How to Make Herbal Remedies for Kids

Herbal remedies offer a simple, natural way to bring relief and healing to an ailing child. Very often, herbs are a milder, gentler alternative to manufactured pharmaceuticals. For centuries, mild medicinal herbs such as chamomile, peppermint, fennel and lemon balm have been used safely to treat children's diseases and conditions such a colic, flu, colds, teething, chicken pox and measles. A key to giving herbal remedies to kids, however, is taste. The most effective treatment is useless if it can't get passed tight lips. Read on to learn how to use mild herbal remedies for your children.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 oz dried herb
• 2 cups cold water
• ½ cup of honey, maple syrup or vegetable glycerin

Brew an Herbal Tea

1. Bring the water to a boil. Place the herbs in a cup or tea ball.

2. Cover the herbs with the boiled water. Cover and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Strain the tea into a baby bottle or sippy cup.

4. Stir in some apple juice or honey (Honey is not suitable for infants 12 months and younger).

Make an Herbal Glycerin-Based Tincture

5. Pick through your fresh herbs to remove any dirt and debris such as sticks or stems. Don't wash the herbs.

6. Chop up the fresh herbs into course pieces. If you use flowers, you may leave these whole. Place the herbs into the jar. Pour in enough glycerin to cover the chopped herbs.

7. Seal the jar, closing the cap tightly. Place the jar in a dark location for 6 to 8 weeks. Shake the jar at least once each day.

8. Strain the tincture through your cheesecloth into a clean, dry jar or bottle. Squeeze the herb material through the cheesecloth so as to get out as much of the tincture's herbal goodness as possible. Label your tincture jar with the date and ingredients.

9. Stir in some honey to sweeten the tincture. You may also add pleasant-tasting herbs such as stevia, peppermint, licorice, fennel and lemon balm.

10. Dilute the tincture in some fruit juice, applesauce or in your kid's favorite drink.

Prepare an Herbal Syrup

11. Bring the water to a boil. Lower the heat to a bare simmer and add the herbs. Cover and let it simmer until the liquid is reduced by half.

12. Strain out the herbs and pour the herbal liquid back to the pan and turn the heat low.

13. Stir in the honey, maple syrup or vegetable glycerin until they are well blended.

14. Pour your syrup into a bottle and cap it tightly. Label the bottle with the date and ingredients used and keep it refrigerated.

Tips & Warnings

• Product labels typically give recommended dosages based for a 150-pound adult. Adjust the dosage for your child based on his weight.
• Herbal remedies must always be used under the supervision of your child's doctor or licensed health practitioner.