All parents certainly want their children to grow up healthy and free from diseases. Therefore, it is natural to take various treatment methods when the little one is sick, ranging from medical treatment to natural remedies. However, in some cases, administering natural or herbal treatments cannot be done arbitrarily, as this can lead to side effects. Here’s a complete explanation for you, Moms!
The Importance of Dosage
Just like medical treatments, herbal medicines need to be given in specific doses because excessive amounts can pose a risk of harmful side effects. Moreover, the immune system and organ functions of toddlers are still maturing, making them vulnerable to disease threats.
However, if Moms are preparing the remedies themselves, caution is necessary. According to the Directorate of Traditional Medicine Supervision of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, it is explained that children under 12 years old need half the dosage of adults, while toddlers should ideally receive a quarter of the adult dosage. Additionally, Moms can rely on your intuition as a mother. If it seems that one clove of shallot could cause excessive warmth for your little one, you can adjust the amount accordingly.
Examples of Benefits and Dosages
Referring to several sources, here are the benefits, dosages, and potential side effects of various natural ingredients commonly used to treat specific illnesses in children:
- Ginger: Used to treat nausea, stimulate blood circulation, and address inflammation. The dosage ranges from 2-4 grams or 1.5-3 ml daily. Possible side effects include heartburn, reduced platelet aggregation, and contact dermatitis.
- Chamomile: Used as a calming agent, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing agent. Typically, a safe dosage is 2-3 tablespoons of fresh or dried chamomile flowers boiled in water and consumed three times a day.
- Peppermint: Used to address irritable bowel syndrome, colic, nausea, nasal congestion, cough, and dizziness. The recommended dosage is 1-2 capsules of 0.2 ml peppermint oil taken 2-3 times a day. Possible side effects may include infantile apnea when used under the nose, heartburn, and mild anal inflammation.
- Ginkgo: Used for improving concentration, confusion, depression, anxiety, dizziness, and more. The dosage for children is 40 mg, which can be taken up to three times a day. Possible side effects include intestinal irritation, dizziness, bleeding, or contact dermatitis.
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Licorice Root: Used to address lung issues and accelerate the healing of stomach ailments. The safe dosage for children should not exceed 4 or 5 grams per day. Possible side effects may include dizziness, excessive fatigue, water and salt retention, potassium deficiency, high blood pressure, and even heart failure.
