
extract of licorice root before sleeping every night. This will