6 Herbal Teas That Are Healthy For Kids

Ever wondered if herbal teas are safe and beneficial for kids? Many parents have questions about whether herbal teas are suitable for their children and how they can introduce them into their diet. In this article, we'll address these concerns and highlight some herbal teas that offer health benefits specifically for children. Plus, we'll provide simple methods for preparing these teas, making it easy for parents to incorporate them into their child's routine.

Let's dive in and explore the wonderful world of herbal teas for kids!

# Lemon Balm Tea

Lemon Balm which is also known by the name Melissa Officinalis can offer numerous health benefits for your child. These can include protection against viral, fungal and bacterial infections, strengthening of neurological system, is good for relieving pain, helps in reducing gastric problems , can help in liver healing and it reduces sleeplessness.

There are many ways in which you can prepare lemon balm tea. The popular methods include preparation of infusion and decoction. Infusion is prepared for soft and delicate leaves or flowers. For this you’ll have to bring water to boil and turn off the heat. Now, put the leaves or flowers in the water and close it with lid and let it be there for 15 minutes or more. This method preserves the essential oils in the leaves or flowers. The second preparation, which is decoction preparation is used to bring out the flavors and medicinal oils in the leaves, stem, roots or seeds. In this method, the ingredients which include coarse leaves, stem, roots, seeds, etc are put in water and cooked. This method brings out the essential oils trapped inside those hard surfaces.

# Fennel Tea

Fennel is another herb and spice that can be happily given to infants as well as toddlers. Fennel offers several health benefits for infants and children which include remedy against colic, remedy for digestive disorders, it acts as a natural laxative, it can reduce respiratory problems, has anti-microbial properties and it is also a good source of antioxidants.

Fennel tea can be prepared by taking a teaspoonful of fennel seeds and boiling them in about 200ml of water. Boil it for about 15 – 20 minutes and filter out the fennel seeds and give it to your baby after it cools down. Also, make sure that you boil the water in low heat because, fennel has antioxidants and these can escape either through vaporization or can be broken down in medium and high heat. So, make the tea only in low heat, as it preserves the medicinal properties.

# Ginger Tea

Ginger has so many health benefits to offer to your children and it can also be made into a tea that can be given as a remedy for various diseases. Some of the health benefits of ginger include relief from digestive issues, heals gastric ulcers, protects liver, relief from cough and cold, remedy from respiratory diseases like influenza, bronchitis, whooping cough, relief from nausea, motion sickness and seasickness.

For preparing ginger tea, first you need to take a small piece, the size of a marble of ginger, peel and then mince it thoroughly using a stone grinder at home or with something hard. Then add this minced ginger to a 1 ½ -2 cups of water and boil for 10-15 minutes. After boiling it, add a bit of lime or lemon juice and a tablespoon of honey to the tea to reduce the strong flavor of ginger and serve it. Boil it in low flame to preserve the medicinal quality of ginger.

# Cardamom Tea

Cardamom is a condiment, whose seeds and flowers are used as flavoring agents in many dishes and desserts. The seeds have a sweet, pungent and strong aromatic flavor. Cardamom is known to offer various benefits such as remedy for indigestion, relief from stomach ache and flatulence, relief from nausea and it relieves from respiratory and pulmonary diseases and reduces phlegm. It can also reduce coughs as well.

Cardamom tea is generally prepared using its seeds. The seeds are round and black and are present in a bunch in seed pods. When taken out from the pods, the seeds can resemble mustard seeds but are slightly larger. These seeds should be pounded first into a coarse powder for preparing a tea. Take 3-4 seed pods, take out the seeds and pound them in a small stone grinder and let them boil in 2 cups of water for about 10-15 minutes. Drain the seed powder and the tea is ready.

# Mullein Tea

Mullein is a herb that offers various benefits such as relief against cough and whooping cough, is used as a remedy for bronchitis, pneumonia, cold, flu, fever and earaches. It is also beneficial in diarrhea, colic, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc.

For preparing mullein tea, take one teaspoon of the herb and boil them thoroughly in 2 cups of water for about10-15 minutes in low heat. After boiling it, strain the leaves and give the tea to your child. Do not add too much mullein leaves to the tea, as it can cause stomach discomfort. Apart from the tea, mullein oil can be used as ear drops for ear infections.

# Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is another herb that can offer numerous health benefits. Some of the benefits include relief against stomachache, indigestion, flatulence and gas, colic, nervousness or restlessness, insomnia, colds, cuts and burns and diaper rashes as well.

It is easy to prepare chamomile tea with the flowers. All you need would be 2 teaspoons of chamomile flowers in with 1 cup of water. Boil it for about 15-20 minutes with the lid closed. This tea can be served in ¼ or ½ cup doses.