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Dosage and Measurement Guidelines
Botanicals for infants and children
botanicals
definition
infant's and children's dosages
infant's dose (up to one year old):
» Use very small doses, e.g. 2 teaspoonsful of chamomile tea. Use tea with a mild taste. Nine to eleven-month olds need palatable herb flavor. If using tincture, remove the alcohol via evaporation.
» Technique: place tincture in water and heat to a simmer; most of the alcohol will evaporate; or, place tincture in a teaspoon and cautiously hold teaspoon over a candle flame. The flame will burn off the alcohol. Add remaining liquid to water to cool down and make a dose.
children's dose:
» Simple weight measure = adult dose x (weight of child in pounds divided by 150 pounds)
» Example: for a child weighing 50 pounds (50/150 = 1/3), hence the dose would be one-third the dose which would be given to an adult.
Cowling's Rule:
» The year number of the next birthday is divided by 24. Thus, a child coming three years of age: 3/24 = 1/8; hence the dose should be one-eighth that of a dose for an adult. (Felter and Scudder, p. 39)
Young's Rule:
» The dose is computed by dividing the child's age by the age plus 12. Thus, for a child of 4 years: 4/(12 + 4) = 1/4. Therefore, the dose should be one-fourth that which would be given to an adult. (Felter and Scudder, p. 39)
footnotes
Felter, H.W. & Scudder, John K., 1922. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Cincinnati, Ohio. Reprinted in 1985 by Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, OR.