Children's Dosage Guide

The charts and suggestions below may be used in determining the appropriate amount of herbal remedy to give to children. Please keep in mind, however, that these are just guidelines. The weight and overall health of the child must be taken into consideration, as well as the strength and quality of the herbs to be given, along with the nature of the child's illness. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Herb Lore office.

Note: a typical adult dose is 1 cup (8 oz.) tea, and two droppersful (60 drops) of tincture .

Teas

When the adult dose is 1 cup (8 oz.) of tea, the following is recommended for children:

Age Dosage
Younger than 2 years 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
2 to 4 years 2 teaspoons
4 to 7 years 1 tablespoon
7 to 11 years 2 tablespoons

Tinctures

When the adult dose is 2 droppersful (60 drops), the following is recommended for children:

Age Dosage
Younger than 3 months 2 drops
3 to 6 months 3 drops
6 to 9 months 4 drops
9 to 12 months 5 drops
12 to 18 months 7 drops
18 to 24 months 8 drops
2 to 3 years 10 drops
3 to 4 years 12 drops
4 to 6 years 15 drops
6 to 9 years 24 drops
9 to 12 years 30 drops

Other ways to determine dosage:
Young's Rule – Add 12 to the child's age. Divide the child's age by this total. Example: dosage for a 4 year old: 4 divided by 16 (4+12) = .25, or 1/4 of the adult dosage.

Cowling's Rule – Divide the number of the child's next birthday by 24. Example: dosage for a child who is 3, turning 4 would be: 4 divided by 24 = .16, or 1/6 of the adult dosage.

Reference used: Herbal Remedies for Children's Health ” by Rosemary Gladstar