I have three of my favorite go-to remedies for upset tummies. Both can be used in children and adults alike, but I use this mainly for my infants when they are gassy or when I see any sign of colic. This is also very beneficial for fevers, headache, tummy discomforts, and chills.
Mama’s Tummy Ease Tea:
To prepare these herbs as a tea, mix 1/2 ounce of each herb together in a clean, dry glass jar:
fennel
lemon balm
German chamomile
Take 1 teaspoon of the mixture and place it in a glass mug or French press. Cover with 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Strain the herbs and put the tea into a medicine dropper to give the baby several teaspoons at a time.
If preferred, the tea can be sweetened with a teaspoon of maple syrup; do NOT give honey to babies under 1 year of age. It could cause infant botulism!
I use this will all my children, even small babies.
Catnip, Chamomile, and Lemon Balm Tea:
Mix equal parts of the dried herbs and prepare according to tea instructions. This is very pleasant tasting and very gentle even for your baby. It soothes tummy upsets, aches, and eases fever symptoms.
This is my very favorite because I literally can see results fairly quickly.
Spearmint Leaf and Elder Blossom Infusion:
Steep 1/2 ounce of each herb in a covered quart jar of boiling water for 20 minutes. Strain and sweeten lightly (NO honey for babies under 1 year of age; use maple syrup instead.) Give as warm as your child will take it, and often, until a sweat results.
Anise seed tea or a weak tea made from fresh ginger root can quiet indigestion.
Ginger tea can help fight upper respiratory infection and helps sweat out a fever.
For achiness, headaches, or restlessness, strong teas of catnip, chamomile, or lemon balm can be used alone or in combination. Baths with these same herbs are also soothing to my children.
Lavender oil can be added to a warm bath. 5-7 drops per bath, to bring a sense of restfulness and relief of the above symptoms.
Natalie