There are many reasons why a parent might want to consider natural remedies for their children. I know for myself it was something that happened organically when I was looking for alternatives to cortisone cream for eczema that I thought that there must be a healthier option. I am always looking out for natural alternatives to support my children’s health in order to avoid trips to the hospital or deal with side effects of pharmaceuticals.
Mothers always seem to be interested in the same things I was interested in…how to treat an active illness or avoid them getting sick altogether. For this reason, I wanted to put together a post for you in hopes of shinning some light on herbs and things you might want to look at in order to keep your family healthy.
Safety
When looking at natural remedies, safety always comes first. Children’s weight is very different from one year to the next and their body is always changing and growing, so it is very important to dose correctly and avoid any remedies that might be problematic. A naturopathic physician is a great guide if you want to have someone that is knowledgeable and keeps records of your child’s weight and also able to guide you in the right natural direction.
The general recommendation for dosing is:
Clark’s rule: Child’s weight in pounds divide by 150, multiply by the adult dose.
Young’s rule: childs age x the adult dose then divide the answer by the age of child plus 12
Here is a helpful graphic:
Caution
There are any herbs that should be avoided or used with caution when it comes to children. Homeopathic remedies and whole plant or leaf herbs are not treated the same. So for example if you are looking at Belladonna 30c as a remedy for viral infections it is safe to use with kids while the plant Belladonna should NOT be given to kids. This all has to do with the dilution of the herb. Aconite homeopathic remedy is safe while the plant is not, hope you get the idea.
Other herbs that should be avoid or used with caution are blue chose, borage, calamus, coltsfoot, comfrey, lobelia, pennyroyal, poke root, skullcap, ephedra, and wormwood. (1)
Look more into the herbal actions and which body system they might effect like cardiac issues or immune stimulants such as ginkgo, ginseng, kava, St Johns wort, valerian even echinacea. Valerian is a sedative along with California Poppy and skullcap meaning your child might not be able to regulate properly since it is strong so I recommend to look at alternative options for things that help with stress and sleep that are safer options for kids.
Another herb is goldenseal that is recommend to be avoided with children as is has been linked to brain damage in some kids. (2)
Chamomile is a very safe herb to work with for sleep and the nervous system with children but if you child is allergic to any flowers in the ragweed family it should be avoided.
Licorice root is a great one to use and it tastes great but in adults and in children it should not be used for a long time or in high doses as it can cause heart issues and increased blood pressure. (3)
Of course this is not the whole list. Again, if you are unsure how to properly dose or which herb to take, work with a qualified medical professional. When looking into herbs or tinctures it is the quality that counts. Choose herbs from a reliable source or make them yourself.
Remedies
I could write a whole book on remedies and which herbs and homeopathic remedies to take for what (there are many books already written about these topics) but here are some common issues and my own favorite herbs for you to look into.
Anxiety: For nervousness and anxiousness or leaning towards ADHD, lemon balm or catnip are my favorite herbs of choice. They are gentle and calming without the side effects of drowsiness. Both of these are very effective for children. Using them in a tea infusion or a tincture to include in your daily routine are my favorite ways of getting them in the system.
Illness: You have probably heard of Elderberries because they have a reputation in the natural remedy circles. For good reason! I use elderberry every year to make syrups or tinctures for my own family wellness. If there is a bug going around, or we are traveling, this is the one to take. I make a dual extracted tincture of elderberries and prefer the tincture honestly as it does not have the sugar that most syrup recipes call for. I also use usnea as a tincture or a spray if I know there is a bacteria infection brewing. This is where licorice can be helpful as it is great for respiratory issues and coughs. Homeopathy is my go-to for kids (as well as adults) but is a whole different subject as homeopathy looks at the symptoms and treats the symptoms which are very different for every person. I have a lot of homeopathic remedies and I found them used along with hydration and herbs really helpful.
Safety: Licorice root should not be used for long term or in high doses. Most of the side effects are due to glycyrrhizin. There is DGL licorice with reduces these risks. Look out for signs of low potassium such as muscle weakness, swelling, high blood pressure, heart irregularraties and rapid heart rate. Safety for usnea is down below.
Tummy: If you follow me over on Instagram then I did a story about upset stomachs and how hydration is really important. Tea is the best thing that you can give your kids which has a combo or individual herbs of chamomile, ginger or fennel. If there is diarrhea then things like bananas, oats, apples or sweet potatoes can be helpful. Also adding in those electrolytes with pink salt goes a long way. I did a reel about a pedialyte alternative on a IG reel once which you can look up that makes replenishing the body tasty.
Make sure to include lots of probiotic foods such as unsweet yogurt, sauerkraut or miso soup. Homemade soups with bone broth, organic veggies, chicken and rice will help speed up the healing process. If you are looking to rebuild the gut microbe a good mix is some plantain, slippery elm and medicinal mushrooms. I do have this available on hand in my shop if you are interested getting a premade one and having it on hand. Just reach out.
Ears: Ear infections are very common with children, but you need to watch out for any signs of the infection getting worse or something that requires immediate help by a qualified practitioner. Signs such as high fever with visible pus, nausea and/or vomiting. If your child looks off (and you will only know) do not wait because this is one of these things to eep an eye on in case it develops into bacterial meningitis, facial paralysis or brain abscess. (4)
With the first sign of an infection I like to use a mullein and garlic combo as ear drops. You can make the oil your self and I have a tutorial over on Instagram if you are looking for one. There are also great premade ones with these two main ingredients as well. I use these ear drops up to three times a day and also massage behind the ear in a downward motion to help drain the infection. Acupressure points are helpful also to boost the immune system as well as herbs like the favorite elderberry as well as yarrow to help bring down the fever.
Lungs: Mullein and lungwort lichen are great for respiratory health, I make some blends here when working with people with COPD or lung issues and that combo works wonders. With children, essential oils are really useful in helping clear the airways. Frankincense and lavender, fir needle and black spruce are all great oils to have on hand and make your own chest rub if you need to. Thyme tea mixed with honey (if your child is over 1yr) can be sipped throughout the day.
Safety: Mullein can cause skin irritation and breathing difficulties. These are signs of an allergic reaction and you need to discontinue it if this occurs.
Allergies: If your child suffers from allergies during times of spring or fall, stinging nettle in a tincture is what I make when we have them start popping up. Tinctures last longer and sometimes I share these with mamas in our community when they have kids dealing with allergies. Homeopathic remedies are available premade as tablets for allergies, it is also a great mix that often works well with stinging nettle.
The tincture or tea can also be applied topically for bites and burns to ease the pain and help the healing process. On the full article on stinging nettle, click here.
Side note: When using tinctures with children, they most likely will not like it straight if it is alcohol based. You can dilute them in a small amount of water to help them get it down.
Sleep: Many kids suffer from sleep issues. Maybe they have anxiety about school or friends or are needing a close connection with you, there are many root causes to why they might not be sleeping. Sleep routines work wonders for kids and adults. No screen time before bed and having a nighttime ritual can help them know what is coming and feel safer when it comes to separating from you during the sleeping hours.
Lavender and chamomile essential oils are great rubs if you need them to fall asleep. If they cannot seem to go to sleep and seem like they are wired Coffea Cruda in a 30c is what I use but one of my kids only Ignatia 30c seems to help him.
Herbs such as chamomile or catnip as a tea after dinnertime can help ease them into sleep as well. When working with people for sleep issues, there is a combo of herbs in a tincture I make for them along with recommended lifestyle changes such as reading, prayer and deep breathing you can also teach your kids.
The tincture for adults needs to just be adjusted for children’s doses as stated above.
Safety: People with allergies to the Asteraceae family, ragweed and chrysanthemums should not take chamomile.
Strep: In this post I talk about managing your childs sore throat in greater detail where I give a recipe for a sore throat syrup but what about a bacterial infection such as strep? We recently heard strep going around in my kids martial arts gym and I got my herbs ready just in case because it is highly contagious. Symptoms for strep can oftentimes be the same as a regular sore throat with swollen lymph nodes and difficulty swallowing.
The main thing about strep is that it will have a yellowish coating on the throat and tonsils, red spots on the roof of the mouth and maybe headaches, fevers and body aches along with it. If not addressed there are serious complications such as scarlet fever or PANDAS.
Boosting the immune system with herbs like elderberry is great. One herb that is used for step is echinacea as a gargle in its tincture format in the back of the throat making sure it touches the infected areas. Usnea is also great as a spray to destroy the bacteria associated with strep and I use the double extracted tincture of usnea in the back of the throat to help my child as a throat spray if I do not have echinacea.
Safety: Usnea should not be taken for long term use internally. Take it to address the problem for a short period of time. Taking usnea for a long period of time can cause liver damage.
Also, do not underestimate the powers of just plain ol salt and water gargle. If you want to add herbs then look into making a tea infusion with either thyme or licorice root and let them cool before giving it to your child for a gargle.
Final thoughts
Diving into herbs and children is a very large topic. Always make sure that the herb that you are giving your child has a correct dose and you know the action of that herb on the body before you administer it. Work with a naturopathic doctor if you have any doubts as every child is different and you know best what your child needs.
My favorite remedies to have on hand include a list of homeopathic remedies that I know my own children respond well to (this is after years of case taking) and regular herbs such as echinacea, elderberry extract, usnea, lavender, chamomile and thyme.
If you are just starting out this may seem like it is a lot of information, my invitation to you would be to start small maybe with an issue that you see pop up with your family time after time like colds or flue or sleep, choose one thing that you want to try differently and then work into incorporating other remedies under your belt after you gain some confidence in that one area.
Maybe starting with one child and see if chamomile chest rub will help for sleep or maybe doing a prayer time and deep breathing before bed would help ease their anxiety. If that does help them add one more child to work with and see how they respond to an herb.
I hope these have been helpful tips in keeping your family healthy on the journey.
God bless you and yours,
Krystina
