Herbs for Children

I have selected the herbs below as ones which you could keep at home to deal with common problems immediately. More detailed information is contained in the ‘key medicinal herbs’ section, but the notes below relate specifically to treating children.

Aloe
Take some of the gel with you on holiday and keep it at home during the summer. It should be applied at the first sign of sunburn and is very cooling and soothing.

Arnica
Young children are prone to bumping themselves (and eachother), especially when they first learn to crawl and then to walk. Arnica should be applied immediately to unbroken bumps and bruises, which will then heal a lot more quickly.

Chamomile
This is a good , gentle relaxant, before children go to bed. It is also excellent for upset stomachs and pain, caused by trapped wind.

Chickweed
As a cream, this is particularly good for eczema, but can also be used on any other sort of skin irritation.

Echinacea
Keep some handy during the winter, for coughs and colds. It works well as a preventative and is particularly recommended if someone else in the family already has the ‘flu.

Wild Cherry
This is quite a strong herb to use for children but at the right dosage level is extremely useful for coughs. See the main entry for dosage and safety information.

Witch Hazel
You should never be without it. It can be applied to abrasions and will do the job of either arnica or chickweed, almost as well, if Witch Hazel is all you have to hand.