By Maja Žalac, phytotherapist |
Cure gastrointestinal viruses in children with herbal teas |
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Very often, young moms ask my advice in relation to gastrointestinal viruses in their children.
To me, these viruses also proved the most troublesome.
They go hand in hand with diarrhea and vomiting.
I bet you know what I’m talking about.
You gaze around frantically for what you should attend to first - help the little one, clean up your home or do the laundry.
You’re having as hard a time as the child, whose young body must expel the viruses and poisons, and you’d do anything to make the agony stop.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for such a state, as the body must clear itself of the virus.
However, there are plants which can stop the diarrhea, alleviate stomach irritation and replenish the fluids your little one has lost, as is often the case with such viruses.
The first step - vigilantly monitor symptoms
With gastrointestinal viruses, it is crucial to keep an eye on your child at all times.
Carefully monitor the symptoms and contact your doctor if they don’t clear up after a day or two, and even sooner if you notice they’re getting worse.
Keep in mind that the younger the child is, the more dangerous the virus, as the risk of dehydration is increased.
See your doctor right away if your child begins vomiting even small amounts of water, or if you notice blood in their stool or vomit.
Also, watch out for signs of dehydration:
- dark urine
- facial pallor
- dry mouth
- tearless crying.
Replenish the body’s precious fluids
The second step is to replenish the body’s lost fluids.
This isn’t always easy, as each gulp can irritate the inflamed stomach and cause vomiting, bowel irritation, cramps and diarrhea.
Don’t worry if your child refuses to eat on the first day after falling ill. Do not force him/her to eat, as it is only important that the child is getting enough fluids and resting as much as possible.
When the symptoms withdraw, offer him some diet food (boiled rice, low-free homemade soup, a banana).
If you are breastfeeding, your milk is the best sustenance. Offer it as often as possible.
In addition to replenishing lost fluids, a mother’s milk will help your child’s irritated stomach and bowels.
The milk also serves to transfer antibodies for a specific virus, not to mention comfort and soothing while the virus is still active.
How does one properly give fluids to a child, without causing repeated vomiting?
It is very important to give the fluid gradually, sip by sip every 15 or so minutes.
If you notice no new reactions, increase the frequency and sips to 2 to 3.
Tea for alleviating gastrointestinal viruses
Thankfully, nature is here to help even with severe and exhausting gastrointestinal viruses in children.
A blend of lemon balm, oak bark, white and black marshmallow, as well as fennel and blackberry leaf in approximately equal ratios gives a tasty and medicinal tea.
Ingredients:
- Lemon balm (Melissae folium) 10 g
- Oak bark (Quercus cortex) 10 g
- White marshmallow root (Althae radix) 5 g
- White marshmallow leaf (Althae folium) 5 g
- Black marshmallow flower (Malvae flos) 10 g
- Fennel (Foeniculi fructus) 10 g
- Blackberry leaf (Rubi fruticosi folium) 10 g
Preparation:
Place 1 tablespoon of this blend to boil in ½ liter of water.
After the tea comes to a boil, let it sit for around 10 minutes, after which you will strain it.
Offer the warm tea to your little one, and have him drink it in tiny sips.
How will this tea help your little one?
Lemon balm (Melissae folium) will soothe an irritated stomach, repress the upchuck reflex, and through its antiviral affect, shorten the duration of the illness as it will act directly upon the source.
Oak bark tea (Quercus cortex) will bind to it the poisons (toxins, viruses) which have arrived in the body via food or through contact with other people, while its high tannin content will decrease and stop diarrhea.
Marshmallow is irreplaceable when dealing with any infection of the mucus membrane.
It acts to alleviate stomach and bowel cramps, it decreases diarrhea and accelerates recovery of the damaged mucus membrane.
It is best to combine the root and leaf of white marshmallow (Althae radix cum folium) and the flower of black marshmallow (Malvae flos).
Fennel (Foeniculi fructus) is a natural remedy for bloating and cramps, one which will alleviate pain and feelings of pressure in the stomach and bowel.
Blackberry leaf (Rubi fruticosi folium) is a rich source of minerals and vitamin C. This plant will rejuvenate a weakened body and cut the duration of the illness.
It is also rich in tannins, which act to counter diarrhea, and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to strengthen the stomach and decrease stomach acid.
Have this time-tested herbal tea always at arm’s length, so as to ensure gastrointestinal viruses in your little ones pass as quickly and easily as possible, and also so as to afford the best natural help you possibly can.
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