The Daily Mail warns that echinacea can “cause allergies” in children, while BBC News states that echinacea cure is inappropriate for children under the age of 12.
According to a press statement from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), parents and caregivers should avoid giving oral herbal products containing echinacea to children under the age of 12 years. The danger of uncommon allergic reactions, which the MHRA states “may occasionally be severe” in this age group, has led to the warning being issued.
According to the MHRA, licensed echinacea products that were approved for use in kids between the ages of 6 and 12 are currently having their product information updated, and any stock that is still on hand will have new labels attached that provide this updated information. The MHRA cautions that there are unauthorized versions of echinacea products available, and it requests that they be similarly labeled.
According to an MHRA spokeswoman, the action was “precautionary in nature” and parents shouldn’t be concerned if they have previously administered echinacea to kids under the age of 12.
What is echinacea and what is it used for?
According to popular belief, echinacea boosts immunity and guards against illnesses.
Many people believe that echinacea plants, the root, seeds, and other elements of them, can guard them against colds. Numerous research have been conducted to determine the effects of echinacea, but no conclusive results have been found.
How much echinacea is too much for children?
Echinacea study is still in its early stages. While some studies show benefits for kids, others do not. There may even be proof that echinacea makes some disorders worse in some circumstances.
For colds
Echinacea is occasionally used by parents to treat their child’s cold. According to a meta-analysis of 14 research, echinacea significantly lowers the risk of catching a cold by 58%. Echinacea supplementation was also reported to shorten common colds by 1.4 days.
However, a different meta-analysis that examined 24 randomized controlled trials with a total of 4,631 participants discovered that the benefits of echinacea products for treating colds was marginal to nonexistent.
Echinacea was proven to be ineffective for treating upper respiratory infection symptoms in children between the ages of 2 and 11. Additionally, it was discovered that kids who took echinacea had a higher risk of developing a rash than kids who didn’t.
Allergies may be to blame for this negative affect. According to a different study, echinacea can occasionally cause infants to experience acute hypersensitivity responses (an excessive immunological response).
According to a meta-analysis by American Family Physician, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of echinacea to treat childhood colds.
For ear infections
Children’s ear infections are frequently diagnosed. According to one study, echinacea not only had little effect for treating ear infections, but it actually slightly raised a child’s risk of developing them.
Echinacea may boost the immune system, according to an older systematic evaluation of 26 controlled clinical trials. Researchers claimed that the technique used in the majority of these studies was subpar and unreliable. They came to the conclusion that more study is required in this area.
For acne
Echinacea purpurea was discovered to eliminate acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation in an in vitro laboratory research.
To ascertain whether this result can be reproduced in individuals, echinacea and acne experiments in humans are still required.
Are children safe to use echinacea plant?
June 26, 2000 — If you stroll inside a health food store, you’ll likely see a dizzying selection of herbal products intended for kids. The same substances frequently appear repeatedly on the labels of the medicines despite the fact that they come in a wide variety of packages and make a wide variety of promises.
What is the opinion of science? The Center for Holistic Pediatric Education and Research at Children’s Hospital in Boston is directed by Kathi Kemper, MD, who has examined the research supporting each of the herbs that are most frequently administered to kids. Furthermore, the verdict is still out in the majority of cases, she wrote in the journal Pediatrics in Review’s February 2000 issue.
Based on Kemper’s review and the insights of other top herbal specialists, below is the most recent information on the plants that are most frequently used in child remedies:
- Catnip. Catnip has never been properly tested on humans, despite the fact that its effectiveness on cats is undeniable. However, it is frequently used to treat indigestion, headaches, colic, low-grade fevers, upper respiratory infections, anxiety, and sleep difficulties in children. It is also known to relieve menstruation cramps. Although serious adverse effects seem to be uncommon, Kemper notes that at least one toddler experienced extreme drowsiness as a result of using it.
- Chamomile. Peter Rabbit’s worries were soothed by a hot cup of chamomile tea, and your youngster might have similar results. According to research, chamomile is a moderate sedative that appears to be suitable for kids of all ages. (However, if a youngster is allergic to ragweed, it could cause an allergic reaction.)
- Echinacea. On the grounds that it strengthens the immune system and helps ward off colds, this herb sells like hotcakes off the shelves. Contradictory findings have been reported in scientific investigations, though. Echinacea can cause dermatitis, according to Kemper, but for kids who aren’t sensitive to it, it appears to be generally safe.
- Liqueur root. In contrast to those red and black imposters in the sweets section, real licorice is a serious medicine. Licorice root can aid in easing pulmonary congestion and even has the potential to hasten the healing of stomach ulcers, according to the Complete German Commission E Monographs, a reliable source on herbal medicines. Licorice is perfectly safe when used in little amounts to flavor teas and other items, according to the monographs.
But be careful not to overdo it: Large doses of the root can result in headaches, weariness, salt and water retention, potassium loss, high blood pressure, and even cardiac arrest, according to Varro Tyler’s description in his book The Honest Herbal. Adults should take no more than 15 grams of licorice root daily for no longer than six weeks, according to the Commission E Monographs. A youngster shouldn’t consume more than 4 or 5 grams of licorice per day, according to the Herb Research Foundation’s general rule that a child’s dose should be one-fourth to onethird of an adult’s.
Bottom line: It’s okay in moderation, but proceed with extreme caution. Be sure to inform your child’s doctor of this as well.
- Weed of St. John. Kemper’s review suggests that this well-known herb may benefit adults with mild to moderate depression, despite the fact that little research has been done on its effects on children. Children who use St. John’s wort may experience lightheadedness, nausea, sleepiness, or confusion, according to Kemper. The herb can interact with numerous prescription medicines, the Food and Drug Administration recently cautioned.
In whom should echinacea not be taken?
Consult your doctor before using echinacea if you regularly take other medications. Additionally, if you smoke, use illegal substances, drink alcohol or caffeine-containing beverages, you should disclose this to your doctor. These might impact how echinacea functions.
If you have an autoimmune ailment (like lupus), an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, echinacea may not be beneficial to you (AIDS). Before beginning to use echinacea, you should discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.
Echinacea allergy risk may be increased if you have a history of allergies to daisies, ragweed, marigolds, chrysanthemums, or other related plants.
How old must you be to take echinacea?
Echinacea may be safe to consume while pregnant for up to 7 days if taken orally. There isn’t enough trustworthy data to determine whether taking echinacea for more than seven days is safe.
Breast-feeding: There isn’t enough trustworthy data to determine whether echinacea is safe to use while nursing. Avoid use to be on the safe side.
Children: Echinacea may be safe when ingested or topically administered for up to 10 days. Most kids between the ages of 2 and 11 seem to be safe when taking echinacea orally, however allergic reactions can cause rashes. There is considerable worry that some youngsters may experience more severe allergic reactions to echinacea.
People with this condition are more prone to experience an allergic reaction to echinacea. Atopy: An inherent inclination for allergies. In the event that you have this condition, it is better to prevent echinacea exposure.
Echinacea may have an effect on the immune system that could exacerbate “auto-immune illnesses,” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pemphigus vulgaris, or others. If you suffer from an auto-immune illness, avoid using echinacea.
Brief overview
However, no studies utilizing Echinacea in the prevention or treatment of illnesses similar to COVID-19 have been found. Current research suggests that echinacea supplementation may reduce the duration and severity of acute respiratory tract infections. There were not many side events reported, indicating the relative safety of this herbal medication. Clinical studies have shown that Echinacea lowers levels of immunological molecules associated with cytokine storm, despite the fact that it might boost immune activity, which raises concerns that it can worsen over-activation of the immune system in cytokine storm.
Verdict
When given at the earliest sign of infection, Echinacea supplements may help with the symptoms of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and the common cold. No trials employing Echinacea in the prevention or treatment of illnesses like COVID-19, however, have been found. When taken at the outset of symptoms, Echinacea may lessen the intensity and/or duration of ARI, according to earlier research. E. purpurea or a mixture of E. purpurea and E. angustifolia having standardized levels of active components were employed in trials claiming benefit.
Echinacea use hasn’t been associated with many side effects, which suggests that this herbal remedy is generally safe. No human studies using echinacea for up to 4 months could be found that showed cytokine storm symptoms.
The results were largely consistent with a reduction in the pro-inflammatory cytokines that are involved in the progression of cytokine storm and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), factors that are highly significant in the death of COVID-19 patients when looking at all human trials that reported changes in cytokine levels in response to Echinacea supplementation. Even though there isn’t any research on the therapeutic benefits of echinacea in the treatment of cytokine storms right now, this evidence shows that more study is necessary.
Adult
Take echinacea three times daily for the first ten days of a cold, flu, upper respiratory infection, or bladder infection to stimulate the immune system generally.
Echinacea should NOT be taken on an empty stomach. Take it with food or a big glass of water instead.
Does echinacea strengthen your defenses?
Echinacea may boost your immune system, enabling you to combat viral or bacterial colds and flu. According to certain studies, the echinacea plant includes compounds that aid in the production of white blood cells by your body. These white blood cells function as part of your immune system to combat infection when your upper respiratory tract (nose, mouth, and throat) becomes infected.
But a 2014 research that examined two dozen additional studies discovered only flimsy proof that echinacea supplements actually work to treat colds. Echinacea may help treat colds, but it has not been demonstrated to hasten the onset of a cold.
Several different infections may be repelled by echinacea. According to some research, echinacea helps treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, and slow-healing cuts and wounds. Even though echinacea can occasionally assist with small illnesses, if the issue persists, you should visit a doctor.
Echinacea is it toxic?
Coneflowers are a lovely, low-maintenance addition to a sunny garden, and you may have even heard Echinacea used in herbal medicines, but does that indicate that it is safe for kids, animals, and other creatures to eat?
Echinacea species are not generally thought to be poisonous. A UC Davis study found that the plant’s entire composition is regarded as safe for consumption.
However, consuming enough of any new plant material could upset your stomach or digestive system, so speak to your doctor or veterinarian right away if you are worried about your child, dog, cat, or other animal.
What dosage of echinacea is recommended for a cold?
Depending on the product, different echinacea dosages are advised. The most frequently prescribed medication in the US is a liquid extract of the E. purpurea root, which is typically dosed at 3 mL every three to four hours for the first one to two days of upper respiratory sickness and then three times per day for the following week. Patients utilizing echinacea tea (prepared from the root of E. angustifolia or E. purpurea) must start with greater doses, usually 6 to 8 oz four times per day for the first two days before reducing it to once or twice per day on days three to seven.