If you found me from the reel, welcome. I packed a ton of remedies into that video, so I wanted to give you one simple place to find all of them. Below I am breaking down what I actually use in my house when my kids start getting sick, along with links to the full post for each one so you can get the details, ratios, recipe, and how-to.
Save this post so you have it on hand the next time sick season hits your house.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and reflects traditional folk medicine. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease or to be interpreted as medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician before trying new treatments with your child, especially if they have underlying health conditions, are under 2 years old, or have a fever under 2 months of age. This is supportive care to help comfort — not medical treatment. Fever serves an important purpose in fighting infection, and these treatments support comfort without suppressing that beneficial response. If your child has concerning symptoms, difficulty breathing, extreme lethargy, or you're worried, seek medical care immediately.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and trust. Thank you for supporting this blog!
Fire cider – the kid friendly version
This is my go-to immune booster that I make gentle enough for little ones to actually take. I walk through my exact ingredients and how I adjust it for kids in the full post.
Kid friendly fire cider post HERE
Fire cider – the adult version
This is the stronger, more traditional version I keep on hand for myself and my husband. Same base, just built with more heat and potency for adults.
Fermented honey garlic for immunity
One of my favorite simple ferments to keep stocked all winter. I share how I make it and how we use it daily to support immunity in the full post.
Fermented honey garlic post HERE
Homeopathy – oscillococcinum
I do not have a dedicated post on oscillococcinum yet, but I have two resources that cover it. My carousel post breaks down what homeopathy is and how to use it, and my winter guide includes the top homeopathic remedies that I reach for in winter/sick season. It includes how I use oscillococcinum specifically when illness hits.
Top winter remedies guide HERE (it’s FREE!)
Buy top 10 remedies HERE
Nebulizer for cough and congestion
This is one of my most reached for tools when a cough settles into my kids’ chest. I explain how I use it and why in this full respiratory health post and talk about it in my croup post .
Cold wet socks for fever
An old-school remedy that sounds strange until you try it. I explain the method and the why behind it in the full post.
Elderberry syrup for flu and immunity
A staple in my house from fall through spring. I cover how I use it for both prevention and during active illness in the full post.
Onion honey cough syrup
A simple two ingredient remedy that has replaced store bought cough syrup in my house. Full method is in the post.
Onion honey cough syrup post HERE
Humidifier to reduce chance of viral illness and speed up recovery
I do not have a dedicated blog post on this one yet, so let me explain it here. Running a humidifier keeps the air in my kids’ rooms from drying out, which matters because dry air lets viruses survive longer in the air and dries out the mucous membranes in the nose and throat that are supposed to be your first line of defense. Keeping humidity in a healthy range helps those membranes do their job, which can mean fewer illnesses catching hold and a faster recovery when something does.
Here is the budget-friendly humidifier I use at home, plus the answers to the questions I get asked most:
- I use distilled water
- Mine is cool mist, so I am not concerned about heat or steam breaking down plastic or releasing microplastics
- I use a hygrometer (a humidity meter) to keep levels in a safe range, which helps prevent humidity from getting too high, since that is when mold is more likely to grow
- I aim for 40-60% humidity, especially during winter when indoor air gets really dry
- For cleaning, I use a 1:1 vinegar and water mix – spray, scrub, rinse, and air dry OR Hypochlorus acid spray
- I have had this one for almost 2 years and it is still working great
- I intentionally chose a non-smart humidifier for less EMFs in my kids’ rooms
- I only run this at night (I do not run it every night, but I will run it more often in sick season, if my kids are sick, or if someone we know has been sick recently)
This is one of those quiet, behind the scenes things I prioritize throughout sick season. I am linking both the humidifier and the hygrometer below.
Onion socks for fever and respiratory illness
Similar concept to the cold wet socks but with a different mechanism. I explain how and when I use this one in the full post.
Detox baths
This is the very first thing I reach for the moment I notice my kids starting to get sick. I share my exact bath recipe and why I use it first in the full post.
More Natural Remedies:
I have posted some other natural remedies and recipes on my blog. They are listed under the “Natural Remedies” category label. You can see those HERE.
Things like pineapple popsicles for coughs instead of cough syrup, Flu Tea for flu, stomach bugs, and more, and a few others.
I have SOOOOO many more that I want to share with you, but I am a mom, my husband works A LOT, and it’s just me behind this account and this blog, so I work in the cracks of motherhood. I appreciate you being here and engaging in my content, using my links, and supporting my work.
If there’s anything specific you’d like to see first, please let me know! I’d love to provide what’s most valuable to you!
I also love to share our favorite kid friendly recipes so you’ll find those on the blog too!
Where I get my supplements
I order almost all of my supplements through Fullscript. It gives me access to practitioner grade brands at a discount, and everything is vetted for quality, so I am not guessing at what is actually a good brand on a store shelf. Everything is authentic, not expired, and stored correctly.
I am able to pass on some pretty amazing savings to you – you can save 20% off EVERYTHING. EVERY TIME you shop.
Brands like Standard Process, Thorne, Metagenics, Integrative Therapeutics, BioBody and soooo many more.
My Amazon (and ShopMy) list
I keep all of my go-to remedy supplies and tools in one Amazon list so you are not hunting for anything individually. This includes things like what I use for the fire cider, the humidifier and hygrometer, and more.
That is everything from the reel in one place. Save this post so it is easy to find next time you need it.
Follow @vitalityash for low-tox living made simple – realistic wellness, natural remedies, clean skincare, and honest motherhood without the overwhelm.
