Guest Post by Jasmine Bass of Thyme and Timber
Today we continue our series– “After Baby Comes: Postpartum Recovery Tips & Blessings for New Moms.” I’m blessed to have a full line-up of very talented guest posters, so I can recovery and enjoy my new sweet baby! Today, Jasmine is giving us a great tutorial on herbs that all moms should know about! Please pay her site a visit!
Every mom wants the best, most effective remedy to treat what ails their little ones. So, what about using herbs, God’s amazing creations with incredible healing abilities? Herbs are a fantastic, natural alternative for moms looking to soothe their children… Why? Let me tell you!
Herbs are just that… herbs. No additives, no chemicals with long names most of us can’t pronounce…they are truly 100% “all natural.” Herbs, when used appropriately, generally have little to no side-effects; unlike prescription or over-the-counter medications that usually have a side-effects list a mile long.
Herbs are also a frugal and sustainable option as you can grow most child-friendly herbs in your backyard or purchase bulk dried herbs at a reasonable price. Herbs can be prepared in multiple ways for a variety of symptoms allowing most of them to be versatile in their healing abilities.
Herbs Safe for Children
Calendula
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Calendula is a new momma’s best friend… this powerful, yet gentle herb is packed with properties that heal a variety of skin conditions including rashes, burns, fungal irritations, and scrapes. It encourages connective tissue to regenerate, creating soft and smooth skin. Calendula oil and salve can easily be made at home and used as a simple diaper rash cream or to heal sore, cracked nipples. {see full calendula profile here}
Plantain
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If you have ever heard a child scream and cry over a bee or wasp sting, you know the urgency to help heal the pain. My absolute favorite herb to relieve the stinging pain is plantain. It works fast! You can find this astringent herb almost anywhere… it grows like a weed, literally!
Plantain has unique properties that pull out poisons and toxins quickly and effectively. The easiest way to use this herb is to chew up a fresh leaf, apply the goopy mess on the affected area and leave on for 3-10 minutes; in other words, make a poultice. Try this on your little one’s stings, bugs bites and other irritations. {see full Plantain profile here}
Chamomile
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Chamomile is consumed everywhere as a delightful, sweet-smelling tea. This dainty herb is one of the most versatile and yummy of children’s herbs. Chamomile covers everything from irritated skin to upset tummies. Safe for even young children, it’s often used for ailments such as restlessness, teething, whining, weeping eyes and fevers.
Add dried chamomile to your child’s bath to sooth irritated skin and calm nerves. Serve chamomile tea to a child who has an upset tummy or fever. Freeze the tea in popsicle trays to help little ones teething. {see full Chamomile profile here}
Catnip
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This may seem to be a strange herb to have on a list for children… but trust me, this isn’t just for feline friends. Catnip has the properties to help with several children’s gastrointestinal concerns including: colic, diarrhea, indigestion and flatulence.
Breastfeeding moms can even drink a tea made with catnip to help their nursing babies sleep more soundly. The best way to consume catnip is by making an herbal tea… I generally use 1 teaspoon of dry herbs or 2 teaspoons fresh herbs to a cup of water. {see full Catnip profile here}
Lavender
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I am sure most of you are familiar with lavender. It is well-known for its soothing effects. But, let me say, the lavender-scented sprays you get from the store are not even close to the real deal! Real lavender contains properties that can heal a headache, soothe restlessness, relieve burns and much more.
Lavender is a must for moms to have on hand… Add lavender essential oil to a humidifier to help children sleep. Add dried lavender buds to a bath to both cleanse and soothe skin with mild irritations. You can also make a delicious herbal honey to give children with stomach upset or put it on a burn. {see full Lavender profile here}
Lemon Balm
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Lemon Balm is great herb for both children and adults. While this herb can help with many conditions… I will focus on one that many moms will love! Are there any moms with hyper kiddos or children diagnosed with ADD? Lemon Balm will be your best friend. Studies have shown this herb to be very effective in calming these behaviors.
Just add lemon balm tea to their favorite juice or lemonade or make frozen popsicle treats! Other options include: tincture (glycerin), syrup, or herbal honey (see basic instructions here). You can easily grow your own lemon balm which makes the most potent remedy. Dried lemon balm should be kept in the freezer to preserve healing properties.
While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it does give you a glimpse of some simple, effective and natural remedies to use when you child is in need of some TLC. I always encourage my readers to do their own research to decide what herbal remedies would be best for their families.
Here are some great book recommendations for children’s herbal remedies:
- The ABC Herbal by Steven H. Horne
- Natural Baby Care by Colleen K. Dodt
- Herbal Remedies for Children’s Health by Rosemary Gladstar
I hope this has encouraged you to try a few herbal remedies for your little one(s)!
What natural remedies have you heard about or tried? I’d love to hear about them!
Jasmine (aka Happy Mrs Bass) is a God-fearing, always-learning, stay-at-home-wife to the best husband in the world! She is continually learning to slow down, enjoying the important, simple things in life… She really enjoys creating things “home-made” and showing others how to do the same! Which is why she started Thyme and Timber blog! In the past couple of years, her new found loves have become herbal fix ’ems and things “all natural”!
*I am not a professional…just a wife who is crazy about herbs and healthy living. This post is only for informational and educational purposes. The content has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended for you to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. I encourage others to do their own research as I have done and discuss your findings with a qualified medical professional before adding any supplements or making any changes in your diet.
**There are affiliate links included in this post.
Come check out our other “After Baby Comes: Postpartum Recovery Tips & Blessings for New Moms” posts all month long!
- Bless a Friend with Freezer Meals
- 5 Ways to Beat Postpartum Depression, Naturally
- Top 10 Reasons to Use Your Crock Pot
- Exiting the Darkness of Postpartum Depression
- Making a New Mama Basket
- Using Red Raspberry Leaf Tea for Pregnancy & Postpartum {Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Recipe}
- Ways to Help a New Mama Once Her Baby Arrives
julieann r
This is great information….most parents don’t have any idea about non-pharmaceutical remedies. I think that when parents don’t know the information, they can’t make a good decision on the choices available. Thanks for posting.
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
Thanks for this, Jasmine! I am learning everything I can about the different herbs and their healing properties. Excited to try them out.
Leah at Crunchy Farm Baby
Thank you so much for sharing this!! I’m in the process of planning an herb garden and was wondering what would be best to put in it!
Kaitlin
Great info! I did not know about using plantain. I’ll have to add that to my list of things I want to grow 🙂
Steph @ Just Add Cloth
I had no idea about plantain! Actually I didn’t even know what it was called. We have it growing all over our alley way.
Lexie
ThankS so much for this. I was just about to start research for an indoor herb garden!
Sarah
Great information here. I use essential oils but don’t know much about herbs themselves. I find Lavender oil to be particularly soothing and good for anxiety. I’ll have to try some of the others listed, thanks!
Amanda @Natural Living Mamma
This is a perfect, simple, and accessible list! Love it!
Sara Misra
Have you heard of Herb Fairies? It’s a wonderful year long book club for kids. Each month there is a new story about an herb and it follows the journey of these kids and they learn all about each herb. It comes with story, audio, recipes, fun games, crafts to do, mazes, word searches, so many things. It was such a great program for my daughter and her friend! Once you do it once, you continue to have access to the site- so you can repeat each year if you would like. There was so much to do that we couldn’t go through everything each month so we will repeat again this year. It’s closed now for this year (you can only join at a certain time)- so you’ll have to wait till next year to check it out… www.herbfairies.com
jeena
Hi… im a nurse as well as an indian. I use a lot of herbal remedies and treatments in my daily life. I would like to share it here. I wanted to know if I could generate some money by sharing my experience here