Herbs for the Highly Sensitive Nervous System
I know how exhausting it can feel to comfort your highly sensitive child when all of the gentle parenting tactics aren’t working and asking them to take a deep breath is making them more agitated. As a Mumma of highly sensitive kids and working out that I myself am highly sensitive I needed more gentle tools in my box, that’s when I started my journey learning about herbs flower essences and homeopathics.
A highly sensitive person may present with many symptoms and physical expressions, some may have a highly sensitive digestive system with irritable bowel or food sensitivities, this could also be linked with a highly sensitive immune system with high reactivity, skin conditions or hay fever… the one underlying connector is that highly sensitive people have overstimulation as a trait.
Overstimulation is something that we can nurture by supporting the overburdened nervous system to build resilience and flexibility. The modern world is highly strung, but we don’t have to be.
Just as every child is unique with different contributing factors and elements to consider in their sensitivity, so are herbs, they all have their nuanced attributes, energetics and constituents that develop their individualised characters.
When considering herbs for sensitive children, it's important to consult with a qualified practitioner such as a herbalist or naturopath, like myself, who can assess the child's specific needs and recommend appropriate herbs for what’s really going on.
In my own children, I have one child with a chamomile constitution and one child with a lavender constitution, these herbs are aligned very beautifully to their energy and are able to bring them back into their bodies in times of stress.
Here are a few herbs that are commonly used to support sensitive children:
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita - formally known as M.chamomilla): Chamomile is known for its calming properties for both the nervous as well as the digestive system. I call on Chamomile when I have a child with tummy aches from anxiety. It is often used to help soothe irritability where the child can’t settle, you may hear it as they just don’t know what to do with themselves… want to be picked up, want to be put down; I love this remedy for teething and it’s also great to promote restful sleep in children. It can be consumed as a mild tea or used in herbal liquid extracts and homeopathics.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): Lemon balm is a gentle herb that has a calming effect on the nervous system. It has been used for nervous sleep disorders, restlessness as well as indigestion and nausea due to nerves. I call on lemon balm when there is a need to settle… I have given my children tea before long plane flights to help us find peace. It can help reduce irritability, promote relaxation, and support restful sleep. Lemon balm tea or tincture can be used as appropriate for the child's age.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.): Lavender is well-known for its calming and soothing properties. It is probably most known to be used in the form of essential oil (properly diluted) for aromatherapy or added to a bath to promote relaxation and relieve stress before bed. It has thymoleptic properties which means mood enhancing, I call on lavender teas of tinctures for feeling hot, heavy in the head with tense high standards for self, may lead to stress headaches or digestive disturbances.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): Skullcap is a gentle nervine herb that can help calm an overactive mind and reduce anxiety. Skullcap is great for nervous exhaustion, tension headaches, insomnia and depression. It is typically used in tincture form and dosed according to the child's age and weight.
Oats (Avena sativa): Oats are considered a nerve tonic and can help nourish and support the nervous system. Another thymoleptic herb, oats are a great support through depression and convalescence, a great herb to lean on when we are rebuilding a nervous system after trauma. Milky oats, derived from the immature seeds of oats, are often used in tincture form to support stress resilience and emotional well-being.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): Passionflower is my ultimate anxiety herb, I call on Passionflower for nervous stress that can lead to panic attacks, known for its calming and sedative effects on the nervous system. It can be beneficial for anxious or restless children and is often used in tincture or tea form.
It's important to note that herbal medicine should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner who can consider factors such as the child's age, weight, any existing health conditions, and potential interactions with medications, allergies or other therapies. Each child is unique, and individualized recommendations are essential to ensure safety and efficacy.
If you would like to discuss herbal care for your family please get in contact with me via a free connection call to have a chat.