BY ROSEMARY GLADSTAR

My dear friend William Siff, a medical herbalist and licensed acupuncturist, set up an herbal apothecary at his children’s school—with support from the school nurse.

Concerned by the increasing number of children he was seeing with complex, chronic health issues, he sought to trade over-the-counter pharmaceuticals for herbal remedies whenever possible.

In his beautiful book, The Plant Medicine Protocol: Unlocking the Power of Plants for Optimal Health and Longevity, Siff writes:

Instead of taking aspirin and NSAIDs, kids routinely drank cups of hot peppermint and chamomile tea with honey while they kicked back on the nurse’s couch. They sipped on elderberry elixirs and slippery elm bark instead of over-the-counter cough suppressants. They had ginger shots and nettle infusions instead of antihistamines. Children were feeling better taking the herbal remedies, and our nurse was giving out a whole lot fewer pharmaceuticals.

In fact, she became quite popular around the school. Her office felt more like a wellness spa—kids would visit just to drink some tea and breathe some essential oils. The ritual of taking time out to sip herbal teas and relax became an important reference point for youngsters as they began understanding the fundamentals of self-care. Taking care of themselves became associated with a pleasant experience—a great success unto itself.

This pilot project was implemented in just one school but imagine if every school nurse had access to a modest apothecary and the training to safely administer simple botanical remedies. More children might begin to experience healing as a gentle, sensory, and nurturing process—and carry into adulthood an understanding of not only pharmacology, but also the wisdom of nature and the healing power of plants.

Incorporate Herbal Remedies into Playtime

While the school apothecary offers an inspiring model, a child’s journey into herbal remedies can begin just as easily at home—in the kitchen, the garden, or over a simple tea party.

Many young children love tea parties—setting out tiny cups & saucers and inviting every beloved stuffed animal creates a playful and accessible way to begin exploring medicinal herbs.

Together, you and your child can choose just the right blend of tea, perhaps from the herbs you’ve grown and harvested, or and picked at the local health food store.

For an extra magical tea party, try butterfly pea flower, which brews into a brilliant blue infusion sure to please every guest at the table—real or imaginary.

Native to Southeast Asia, butterfly pea flower is a member of the Fabaceae (pea) family and grows as a graceful vine with large, vibrant blue blossoms. These striking flowers aren’t just beautiful—they’re good for us, too.

Rich in the same polyphenol compounds found in blueberries, cherries, and purple cabbage, butterfly pea flowers are packed with phytonutrients that offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, helping to nourish the immune system and promote overall health.

And if there’s one herb that might just turn your child into an herbal tea enthusiast, this is it. One of butterfly pea flower’s most enchanting features is its ability to change color. When combined with something acidic—like a squeeze of lemon or lemony herbs—the deep blue tea transforms before your eyes into rich shades of purple, fuchsia, or magenta.

The magic lies in the flower’s high concentrations of anthocyanins—water-soluble polyphenol compounds responsible for its vivid hue. When dried, these compounds become even more concentrated, and once steeped in water, they release their signature blue color.

In an age of endless digital devices and mechanical toys, taking time to enjoy a tea party may encourage your child to go further along the herbal path, which may eventually lead to their very own garden of herbs blossoming with herbal delights.

You can elevate a tea party—or simply make herbal tea preparation more engaging—by experimenting with fun and creative brewing methods, including the following:

Solar and Lunar Infusions

Infusions are teas made from the more delicate parts of the plant, such as the leaves and flowers. To prepare a basic infusion, place the herb in a container, pour boiling water over it, and cover tightly. Let steep for thirty to forty-five minutes.

Take the basic infusion a step further by experimenting with solar and lunar teas—harnessing the light of the sun and moon to extract the healing properties of the herbs. What could be more fun, magical, and childlike?

If nothing else, the process adds a sense of playful wonder and mystery to the herbal tea-making routine—and children usually delight in setting their teas in the moonlight before bedtime.

To make solar tea:

Place 1 to 2 ounces of herb in 1 quart of water in a large jar. Put on the lid, place the jar in a spot that gets direct sunlight, and let steep in the sun for several hours. Strain, rebottle, and enjoy the taste of sunshine in your tea!

To make lunar tea:

Place 1 to 2 ounces of herb in 1 quart of water in a large jar or glass bowl. Place directly in the path of the moonlight. It’s not necessary to place a lid on the container, unless there are a lot of night-flying bugs around. Leave overnight, then strain and drink first thing in the morning.

Elevate the Lemonade Stand with Ginger

In addition to tea parties, herbal exploration can continue through other hands-on projects like ginger lemon-aid stands.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) isn’t just a warming, flavorful root—it’s a powerful ally for digestive health. One of its key bioactive compounds, gingerol, helps stimulate gut motility—the natural movement of food from the stomach through the digestive tract—supporting smoother, more comfortable digestion.

It’s been used for centuries to ease common issues like bloating, nausea, and general discomfort, making it a gentle and effective remedy for both children and adults alike.

A simple ginger tea is one of the easiest ways to enjoy its benefits. Just steep a few slices of fresh ginger in water, then strain and serve warm. For a kid-friendly variation, try this Fresh Ginger Lemonade recipe—delicious served hot or cold.

Add a splash of lemon, a touch of honey (for children over one year old), and a cinnamon stick to stir. For a little extra sparkle, mix in some bubbly water to create an instant lemon-ginger soda. It just may become the star of your child’s next lemonade stand!

Cooking with Sweet Herbs

Creating simple, herb-infused remedies with kids is a practical and accessible way to explore the healing properties of plants right in your own kitchen.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perfect example. Its naturally sweet flavor—about fifty times sweeter than sugar—has made it a favorite for generations. But its sweetness doesn’t come from sugar; it comes from glycyrrhizic acid—a compound that not only gives licorice its distinct taste but also contributes to its remarkable medicinal properties.

When metabolized in the body, glycyrrhizic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties that act similarly to hydrocortisone and corticosteroids.

Additionally, licorice contains a complex blend of constituents, including mucilaginous compounds that soothe inflamed mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, digestive tract, and colon; phytohormones that support hormonal balance; and antiviral agents that may help protect against viruses such as herpes, shingles, measles, and mumps.

Interestingly, licorice has both gentle laxative properties and the ability to ease diarrhea—thanks to its mucilaginous, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbs that work bidirectionally, depending on what the body needs, are referred to in herbalism as amphoteric.

While licorice is commonly used in tinctures and capsules, its naturally sweet taste and soothing texture makes it especially well-suited for teas and syrups.

It also works beautifully in powdered form, blended with honey (for children over age one) to make sore throat remedies like this recipe for Licorice Cinnamon Throat Balls— a quick, kid-friendly remedy that’s easy to whip up when a sore throat strikes.

Another fun way to use licorice is in its whole-root form. Many little ones enjoy chewing on dried licorice root sticks, which have a naturally sweet, fibrous quality. For teething relief, you can even offer a softened licorice stick to a baby—just give it a few chews yourself first to make it manageable.

Once softened, it often keeps them content and chewing for long enough to give you a well-earned break.

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Rosemary Gladstar is a world-renowned herbal educator and the author of bestselling books, including Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide and Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. She’s the founding director of Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary and the International Herb Symposium and founding president of United Plant Savers.

Well Being Journal adapted the above excerpt from Herbs for Children’s Health: How to Make and Use Gentle Herbal Remedies for Common Childhood Ailments by Rosemary Gladstar. Copyright © 2024 by Rosemary Gladstar. Reprinted with permission from Storey Publishing.