Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
- Alex Kelly
- Oct 27
- 5 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
The Disease
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFM) is a common viral illness that mostly affects young children, especially in the toddler and preschool years. It’s caused by a group of enteroviruses (most often Coxsackievirus) and usually starts with mild cold-like symptoms before small blisters or rashes appear on the hands/feet and inside the mouth. While it can look alarming, it’s generally mild and resolves on its own within a week.
The Treatment
Since HFM is caused by a virus, treatment focuses on keeping your child comfortable and easing symptoms while their body fights off the infection naturally. Make sure they get plenty of rest, stay well-hydrated, and have time to recover at their own pace. The goal is simply to soothe discomfort, reduce irritation, and support their immune system as it does its job.
Treating the SORES
Calendula - Calendula is known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties on the skin and mucosa, and contains great pain relief properties for external blisters. We have this cream. It's also great as a Neosporin alternative. We also use this diaper cream that I have heard people have used to treat HFMD before.
Breastmilk - can help soothe sores with its natural antibodies and anti-inflammatory compounds that support healing. Coconut oil can be great too!
Soothing Baths -
Oatmeal: place oats in a sock and soak in bath water. After it's been soaking you can squeeze to make an oat cream/paste and rub it all over. These are great glyphosate free oats.
Epsom Salt & Baking Soda: use a generous amount of both
Soothing the THROAT
Bee Propolis - Propolis has been shown to facilitate symptomatic relief and reduce the duration of the disease in children with HFMD. Beekeeper’s Naturals has a throat soothing spray with bee propolis, xylitol, slippery elm bark, and menthol.
Throat Coat Tea: typically contains slippery elm bark, licorice root, and other herbs known for forming a gentle, mucilaginous coating on the throat lining.
Additional remedies: Gargle with salt water and baking soda; ACV with raw honey; spoonfuls of honey, lemon, ginger, honey or licorice tea
Antiviral Treatments
Lemon Balm - has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and pain relieving properties. Lemon balm is safe for all ages and for pregnant and breastfeeding women. You could take as a tea for extra soothing, and add in honey for kids over 1.
Astragalus - Research has shown that astragalus has antiviral properties specifically against the HFM virus (PMID: 38858642 & 35222714).
Quercetin - has been shown to fight against the coxsackie virus. You can get it from foods like apples, dark berries, cruciferous veggies, leafy veggies, and sage, or you can supplement it.
Elderberry - elderberry is a potent antiviral containing phytochemicals like quercetin and other flavonoids that are effective against the virus that causes HFM.
Ganoderma (reishi) is a medicinal mushroom that has been investigated for its potential role in treating HFM, demonstrating encouraging antiviral activity (PMID: 24845570 & PMID: 34362866).
Immune Boosting
Vitamin A & D: research has shown that Vitamin A & D deficiencies are associated with more severe cases of HFM.
If you or your child are already taking daily supplements (such as a multivitamin, cod liver oil, or beef liver) or getting sufficient vitamins through diet, you can likely continue these and focus treatment efforts elsewhere if symptoms are mild. If not, ensuring adequate nutrient intake becomes an important part of supporting recovery from HFMD.
Probiotics: there is research showing that probiotics (specifically Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis) may be helpful in reducing the spread of HFM, preventing gut dysbiosis after HFM, and reducing HFM symptoms (PMID: 27341804; 34660342; 29028076).
Homeopathy
Homeopathy works best when you target your specific symptoms, so it’s best to Google/Chat GPT your symptoms + homeopathy and find the remedy that most closely resembles your situation. I love using homeopathycenter.org’s remedy finder.
Why You Should Avoid Fever Suppressants
A fever is a natural response to an infection or illness. It is a good sign, because it means that your body is fighting off the infection. The increased body temperature from a fever boosts the performance of immune cells and induces stress on pathogens and infected cells, providing a strong immune defense.
Since fevers are the body’s natural way of fighting off illnesses, reducing a fever can actually prolong the illness or infection. Fevers also trigger immune cells to recruit and activate T-cells, which coordinate long-term “adaptive” immune responses such as antibody production. By letting a fever run its course, you are also providing better protection for future illnesses.
Treating the Fever
Wet Socks: Sleeping in wet socks signals your body to dilate the blood vessels in your feet resulting in blood being moved to and warming, the feet. This increases circulation throughout the entire body. This cycle should continue throughout the night and helps boost the immune system and reduce body temperature - making it great for fevers. You can do this by placing damp cotton socks on your child's feet followed by thick wool socks.
Onions in Socks: Onions contain sulfur compounds with known antimicrobial properties, which can help fight infection. When sliced and placed against the skin, they are thought to absorb illness-causing agents or reduce body heat through the feet, offering relief from fever symptoms.
Other options to consider: Peppermint oil, magnesium chloride bath, cool compress on pulse points, skin to skin, breastmilk, homeopathy, herbs, lymphatic massage. View my fever support guide here.
Preventing Dehydration
Dehydration is a frequent concern with hand-foot-and-mouth disease, as fever and blisters can lead to fluid loss, and mouth or throat sores can make swallowing uncomfortable.
A helpful way to keep your child hydrated is to offer cold treats like popsicles or ice cubes, which can also ease oral discomfort. Some options include frozen herbal teas, coconut water, yogurt, bone broth, or a homemade electrolyte drink.
DIY Electrolytes
1 qt liquid (water, green tea, herbal tea, coconut water)
1/8-1/4 tsp Himalayan or sea salt
1/2-1 tsp calcium magnesium powder
Squeeze of lemon, lime, or orange
1-2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup (for taste)
and/or 1/4 c organic juice (for taste)
These are great store-bought electrolyte popsicles!
Step By Step Treatment
We have yet to deal with HFMD (*knock on wood*), so I am simply going off what I would attempt as a first time HFMD-dealer from the research I have done. If you HAVE dealt with HFDM plz plz plz feel free to head over to this Instagram post and comment what helped you!!!
First, I would try easing the blister symptoms with Boiron’s calendula cream, and possibly Active Skin Repair’s spray.
Next, if the throat is bothersome I would spray Beekeeper’s Naturals Throat Soothing Spray then get them settled and cozy on the couch with a favorite movie.
I would then make them some warm water with honey to continue to soothe the throat and provide some hydration. I might even throw in a few flakes of sea salt for extra electrolyte support. I also might throw in some extra Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and probiotic drops.
If they are having a hard time getting comfortable, then I’d try either the oatmeal or epsom salt/baking soda bath. I have all on hand, so probably will depend on my mood. Ha!
The only antiviral remedy I have on hand is elderberry syrup, so depending on mood and cooperation I may try and give some of that - but if they aren’t having it I’m not stressing. If they seem severely agitated I may same-day ship some lemon balm drops and tea to try.
And repeat as needed throughout the next week.
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