Children are often susceptible to colds and flu, a condition referred to in traditional medicine as “wind-cold invasion.” This illness can be treated using easily accessible herbs such as pennywort, bamboo leaves, perilla, and Vietnamese balm.
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| Betel leaf for treating colds. (Image: Beautiful) |
Based on symptoms, the wind-cold invasion can be categorized into two different forms: “heat cold” (heat flu) and “cold cold” (cold flu).
Heat Cold
Children typically present with fever, sometimes accompanied by chills, but when covered with a blanket, they feel excessively hot, sweat profusely, experience thirst, have dry mouths, prefer cold drinks, and are not afraid of the cold. They may also have thick phlegm coughs, and possibly experience bleeding gums or nosebleeds.
A suitable remedy to clear heat and relieve symptoms includes the following ingredients: 50 g of pennywort, 10 g of bamboo leaves, and 10 g of rhizoma coptidis. Boil these ingredients in 2 bowls of water until reduced to 1/2 bowl, then divide into two doses for the day. Fresh pennywort can also be used; wash it, crush it, and extract the juice to drink 3-4 times a day. The residue can be applied to the child’s fontanelle for quick fever reduction.
Ensure the child rests in a well-ventilated, quiet area with soft lighting, avoiding any irritants. Dress the child lightly, avoiding excessive clothing or bundling them up, and frequently wipe away their sweat. Encourage the child to drink plenty of fluids and consume soft foods like porridge and milk to ensure adequate nutrition.
If the child has a high fever exceeding 39 degrees Celsius, in addition to the above remedy, other cooling measures should be employed, such as applying a wet cloth to the forehead, armpits, and groin, and changing their position regularly. It is also advisable to administer antipyretic medication such as paracetamol at a dose of 10-15 mg/kg, up to 3-4 times a day if the fever persists.
Cold Cold
Children may have a fever but feel cold, fear drafts, experience joint and muscle pain, headaches, and runny noses, without sweating. This condition may also be associated with rhinitis and pharyngitis.
A suitable decoction includes the following ingredients: 8 g of perilla leaves, 6 g of Vietnamese balm, 4 g of dried tangerine peel, 2 g of licorice, and 2 g of fresh ginger. Combine these in 2 bowls of water, boil until reduced to 1/2 bowl, and divide into two doses for the day.
Take 5 betel leaves and 4 g of fresh ginger, wash them, crush them together, and mix with a little rice wine. Then, wrap the mixture in a clean gauze and apply it along both sides of the spine from the neck down to the back.
Dr. Do Minh Hien (According to Health & Life)
