Many of these products are safe but a few can potentially be dangerous. Touted as an asthma treatment and used in some diet product, ephedra has strong effects on the cardiovascular system and can cause heart attacks and strokes. Popular remedies like echinacea and St. John's wort shouldn't be given to a child about to have surgery as they have been known to interfere with anesthesia. Always tell your family doctor if your child is using herbal medicine. There are risks to taking a prescription drug along with herbal remedies.
Many people take for granted the safety of the drugs and foods they buy.
But, unlike other drugs, herbal remedies aren't reviewed by any government agency for quality dosage safety or efficacy. Federal regulation The Food and Drug Administration regulates herbal products, as food supplements not drugs. The labels on these products don't explain their other ingredients, risks, side effects or possible harmful interactions with other substances. Most experts agree that there isn't enough evidence to say definitively whether herbs are safe and effective for children. In many cases they can be dangerous.