Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs in America, making up approximately 10 percent of the dietary supplement market, cites MayoClinic.com. Professional herbalists often recommend echinacea tea to treat common childhood ailments, including ear infections, athlete's foot, mononucleosis, sinusitis, hay fever and yeast infections. Because of possible side effects and drug interactions, talk to your doctor before giving echinacea tea to a child.
Benefits
According to MedlinePlus, echinacea is possibly safe for children 2- to 11-years-old. Children may not receive the same benefits from the herb as adults do, however. Laboratory and animal studies cited by the University of Maryland Medical Center suggest that the active ingredients in echinacea enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral and antioxidant effects. In some studies, echinacea reduced the duration or helped prevent the common cold; while in other studies, echinacea did not make a difference.
Dosage
The right dose of echinacea tea depends on your child's weight. The University of Maryland Medical Center says to start with the adult dose, which is based on someone weighing 150 lbs., and adjust to your child's weight. For example, a 50-lb. child would take 1/3 of the adult dose of echinacea tea because 50 lbs. is 1/3 of 150 lbs. The adult dose is 1 to 2 g of dried root or herb used as tea. Therefore, a 50-lb. child should take no more than 1/3 of 2 g. Pour 8 oz. of boiling water over the tea, steep and keep covered for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not give a child echinacea tea for more than 10 days, and do not give it to a child under the age of 2.
Precautions
Some children should not take echinacea tea. Talk to your doctor about your child's medical conditions and all medication and supplements he is taking, before giving any form of echinacea. Do not give echinacea if your child has tuberculosis, leukemia, diabetes, a connective tissue disorder, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, any autoimmune diseases, or a liver disorder.
Echinacea may negatively interact with steroid medicines including betamethasone, dexamethasone, cortisone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, prednisolone and triamcinolone. Immune system suppressants, such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, azathioprine and methotrexate, may also interact with echinacea.
Side Effects
An allergic reaction to echinacea is possible. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or face, and difficulty breathing, including closing of the throat. Do not give echinacea if your child has an allergy to plants in the daisy family known as compositae. Additional side effects can include fever, nausea, vomiting and numbing or tingling of the tongue. Some children develop a rash when taking echinacea. Contact the doctor if your child presents with any of these symptoms.
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