Naturopathic Approach to Kids’ Gut Health: Building a Strong Foundation
A child’s gut health plays a crucial role in their overall well-being, influencing digestion, immunity, mood, and even brain function. A naturopathic approach to gut health focuses on addressing the root causes of imbalance while supporting the body’s natural healing processes through nutrition, lifestyle, and herbal medicine.
When addressing gut health, I always look at 4 areas
Mechanical function (smooth muscle and peristalsis - how the gut muscles move)
Chemical secretions (is the child producing enough hydrochloric acid, digestive enzymes, and bile?)
Microbiome (the balance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms in the gut)
Nervous system influence (aka gut-brain connection, how the nervous system is affecting the gut and vice versa).
Why Is Gut Health Important for Kids?
The gut is home to trillions of bacteria that help with digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function. A balanced gut microbiome can prevent common childhood concerns like constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, food sensitivities, allergies, eczema, and even behavioural issues.
Signs of gut issues in kids
Frequent digestive discomfort (bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea)
Food intolerances or allergies
Skin issues like eczema or rashes
Recurrent infections or weakened immunity
Mood swings, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating
Naturopathic Strategies for a Healthy Gut
1. Nourishing the Gut with Whole Foods
A diet rich in fibre, healthy fats, and natural probiotics supports a balanced microbiome. Focus on:
Fruits and vegetables for fibre and antioxidants
Fermented foods (yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut) to promote beneficial bacteria
Wholegrains (if over 12 months old)
Healthy fats (avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil) to support gut lining integrity
Avoiding processed foods, refined sugar, and artificial additives that can disrupt gut balance
2. Supporting Digestion with Herbal Medicine
Herbal teas can be a lovely way to get herbal medicines into your children. Herbal teas such as chamomile, fennel, lemon balm, catnip and licorice are generally well tolerated by children in terms of their taste. Herbal teas can also help increase your child's water intake if this is an issue. You can always add a bit of honey to sweeten.
Another option for getting herbal medicine into your child is with herbal liquid extracts or tinctures. These are alcohol-based extracts of herbal medicines and are highly concentrated, so you will only need a small amount for a therapeutic effect. You can give the herbs to your child straight in a dropper, dilute in water or dilute in some fruit juice (black currant or pomegranate works best)
There are many options when it comes to herbal preparations for children. Herbal vinegars, oxymels (vinegar and honey extracts), syrups, lozenges, and gummies can all be creative and fun ways for your children to consume herbal medicines.
3. Building the microbiome
Childhood is the perfect time to begin laying some solid foundations in building a healthy and resilient gut. This includes building the child microbiome.
Things to consider when supporting your child's microbiome
Breastfeeding is the perfect food source for babies and includes a range of pre- and probiotics to help establish a healthy microbiome for your little one
Being mindful of antibiotic use. Sometimes, antibiotics can be unavoidable, but nowadays, antibiotics are becoming severely overprescribed and can lead to damage in the microbiome balance and also the gut lining. If your child is having repeated antibiotics, it might be time to get some support from a holistic practitioner to address the root cause of recurrent infections and to rebuild the gut to reduce further health issues down the track.
Let your kids play in the dirt and play with animals.
Encourage your children to eat a wide variety of colours. The colour in fruits and vegetables (polyphenols) are actually food for different species of beneficial bacteria. Eating the rainbow and making it fun can ensure those species are getting fed, therefore not allowing pathogenic bacteria to overgrow.
Fermented foods a few times a week to daily. Depending on your kid’s tolerance and taste, increasing consumption of fermented foods will help to establish an environment in the gut that will allow beneficial bacteria to flourish. Most bacteria in probiotic food don’t actually establish colonies in the gut, but rather influence the gut pH and environments, helping our native species to flourish.
4. Addressing the gut-brain connection
The gut is the seat of a whole lot of our nervous system, so it’s no wonder that our stress and gut health impact each other so intimately. Aside from the gut innervation, the bacteria in the gut are also responsible for nutrient break down and neurotransmitter production, which can also directly impact your child's moods, behaviours, stress levels and sleep quality.
Sleep issues, behavioural issues, and not meeting developmental milestones can be linked to issues in the gut, so it is essential to address this area in health whenever we are considering supporting our children's emotional and mental wellbeing.
Tips for a regulated gut-brain axis
Mindful eating - this will help your child's nervous system to switch into a parasympathetic state (rest and digest) which increases blood supply, digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid into the digestive tract - all essential for optimal digestion. Mindful eating can be as simple as taking some deep breaths before meals, not using screens during meal times, winding down before meals and sharing meals with family and/or friends that make your child feel relaxed and nurtured.
We can also support the gut-brain axis through herbal medicines. Herbs that stimulate the vagus nerve stimulate the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system; these herbs are often bitter and increase digestive secretions. Lemon balm is a special herb in that it acts specifically on the gut-brain connection and is indicated in cases where there is a nervous gut.
4. Address liver function
The liver plays an essential role in digestion, as bile (which is produced and excreted by the liver via the gallbladder) not only breaks down the fats that we eat, it also acts as a natural laxative, lubricating the digestive tract.
Herbal medicines are an amazingly effective and easy way to improve liver function in children, and are gentle and safe. It can also help in cases of constipation, bloating and fat malabsorption (greasy poos). Improving liver function also supports your child’s ability to detox and then excrete these toxins via the stools. If the child is constipated, has poor liver function, is exposed to increased chemicals or toxins or has a poor nutritional profile, then their body’s ability to detox will be impaired.
When to Seek Professional Guidance
If your child has persistent digestive concerns, food sensitivities, or chronic health issues, working with a naturopathic practitioner can help identify underlying causes and create a personalized treatment plan.
A strong gut is essential for your child’s long-term health. By focusing on whole foods, herbal support, improving nutrition and lifestyle changes, you can nurture their digestive system and overall well-being. If you’d like tailored support for your child’s gut health, consider booking a consultation for a holistic assessment and personalized plan.
Hi, I’m Meg, a naturopathic herbalist helping people reconnect with their health through the power of plant medicine. I offer personalised herbal consultations Australia-wide, combining traditional wisdom with modern naturopathic principles to create tailored herbal support for your unique needs.
The information provided on this website is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please see my full disclaimer here.
