Prescription Medications

Herbal Supplements Largely Untested in Kids

But science has come up short on evidence that these popular herbal remedies actually work for kids.

Recognizing the need for more solid information, researchers at the University of Illinois decided to sift through 40 years of medical literature to determine what clinical proof exists for using alternative remedies such as chamomile, valerian, echinacea, garlic and evening primrose oil.

Their findings, which appear in the March issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, suggest that while some herbal remedies look promising for children, the jury is still out on many others. In fact, they excluded looking at chamomile, feverfew, ginger and gingko for lack of scientific research on their effectiveness. And among those herbal remedies they did include, there wasn't enough evidence to recommend the use of cranberry juice or supplements for urinary tract infections, garlic for cardiovascular problems, or echinacea for colds.