Children today are not exempted from life’s stressors, including school assignments, the pressure to succeed, and dysfunctional families. Such forces stretch a child’s emotional health towards emotional imbalances, including anxiety, sleep disorders, and ADHD. Therefore, addressing emotional health in children is important now, more than ever, to enable them to navigate life without falling off track.
One way to help with your child’s emotional well-being is introducing them to adaptogens for kids. Adaptogens are a class of herbs that help the body respond to stress. These herbs improve energy levels, regulate the body’s stress systems, and enable mental endurance.
Read on for the power of adaptogens in promoting emotional balance in children.
Understanding Emotional Imbalance in Children
The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is the body system responsible for reacting, responding, and managing our stressors. Stressors in a child, including a pop quiz, pressure from parents or friends, and a poor grade, will trigger the HPA axis. This, in turn, will impact the heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure, causing a real reaction.
If unmanaged, such that the child undergoes chronic stress, the HPA axis will not respond as effectively, and a child will show the following symptoms of emotional imbalance:
- Anxiety
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Digestive upset
- Low energy
- Difficulty sleeping
The Power of Adaptogens for Children’s Emotional Health
Having a child struggling with physical and mental health is stressful. Therefore, if you notice signs of emotional imbalances, resort to natural remedies like adaptogens before they escalate and affect your child’s overall health. Adaptogens have a wide range of medicinal properties that are effective for the immune system, mental endurance, and physical energy. They are safe for kids, and you can use them all year round.
When you give your child adaptogens, their ingredients will interact with the HPA axis to balance their system. Therefore, where there is too much of one hormone, adaptogens will lower; where there is insufficient, they will replenish the levels.
Key Adaptogens for Promoting Emotional Balance
The following comprise key adaptogens you can use to promote a child’s emotional well-being.
Cacao
As an adaptogen, cacao helps in mood elevation and blood circulation. Therefore, if your child experiences low energy and fatigue, consider cacao to boost their strength. You can incorporate cacao into your child’s routine through pudding or combine it with hot chocolate.
Goji Berries
Goji berries are rich in micronutrients and antioxidants. Consumption of this adaptogen will build immunity, detoxify the body, and decrease inflammation. As an adaptogen, goji berries improve energy and mood. You can incorporate the berries in your child’s diet raw, brew them in tea, or offer them as snacks in the form of dried fruits as this is one of the favorite choices for children.
Amla Powder
Featuring high concentrations of vitamin C and natural antioxidants, amla powder is ideal for strengthening the immune system, detoxifying the body, and nourishing the tissues. Giving your child amla powder will also help with a clear mind, enhance their memory, balance their emotions, and calm their mind.
Turmeric
Turmeric contains an active ingredient, curcumin, popular for its anti-inflammatory properties and benefits to the immune and cardiovascular systems. As an adaptogen, studies reveal that turmeric can reduce depression symptoms by curcumin’s impact on neurotransmitter function. This ingredient can also reverse amyloid pathology and related toxicity that cause neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. You can incorporate turmeric in your child’s favorite recipe in recommended doses for the best results.
Holy Basil
Holy basil is useful for increasing focus, decreasing anxiety, and boosting the immune system.
Common Allergens Associated With Adaptogens For Children With Allergies
Adaptogens are non-toxic with mild effects. However, if your child has allergies, it is advisable to consult with healthcare professionals before introducing them to adaptogens, as not all have been fully studied. You should start slowly and give your child one herb at a time to establish how each affects or does not affect them before trying another. If your child is under 18, give them ¼ to ½ the recommended dose of adaptogens for adults.
Additional Parenting Tips for Promoting Emotional Balance
Life experiences, temperament, and genetic makeup can affect emotional development in children. As your child’s first role model, you can promote emotional balance in the following ways:
- Create a supportive and nurturing environment for emotional well-being. This includes a healthy environment for your child to speak up under stress or pressure.
- Promote a healthy diet alongside adaptogens to ensure your child’s meals are balanced and include a variety of nutritious foods. Incorporate foods with quality protein and healthy fats like different nut mixes, fatty fish, beans, and legumes. Add a variety of fruits and vegetables for vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Add adaptogens like Goji Berries, Turmeric, and holy basil as adaptogenic supplements.
- Seek professional guidance and therapy when needed. Where the above fail or need extra support, seek professional stress management for kids.
Conclusion
Adaptogens help manage stress by balancing the release of stress hormones and supporting the body’s capacity to adapt to fatigue and illness. Add adaptogens, including holy basil and turmeric, to your child’s diet to improve their sleep patterns, energy levels, and performance. With many adaptogens in the market still under study, it is advisable to consume certified organic adaptogens as they are less likely to contain harmful chemicals that negatively affect your child.