Dr. Dhanya Dilip

It’s monsoon time, and households across the country are gearing up for the flood of infections and illnesses that flourish in this damp, wet season. Among them are respiratory infections, seasonal colds, dengue and gastroenteritis with children especially vulnerable. The usual response of parents to children contracting seasonal illnesses is reactive, administering them a cornucopia of allopathic medicines. In this essay I make the case for parents to gradually build children’s immunity and internal resilience — what the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda calls ojas — and to choose natural remedies to alleviate seasonal infections.

Modern medicine works well for treating acute illnesses, but for seasonal infections, medicines suppress rather than heal them. Ayurvedic paediatrics takes a different path. It views a child’s health through the lens of digestion and daily rhythm.

Children have naturally under-developed immune systems because they are still growing. When the weather changes abruptly, their internal digestive fire — known as agni — tends to fluctuate. Especially with the onset of monsoons, digestion slackens as the body struggles to adjust from atmospheric low pressure (summers) to monsoon showers.

Therefore, during the monsoon season it’s important children avoid foods such as full fat milk, readymade yoghurts (not curd), biscuits, pappad, pickles, chips, and processed chocolates. These foods suppress hunger and are likely to prompt indigestion and stomach ailments.

Here are some practical and natural ways to support your children’s health and well-being during the monsoon.

• Keep meals warm and simple. Warm, freshly prepared meals cooked with gentle digestive spices like cumin, coriander, and a pinch of turmeric keep children’s digestion strong and steady. Avoid raw salads and water enriched fruits in the monsoon season.
• Ensure adequate sleep. During sleep children’s bodies undergo deep healing and tissue repair. Consistent and good duration of sleep builds a robust immune system and aids digestion. Ensure a gap of one-two hours between dinner and bedtime.
• Oil massage (Abhyanga). A quick (10-minute), loving massage with warm sesame or coconut oil followed by a hot water bath does wonders for children’s overall wellbeing. It calms overstimulated nervous systems and improves blood circulation.

Natural remedies for cold

Mild cold infections can be treated with natural home remedies. Simple, time-tested remedies include:

• Steam inhalation (not more than 10 exhalations) clears the respiratory tract
• Gargle with turmeric water for itchy throat
• Tulsi ginger hot infused water with honey alleviates irritable cough
• Roasted flax seeds before bed time relieves constipation
• Half teaspoon of turmeric with honey clears up a blocked nose.

(Dr. Dhanya Dilip is a Bengaluru-based ayurvedic physician, with 13 years of expertise in natural pediatrics and family wellness)