Natural Remedies for Croup
Croup is a type of cough many kids will have at least once before they turn 5 years old. It is a scary but usually harmless illness, and there are lots of natural remedies to help your little one feel better quickly (and help everyone get to sleep again!).
Most of the time a case of croup starts as just a regular cold or a mild flu. A few days into their sickness your child may lie down and start a loud, raspy, barking cough, possibly with some gasping or wheezing in between. This unusual sounding cough is caused by a swelling of the windpipe and is what’s often describes as the “seal bark cough.”
Most of the time a case of croup starts as just a regular cold or a mild flu. A few days into their sickness your child may lie down and start a loud, raspy, barking cough, possibly with some gasping or wheezing in between. This unusual sounding cough is caused by a swelling of the windpipe and is what’s often describes as the “seal bark cough.”
Croup: The Overview
- How common is it? Croup is super common! It’s hard to get a clear statistic on the incidence of croup because most parents don’t need to bring their kid to the ER (so no records are collected) but a good estimate is that around one in four kids will get this at least once in their lives.
- Who gets croup? It’s most common is babies, toddlers, and kids under six. Older kids can get croup, but it’s rare.
- What is croup caused by? Usually a virus like the flu virus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
- Is it contagious? Sort-of. The viruses that cause croup can easily be spread from kid to kid. Not all kids who get these viruses will end up with croup, but it's always possible.
- How long does croup last? Croup will usually be over in 2-3 days, but it can last as long as a week.
- Is there a vaccine for croup? Nope, because croup isn’t from a specific bug. However, the flu shot could reduce your child’s odds of getting croup from the flu.
- Who gets croup? It’s most common is babies, toddlers, and kids under six. Older kids can get croup, but it’s rare.
- What is croup caused by? Usually a virus like the flu virus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
- Is it contagious? Sort-of. The viruses that cause croup can easily be spread from kid to kid. Not all kids who get these viruses will end up with croup, but it's always possible.
- How long does croup last? Croup will usually be over in 2-3 days, but it can last as long as a week.
- Is there a vaccine for croup? Nope, because croup isn’t from a specific bug. However, the flu shot could reduce your child’s odds of getting croup from the flu.
Signs and Symptoms of Croup
 | Signs of Mild to Moderate Croup
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More Serious Signs
In other words, a serious case of croup will look really serious, and the odds are you’ll already be at the ER or considering heading over there if it gets this bad.
- Constant gasping, with an anxious or stressed expression
- Weak, listless, uninterested in play
- Unwilling to lie down because of coughing or difficulty breathing
- Leaning forward and drooling because it hurts too much to swallow (this can be signs of an infection in the epiglottis and warrants a trip to the ER)
In other words, a serious case of croup will look really serious, and the odds are you’ll already be at the ER or considering heading over there if it gets this bad.
Preventing Croup
As always, the best defense is a good offense. Get your child’s immune system in top form by feeding them a diet that’s high in brightly colored fruits and vegetables.
| Eat organic as much as possible to get the best nutrients and avoid pesticides and herbicides, making sure they get plenty of vitamin A, B6, C and D, folate, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc (yep we may be talking about a kids multivitamin here, at least through cold and flu season). |  |
A healthy gut is also essential for proper immune function: studies have shown that kids who take probiotics get fewer flus and colds, and recover faster when they do get sick.
Natural Remedies for Croup
Like most viral illnesses, croup will generally resolve on it's own within a few days. The following herbs and homeopathic remedies can help your child kick the virus that's causing their croup a little faster, or help soothe some of the worst of their symptoms:
Elderberry syrup (sambucus nigrans)
This is a great anti-viral herb, and it’s delicious to boot, meaning that it’s easy to get your kid to take. Elderberry is especially effective against the flu virus, but it slows the replication of many other types of viruses as well. It’s also an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, which can help with the swelling of the trachea in croup.
Olive leaf extract (olea europaea)
Olive leaf contains a phytochemical called oleuropein which is effective against a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and even protozoan. Olive leaf can also be taken as a general immune booster throughout the cold and flu season.
Olive leaf is also available in liquid forms for children that haven't learned how to swallow pills.
Olive leaf is also available in liquid forms for children that haven't learned how to swallow pills.
Raw honey lemon tea
Yep, this is a favorite among grandmas worldwide: raw, unfiltered honey has strong antimicrobial properties and can soothe an irritated throat and larynx. Put a teaspoon in hot water with the juice from half a lemon for a little flavor and an extra kick of vitamin C.
Note: honey should never be given to children under 12 months of age.
Note: honey should never be given to children under 12 months of age.
Humidifiers or cool mist
Humidifying the air can help reduce the dryness and raspiness of a croup cough. Most humidifiers have a feature where you can add essential oils. Good essential oils for a croupy cough can include rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, and thyme
Homeopathic treatment for croup
There are several homeopathic remedies given traditionally for croup. As with any condition, homeopathic remedy selection should be specifically tailored to your child's symptoms by a qualified physician or homeopathic prescriber.
While overly-generalized or incorrectly chosen homeopathic remedies are unlikely to harm your child in any way, an incorrect remedy also won't do anything to help alleviate their symptoms.
While overly-generalized or incorrectly chosen homeopathic remedies are unlikely to harm your child in any way, an incorrect remedy also won't do anything to help alleviate their symptoms.
A Note on Croup and Antibiotics
Before you head over to your doctor’s office, remember that croup is almost always caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not effective against viruses. The only time antibiotics would help a child with croup is if the infection were bacterial instead of viral, which is very rare (and generally causes much more extreme symptoms, at which point you’d likely have already taken your kid into urgent care or the ER) or if your child has developed a secondary bacterial infection. Because of this, antibiotics are not generally recommended for your run-of-the-mill croup. Despite this, some doctors will still offer antibiotics for croup in order to put parents at ease and/or as a “just in case” measure.
While croup can be a frightening (and exhausting) illness, most kids who get croup recover just fine on their own. Trust your instincts: if you feel like your child is struggling to breathe, get them over to the hospital! If you’re concerned or unsure about your child’s cough, it’s always a good idea to call your pediatrician. Even in the busiest practices, most docs will see your child for a quick same-day acute visit.
