Tummy troubles? Slippery elm!

This last week has been a tough one. Kiddo had caught some terrible lower GI bug which started giving him trouble last Saturday night. He managed to look like things were better, but then again, oh no, they weren't. After all the fluctuations and a visit to the pediatrician, I did a bit of reading. It turns out that Slippery Elm Powder really helps. It's a demulcent, which means that it creates a film that coats mucous membranes, which is why Slippery Elm Lozenges are so popular with voice professionals and singers. It also soothes poor little inflamed insides. The book I have* recommends making a paste of this powder for children over 3 years of age, and suggests 1 teaspoon per day for kids between 3-6 years; children between 7-12 years can take 1 teaspoon, two-three times daily. The powder has little taste and can be mixed with a little apple juice or applesauce into a paste. I chose to give Kiddo some in about 3 ounces of apple juice; it's like dutch powdered cocoa in consistency, so you do have to add a little liquid into it at first to get it to mix in, but it's worth it. I tried a cup myself, and it's wasn't bad. I felt a little better, too, and after 2 days of it, Kiddo is right as rain. I think the bug had worked itself out anyway, but we'll keep up the Slippery Elm for a couple more days, just to speed up the healing. It works!

Just for the record, I am not a doctor and this is not meant to be medical advice. Always consult your child's pediatrician before administering any herbal medications. There. Now don't sue me.

* "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child: A Practical A-Z Reference for Natural and Conventional Treatments for Infants and Children" by Janet Zand, LAc, OMD; Rachel Walton, RN; and Bob Rountree, MD.