Homeopathic Remedies for CROUP

In this post you will find information on homeopathic remedies for croup. I have included a well known croup trio, as well as other homeopathic remedies to help your little ones through their illness. Once you experience the effectiveness of these remedies, you’ll never fear another attack of croup.

This post is for general informational and educational purposes only. See my full disclaimer here. In the event of an emergency or if you are concerned about your health or the health of the person you are caring for, always seek the help of a medical doctor, call your local health link, or head to the emergency room. Seek help immediately if the child struggles to breath or develops blue or grayish skin around the nose, mouth or fingernails.

What is croup?

As described by Mayo Clinic:

“Croup refers to an infection of the upper airway, which obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough.

The cough and other signs and symptoms of croup are the result of swelling around the voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea) and bronchial tubes (bronchi). When a cough forces air through this narrowed passageway, the swollen vocal cords produce a noise similar to a seal barking.

Croup typically occurs in younger children. Croup usually isn’t serious and most children can be treated at home.”

The obvious croup symptom is a harsh, barking cough. Other symptoms may include:

  • fast breathing
  • hoarseness when speaking
  • inspiratory stridor, a high-pitched wheezing sound when a person breathes in
  • low-grade fever (although not everyone gets a fever)
  • stuffy nose

The (ash) croup trio

The following trio for croup has been used by homeopaths (starting with it’s creator, Boenninghausen) very successfully for over 200 years.

If you have little ones, it’s a great idea to keep these remedies on hand; to be prepared incase croup hits.

Read through the descriptions and familiarize yourself with them somewhat, especially if croup is a common problem in your house. It is so nice to feel prepared and not panicked in situations of sickness.

1: Aconitum Napellus (aconite) – 30CH

Aconite is the first remedy in the trio. When you are awoken in the night with the distressing sounds of croup, give this remedy first. Sometimes just one dose given at the onset can stop croup in it’s tracks!

Other points of Aconite are:

  • the sickness came on after being out in the cold weather or wind
  • the child wakes earlier in the night, with a dry and barking cough
  • the child’s symptoms are worse on inhaling and worse from drinking (although thirsty)
  • the child is fearful (for example, that they’re going to die!- you also may feel this fear in yourself), restless and hot
  • the child may also have a watery nose and a headache
  • very useful for children who are prone to croup

Directions:

  • use within the first 24 hours of the sickness only; if the need to give a remedy goes beyond that timeline, switch to something else (possibly the next remedy in the trio!).
  • if after you give Aconite the first time, the child experiences relief, you would then give another dose when their symptoms come back or begin to worsen again
  • if (within the 24 hour timeline) the Aconite stops working for your child, switch to the Spongia (below) if the symptoms fit, or else a different remedy that matches your child’s experience

See this blog post for information on how to take a homeopathic remedy, how to store them, and more.

2: Spongia Tosta – 30CH

Spongia is the second remedy in the trio. It is the next remedy to consider after you have given Aconite, when it is time to move to something else.

Some points of Spongia are:

  • the child’s breathing is harsh and hard, as if they were breathing through a sponge. If they have a stridor, it will be noisy and whistling
  • the cough is dry and barking – it is often described as a seal’s bark, or like a hand saw cutting wood
  • the child wakes up (often near 2am) frightened and feels they are suffocating from their cough
  • the child will usually feel better when eating or drinking, sitting up and maybe bending forward

Directions:

  • if the symptoms of Spongia fit your child’s experience of croup, follow the flow chart in this post for how often to take it
  • as always, if there’s improvement (usually, the child falling asleep), WAIT and don’t give any more until it’s needed again
  • if the Spongia stops working or the child’s symptoms change, look next to Hepar sulph.

3: Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum (Hepar sulph) – 30CH

The third remedy in the trio is Hepar Sulph. It is the next step after Spongia, if the symptoms have changed and you need something further.

Some points of Hepar sulph are:

  • the child’s cough sounds similar to as it did with Spongia, but now there is thick, rattling mucous
  • the child may have choking fits with the cough due to the loose mucous
  • the child is worse in the cold and with cold drinks

Boenninghausen’s (the creator of the ash croup trio) method:

His method was to give five powders; first, he gave a powder of No.1 (Aconite) in water so as not to make the patient cough; he waited two hours and if necessary gave powder No.2 (Aconite) and followed after two or three hours, if necessary, with No.3 (Spongia). The others, No. 4 (Spongia) and No.5 (Hepar), were given if necessary, but he always waited two to four hours between the doses. Hardly one in a hundred received all five powders.

If you would like to follow this method, try it out! My system is to follow the symptoms, and thus only change if the symptoms do.

other croup remedies

Read through the descriptions below of other remedies that may be useful in a situation of croup.

You may choose one of these remedies instead of starting with the croup trio, if you feel the symptoms fit better.

ant tart

This remedy may be helpful if some of the following is true:

  • the child gasps for breath after each spell of coughing
  • there is a lot of rattling mucous that is hard to cough up

See more information on this remedy here: homeopathy for coughs

belladonna

This remedy may be helpful if some of the following is true:

  • there was a sudden onset of sickness
  • there are intense, barking coughing fits with a very red face
  • the child’s voice is hoarse

See more information on this remedy here: homeopathy for coughs

drosera

This remedy may be helpful if some of the following is true:

  • there are violent fits of a barking cough at night, which may end in vomiting. These start as soon as the child’s head hits the pillow
  • the child’s breathing is difficult and fast
  • there may be pains in the chest or stomach, which causes the child to hold it’s hands there (also see Phosphorous)

See more information on this remedy here: homeopathy for coughs

iodum

This remedy may be helpful if some of the following is true:

  • there are coughing fits with constriction of throat = difficulty inhaling
  • there may be a whistling stridor and breathing may sound like a saw
  • the sound of the cough may sound more muffled

ipecac

This remedy may be helpful if some of the following is true:

  • there is a croupy cough that is hard to breathe through with gagging or vomiting
  • there is often wheezing with breathing and rattling in the chest

See more information on this remedy here: homeopathy for coughs

phosphorous

This remedy may be helpful if some of the following is true:

  • there is dry, hard, painful cough which causes the child to hold it’s chest
  • the cough is irritating, tickling, and wakes the child who must sit up to cough
  • the child may cough up mucous which ranges in colour from clear to green

See more information on this remedy here: homeopathy for coughs

sambucus

This remedy may be helpful if some of the following is true:

  • there are sudden attacks of a suffocating cough
  • there is wheezing or stridor or exhaling during the coughing

Don’t forget to..

  • keep your child well hydrated
  • support their immune system with wholesome foods and supplements, if advised
  • prop your child up on pillows if that eases the ability to breathe
  • open up and sit by a window, or bundle up your child and take them out to breath the cool air, to see if that helps to calm symptoms
  • alternatively, if cold air does not help, turn on the shower and try sitting in a steamy bathroom
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