Building children’s immunity
Olive and Carys getting the herbs ready for the broth pot…
Building children’s immunity
I am by no means a nutritionist or health guru but I know through my herbal medicine studies and practical application of herbs (as a Mum) what has worked for our family.
I believe the building blocks of children’s health and good immunity comes from a holistic lifestyle. By holistic I mean eating whole vitamin rich foods, drinking plenty of filtered water, having a solid sleep routine and plenty of time outside playing and moving the body in sunshine & nature – along with bundles of love.
There are however times when our children need an extra immune boost. As a Mum we can all tell when our children are tired and run down or can sense the onset of a cold or flu.
There are a few staple things I reach for in my herbal medicine cabinet to support my families immunity and these have always worked wonders for me.
Echinacea
Echinacea is an immune stimulant and helps to fight infection. Its especially useful at the onset of sickness and helps to shorten the duration of an infectious illness. Its one of my first ports of call if I notice the onset of a cold, sneezing, sore throat etc is to start on some Echinacea drops. These are quite palatable to children and I have been giving it to my daughter since she was 2. I always water it down in a mouthful of water or juice. Weleda does a great one available at most pharmacies or your health food store. Its best to supplement this a few times a day (its all about the frequency and regularity) at the start of and during illness.
Pelargonium
Pelargonium was recommended to me by my GP when my daughter was 3 and had started at daycare. Like Echinacea its an immune stimulant but works more specifically on lung ailments. Its best to take it from the early stages of an illness and for the majority of the duration of the illness – once again frequency and regylarity. I buy mine in a liquid tincture form from my local organic health food store. Its really palatable to children, has a sweet floral taste and is easily disguised in a splash of juice or water.
Manuka Honey
Whats not to love about this sweet, delicious, native, and readily available nectar of the gods. Its medicinal properties include anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. A spoonful of manuka honey slowly sucked on is a great way to soothe a sore throat whilst imparting its medicine on the bacteria causing the sore throat. It also helps to sooth a cough and is a proven tonic for digestive complaints. Also wonderful for healing the skin. Children absolutely love the taste but not recommended for children under 2.
Adding medicinal herbs to food is another crafty way to get their benefits into your children. One of my go to recipes which we use on repeat in our house is a good bone broth. Broth really keeps our immune system in good shape, is nutrient dense, supports a healthy gut, is anti-inflammatory, and great for little peoples growing bones & joints. Its an immune tonic to be taken often as its support is deep and sustaining, like the foundations of a house it’s like supporting the foundation for your immune system. Its easy to make, can be made in bulk, and freezes well. It can easily be snuck into lots of different family dishes. It can be used as a base for soups, added to stews, pasta sauces, noodle dishes and some children are happy to just drink it straight. My daughters favourite is soba noodles cooked in bone broth.
Herbal bone broth
This makes a flavoursome broth which is really multi-purpose. The herbs I have recommended are safe and easy to get hold of. I also often add Astralagus root, dried Shiitake mushrooms & Elderberries however these are totally optional and are more suited for older school aged children. The addition of the Apple cider vinegar is to draw the minerals out of the herbs and bones.
Ingredients:
Organic chicken carcass’s or beef bones (around 1.5 – 2kg)
50ml Apple cider vinegar
3 – 4 litres of filtered water
3 – 4 Carrots, skin on roughly chopped
1 – 2 Large Onions peeled & chopped
3 - 5 Garlic cloves, peeled & halved
A few stalks of celery roughly chopped (optional)
Giant handful of fresh flat leaf Parsley
2 - 3 t Sea salt
A good grind of black Pepper
¼ cup dried Calendula flowers
5 – 6 dried Kawakawa leaves
¼ cup dried Nettles
Method
In a very large stock pot add the bones, cover totally with water and add apple cider vinegar, bring to the boil and simmer for a few hours. Over this time you will notice a foamy layer at the top, skim this off as best you can and discard. Add the remainder of ingredients and simmer for another 1 – 1.5 hours. Allow to cool. Strain and pour into glass jars (not filled to the top) or ice cube trays and freeze.
Broth on the go…
Benefits of the herbs in the broth
Calendula
Calendula is my most my trusted herbal ally. It’s a super safe herb for use with babies to the elderly, has a wide range of medicinal uses, is easy to grow and looks like a little sun! In broth it imparts its super immune tonic properties and is also a general mood brightener. Lovely for little ones feeling unwell and down to brighten their spirits.
Kawakawa
Kawakawa is native to New Zealand and has a host of medicinal benefits. It’s a great digestive aid, supports a healthy gut (the basis of our immune system), is antimicrobial, and fantastic for supporting good circulation and a healthy bladder.
Nettle
Nettle is packed full of vitamins and minerals. Nettle also has more than 4 times as much calcium as spinach or broccoli, is packed full of Magnesium, Vitamin C, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A and Iron.
Jars of beautiful broth ready for the freezer…
*Always consult a health care professional when consuming any herbal medicine.