Are you considering herbal remedies for your child, or are you currently giving your child an herbal remedy? If so, it’s worth it to do a little research to determine whether or not the treatment has been shown to work and that it’s not harmful. Just because something is labeled “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe.
A 2003 paper by Dr. A. D. Woolf published in the Journal of Pediatrics reviews the use of herbal products to treat children’s health conditions.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you are considering using herbal remedies:
Not much is known about how herbal remedies affect children. Most have not been subjected to rigorous clinical trials; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration labels herbal remedies as “foods,” which means they don’t have to meet the same standards as do drugs and over-the-counter medications for proof of safety, effectiveness, and what the FDA calls “Good Manufacturing Practices.”
The contents of an herbal remedy aren’t always clear. One study reported that high levels of contaminants were found in imported herbal remedies from China. (cont’d)
Children may be particularly susceptible to variations in the dose of remedies and to herbal toxicity. Some herbal remedies contain 10 or more different plants, vitamins, minerals, etc. Interactions of these ingredients are unclear.
Herbs can concentrate in breastmilk and be inadvertently transferred to infants.
Dr. Woolf advises:
- Seek expert advise when considering herbal remedies and avoid self-medication.
- Herbal remedies may have beneficial effects (similar to drugs), but they may also have unanticipated toxicity.
- Herbal products have not been regulated by the FDA (unlike drugs). Concentration and ingredients can be variable or even contain contaminants (which would of particularly concern for children).
- Discuss herbal remedies that you are using or considering with your pediatrician (whether or not he or is supportive),
More information about herbal remedies and complementary and alternative medicine can be found on these websites:
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Dr. Duke Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
National Council Against Health Fraud
July 16th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Great info - thanks