Top 4 Child-Friendly Herbs for a Cold

Is your child battling another cold? Tired of your child missing school or their favorite hobbies because of a cold? Luckily there are some safe and gentle herbs that can help to ease a cold so that your child can get back to their daily routine.

Here is a list of our favorite natural herbs and their uses!

1) Echinacea

Also known as the “purple coneflower,” echinacea is one of the most known herbs for preventing and treating a cold. Echinacea is safe to give to children of any age. It has the ability to target upper respiratory tract infections, bacterial infections, and sinusitis. Many people use the herb prophylactically to prevent a cold or flu from occurring.

It is best to take echinacea when you first feel any signs of a cold coming on such as sneezing, cough or a runny nose.

2) Elderberry

Elderberry’s satisfying tastes makes it one of our favorite herbs for kids. The great thing about elderberry is that it is essentially a food making it incredibly safe for children. The best part about elderberry is that is it a potent anti-viral meaning it has the ability to ward off any viral infections invading the body. What elderberry is known for is its ability to help calm a cough down. It is also used to calm a fever and has anti-catarrhal effects, meaning it will stop a runny nose in its tracks.

3) Catnip

Remind you of Hunger Games, doesn’t it? Well, catnip is an excellent herb for children. It is known for its ability to calm the nervous system. It also helps to calm a fever down and assist in colds with digestive upset. Catnip is also known for its anti-spasmodic action meaning it will help to calm down the lungs in a case of bronchitis.

4) Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is an excellent herb for children. It is especially known for its calming and relaxing properties in kids who tend to get nervous or anxious. It also has anti-viral properties and is used to help calm down a fever. Lemon balm can also be used to relieve an achy tummy. Next time, try it as a tea it has a wonderful flavor that will ease a sick household.

Important things to note:

- Always talk to someone who is trained in herbal medicine before giving your child herbs such as Naturopathic Doctor or Herbalist.
- Dosing for herbs will change based on the child’s weight and ages so always follow instructions given by your Naturopathic Doctor.

Godfrey, Anthony and Paul Richard Saunders. Principles & Practices Of Naturopathic Botanical Medicine. Toronto: Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Press, 2010. Print.
Hoffmann, David. Medical Herbalism. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press, 2003. Print.

About the author:

Dr. Samina Mitha, ND
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