Question
I don’t know what’s going on, but my child has been very unruly lately, crying and fussing all the time. Even after visiting the hospital and undergoing checks, nothing has helped. Can a 6-month-old child drink garlic water to treat cough?
Answer
Your child’s situation may be due to wind-cold cough, which is caused by exposure to wind and cold. The symptoms include frequent coughing, thin, white phlegm, clear nasal discharge, pale or slightly red tongue with thin coating, heavy cough sound, headache, fever, and in severe cases, rapid breathing. Treatment can include using Sanao Decoction combined with herbs that reduce qi and resolve phlegm. In such cases, it is advisable to also employ physical cooling (temperature reduction) methods, such as cold compresses on the forehead. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, you can use ibuprofen suspension for temperature reduction. It’s also important to encourage the child to drink plenty of water.