Ask Ayurveda

/
/
/
Can I give my child gilloy, tulsi, and papaya juice for cold and cough?
FREE! Just write your question
— get answers from Best Ayurvedic doctors
No chat. No calls. Just write your question and receive expert replies
1000+ doctors ONLINE
#1 Ayurveda Platform
Ask question for free
00H : 32M : 40S
background image
Click Here
background image
Respiratory Disorders
Question #47997
40 days ago
733

Can I give my child gilloy, tulsi, and papaya juice for cold and cough? - #47997

Client_91e921

Can we give gilloy , tulsi , papaya juice to 4 yr old child ? Child has an cold and cough with fever ?

How long has your child been experiencing cold and cough symptoms?:

- Less than 1 week

What is the severity of your child's fever?:

- Moderate (100°F - 102°F)

Has your child had any previous treatments for these symptoms?:

- Yes, over-the-counter medication
PAID
Question is closed

Doctor-recommended remedies for this condition

80 Doctors recommend
FREE! Ask an Ayurvedic Doctor — 24/7, 100% Anonymous
Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential. No sign-up needed.
background-image
background-image
background image
banner-image
banner-image

Doctors' responses

YES BUT WITH IMPORTANT CAUTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD CANNOT BE GIVEN ADULT STYLE AYURVEDIC REMEDIES OR STRONG JUICES EVEN IF THEY ARE NATURAL A CHILD’S DIGESTIVE AND IMMUNE SYSTEM IS STILL DEVELOPING SO DOSAGE FORM TIMING AND COMBINATION MATTER A LOT

GILOY IS TRADITIONALLY USED DURING FEVER AND IT CAN BE GIVEN TO A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD DURING ACUTE FEVER BUT ONLY IN A VERY MILD AND DILUTED FORM IT SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AS STRONG JUICE OR DECOCTION THE SAFE WAY IS 2 TO 3 DROPS OF GILOY JUICE MIXED IN 1 TO 2 SPOONS OF WARM WATER ONCE A DAY ONLY FOR A SHORT DURATION GILOY HELPS REDUCE FEVER AND SUPPORTS IMMUNITY BUT IF GIVEN IN HIGH DOSE OR FREQUENTLY IT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF APPETITE NAUSEA OR WEAKNESS SO IT SHOULD NOT BE USED ROUTINELY OR FOR MANY DAYS WITHOUT MEDICAL GUIDANCE

TULSI IS SAFE FOR CHILDREN BUT NOT IN CONCENTRATED JUICE FORM THE BEST WAY IS TULSI WATER OR TULSI TEA MADE BY BOILING 4 TO 5 TULSI LEAVES IN WATER AND COOLING IT TO WARM THIS CAN BE GIVEN 1 TO 2 SPOONS TWO TO THREE TIMES A DAY IT HELPS WITH COUGH COLD AND FEVER GENTLY AND CAN BE USED ALONG WITH MILD GILOY

PAPAYA JUICE SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN DURING FEVER COLD OR COUGH IN A 4 YEAR OLD IT IS HEAVY AND CAN DISTURB DIGESTION AND INCREASE MUCUS DURING RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IT IS BETTER AVOIDED UNTIL THE CHILD IS COMPLETELY WELL

FOR A CHILD WITH FEVER 100 TO 102 AND COLD FOR LESS THAN A WEEK THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON LIGHT FOOD WARM FLUIDS AND REST RICE WATER THIN DAL SOUP OR VEGETABLE SOUP ARE BETTER OPTIONS

YOU MAY GIVE WARM WATER FREQUENTLY IN SMALL SIPS TULSI WATER AS MENTIONED A LITTLE HONEY WITH A PINCH OF DRY GINGER POWDER ONLY IF THE CHILD IS ABOVE 1 YEAR AND ONLY ONCE OR TWICE A DAY FOR COUGH LUKEWARM TURMERIC MILK AT NIGHT IF THE CHILD TOLERATES MILK

AVOID COLD DRINKS CURD ICE CREAM BANANA AND PACKAGED JUICES DURING THIS TIME

IF FEVER PERSISTS BEYOND 3 DAYS GOES ABOVE 102 OR THE CHILD BECOMES VERY LETHARGIC BREATHLESS OR REFUSES FOOD PLEASE CONSULT A PEDIATRICIAN IMMEDIATELY AYURVEDIC SUPPORT IS COMPLEMENTARY BUT ACUTE FEVER IN CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS BE MONITORED CAREFULLY

IN SHORT GILOY CAN BE USED DURING FEVER IN A 4 YEAR OLD BUT ONLY IN VERY SMALL DILUTED DOSE AND FOR SHORT DURATION TULSI IN MILD FORM IS SAFE PAPAYA JUICE SHOULD BE AVOIDED DURING ILLNESS AND GENTLE SIMPLE CARE IS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR A YOUNG CHILD

13125 answered questions
29% best answers
Accepted response

0 replies

Giloy – safe in small amount Papaya juice – Avoid during fever & cold (can upset digestion) Tulsi – Safe in small amount What to do Give tulsi leaves decoction (3–5 leaves boiled, 1–2 teaspoons once or twice daily) Warm water, light food, proper rest If fever lasts 2 days, consult a pediatrician

13174 answered questions
34% best answers
Accepted response

0 replies

YES to Giloy and Tulsi. NO to Papaya Juice. Giloy (Guduchi) & Tulsi: Highly Recommended. These are excellent for reducing Fever (Jwara) and boosting immunity against viral infections.
Boil a small stem of Giloy and 4-5 Tulsi leaves in water. Strain and give 2-3 teaspoons of this decoction warm.

Papaya Leaf Juice: AVOID. Papaya leaf juice is extremely bitter, potent, and can cause vomiting or gastritis in a 4-year-old. It is specifically used for Dengue (low platelets). If this is just a normal cold/fever, do not torture the child’s stomach with this.

Better Home Remedies for Cold & Cough (Pediatric Safe) Honey & Ginger: Mix ½ teaspoon of Ginger Juice with 1 teaspoon of Honey. Give this 3 times a day. This is the best Kapha expectorant for children. Turmeric Milk: Give warm milk with a pinch of Turmeric (Haldi) at night to soothe the throat.

Since the fever is moderate (100-102°F), monitor closely. If the fever crosses 102°F or the child becomes lethargic/breathless, consult a pediatrician immediately.

Regards Dr Gursimran Jeet Singh MD Panchakarma

1370 answered questions
29% best answers
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Accepted response

0 replies

✅ Tulsi – YES (safe in small quantity)

Tulsi tea / tulsi drops in warm water are fine.

⚠️ Giloy – Avoid

Giloy is potent and can trigger loose motions / excess immunity stimulation in some children.

Better to use milder pediatric medicines.

❌ Papaya juice – NOT recommended in fever/cold

Papaya is heavy and can worsen mucus, bloating, loose stool.

Avoid especially during fever.

🌿 SAFE AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT (4-year child)

✅ 1) Sitopaladi Churna (best for cough/cold)

Dose: ¼ tsp (pinch) BD–TDS How: with honey (only if child >1 yr) OR warm water Duration: 5–7 days

✅ 2) Talisadi Churna (for cough + mucus)

If cough is more: Dose: ¼ tsp BD with honey / warm water


✅ 3) For fever + viral support (safe & gentle)

✅ Tulsi + ginger water

4–5 tulsi leaves + tiny ginger

boil in water, give 2–3 tsp every 3–4 hrs

✅ Warm water sips ✅ Rest + light diet

🏡 Home Remedies (Safe)

✅ Steam inhalation

plain steam 3–5 minutes, once/twice daily (under supervision)

✅ Warm ajwain potli

warm ajwain tied in cloth

gentle chest/back fomentation

✅ Ghee on chest

small amount warm ghee massage on chest/back at night

🍲 Diet advice during fever/cold

✅ Give:

Moong dal soup

Rice kanji

Warm vegetable soup

Warm water

❌ Avoid:

Curd, ice cream

Cold milk

Fried food

Banana

Packaged juices

83 answered questions
41% best answers
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.

0 replies

Yes but with caution in a four year old child the body is delicate and immunity is still developing Giloy can be given only in very small quantity, and preferably decoction diluted well with warm water ,about one to two teaspoons once daily… Tulsi is helpful but should be given one or two teaspoons two times a day is enough… Papaya juice should be avoided during cold cough and fever as it can be heavy and cooling for a child and may increase mucus… Since the fever is moderate and symptoms are less than one week focus should be on warmth light food and rest… Warm water sips,lukewarm soups,soft foods and keeping the chest and feet warm are very important… Do not combine many remedies together at the same time give only one or two supports… If fever persists beyond two days increases or the child becomes dull breathless or refuses food medical evaluation is necessary… Over the counter medicines should not be mixed closely with herbal remedies without spacing time…

4361 answered questions
39% best answers
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.

0 replies

Hello I get why you’re worried. When a 4-year-old comes down with a cold, cough, and fever, it’s tough on everyone. Let’s look at this from an Ayurvedic (Kaumarbhritya) angle and sort out what’s safe and helpful.

First off, your child’s symptoms show a Vata–Kapha imbalance (that’s the cold, cough, and mucus), plus fever from an infection.

At this age, kids have delicate digestion and immunity, so you need to be careful about which medicines you use and how much.

Here’s what you really need to know:

Don’t give papaya juice. It’s hard to digest, heats the body, and can make fever or diarrhea worse.

Skip raw Giloy (Guduchi) juice. It’s too strong for a young child and can cause nausea or vomiting.

Tulsi is only safe if you use it lightly—like in diluted water, not as strong juice.

So, what actually works and is safe?

Tulsi Water: Boil 2–3 fresh tulsi leaves in a cup of water. Cool it down till it’s just warm. Give 2–3 teaspoons twice a day.

Honey + Ginger (only if there’s no high fever): Mix half a teaspoon of honey with a drop or two of ginger juice. Give this once at night. But don’t use honey if the fever is high.

Turmeric Milk: If your child handles milk well, warm up half a cup and add a pinch of turmeric at bedtime.

Steam Inhalation: Just plain steam, no oils. Do it for 2–3 minutes under your watch. It really helps clear stuffy noses and coughs.

For food, stick to:

Warm rice gruel (kanji) Moong dal soup Warm water sips Soft, easy-to-digest meals

Stay away from:

Cold milk or ice cream Packaged juices Bakery and fried snacks Bananas (if coughing)

Now, if the fever goes over 101°F and sticks around for more than two days, or if your child gets really tired, won’t eat, or starts having trouble breathing—see a pediatrician right away. Ayurveda can help, but you should always keep an eye on your child’s fever and energy.

Quick summary:

No papaya juice. No raw Giloy juice. Tulsi is okay, but only as diluted water. For a 4-year-old, gentle remedies, lots of rest, and a light diet really do the trick. Don’t try strong herbal juices unless an Ayurvedic pediatrician says it’s safe.

Warm Regards Dr Snehal Vidhate

11533 answered questions
29% best answers
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.

0 replies

1.Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia): - Traditionally used for fever and immunity. - In children, it is sometimes given in very small, supervised doses.

2.Tulsi (Holy Basil): - Mild, safe herb often used for cough/cold. - Tulsi tea or diluted extract is generally considered safe in small amounts for children.

3.Papaya juice: - Not typically recommended for fever/cold in children. - Raw papaya can sometimes irritate the stomach.

✅ Safer Alternatives for a 4‑Year‑Old - Warm water with honey and a pinch of turmeric (only if child is above 1 year). - Ajwain steam inhalation (vapors, not ingestion). - Light diet: khichdi, dal water, rice water, and plenty of fluids. - Rest and hydration: most important for recovery.

⚠️ When to Seek Medical Care - If fever persists beyond 3 days. - If temperature rises above 102°F. - If child shows breathing difficulty, lethargy, or poor intake of fluids.

Warm Regards DR. ANJALI SEHRAWAT

11242 answered questions
28% best answers
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.

0 replies

Hi Don’t give papaya juice for 4 years child.

Kindly prefer the medicine advised below

1) Sitopaladi Churna - ¼ tsp With honey - twice a day after food.

2) Amritarisht + Drakshasava (Mix & Dilute) - 3 to 5 ml + 5 ml water twice a day after food

3) Bal Chaturbhadra Syrup - 2.5 ml twice a day after food with water after fever and cough and cold. For 1 month to improve digestion, immunity, recovery of body.

66 answered questions
20% best answers
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.

0 replies

Yes surely it will work

BUT like you mentioned the temperature is going upto 102 please keep monitoring. Keep a watch on the head region. If that temperature goes above 104 he may get febrile seizures so keep a watch.

Safe and Ayurvedic formulation for fever.

Syp. Malbet 10 ml twice a day.

1010 answered questions
26% best answers
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.
Your personalized treatment is ready
We've added the medicines recommended by your doctor.

0 replies
Speech bubble
FREE! Ask an Ayurvedic doctor — 24/7,
100% Anonymous

600+ certified Ayurvedic experts. No sign-up.

About our doctors

Only qualified ayurvedic doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.


Related questions

Doctors online

Latest reviews

Presley
4 days ago
Thanks a ton for this comprehensive list. Your advice about Ayurveda was such a relief! I feel more confident managing my allergies now.
Thanks a ton for this comprehensive list. Your advice about Ayurveda was such a relief! I feel more confident managing my allergies now.
John
4 days ago
Wow, thanks for the detailed plan! This really helps to have everything broken down like this. I’m relieved to have some clear steps to follow now. Super appreciated!
Wow, thanks for the detailed plan! This really helps to have everything broken down like this. I’m relieved to have some clear steps to follow now. Super appreciated!
Warren
4 days ago
Thank you so much for the advice! I’ll definitely give those a try. Really appreciate the clear suggestions, had no clue what to do before!
Thank you so much for the advice! I’ll definitely give those a try. Really appreciate the clear suggestions, had no clue what to do before!
Kayden
4 days ago
This was super helpful, thank u! The advice was clear and simple to follow. Already feeling a bit better after a few days.
This was super helpful, thank u! The advice was clear and simple to follow. Already feeling a bit better after a few days.