Dietary Guidelines
Because mumps causes pain when chewing or swallowing, a diet of soft foods may minimize discomfort.

Avoid giving your child citrus fruits or other acidic foods, which can be painful to swallow.

To keep your child well hydrated, encourage him to take plenty of fluids. Offer fruit-juice popsicles, spring water, herbal teas, soups, and diluted fruit juices. Once the acute phase of the infection has subsided, immune-boosting astragalus and vegetable soup is very good for supporting recovery (see THERAPEUTIC RECIPES).

Eliminate fats as much as possible. Fats are difficult to digest under normal circumstances, and are even harder to digest when the digestive system is weakened by infection. Undigested fats contribute to a toxic internal environment.

Nutritional Supplements
For age-appropriate dosages of nutritional supplements, see Dosage Guidelines for Herbs and Nutritional Supplements.

Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A, which helps heal mucous membranes. Give your child a double dose of beta-carotene, twice daily, for ten days.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids help to stimulate the immune system. Three to four times a day, give your child one dose of mineral ascorbate vitamin C with an equal amount of bioflavonoids, for one week. (If your child develops loose stool as a result of taking this supplement, cutback on the dosage.) The following week, give him the same dosage, but two to three times a day. During the third week, give the same dosage, once or twice a day. Then continue to give one-half dose daily for the fourth week, and three times a week for the next two weeks.

Zinc stimulates the immune system and promotes healing. Give your child one dose of zinc, twice a day, for one week to ten days.
Note: Excessive amounts of zinc can result in nausea and vomiting. Be careful not to exceed the recommended dosage.

Herbal Treatment
For age-appropriate dosages of nutritional supplements, see Dosage Guidelines for Herbs and Nutritional Supplements.

A tincture of arnica or peppermint oil, used as a rub, can help to relieve headache. Rub arnica tincture into the temple or forehead area; rub peppermint oil into the temple area. Be very careful to keep tinctures away from your child's eyes and do not use them on broken skin.
Note: If you are using peppermint oil as well as a homeopathic preparation, allow one hour between the two. Otherwise, the strong smell of the mint may interfere with the action of the homeopathic remedy.

If your child is feeling very restless, give him a cup of chamomile tea, twice a day, as needed.

Echinacea and goldenseal combination formula helps to fight viruses and boost the immune system. It also soothes mucous membranes. Give your child one dose, three times a day, for up to one week, until the fever is resolved and his salivary glands have returned to their normal size.