Echinacea tincture for children: instructions for use

In Echinacea purpurea - a herb of the family Compositae - note tonic and immunomodulatory effects. That is why various medicines are made from this herb (pills, tincture, syrup, and others) that can stimulate the immune defense and speed up recovery from infections. One of such drugs is Echinacea Tincture. It is often recommended to take adults, but in childhood treatment with this drug has some limitations.

Echinacea Tincture is produced by various pharmaceutical companies, including the well-known German manufacturer Doctor Theiss, and many Russian companies. Such a drug is sold in bottles or dropper bottles containing 25, 50 or 100 ml of brownish transparent liquid.

Its main component is the herb Echinacea. Usually, to obtain 100 ml of tincture, it is taken in an amount of 20 g. The auxiliary component of the drug is 40% ethyl alcohol. Other ingredients in this tool are absent.

In this case, the composition of the drug from "Doctor Theiss" is slightly different. 100 grams of this solution contains 33.3 grams of ready-made echinacea tincture, supplemented with 38 grams of 70% ethanol, and the remainder is purified water.

The effect of extracts from echinacea on the immune system due to the presence of water-soluble polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyenes, essential oils and other compounds. It is they who have immunomodulatory effects. In addition, echinacea can affect the inflammatory process, reducing its activity.

Under the influence of polysaccharides, the phagocytic activity of various cells is activated, including macrophages and neutrophils. In addition, these substances are able to increase the production of interleukin 1 and accelerate the formation of plasma cells. The presence of betaine, levulose and inulin in echinacea has a positive effect on metabolic processes in the body.

"Echinacea tincture" is used:

• in acute infections, in order to strengthen non-specific immunity and help to quickly overcome the disease;
• with frequent colds and ARVI, that infection;
• with long-term antibiotic treatment of pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and other chronic infections (as an adjunct medication to accelerate recovery).

In the instructions for the “Echinacea tincture” of any of the manufacturers, the age is under 12 years, which is due to the presence of alcohol in it. It is impossible to give such a drug to younger children, because the amount of ethyl alcohol in it is quite large (including in the means from “Dr. Theiss”).

Reception "Echinacea tinctures" is prohibited when:

• autoimmune diseases;
• leukemia;
• tuberculosis;
• HIV infection;
• hypersensitivity to echinacea;
• Allergies to other plants of the Asteraceae family.

During treatment with Echinacea Tincture, face swelling, skin rashes and other allergic reactions sometimes appear. Their occurrence requires immediate discontinuation of the drug.

Before using the medication, shake and then pour the tincture into a spoonful of water in the amount of 20-35 drops.In this dose, medication is given for the prevention of SARS to adolescents older than 12 years before meals three times a day.

The duration of use of “Echinacea tincture” should be determined by the doctor depending on the state of the patient’s immune system, but usually it takes 2-3 weeks. If necessary, take the tool and longer, but only under the supervision of a specialist and no more than 8 weeks in a row.

Exceeding the recommended dose of medication may cause gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions, sleep problems or nervous excitement. If you experience these symptoms, it is recommended to contact your doctor.

"Echinacea tincture" is not prescribed together with other immunostimulating agents, as well as with drugs that have an immunosuppressive effect (the effect will decrease). In addition, Echinacea Tincture should not be used during treatment with certain antibiotics and agents with a hepatotoxic effect.

The drug is sold without a prescription, and its cost depends on both the manufacturer and the volume of tincture in the bottle. For example, a bottle of 50 ml of medication from Ecolab costs about 130 rubles. For the same amount of Echinacea-Galenopharm tincture, you need to pay only 30-40 rubles, and a bottle of medication from “Dr. Theiss "costs about 300 rubles.

The shelf life of the solution is usually 3 years. Since Echinacea Tincture is a herbal remedy, when stored in a liquid, a precipitate may form (turbidity or flakes), which does not impair the properties of the preparation. Keep the medicine bottle away from the sun at a temperature of + 12 + 15 degrees (some manufacturers indicate a range of + 15 + 25 degrees). In addition, the drug must be inaccessible to kids.

On the use of "Tincture of Echinacea," you can find a lot of positive feedback: the drug is called inexpensive and effective, praise for the natural plant base and the ability to stimulate the immune system. However, many parents do not like the presence of alcohol in the preparation and the age limit to 12 years, and some adolescents reacted to the medication with allergies. In addition, the taste of medicine, many children called unpleasant.

One of the most popular analogues of “Echinacea tinctures” to strengthen the immune system is a drug called “Immunal". It is represented by a solution and tablets, which contain echinacea juice. This medication has the same indications, but other age restrictions, which allow replacing them with Echinacea Tincture under the age of 12 years. So, in liquid form, it is often discharged from 1 year to 3 years, and in solid form it is given to children over 4 years old.

Tablet "Immunal»Can be replaced with tablets" Immunorm ", the effect of which is also provided with dried echinacea juice. However, they, like Echinacea Tincture, are used in patients over 12 years old.

In addition, the doctor may prescribe other immunostimulating agents, for example, "Lycopid», «Imudon" or "Isoprinosine", But they have other active ingredients and have their own limitations on use, therefore a specialist should select such an analogue.

About how to raise the immunity of the child, Dr. Komarovsky will tell in the next video.