An article in my recent issue was about the controversy of giving herbal meds to kids. Most, if not all, herbal meds are created for adults & is the main reason for the uncertanty of affects on kids. It have a breakdown of the most commonly used ones & the reasons why people use it along with the side affects noted if any. It specifically mentioned different illnesses in which herbal meds are becoming prominant & CF is one of them. Just thought I would mention it since Herbal has been a big ???? as of late.
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Article in Parents Magazine about Herbal Meds
- Thread starter JazzysMom
- Start date
Melissa-Is that the November issue? Just curious. I may pick up a copy for my own benefit of trying to stay healthy this winter. I've never tried anything herbal, but I'm becoming more and more curious for myself. They had a thing on flax seeds on the news this morning. It's starting to get my attention.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Yes it is the November 2005 issue of Parents. I tried looking up the article on Parents.com, but they dont have it archived yet. Lots of other interesting info on the website tho. The article is called The Truth About Natural Remedies on Page 111. For those of you interesting in the herbal thing, but wont be seeing the article it did address the appropriate dosage ??? for kids as well as the fact of where the botanicals are made. According to the article some herbs from developing countries have been tainted with steroids, antiibiotics and other potent medications. It warns to stay away from those produced in China, India and Mexico because their manufacturing standards arent acceptable. To EB24....I realize your cynicism can be justified at times & maybe this is one in which it should, but unlike the meds approved by the FDA if something goes wrong, what recourse is there? Not that those approved by the FDA have been great (look at Celebrex etc), but at least someone is governing somewhat. Just my 2 cents tho.
supermanfan
New member
I honestly had no idea that 'they' said herbal meds are not healthy or safe for kids... that just seams wrong.. herbs are natural, and so to me it would be like saying the natural air is not good for kids... just crazy
Its not that all are not safe or healthy. Its just that when they were developed it was for adults so the doses are not adapted for child usage. This is where the problem falls into play. Parents are "playing" trying to get the right dose & in the meantime hazards have been created. Not all times. Some kids have defintiely benefited from herbal meds, but some have had toxic side affects including liver & kidney failure.
Where does this idea come from that "natural" stuff is always good for you? Poison nightshade is "natural." Most drugs are "natural" in a way (penicillin, cephalosporins, aspirin, etc. all originally come from nature.) And even natural stuff that is <i>benign</i> can have unforeseen consequences when combined with other, powerful drugs (as an example, grapefruit juice interferes with anti-rejection drugs and is thus gravely dangerous post-transplant).
That's even ignoring the hazards of low quality control, non-standardized dosing, contamination with other substances, and likely ineffectiveness that you get with things the FDA doesn't regulate or test (like herbs). They should be used with <i>extreme</i> caution; in low enough doses that they're truly harmless, they likely won't have any major physiological effect at all (i.e., 5 milligrams of Ibuprofen isn't gonna make you sick--won't do a damn about your headache either). And if they have a physiological effect, after all, that means they're messing with your system, somehow (which may or may not be harmless).
Meanwhile, their advocates, often coming from the herb or herb-based cure books business, can be as big cronies as those of mainstream pharmaceuticals, and are not as strictly regulated. Food for thought. <i>"Just because the establishment is out to get you, doesn't mean its detractors aren't."</i>
That's even ignoring the hazards of low quality control, non-standardized dosing, contamination with other substances, and likely ineffectiveness that you get with things the FDA doesn't regulate or test (like herbs). They should be used with <i>extreme</i> caution; in low enough doses that they're truly harmless, they likely won't have any major physiological effect at all (i.e., 5 milligrams of Ibuprofen isn't gonna make you sick--won't do a damn about your headache either). And if they have a physiological effect, after all, that means they're messing with your system, somehow (which may or may not be harmless).
Meanwhile, their advocates, often coming from the herb or herb-based cure books business, can be as big cronies as those of mainstream pharmaceuticals, and are not as strictly regulated. Food for thought. <i>"Just because the establishment is out to get you, doesn't mean its detractors aren't."</i>
Mockingbird
New member
like melissa said, herbal meds can be very harmful if they're not used right, especially if they're taken too much, like with the children getting liver and kidney failure. A lot of chinese herbs can cause kidney failure. And we all know about St. john's Wort and transplant rejection. Ginko Biloba can be used to treat dimentia, especially in alzheimer's patients. Unfortuanately it can also affect the function of platelets in the blood, meaning bleeding can become a big problem, especially if it was a problem to begin with.
Need more proof?
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/Merchant/Herbs/comfreyframe.htm
">http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/Merchant/Herbs/comfreyframe.htm
</a>
Just read the safety notation. "Comfrey should not be used for prolonged periods of time. Use for over three months may be detrimental to the liver."
That's coming from a vitamin store. I don't think a vitamin store is going to list something biased against their own product. Also, if you wanna chck some of the other stuff they have, they all have saftey notations. You might notice most of them say "Do not use while lactating or pregnant" Not harmful, huh?
Be educated about this stuff! When an article comes up, don't just throw it away thinking it's biased garbage. It's not like Parent's Magazine stands to make a profit off of prescription meds, anyway.
Need more proof?
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/Merchant/Herbs/comfreyframe.htm
">http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/Merchant/Herbs/comfreyframe.htm
</a>
Just read the safety notation. "Comfrey should not be used for prolonged periods of time. Use for over three months may be detrimental to the liver."
That's coming from a vitamin store. I don't think a vitamin store is going to list something biased against their own product. Also, if you wanna chck some of the other stuff they have, they all have saftey notations. You might notice most of them say "Do not use while lactating or pregnant" Not harmful, huh?
Be educated about this stuff! When an article comes up, don't just throw it away thinking it's biased garbage. It's not like Parent's Magazine stands to make a profit off of prescription meds, anyway.
HollyCatheryn
New member
One of the best resources I have found for the un- or minimally-initiated is a book called "Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing" by Balch and Balch. They are very well-respected and have been around a long time on this subject. There is a companion book called "Prescriptions for Herbal Healing." It talks about what doseages of what nutrients and herbs and safe and for what uses. It is easy to use and has instructions for adjusting dosages for children and infants.One thing that you need to know is that almost everything (prescription drug, nutritional supplement, herb) says not to use it when nursing or pregnant. The reason for this is a lack of empirical data and formal testing, not that it is actually harmful. It has been learned that there are VERY few prescription drugs, nutritional supplements or herbs that are harmful to a nursing child. There are physiological reasons for this. Pregnancy is different altogether. But, even so a drug may be perfectly safe after the first trimester but be dangerous during. You have to really do your research. Also, some treatments (herbal, nutritional supplement, prescription drug) are safe for certain uses, but harmful in others. Kerosene can safely clean wounds and be handled, but you don't want to nebulize it. It is very difficult to lump everything into a safe or unsafe category. Each treatment really must be taken on its own merit and in specific circumstances.Let us not forget how many prescription drugs were discovered too late to have devastating affects on their consumers. Even ones we might choose as a best option can make us sick, but it is a trade-off (Prednisone, Chemo, Amphiterison...).