One of my favorite topics in herbalism is the subject of children’s health. Part of the reason for this is that being a mother has given me a great opportunity to practice herbalism related to first aid and common illnesses. It has also put me in a position as a teacher modeling how herbs can best support our health while showing my son important life skills such as wildcrafting, gardening, and preparing wild and cultivated herbs and foods. Children often get excited about the things in life that their parents model excitement for. I have especially found this to be true with herbalism. I have also found that raising a child who is deeply involved with nature aides in the development of a young person who holds value in environmental health and is more conscious of how our actions affect the natural world.
In sharing about 10 herbs for children’s health, I would like to focus on a few, specific herbs that my family has found to be great, basic herbs to know. The first 5 are herbs we have enjoyed growing together. The last 5 are herbs we’ve enjoyed wildcrafting together. All are great, basic herbs for an herbalist to get to know to start practicing herbalism. Of course, even herbs that are regarded as generally safe can have safety considerations to be aware of. Some of these safety concerns are listed, but do your own research. This article is for educational purposes only. I am not suggesting any of these herbs to be used for your specific child’s health or for supporting any of your family members’ health. There is no way for me to know what herbs are best for your unique family. Herbal approaches always depend on the specific person.
*This is not herbal advice. I make no medical claims. Specific herbs are not right for certain people. They can interact with prescriptions a person may be on and can have harmful effects in cases of specific medical conditions or in pregnancy or breastfeeding. I suggest getting to know all herbs you decide to use very well and discussing them with your doctor prior to use.
10 Children’s Herbs to Begin Learning
Herbs to Grow
Starting a small herb garden is a great way to provide remedies for your family while connecting to the land and each other. It’s so wonderful for children to experience these herbs with their senses and to learn the basics of cultivation. Gardening is medicine in itself. Here are 5 herbs we have loved growing.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula is an easy herb to grow in an herb garden. If the orange flowers are clipped throughout the growing season, dried, or used fresh, the plant will continue blooming late into the fall. Calendula is a great wound-healer and an anti-inflammatory herb. Externally, it is used to treat eczema, rashes, burns, cuts, and scrapes. It is antiseptic and helps with skin repair. It isn’t recommended for children to use Calendula internally. Prepare Calendula in a salve, infused oil, compress, or poultice. It is also a good herb for an herbal soak or liniment. Our child loved baking with Calendula petals to make delicious baked goods. You can find great bread and muffin recipes online if you do a search. Take caution that Calendula is from the Aster family. Stop using it immediately if any allergic symptoms develop. Some people are sensitive.
Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Chickweed is a good herb for topical use in instances of dry, itchy or irritated skin. It is another good herb for eczema and rashes, cuts, scrapes, and wounds. Chickweed helps with drawing out splinters and stingers and is useful in the treatment of boils and abscesses. It is commonly prepared as a poultice, bath or herbal soak, compress, salve, or infused oil. Internally, an infusion is taken to remedy nervous stomach-aches, sore throats, eczema, ulcers, and urinary problems. This is another great herb to grow in the garden with kids and continues to be one of my child’s favorite herbs. He loves harvesting Chickweed to put on sandwiches and in salads.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon Balm is an anti-depressive herb. This uplifting herb helps relieve anxiety, stress, and nervous headaches. As a mild sedative, it helps with insomnia. It is a good herb for restless children and can help with ADD and ADHD. Lemon Balm is antiviral and carminative. It helps in the treatment of cold sores and herpes viruses. It also helps with stomach distress. For children’s health, prepare as an infusion or glycerite. It makes a tasty tea that children tend to enjoy. We used to make popsicles from sweetened Lemon Balm tea. This is a great way to cool and calm down a restless child. External methods of preparation include compresses, infused oils, salve, or as an herbal bath. Lemon Balm should not be taken by those with low thyroid activity, and it does interact with some prescriptions.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Chamomile is another calming herb for children that makes a pleasant tasting tea. It is considered a safe sedative for children and helps with anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Chamomile is tonic to the nervous and digestive systems. Carminative and antispasmodic, Chamomile helps with stomach upset. Externally, it can be applied as a compress, infused oil, or salve. It helps heal wounds and is anti-inflammatory. Topical applications also relieve sore muscles and cramps. Chamomile makes a calming bath for children and adults alike. It relieves tension and destresses the body. This can be helpful for irritable, anxious children and teething babies. Allergies to Chamomile do occur. It is from the Aster family. Avoid using it with a child allergic to plants from this family. Those who get hay fever may be sensitive. Take caution with its sedative effect. It affects alertness and reaction time when combined with other sedatives.
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Echinacea is a great herb to take when you first feel like you might be getting sick. This antiviral herb stimulates the immune system and helps fight sickness. It prevents and treats colds and flus. I prepare a whole plant, fresh glycerite every year to keep on hand for my family. Echinacea glycerites are great for kids. Echinacea root or aerial parts make a great tea and can be mixed with other supportive herbs. The roots are prepared as a decoction and the aerial parts are prepared as an infusion. Internally, Echinacea is helpful in various instances of infection such as respiratory infection, tonsillitis, and laryngitis. The tea can also be used as a mouth wash when infection is present. It is an antimicrobial herb.
As an external herbal soak or wash, the tea can be useful in preventing or treating septic cuts, sores, and boils. To make a compress, soak a clean cotton cloth in the tea and apply to the area of concern. Echinacea is another Aster relative some people may be allergic to. Children prone to asthma and allergies may also be sensitive. Do not use Echinacea with children under 2 years old. It is also not recommended for people with auto-immune disorders. Discuss use with your doctor if your child is on prescription medications or has a medical condition. This herb can interact with specific medications and is not recommended for specific medical conditions.
Herbs to Wildcraft
Wildcrafting needs to be done safely. Only harvest herbs that you have gotten to know very well and are 100% in their identification. I took plant taxonomy courses, worked with a research botanist, helped with plant surveys, grew native plants, and committed to expanding my plant identification skills yearly prior to deciding to harvest any plant for food or medicine.
Should you decide to harvest your own herbs, know what you are harvesting. There is no room for mistake. Get to know toxic look-a-likes and safety precautions. There are poisonous plants that are deadly, and many plants can cause contact dermatitis. If your children accompany you on wildcrafting trips, model safe harvesting and always harvest ethically caring for your harvesting areas.
Plantain (Plantago major)
Externally, leaves mashed up into a poultice can provide pain relief when applied to bee stings, spider, and snake bites. Poultices draw out splinters and treat boils. Plantain is also a wound healer and stops bleeding. It can be prepared for topical application as an infused oil, salve, or compress. Internally, Plantain is a helpful herb to be taken for diarrhea, intestinal upset, and sore throat. Plantain also acts as an expectorant in cases of dry coughs. Its demulcent action soothes inflamed, irritated mucous membranes. The leaf is helpful taken as an infusion for bronchitis or other lung complaints. Plantain is a great 1st aid remedy for bee stings. One time, my child was stung about 10 times by angry hornets. After applying a poultice, the swelling and pain was relieved immediately. Plantain is an easily accessible herb. It grows everywhere! Remember that bee stings by those who are allergic can be a medical emergency. Seek medical attention immediately.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Red Clover is often used for skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. It is a chosen herb for children’s, skin conditions and respiratory problems. The expectorant and anti-spasmodic actions make Red Clover a helpful herb for respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and coughs. It cleanses the blood and lymphatic system, and contains anti-tumor compounds. The flowers are prepared as an infusion and taken internally. Externally, it is applied in a prepared salve, infused oil, herbal wash, or a compress. Red Clover is a highly nutritious, medicinal food. Add Red Clover to soups and salads or enjoy nibbling the blossoms by themselves. Red Clover thins the blood and should not be used 2 weeks before or after surgery. It also should not be used by those on heart medication or with blood thinning problems. Use with children only for short reasonable amounts of time. It is not for extended use.
Blackberry leaf (Rubus occidentalis)
Blackberry leaf is strongly astringent. Prepared as an infusion, it is very helpful in the treatment of children’s diarrhea. Use Blackberry leaf for this purpose for only a day or two. Do not use it internally for children younger than 2 years old. Excessive use can result in constipation or diarrhea. Children experiencing diarrhea can quickly become dehydrated. Always be educated on the signs of when to seek medical attention for your child. An infusion of Blackberry leaf tea is also helpful in the treatment of sore throats, mouth ulcers, and gum inflammation. An external wash can benefit sores, wounds, and rashes.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Mullein is a respiratory herb that is demulcent and expectorant. These actions soothe dry coughs and expel mucous. As an antispasmodic herb, it relieves spasmodic coughs. Some respiratory conditions Mullein is helpful in includes asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, and croup. An infusion of the leaf is effective in all of these complaints. Mullein flower oil is a remedy for earaches that is well-known and very effective. The oil is slightly warmed and dropped into the ear on both sides. This oil is anodyne and lymphatic. It should not be used if the eardrum has perforated, or if the earache is due to water stuck in the ear. In salves or poultices, Mullein leaf helps with glandular swelling. If you are preparing as an external poultice, wrap the poulticed leaf in a cheese cloth. The leaf hairs can cause irritations and sensitivities for some people. Make sure to strain infusions well with a cheese cloth.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is a helpful herb in cases of fevers. It is a diaphoretic herb which is used to promote sweating. It is also a bitter herb and digestive tonic. It stimulates the digestive system. As a styptic, yarrow helps stop bleeding. The powdered herb can be kept on hand to apply to cuts and wounds, or a poultice of the fresh herb can be used. Other instances poultices can be helpful include bruises, sprains, and swellings. Yarrow is a great wound healer. It is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and astringent. Do not use Yarrow with children who are allergic to Ragweed. Yarrow is an Aster relative. The skin can become sensitive to the light when taken Yarrow is taken internally. Do not use Yarrow over extended amounts of time or in large doses.
It was difficult to pick only 10 herbs for this article. So many others could have been included. A few herbs to mention briefly for you to further research include Burdock (Arctium lappa), Nettle (Urtica dioica), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), and Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Burdock and Nettle are common plants wildcrafted in Minnesota. The others are plants we have grown in our herb garden. Burdock is great for supporting skin health especially in cases of acne. Nettle is a nutritious herb that supports skin health, seasonal allergies, and so much more. Peppermint and Ginger are great for calming upset stomachaches along with so many other uses. Children often enjoy a cup of Peppermint tea for tummy trouble or chewing on Candied Ginger for motion sickness. Sage and Thyme are great in infused honeys for sore throats and colds. The preparations children enjoy most include sweetened teas, glycerites, infused honeys, and syrups. These are great ways for children to experience herbal remedies. They want to take them! Research the herbs which are best prepared with each of these methods.
In continuing to learn about some of these herbs, it is good to have a few resource books for children’s and family health. Following are two books I would highly recommend for your herbal library:
Herbal Healing for Children by Demetria Clark
Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
These books will help you learn about common illnesses children experience and how to herbally support their health. The topics include children’s dosages, herbal preparations, and safety precautions. Both also contain detailed information on commonly used herbs and a wealth of recipes. Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health focuses on the whole family including men, women, and elder’s health. Demetria Clark’s book on Herbal Healing for Children is more specific to children’s health. However, the herbal approaches in Demetria’s book can be used for all members of the family not just children. It is written in a way that the beginning or experienced herbalist can easily use it to address so many commonly experienced ailments. I feel both of these books are indispensable.
I hope you enjoyed learning about these 10 herbs for children’s health. Children’s health is a great topic to explore to start practicing in the world of herbalism. This article has been for educational purposes only. I suggest doing your own thorough research and discussing with your doctor prior to incorporating any herb into your family’s life. Thank you for joining me in learning to support children’s health with herbs!
References
Brinker, F. Herb contraindications and drug interactions: Plus herbal adjuncts with medicines (4th ed.). (2010). Eclectic Medical Publications.
Clark, Demetria. Heart of herbs advanced master clinical herbalist book 7. (n.d.) Heart of Herbs.
Clark, Demetria. Herbal healing for children. (2011). Healthy Living Publications.
Gladstar, R. Herbal recipes for vibrant health. (2008). Storey Publishing.
Hartung, T. Growing 101 herbs that heal: Gardening techniques, recipes, and remedies. (2000). Storey Books.
Hoffmann, D. The complete illustrated holistic herbal. (1996). Element Books.
