Sarena-Rae Santos is a contributing writer.
For quite a while, my family has been using a teething tea that has proven very safe and effective. It’s our best remedy for teething (and adult toothaches)! When my children were younger and still teething, I’d give them a cup or two of the tea, and they loved it. They’d drink it, especially in the evenings, and it seemed to relieve their pain completely, resulting in less drooling and biting and much better sleep quality.
There were only a few minor problems with the tea:
- It wasn’t super portable
- Dosing for younger babies was tricky
- Some babies didn’t like the taste
That last one wasn’t a problem for us, but it’s one I’ve heard from others.
The portability issue? If it’s only needed at night, making a bag of the tea mix and taking it with us wherever we find ourselves, is a simple solution. But maybe that’s not enough, and we need to be able to give it “as needed” during daytime outings; it would be tricky to make and carry it.
Plus, many babies start teething at 4-6 months before they are really eating solids, and they can’t simply sip a cup of tea. Many don’t even use a sippy cup (and I don’t recommend much liquid at that age, anyway; they need breast milk or formula mostly).
What’s my solution? I make a tincture instead.
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Benefits of the Herbs
Before we go over the directions, let’s discuss the health benefits of this tincture, which combines two herbs, both of which play a specific role in overcoming teething and/or tooth/mouth pain.
Clove (not to be confused with clove essential oil) is used because it is good for pain and inflammation. Additional health benefits of clove include:
- Rich in antioxidants
- Antibacterial properties
- May reduce stomach ulcers
- May help regulate blood sugar levels
- May promote bone health
- May improve liver health
- Anticancer properties
Catnip is used because it is calming and reduces pain. Additional health benefits of catnip include:
- May promote sleep and relieve insomnia
- May relieve stress and anxiety
- May relieve coughs, colds, fevers, and asthmatic symptoms
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- May help with gastrointestinal disorders
- Anticancer properties
- Insecticidal properties
Teething Tincture
This tincture involves the same ingredients as my tea, except it includes vegetable glycerin as an extractor and (natural) preservative. It’s also much more concentrated, so smaller doses are needed.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 tbsp. cloves
- 2 tbsp. catnip
- 2 oz. filtered water
- 2 oz. vegetable glycerin
Directions:
Step 1: Place the herbs in a glass jar.
Step 2: Pour in the glycerin.
Step 3: Add the water.
Step 4: Shake this mixture, cover it, and set it in a cool, dark place for about six weeks.
Step 5: Strain it out and keep it in a glass bottle. In a perfect world, brown glass. A small glass vial of it could go in a diaper bag or purse if needed on the go.
The dose is about 1 – 2 drops to start. Work up a drop at a time as needed. There’s nothing toxic about this combination; even if the baby drank the entire jar it wouldn’t hurt him/her. Thankfully, only a few drops should be needed making this a cost-effective recipe to keep on hand.
I’ll be making a batch of this soon to use with Nathan when he gets to teething age. He’s three months old now…where has the time gone?!
Is this for consuming or a topical?
This is for consumption — I offer a small amount in a cup or on a spoon to the baby.
Where can I get the glycerin? We live in a tiny not whole-food friendly town.
Try Amazon or Azure Standard or Mountain Rose Herbs.
Does it have to sit for 6 weeks? Can you use it immediately?
If you need immediate help, make a tea out of it instead. You can lightly sweeten with honey or maple syrup, or not — use a teaspoon for a smaller baby and toddlers can simply have a cup to drink. We used it starting at 4 mo. with our babies.
Do you use the leaf & flower of the catnip plant?
Yes 🙂
Can u please tell me how can I make a tea with it…
How much do i need and just pour boling water or add and boil with water….I have a 15 month old son how is teething…
Mix 4 – 5 cloves with about 1 tsp. catnip, boil in 1 c. water. Strain it out and add a little honey to taste.
I see chamomile in the picture but not in the recipe, do you use it for this?
Hi Laura,
That was for another mix I was doing at the same time. 🙂
Is the tincture topical or for drinking? My baby is 10 months.
Hi Tricia,
It is for drinking, but you only need a tiny dose. I’ve been using 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. for baby since around 4 months (he’s 9 mo now).
Looks great, Kate! I just started this for our baby. She just turned a month old, but our children have all started teething very early, and sometimes off and on for many, many months until their first teeth pop in. I’m excited to have something here that I made! 🙂
Can I make bigger batches of this to give some to my sister? That is to say, if I increase the recipe for say two bottles, would the concentration be higher?
Can I use penny royal in place of the catnip? I don’t have access to catnip where I live.
Hi Katie,
I’m not familiar with penny royal. Skullcap would work, or perhaps lemon balm.
Is there any way to purchase a jar from you? My angel suddenly started teething like crazy. I don’t have 6 weeks to wait 🙁
April,
You can make it in 2 – 3 days. If you put the jar (all ingredients in it) in a crockpot filled with water (as high as the neck of the jar) and turn it on warm, leave for 2 – 3 days, and it’s done!
Can I use Clove essential oil instead of cloves? If yes…how many drops would I use?
Where do you store this when finished and how l long does it keep for? Thanks!
Hi Leigh-Anne,
I keep it in the cupboard (I have a medicine cabinet in the kitchen) and it will be good for about a year.
Thanks!
Is it safe to add chamomile and possibly fennel to this? How much would you use? Thanks!
I’ve just seen that this recipe calls for 1/4 of the amount of cloves that you recommend in your book (Mama and baby herbal wisdom). Why is that?
I was wondering if you could substitute acv instead of the vegetable glycerin? Or am I mistaken about glycerin being bad for teeth?