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Is Nettle Tea Safe for Children?

Nettle tea is one of the safest herbs on the planet and it can be taken by both children and adults for a variety of ailments. The dosage, however, is a bit different for kids than for adults.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Department of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a specific safe and effective dosage has not yet been established by medical practitioners. However, numerous herbalists have published recommended dosage guidelines for children.

Phyllis A. Balch, author of the herbal “Prescription for Healing,” recommends that children under the age of six should be given 1/4 of an adult dosage of stinging nettle and children aged six to 12 should be given 1/2 the adult dosage.

I have used these guidelines to administer nettle tea to the children in my family with no ill effects. It is always recommended, however, that you consult your family physician or herbalist before giving any child a new herbal preparation.

Although nettle tea is generally safe, there could be drug interactions or side effects if the child is taking prescription medications. A perfectly healthy child, on the other hand, should have no problems taking nettle tea for coughs, colds, fevers or any other typical childhood problem or ailment.

When giving nettle tea to children, it’s probably best to sweeten it with honey, fruit or any other flavoring to enhance the taste. This way, they won’t think of it as medicine. See my post on flavoring nettle tea for more ideas.

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