My Favorite Herbal Formulas For Children

There is nothing worse than watching a child suffer. Typical childhood conditions can often have very simple herbal remedies. Here are a few of my tried and true solutions... Sleeping is one of the essential aspects of health, healing and growth in children. Without deep, restorative sleep, children can become listless, inattentive, moody, combative and even disengage from daily family activities. One of the best formulas I have found is a combination of Chamomile, Passionflower, Lemon Balm and Lavender extracts and I give one dose before bed each night. It does wonders for making your child bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning.

Colic is a common complaint in many infants, particularly those that have not been breast-fed and those that were premature. Their digestive systems may not be fully formed and often are easily irritated by the synthetics common in formulas and milk products. I suggest an herbal formula given three times a day about 30 minutes before each meal. My favorite combination is Chamomile, Fennel and Lemon Balm, sometimes with Marshmallow Root if there is extensive gastrointestinal irritation.

Food allergies or intolerances are also common in children as their system adjusts to the demands of fibrous foods and bacterial content that is common in conventional fruits and vegetables. Often the store-bought bottles of fruits and vegetables contain pesticides, bacteria and other contaminants that are not removed in the cleansing and bottling process. A formula provided three times a day just before meals is the perfect way to help children’s delicate systems adjust. I use a combination of Angelica or Cinnamon with Baical Skullcap, Albizia, Echinacea Premium, Chamomile and Schisandra.

Eczema is common in children where the mother received large doses of drugs during delivery or where the liver has been compromised early in the child’s development. Eczema can also occur as a reaction to synthetic fabrics, heavy metals, pollutants and other irritants early in infancy. A topical cream that is a blend of natural herbs in a vitamin E base is great, but an oral tonic is the basis for systemic change. A blend of Echinacea Premium, Baical Skullcap and Nettle Leaf is perfect for changing the delicate skin of a child.

Croup is something that our grandmothers commented on, and although you might think it has gone the way of other historical illnesses, it is in fact, alive and common in our children. Croup can be found in adults just as much as in children and the basic tablet treatment is Echinacea Premium. However a tonic blend is better for children that are not yet able to swallow pills, in which case I blend Pelargonium, Eyebright, Chamomile and Andrographis together and dose a few times each day with warm water.

Be sure to check on infant and children’s herbal dosages to be sure you are providing the maximum effect with the minimum effort. Young’s Rule and Clark’s Rule are the most common choices for dosage guidelines. Please ask your natural physician if you have any questions.