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PEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 1 July 2003, pp. 240-246

Herbal Remedies and Children: Do They Work? Are They Harmful?

Alan D. Woolf, MD, MPH

From the Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Program in Clinical Toxicology, Children’s Hospital; and Massachusetts/Rhode Island Poison Control Center, Boston, Massachusetts

More parents are considering the use of herbal remedies to maintain their children’s good health and to treat their illnesses. They look to pediatricians and other primary care clinicians for advice concerning the safety and efficacy of herbal products for children. This article reviews principles for the clinician to keep in mind while investigating the literature on herbal medicine and addressing the use of herbal medicines with parents.

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Key Words: herbs • dietary supplements • herbal remedy • pediatric herbs • children’s herbs • complementary and alternative medicine

Abbreviations: CAM, complementary and alternative medicine • DSHEA, Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act • FDA, Food and Drug Administration

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Received for publication Jul 26, 2002; Accepted Jan 17, 2003.

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