Safe Herbs for Children & Benefits
Lavender is a wonderful herb for all sorts of reasons. It is easy to grow, the flowers are attractive and they smell nice. Dried flowers can be used in crafts, and fresh flowers look lovely in flower arrangements. The flowers can also be used in cooking. Lavender tea and oil can be useful for treating headaches, insomnia, psoriasis, bronchitis, burns, gas and anxiety, among other ailments. It’s even gentle enough to be used on children.
There are many different varieties of lavender, which is part of the mint family. The most common lavender grown is called common lavender. It is native to the Mediterranean region as well as Africa and India, but it’s easy to grow in the United States and Europe as well.
Uses of Lavender Oil.
For herbal remedies the most common uses of lavender are teas and essential oil. If you grow your own lavender (without pesticides, of course) you can use your own dried flowers to make tea. Boil three tablespoons of dried flowers in a quart of water for 10 minutes and strain before drinking. This tea can help children and adults get to sleep, and it is also helpful for upset stomachs. If you don’t like the flavor of lavender alone, combine it with a handful of mint leaves.
Another excellent use for dried lavender is to make a bath soak. These little bath time treats are fun and easy to make, and make wonderful gifts for everyone on your list. Just take a handful of dried lavender flowers and place them inside a piece of fabric. The fabric should be somewhat porous. You could even use wide lace or something with small holes in it, as long as the holes are not so large that they will let the flowers out.
Tie the bundle closed with a piece or string or ribbon. Drop the bundle into a warm bath and feel your anxiety and sleep problems (or your child’s) melt away.
Benefits of Lavender Oil.
Lavender oil can also be helpful at treating insomnia, as well as headaches, acne and burns. For skin irritations and headaches, a few drops of oil can be massaged directly onto the skin. Drops of lavender oil applied to sheets or pillows can help people sleep more soundly.
Kids Sleep Peacefully with Lavender Eye Pillows
A final crafty project for helping your little ones sleep is to make a lavender pillow. Make a pillowcase of any size or shape you like. A small pillow that rests on the eyes is a nice choice, or you can make a small pillow that goes under their heads.
Fill the pillow with dried lavender flowers. You can mix the lavender with dried hops, which are also said to encourage sleep, or use other dried herbs. Sew the pillow shut and add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to the outside of the pillow for even sweeter dreams.
Lavender is not known to cause any problems for children, but it is important that no one ingest lavender oil, no matter their age. At
Who Should Avoid Lavender?
People will gallstones should avoid taking lavender, and many sources recommend avoiding lavender oil in early pregnancy, especially if you have a history of miscarriage. Be careful using lavender if you have low blood pressure.
Also, not all varieties of lavender are calming; some Spanish lavenders have a stimulating effect. Know what kind you are getting before you buy and make sure the oil does not have the opposite effect than you intended before giving it to children before bedtime.
Wishing you good health and happiness with your little ones,your friends,
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