A Dose of Advice
The herbal remedy you use to treat yourself may not work the same for your child; it might even be dangerous.
A recent research review indicates that while some herbal remedies show promise for treating certain conditions in children, most dietary supplements have not been adequately tested in kids to determine their safety or effectiveness. Check with your pediatrician before giving your child any herbal supplement.
As more adults use herbal remedies as alternative or complementary treatments for their ailments, more parents are giving their kids herbal remedies as well. This trend prompted a group of researchers to seek reliable clinical evidence determining whether dietary supplements offer any health benefits or safety risks for children. Their findings revealed a lack of research on the effect of all types of herbal supplements on children. For example, clinical studies on treating children with popular botanicals such as chamomile, feverfew, ginger, and ginkgo were too sparse to even include in the study.
Certain botanicals, the researchers found, have shown promise as safe, effective treatments for children. These include valerian for treating attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and some sleep disorders, evening primrose oil for dermatitis, and ivy leaf for recurrent upper respiratory infections, although more studies are needed to clarify the findings. Surprisingly, some botanical treatments with widespread popularity for adults have not proved effective for children, including cranberry juice or supplements for urinary tract infections, garlic for cardiovascular health, and echinacea for common colds.
Because the scientific research is still developing, always inquire with your child's pediatrician or health care provider before treating your child with herbal products.
