Croup is most likely viral in origin, and can be identified by a gasping sound with each breath, a hoarse cough and a labored tightness and pulling in the chest. Now, we all know antibiotics don’t work for viral infections, so what does?
Natural remedies for croup cough have been documented since ancient times. In a book on “Gypsy Healing Remedies”written in the early 1800’s, a mixture of chamomile leaves, flowers and sheep fat rubbed on the neck and chest was thought to cure this condition. I can’t say if this works or not, I have never tried it. It almost sounds plausible though, as chamomile leaves and flowers are a relaxant and herbs can be absorbed through the skin, so who knows, maybe it relaxed the lungs and diaphragm enough to stop some of the coughing. If the coughing lessened, maybe the child could get some sleep and that would increase their immune function.
In Native American cultures many herbs were used for treating conditions and it was thought by some that the application of mud mixed with ashes from a fire ( cool, of course) would stop the hacking cough associated with croup. I’m not sure how that one would work, but I do think you would be adding minerals to the body, absorbed through the skin. Remember, the skin is your largest organ system and it absorbers everything. Maybe the increase in minerals increased immune function enough to fight the viral infection. In the 1988 edition of Merck’s Manual, the reference text for M.D.s of that day, it lists 35 different natural remedies for croup including things like lime water spray, sodium bicarbonate, petroleum, and lactic acid applied as a spray to dissolve the developing membrane. This was before doctors used pharmaceuticals, and homeopathy was popular. Homeopathy for croup would include Belladonna, Aconite, Spongia, and Hepar Sulph.
Today we have other natural tools to use, including supplements. Garlic supplements have been proven to fight viral infections and can be taken by anyone, including a child with no adverse side effects. Echanicea, another herb has been shown to increase immune system function and, along with doses of vitamin C, would be a reasonable choice for first line defense against the croup.
