Herbal Remedies for Baby and Mom
This article is intended to help re-discover the pleasures of Herbs and promote confidence about using them as simple remedies for Mother and Baby.
Our Grandmothers and theirs before them used herbs to treat their families ailments. With the advancement of modern medicine, unfortunately the intimate knowledge of healing herbs has largely been lost in todays society. Naturally these herbal remedies are not meant to replace but should be used on milder ailments where the harsh chemical based medicines are not quite called for.
All the recipes, in this article can be made safely at home, using everyday kitchen equipment. Step-by-step instruction of how to make herbal teas are included. NEVER exceed the dosages given. Consult a doctor or herbalist if symptoms persist.
The herbals described here can be home-grown. However that is another days skill to acquire.
Shopping list from the Health food store: (rem. all dried herbs should look 'all together' not crumbled and powdery)
-German Chamomile => dried flowers
-Fennel => seeds
-Peppermint => sprigs and leaves
-Lemon Balm => sprigs and leaves
-Comfrey => sprigs and leaves
-English Lavender => flower sprigs
Breastfeeding -Tea to increase breast milk production. 1 teaspoon of fennel seed and 1/2 teaspoon of lavender flowers steeped in 10 ounces of boiling water for 15 minutes, can be taken cold or warm lightly sweetened with a bit of honey or sugar. For best result drink three times per day. For a calming effect for both Mom and Baby add 1 teaspoon of dried crushed peppermint and 1/2 teaspoon of German chamomile. (The calm will transmit to baby through the milk.)
Sleeping Problems -Tea to help Baby sleep. Use 1/2 teaspoon of lemon balm, catnip or German chamomile with 1/4 teaspoon of fennel seeds steeped in 6 ounces of boiling water for 10 minutes, cooled and diluted with baby apple juice given in the bottle. ( Breast feeding moms can also enjoy this tea to relax)
Tummy Aches and/or Colic -Tea to help upset tummies. Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over 2 1/2 teaspoons of crushed fennel seed, 2 teaspoons of German chamomile and let steep 20 minutes, strain and dilute half and half with boiled cooled water, given in a bottle. This tea can be kept for 24 hours.
Teething -Tea for calming. Steep 2 teaspoons of German chamomile for 10 minutes in 6 ounces of boiling water, steep 1/4 teaspoon of lavender and 1/4 teaspoon lemon balm in 3 ounces of boiling water for 5 minutes, add the two infusions and dilute half and half with baby apple juice. Undiluted teas can be kept in fridge for 24 hours. Given in bottle cold will help ease sore gums.
Stuffy Nose -Steam bath additive. Let hot water run in bathroom over a couple of hand-fulls of peppermint leaves and sit in steamy bathroom with baby for 10-15 minutes. After leaving bathroom keep baby well covered, wrapped in dry blanket.
These are some of the simple herbal teas most of our grannies used as remedies for everyday ailments and are just as useful today as they were those many decades ago.....
The author can not accept liability for any damage or illness arising from the misuse of the herbs described in this article.
