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HealthKick: Herbs & Kids, By Jennifer Galea, MS, RD
Healthkick: Martial Arts Fitness Newsletter Articles © 2001 Professional Payment Systems
Doesn't it seem that kids are constantly getting sick these days? And we are constantly hearing how we shouldn't take (or give our kids) antibiotics for every ailment, due to the risk of developing antibiotic resistant infections.
So what do we do? Many parents are turning to herbal medicine. Herbal remedies are considered by many to be "all natural" and "perfectly safe". In reality, they are chemically and biological active substances and, as such, should be treated with the same respect and desire for knowledge as are traditional medicines.
As with all "medicines", proper use and dosage are critical to safety as well as results. In the December 1999 issue of Parents Magazine, a tragic story was told that depicted the importance of proper dosing of these "all natural," "safe" remedies.
An eighteen month old was brought into an emergency room in New York with seizures of unknown origin. The doctors eventually asked the mother if she had given the child any herbal products. His mother, on advice of a health food store employee, had given him a tablespoon of eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil is a "folk" remedy for relieving fever in adults, but the recommended dosage is a drop, not a tablespoon. The child suffered severe neurological damage.
This brings up two other very important issues. First, from whom should you take advice? A health food store employee, although likely to be reasonably well informed, probably lacks formal training. Only a certified herbalist is trained and qualified to give you accurate information about function and dosage. You want to be "treated" by someone who knows everything about the "prescription" they are recommending.
For example, chamomile would seem to be a very gentle remedy. You wouldn't expect to need professional advice about its use. However, chamomile can cause potentially severe allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to ragweed. In general, herbal remedies aren't likely to be risk free in those with allergies.
The next important issue is specifically the use of herbs by children. Herbal remedies have not been studied in children, so the proper dosage hasn 't been established. As with any medicine, you cannot assume that just a smaller dosage will be appropriate. Keep in mind that childrens' systems can be much more sensitive than adults, even when you adjust the dosage based on weight or age, etc.
In addition, herbs can be contaminated with pesticides or other dangerous substances. Do you really want to give this to your child? "As a conservative in the area, I'd say that herbal remedies should not be administered to babies and children," says botanical expert Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., Sc.D., professor emeritus at Purdue University, and author of The Honest Herbal (one of the most respected books on herbal medicine), and co-author of Tyler's Honest Herbal (Hayworth Press, 1999).
"There are simply no data on the safety and efficacy in children, and there's no reliable information about dosage." And this is coming from someone who is fully knowledgeable about herbal products; a health food store employee certainly wouldn't know all the "ins and outs."
As always, you must keep in mind that you are putting your child's health, and life, in the hands of whoever's advice you implement.