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.