Peter never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to the big fir-tree. He was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit hole and shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight! I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter! "One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time." But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.
-The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Soda pop is disease in a can. I could go on for pages and pages listing the dangers of drinking soft drinks, but I will spare you. Let me just say that the dangers of consuming these beverages on a daily basis can not be overstated. I know several people who drink 1 to 2 litres per day. They are addicted much the same way a person becomes addicted to cigarettes. Caffeine is a drug. Used in moderation, it can be relativley safe. However, in our society it is commonly abused. The sad thing is that while most parents would never dream of giving their child a pack of cigarettes, they don't think twice about introducing a very young child to caffiene. Do I sound like a nut to you right now? Well, I shouldn't. The damaging effects of caffeine abuse are well known in the medical community. Not to mention that soda pops contain other ingredients that are nearly as harmful as caffeine. Don't think that a can of lemon-lime is safe and cola is the only one to avoid. The sugar content is astounding and many of the ingredients are unpronouncable! They contain known cancer causing agents and harmful dyes and flavorings. Before I go on, let me just say that I do enjoy a cold glass of cherry cola with a bowl of popcorn or an occasional mug of root beer, and my children are allowed a can of Sprite with pizza once in a while. But, this is considered a treat, not something we drink to quench our thirst. It is not something that my children or I consume on a regular basis. Please, if you or someone you love is drinking an excessive amount of "pop", do something about it now. It is very detrimental to one's health. Thankfully, we do have some tasty alternatives...
Most everyone is familar with the soothing benefits of chamomile tea. It is true. Chamomile has a wonderful, calming effect and is a fantastic children's herb. It is very safe to use and has no known side effects, unless you are allergic. It is an anti-infammatory, anti-spasmodic, and anti-bacterial. This means that chamomile can be used to support the body during a number of illnesses, such as cold and flu viruses and digestive disorders. It can also be used externally as a remedy for relieving the sting of a sunburn or a rash of any sort. It makes a very mild eye wash during boughts of pink-eye or to soothe eye irritation during allergy season. It is very mild and can be given to very young babies.
Another wonderful children's herb that I'm sure Mother Rabbit kept on hand in her little kitchen, is peppermint. How much I love peppermint! It is the perfect herb to use in blends and makes even mildly bitter herbs palatable. Peppermint can ease a headache, help bring down a fever, clear out sinuses, relieve gas and heartburn, and soothe upset tummies. Peppermint is very safe to use.
This is where "Chamomile & Peppermint Tea", comes in to the picture. Chamomile and peppermint together make a crisp, cool, refreshing tea that most children enjoy, as well as adults. Begin serving your children herbal teas while they are young and they will learn to enjoy these healthy beverages. To make a delicious jug of tea, start by boiling enough water to fill a half-gallon jar. Fill a large muslin tea bag with a generous table-spoonful of dried chamomile flowers and another of dried peppermint. Tie this shut and brew for an hour or so in the jug of boiling water. Remove the tea bag and regrigerate the tea. Add ice cubes and enjoy! This is a fabulous tea to serve to your children when they are feeling under the weather. The coolness of it soothes sore throats and feels nice to a feverish child. It is just the thing for those allergy sufferers in your home. It will keep sinuses clear and allow you to enjoy the outdoors during allergy season. While it works so well as a medicinal tea, it is to be enjoyed as a daily beverage as an alternative to sugary soft drinks and juices. Herbal teas are easy to make and fun to experiment with. Peppermint can be added as a flavoring agent to a variety of blends. Sun tea is a favorite in our home during the summer months. In fact, one of the first things I look foward to on a warm, sunny day in the spring is brewing a jar of "sunshine tea". These "herbal teas", are actually "herbal infusions", and not technically teas at all. You simply fill a jar with water, add your muslin bag filled with herbs, and set out in the sun to brew. It may take several hours, depending on how strong you like it and how sunny the day is. After its brewed, add lots of ice cubes or regrigerate. You can sweeten your homemade beverages with stevia, a very sweet herb, or honey. You may also enjoy your teas hot, especially in the winter, however I find that children are most likely to appreciate cold teas with a bit of sweetener. The key is in introducing healthy foods and beverages while children are young so that they develop a taste for them. I have even given a fussy baby a warm bottle of chamomile tea in bed at night. I do not advise doing this with very young nursing babies, but older babies who have begun taking supplemental water will appreciate this. It sure beats pacing the floor with them at midnight and unsweetened teas are not known to cause tooth decay. So, have a cup of herbal tea today and introduce your children to a very healthy beverage habit!
None of the information regarding herbs in this article has been approved by the FDA. It is meant to be educational and not to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease.
