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| dropperful every 15 minutes. A medicinal strength tea uses 1 tablespoon dried herb per cup of boiling water, steeped for 10 to 15 minutes in a covered container (most leaves and blossoms) or simmered over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes (most roots, barks and seeds). This tea should be diluted with 2 to 3 parts water for direct feeding to infants. |
| For the treatment of colic, herbalist David Hoffmann recommends "grippe water," an old fashioned infusion of dill seed rarely used in the U.S. even though it's still listed in the United States Pharmacopeia. Make your own by pouring 1 cup boiling water over 2 tablespoons dill seed, cover and let stand 10 minutes. An equally effective "grippe water" can be made with fenugreek seed, aniseed, caraway seed or fennel seed. All are aromatic, carminative and relaxing. Like the teas described above, all can be taken by the nursing mother or given directly to the child. |
| Catnip tea is an important antispasmodic and carminative for children. It combines well with chamomile and any of the seed teas decribed above. |
| Lemon balm extracts are popular in Europe for treating colic. In addition to brewing lemon balm tea, you may want to make an alcohol-free tincture using vegetable glycerine, which has a sweet taste and is widely used for children's tonics. Cover fresh or dried lemon balm with vegetable glycerine (available from health food stores and herbal tea companies) in a glass jar, cover and let stand in a warm place for several weeks, shaking every few days. Strain and pour into dropper bottles. Give in dropperful doses as needed. |
| In her Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants, Mary Bove recommends applying a fomentation (warm compress) or massage oil containing lavender, lobelia or catnip to the child's abdomen. To prepare a fomentation, brew an extra strong tea using any of these herbs alone or in combination (2 tablespoons tea per cup of boiling water). Let cool until comfortably warm. Saturate a cloth diaper or small towel with the tea, wring it out just enough to control dripping and apply it to the stomach area. Repeat the procedure every few minutes to keep the area warm or place a hot water bottle over the compress. |
| Alternatively, make an oil infusion of these herbs by pour- |
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