Here is an excerpt on on how to help children relax with herbal teas and essential oils from mothernature.com, which is a great resource for natural mothering tips and recipes!
"Children are subject to stress as much as adults are, perhaps even more so; situations that wouldn't faze an adult often push a child over the edge. We tend not to think of children as being tense, so it may come as a surprise that about 20 percent of North American children suffer from serious tension headaches or migraines. Tension is thought to cause the majority of children's headaches and insomnia. Most parents expect children to be nervous before recitals or tests at school, overexcited about trips or filled with dread when going to the dentist. For some children, though, these emotional states are overwhelming. If nervousness or anxiety seem to come out of nowhere or if your child continually reacts inappropriately for his age, chances are that you have already sought professional help. But if you do not know where to turn, ask your child's school counselor or the local public health facility for resources.
A bit of quiet time and a comforting talk with a trusted adult or some "quality time" with a favorite stuffed animal or pet is often all that a child needs to overcome a stressful moment. A calming cup of tea can also help, and the best choice of herbs for that tea are relaxants such as chamomile, catnip and lemon balm, which soothe pain, nervousness, tension and headaches and even put an over-stimulated, cranky child to sleep. A cup or two of the same tea will also calm the frayed nerves of a worn-out parent!
Calming Tea
½ teaspoon each catnip leaves, chamomile flowers, passionflower leaves and lemon balm leaves
¼ teaspoon peppermint leaves
2 cups water
Place herbs and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat; steep for 15 minutes and strain out herbs. Give this tea freely, as needed.
A warm bath or a massage can also relax a child. Most children enjoy the emotionally relaxing fragrances of lavender, chamomile and marjoram, which you can combine with one drop of ylang-ylang. Don't hesitate to give your child a massage. You don't need to know any fancy techniques; gentle, circular motions can be most effective. Remember, though, that children can be very ticklish!
Relaxing Children's Massage Oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops orange essential oil
1 drop chamomile essential oil
1 drop ylang-ylang essential oil (optional)
2 ounces almond oil (or any light vegetable oil)
Combine ingredients. Use for massage as needed.
Relaxing Bath
2 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop each orange and chamomile essential oils
1 drop ylang-ylang essential oil (optional)
Add oils directly to bath and stir to distribute.
To relieve a headache, place a cool lavender compress on the forehead or over the eyes. Some children also like a warm or cool compress on the back of the neck. You can also serve your child Calming Tea and, if needed, give him a relaxing bath. Remember, though, that while the herbal treatments are good for temporary relief, it is also important to address underlying physiological or psychological problems. Recurring headaches are a common symptom of allergies, especially to food, and as with any health problem, it is essential to combat the cause as well as to relieve the symptoms. (If food allergies are present, follow the suggestions given in "Food Allergies" in chapter 90.) If your child suffers from persistent and recurring headaches, or if his headache was caused by a blow to the head or accompanied by a high fever, have the child examined by a doctor to rule out some less obvious disorder.
Headache Compress
8 drops lavender essential oil
1 cup water
Soft cloth
Add essential oil to water and soak a soft cloth in the mixture. Wring excess water from the cloth, then fold and apply it directly over the eyes or forehead or to the back of the neck.
