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By Andrea CandeeHow To Dose Herbs For ChildrenBy Andrea Candee Q: I feel insecure about how to give herbs to my child. I never know how much to give, or how often to give it. Are there any easy guidelines to follow? A: Since children at any given age can vary greatly in size and weight, I prefer to use weight rather than age as the deciding factor in how much to give.
To best determine the dose for your
child, use an adult weight of 150
pounds as the baseline constant.
Using the figure of 150 pounds as
the common denominator, put your
child’s actual weight over it to
determine a fraction of the standard
adult dose. Thus, if your boy or
girl weighs 50 pounds and the
standard baseline is 150, you will
want to give 1/3 of the adult dose.
50 pounds (child’s weight) The following general guidelines apply:
10 pounds = 1/5 dose*
20 pounds = 1/8 dose 30 pounds = 1/5 dose 40 pounds = 1/4 dose 50 pounds = 1/3 dose 60 pounds = 2/5 dose 70 pounds= 1/2 dose 80 pounds = 1/2 dose 90 pounds = 3/5 dose 100 pounds = 2/3 dose * The smallest dose of a liquid extract is 3 drops diluted in 1/4 cup breast milk, formula, or water, or 2 teaspoons of tea.
REDUCE QUANTITY, NOT FREQUENCY
For example, an adult dose of 1 cup
of medicinal tea to be administered
3-4 times a day translates into 1/3
cup, given 3-4 times daily for a
50-pound child.
To make the math easier, it is often
helpful to first convert cups to
ounces. For instance, an 8-ounce
adult dose becomes 1 ounce for an
infant of about 20 pounds.
HOW TO DOSE EARDROPS
The standard adult dose for eardrops
is 3 to 4 drops in each ear.
A toddler’s dose would be 2 drops;
an infant’s, 1 drop in each ear.
After treatment, to avoid an
uncomfortable oily buildup in the
ears, cleanse the ears by inserting
a few drops of hydrogen peroxide.
Here’s another helpful hint: The
easiest time to insert eardrops
(especially for very young children)
is when they are sleeping!
Copyright © 2004 Andrea Candee. All rights reserved worldwide. About The Author ...Andrea Candee, MH, MSC, is a master herbalist with a consultation practice in South Salem, NY. She lectures for the New York Botanical Garden and throughout the country for schools and corporate wellness centers about taking charge of your health naturally. Her book, Gentle Healing for Baby and Child (Simon & Schuster), was awarded The Seal of Approval by The National Parenting Center. She may be contacted through her website, www.AndreaCandee.com or by mail at PO Box 171, South Salem, NY 10590. |
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