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.
Can children drink echinacea tea?
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.
What dosage of echinacea is secure?
Furthermore, echinacea products frequently do not contain exactly what is stated on the label. According to one study, 10% of samples of echinacea products were devoid of any echinacea (32).
However, studies have shown that the following doses can help boost immunity (11):
- Three times a day, take 300–500 mg of dry powdered echinacea purpurea extract.
- 2.5 ml, three times per day, or up to 10 ml per day, for liquid extract tinctures.
However, it’s essential to adhere to the directions provided with your particular supplement.
The long-term effects of echinacea on the body are still mostly understood, so these suggestions are for short-term use only.
The wide range of echinacea products makes it challenging to establish a suggested dosage. Depending on the type of echinacea you’re using, the dosages change.
How should children take echinacea drops?
Children’s echinacea use has been studied for its capacity to promote and strengthen a robust immune system. And now one of the most well-known, regarded, and thoroughly studied herbs in the world can help babies and children.
In the past, the taste of echinacea was one factor that kept kids away from using it. Children will adore the natural, delicious orange essential oil flavoring of ChildLife Essentials Echinacea.
ChildLife Basics Echinacea angustifolia (root) and Echinacea purpurea are the two types of echinacea that are the most effective, absorbable, and bioavailable (leaf & flower).
How To Use:
For Continued Support and Maintenance six months for infants 0.25 mL once every other day for a year. Children aged 1 and older: 0.5 mL once every other day. When required: Use up to 10 days per 4x daily.
Use as directed for up to 10 days straight as necessary, four times per day. Use once every other day for continued support and maintenance.
From infants to teens ChildLife Basics Starting when your baby begins to consume solid foods and continuing into adolescence, echinacea may be administered.
The Food and Drug Administration has not reviewed these assertions. This item is not meant to be used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease.
Why can’t children consume echinacea?
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.
How does echinacea benefit children?
Vicki Martin, a naturopath, responds to parents’ questions regarding whether they should feed their kids echinacea.
Many parents are unsure if natural herbal medicines are safe for children to use because they are becoming more and more popular among adults. One of the most well-liked herbs for preventing coughs, colds, and flu is echinacea. Therefore, it makes sense that parents would want to know if they may give it to their kids.
An Introduction to Echinacea
Echinacea, often called Purple Coneflower, is a herb that has its roots in the United States. For hundreds of years, American Indian healers have utilized it to help treat illnesses. It belongs to the same family as ragweed, marigolds, chrysanthemums, and sunflowers, which is the daisy family. The root or the flower are used to make the majority of Echinacea supplements (or both).
How Echinacea works
Echinacea promotes immune cells that fight off bacteria, fungus, and viruses, which lowers the risk of infectious diseases and their symptoms. Colds, the flu, and other respiratory diseases are now most frequently treated with it as a preventative measure.
What the research says about Echinacea and children
One group of parents in a recent study offered their children aged 1 to 5 an Echinacea and Vitamin C product. For 12 weeks, the kids took the product twice daily. A different set of parents administered a placebo to their kid. Compared to the children receiving the placebo, those receiving the Echinacea supplement experienced a considerable reduction in cold incidence—roughly by half. This implies that combining Echinacea and Vitamin C may help prevent childhood colds and flu.
Are there any cautions?
Giving children natural treatments is always a wonderful idea, but not all plants are safe for younger bodies. Echinacea, however, appears to be safe for the majority of kids.
A few reports of adverse reactions have been made; these are often rashes that go away as soon as the herb is stopped. However, youngsters who have allergies to any plants in the daisy family shouldn’t use echinacea since allergic reactions can be more severe.
What occurs if echinacea is consumed in excess?
Echinacea is probably short-term safe for the majority of people when taken orally. It is safe to utilize different echinacea products for up to 10 days. Some products, like Echinaforce (A. Vogel Bioforce AG), offer a six-month safe usage period.
The most frequent adverse reactions are rash, diarrhea, heartburn, constipation, and stomach pain. Some people may experience adverse responses, particularly those who are allergic to ragweed, mums, marigolds, or daisies.
Echinacea may be safe for short-term use when applied topically. Echinacea-containing cream (Linola Plus Cream) has been used safely for up to 12 weeks. Echinacea topical application may result in skin redness, itching, or rashes.
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.
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 harmless. 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.