Herbal products: Risks and benefits of use in children

Background: The use of herbal products in children is a concern because little information is available concerning the benefits and risks of these products in the pediatric population. Objective: This article defines herbal products and reviews the reasons for using such products, the most commonly used herbal products in the United States, their use during pregnancy and breast-feeding, and the adverse effects, drug interactions, and regulatory issues associated with herbal products. Methods: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE and references from journal articles. Results: Many of the herbal products that are being given to children in the United States currently do not meet the standards of good manufacturing practices. No high-quality studies have been conducted to determine the efficacy of these products. Their concentrations of active ingredients are unpredictable, their labeling is inadequate, and they can cause toxicity. Conclusions: The benefit-risk ratio of most herbal products remains unknown. Greater efforts and resources should be devoted to high-quality research to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of these widely used herbal products.