Can children take echinacea?
A. Yes. As we all know, once children start day care or school, they often pick up colds, flus and ear infections from exposure to other kids. An excellent preventive measure during the cold and flu season is a daily dose of echinacea. Children prefer a glycerin based tincture or a tea, which can be given two to three times a day. A two-day break is recommended every 8 weeks. One of my patients brought in her five-year-old son, who had been catching every bug that came to school, then passed it on to the rest of the family. I suggested the glycerin-based tincture for him, and the alcohol-based tincture for the mother. Both remained free of illness for the rest of the season!
