As the school season begins, many parents feel a mix of excitement and concern for their children’s well-being. Transitioning from the freedom of summer to the routine of school brings its own set of challenges, both physically and emotionally. It is during these times of change that our children benefit most from the gentle healing powers of the plant world—nature’s timeless gift to us.
I remember, as a child, walking through the gardens with my grandmother. She would patiently point out the “weeds” and plants around us, many of which were as familiar to her as the vegetables in our kitchen. She taught me how to rub Bay leaves on our skin to protect us from insects and how to soothe a Nettle sting with fresh Yellow Dock or Plantain leaves. These moments, simple and rooted in the wisdom of nature, formed the foundation of my lifelong journey into herbal medicine.
It’s this same connection that I hope to inspire in you and your children today. Our ancestors’ teachings about plants not only protect and nurture the body, but they also connect us deeply to the earth, reminding us that we are part of something much larger.
Working with Herbs for Children's Health
Herbs offer a gentle, effective system of healing that works in harmony with a child’s natural balance. When administered wisely, herbal remedies bolster a child’s immune system without the harshness of modern pharmaceuticals. Children’s bodies are sensitive and, when supported with herbal remedies, often respond more swiftly than adults. With school starting, it’s important to support their health as they adjust to new environments, routines, and exposures.
Here are three simple, yet powerful, recipes from my book Herbs for Children’s Health that you can make at home. These remedies are time-honored favorites in our family, and I hope they become part of your family’s herbal traditions as well.
Whole Plant Echinacea Tincture
The best Echinacea tincture is made from the whole plant: root, leaf, flower, and seedpod. While it takes a full growing season to make a whole plant tincture, the steps are very simple and easy to follow.
Whole Plant Echinacea Tincture
Ingredients
- Fresh Echinacea plant
- 80-proof alcohol
Instructions
- In spring when the leaves are fresh and just maturing, harvest a handful and place in a half-gallon wide-mouthed glass jar. Add just enough 80-proof alcohol to cover the plant material by 2 to 3 inches. You will be repeating this process each time you add plant material. Cover the container and let it sit in a warm, shady area.
- As flower buds begin to open up, pick two or three to add to the leaves in the jar. Add alcohol to cover.
- At the end of the season when the seeds have ripened in their cones, add three or four whole ripened seedpods to the jar. Add alcohol to cover.
- Now late fall has arrived, and the energy of the plant has returned to the root. It is time to harvest the root medicine. Ideally with your child by your side, pick a nice autumn day to harvest your Echinacea root. You might wish to create a little gratitude ceremony before harvesting and scatter some of the plant’s seeds close by.
- Dig the root, clean it well (it will require vigorous scrubbing to get off all the dirt), and chop the root finely. Add to the jar, then add alcohol to cover by 2 to 3 inches.
- Place the jar in a warm area and allow to macerate (steep) for another 4 to 6 weeks before straining.
- Strain well using cheesecloth over a fine-mesh strainer. Discard the spent herb and rebottle the liquid. Be sure to label with the name, date, and alcohol used.
Give your child a few drops when they’re feeling run down or to help build their immune defenses during the school year.
Traditional Elderberry Syrup
This is one of the most popular cold and flu remedies in the United States and Europe and for good reason—it’s not only effective, but it’s also delicious. And Elderberries are easy to find and harvest throughout most temperate regions of the world. A large shrub, Elder is found growing at the edge of farm fields, on the banks of streams and rivers, and in people’s backyards. I’ve gathered fresh Elderberries from the West Coast to the East Coast and have marked the seasons by the beautiful white blossoms in springtime to the dark blue-black berries in late summer and fall. Every year I gather and freeze the berries so I have a good stash for winter, and I also make two or three batches of Elderberry syrup, which I freeze as well so I have it on hand as needed.
Use only blue-black Elderberries; the red ones are potentially toxic if eaten in large quantities. Note that honey is not recommended for children under 1 year of age.
Traditional Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh Elderberries You can also use frozen or dried Elderberries, though fresh will always be best. If using dried, use 1 cup.
- 3-4 cups water
- 1 cup honey, Maple syrup, Rice syrup, or Stevia
Instructions
- Place the berries in a saucepan and add just enough of the water to cover by 3 to 4 inches. Simmer over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced to about half the original volume.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large measuring cup, discarding the berries.
- For each 1 cup of liquid, add approximately ½ to 1 cup of honey. In the days before refrigeration, people would add equal parts of honey to liquid because honey was a natural preservative and would keep the syrup from spoiling. But with refrigeration today, you can use less honey and store your syrup in the refrigerator, where it will keep for several weeks or longer, depending on the amount of honey added.
This syrup not only tastes great but is packed with immune-boosting goodness.
Herbal Gummies
These are so fun to make, and they can look and taste quite professional.
The secret is having the right molds. Silicone molds work best, and because they’ve become so popular you can find them in all different shapes—from little bears to wiggly worms. If you don’t have molds, you can use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; after the gummy mixture cools, cut out small squares. You can use any of the syrup recipes in Herbs for Children’s Health, but the Elderberry gummies are often the biggest hit.
Herbal Gummies
Ingredients
- 1 cup cool or room-temperature (not hot) herbal syrup
- ¼ cup gelatin powder
- ½ cup hot (but not boiling) water or unsweetened fruit juice
Instructions
- Place 1/4 cup of the syrup in a small bowl. Whisk in the gelatin powder, stirring briskly until all the gelatin is dissolved.
- Quickly add the hot water and stir until smooth.
- Add the remaining 3/4 cup syrup and stir until smooth.
- Place silicone molds on a baking sheet or platter. Using a dropper, miniature baster, or tiny spoon, transfer the mixture into the molds. Place the molds in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, or until firm. Alternatively, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour a thin layer of the gummy syrup on top, then place in the refrigerator to cool.
- Pop the firm gummies out of the molds, or cut into squares if using a baking sheet. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To keep the gummies from sticking to one another, layer with waxed paper or parchment paper. The gummies will last up to 2 months, though chances are, they’ll be gone before then!
Get a free printable recipe card including a vegan version of the
Herbal Gummies!
As you prepare your children for their back-to-school routines, I encourage you to take a moment to introduce them to the plants around them. These simple, age-old remedies, like Elderberry syrup and Echinacea tincture, are not just healing tools, but ways to connect our children with the earth and the natural cycles of health.
For more recipes and guidance, my newly released 3rd Edition of Herbs for Children’s Health is available for pre-order. In this expanded version, you’ll find even more ways to incorporate herbal healing into your family’s daily life, with vibrant full-color photographs, enhanced remedy sections, and additional recipes to support your children’s health from infancy through their school years. The first 500 preorders will receive a signed copy as a special thank you!
As we send our children off into the world, let’s support their health with the gentle yet powerful healing energy of plants. With nature’s gifts, we can help them feel strong, healthy, and connected to the earth beneath their feet.
Join me in a celebratory class!
Join me for a class on October 11, 2024 at 12pm ET on my YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so we can let you know when it goes live!
about herbs for over 50 years. It is my honor and joy to share what I have learned with you, and to introduce you to my fellow herbalists and plant lovers!
I got it! Haven’t had time to read it yet but I flipped through it and it’s beautiful! Looking forward to making time to dig in soon!
– Willow Whyte