Read The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies Online
Authors: Martha Schindler Connors
The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies (13 page)
By the time they reach kindergarten, most children are socially active (and thus exposed to plenty of disease-causing microbes), meaning very few kids can make it through a school year without at least one bout with a cold or other contagious disease.
Chickenpox, an infection with a virus called
varicella zoster,
is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. However, it seems to be on its way out, thanks to a vaccine that was introduced in the mid-1990s. Chickenpox produces a series of small, itchy blisters that look like chickpeas (and give the disease its name), as well as fever and fatigue.
Kids catch lots of infections that produce unpleasant symptoms, such as sore throat and cough (see above), as well as itching (as in chickenpox).
When your child gets an infection, unless she is running a high fever for more than a few days, you’ll probably be advised to treat her at home, with OTC pain relievers (like acetaminophen) and calamine lotion for the itching. Herbal options include these:
| • Calendula (Calendula officinalis) | The flowers of the calendula, or garden marigold, plant contain anti- inflammatory and antibacterial agents, meaning calendula can relieve itching and help prevent the infection of any blisters that your child scratches. |
| • Oats (Avena sativa) | Baths and topical preparations containing oats can relieve itching and irritation. Oats also help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier. |
Kids aged three and up are likely to come home from day care, school, or summer camp with head lice (about one in every ten school-age kids gets them). An adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, and its eggs, called
nits,
are even tinier (hence the term
nitpicking).
Head lice are extremely contagious, and being in close, head-to-head contact with an infected person is the easiest way to get them. Head lice cause itching, and many children develop sores on their scalps from scratching. Conventional treatment for head lice involves louse-killing chemicals like prescription malathion (Ovide), which kills adult lice and some nits. It can cause scalp and eye irritation and is not intended for use on children younger than six. Another prescription option is benzene hexachloride/gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane), a lotion or shampoo that kills lice and nits but can cause hair loss, headaches, and skin irritation.
The
Pediculus capitis
louse is becoming increasingly resistant to the chemical insecticides permethrin and pyrethroid, which are the active ingredients in most OTC head lice treatments. Lice in other parts of the world are showing resistance to malathion, which is sold as a prescription in the United States.
OTC remedies use pyrethrins or permethrins, both of which can cause skin reactions and respiratory problems. These drugs are not approved for use on children under two, and because they kill only adult or newly hatched lice, both require reapplication. Many herbs are toxic to lice—but not people—and include these:
| • Coconut (Cocos nucifera) | Coconut contains several insecticidal and larvicidal compounds. In one study, a combination of the essential oils of coconut and two other natural bug-killers, anise (Pimpinella anisum) and ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata), was as effective as the insecticides permethrin and malathion. |
| • Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) | Eucalyptus oil contains several compounds that have been shown to be as effective as pharmaceuticals in killing lice and their eggs. |
| • Neem (Azadirachta indica) | Research shows that neem-based shampoos and other treatments kill lice and nits with no irritation or other side effects. |
| • Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Tea tree oil contains a chemical called terpinol, which is lethal to lice. Combined with peppermint (Mentha x. piperita) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) oils, tea tree oil can also repel lice and discourage them from feeding. |
Kids in grade school have their own set of health issues. Their bodies are changing and their social lives and activities are changing, too. Many kids in this age group are getting more active in sports, which brings a whole new set of health concerns.
Children who participate in sports or gym class can develop a few types of fungal (or
tinea)
infections, including
tinea corporis
(also known as jock itch) and
tinea pedis
(better known as athlete’s foot). These two very uncomfortable infections are caused by mold-like fungi knows as
dermatophytes.
These fungi are spread by direct contact (touching a hard surface or an infected person) and thrive in warm, wet environments like swimming pools and locker rooms.
Tinea
infections are treated with OTC topical antifungals like terbinafine (Lamisil), which can cause reactions in some individuals. Herbal remedies can be used in place of these medicines, and include:
| • Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) | Clove oil contains high levels of eugenol, a potent antifungal; it also has several antiseptic and anti-inflammatory constituents. Research shows that clove and other plant oils can stop the proliferation of dermatophytes. |
| • Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) | This North American perennial herb can help your child fight almost any infection, including tinea. Echinacea can be used both internally and externally. |
| • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | A natural anesthetic and anti-inflammatory. It is also effective against many kinds of fungi. |
| • Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | A traditional Aboriginal treatment for all types of skin inflammation and infections (including fungal), it can also speed healing of inflamed (or scratched-up) tissues. |
Kids who spend a lot of time in the pool can get a type of infection known as swimmer’s ear, or
otitis externa.
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal. It strikes when a child gets contaminated water into her ear, most often from a pool with poorly maintained chlorine or pH levels, or a lake that has high levels of bacteria. It’s treated with OTC pain relievers and prescription antibiotics (see above). To kill bacteria preemptively, many conventional practitioners recommend treating the ears with hydrogen peroxide after every swim. Hydrogen peroxide can damage skin tissues and isn’t a particularly effective antiseptic.
If your child complains of sore ears after swimming, you can try to clear it up with herbs before heading to the doctor for antibiotics. If she does need the drugs, you can use these remedies in conjunction with them:
| • Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) | Can be taken internally or applied externally to help clear up an ear infection. Its astringent and antiseptic properties are especially helpful for waterlogged ears. |
| • Saint John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) | Research shows that ear drops containing Saint John’s wort can relieve earache pain more quickly than pharmaceutical anesthetics. |
| • Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) | Witch hazel contains astringent, antiseptic, and antibacterial com-pounds, which makes it perfect for drying (and sanitizing) infected ears. |
Once they’re in high school, most kids are deep into the many social and health-related issues of being a teenager. They want to look good at all times, despite the many changes that are going on in their bodies.
Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States and is especially problematic for the under-twenty set, thanks to rapidly shifting hormones. It’s caused by excessive sebum production, which creates clogged pores and pimples that can become infected with
Propionibacterium acnes
bacteria. For more, see
Chapter 15
.
Conventional doctors recommend OTC treatments made with benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and salicylic acid, which reduce pimples but can cause irritation and drying.
Prescription treatments include topical antibiotics and antibacterials and oral antibiotics; oral contraceptives are also prescribed for some female patients. Antibiotics can increase the likelihood of sunburn and affect a child’s overall immunity. Birth control pills can cause digestive problems and headaches. Herbal acne remedies include these:
| • Calendula (Calendula officinalis) | Calendula can soothe skin (it contains anti-inflammatory compounds) and also reduce P. acnes bacteria and oil (it has antibacterial and astringent properties, too). |
| • Guggul (Commiphora wightii, C. mukul) | Used throughout India, guggul has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and immune-stimulating compounds. It’s been proven as effective as the prescription drug tetracycline against acne. |
| • Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects and works as well as benzoyl peroxide—usually without side effects. |
Puberty often means a big surge in perspiration, as sweat glands in the underarms become more active. Sweat by itself doesn’t smell, but when it combines with bacteria it can produce body odor. Commercial deodorants kill bacteria and mask odor with chemical fragrance; antiperspirants inhibit the sweating process with aluminum salts (aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum zirconium). Most antiperspirants also contain fragrance.
Chlorophyll, the chemical that makes green plants green, is a natural, works-from-the-inside deodorant. It’s found in the greatest concentrations in dark-green plants like parsley
(Petroselinum crispum)
and spinach
(Spinacia oleracea).
Eating them (or other chlorophyll-rich herbs) or taking supplemental chlorophyllin, which is derived from chlorophyll, can reduce body odor and bad breath.
Aluminum compounds have been associated with serious health problems; aluminum itself is a known neurotoxin, and aluminum salts have demonstrated toxicity in laboratory animals. Fragrances used in cosmetics have been linked to a host of problems, including reproductive and developmental health risks. Natural options for perspiration and body odor include:
| • Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) | The leaves of this plant contain a natural deodorant called terpinolene, plus fragrant (and antibacterial) oils, which make it an effective deodorant. Juniper (Juniperus communis) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) contain similar odor-fighting compounds. |
| • Sage (Salvia officinalis, S. lavandulaefolia) | Sage is a classic remedy for excessive perspiration. It’s also an antibacterial, meaning it can combat odor-causing bacteria, too. |
| • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | A natural deodorant, yarrow also has astringent and antibacterial properties, making it perfect for drying up excess moisture and killing bacteria. |