Can I give Valerian to a child?

The calming properties of valerian have long been known to people and are in great demand among adults. And if the child is very active, capricious, easily excitable, sleeps poorly and restlessly, many mothers have the idea of using valerian for their son or daughter. But is it possible to give such a medicinal plant to a child, how does it affect the child's body and at what age is it allowed for children?

Beneficial features

The most valuable part of the plant is valerian root, which is rich in essential oils, tannins, glycosides, resins, alkaloids, valeric acid, polysaccharides and other compounds.

They have antispasmodic and sedative properties.

Acting on the human central nervous system, such substances inhibit the formation and transmission of electrical impulses, as a result of which the excitation of the nervous system is suppressed. In smooth muscles, under their influence, electrical activity is also inhibited, due to which their tone decreases, and spasms pass.

Release forms

The pharmaceutical industry offers the following valerian products.

Tincture

To make it, 70% ethyl alcohol is added to the crushed rhizomes and roots, as a result of which a red-brown transparent liquid with a bitter-sweet taste and characteristic odor is obtained. The medication is sold in bottles of 25, 30 and 50 ml... This form is used in children older than 1 year.

Pills

Each of them contains 20 mg extract from valerian, supplemented with starch, gelatin, sodium hydroxycarbonate and other compounds. One pack includes 20 or 50 small round yellow tablets. This form is prescribed by pediatricians for children who have already turned 3 years.

Herbal tea

It is represented by rhizomes packaged in bags in the amount of 1.5 grams per 1 bag. One pack contains 10 or 20 sachets. In addition, boxes are sold in which bulk raw materials are placed in the amount of 35 or 50 grams. Like tincture, this valerian is allowed for children. over a year old.

Indications

Valerian is most commonly used as a sedative.

Preparations from this plant are in demand for:

Neurasthenia or neuroses, which are manifested by frequent headaches, poor sleep, irritability, dizziness and other symptoms.
Hyperactivity, in which the child cannot focus his attention on a specific action, is restless, loud, behaves noisily and moves a lot.
Insomnia, especially if it is associated with an excess of emotions during the day or significant physical exertion.
Heightened nervous excitability, when the child reacts very emotionally, is very worried about any reason, is unnecessarily vulnerable and his mood often changes.
Headaches, if they are not associated with viral or other infectious diseases.
Tachycardia.
Hysteria.
Poor appetite.
Spasms of the stomach, intestines or blood vessels.

Contraindications

Valerian should not be taken:

With severe pathologies of the digestive tract.
With individual intolerance.
With inflammation of the kidneys.
When treating with other sedatives.

Side effect

Valerian should not be considered a harmless medicine, since it is based on natural raw materials. As with other herbal remedies, these drugs have different side effects.

While taking pills or valerian tinctures, you may experience:

Allergic rash or edema.
Lethargy.
Sleepiness.
Depressed mood.
Decreased performance.
Constipation.

In some children, taking valerian can lead to completely opposite effects - the child becomes restless, excitable, cries and screams. In such a situation, the medication is immediately canceled.

Instructions for use

In case of fright or other nervous shock, Valerian can be given to the baby once without consulting the doctor. If the child needs to be given such a sedative for a long time, consultation with a pediatrician is required.
The tincture is given to a child over a year old by adding the required number of drops to a spoonful of plain water. To determine how many drops you need to give to a particular child, you need to know the age of the baby, since one drop of the drug is taken for each year of life. This means that babies at the age of 2 years are given only two drops of tincture, and at 4 years old, a single dose will be 4 drops of such a medicine.
The tablets are given 30 minutes before meals, with a suggestion to drink plenty of water. The frequency of taking this form of valerian is up to 3 once a day. For a child aged 3-5 years, half a pill is taken at one time, and from 5-7 years old, a single dosage will already be a whole pill.
Dried valerian in tea bags is brewed for children 1-6 years old in the proportion of 1 packet for 2 glasses of water, after which the drink is given a teaspoon at bedtime (when the child goes to bed). Children over 6 years old can brew one package of herbal tea with only one glass of water, and a portion of the resulting drink will be from 50 before 100 ml... At the same time, tea can be drunk not only at night, but also during the day (for example, if the child has high emotional stress).

Valerian baths

You can brew valerian roots and rhizomes for bathing, which are sold dried in a pharmacy. To do this, take a handful of dry raw materials, pour 3-5 liters of boiled water and leave for 1 hour. The resulting infusion is filtered and added to the water for the bath. If desired, other plants can be brewed with valerian, for example, chamomile, St. John's wort or a series, but there should be no more than four of them.

To prepare a bath, you can take one package of herbal tea, brew it in a glass of boiling water, and then pour the liquid into the bath where the child will be bathed. After bathing, the baby's body should certainly be lubricated with cream or treated with oil, since water procedures with herbal decoctions dry out the skin.

A dry plant can also be replaced with valerian essential oil. Its dosage for a bath for a child 1-2 years old is 1-2 drops, and for a child over two years old - 3 drops. Since this oil does not dissolve in water, it is first dripped onto baby bath salt and only after stirring is it dipped in water.

Also, it is important to know that valerian baths should not be done daily. Only 1-3 such water procedures per week are enough, and the duration of the first bathing should not exceed 5 minutes.

Reviews

Mothers respond mostly well to the use of valerian in children. They confirm that baths with the infusion of such a plant soothe children and promote good sleep, and pills and drops help with anxiety and insomnia. Side effects on this herb are rare and often include allergies or drowsiness.

Analogs

Other sedative medications may be used in place of valerian medications.

Motherwort tincture

This herbal preparation has been approved from the age of 3.

Notta

Such a homeopathic remedy in drops based on zinc valerianate, phosphorus, chamomile and other components can also be given to children over 3 years old.

Novo-Passit

The composition of such a solution includes extracts from various plants (lemon balm, hops, valerian, passionflower, etc.). The drug is approved from the age of 12.