sticks that use real peppermint oil. I find
these quite effective in soothing indi-
gestion and headaches, although I don’t
indulge often as they are pure sugar!
Spearmint is recommended over pep-
permint for children, as it is less power-
ful than peppermint and better suited
for children. Be careful with mint, as
the menthol may be overpowering and
irritating for young mouths. Never give
any kind of mint to infants.
Lavender
Lavender is renowned for its sooth-
ing, sedating properties. The flowers
are tiny, but pack a powerful, pleas- roots can be decocted (boiled) for Dosing, Preparation
ant smell. They can be placed inside about twenty minutes; commercial tea
a small muslin bag or even a clean preparations (such as Echinacea Plus & Sweetening
stocking and tucked into a pillowcase from Traditional Medicinals) can be Though considerably safe, these
to make a sleep sachet. The flowers infused like other teas (take the boil- herbs should still be used with care.
can also be prepared as a pleasant- ing water off the heat, pour it over the Teas should be administered in tea-
tasting tea for insomnia or headache, or tea, and let steep for twenty minutes). spoonful doses. “More” is not always
added to bath water to create a relax- It is most effective when taken at the “better”. When introducing an herb for
ing natural lavender bath. (The same first signs of illness in small, frequent the first time, try a small dose to begin
can be done with chamomile flowers, doses. Since the effectiveness of this with, and watch for signs of allergic
by the way.) Rosemary Gladstar calls herb wears off with extended use, use reaction.
the essential oil of lavender “first aid it in cycles, such as five days on, two I prefer to use dried, organic herbs
in a bottle”. It has relaxing, antiseptic, days off. Use E. pupurea, a species over commercial tea bags, as I find that
and pain-numbing properties, and is of Echinacea that is easily cultivated, the quality (including effectiveness) is
one of the few essential oils that can be as other species are in decline due to far superior. They are also more ver-
used “neat” (that is, undiluted) on the overharvesting. Echinacea may cause satile than commercial tea bags. For
skin. It can be applied to bug bites and allergic reaction to people who are al- instance, chamomile flowers are gor-
stings as well as minor abrasions and lergic to rag weed, daisy, marigold, and geous when added to bath water, and
burns. While the fragrance of “laven- other related species. have a heady, sweet scent when placed
der” is used in many commercial baby in sleep sachets.
and children’s products, none of them When sweetening your herbal
comes close to capturing lavender’s true Oats preparations for young palates, try
essence, which is why I highly recom- Oatmeal is not only a nutritious ce- stevia or honey. Stevia extract is a
mend natural products that contain real real that lowers cholesterol, it is also a natural, calorie-free sweetener derived
lavender. Although the essential oil can powerful tonic for the nerves. Oatstraw, from stevia herb. It is far, far sweeter
be used undiluted, you may want to the green grass of oats, is rich in avenin, than sugar, so just a pinch or a drop
dilute it in light olive oil if the scent is which is considered a nutrient for nerve will do (literally). Honey is a remedy
too strong (it can be rather overpower- cells. Oats – either eaten as cereal, or in its own right. It can be used in place
ing!). Start with a few drops in a table- oatstraw taken as tea – are soothing and of cough medicine, or applied to small
spoon of light olive oil, and add more if sedating. A bowl of oatmeal with cinna- cuts or abrasions for quicker healing.
desired. mon, clove, nutmeg, and stevia knocks Do not use it for infants under one
me out at bedtime. Oatmeal is also rec- year of age.
ognized for its skin-soothing properties.
Echinacea Oats may be placed in a clean stocking
Echinacea most often refers to the or muslin bag and added to bathwater Christie Bailey is a Registered
root part of the gorgeous purple cone- for itchy or irritated skin. Commercial Nurse with a passion for wholism.
flower (Echinacea species). It is an in- “colloidal oatmeal” preparations can be Her current focuses include herbs,
credibly effective immune booster and purchased from any drugstore; colloidal aromatherapy, and Reiki. She can be
illness fighter that is safe for children. oatmeal is a super fine oatmeal powder contacted at laughingd0g@yahoo.
Although many Echinacea supplements that absorbs instantly and completely com. Her blog, Savvy By Nature, can
are available in tablet form, I prefer to in water. Do not use oats if sensitive to be found at www.naturalsavvy.word-
prepare Echinacea as a tea. The dried gluten. press.com.
August 2009 37
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