Did you know there are herbs that are safe for children 6 months old and older? This means we can work with kid-friendly herbs to make holistic remedies for our children!

Herbal Treatment vs Professional Medical Help

Let me preface this with, use your best judgement when determining if an herbal remedy or a trip to the pediatrician is best. At home remedies are great, but there is always a time and place for western medicine. It is best practice to seek professional medical help if your child is not responding to herbal treatments, has a fever greater than 102F, has a low-grade persistent fever, is lethargic or weak, complains of a stiff neck and headache and is unable to touch their chin to their chest, contracts recurring ear infections, becomes dehydrated, shows signs of a severe allergic reaction, has red streaks on the skin emanating from a point of infection, or has a severe burn that extends over an area twice the size of the child’s hand or if a burn appears infected. Plus, all of the obvious ones like unconsciousness, unresponsive, difficulty breathing, hemorrhaging, delirium, etc.

Now I know reading all that was probably stressful haha but it’s important to know when you may be able to treat something at home and when you should skip straight to professional medical help.

Now Let’s Look at Herbs

Herbs provide an effective, gentle system of healing for children. Since children tend to be more sensitive, their bodies often respond well and quickly to the natural benefits of herbs. When used thoughtfully, herbs work with a child’s system rather than disrupting it – unlick some modern medicines, which can be a bit harsher on their delicate balance.

Despite what some may think, herbs and conventional medicine don’t have to be in conflict – they can actually work well together! Herbs are great for easing everyday aches and minor issues, supporting the body’s natural defenses, and helping bring things back into balance over time. On the other hand, modern medicine is especially effective in urgent situations, when fast action is needed to manage serious or life-threatening conditions.

While conventional medicine can be fast and effective, its main focus is usually on quickly eliminating symptoms. That approach can be necessary, but it’s not without downsides – especially as we’ve come to understand that the treatment itself can sometimes cause additional issues. Pharmaceuticals are powerful, and in children’s smaller bodies, that strength can lead to unwanted side effects. So while there’s definitely a time and place for modern medicine, it’s worth turning to gentle, well-established herbal remedies whenever it’s safe and appropriate to do so.

We are going to discuss some of the well-known kid-friendly herbs as well as share a recipe below! But first I want to put up a disclaimer: some children are more prone to allergies than others. If you are worried about how your child will react to a particular herb, try a patch test. Make a tea with the herb, then “paint” a small amount of the tea onto the skin of the child’s inner arm. Wait 24 hours, keeping an eye on that spot. If you notice any adverse reactions – skin rash, itchy eyes, throat swelling, itchiness – discontinue use immediately. If the child has no reaction, try having them drink a very small amount of the tea and again wait 24 hours monitoring for any reactions.

Kid-Friendly Herbs

Now let’s get into it! We are going to list out the herbs and their botanical names (this is in case you want to source your own herbs to try remedies at home, knowing the botanical name will ensure you find the right herb). If you would like to inquire about purchasing a small portion of one of these herbs, please use this contact form to inquire. If you would like to purchase a large quantity of herbs, visit Starwest Botanicals.

Here is a list of the most recommended herbs for children:

-Anise seed (Pimpinella anisum)

-Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus)

-Catnip leaves & flowers (Nepeta cataria)

-Chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita & Anthemis nobilis)

-Dill seed (Anethum graveolens)

-Echinacea roots, leaves, flowers, & seeds (Echinacea angustifolia & Echinacea purpurea

-Elder berries and flowers (Sambucus nigra)

-Elecampane root (Inula helenium)

-Fennel seed, leaves, & flowers (Foeniculum vulgare)

-Hawthorn fruits, flowers, leaves & young twigs (Crataegus oxyacantha & Crataegus monogyna)

-Hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

-Lemon Balm leaves (Melissa officinalis)

-Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

-Marshmallow root, leaves, & flowers (Althaea officinalis)

-Nettle leaves & roots (Urtica dioica)

-Milky Oats, oats & stalks (Avena sativa)

-Peppermint leaves and flowers (Mentha piperita)

-Red Clover flowering tops and leaves (Trifolium pratense)

-Red Raspberry leaves, young shoots, & fruit (Rubus idaeus)

-Rose hips, leaves, & flowers (Rosa canina & related species)

-Slippery Elm inner bark (Ulmus fulva & Ulmus rubra)

-Spearmint leaves and flowers (Mentha spicata)

-Stevia leaves (Stevia rebaudiana)

-Wild Cherry inner bark (Prunus serotina)

Surprised how long the list is? There are actually a bunch more that are considered safe for kids in small doses, but these are the most common and have the longest known usage in children – better to stick to these first and branch out later.

DIY Herbal Teething Pops

Ingredients

• 1 tsp organic catnip
• 2 tsp organic chamomile
• 8.5 oz boiling water
• 2 oz organic apple juice

Materials

• Teaspoon measuring spoon
• Jar or cup with a lid
• Mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Measuring cup
• Popsicle tray (silicone is easiest to get the finished product out)
• Popsicle sticks (if your popsicle tray doesn’t come with reusable sticks)

Instructions

• Step One: Measure out your herbs. Try to use organic when possible. Wildcrafted is next best! (This means it was harvested in its natural habitat.)

• Step Two: Add the measured herbs to a jar or cup (one with a lid)

• Step Three: Pour 8.5 oz of boiling water over the herbs and close the lid.

• Step Four: Steep for 12 minutes, shaking gently every 3 minutes.

• Step Five: Prep your measuring cup and strainer (mesh or cheese cloth).

• Step Six: Pour herbal infusion through your strainer. Press down on the herbs to get out as much liquid as possible. Should be about 8 ounces.

• Step Seven: Mix the organic apple juice into the herbal infusion. Let cool.

• Step Eight: Pour the mixture into your popsicle tray. Add in your popsicle sticks or tray toppers. Set in your freezer and leave overnight.

• Step Nine: Once frozen, you can leave in the tray until needed or wrap in parchment paper or wax paper and put in a freezer bag.
• Step Ten: To use, let your child (6 months or older) suck on the popsicle to aid with teething pains. Use once a day as needed. These are good for 6 months in the freezer.

Sage & Sunshine 🌿☀️
~Savanna