Herbs for Babies and Kids
Herbal medicine is nourishing, preventive and healing for babies and kids. In this forum for parents, Susan Perri, Clinical Herbalist writes about herbs for babies and kids.
Q & A's On This Page
Herbal For Ritalin?
Constipation & Toilet Training
Asthma - Lobelia Treatment
Antibiotics - Herbal Alternatives
Administering Herbs To Children
Fever Relief With Herbs Articles by Susan Perri:
Herbs for Postpartum Baby
Herbs and Breastfeeding
Care of the Newborn
Herbal Substitute For Ritalin?
Q: Can you recommend an herbal substitute for Ritalin?
A: Ritalin and dexedrine are commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. To seek balance and create a more lasting solution to this problem, it is necessary to unravel the implication of chemical pollutants. Also called "sick school syndrome", ADHD is a cognitive and behavioral disorder characterized by any or all of the following:
-inability to concentrate
-anxiety
-memory loss
-mood swings
-hyperactivity
-restlessness and fatigue
-headache
The biological bases of ADHD are twofold according to an integrative medical perspective. Toxins from chemical exposures lead to neurotoxicity and decreased oxygen in the brain. This is manifest most obviously as the symptoms previously mentioned. Chemical exposures from construction, renovation, housekeeping and maintenance, carpeting, pest control, and classroom materials (i.e. hexane from permanent markers) act as excitatory neurotoxins, reducing brain stem function.
Chemical additives and preservatives in processed foods, such as Nutra Sweet and MSG, have a similar effect. The death of cells in the brain stem and reduced oxygen circulation impair learning and contribute to behavioral disturbances. Ritalin and dexedrine stimulate the brain stem in ADHD individuals, allowing them to stay focused. When taken or abused by others, these drugs have an effect like amphetamines.
The other contributing factor is undetected food allergies. Sensitivities to gluten containing grains (i.e. wheat and oats) and dairy, corn, soy, nuts, and chocolate can exacerbate the problem. Excellent resources documenting the link between chemical exposures, food allergies, and hyperactivity and learning disabilities are the books by Dr. Doris Rapp (The Impossible Child and Is This Your Child?). Look for dark under eye circles and reddened tops of the ears as telltale indicators for chemical toxicity or food allergies.
Rather than apply the pharmaceutical band-aid, herbs, nutrients, and a whole foods diet can correct the underlying imbalance. It is first most important to avoid further chemical exposures. Work with the administration of your child's school to create a chemically free environment, or remove your child to safer surroundings. Eliminate allergens from the diet and monitor changes in your child's behavior and disposition. Clear chemicals in the blood, lipid soluble toxins in the brain, and increase oxygen transport with herbal therapy.
Kava kava root is a Polynesian herb long used in traditional ceremonies and gatherings as a sedative and mood enhancer. Kava kava helps to moderate spirits, settle aggression, relieve tension, and promote a general feeling of well being.
Lemon balm is a classic herbal nervine, or nervous system tonic. It tones and balances central and peripheral nervous system function and is extremely nutritive to these essential systems, while providing a refreshing, cooling taste.
Nettle is another nutritive tonic rich in minerals and micronutrients. Nettle works to clear heat and stagnation in the blood while balancing adrenal activity, promoting calm.
Milky oat refers to the unripened seed of the wild oat plant. This is a noteworthy adaptogen, working with the body to balance hormones and chemicals. Milky oat provides basic building blocks for the synthesis of specific materials deficient in the body. With the proper biochemical balance in the brain, children are able to act and respond appropriately.
Bilberry leaves are packed with a full spectrum of antioxidant phytonutrients, helping to repair and restore free radical damage caused by chemical injuries. Bilberry helps promote oxygen transport and is specific for brain toxicity.
Herbs are not a quick fix, and best results are seen through a commitment to regular, extensive use in conjunction with a healthy, unrefined diet.
Constipation And Toilet Training
Q: My 4 year-old son has just recently started using the toilet and it seems to have affected his bowel movements. When he was in diapers, he moved his bowels at least daily. However, over the last two weeks, he has had only 4 BMs. I have been feeding him fresh produce and as many whole grains as possible. Are there some herbs to help in this?
A: How wonderful to finally be leaving diapers behind! It is a transition for your son, and he may be feeling more aware of his body and his urges to "go". As a result, he is exerting more control over these impulses and to a degree this is normal and will pass as he grows into the new routine. In terms of herbal support, there are some specific laxative herbs, which tend to be rather harsh for children. But bulk fibers are ideal for use in children. These include oat bran, wheat bran, celery fiber, flax seed, slippery elm powder, and apple pectin. Try serving a healthy bran cereal in the mornings for breakfast, or some tasty muffins made with bran and/or flax seeds as snacks. Dried fruits also make a good snack and have a mild laxative effect. In addition, you can mix a teaspoon of any of those fibers per one cup of warm apple juice. Since your son is so young, I would recommend the apple pectin and/or the slippery elm powder. These are sweet tasting and will mix well with the juice. If he will take prune juice, that could also be of benefit. He may need a little reassurance about using the potty, and reinforcement that he's doing a great job. Extra emotional support can work wonders. Check in with your primary care provider if you are feeling that something is not right, or are seeing no improvement.
Asthma - Lobelia Treatment
Q: My child has severe asthma. Can I give my child the herb Lobelia, and what would be the correct dosage?
A: The rise in the use of pervasive chemicals in our environment has been paralleled by an increase in respiratory problems in children, the most common being allergies and asthma. Asthma is often brought on or exacerbated by allergies. It would be beneficial to have your child tested for allergies to determine if this is true for your situation, as it can easily be helped with natural therapies. Usually it is allergies to mold and dust, as well as certain foods, that underlie chronic asthma. Typical food offenders include dairy products, soy, chocolate, peanuts, corn, and wheat and other gluten-containing grains. Work with a practitioner who can help properly diagnose these allergies. An elimination diet may be sufficient to control your child's asthma.
In an attack situation, you may use lobelia. However, the tincture (especially fresh flower extract) has been known to cause vomiting. Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) oxygenates the blood and opens the lungs, making it useful in acute asthma attacks where free breathing is compromised. Another alternative is inhaling the smoke of dried mullein (Verbascum thapsus) leaves. You can burn them in a shallow dish and have your child inhale the smoke. Mullein smoke is a powerful bronchiodilator, and works fast to open restricted airways. Osha root (Ligusticum porteri)in tincture form can be used similarly to restore unobstructed breathing. With both lobelia and osha, the adult tincture dose is 10 drops under the tongue. For a child, divide the child's body weight by 150 to determine the appropriate fraction of the adult dose to administer to a child. For example, a child weighing 50 pounds would receive one third the adult dose, about three drops. Another acute phase remedy is to steam with the essential oil of red thyme. Place 5-10 drops of the oil in a small pan of water, and gently heat to a boil. Remove from heat and create a "tent" around your child's head with a towel, and have her breathe in the steam through both nose and mouth.
To nourish and tonify the respiratory system, and restore the lungs, try regular use of mullein leaf as a tea or tincture. Mullein is one of the best known respiratory restorative tonics, and is fine for long term use. This will yield the most favorable results if it is followed over a course of three months or more.
Best of luck for free breathing!
Antibiotics - Herbal Alternatives
Q: In order to avoid unnecessary or over-use of antibiotics, what can be used as an herbal alternative?
A: Antibiotics are prescribed in this country at an amazingly elevated rate. So often this is the first course of action recommended by Western conventional medicine. While antibiotics have a useful purpose and do save lives by controlling infection, herbs can be equally as effective in milder and non-life threatening situations. The over-use of antibiotics has led to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. Antibiotic therapy leaves the body at a disadvantage by destroying pathogens and beneficial bacteria alike, which further predisposes the individual to recurrent infections. As an example, a child who has an ear infection and takes a course of antibiotics for treatment will likely have repeat ear infections. In Europe, doctors routinely prescribe a homeopathic medication for children's ear infections, to be followed for three days. If there is no improvement, they then turn to antibiotics.
Herbal therapy consists of controlling and eliminating infection while supporting healthy "terrain" overall. In biological medicine the internal climate or terrain is integral as a determinant of overall health and wellness, and susceptibility to illness. Herbs have been safely used over the ages in containing infections. This year millions of federal dollars have been allocated to this field of study and research, and is sure to be a topic more visible in the mainstream in years to come.
Try any individual or combination of these roots as an alternative or support for antibiotic therapy:
Goldenseal* (Hydrastis canadensis)
Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Each root contains the active alkaloid berberine, a proven antimicrobial agent. Antimicrobials are full-spectrum, useful in fungal, viral, and bacterial infections. An alcohol extract or water based decoction can be used. The appropriate dosage is based on body weight (one drop per 2 lbs. body weight) three to four times daily. Improvement should be noted within a day or two. (If there is no improvement within three days or if the symptoms worsen, please seek qualified care.) Herbal treatment should continue a full three days following the cessation of symptoms to insure a full recovery.
These roots are medicinal and bitter tasting. Bitterness can be masked by mixing tincture drops or tea with honey or sweet fruit juice. My two-year-old likes to take her drops mixed with a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. Whether completing a course of pharmaceutical or herbal antibiotic therapy, support and maintain the body's healthy and protective bacteria with probiotics. These are live active cultures, such as acidophilus and bascillus, found in yogurt and sold in supplemental form.
* Goldenseal should only be used during an acute illness for about a week. It should be not be used over an extended period of time as an immune enhancer.
Administering Herbs To Children
Q: How should herbs be administered to children?
A: Children seem to have a natural affinity for herbs, as though they can sense these are substances that will balance and restore health without causing further harm. In order to ensure your child is receiving the best possible care, it is important to educate yourself about the herbs being used, their safety, and intended use.
Tinctures are the ideal way to ingest herbs. These are concentrated doses of medicinal plants, extracted into alcohol. Glycerine based extracts are not nearly as effective. Most all chemical constituents of herbs, the active aspects which give the herbs medicinal power, are solvent into alcohol, even more so than in water. Glycerine is the least effective medium for creating a potent herbal extract, although kids do love its syrupy sweet taste. Alcohol extracts can be added to a cup of fruit juice. If alcohol is not desirable for your child in any form or quantity, the appropriate tincture dose can be added to a cup of hot tea, and left to stand about five minutes before drinking. The alcohol will evaporate out, leaving the medicine behind in the tea.
The next best option, especially if tinctures have a strong or bitter taste that is hard to mask, is to make a strong tea and blend with other herbs. Herbs long valued for their sweetness and used to improve the taste of unsavory blends are fennel, licorice, anise, and stevia. Tincture drops may also be added to a teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or other sweetener, and taken this way by the spoonful as needed.
As a dosage guideline, use Clark's Rule. This formula states that the child's weight in pounds should be divided by 150 to obtain the correct herbal dosage. For example, a 50-pound child would receive one third of the adult dosage. Another guide is to divide the child's weight in half to determine the amount of tincture drops or tablespoons of tea. As an example, a 30-pound toddler would take 15 drops of most tinctures, or 15 tablespoons (about a half cup) of tea. Some herbs are potent and potentially toxic to children, and in these cases neither formula applies, as these should be avoided altogether.
For babies under six months, it is good to have mom ingest the tincture and pass it along to baby via breastmilk. Another option is to give baby a water based extract (infusion or decoction) of the appropriate herbs through an eyedropper. The dropper can be slid alongside a nursing nipple. Once a baby is sitting up and taking other fluids/foods, it is quite fine to give herbs directly.
Fever Relief With Herbs
Q: What is a safe and effective remedy for fever relief in children?
A: Children can spike high fevers, especially during the night hours. Herbs can be tremendous allies in treating pediatric fever, since they work with the body's natural immune process, whereas pharmaceuticals do not. A fever is a normal part of a healthy immune response. Most bacteria and viruses cannot thrive above 100'F, and so a fever acts as a primal defense by literally burning up infection. Herbs can assist this process and help maintain a fever within comfortable, controllable bounds.
Elder flower (Sambucus) is hands-down one of the oldest and best-loved herbal remedies for fevers. Elder flower seems to work directly on the part of the brain responsible for temperature control. Elder flower reduces high fevers quickly, and keeps them there. It is a safe herb for kids, and mild tasting in tea or tincture form. Combine with other helpful cooling fever herbs for a tea, such as chamomile and lemon balm. Dosages can be taken hourly until fever begins to descend.
This text intends to provide information on the traditional uses of native plants, not to prescribe. If your child is not well, please seek the assistance of a competent health care provider.
http://www.healthychild.com/herbs-babies-kids-herbal-medicine.htm
Herbal medicine is nourishing, preventive and healing for babies and kids. In this forum for parents, Susan Perri, Clinical Herbalist writes about herbs for babies and kids.
Q & A's On This Page
Herbal For Ritalin?
Constipation & Toilet Training
Asthma - Lobelia Treatment
Antibiotics - Herbal Alternatives
Administering Herbs To Children
Fever Relief With Herbs Articles by Susan Perri:
Herbs for Postpartum Baby
Herbs and Breastfeeding
Care of the Newborn
Herbal Substitute For Ritalin?
Q: Can you recommend an herbal substitute for Ritalin?
A: Ritalin and dexedrine are commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. To seek balance and create a more lasting solution to this problem, it is necessary to unravel the implication of chemical pollutants. Also called "sick school syndrome", ADHD is a cognitive and behavioral disorder characterized by any or all of the following:
-inability to concentrate
-anxiety
-memory loss
-mood swings
-hyperactivity
-restlessness and fatigue
-headache
The biological bases of ADHD are twofold according to an integrative medical perspective. Toxins from chemical exposures lead to neurotoxicity and decreased oxygen in the brain. This is manifest most obviously as the symptoms previously mentioned. Chemical exposures from construction, renovation, housekeeping and maintenance, carpeting, pest control, and classroom materials (i.e. hexane from permanent markers) act as excitatory neurotoxins, reducing brain stem function.
Chemical additives and preservatives in processed foods, such as Nutra Sweet and MSG, have a similar effect. The death of cells in the brain stem and reduced oxygen circulation impair learning and contribute to behavioral disturbances. Ritalin and dexedrine stimulate the brain stem in ADHD individuals, allowing them to stay focused. When taken or abused by others, these drugs have an effect like amphetamines.
The other contributing factor is undetected food allergies. Sensitivities to gluten containing grains (i.e. wheat and oats) and dairy, corn, soy, nuts, and chocolate can exacerbate the problem. Excellent resources documenting the link between chemical exposures, food allergies, and hyperactivity and learning disabilities are the books by Dr. Doris Rapp (The Impossible Child and Is This Your Child?). Look for dark under eye circles and reddened tops of the ears as telltale indicators for chemical toxicity or food allergies.
Rather than apply the pharmaceutical band-aid, herbs, nutrients, and a whole foods diet can correct the underlying imbalance. It is first most important to avoid further chemical exposures. Work with the administration of your child's school to create a chemically free environment, or remove your child to safer surroundings. Eliminate allergens from the diet and monitor changes in your child's behavior and disposition. Clear chemicals in the blood, lipid soluble toxins in the brain, and increase oxygen transport with herbal therapy.
Kava kava root is a Polynesian herb long used in traditional ceremonies and gatherings as a sedative and mood enhancer. Kava kava helps to moderate spirits, settle aggression, relieve tension, and promote a general feeling of well being.
Lemon balm is a classic herbal nervine, or nervous system tonic. It tones and balances central and peripheral nervous system function and is extremely nutritive to these essential systems, while providing a refreshing, cooling taste.
Nettle is another nutritive tonic rich in minerals and micronutrients. Nettle works to clear heat and stagnation in the blood while balancing adrenal activity, promoting calm.
Milky oat refers to the unripened seed of the wild oat plant. This is a noteworthy adaptogen, working with the body to balance hormones and chemicals. Milky oat provides basic building blocks for the synthesis of specific materials deficient in the body. With the proper biochemical balance in the brain, children are able to act and respond appropriately.
Bilberry leaves are packed with a full spectrum of antioxidant phytonutrients, helping to repair and restore free radical damage caused by chemical injuries. Bilberry helps promote oxygen transport and is specific for brain toxicity.
Herbs are not a quick fix, and best results are seen through a commitment to regular, extensive use in conjunction with a healthy, unrefined diet.
Constipation And Toilet Training
Q: My 4 year-old son has just recently started using the toilet and it seems to have affected his bowel movements. When he was in diapers, he moved his bowels at least daily. However, over the last two weeks, he has had only 4 BMs. I have been feeding him fresh produce and as many whole grains as possible. Are there some herbs to help in this?
A: How wonderful to finally be leaving diapers behind! It is a transition for your son, and he may be feeling more aware of his body and his urges to "go". As a result, he is exerting more control over these impulses and to a degree this is normal and will pass as he grows into the new routine. In terms of herbal support, there are some specific laxative herbs, which tend to be rather harsh for children. But bulk fibers are ideal for use in children. These include oat bran, wheat bran, celery fiber, flax seed, slippery elm powder, and apple pectin. Try serving a healthy bran cereal in the mornings for breakfast, or some tasty muffins made with bran and/or flax seeds as snacks. Dried fruits also make a good snack and have a mild laxative effect. In addition, you can mix a teaspoon of any of those fibers per one cup of warm apple juice. Since your son is so young, I would recommend the apple pectin and/or the slippery elm powder. These are sweet tasting and will mix well with the juice. If he will take prune juice, that could also be of benefit. He may need a little reassurance about using the potty, and reinforcement that he's doing a great job. Extra emotional support can work wonders. Check in with your primary care provider if you are feeling that something is not right, or are seeing no improvement.
Asthma - Lobelia Treatment
Q: My child has severe asthma. Can I give my child the herb Lobelia, and what would be the correct dosage?
A: The rise in the use of pervasive chemicals in our environment has been paralleled by an increase in respiratory problems in children, the most common being allergies and asthma. Asthma is often brought on or exacerbated by allergies. It would be beneficial to have your child tested for allergies to determine if this is true for your situation, as it can easily be helped with natural therapies. Usually it is allergies to mold and dust, as well as certain foods, that underlie chronic asthma. Typical food offenders include dairy products, soy, chocolate, peanuts, corn, and wheat and other gluten-containing grains. Work with a practitioner who can help properly diagnose these allergies. An elimination diet may be sufficient to control your child's asthma.
In an attack situation, you may use lobelia. However, the tincture (especially fresh flower extract) has been known to cause vomiting. Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) oxygenates the blood and opens the lungs, making it useful in acute asthma attacks where free breathing is compromised. Another alternative is inhaling the smoke of dried mullein (Verbascum thapsus) leaves. You can burn them in a shallow dish and have your child inhale the smoke. Mullein smoke is a powerful bronchiodilator, and works fast to open restricted airways. Osha root (Ligusticum porteri)in tincture form can be used similarly to restore unobstructed breathing. With both lobelia and osha, the adult tincture dose is 10 drops under the tongue. For a child, divide the child's body weight by 150 to determine the appropriate fraction of the adult dose to administer to a child. For example, a child weighing 50 pounds would receive one third the adult dose, about three drops. Another acute phase remedy is to steam with the essential oil of red thyme. Place 5-10 drops of the oil in a small pan of water, and gently heat to a boil. Remove from heat and create a "tent" around your child's head with a towel, and have her breathe in the steam through both nose and mouth.
To nourish and tonify the respiratory system, and restore the lungs, try regular use of mullein leaf as a tea or tincture. Mullein is one of the best known respiratory restorative tonics, and is fine for long term use. This will yield the most favorable results if it is followed over a course of three months or more.
Best of luck for free breathing!
Antibiotics - Herbal Alternatives
Q: In order to avoid unnecessary or over-use of antibiotics, what can be used as an herbal alternative?
A: Antibiotics are prescribed in this country at an amazingly elevated rate. So often this is the first course of action recommended by Western conventional medicine. While antibiotics have a useful purpose and do save lives by controlling infection, herbs can be equally as effective in milder and non-life threatening situations. The over-use of antibiotics has led to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. Antibiotic therapy leaves the body at a disadvantage by destroying pathogens and beneficial bacteria alike, which further predisposes the individual to recurrent infections. As an example, a child who has an ear infection and takes a course of antibiotics for treatment will likely have repeat ear infections. In Europe, doctors routinely prescribe a homeopathic medication for children's ear infections, to be followed for three days. If there is no improvement, they then turn to antibiotics.
Herbal therapy consists of controlling and eliminating infection while supporting healthy "terrain" overall. In biological medicine the internal climate or terrain is integral as a determinant of overall health and wellness, and susceptibility to illness. Herbs have been safely used over the ages in containing infections. This year millions of federal dollars have been allocated to this field of study and research, and is sure to be a topic more visible in the mainstream in years to come.
Try any individual or combination of these roots as an alternative or support for antibiotic therapy:
Goldenseal* (Hydrastis canadensis)
Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Each root contains the active alkaloid berberine, a proven antimicrobial agent. Antimicrobials are full-spectrum, useful in fungal, viral, and bacterial infections. An alcohol extract or water based decoction can be used. The appropriate dosage is based on body weight (one drop per 2 lbs. body weight) three to four times daily. Improvement should be noted within a day or two. (If there is no improvement within three days or if the symptoms worsen, please seek qualified care.) Herbal treatment should continue a full three days following the cessation of symptoms to insure a full recovery.
These roots are medicinal and bitter tasting. Bitterness can be masked by mixing tincture drops or tea with honey or sweet fruit juice. My two-year-old likes to take her drops mixed with a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. Whether completing a course of pharmaceutical or herbal antibiotic therapy, support and maintain the body's healthy and protective bacteria with probiotics. These are live active cultures, such as acidophilus and bascillus, found in yogurt and sold in supplemental form.
* Goldenseal should only be used during an acute illness for about a week. It should be not be used over an extended period of time as an immune enhancer.
Administering Herbs To Children
Q: How should herbs be administered to children?
A: Children seem to have a natural affinity for herbs, as though they can sense these are substances that will balance and restore health without causing further harm. In order to ensure your child is receiving the best possible care, it is important to educate yourself about the herbs being used, their safety, and intended use.
Tinctures are the ideal way to ingest herbs. These are concentrated doses of medicinal plants, extracted into alcohol. Glycerine based extracts are not nearly as effective. Most all chemical constituents of herbs, the active aspects which give the herbs medicinal power, are solvent into alcohol, even more so than in water. Glycerine is the least effective medium for creating a potent herbal extract, although kids do love its syrupy sweet taste. Alcohol extracts can be added to a cup of fruit juice. If alcohol is not desirable for your child in any form or quantity, the appropriate tincture dose can be added to a cup of hot tea, and left to stand about five minutes before drinking. The alcohol will evaporate out, leaving the medicine behind in the tea.
The next best option, especially if tinctures have a strong or bitter taste that is hard to mask, is to make a strong tea and blend with other herbs. Herbs long valued for their sweetness and used to improve the taste of unsavory blends are fennel, licorice, anise, and stevia. Tincture drops may also be added to a teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or other sweetener, and taken this way by the spoonful as needed.
As a dosage guideline, use Clark's Rule. This formula states that the child's weight in pounds should be divided by 150 to obtain the correct herbal dosage. For example, a 50-pound child would receive one third of the adult dosage. Another guide is to divide the child's weight in half to determine the amount of tincture drops or tablespoons of tea. As an example, a 30-pound toddler would take 15 drops of most tinctures, or 15 tablespoons (about a half cup) of tea. Some herbs are potent and potentially toxic to children, and in these cases neither formula applies, as these should be avoided altogether.
For babies under six months, it is good to have mom ingest the tincture and pass it along to baby via breastmilk. Another option is to give baby a water based extract (infusion or decoction) of the appropriate herbs through an eyedropper. The dropper can be slid alongside a nursing nipple. Once a baby is sitting up and taking other fluids/foods, it is quite fine to give herbs directly.
Fever Relief With Herbs
Q: What is a safe and effective remedy for fever relief in children?
A: Children can spike high fevers, especially during the night hours. Herbs can be tremendous allies in treating pediatric fever, since they work with the body's natural immune process, whereas pharmaceuticals do not. A fever is a normal part of a healthy immune response. Most bacteria and viruses cannot thrive above 100'F, and so a fever acts as a primal defense by literally burning up infection. Herbs can assist this process and help maintain a fever within comfortable, controllable bounds.
Elder flower (Sambucus) is hands-down one of the oldest and best-loved herbal remedies for fevers. Elder flower seems to work directly on the part of the brain responsible for temperature control. Elder flower reduces high fevers quickly, and keeps them there. It is a safe herb for kids, and mild tasting in tea or tincture form. Combine with other helpful cooling fever herbs for a tea, such as chamomile and lemon balm. Dosages can be taken hourly until fever begins to descend.
This text intends to provide information on the traditional uses of native plants, not to prescribe. If your child is not well, please seek the assistance of a competent health care provider.
http://www.healthychild.com/herbs-babies-kids-herbal-medicine.htm
