Echinacea for kids

Children have low immunity. They fall sick every now and then, especially after they started attending nurseries and preschools. This made concerned parents look for alternative medicines and supplements to boost their kids' immunity.

Herbal remedies and nutritional supplements are becoming increasingly popular among adults, and many parents are beginning to give them to their children as well. Echinacea is one of the most popular herbal preparations.

Also known as purple coneflower, Echinacea is a member of the sunflower/daisy family. The most commonly used preparation is made from the root of one type of Echinacea (E. purpura), although herbal preparations vary widely as to which plants and what components are used.

Echinacea is used to prevent and treat colds and other upper respiratory infections. It is thought to work by boosting the immune system. Studies of Echinacea in adults have found that it may be effective—some studies have shown that it is effective and others have not shown that it is effective.

There have been a couple of recent studies of Echinacea in children. One found that it was not effective in treating colds in children ages 2 to 11. It did not lessen the severity of their symptoms nor shorten the number of days they were sick. However, the study was criticised for using Enchinacea extracted from the flower of the plant, instead of using the root where potency is!

Another study tested a product called Chizukit, which includes Echinacea, propolis (a plant resin collected by bees) and vitamin C. Parents were assigned to give their 1- to 5-year-old children either Chizukit or a placebo (inactive or fake medicine) twice a day for 12 weeks. The study found that children taking the Chizukit had significantly fewer colds, a little more than half of those suffered by the other children. This study suggests that Echinacea combined with the other products may be effective in preventing colds in children.

One of the good choice to try is L'il Critters Gummy Immune C Plus Zinc & Echinacea, Dietary Supplement for Kids. Some parents have testified that it works. No harm trying and tell us if it works for you as well?


Sources:
Is Enchinacea safe for kids?
Echinacea: The True Lowdown On Echinacea