Echinacea for infants
My 18-month-old son has had repeated infections - coughs, colds, ear infections and fevers - so I want to try and build his immunity. Bioforce have told me their echinacea complex is not safe to give to infants under the age of two. Can you recommend something that is?
Although it is in fact perfectly safe to give an age-related dose of echinacea tincture to infants under the age of two, the conditions attached to the granting of a license to sell this product mean the manufacturer must maintain that it is not suitable for infants. There is no evidence that it is the case - but if the maker wants to continue to sell the product over the counter, he or she must comply with the licensing laws.
What I can tell you is that you can safely give a child under one year of age, one drop of echinacea tincture 2-3 times a day and increase this dosage to two drops, 2-3 times a day for toddlers aged between two and three. (The general rule of thumb is that you give one drop for each year of life, up to three times a day, until the child is four at which time you give a quarter of the recommended adult dosage.)
You may, however, feel more comfortable using a completely different remedy to boost your son’s immune system and if so, then one of the best alternatives is a zinc supplement. Zinc plays a key role in virtually every single aspect of the body’s natural immunity. It is also an impressive antiviral agent and, like vitamin C, can help ward off those viruses that cause the kind of conditions your son has been suffering, including coughs and colds. One of the best zinc supplements designed specifically for children is Biocare's Nutrisorb Zinc, which costs £7.05 for 30ml. Mail order direct from the company on 0121-433 3727