Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Echinacea and RSV | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
Today I cared for a young boy who was diagnosed tonight with RSV. I held him on my lap at the same time I held my six-month-old, who is very curious about faces and I'm sure probed the older boys facial features. I've had good luck taking Echinacea and putting of colds that other family members have all come down with. Is it safe to take while nursing? If so, will my baby receive any benefits from the herb transferred in my milk? Thank you!— Cynkuen in Madison, WI | | | ANSWER |
January 31, 2002 | | | Dear Cynkuen,
Wintertime is respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, season in America and a large percentage of children under a year will get it each winter. This virus is very contagious. Even if you hadn't held both children at the same time, your six-month old most likely would have come into contact with the virus simply by touching various surfaces (like toys) around the room. In the vast majority of cases, RSV goes away without treatment. Some infants, however, become sick enough to need to be hospitalized for RSV bronchiolitis (inflammation of the bronchioles, or small airways of the lungs) or pneumonia.
Some medications are available to help prevent or treat RSV, but ordinarily they are recommended only for use under special circumstances (e.g., for premature infants, or babies who have breathing problems). There isn't any good information as to whether or not Echinacea is helpful for RSV. There also is no information as to whether or not Echinacea gets into breast milk, or is safe for infants.
I notice that you say that you have had "good luck" with Echinacea. Some people swear by it, and others question its value. Many experts in infectious diseases, including myself, are not convinced there is good scientific evidence that Echinacea really helps with respiratory infections. In individual cases, it is very hard to know whether taking a substance like Echinacea made you get better faster, or your infection was just destined to be a mild one. The only way to prove a drug is beneficial is to compare it with no treatment in large numbers of people under very carefully controlled circumstances. We need good information like this on Echinacea before we know for sure whether it is beneficial--and safe. In addition, even if Echinacea itself turns out to be safe, you need to be cautious about using it. Since the manufacture of herbal remedies like Echinacea is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they sometimes contain harmful contaminants.
In general, I think it is a good idea for moms to be cautious about the foods and medicines they take while nursing. In this case, since the benefits of Echinacea remain unproven, and no one knows whether or not it gets into breast milk or, if it does, if it harms the baby, it might be best to avoid taking this preparation until you are no longer breastfeeding.— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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