Probably everyone knows the beneficial properties of ginger. The root of this plant contains a large number of useful vitamins and minerals that help cope with children's immunity with bacteria and viruses. That is why this medicinal plant is often used in the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract. But can ginger be given to young children? This will be discussed in this article.
Beneficial features
Ginger contains a huge amount of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, essential oils and other substances. Understanding whether it is possible for a child to ginger, it is necessary to identify the effect of this plant on the children's body. Pediatricians and adherents of traditional medicine highlight the following beneficial effects:
- normalizes bowel function;
- improves appetite;
- eliminates muscle pain;
- struggles with nausea and headache;
- It has a warming and tonic effect;
- restores strength after an illness;
- has a diaphoretic effect;
- thins the blood and cleanses the body
- contributes to improved learning and memory.
More information about the healing properties of this medicinal plant can be found in the following video:
Ginger contains the necessary and beneficial vitamins for the children's body, which are necessary for the healthy and full development of babies. For example, lethargy and moodiness of a child signals a lack of vitamin B1. And vitamin B12 will help increase appetite, improve immunity, control the growth of the child and improve his mood.
Contraindications
Before deciding whether children can be given ginger, it is worth making sure that the child has no contraindications for use. Root treatment should be discarded in the following cases:
- The body's predisposition to allergies to this product.
- It is strictly forbidden to use for children with gastritis, stomach ulcers, diseases associated with the gall bladder and heart.
- It is worth abandoning ginger if a child has thrombocytopenia - a lack of platelets in the blood.
- Contraindication to the use of this product is iron deficiency anemia. Due to the fact that ginger does not allow iron to be absorbed, you should not give this product to a child during the use of iron preparations.
Does immunity strengthen?
Experts have long identified the positive effect of ginger on human immunity, therefore, it is advised to use it as food for both adults and children. Immunity can be strengthened with ginger tea, consumed hot in the winter, and in the summer when chilled. Such regular procedures will enrich the child's body with useful substances and will serve as a prophylaxis against diseases.
At what age can I give?
The main question of all parents is: "Can ginger be given to a child and from what age?" Experts do not recommend giving children this product for up to two years. This is due to the fact that at a young age in babies this product can cause irritation of the stomach, esophagus and oral cavity.
Many parents are interested in the question of whether it is possible for children to ginger root in the form of inhalation. Pediatricians advise using a medicinal plant with this method of treatment for babies from three years old. Such inhalations are used for respiratory infections and colds. After each use, it is necessary to monitor the reaction of the baby, whether there is redness of the eyes, a runny nose, a throat, or even an allergic reaction or irritation.
All other treatment and prevention options using ginger root can be started when the child is two years old.
Ginger application
Probably, everyone knows that it is possible to increase the tone of the body after overwork with the help of ginger tea. In addition, such a drink will warm perfectly after hypothermia.
In the case when the baby is not recommended to consume ginger inside, there are several ways to alternative treatment:
- Ginger infusion can be used to combat both dry and wet cough. Such a decoction well removes sputum from the respiratory tract. This infusion is suitable for both ingestion and gargling.
- Inhalations also contribute to the rapid elimination of sputum and the reduction of pathogens. For treatment, you can add fresh ginger root or aromatic oil.
- Ginger root essential oil has a peculiar smell, but also contains a storehouse of useful properties. This oil is good for motion sickness while traveling. To do this, you just need to inhale the aroma of a small slice of this product. With the help of aromatic oil, you can strengthen the baby's immunity by adding a couple of drops to the bathing bath. But this procedure is recommended for children from six years.
- Compresses with grated ginger help eliminate pain from bruises and sprains.
When buying ginger, you need to choose a product with long roots, as they contain more essential oils and vitamins.
When dealing with the question of whether it is possible for children with ginger tea, it is worth emphasizing that children are recommended to serve this product in the same ways as adults: dried or fresh, in the form of tea or infusion, for oral administration or as an inhalation or compress .
Storage
It is advisable to store ginger root in a dark room at a temperature of + 7-10 degrees with good ventilation. This plant does not like to lie in the refrigerator for a long time, so it should be kept in special food bags, paper bags or towels. But the shelf life in this form does not exceed two weeks.
Ginger can be stored in the freezer for up to four months. To do this, it can be cut into pieces or wrapped in a crude form in a film and packaged in a food bag. But, according to experts, with this method of storage, at least half of the useful elements disappear.
Many housewives like to use dried ginger. It is quite unpretentious and retains all the useful properties for a long time both at room temperature and when stored in the refrigerator. Cooking it is not at all difficult. Pre-washed and cut into thin plates, put ginger on a baking sheet, dry at a temperature of 50 degrees for about two hours. After that, cool it and transfer to a container.
The healing properties of ginger tea
There are many different variations of making ginger tea. In order to soften the spicy taste of ginger, you can add mint leaves, orange juice or a little milk to the drink. Below are recipes for healthy ginger tea that can be offered to babies over two years old.
Ginger tea with honey and lemon
Such a drink has a pleasant taste, so it is not difficult to offer it to a child. But is it possible for children to ginger tea with lemon and honey? It is worth considering that this option of tea is permissible to give the child only if there is no allergy to the bee product. You can make ginger tea as follows:
- Cut off a small piece from the root, peel its peel.
- Finely chop in any convenient way.
- Pour boiling water with two glasses and boil for 10-15 minutes.
- Let the broth brew and cool.
- After filtering and adding two teaspoons of honey and a small slice of lemon.
Ginger tea with lemon
Let's find out if ginger with lemon is possible for children. Earlier we wrote that ginger is recommended for use only from two years. As for the lemon, doctors are allowed to introduce complementary foods for this fruit from 8-10 months. Thus, if a child is not allergic to citrus fruits and ginger, then such ingredients will only benefit the child.
Ginger tea with lemon will help relieve headaches, relieve colds and eliminate weakness. It is recommended to drink it warm during the day. To make such tea, you need to put a small piece of ginger and lemon in boiled water, after which you must immediately remove from heat and let it brew.
Such a drink has a pleasant citrus-ginger aroma and a mild taste. Also, lemon can be replaced with a slice of orange or grapefruit.
Ginger recipes to boost immunity
Many mothers are wondering if ginger is possible for a child because they know about its healing properties. Undoubtedly, every parent wants his baby to be healthy. If your child has no contraindications for use and is more than two years old, then in some cases, medication can be replaced with drugs made from ginger. Undoubtedly, ginger tea is one of the most famous ways to increase immunity, as well as in the fight against cough. But besides this drink, there are other ways to help the child.
Ginger Root Juice
In order to get the juice, it is necessary to peel the root and grate it, then squeeze the juice with gauze.
When asked whether children can drink ginger, pediatricians advise taking this drink one teaspoon three times a day. You can also experiment. To improve the taste, honey and lemon are added to ginger. Can children get such a mixture? With regard to this issue, experts resolve such a medicine in order to treat colds and prevention, but only after the child reaches the age of two.
Such a mass will be more beneficial if it is not swallowed, but absorbed. In this case, this tool will help eliminate pain and irritation in the oral cavity.
Lollipops
Ginger sweets will not only help eliminate the cough, but children will also like it. This serves as an excellent counterpart to those cough drops sold at the pharmacy.
To prepare such a tool, you must:
- Peel the ginger root from the skin and squeeze the juice out of it.
- Melt 1 kg of sugar and add to ginger juice.
- In the same mass, add the juice of orange and lemon until the mass thickens.
- Pour into silicone molds and let harden.
Thus, we can conclude that the use of ginger for children will only benefit. The most important thing is not to abuse and observe the well-being of your child.