Did you know that you don’t always have to use herbal tinctures when you use herbs? A lot of mamas that are new to using herbs on their kiddos think that tinctures are their only option… at least if they want the herbs they’re using to work. This can lead to frustration because tinctures can be intimidating to beginners and many times kids won’t take them consistently.
Today I’m gonna tell you about 3 mild herbal preparations for children that are not only safe for your kiddos but effective and easy to use as well!
3 Mild Herbal Preparations To Use With Children
Before I share more about the 3 herbal preparations I like to use with children, let me say that you can find all the herbs I mention below at Mountain Rose Herbs — my go-to online source for high-quality herbs.
1. Herbal Tea
When I first started using herbs, back when I didn’t have any children, I started learning by making teas. Tea was simple, they tasted great, and they were a great way for me to learn about each individual herb I was using.
The only downside to teas was that I had to drink them consistently if I wanted to see the results I was looking for. Like… a lot of them. I’m typically not a very thirsty person, and I found that I had to MAKE myself drink them. In the end, this worked out for my benefit because it got me used to the flavor of herbal teas (a little raw honey helps in many cases), and it got me in a better habit of drinking healthier drinks.
When it comes to kids, it’s easy to make up a large batch of herbal tea in the morning and give it to them throughout the day. You don’t have to restrict them. Simply infuse your tea, sweeten it, and serve them as much as they’d like. This will not only help keep them hydrated and provide them with vitamins and minerals from the plant, but it will allow their bodies continuous access to the medicinal properties the herb provides.
What are some great herbs to use with herbal teas? Glad you asked.
Chamomile is great to drink all day long to help keep kids calm. It’s a nervine and it helps keep them calm and grounded. It doesn’t sedate them… it just keeps them from getting over-excited. This is great if your kids struggle to fall asleep well at night.
Red clover is a great tea to drink all day if your kids have a dry, spastic cough. It’s an anti-spasmodic and has an affinity for the respiratory tract. Plus, it’s one of the most nutrient-dense herbs available as it’s full of vitamins and minerals. This is a great herb to include in your kid’s daily multi-vitamin infusions.
Sage tea is a great tea for kids because it works on so many levels and it tastes good. One of the more common things sage is known for is as an antibacterial herb that’s also a diuretic so if your kid is prone to UTIs… sage tea it is!
Oh… don’t forget to learn how to brew the perfect cup of herbal tea too!
2. Herbal Salves
Herbal salves are one of my most favorite mild herbal preparations make and use. There are endless herb combinations that can be created, they’re easy to store and use, they work well, and they can be combined with the power of essential oils.
When it comes to kids, salves are a mild herbal preparation that can be used without worry. For my kids, putting an herbal salve on them (for whatever reason) is like using a band-aid for a boo-boo. It simply makes everything all better. In fact, kids can use salves all by themselves!
Salves and kids go hand-in-hand because you don’t have to worry about your kid using too much. If you wanna use essential oils on your kids and you’re concerned about essential oil safety, salves are a great way to use them in a safe, properly diluted manner. Salves can be used as much as you like, and they absorb into the skin fairly well.
A few great salves to keep on hand with kids is an antibacterial salve for cuts and scrapes, a black drawing salve for bug bites and splinter, and a diaper rash salve if you have a baby.
If you wanna learn more about making your own salves, check out my guide – The ULTIMATE How-To Guide To Making Herbal Ointments, Salves, and Balms. It teaches you everything you need to know, how to do it, and even gives you 5 of my own personal recipes that are exclusive to that guide… including my black drawing salve recipe.
3. Herbal Hydrosols (Floral Water)
Herbal hydrosols are one of my favorite things to use on myself and my kids. They’re mild, they’re versatile, and they smell so nice.
Hydrosols are a by-product of essential oil distillation. When you distill herbs, you end up with herbal steam that condenses into a liquid… the hydrosol and the essential oil. As you know, oil and water don’t mix so the essential oil rises to the top of the floral water and is siphoned off and sold. If you wanna learn more about hydrosols and get a great recipe for a Calendula Spritzer, check out Week 4 of the Calendula Herb Challenge we did here on the blog a while back.
Now when it comes to kids, hydrosols can be used in a few different ways. They can be applied directly to the skin to soothe irritations (calendula), itches (peppermint), stings, and other common skin issues. They can be added to bathwater for babies to help baby relax and benefit their skin (lavender). They can be used as an air freshener when kids are sick (rosemary), need to wake up (lemon verbena), or need to rest.
One thing to keep in mind with hydrosols though is to keep them refrigerated and out of the reach of your kids. By keeping them cool, you’ll prolong their shelf-life, and by keeping them out of little hands, you’ll prolong your hydrosol. Am I the only mom who’s kids spill everything?
So there you go! 3 mild herbal preparations you can use with your kiddos. Try ’em out and see which work best for you and your family.
Just made a Sage, Honey, Lemon and Propolis for throat and noticed effect immediately
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!