Just ask them and they'll tell you!  If it's not problems with school, then it's problems with friends or it's problems at work, or it's problems with the 'physical-ness' of growing up.  While we don't necessarily have herbs that will directly solve problems with school, friends, or work, we can certainly help our teens with the physical and emotional adjustments of growing up and that will make everything else a little easier to bear. 
 
The first and most important way to help adolescents is through sound nutrition.  One of the challenges is that kids have their own money these days and will often grab a snack at the convenience store or get lunch at the fast-food place.  We can't control what they do when they are away from us, and hopefully we've taught them right so they won't choose such horrid foods too often, so we need to ensure that the food choices that are available at home are both nourishing and inviting.  Lots of fresh vegetables (cold pizza on a whole wheat crust with  soy cheese and lots of vegetables as toppings), some fruit, lots of healthy proteins (trail mix of almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, with just a little raisin, chopped dried apricot, carob chips, yummy uncooked protein snacks) and complex carbohydrates (whole grain carob chip cookies, homemade granola bars) will go a long way to meeting the elevated caloric and nutritional demands of a growing body.
 
Mood Swings
 
One moment they're sweet as peaches and cream and the next they could rip your eyes out...unpredictable...unstable...volatile.... They desperately need an emotional and nutritional anchor.  Colloidal minerals (Essential Liquid Minerals) and protein can provide such an anchor.  Minerals and proteins are the basic building blocks of neurotransmitters and hormones.  When the neurotransmitters and hormones are balanced the moods swings will settle down.  Another way of evening teens out is the combination of Blessed Thistle and Red Raspberry.  These herbs are given to girls and boys alike.  I have seen this combination bring peace and calm to very unstable and troubled youth.
 
Sleep Patterns
 
Recent studies have shown that teens have both an increased need for sleep (almost as much as an infant) and a very abnormal sleep rhythm.  They do much better if allowed to sleep until at least 9:00 AM, and if allowed to stay up till 11:00 PM or midnight.  Their whole circadian rhythm is different from the rest of the world, it seems.  This is grossly inconvenient.  A protein-rich breakfast (poached egg on whole grain toast) seems to get their energy kick-started.  Protein snacks, like the trail-mix mentioned above, will help to keep their energy up and running smoothly and avoid the pitfalls of blood-sugar dips. Some may benefit from using a daylight simulator alarm clock to help regulate their melatonin levels and sleep-wake cycles.
 
Skin Problems
 
When I was a youth the acne control drug of choice was Tetracycline.  It had awful side-effects. Now, the drug of choice is Accutane.  This is really frightening.  The side-effects of Accutane are far more serious than Tetracycline ever were.  When acne is the problem, the solution is liver support and improved nutrition.  If the junk food is reduced to a minimum, and blood purifiers like the herbal blends Liv-Gd, Liv-A, (or my personal favorite) Oregon Grape are used internally, much can be cleared up. Elevated testosterone in both boys and girls can also be responsible for acne. Blessed thistle or black cohosh can counteract this. Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese), refined sugar, white flour, chocolate, junk food fats, and soft drinks all contribute to bad skin.  Tea tree oil, pau d'arco lotion, or silver shield gel can be applied to blemishes with a cotton swab to both kill the bacteria and dry up the excess oils.  The skin clearing process takes time (which is a commodity that most teens are short of) and diligence.  The skin will only be as good as the raw materials that are going into the body, and there is no known minimum daily requirement for tetracycline or accutane.
 
Girls - Periods
 
Teens girls can have problems with irregular periods, painful periods, and heavy periods.  Again, minerals are important.  Calcium, magnesium, and iron can work together to reduce painful cramping and stem heavy menstrual flow.  Liver support, essential fatty acids, and some hormonal guidance is also indicated.  Liv-Gd or Oregon Grape are wonderful at supporting the liver.   Flax oil, black currant oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, or Super Oil will supply the essential fatty acids. Hormonal balance can be helped along with either the Blessed Thistle/Red Raspberry combination, or Wild Yam with Chaste Tree. 
 
Guys - Shaving
 
A guys first experience with shaving can be somewhat like a dueling match....sharp metal implements are used, there is usually blood lost, and there will almost always be battle wounds to show for it.  A drop of tea tree oil mixed with a few drops of jojoba oil can be applied to the face after shaving to prevent ingrown hairs and infection in nicks. Silver shield gel makes a lovely unscented aftershave gel also.
 
Having said all of this, the teen years can be turbulent, and the most important thing we, as parents, can do for our kids is to love them. I highly recommend the book The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman.  When we have loved them, fed them healthfully, and supported their health with appropriate supplements our impact on them will be strong and positive!
 
Bibliography
 
Judith Cobb is the mother of seven children. Her practical experience has helped immensely in working with the many clients who have benefited from the herbal trials that were conducted on her children!
 
 

Judith Cobb, MH, CI, NCP, mom of 7 (ages 10 - 28)