As parents, we often find ourselves searching for safe and effective ways to ease our children's discomfort, especially when it comes to nagging tummy pains. While a trip to the doctor is essential for diagnosing and treating underlying issues, nature provides us with herbal remedies that, when used thoughtfully and responsibly, can offer a natural alternative to soothe children’s mild to moderate stomach discomfort. Let’s explore the benefits of these herbs and how you can incorporate them with your little ones.
CATNIP (Nepeta cataria)
Other than its famous allure for felines, catnip (also known by its Latin name Nepeta cataria) is a fragrant herb that has been cherished for centuries due to its unique properties. Catnip possesses antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, and nervine properties. It can help ease stomach upset, indigestion, gas, colic, and diarrhea in children [1]. If digestive discomfort is the result of nervousness, stress, or anxiety, catnip is an excellent choice due to its ability to relax muscles and tissues in the digestive tract. This herb can also help manage fever as it cools the body by promoting sweating [2].
CHAMOMILE (Matricaria recutita)
Matricaria recutita, commonly known as German chamomile, is a well-loved and widely recognized herb in the world of natural remedies. This gentle herb has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, nervine, and relaxing properties [1,2]. Chamomile can help reduce tummy pain, cramping, gas, bloating, colic, and, similar to catnip, can promote relaxation to calm the nervous system [2]. It’s also an excellent remedy to use before bedtime for restlessness and insomnia, or with infants who are teething [3].
FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel is a fragrant and flavourful herb that possesses carminative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and bronchodilator properties. It can help relax the digestive muscles and alleviate cramping, pain, gas, and colic. Fennel can also be good for nausea, vomiting, digestion, and appetite stimulation. It has mild laxative properties which make it a gentle choice for relieving constipation in children. In addition, due to its bronchodilator action, it can be used to help manage respiratory infections and coughs [1,2,3].
GINGER (Zingiber officinale)
Although ginger is well-known and documented for relieving nausea in pregnancy, motion sickness, and after surgery, it has various other uses. It possesses anti-inflammatory, carminative, antispasmodic, circulatory stimulant, and diaphoretic properties. This spice has a potent and pungent taste that warms the body and increases blood flow to the digestive tract. It can help ease digestive upset, bloating, gas, and colic. Its volatile oils stimulate digestive secretions and muscles, which make it an excellent choice for indigestion. It can also alleviate fever by promoting sweating, warm the body when experiencing chills, and soothe sore throats and cough [1,2,3].
LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis)
As the name suggests, lemon balm is a lemony herb with a fragrance that can be appealing to kids. It’s rich in volatile oils, giving it medicinal properties that are antispasmodic, carminative, antiviral, antidepressant, diaphoretic, and nervine. It can relieve tummy pain, cramping, indigestion, bloating, and gas. Due to its mild antidepressant action, it’s an excellent choice when digestive complaints are associated with anxiety and/or depression. Similar to catnip and ginger, it can aid in fever by promoting perspiration, as well as counteract viral infections such as cold and flu and food poisoning. Lemon balm is also an uplifting nervine, which makes it a good choice for relieving nervous tension, anxiety, and stress [1,2,3].
PEPPERMINT (Mentha piperita)
Peppermint boasts medicinal properties outside of its use in the culinary world, which include acting as an antispasmodic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, nervine, antiemetic, and antimicrobial. It can help relax digestive muscles, reduce bloating and gas, alleviate nausea, and promote digestion, making it an excellent choice for easing stomach discomfort and overall digestive well-being in children. It has traditionally been used to help with fevers and cold and flu, and can calm the nervous system while relieving tension. Peppermint’s taste can be quite appealing to children, making it a useful staple to have in your medicine cabinet [1,2,3].
ADMINISTERING HERBS TO CHILDREN
This can sometimes be a challenge, primarily due to taste preferences. Fortunately, there are various creative ways to make the “herbal experience” more enjoyable for your little ones. Here are some tips and unique ways to help your child embrace the benefits of herbal remedies while addressing the taste dilemma.
Herbal Teas: Infusing herbs in a mild herbal tea is one of the simplest and most time-tested methods. The longer herbs are steeped, the more active ingredients are infused into the tea, but also the more unpleasant the taste becomes. A mild tea can be steeped for 5–15 minutes. After it cools to a lukewarm temperature, you can offer it to your child to drink. To make it more appealing, a touch of honey can be added for natural sweetness and extra flavour. Additionally, you can try herbal blends specifically designed for children that come in tea bags with more pleasant flavours.
Herbal Gummies: Turn herbal teas into homemade gummies by adding a natural gelling agent like agar or gelatin. Children are often more receptive to gummies, and you can adjust the sweetness according to their taste. You can find silicone moulds in various shapes and sizes to make your own, which can add an extra layer of fun for kids.
Herbal Popsicles: Create herbal popsicles by freezing a herbal infusion with some fruit juice. These icy treats can make taking herbs feel like a delightful experience.
Herbal Syrups: Herbal syrups can be a tasty way to administer herbs to children. Some herbal remedies come in syrup form already, but you can also make your own by mixing herbal tea with sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup.
Tinctures: A tincture is a concentrated, liquid herbal extract typically made by steeping herbs in alcohol. As an alternative, look for tinctures that are formulated for children as they will be alcohol-free and are often formulated with glycerine instead. They typically come with a glass dropper that allows for precise dosing. Since tinctures are concentrated, their taste can be strong and unappealing to children, but one benefit is you’ll only need a small amount. They can easily be diluted in some water or juice to make their taste more palatable for your child. Tinctures are convenient and effective for introducing herbal remedies to little ones, offering precise dosing, and preserving the herbs' beneficial properties.
Note: Always ensure that the tincture is age-appropriate and safe for your child before use.
DETERMINE DOSE AND SAFETY
Before using any herbal remedy with your child, consult a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate dose for their age, weight, and specific needs. Dosage is also specific to the herbal formula used, such as a tea or tincture, so discussing this is important. Be sure to disclose any allergies, underlying medical conditions, and medications so your healthcare provider can determine if a herbal remedy is safe for your child.
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION
When introducing herbals to your child, involve them in the process. Let them help pick the herbs, brew the tea, or make the herbal gummies. Explain to them the benefits of each herb and why you’re encouraging them to try it. Ask for their feedback and offer solutions to improve the taste, if necessary. By participating and understanding, your child may become more open to the idea of using herbs for their well-being.
Incorporating herbal remedies into your child's wellness routine can be a gentle and holistic way to address common health concerns. By understanding the unique properties of herbs like catnip, chamomile, fennel, ginger, lemon balm, and peppermint, parents can provide natural relief for their children's abdominal discomfort, all while fostering a deeper connection with the healing power of nature. Remember that safety and dosage are paramount, so always consult with a healthcare professional before introducing herbal remedies to your child's routine. With responsible use and creativity, these herbal allies can provide comfort and support on the journey to your child's optimal well-being.
**This article was originally published in The Whole Family Magazine, a publication by EcoParent: www.ecoparent.ca.
References:
Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press; 2003.
Bove M. An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants. 2nd ed. Keats Publishing; 2001.
Pickrell C, Saunders P. Advanced Botanical Prescribing. CCNM Press Inc; 2016.
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