Herbs for children: teach kids to love herbal life with Lupo Connell.

"Can I eat this one, Mama?" My green-eyed four-year-old asks.

"Yes sweetie," I respond. "That's lemon balm, remember, the herb that makes us feels happy."

"Mmmm ..." is all she has to say as she quietly munches the green leaf. I just smile. Lemon balm is only one of the many herbs that can be beneficial for children.

Herbal therapy is a safe and effective way to assist a child through the healing process. Many herbs are rich in vitamins and minerals and offer extra nourishment when taken. Children usually respond quite well to herbal therapies. My daughter loves to collect herbs, grind them in the mortar and pestle and make tea. My son enjoys helping me make sweet elderberry syrup, a powerful anti-viral used for cold and flu. He claims it is almost as good as licking the frosting bowl! Allowing children to help create their own healing remedies can be a very rewarding experience. Lets explore a few herbs commonly used for young children.

Lemon balm is one of my favorite herbs for kids, and many children will agree that it is one of their favorites as well. The sweet lemony fragrance and taste not only attracts pollinators, but small children can't resist plunging their noses into it. Lemon balm is a safe, nutritive herb used to help with digestive troubles, gently relieving gas and bloating. Its antiviral action can be beneficial for fevers, flu and respiratory infections. This tasty little herb has a relaxing effect on the mind and body. It can be used for anxiety, restlessness, stage fright and sadness in children.

Another wonderful herb for children is chamomile. Even Peter Cottontail's mama knew of the healing benefits of these lovely little flowers. Chamomile has a sweet taste and works wonderfully to calm and strengthen the nervous system. It is also highly recommended to encourage relaxation and assist with convalescence when children are sick. Chamomile can also be used for irritability, restlessness, insomnia, anxiety and agitation. Anti-spasmodic in action, chamomile is useful for treating muscle cramps and spasms, often associated with growing pains. Like lemon balm, chamomile is a carminative herb used to reduce pain, expel gas and settle the stomach. It can also be used topically for eczema, diaper rash, burns and bruises. A warm tea bag may be used to soothe irritated eve infections such as conjunctivitis.

There is an old saying: "Eat your oats!" and for good reason--oats not only offer immense nutrition, but they also have an incredibly healing effect on the body. The entire plant can be used: the oats as food (good old fashioned oatmeal) and the straw and seeds are used as nutritious herbs that can be incorporated into teas and other herbal formulas. Oats are a wonderful nervous system tonic. Just like adults, children can experience stress, often a direct result from our over-stimulating society. This plant works deeply to "feed" and restore the nervous system. It is a rich source of vitamin B, iron, manganese, zinc, calcium and magnesium. Oats can be useful for improving the inability to concentrate, melancholy and insomnia. I cannot think of a better remedy than a warm bath with oatmeal to help relive itchy skin and relax the body; it's a tried and tree remedy for the chicken pox.

Children love herbal lemonade. It is easy to make and a sure-fire way to get kids to drink their herbs. Simply buy frozen, natural lemonade in your local freezer section and replace the water you would normally add with a nice herb tea. Lavender lemonade is lovely and can become pink lemonade by adding a few hibiscus flowers. This is a great summertime treat. And what would summertime be to a child without popsicles? After making an herbal tea with any of the methods mentioned above, you can pour it into popsicle trays and a few hours later you have an instant hit!

Herbal tinctures are available in most health food stores. These liquid herbal extracts are a quick and effective way to get herbs into your children. Many herb companies cater to children by making their tinctures alcohol free and by using vegetable glycerin (a very sweet substance) instead of alcohol. Alcohol extracts are safe for children when administered in the proper dose and may be appropriate for older children. They can be diluted in water or juice to help mask the flavor. You can also add tinctures directly to hot tea, which will help to evaporate some of the alcohol.

Another way to include herbs in your children's diet is to cook them. Dandelion greens are an excellent source of nutrition. They are rich in potassium, vitamins A and C, iron, calcium as well as many other trace minerals. You can add the greens, to a salad or saute them with a little butter or olive oil to curb the bitterness. Stinging nettle is a powerhouse of nutrition, containing almost every vitamin and mineral we need. Once cooked, the sting disappears, leaving you with a tasty, edible green that makes an excellent substitute for spinach in quiches, casseroles and lasagna. Another favorite herbal recipe that is always a hit with kids is basil pesto. Basil is a wonderful herb, not only valued as a culinary treat, but also as an important healing herb. As a member of the mint family, basil has an excellent reputation as a digestive aid. It also has a mild sedative action that is beneficial for the nervous system. And what is a good pesto without garlic? Garlic is an extremely valuable herb with many healing properties, some of which diminish when exposed to heat. Eating pesto is a great way to get you kids their daily dose of garlic without them ever suspecting a thing.

There are a plethora of ways to incorporate herbs into your children's daily life. Get creative! There are numerous books, classes and workshops to help foster the relationship between children and plants. Growing a garden, whether it is a few potted herbs in the windowsill or a large plot out in the yard, can be priceless experience for children. Since the beginning of time, herbs have been an invaluable source of food, as well as medicine. Incorporating healing herbs into a child's life encourages the child to become a greater part of his or her own healing, setting the Stage for a lifetime of wellness. By helping to cultivate healthy relationships with plants, we will not only be doing a favor for our children, but for humanity as a whole.

Kid-tested Herbal Tea

One teaspoon dried herbs or one tablespoon of fresh herbs

One cup of boiled water

Allow the infusion to sit for 10 minutes or longer, strain and enjoy.
There are numerous pleasant sweet flavored herbs that can be used
to blend tasty teas for your little one. These herbs work well to
mask the bitter or less desirable taste that some herbs may have.

Some pleasant tasting herbs include:

licorice root
fennel seeds
anise seeds
mints
lemon balm
cinnamon
hibiscus

The leaf of the stevia plant can be added to sweeten teas. This
extremely sweet plant is also available in liquid drops and powder
at your local natural food store.

One hundred percent fruit juice is another natural sweetener that
can help enhance the flavor of herbal teas.

Lupo Connell is a Community Herbalist, a Flower Essence Practitioner and the mother of two herb-loving children. She is a lead instructor at the Mountain Spirit School of Herbalism and will be co-teaching a hands-on herbal workshop for children there on Saturday, September 2. For more information on this and other upcoming events, please contact her at [e-mail].