Information on specific herbs
Ginkgo. Although commonly used to boost memory and concentration, only limited studies in adults shows some potential benefit from ginkgo at 40 mg three times a day. “There isn’t any evidence to show any reason to use it in children,” Dr. Breuner said. Adverse effects can include gastrointestinal irritation, headache, bleeding, and contact dermatitis.
Echinacea. Although people use echinacea to treat or prevent the common cold or upper respiratory infections, the evidence does not show significant reductions of incidence, duration, or severity of upper respiratory infections and common colds. Anyone immunocompromised with an allergy or autoimmune disease should not take it.
Zinc. Some evidence from a pediatric Cochrane Review, albeit with heterogeneous studies, supports using 75 mg of zinc a day to reduce duration of common cold and sore throat symptoms in healthy people. Adverse effects include a bad taste, nausea, and anosmia.
Valerian. Children can take 400 mg nightly of valerian to help with sleep, although there are some caveats.
“The problem with Valerian is that it takes 2-6 weeks before it has any effect,” Breuner said. “It tastes terrible, and it’s only in a capsule form. It isn’t dosed for age at all, so you have to be careful about this, and it’s not like Ambien,” she added. It does not work instantaneously, and stopping it abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms, although she would recommend it over melatonin. Despite its use for sleep, it can have adverse effects, such as anxiety, restlessness, and heart palpitations, and it can interfere with barbiturates.
St. John’s wort. No one is quite sure how it works, but research has shown St. John’s wort extracts can treat mild to moderate depression about as well as standard antidepressants. However, the dose is 300 mg three times a day. “There’s no St. John’s XL,” Dr. Breuner joked. It can also interfere with a wide range of prescribed medications, including oral contraception.
Butterbur. Those taking pyrrolizidine alkaloids should avoid butterbur, but it otherwise can help prevent migraine when dosed at 50-75 mg daily divided up into 2-3 for ages 8-9 years and 100-150 mg daily divided up into 2-3 for ages 10-17 years. “Most of the neurologists at my institution are recommending butterbur,” Dr. Breuner said. “It’s not an abortive, but it’s a preventive, with decreased intensity and severity in childhood migraine 6 weeks after using it. This is absolutely something to consider in your patients with chronic headaches.” Adverse effects include diarrhea, stomach upset, belching, and dermal and allergic symptoms, such as itchy eyes, asthma, and rash.
Magnesium. Also recommended by pediatric neurologists at her institution, 300-500 mg daily of magnesium can reduce migraine incidence, but doses should be titrated up at first. “Don’t start with the higher doses,” she said. “You have to be careful about starting at too high of a dose because of diarrhea,” which is its primary adverse effect. Magnesium also can interfere with bisphosphonates, antibiotics, and diuretics; proton pump inhibitors may reduce magnesium levels.
Melatonin. Unlike most supplements that are herbal or mineral, melatonin is a synthetic hormone, but Dr. Breuner said many patients don’t realize that. “Because it’s a hormone, I’m very, very careful about it,” she said, never recommending more than 0.5 to 5 mg a night for help falling asleep. “I’m really not a fan of melatonin,” she said. “You develop a tolerance to it, and this is not something parents or children should be taking chronically because we do not know long-term outcomes at all. It’s not benign even though you can just toss it into your grocery basket.”
She briefly wrapped up with mentions of omega-3 fatty acid supplements (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid); most of the evidence for these supplements comes from adults with psychiatric disorders. However, one study showed reduced tics in children with Tourette’s – if they can stand the fishy taste. It also can cause belching, nosebleeds, nausea, loose stools, and, at higher doses, decreased blood coagulation.
Peppermint can be used to reduce nausea, coughs, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, but it needs to be taken as 1-2 enteric capsules, not as tea or another form.
“Chamomile is very helpful for generalized colic and also for those with chronic anxiety,” Dr. Breuner said, and arnica can be used topically for bruising. Ginger also can be used to reduce nausea but can cause heartburn. A combination of peppermint, chamomile, arnica, and ginger may be appropriate to address various chemotherapy symptoms in a child, she said.
Several articles are useful for looking up interactions between herbs and drugs, including Pediatrics. 2017. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-2720C; J Emerg Med. 2005 Apr;28(3):267-71; and Clin Med (Lond). 2013 Feb;13(1):7-12.
No funding was used for this presentation, and Dr. Breuner reported having no disclosures.