Is it safe to give bush tea to your baby?

“IT look like him belly a hurt him, give him some bush tea,” is a common piece of advice in Jamaica. Many families rely heavily on herbal teas, or ‘bush tea’, to cure any ailments they notice in children, and only seek conventional medicine as a last resort. They use these same remedies in adults and see results, so they expect that it will be similar for infants as well. But when, if ever, is it safe to introduce bush tea to babies?

“Contrary to popular cultural beliefs, herbal teas are not needed in a child’s diet,” said nutritionist Shannon Grant. “Under six months of age, supplemental beverages are not needed. Giving your baby tea at this time could result in an over-consumption of water, or water poisoning thereafter. After the sixth month the organs of the infants are still in the developmental stage, especially the liver and the kidneys, which are the main organs responsible for the detoxifying of these teas.”

Despite the danger of introducing bush tea to babies before their organs are fully developed, Grant notes that, “Studies have shown that in Jamaica the average number of herbs given to each child was between two and three, with the most common herbs being introduced within the first six months of life.”

Some common plants used to make tea in Jamaica are mint, ginger root, lemon grass, cerasee, leaf of life (cold bush), nettle, sour sop leaves, orange leaves, and bissy (cola). These teas are usually administered for infant colic, colds, flu, eczema, apparent tummy troubles and teething pains.

“These are, more often than not, illnesses that can be addressed with more conventional methods,” Grant said.

“But because of the tradition of giving herbal teas, this is normally the first solution sought by parents when their babies are ill. Back in the day, science and nutrition were not as advanced to give reason to some practices. Nowadays with the advancement in nutritional research, there is more evidence present to debunk myths and to have a better understanding and appreciation of new approaches.”

This is not to say that the herbal teas are useless, as some of them do have useful ingredients. They do, however, have other ingredients which may not be safe for infants.

“Though different plants are shown to have ingredients that are beneficial, they also contain toxins that could cause harm to adults and have even worse effects on children,” Grant added.

She said plants such as cerasee, periwinkle, leaf of life, etc, are not strictly regulated, and this is where the problem lies. More research needs to be done in order to provide reliable information on the consumption of bush teas.

“However, what is known is that conditions such as colic and digestive problems can be solved through proper breastfeeding. This is done by allowing the baby to get enough “hind milk” (the milk served by the breast toward the end of a feeding session). Also, rubbing the baby’s stomach in a clockwise direction can help with relieving some amount of discomfort.”

Apart from toxins in bush teas, constantly giving them to babies can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

“The consumption of the herbal teas by babies can result in a displacement to foods that are more nutrient dense, and can also mask illnesses and delay presentation to health care personnel,” Grant noted.

She added that regular administration of bush teas can prevent a baby from getting adequate milk feeds, which can also affect growth and weight gain.

“Studies have shown that bush teas can limit the infant’s intake of iron,” she added.

“Iron at the infancy stage is integral from development and growth. Iron is needed to help supply oxygen throughout the baby’s body, and for the development and functionality of the infant’s brain. Insufficient iron in these critical stages can lead to long-term learning problems for the child.”

She cautioned that parents who are adamant on going the herbal route should wait until the child is closer to three years old, when their vital organs would be developed enough to manage these teas.

“This decision should be made under the advice of appropriate health care professionals,” she warned.