School is either back in session or coming up fast, and we all know what that means: back-to-school nerves, upended family rhythms, disrupted sleep patterns, and lots of close contact with new people in shared spaces.
This is why now is the time to have your immune support rituals locked and loaded.
For kids, this means offering great-tasting supplements that are easy to take. For adults, it means finding the right mix of herbs that provide broad-spectrum immune, stress, and sleep support.
Whether you’re a parent with kiddos packing off for their first day of Kindergarten (or college), or a teacher looking for ways to feel and perform your best, here are the immune support products and lifestyle practices to keep on repeat.
The Simplest Kids Immune Support Ritual*
Healthy children who eat well, sleep well, and stay active are generally resilient and don’t need a lot of supplements.
However, close contact with a bunch of new people in a new class or school will challenge the healthiest immune system, which is where herbal support can help.
Black Elderberry Syrup Kids Daily
This deliciously thick and sweet daily syrup is designed to support children’s immune health.*
It’s also concentrated, and its consistency helps it stay on the spoon, reducing the chance of spillage (one supplement, tastes great, less laundry? Yes, please!)
Just 1 teaspoon in the morning for kids ages 4 and up and 1/2 teaspoon for kids ages 1-3 is all they need for all-day immune support. It also tastes great on pancakes and waffles!
Black Elderberry Gummies Kids Daily
If your kids prefer gummies, these delicious little gems pack an equivalent of 3.8 grams of fresh elderberries per gummy, and can go along with them in their lunchbox.
Plus, they’re vegan, organic, and free from artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners, making them a treat you can really feel good about.
Back-To-School Herbal Support For Parents & Teachers*
You never realize how much back-to-school affects grownups until you become one and need all the support you can get!
And not just immune support, but support for stress, brain function, and sleep as you navigate new routines, pick-up schedules, and all the feels.
Here's how Gaia Herbs® can help you stay strong, focused, and energized so you can show up strong for your kiddos and/or students.
Herbs are wonderful for immune health, especially when you know how to take them for everyday support versus fast-acting support.
Here's What To Keep On Hand
Back-To-School Immune Support For Teachers & Parents*
Black Elderberry Syrup Extra Strength
This concentrated product provides 15 grams of elderberries per teaspoon, with just the right balance of tart and sweet.
Like the kids' version, it’s thick like honey, making it easy to take and soothing on the throat. Plus, it's concentrated so you take less (1 teaspoon versus a tablespoon), making it an economical option).
Get yours here.
Black Elderberry Gummies Extra Strength
Get the same tasty immune-support benefits as elderberry syrup on the go.*
Our Black Elderberry Gummies Extra Strength contain an equivalent of 12.3 grams of fresh certified organic elderberries per serving, and are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and Non-GMO Project Verified*; made with no artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors and sweetened with fruit juice concentrate and fruit puree concentrate.
Keep a jar in your desk, purse, breakroom, or anywhere you might need extra immune support.*
Shop Black Elderberry Gummies Extra Strength
Quick Defense®
Think of Elderberry supplements as daily immune support, and Quick Defense® as your go-to at the first sign of an immune challenge.*
This fast-acting formula contains highly concentrated supercritical Echinacea, organic concentrated Black Elderberry extract, Ginger root, and Andrographis, offering broad immune health benefits in a convenient capsule.*
For immediate support, take 2 capsules 5 times a day for 2 days, and repeat for another 2 days if needed.
The sooner you start, the faster it works, so be sure to have some on hand. Order yours now.
Stress & Sleep Support For Teachers & Parents*
Sleep, stress, and immune health are like a back-to-school study group: when one member falls behind, the whole team feels it.
Here’s what you can do for support.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is one of Ayurveda’s most beloved adaptogens (stress relievers) and rasayanas (rejuvenators), helping you cope with and adapt to life’s stressors.*
A clinical study showed improvements in overall stress scores and restorative sleep in healthy participants taking Gaia Herbs® Ashwagandha Root.*
Ashwagandha is one of those must-have versatile herbs that meets you where you are with just the right balance of support.
Available in capsules and great-tasting gummies.
Valerian & Poppy Regenerative Organic Certified® Tincture
If you prefer tinctures or need something for sleep, try our new Regenerative Organic Certified® Valerian & Poppy Tincture.*
This simple two-herb formula combines the natural calming and relaxing powers of Valerian and Poppy in a tincture to help you wind down and sleep deeply.*
Shop Valerian & Poppy Tincture.
Brain Support For Adults*
Children’s brains aren’t the only ones working hard during the school year. After a full day of work, the homework questions start.
Here’s a simple mushroom supplement you can use to support brain health.*
Lion's Mane
Gaia Herbs® Lion’s Mane Mushroom offers gentle brain support in a convenient capsule or gummy, with compounding benefits over time.*
This ultra-concentrated formula delivers the equivalent of 2,500 mg of dried Lion's Mane mushroom per capsule, crafted from purity-tested fungi grown in a wild-simulated environment.
Each serving of Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan-friendly gummies delivers 3.2 grams of Lion’s Mane Mushroom, in a palate-pleasing base of apple, banana, and citrus fruit juices with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.
Shop Lion’s Mane Capsules and Lion’s Mane Mushroom Gummies.
Other Helpful Tips For A Healthier School Year
Supplements can be so helpful for easing transitions, but they’re not a substitute for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Here are some basic lifestyle tips to help support immune health, sleep, brain health, and overall well-being.*
Choose handwashing over hand sanitizer when possible
The Centers for Disease Control and other health experts agree that hand washing with plain soap and water is the best way to remove germs. 1
Hand sanitizer is a next-best option, but it often contains petroleum-based chemical ingredients, endocrine disruptors like fragrance, and high levels of alcohol, all of which can disrupt the microbiome. Instead, send them with their own personal, fragrance-free, non-toxic, plant-based hand sanitizer, or buy a big one for the classroom.
Encourage your children to wash their hands regularly during the school day, and when they get home from school or other activities.
Make sure everyone is getting enough sleep
According to the CDC, about 35% of children (ages 4 months to 14 years), 77.9% of high-school students, and 33.2% of adults do not get the recommended amount of sleep. And we know a lack of sleep negatively impacts everything from brain function and mood to immune health. 2
Creating a consistent bedtime routine, avoiding over-scheduling, and cutting back on screen time before bed are all ways to help ensure everyone is getting enough zzzzs.
Prioritize whole, real foods
Good nutrition is foundational to a healthy immune system, and that nutrition should come from whole, nutrient-dense foods.
Whether you’re packing lunches or using the school cafeteria, help your children make the best choices possible by teaching them to eat the rainbow, choose foods with protein, fiber, and complex carbs, and avoid ultra-processed foods and excess sugar.
It’s not always easy, but high-quality nutrition is foundational to all aspects of health.
Check to be Sure Everyone’s Drinking Enough Water
Most parents send their kids to school with water bottles, but that only counts if they actually drink the water.
How much do they need? It depends. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends about: 3
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4 cups of total fluids daily for ages 1–3
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5 cups for ages 4–8
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7–8 cups for older children—with more needed during heat, illness, or substantial activity
Also, make sure they have the right-sized bottle for their age, as hydration requirements increase as they get older.
Don’t Forget About Nature!
For most families, school and worktime are mostly spent indoors. This is potentially problematic, given that research suggests indoor air quality is significantly poorer than outdoor air quality, which can affect immune function, cognitive health, and many other aspects of health. 4
Plus dozens of studies have shown children and adults benefit physically, mentally, and emotionally from more time spent outdoors. From better sleep to improved attention and focus, nature offers next-level support for people of all ages. 5,6
So, how do you fit in more outdoor time during an already busy school year?
Take a family walk or play hide and seek after dinner, take homework outside, prioritize after school activities that are outdoor-focused, get outside on your lunch break, or plan weekend outdoor adventures.
It’s not always easy, but do your best to get more outdoor time this school year.
Happy healthy back-to-school wishes, from all of us at Gaia Herbs®!
References:
[1] “About Handwashing”. The Centers for Disease Control.
[2] “Chronic Disease Indicators: Sleep”. The Centers for Disease Control
[3] “Choose Water for Healthy Hydration”. Healthchildren.org (from the American Academy of Pediatrics)
[4] “Indoor Air Quality Exposure and Characterization Research”. Environmental Protection Agency.
[5] “Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence”. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
[6] “Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence”. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
