Nowadays, the use of traditional medicine is not something new or unusual. And if a child has a cough, many mothers resort to non-traditional methods of treatment, one of which is the use of mutton, or fat tail, fat as an external rubbing or ingestion. Read below about how to take mutton fat during illness and what contraindications it has for children.
Useful properties of lamb fat
Fat tail fat is obtained by rendering mutton or sheep fat raw. In finished form, this product has a specific smell, so even despite its value, few people eat it. This product is very high in calories: 100 g of the product contains 897 kcal. At the same time, it does not contain carbohydrates and proteins at all and consists of fats by 97%.
Did you know? Lamb fat contains less cholesterol than pork fat, so it is more easily absorbed by the body.
There are several varieties of this product:
- Premium grade – is made from fat tail, which is deposited under the tail on the body of a young lamb. The structure of such fat is dense, solid, the color is pure white or with an admixture of yellowness. When processed, it acquires a transparent tint.
- First grade – prepared from raw fat, which has a white or gray color. When fired, it becomes transparent.
- Second grade – made from simple fat of an adult sheep, has a characteristic smell of fried cracklings, grayish, cloudy color.
The therapeutic effect of eating the product is observed after 3 days of use, because it consists of many vitamins, trace elements and essential fats. Due to the high content of vitamin A, immunity is strengthened, and a person who consumes tail fat for food is less likely to get ARVI. It is also used effectively in treatment of cough and relieves inflammation from a sore throat.
The abundance of B vitamins, which are present in the product, improves brain activity, and also saturates the body with the necessary energy.
Important! Before using traditional medicine to treat children of any age, you should consult a pediatrician.
Even despite the large number of calories, mutton fat is easily digested and does not overload the digestive system, so it is often used in the treatment of colds in children. You can also use this tool in the treatment of constipation, which are provoked by malnutrition.
Negative properties of lamb fat and contraindications
- Contraindications to the use of the product are:
- obesity;
- kidney failure;
- liver disease, jaundice;
- inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system;
- age up to 9 months.
Side effects when used can be manifested in the form severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn. Also, during treatment by this method, increased moodiness, lethargy and refusal to eat can be observed.
When using fat in the form of rubbing, before applying it, you should definitely pay attention to the skin – it must be clean, without scratches, redness and other formations, otherwise there is a risk of infection.
External application
Respiratory diseases are best treated with external heating. To do this, you can use a compress or rub the body with lamb fat.
Child up to one year old
Up to 1 year old, babies are very sensitive, so it is better to use this remedy after consulting a doctor.
The product in the amount of 100 g must be melted in a steam bath.
In parallel, prepare a compress from the following layers:
- gauze napkin, folded in at least 4 layers;
- polyethylene;
- cotton wool;
- bandage.
Instructions for use:
- Moisten the gauze in the prepared product and squeeze a little.
- After making sure that the gauze is not hot, attach it to the child’s body in the area that the doctor recommended to warm up.
- Apply a layer of polyethylene and cotton wool on top.
- Secure the bandage with a bandage.
Did you know? The melting point of sheep fat is +40°C.
The amount and size of the compress is determined by the adult who installs the bandage.
Warming up should not last more than 2 hours.
For children in this age group, it is better not to use the rubbing method, because in this way it is impossible to regulate the time of exposure to the product.
Children under 5 years old
Until the age of 5, children can do rubbing. Melted lamb fat, which should be at an acceptable temperature, should be rubbed on the back and chest, avoiding the heart area. The procedure is carried out for 10 minutes, gently rubbing the product into the skin. Then the child is dressed in warm clothes and wrapped in a blanket.
warm compress, as well as a baby under 1 year old, it is recommended to set only for 2-3 hours.
The compress is made from the following components:
- gauze napkins;
- polyethylene;
- cotton wool;
- medical plaster.
Instructions:
- Soak gauze with medicine and apply to the body.
- Put a layer of cotton wool on top and cover everything with polyethylene so that heat is absorbed in only one place.
- Fix the compress on the body with a plaster.
Children over 5 years old
A child older than 5 years of age can be rubbed with lamb fat already 2 times a day. The first time you need to rub the skin in the morning and then keep the rubbed areas warm for 3 hours. The second time the procedure is carried out in the evening, after which the child is put to sleep under a warm blanket.
A compress for a 5-year-old child and older can also be put on all night. The rules for making a compress are the same as for children under 5 years old.
Internal application
Children under 5 years of age should take fat tail fat orally only if the benefits outweigh the possible risks. For information on how to use the product to cure cough in children, read below.
Indications for internal use
- Indications for the internal use of this remedy are the following symptoms:
- severe dry cough, recurring up to 10 times a day;
- redness of the throat;
- wheezing in the chest.
Features of internal use
Children are often reluctant to use drugs. Especially acutely, babies can react to taste and smell, therefore, in order to avoid a gag reflex when using lamb fat, the product must be mixed with various drinks, honey, jam.
Simple Recipes
All recipes using this product are easy to prepare, so even a novice in the culinary arts can handle them. We will figure out in which combination it is best to present such a medicine to children.
Important! For children under 1 year of age, such treatment should be used with great care due to the fact that their digestive system is still poorly formed.
Child up to one year old
A cough remedy for babies can be prepared with infant formula or apple juice. You need to mix 2 drops of fat with 1 tablespoon of juice or mixture and give to drink in the morning and evening. The course of admission is 3 days.
Children under 5 years old
To get rid of cough and sore throat in a child under 5 years old, you should use 3-5 drops of fat, which must be added to juice or tea in an amount of 50 ml.
To prepare the medicine, you can also take 5 g of honey and mix it with the product.
The treatment lasts for 3 days, the remedy must be given 3 times a day.
Children over 5 years old
Children over 5 years old can already take 10 drops of fat. It must be diluted with 1 teaspoon of honey and added to 100 g of milk.
This drink should be drunk 3 times a day. The course of admission is 3 days.
Traditional medicine can have a significant effect in the treatment of cough along with medications. Lamb fat is an excellent product that warms and eliminates the inflammatory process in the child’s body.
