According to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, teething typically occurs when a child reaches six to eight months in age. The two bottom front teeth, or lower central incisors, usually appear first, followed by the upper central incisors. Symptoms of teething include drooling, biting hard objects, swollen gums and irritability. Once a child begins teething, the Mayo Clinic recommends rubbing the child's gums with a finger wrapped in a washcloth, providing a chilled teething ring and trying over-the-counter teething pain relief products. Herbal teething remedies may also help, but always consult a pediatrician before administering herbs to an infant.
Chamomile Tea
Cold or frozen chamomile tea may help to soothe a teething child's sore gums, according to Andrea Candee in her book "Gentle Healing for Baby and Child." Brew a cup of chamomile tea by steeping one tsp. dried chamomile flowers or one chamomile tea bag in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and chill the tea in the freezer until cold. Soak gauze pads in the cold tea and apply directly to the child's gums. Soak several gauze pads and freeze them for later use, or freeze chamomile tea diluted with equal parts water in frozen ice pop molds. Give the child a frozen teething pop as needed to numb sore gums and relieve pain.
Rose Hip Syrup
In her book "Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health," Rosemary Gladstar recommends administering frequent doses of rose hip syrup to relieve teething symptoms. Give the child four to six drops of the syrup once every hour for the best results. Purchase rose hip syrup at your local natural health store or make your own. To make, simmer two oz. rose hips in one qt. water over low heat until only one pint of water remains. Remove the rose hips and add one cup honey to the remaining liquid. Warm the tea and honey mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until combined. Remove from the heat and transfer to a glass storage bottle, label with the contents and store in the refrigerator for up to two months.
Honey and Clove Oil
Clove oil, a common herbal anesthetic, provides relief from teething pain but may cause irritation to baby's sensitive gums. In her book "Herbal Treatment of Children," Anne McIntyre recommends combining clove oil with honey for treating teething pain. This method dilutes the clove oil enough to remain effective while not causing irritation. For the best results, combine a single drop of clove essential oil with one tsp. honey. Apply the mixture directly to the child's gums several times per day as needed.
References
- Medline Plus: Teething
- MayoClinic.com: Teething Tips for Soothing Sore Gums
- "Gentle Healing for Baby and Child: A Parent's Guide to Child-Friendly Herbs"; Andrea Candee, David Andrusia; 2003
- "Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health"; Rosemary Gladstar; 2008
- "Herbal Treatment of Children"; Anne McIntyre; 2005
