Hey I have successfully found a way to help my son "take a chill pill" and I just thought I'd share.
My 21 month old has always been easily excited. He was born with a much different disposition than my 3 1/2 year old. He flits from one thing to the next, has the attention span of a gnat, and is always fidgeting. Even when he's super interested in something and standing still to watch it (a christmas parade, a passing train, etc.) his hands are busy or he's tapping.
He's extremely smart and has a great vocabulary. He is able to carry on conversations and convey his feelings, thoughts, and wants. He's very mechanical and put together a bouncy seat from scratch when he was 18 mos. old just because he wanted to sit in it. He's a thinker, very curious, and he's mischivous, a little more so than regular boys.
I know that if I put him into any type of preschool (not happening) or formal school they'd recommend him taking ritalin. He is just the picture for ADD. I don't want him to be drugged or to change his personality, I just wanted something to help him take the edge off so he can control himself and I don't have to administer justice all day long.
So I did some research and found that public schools in Germany have been using valarian root the way that we use ritalin for decades. So I bought some from bulk herb store and brewed a tea. I have seen my little boy begin to listen, obey, and become proud of himself for being so good. Everyone is happier.
He is still FILLED with energy, and he's 100% not "drugged" or dopey. But this has been just enough to help him control himself. I don't think he'll be using it long term, just until I see that he is better able to sit still without going nuts.
Here's what you need:
4 cups water
4 tsp cut valerian root
1 fruity tea bag (I used Celestial Seasons Verry Berry Zinger)
Here's what I did:
In a saucepot on the stove boil 4 cups of water. In a tea ball/strainer place 4 tsp of cut valerian root. Remove the boiling water from the stove, add the tea bag and the tea ball and let the teas steep for EXACTLY 10 minutes. Remove the valerian root tea ball. Letting valarian steep longer will not make more potent tea, only more bitter and less palatable tea. You can let the tea bag steep as long as you'd like.
I add 1/3 cup of this to a cup and a half of juice/water. I let him sip on it in the early morning and after nap in the afternoon. He usually drinks 2/3 cup of this a day total mixed with his other juice/water. He's 21 mos. and weighs 27 lbs. I'd probably use a little more for a bigger kid. Just my experience and thought I'd share.
That's Shabby SHEIK not Shabby CHICK. Hee-hee.
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