by Tara | Apr 1, 2019 | Natural Remedies for Children, Recipes
Do you have little kids at home that love those sugary pops?
Would you love to incorporate more nutrition into their diet?
Introducing Herbal Popsicles. I’ve used this recipe for over five years now and my twins LOVE helping me make them!
Ingredients
- 2 tbs. of Dried Lemon Balm
- 1 cup of Fruit- we like strawberries and banana or frozen mango
- Small Can of Pineapple juice or raw honey if you prefer
- 2 tbs. Echinacea (optional)
Instructions
- Make 2 cups of lemon balm tea (a handful of fresh or dried lemon balm leaves steep in 2 cups of water.)
- Strain.
- Add 1 cup of chopped fruit & the pineapple juice to a blender and blend.
- Mix in 2 TBS echinacea tincture (optional)
- Mix all the ingredients super well and distribute evenly into a popsicle mold.
- Freeze, serve. Make sure to try one yourself! Yum!!!
0.1
https://taragregorio.com/herbal-popsicles/ 
Here are some popsicle molds we love!
I purchase lemon balm from mountainroseherbs.com
xoxo
Tara
by Tara | Mar 27, 2019 | Immunity & Digestion Kids
Have you ever wondered why there are more food sensitivities in our children these days?
You probably know someone who is gluten-free or dairy-free; maybe even your own child.
Or maybe you know someone with Atopic conditions like eczema, allergies, or asthma.
Did you know, this could be because of your child’s gut health and the medications we are offering them?
Why are our children so sick?
If your child has had just one round of antibiotics or medications (or born via c-section), they may be increasing their risk for allergies, asthma, and eczema.
What medications affect our digestion and therefore our children’s health?
- Antibiotics
- Steroids
- NSAIDS
- Acid reducing medication
- And Stress!!!
Is your child experiencing one of these symptoms?
If so, It may be time to address their gut health.
- Chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating
- Nutritional deficiencies-white spots on nails, shaking or tremors
- Poor immune system- always sick
- Headaches, brain fog, memory loss
- Excessive fatigue
- Skin rashes and problems such as acne, eczema or rosacea
- Cravings for sugar or carbs
- Joint pain
- Depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, bad behavior at school
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or celiac
- >>Chronic cough
- Allergies, Asthma, & Eczema
- Cheeks get red easily
- Food avoidance; meat, dairy, and gluten
How can you ‘fix’ their gut health?
By focussing on these 5 steps, you can reduce your child’s Atopic conditions and food allergy reactions.
What is the difference between food allergy and food sensitivity?
A true food allergy causes:
- An immune system reaction that affects numerous organs in the body
- It can cause a range of symptoms
- In some cases, an allergic food reaction can be severe or life-threatening
- You would NEVER re-introduce this food into your child’s diet
A food sensitivity is:
- Typically less severe
- Causes digestive problems
- Possibly skin problems as well
- Dairy and gluten are the most popular allergens
Did you know, you can heal your child’s gut? It’s called the 4R approach. I’ve written about it here:
Conclusion
If your child is struggling with a food sensitivity, food allergy, or Atopic conditions like; Asthma, Eczema, or Allergies it may be time to address your child’s gut health. When you heal your child’s gut, they may have fewer nagging symptoms like an ongoing cough, clearer skin, and fewer asthma attacks throughout the year.
By learning natural remedies and reducing medications, you can support your child’s health for years to come.
Is your child struggling with these symptoms? Comment below and let me know.
by Tara | Feb 14, 2019 | Natural Remedies for Children, Women's Health
by Tara | Feb 14, 2019 | Immunity & Digestion Kids
Be honest. You’re wondering why everyone is gluten and/or dairy free.
Why do some people have trouble digesting these foods or others have no problem.
What if your child was able to eat these foods again, without digestive pain?
And should this be a concern of yours?
Think about this for a moment. Your child is exposed to more chemicals and antibiotics than you ever were.
Do you ever wonder if it is affecting their health?
Here’s the thing, there are medications affecting your child’s gut health.
Medications that lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome In Kids:
- Antibiotics
- Steroids
- NSAIDS
- Acid reducing medication
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
“Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, is a digestive condition in which bacteria and toxins are able to “leak” through the intestinal wall.”
But hang on, why is this a concern for us?
When you have Leaky Gut, you are at an increased risk for food sensitivity and food allergies.
What exactly is a food sensitivity?
A food sensitivity:
- typically causes a less severe reaction
- they may have an ongoing/undiagnosed cough
- usually causes digestive problems
- your child’s skin may break-out after they eat
- dairy and gluten may be the top sensitive foods for them
A true food allergy causes:
- an immune system reaction that affects numerous organs in the body
- it can cause a range of symptoms
- in some cases, an allergic food reaction can be severe or life-threatening
- you would NEVER re-introduce this food into your child’s diet!!!
- The 4R approach may reduce your child’s reaction to their allergy but you would never re-introduce the food to them again unless under a doctor’s supervision
But don’t forget, you can heal your child’s gut with the 4R approach below.
Does my child need to heal their gut? Do they have these symptoms?
- Chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Poor immune system
- Headaches, brain fog, memory loss
- Excessive fatigue
- Skin rashes and problems such as acne, eczema or rosacea
- Cravings for sugar or carbs
- Joint pain
- Depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, bad behavior at school
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac
- Chronic cough
- Allergies, Asthma, & Eczema
- Cheeks get red easily
If your child has some of these symptoms, they may have Leaky Gut Syndrome and may need the 4R approach.
How? Let me explain.
What is the 4R approach?
It’s a method that addresses the underlying causes of gut imbalances and restores harmony, helping to alleviate symptoms and maybe even disease for our children. The program suggests you: Remove> Reinoculate> Repair> Reintroduce
How do you heal your child’s gut?
- Promote healthy evacuation daily with fiber, fruit, vegetables, and water
- Try an elimination diet for 2-3 weeks if symptoms persist, you may want to try the 4R approach
- Remove all triggers: i.e. all allergens and cross reactors like gluten and dairy
- Get off medications (with Dr.’s approval and replace with natural remedies )
- Reduce your child’s stress with reading, being outside, and adding herbal teas
- Heal their gut lining with the 4R approach below
- NEVER re-introduce foods that cause a true allergic reaction
Keep in mind.
This program is most successful when the whole family agrees to participate. So, what are the steps?
The 4R approach for children
1. Remove
Take out what ails them
- Remove the top allergens for your child including wheat, corn, eggs, dairy, peanuts, and soybeans.
- Add in whole grains (like quinoa and rice), organic vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats.
- Remove all allergens for 4-6 weeks or it may take up to a year to heal their gut with an auto-immune disease.
- Encourage whole, organic foods if able.
- This is the hardest part to do with small kids. It helps if the whole house works together.
- Plan ahead. Print recipes, go grocery shopping, be prepared for meltdowns:)
2. Replace
- Add in a digestive enzyme like Vital Chews or Kids Digest to help your child digest protein, dairy, and meat
- If digestive enzymes produce bloating, your child may have SIBO. Ask for help.
- Teenagers can have 350 HCL at the beginning of a meal to aid digestion or offer bitters to them.
3. Reinoculate
- Add in a high-quality children’s probiotic like Klaire
- this is safe for infants and up to age 7
- Wait 2 weeks for the elimination diet or up to 6 weeks. Adding in a probiotic can give you gas and bloating if you do not remove the allergens first and start with digestive enzymes.
- Look for probiotics with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacter species.
- For older kids, they can incorporate fermented foods such as miso, sauerkraut, and kimchee 3-4x week.
- Although very delicious, kombucha can be high in sugar so consider using sparingly.
4. Repair
Include the following supplements for 6-weeks or more to repair your child’s gut. Dosing depends on your child’s age. The following supplements can be taken for up to 6 months to help to heal the intestinal lining:
- Tumeric
- Curcumin
- Ginger
- Chamomile Tea
- Marshmallow root powder
- DGL licorice (aloe and licorice are not for internal use during pregnancy; these are fine for children) are some of the most effective herbs for healing the gut lining.
Zinc dosing
- Age 4-7 years old 5-10 mg/day
- Age 12 10-20 mg/day
Fish oil:
Conclusion
In short, if your child is struggling with food sensitivities and you find you’re avoiding foods, there is hope. The 4R approach is more than an elimination diet. The 4R approach can heal your child’s digestive tract, reduce bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation for years to come and reduce their risk of autoimmune disease as well.
Want to learn more?
Head over to Home Remedies For Children; my online course that shows you how to integrate natural remedies with your children and heal their gut so they have fewer digestive problems. Grab your freebie below to learn more.
by Tara | Feb 14, 2019 | Immunity & Digestion Kids, Natural Remedies for Children
What does “boost immunity” mean to you? To me, it means raising resilient children. Children who can:
-
- get over illnesses faster
- have fewer allergies, asthma, or autoimmune conditions
- have little need for Ibuprofen or Tylenol (these drugs impact their gut health)
- need fewer surgeries (like tonsillectomy, etc.)
Before raising resilience, we have to ask, “Why are our children so sick?”
- There are more toxins in our environment than ever before.
- The rate of C-sections has increased three times since the 1990s. Studies have shown that children delivered via C-sections have lower immunity compared to natural birth.
- The amount of medication a child receives has increased. Dr. Aviva Romm suggests “By the time they are 20, they may have had 19 rounds of antibiotics”
- There may be increased stress in the home with both parents working.
- Children are notorious for being picky and having a poor, unbalanced diet.
- During pregnancy, a mom’s diet changes. She’s eating less wheat, dairy, peanuts, and other top allergens.
- Your child may or may not have been breastfed. Mother’s milk contains rich nutrients that not only nourishes a child completely but also boosts a child’s immune system.
- There is an increase in the number of pesticides in our food. Even when washed, these chemicals remain and is known to cause negative effects on our bodies and affect our immune systems.
Children absorb more chemicals due to their size and immune system.
So what can we do to improve our children’s health?
#1 Diet is always first
We know 70-80% of all adult cancers can be avoided with a plant-based diet. But picky toddlers are known to choose processed-foods over real, plant-based, healthy foods. An increase in their sugar and processed-food consumption decreases their immune response and may lead to a condition called “Leaky Gut Syndrome.” This condition happens when gaps develop in the intestinal wall starts to loosen and allows harmful substances like bacteria, toxins, and undigested foods pass through into the bloodstream.
It would be ideal to have our children eat 2-3 fruits and vegetables at each meal. This can be a huge challenge when you’re a working parent and have more than one child.
-
- Try offering a chocolate shake blended with chocolate dairy-free milk, banana, spinach, avocado, and cherries or check out Yummy Toddler Food’s recipes!
#2 Reduce Medications
Some medications can lead to a condition called “Leaky Gut Syndrome.” If your child is experiencing this, you may notice that they have more food sensitivities, more allergies, more rashes, and may have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.
Medications that lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome in kids are:
- Antibiotics
- Steroids
- NSAIDS
- Acid reducing medication
What can you do about this? Ask for help! Begin using natural remedies and homeopathy to reduce antibiotic use. Incorporate herbs for natural remedies for cough, home remedies for cough and cold, and to help reduce pain. Learn how to heal your child’s gut with the 4R approach, I teach in my course Home Remedies For Children.
10 Signs of Leaky Gut Syndrome In Children
-
- Chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Low immune system
- Headaches, brain fog, memory loss
- Excessive fatigue
- Skin rashes and problems such as acne, eczema or rosacea
- Cravings for sugar or carbs
- Arthritis or joint pains
- Depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD
- 10.Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease
#3 Boost Immunity With Supplements
As children’s diets are typically poor, we may need to give supplements to “fill the gap”. The three supplements I would add to your child’s diet if their eating is poor are:
Zinc Citrate
-
- Zinc Citrate is an essential trace element responsible for the proper immune function and the health of the gut
- Zinc citrate, given continuously for more than 3 months, has been proven to decrease risks of pneumonia in children under 5 years of age. ²
- Food sources: Oysters and Pumpkin Seeds are two rich sources of dietary zinc
Vitamin D3
-
- Vitamin D3 has been shown to reduce cold & flu symptoms by 45%
- This is found in oily fish (tuna, salmon, etc.), butter, and eggs, sunlight
- Vitamin D3 supplement
-
- kids under 7: 400- 800 IU
- kids 7-12: 800-1000 IU
- kids 12+ and adults: 2,000 IU
Probiotic
Vitamin D3
-
- Vitamin D3 has been shown to reduce cold & flu symptoms by 45%!
- Found in: oily fish {tuna, salmon, etc.}, butter, and eggs + sunlight
- Dosing for Vitamin D3 supplement
- kids under 7: 400- 800 IU
- kids 7+: 800-1000 IU
- kids 12+ and adults: 2,000 IU
Probiotic
-
- Giving a probiotic during pregnancy and to infants, especially c-section births may reduce allergies in our children. ¹
- Try Klair infant probiotic or Klaire children’s chewable to boost your child’s immunity
- ProbioMax ENT has been shown to help reduce strep infections in kids ²
#4 Reduce Toxins & Stress
We are surrounded by thousands of toxins daily. The physiology of our child’s immune system makes them more susceptible to these toxins. Helping them eliminate the toxins daily will help them thrive.
How can you help your child’s body detoxify?
-
- Purchase organic produce when able
- Take everything out of plastic when you get home
- Encourage 1-2 servings of leafy greens daily
- Make sure they are going to the bathroom regularly
- Add probiotics to their diet if they’ve had antibiotics
- Offer organic berries or pomegranate juice as antioxidants
#5 Heal Your Child’s Gut
If your child has Leaky Gut Syndrom and/or allergies, you may want to consider healing their gut with the 4R approach. It’s more than an elimination diet, you remove the top allergens and then you add back in nutrients and gut healing herbs to soothe the digestive tract. Your child doesn’t have to suffer, learn how to heal their gut so they have fewer food sensitivities, fewer allergic reactions, and fewer asthma attacks.
Conclusion
Getting to the root of your child’s immunity is important. Have they had antibiotics? Have they taken many doses of NSAIDS? Do they have any allergies? Do they need to heal their gut? Once we figure this out, then adding in botanicals can “boost their immunity” and reduce food sensitivities for years to come.
How do you boost your child’s immunity? Leave your favorite recipe in the comments below.
Warmly~ Tara
References:
¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4574972/
² https://www.xymogen.com/assets/imageDisplay.ashx?productID=392&attachmentTypeID=1
³ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5638472/
by Tara | Jan 24, 2019 | Natural Remedies for Children, Women's Health
Want to know how I’ve managed to avoid conventional medication for over ten years now?
Teas and tinctures are my chosen medicine that has helped me reduce medications and heal my gut.
Here is everything you need to know about tinctures.
Tinctures, what are they?
Tinctures are concentrated, a liquid extract made from herbs, water & alcohol. They are quick acting and a convenient way to take herbs. Most tinctures are hydroethanolic extracts-that is a combination of water and alcohol. The combination optimizes the extraction of the plants with both water and alcohol-soluble constituents are desired in the final product. 
Tinctures have a long shelf life, frequently lasting many years. The alcohol content preserves the tincture from bacteria and fermentation, even when left at room temperature. Store in a cool dark place and keep out of reach from children.
Why use tinctures?
Tinctures are a safe, fast, effective way to use herbs and seek their medicinal benefits. They are not, however, used when the nutritional aspect of herbs are being sought. For this, one should use teas, infusions, decoctions, and syrups.
What is a glycerite tincture?
Glycerin is used to prepare “alcohol-free” tinctures, and to preserve and sweeten the taste of liquid extracts called- glycerites. Children under 1 year of age, may prefer this for its sweet taste. Some of the children’s tinctures Tara creates combines a glycerine with a tincture to sweeten the taste.
Are tinctures safe for babies?
Borrowed from Herblore: Herbs and herbal products should not be given to babies under 6 months of age, as their digestive systems are not mature enough to handle much more than breastmilk (or formula if its necessary). To give herbs to an infant, its best for the breastfeeding mother to take a full dose of the herb and it will pass to the baby through the breastmilk. ¹
Are tinctures safe for toddlers?
Tinctures are part water, part alcohol. Giving your child 7ml, they will receive 50% water and 50% alcohol. When added to water and juice they receive even less.
Tips for giving tinctures to children
- Babies can receive the tincture through the mother’s milk or in a bottle.
- Toddlers love taking tinctures with a fun straw or a syringe.
- For pregnancy and children, you can pour boiling water over the tincture to dissipate the alcohol. Let cool completely and add juice for children to disguise the taste if needed.
When to take a tincture?
Tinctures are taken based on the urgency of your symptoms. For sinus infections, you may have to take it 3x day for 3 days. For stomach complaints, you can take before or after eating.
What is the dosing for a tincture?
Dosage depends on the weight and age of the person being treated. An adult dose is 60 drops. To treat an acute condition you can take a tincture 1-3x day.
Age — Dosage
- Younger than 3 months — 2 drops
- 3 to 6 months — 3 drops
- 6 to 9 months — 4 drops
- 9 to 12 months — 5 drops
- 12 to 18 months — 7 drops
- 18 to 24 months — 8 drops
- 2 to 3 years — 10 drops
- 3 to 4 years — 12 drops
- 4 to 6 years — 15 drops
- 6 to 9 years — 24 drops
- 9 to 12 years — 30 drops
- 12 and older —30-60 drops
How do I take a tincture?
To take a tincture, you would drop the suggested amount in a 1/4 cup of water and drink. In emergencies, you may place the tincture directly on your tongue.
How do store tinctures
Ideally, they are kept in a cool location away from direct heat and light and keep away from children.
Where to buy tinctures
I love the following companies:
Conclusion
I believe tinctures will be our new medicine. They can aid digestion, reduce unwanted symptoms, and reduce antibiotic use. Tinctures can also ease anxiety and depression. They are quick and effective, place a dropperful in your water bottle and feel confident knowing you are supporting your body throughout the day.
Do you use tinctures as medicine?
Comment below and let me know what has been successful for you.
Warmly~ Tara
¹ https://herblore.com/overviews/childrens-dosage-guide
