How to raise the immunity of the child folk remedies?
One child is sick once a year, and the other almost does not get out of the doctors. And both live in the same conditions, in the same climate, attend one kindergarten. It is all about immunity, which in some children is stronger, and in others - weaker. In this article we will talk about how can I raise the immunity of frequently ill children with folk remedies, as well as how to maintain immunity in a child who is more rare.
What is immunity
This is a whole range of activities that the body undertakes as soon as something starts to threaten it.
The defense mechanism recognizes the alien “guest” (it could be a virus, bacteria, toxins, etc.) and activates the “special forces” - immunocompetent special-purpose cells whose task is to block and destroy the stranger - this reaction is called the immune response.
Sometimes an autoimmune reaction occurs in the body when the immune system destroys the cells of its own organism, but not healthy ones, and those that have undergone mutation, for example, tumor cells.
Immunity is much “smarter” than it seems, it is perfectly oriented in terms of “friend or foe”, and also has a long-term “memory”, because after the first contact with a new virus, it “remembers” it, and next time it quickly identifies and takes urgent action.
This ability can be clearly demonstrated on all familiar chicken pox. The virus that causes it practically does not mutate, therefore, after a person has had chickenpox, his immunity is well aware of the causative agent of the disease, and stops all his attempts to cause the disease again. A person suffers from chickenpox, as a rule, only once in a lifetime. But flu and ARVI cause viruses and their strains, which are constantly modified, so we get sick with these ailments more often.
Each of us has two immunities: one innate, the other acquired. Congenital acts only collectively, understanding foreign agents as one undesirable factor. He cannot “memorize” new viruses and bacteria. Acquired - more active immunity. He “learns” and “trains” all his life, starting from the first days after the birth of a child.
In children after birth, the maximum load falls on the innate protection. And gradually, with each new disease, with each adverse factor from the environment, an initially weak and imperfect acquired immunity is formed.
Several important organs and systems are involved in the immune defense. Red bone marrow creates stem cells and is responsible for lymphocytes. He is actively helped by the thymus gland (thymus gland), which differentiates lymphocytes. A considerable burden falls on the lymph nodes, which are located very "thoughtfully" - along the lymph vessels. The largest organ of the immune system is the spleen.
Factors
The mechanisms and factors of immune defense are different. Non-specific factors perceive and oppose any kinds of pathogenic organisms. Specific especially effective only against some specific pathogens. It is these factors that form the ability of immunity to memorize enemies “by sight”.
In addition, factors can be permanent and impermanent.Constantly under the protection of non-specific immunity are the skin and mucous membranes, the microflora, inflammation processes, body temperature and the main metabolism. Non-persistent factors take effect after the “intruder” enters the body - inflammation appears, the production of interferon protein is activated, the immunity cells are activated - phagocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, etc.
How to calculate that immunity is weak
In young children, as we found out, acquired immunity (which is very important in case of diseases) is very weak, and is still being formed. The younger the peanut, the weaker his defense.. If the doctor says that your child’s immunity is weak, it means that the lack of protective functions is below certain age norms.
The doctor comes to this conclusion after examining the patient card. If the frequency of diseases, mostly colds, in a child exceeds 5-6 times a year, we can talk about weakened immunity.
Parents can also notice this condition on their own, because the external manifestations of immunodeficiency are quite vivid: the child has disturbed sleep, he often complains of fatigue, headaches, he has a poor appetite, depressive mood, increased moodiness. A rather characteristic sign - weak hair, nails, dry and problem skin.. In children with reduced immunity may appear dark circles under the eyes, in addition, they are more likely to other children have a tendency to allergies.
Modern medicine offers a special study of the immune status. To do this, make an immunogram - a comprehensive diagnosis, which will establish the composition of the blood, the presence of antibodies to certain diseases, immunoglobulins, experts will analyze the cellular components of the immune system. The doctor will receive all these data from a special analysis of the patient’s blood. The cost of the immunogram on average in Russia - from 350 rubles.
Immunodeficiency may be different. The easiest form is when the child is weakened after the illness. It is temporary, and the baby’s condition will quickly recover. The most severe pathology is HIV infection, when the child’s immune system needs constant drug support.
The causes that cause immune weakness are different:
- Congenital abnormalities of organs involved in the defense mechanism.
- Congenital defects of the respiratory and digestive systems, as well as HIV infection, which the child received intrauterinely from the mother or independently (through blood transfusion or untreated medical instruments).
- A previous infection, especially if it was not properly treated.
- The state of hypoxia that the baby experienced during the pregnancy of the mother.
- Premature birth. Premature babies are more susceptible to infection.
- Unfavorable ecological situation, living in a region with a high radiation background.
- Long-term and uncontrolled use of antibiotics and antiviral drugs - immunostimulants and immunomodulators.
- Great trip, during which the child changed the time zone and climate.
- Strong stress.
- High physical exertion.
In the next video, the well-known pediatrician doctor Dr. Komarovsky will tell you all about child immunity and give useful tips on how to strengthen the child’s immunity.
Folk remedies
Children with a weakened immune system need to be given more vitamins, everyone knows that. Moreover, it is better if these are seasonal vitamins, fresh, and not in the form of tablets and capsules. In the summer for the general strengthening fresh berries of a black currant, raspberry, cherry and apples are useful. In winter, you can give the child compotes, teas and decoctions of frozen berries, dried fruits and medicinal herbs.
Alcohol infusions are best avoided, they are contraindicated in children. It is best to prepare the funds yourself, at home. If you do not have the skills to collect and procure useful herbs, then you can always buy inexpensively from any pharmacy.
Of particular value for improving the immunity of a child are the following products and means of traditional medicine.
Honey and propolis
Bee products should not be given to children with allergies in the acute stage and a tendency to allergic reactions in general. It is not advisable to give honey to children under three years old. To raise the immunity, you can add honey to any tea you make for your child, milk, and almost any decoction and herbal infusion.
Propolis better to buy in a pharmacy in the form of an aqueous solution. Children give it a few drops, depending on age, 2-4 times a day.
Echinacea
Echinacea preparations should not be given to children under one year old; the rest of the children are allowed to take this medicinal plant orally in dosages that are age appropriate. It is more or less clear with pharmaceutical preparations with echinacea, since all dosages are indicated in the instructions for use. A lot of questions are caused by home preparation of means and the mode of their dispensing.
To prepare homemade tincture, you need to take 50 grams. chopped herbs and 100 ml of boiled water. All mix and hold on the steam bath for about a quarter of an hour. Cool, strain with gauze or strainer. Give the tincture of the child to one-fourth of a glass in a cool form.
For a more pleasant taste, you can add dry black currant leaves, raspberries, strawberries and lemon balm to the tincture. Phytoenzymes, which are abundantly contained in Echinacea, have a beneficial effect on the quantity and quality of immunocompetent phagocytic cells. This is due to its impact on the immune system.
Aloe juice
All available houseplant is rich in vitamins and other substances that stimulate the immune system gently, without excessive pressure. To get the juice, you need to cut off the most fleshy and juicy leaves, put in the fridge and hold them in low temperature for a couple of days. Then finely chop the leaves, put in a “bundle” of gauze and squeeze the juice. You can add a little water to it and store it in the refrigerator for no more than 12 hours. After a while, the product will lose its healing effect.
Aloe juice for children can be mixed with tea or compote, and also given purely 3-4 times a day in a tablespoon half an hour before meals.
Rosehip
Berries and leaves are widely used in alternative medicine. For a child with weakened immunity, you can make compote with wild rose berries, you can make an infusion, but the broth is the most popular among parents. To make it you need five tablespoons of berries (you can dried), a liter of boiled water. The berries are poured into boiling water and kept on low heat for about a quarter of an hour. Then pour the broth into a thermos, close the lid and insist 10-12 hours. Children decoction give warm 4 times a day for a quarter cup.
Ginger
Ginger root will help the child cope with the disease when the illness is in full swing, and will also help strengthen the immune system if it is weakened after the illness. Finely chopped root is added to tea in small quantities, it is also possible to make a decoction from it and give it to a child two tablespoons a tablespoon. Very effective in immunodeficiency ginger jelly. For its preparation, you will need a root weighing about 250 grams, one lemon and a teaspoon of gelatin.
The root needs to be washed and cleaned, the lemon is also freed from the peel and seed. Both ingredients are minced, add gelatin and sugar to taste (or honey). Jelly is put in the fridge, and after curing it is given as a dessert 3 times a day for a teaspoon after a meal.
Cranberry
This berry is rich in vitamins and acids, therefore, for colds, cranberry juice is so popular. To raise the immunity of the child, it is better to prepare a delicious dessert of cranberries, which the child will regard as a delicacy, and not as an unpleasant and indispensable medicine. For this recipe, you need 200 grams of cranberries and 400 grams of apple slices.All you need to mix and pour syrup prepared from 200 grams of honey and half a liter of water. On slow fire, the resulting mass must be held for about 20 minutes, stirring constantly. After that, the treat is cooled, poured into a jar and stored in the refrigerator. The child is given three times a day for a teaspoon.
Garlic
Garlic can be compared to ginger by its effect on the body. Only here drinks and infusions from it are not very tasty, and they rarely fall in love with children. It is not worth unnecessarily stuffing the child with garlic decoction, it is enough if you add it fresh to salads and other dishes that are included in the child's diet.
Chamomile and linden
These medicinal plants can be purchased at the pharmacy and brew, according to the instructions. For the preparation of homemade broth will need 10 grams of raw materials per 300 ml of water. Giving decoctions of linden and chamomile to children can be a tablespoon three times a day. Children from 3 years old can be given combined herbal remedies in which several plants will be mixed. The combination of chamomile, pharmaceutical, and melissa is very useful for strengthening the immune defenses. hunterand chamomile with sage and violet flowers.
We lead the right lifestyle
Normalization of lifestyle - half of the successful campaign to improve the immunity of the child. The child’s nutrition must be complete, balanced, rich in vitamins, microelements. The child must walk, every day, in any weather, at any time of the year. Walks in the fresh air saturate the blood with oxygen. A baby with a weakened immune system should rest more, make sure that the baby’s sleep is sufficient, if necessary, after consulting a doctor, use mild sedatives to normalize the baby’s sleep and mood.
Fashionable today in medicine - psychosomatics - claims that all diseases are from nerves. I don’t know how everything is, but problems with immunity are very closely connected with the psychological state, and therefore limit stresses, let every day your karapuz be filled with something positive, kind, limit computer games and watching TV.
If the doctor says that your baby has a weak immune system, it's time to think about strengthening procedures, such as hardening. They must be systematic and permanent, become an integral part of life, then there will be a stable and noticeable effect - the child will start to get sick less and less.
For children of the first year (the period when the immunity is being formed at the fastest pace), it is advisable to do a general strengthening massage aimed at improving blood circulation, developing muscle and bone system with systematic courses.
Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
A well-known pediatrician, Yevgeny Komarovsky, cites the behavior of parents of a child as the main cause of a decline in children's immunity. Overly caring moms and dads create their beloved baby almost sterile living conditions: try to protect from drafts, close the vents, do not allow to stroke a cat on the street, feed hypoallergenic and pasteurized food, which has undergone several degrees of purification. Immunity cannot be formed strong and healthy if it does not have contact with pathogens. Only with such a “communication” and opposition will the defense become hardened.
Thus, parents who are concerned with improving the immunity of the child should think carefully about their own approach to education and their own way of life.
Another type of pest relatives is mothers and fathers who are categorically against any vaccinations in childhood. Vaccines allow the immunity to get acquainted with the causative agents of the most dangerous diseases, and for this the child absolutely does not need to get sick with such serious illnesses as measles, polio, hepatitis. If adults have denied this opportunity, then the child’s immunity will be vulnerable and weak.
Whoever is concerned with immunodeficiency, Komarovsky considers such a diagnosis to every second child in the country to be criminal. In fact, clinics talk about weak immunity, if the child is more than 6 or more times a year. Yevgeny Komarovsky assures that this is an erroneous approach, because doctors consider all infections, both viral and bacterial.
According to Yevgeny Olegovich, frequent illness of influenza or ARVI - can not be considered a sign of a lack of protection. We can talk about pathology, if a child suffers bacterial infections just as often, he has otitis more than 8 times a year, and pneumonia more than twice a year. Fortunately, he stresses, such children are not often met - one case per 30 thousand babies).
Yevgeny Komarovsky categorically warns parents against the use of medicines, in the title of which there are the words “immunostimulant” or “immunomodulator”. Their effectiveness in clinical conditions has not been proven, but there is a definite relationship between taking such agents and immune “laziness” when their own defense mechanism gets used to what the tablet decides and does, and simply stops cope with their duties, starts “lazy”.
According to Komarovsky, one can only increase the immune abilities of a child’s body by qualitatively changing the way of life of the whole family, and first of all, the child’s own. Without this important condition, no folk remedies and “miraculous” medicines (if they are invented anyway!) Can make a child stronger, more resistant to diseases, stronger and healthier.
Tips
- From birth, in the house where the child lives, there must be a “right” microclimate: air temperature is about 19 degrees, air humidity is 50-70%. And only so.
- Harden the baby from the very beginning of his life, walk, air the nursery, do not wrap the baby.
- Do not give for raising the immunity of folk remedies that contain allergenic components. If you are unsure whether the reaction will be, give the original dose, which is 3-5 times less than the set. If during the day negative manifestations do not appear, the remedy can be given.
The video release of the famous doctor and TV presenter Elena Malysheva about child immunity can be viewed below.