29: Herbs and Children
By Drs. Ralph & Lahni DeAmicis MH's ND's
Kids are designed by nature to be healthy because they have to be. Children start off little and helpless and need every advantage just to survive. When they’re not healthy, often the reasons are simply dietary or environmental.
Remember that herbs are food, non-toxic, natural plants with a long documented history of safely promoting good health. Because kids are designed to be healthy they usually need only small amounts of herbal products in order to enjoy significant improvements in their health and mood.
When babies have a challenge the problem usually is what they’re eating. For the nursing baby, look at the mother’s diet. Cow dairy and soy based formulas, for numerous reasons, are both allergens that block nutritional assimilation, especially in children. For colic, switching both mother and child to goat’s milk and carrot juice typically provides an immediate solution. Goat and sheep products are fine for the nursing mom, just no ‘Moo juice’ or soy. For the bottle baby this change often eliminates chronic ear infections.
For the tummy ache and cranky child Catnip and Fennel liquid, is a huge help to a parent. A few drops in the mouth, added to liquids, or even rubbed over the tummy is often enough to soothe a needy child. The gentlest place to apply a liquid is to the bottom of the child’s feet.
To helps ease children through the uncomfortable teething process, put a few drops of Teething Homeopathic on their tongue or rub it into their gums.
The Children’s Multiple Vitamins + Iron, Liquid, or Multiple Vitamins and Minerals, Chewable, help fill nutritional gaps in children’s diets. When under stress, give them chewable Antioxidants with Grapine®, to help prevent recurring illness and crankiness.
A big challenge is getting enough minerals into kids’ diets. Modern foods don’t provide what they need for building bones, muscles and nerves.
The alkaline minerals; calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, neutralize disease-causing acids, maintaining a healthy alkaline/acid balance in the body. Reference Chapter #3 Acid & Alkaline = pH.
Coral Calcium Powder, provides large amounts of easy to assimilate calcium, magnesium and trace minerals in a tasteless, finely ground powder that can be added to many foods without any noticeable change to either flavor or texture.
This is one of the best things you can do daily for your whole family. Helpful Hint: Alkaline children are less prone to suffer from bug bites, poison ivy and other rashes. Reference Chapter #7, the Foundation of Minerals. Adding ½ dropper of liquid Colloidal Minerals to a baby’s goat’s milk or juice supplies those important trace minerals.
To prevent that dangerous childhood problem, constipation, (Caused by a lack of fiber, or good fats or magnesium in the diet) add minty tasting Liquid Chlorophyll, in water to a child’s daily diet. It alkalinizes and lubricates the bowel. For critical constipation open a capsule of Magnesium Complex, add it to food, or sprinkle some in their mouth. To get better results, use more.
When children have respiratory problems, whether it’s called asthma or simply recurring congestion, the lungs need to be fed, their alkaline/acid balance improved and their lymphatic system must be cleaned.
ALJ liquid, is a gentle herbal formula that feeds and cleans the lungs and makes a wonderful long-term, daily nutrient supplement. For a baby, use just a couple of drops. From 2 years and up, use from ¼ to ½ dropper full, and over 12, use a full dropper. This is especially helpful taken before bed. It is also helpful for any kind of cold or respiratory allergy.
Lobelia Essence, is a great lymphatic cleanser and muscle (spasm) relaxant. Add ten drops to the bath water to clean the acid lymph out of the body and relax the child. Applied externally over the neck and chest it reduces lung spasms. Applied to bug bites, Lobelia takes the sting out instantly.
Mothers have safely used Colloidal Silver for colds and infections for more than a century, as a gargle, eardrops, added to drinks and externally. Dangerous pathogens cannot exist in the presence of silver. For viruses, VS-C Liquid (known as Viral Stopper), very quickly activates the body’s resources to drive the invaders out. Elderberry Plus, Chewable is a favorite children’s remedy in Europe for resolving the common cold.
For the child who was not breast fed, as well as those exposed to antibiotics, supplement daily for 3 to 6 months with Colostrum & Chewable l-Reuteri. These will help bring their immunity and digestion up to their full potential. Many times these are the children with attention problems later in life. Focus Attention Powder, as a drink can be a wonderful help in that situation. Limit the toxins in their environment so their little bodies can handle stress more easily.
Other helpful natural products for children: Distress Remedy, Vaccination Detox, Aloe Vera Gel, SunCare Sunscreen SPF 25, Sunshine Brite Toothpaste. Natria Shampoo & Moisture Full Body Wash.
Also read Chapter #9 Foods That Keep Children Healthy
Copyright © 2004 by Ralph & Lahni DeAmicis. This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or prescribe and is not a substitute for qualified health care. If you have a health challenge we suggest that you consult a qualified health care professional to guide you.
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