Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious viral illness. It commonly affects infants and young children and is more prevalent from spring until fall as it likes warm weather.

What Causes Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease In Children?

Strains of coxsackievirus, most commonly coxsackievirus A16, cause hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). As you know, viruses are very easily spread from person to person. You or your child may contract hand, foot, and mouth disease from the “spray” that leaves the mouth when someone with hand, foot, and mouth disease coughs or sneezes. You can also catch this disease by touching surfaces that have traces of the virus.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is very easily spread in a daycare, school, or playgroup setting. Children who are of the age where they like to put their fingers and other objects in their mouth of very likely to contract hand, foot, and mouth disease if exposed to it. It is less likely to be found on playground equipment and other outdoor areas because the amount of oxygen in the fresh air typically kills the virus quickly.

Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease In Children and Adults

Symptoms begin to develop three to seven days after infection. The characteristic blisters and rashes show up later, usually four to nine days after infection. Some or all of the following symptoms may occur during the course of the disease:

• Fever
• Poor appetite (eating itself it difficult and often painful)
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Irritability
• Painful, red blisters in the mouth, including on the tongue and gums (these eventually turn into open sores when they break open)
• A red rash on the hands and the soles of the feet – this rash may be extremely painful, causing a lot of discomfort but usually it does not itch

How To Support Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Naturally

Licorice, lemon balm, echinacea, astragalus, usnea, and garlic have long been considered by herbalists to be incredibly powerful antiviral agents and immune boosters. You can use these herbs in tinctures and teas to help support your child and he or she battles hand, foot, and mouth disease. You can also turn a tea into an herbal popsicle which feels very soothing on the blistered throat.

Chamomile, elder flowers, spearmint, wintergreen, ginger, and linden flowers also make a great tea or herbal popsicle. Be sure to add a touch of raw honey to make herbal popsicles more appealing. They tend to be a bit bitter.

Herbal baths (especially herbal hand and foot soaks) can provide a lot of relief from the pain of the blisters. Make a strong herbal infusion from calendula flowers, comfrey leaf, and burdock root, then add it to a bath or soak.

Herbal Mouthwash Recipe for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease In Children

As soon as you see the signs of hand, foot, and mouth disease, you can mix up a wonderful mouthwash for children who are old enough to be able to correctly use it. This wash is ONLY for blisters in the mouth and must be spit out.

Herbal Mouthwash for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 1 minute

Active Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $5.00

This herbal mouthwash recipe is safe for all ages. It is easy to make and tastes so yummy! Plus, it offers relief from hand, foot, and mouth disease.

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Materials

• 1 ounce coconut oil, melted
• 1 ounce aloe vera juice
• 1 ounce distilled water with 1 teaspoon of honey mixed in
• 1 drop cypress essential oil
• 1 drop ravensara essential oil

Instructions

1. Add all of the ingredients into a small bottle with a lid.
2. Shake, shake, shake, and shake some more. Seriously – shake for a good 3-5 minutes.
3. Pour the mixture through a paper coffee filter (or something similar) and rebottle.

For children over the age of 2, you can also add one drop of thyme essential oil to a half dollar amount of coconut oil and rub it on the glands at the first sign of illness. Thyme is known for it’s antiviral properties and has been known to reduce the severity of the illness.

There are fewer choices when it comes to treating hand, foot, and mouth disease in infants. The herbal soaks are generally considered safe but again, check with your practitioner before giving anything internally.

Where can you find the herbs for hand, foot, and mouth disease support?

I typically only purchase herbs from Frontier Co-Op and Starwest Botanicals. Both the quality and price can’t be beat!