As parents we get upset and worried when kids are not well and quite often forget our time-tested domestic herbal remedies. Herbal remedies can be a parent’s best friend when it comes to treating children’s health ailments. These remedies are mild, safe and effective for children as herbs are gentler than the pharmaceutical alternatives. In fact, herbs are good and advisable and rather work in harmony with the young children’s system without upsetting the delicate ecological balance as do much of modern medicines today.
Herbal Remedies for Kids
Find here some of the simple and reliable herbal remedies that can be implemented in caring for the well being of kids.
- For anemia: To treat anemia in children, give them carrot (Daucus carota) juice with beetroot (Beta vulgaris) to drink for at least a month. Also, fruit salad prepared from apple (Malus domestica) and pomegranate (Punica granatum) seeds can be served between meals. Add honey to taste.
- For immunity: Eating a gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) everyday or drinking a teaspoonful of the gooseberry powder with water every day helps to improve immunity.
- In heat stroke: Soak about a handful of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds in a glass of water overnight. Strain the water next morning. A pinch of black salt and sugar can be added to taste. Giving a cup of fennel drink to children is effective in heat stroke.
- Worm/parasite infestations: Dilute 4-5 drops of onion (Allium cepa) bulb extract in ½ cup of water and administer it to the child thrice daily.
- For fever: For controlling fever, rub fresh onion juice to the child’s naval region while applying a cloth soaked in cold water to the forehead. Consuming 1 tsp of fenugreek seeds with a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice twice a day is known to control fever. Another effective remedy is drinking basil (Ocimum sanctum) tea, prepared by adding a tsp of dried leaves powder to a cup of water. This can be given before bedtime to break fever.
- For cough and cold: Take equal amounts of powdered ginger (Zingiber officinale) with mulaithi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and mix about ½ tsp of the same in honey. This can be licked by the child for relief from cold and cough.
- Chest congestion or restricted breathing: Warm a tablespoon of sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil with a pinch of black salt and massage onto the chest followed by a eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) steam inhalation
- Throat infection: Take 1/4th tsp of ginger juice with ½ tsp honey, thrice daily. In winter, mix a teaspoon of warm water to the mixture and give it to the child.
- For bronchitis : Prepare a mixture of powdered ginger, black pepper (Piper nigrum) and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and store in a dry, air-tight container. Administer ½ tsp of this mixture with honey twice daily.
- Tooth ache: Application of clove oil in the cavity of tooth would not only reduce toothache, but would also fight infection.
- Nausea and vomiting: If a child shows symptoms of vomiting or nausea, make a paste of powdered clove in honey and let him lick the same.
- Gastritis: Take about 20 g of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) and soak in a cup of water for 4-5 hours. Strain and give this water to drink in case of gastritis. Also, swallowing 1g of carom (Trachyspermum copticum) seeds with equal amounts of rock salt relieves stomach ache due to gas.
- Stomach ache: Take a glass of warm water and add 1 tsp lemon (Citrus limon) juice with a pinch of rock salt. Give this to child suffering from stomach ache twice a day. This lemon drink can cure all kinds of stomach aches. Mix ½ tsp of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed powder in buttermilk. Give this mixture to drink to relieve abdominal pain due to indigestion. This home remedy is effective in diarrhea as well.
- For diarrhea: Roast and powder about 50g of fennel seeds. Administer ½ tsp of fennel seed with same amount of sugar crystals 3-4 times a day. Fresh lemon juice in filtered water is also known to relieve diarrhea.
- For colic: Mix equal parts of coriander, cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and fennel seeds powder. Take 1 tsp of the mixture and soak in a cup of water. Let it steep for 15 minutes and strain. This drink can be given to the child twice a day to relieve colic. For immediate relief, dissolve a pinch of asafetida (Ferula asafoetida) in warm water and apply the paste on and around the navel of the kid, gently massaging the area.
- For constipation: Constipation in children can be cured by drinking a cup of warm milk with added 1 tsp clarified butter before bedtime. Boil a few raisins (Vicis vinifera) in water for some time, filter the concoction and feed the young child; for older children, they can eat whole raisins.
- To enhance memory: Take mandukparni (Centella asiatica), mulaithi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) roots, satavari (Asparagus recemosus) roots and shankhpushpi (Evolvulus alsinoides) in equal amounts. Powder the same and store in an air-tight jar. Administer ½ tsp of the powder to the child, with warm milk before going to bed. Eating 2-3 soaked almonds followed by a glass of warm milk in the morning is another simple household remedy to improve memory power.
- As eye tonic: Drink a cup of carrot juice with 1/4th tsp of powdered fennel seeds to improve optic weakness.
- Skin infection/allergies: Mix a few drops of neem (Azadirachta indica) in 2 tbsp of coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and massage over the affected area.
- For skin rashes: Add a teaspoonful of aloe (Aloe vera) into the kid’s drinking water. This remedy helps to sooth rashes fast. Topical application of the aloe gel is also a known remedy to get relief from skin rashes
- For stronger bones and teeth: Grate and boil date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), almonds (Prunus amygdalus) and anjeer (Ficus carica) in milk and give to drink. This remedy is known to strengthen body and gain weight as well.
- Underweight/ weakness: Taking banana (Musa paradisiaca) milk shake or eating banana daily, followed by curd or milk is said to help in weight gain. Eating musk melon (Cucumis melo) daily is also believed to promote weight gain in children.
- For obesity: Mix a tsp of lemon juice, ¼ tsp black pepper and honey in a cup of warm water. Drinking the same would help a child in reducing weight.
- Bed wetting: Add a few drops of lavender (Lavandula officinalis) oil to the child's night-time bath. Also, mix 1/4th tsp of mustard (Brassica Juncea) powder in a cup of warm milk and give it to the child to drink before bed time. This remedy serves as a natural and valuable cure for bed wetting. Taking 1 tsp of honey before bedtime is another completely natural home remedy to cure the problem.
- For hair growth: Mix 3 ml each of almond and castor (Ricinus communis) oil and warm it. Massaging the same into scalp once a week, is believed to be beneficial in case of hair loss.
- For speech impediments: Chewing mulaithi sticks is said to be effective for treating speech disorders. Mulaithi sticks can be powdered and about ½ teaspoon of it can be licked with honey.
Diet for Kids
Diet should be balanced and must meet the nutritional requirements of the child. It should includes variety of nutritious foods offering plenty of proteins, vitamins and minerals and less of fat, sugar, cholesterol, sodium and calories. Make sure that diet of the child is light and easily digestible. It’s good to bake, roast or poach foods instead of cooking spicy, oily and fried foods for kids. Serve fruit and vegetable juices, vegetable soups and low fat milk instead of cold drinks, sweetened sodas and fruit-flavored drinks. Ice-cream and other desserts can be substituted with yogurt smoothies. For snacks in between meals, salads can be served with different delicious salad dressings. Drinking plenty of water keeps the body hydrated and healthy. Involve the child in activities like dancing, gardening and other sports of his interest. Help the child to give up mental tension, anxiety, anger and fear so that they remain mentally as well as physically active.
There is no end to the usefulness of herbs and home remedies for children. Most herbs are safe and very effective when used constitutionally, skillfully and in appropriate doses. Promoting healthy habits in kids can set the foundation for overall health in the future.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources
- John K. Crellin, Jane Philpott, A. L. Tommie Bass. A reference guide to medicinal plants: herbal medicine past and present. Duke university press, ISBN 9780822310198, 1989.
- The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Children; Prevention Magazine Editors; 1995
- Garima Sancheti, suite101.com. Traditional Remedies with Fennel Seed, March 31, 2011
- Garima Sancheti. suite101.com, Traditional Home Remedies with Basil, June 4, 2011
Garima Sancheti - Dr Garima Sancheti is a PhD in Radiation and Cancer Biology from Rajasthan University, India. She has written various research articles in ...
