When it comes to giving herbal treatments to our children, we're all uncertain and worried. In fact, children's bodies are smaller compared to ours, how do we know the correct dosage? And aren't there all kinds of horror stories about kids having bad reactions to herbs? Included with these concerns are doctors and pediatricians who often dissuade the use of herbs in children.
First, to answer the title question - are herbs safe for the children? The short response is yes. The longer response is that it will depend on the herb and the problem the child is having. Following are a handful of short guidelines on giving herbs to children.
When in Doubt, Give Less
If you are unsure of a dosage, offer the smallest possible dose. You can adjust the dosage to suit your child's weight - the adult dose is normally for a 150-pound adult, so a 25 pound child would get 1/6th the dose. However, if you are not certain, err on the side of less. Keep in mind, less is usually more when it comes to herbal treatments.
Herbal Preparations Targeted at Kids May or May Not Be Efficient
You will find controversial studies regarding the effectiveness of herbs in many children's remedies. However, remedies and mixes sold designed for children are typically safe.
You'll find natural herbs that are generally considered safe for children, and are still very effective. Here is a listing of some of those herbal remedies.
• Chamomile - Peter Rabbit's mom was correct - chamomile tea does help calm the nerves. As long as your child does not have a ragweed allergy (the chamomile flower is related to ragweed), this soothing tea can be taken at standard strength by young kids. You can even make up some chamomile tea and combine small amounts of it in the child's regular drinks during the day to help calm nerves and anxiety. A lot of children enjoy chamomile sweetened with a little honey or stevia.
• Mints - Peppermint as well as spearmint are safe herbs which are great for children. To begin with, peppermint and also spearmint taste good that will help flavor other teas that may not taste as good. Mint tea can help soothe digestion and are fairly safe for the kids. Again, honey and stevia make great sweeteners.
• Lemon Balm - This lemony herb makes a delicious beverage, hot or iced. It is extremely safe, but also quite effective - it's antiviral and helps soothe and calm. It promotes sleep too. It's an herb which can be brewed into a "lemon-balm-ade" and drunk through the day, or it can be brewed hot and relished with honey.
• Fennel - This time-honored remedy for colic in babies is recognized as a safe herb for the kids. Brewed into a tea, fennel seeds help digestion and soothe the stomach. It's been shown in studies to be as effective as commercial gas relief drops. It tastes similar to licorice and makes a pleasing tea.
Other sites on Herbal Natural Remedies
No comments:
Post a Comment