Immunity Boosting Herbs for Children
Originally published in Herbology News
As a professional herbalist with a speciality in paediatrics, I often see children whose immune systems are not quite up to scratch. Maybe the child had croup as a baby, or is dairy intolerant, or was born by c-section; or maybe there is no obvious reason this child should be prone to illness when three siblings are not. These things happen.
Most often, children with underperforming immune systems come to see me with either chronically runny noses and coughs (because the one begets the other); ear, tonsil, or adenoid issues; or molluscum contagiosum.
So, how do I know a child’s immune system needs some help? There are a few things to look for. While all children get sick sometimes, if any or all of the following persist, a little immune help will certainly not go amiss.
Signs of Poor Immunity
1) Frequent illness. Major (tonsillitis, ‘flu, high fevers) or minor (runny noses, coughs), these children get sick a lot and may miss a lot of school.
2) Energy and stamina are lower than other children. I look for unusual daily napping, or an unusual need for serious rest.
3) Pallor. I see some pale and listless children in clinic. You can bet your bottom dollar these kids will need immune support, as well as a diet rethink, and more sleep. Take note of the peely-wally child.
Having identified a weak immune system, what do I do about it?
Herbal Immune Helpers
Well, as it happens, this month’s featured herb, Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) is my ace in the hole. I’ve found it second to none as an immune strengthener. It works fairly quickly, suits most everyone, is very safe and very reliable. I use it a lot, mostly in tincture form. Dried Reishi slices are hard to come by, and the powdered extract, although wonderfully potent, tastes diabolical. Foragers can check out Ganoderma applanatum (Artist’s Conk, Artist’s Bracket) as an alternative, bearing in mind that it is unusual in Britain as a whole. It is , however, locally common in our damp dark Scottish woods. If you wish to gather it, be 100% certain of your ID, and most of all forage sustainably.
Next, of course, we have Sambucus nigra (Elderberry, Elderflower). Elder is reliable and safe, with the distinct advantage of being delicious. For coughs and chest complaints, you really can’t do better than Elderberry. Use the berries with anti-infectives like thyme, cloves, and ginger, and immune builders like echinacea. My preferred form is a glycerite, a sweet and (sugar-free!) syrup-like extract in vegetable glycerine. You can use dried Elderberries to make syrup, glycerite, and tincture, but admittedly fresh/frozen are tastier, so foraging your own might be the way to go. Dried Elderberries are great in broths and soups, crushed and used in herbal tea blends, chutneys, and in baking. NB: Do not use Elderberries raw . A few off the tree is fine, but they are mildly toxic, causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea if consumed raw in any quantity. Early in my herbal career, I made the mistake of juicing them, drinking about a shot glassful of dark purple juice. All I can say is don’t.
Elderflower is at its best with upper respiratory infections: runny noses, throaty coughs, sore throat, and achy shivery cold and ‘flu. It helps with chills, and very gently aids sleep in feverish children. Use it in tea, tincture, or glycerite.
One of my favourite herbs for strengthening immunity is Galium aperine (Cleavers). With illness, if all you do is use anti-infectives like thyme and sage, you are essentially fighting the infection directly, the equivalent of cutting a fire line. You might stop the progression, but you have done nothing about the 1000 acres of tinder-dry forest behind you, so while you have stopped this fire, there will surely be another. Cleavers brings rain. Lots and lots of rain. Cleavers is a lymphatic, bringing immune cells, clearing products of inflammation and the detritus of infection fighting, and soothing sore swollen nodes, by improving the flow of lymph through the body. In clinic, while I do use it in tincture, tea is my preferred form. If you are moving water, you need water to move, so the liquid in tea is part of the medicine. For general immunity, and more specifically sore throats, ear problems, tonsillitis, swellings, and in children prone to swollen glands, you can get a very long way on Cleavers alone.
Lastly, there is the most excellent children’s herb Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold). It is more anti-infective than Cleavers, but less powerfully lymphatic. They work very well together. Calendula has the added benefits of tightening and helping tissue to heal — rather like Elderflower, with which it also combines well —, so sore throats, badly inflamed nasal tissues, and skin infections, get Calendula. Tea, again, is my preferred form, but a 25% tincture also works admirably.
Lastly, here is an indispensable home remedy for colds, coughs, and infections, suitable for children of any age (it works on adults too!).
Garlic Socks
Allium sativum (Garlic) is a wonderful anti-septic. The pungent essential oil is released via the lungs, hence the smell, and it is an exceptional anti-infective and expectorant. Think of garlic especially for chesty coughs, with deep rattly phlegm and green or yellow gunge, as well as ‘flu and streaming colds. Here is a great way to use it:
Crush a clove or two.
Put an old pair of socks on the wee feet.
Spread the crushed garlic on the soles of the socked feet.
Put a second pair of old socks on over the garlic.
Put the sick little person to bed, bearing in mind that the whole bed will stink from garlic by the morning.
In the morning, remove the socks, and carry on with your day.
Repeat the whole process for three nights running. Little person will be (99% guaranteed!) fit as a fiddle by the end.
NB: Do not apply garlic directly to the skin, it will burn. Children’s feet, with their thin soft skin, will readily absorb the garlic fumes (you’ll smell it on the breath pretty quickly) and it will work its magic.
Healthy herbing!