While the majority of medicinal
herbs are unstudied in young children, toddlers, and infants, a few key
supplements offer health benefits and healing properties that are unmatched in
safety and efficacy by pharmaceutical drugs. Elderberry, chamomile, and lemon
balm are all essential medicinal herbs for any home with children.
Safe Medicinal Herbs for Children: Chamomile
One of
the most well-known healing herbs currently on the market, chamomile is also
one of the safest. Its calming, mildly sedative effects are safe even for
infants, and its floral, apple-like flavor is a favorite among children. Thanks
to numerous scientific studies of this popular herb, its few side effects are well-documented
and generally easy to avoid.
Chamomile's
many uses for children revolve around its antispasmodic, antiseptic,
anti-anxiety, and anti-inflammatory effects. Chamomile can be used to treat
stomach discomforts of all sorts, as well as headaches or other pains
associated with anxiety. It is well-known for alleviating hyperactivity and
insomnia, making it especially useful for children with ADHD or
autism-spectrum disorders.
Safe Medicinal Herbs for Children: Elderberry
Black
elderberry syrup, so widely used that it outsells children's cold medicines in
some parts of the world, may be the only real cure for the common cold known.
Elderberry has powerful antiviral and immune-stimulating properties, and has
been clinically proven to decrease the duration of colds, flus, and other viral infections in
both children and adults.
Elderberry
is very unique among effective alternative medicines because it causes few to
no side effects or negative interactions. While even the safest of herbal
remedies usually carry some risks, these are limited-- or even nonexistant--
with elderberry. Despite its proven safety for children, adults,
and even infants, elderberry extract appears to be as safe as pure fruit juice
itself.
Safe Medicinal Herbs for Children: Lemon Balm
Parents
and caregivers can combine the calming, mildly sedative effects of chamomile
with the antiviral punch of elderberry by using lemon balm, a member of the
mint family best known for its purported ability to fight herpes-family viral infections. Because
of this, it is especially ideal for children with chicken pox, CMV, roseola,
Eppstein-Barr, or cold sores. Its antiviral effects may also combat flus and
colds in a manner that is both safe and effective for children.
Lemon
balm also acts to soothe anxiety and decrease physical symptoms of stress,
which is important for children with anxiety disorders or who are undergoing
difficult times. Its anti-hyperactivity and mild sedative effects are also
highly beneficial for treating insomnia and the symptoms of ADHD and learning
disabilities.
Although
these medicinal herbs are all generally regarded as safe by the FDA and the
majority of physicians and herbalists, it is still very important that parents
refrain from giving herbal supplements to their children without first getting
the go-ahead from a qualified pediatrician. Only a medical doctor with a full
knowledge of your child's health history can make an accurate and safe
determination about the safety of an herb in your specific situation.
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