What’s the Bottom Line?

What do we currently know about alternative health options for children?

There is considerable data on how widely these methods are used among children, but we lack substantial information about how effective or safe they are.

Can these methods actually help?

Research has explored a range of these therapies in children facing different health challenges, but the findings aren't yet strong or consistent enough to draw firm conclusions about their effectiveness.

Are these therapies safe for children?

Few complementary methods have been thoroughly examined for safety in young people.

Research Inclusion of Children

Historically, children were often not included in clinical studies due to ethical concerns. As a result, health treatments tested on adults were often assumed suitable for kids. Nowadays, the National Institutes of Health requires children to be part of health studies unless a solid ethical or scientific reason prevents it.

Common Use of Complementary Health in Children

The 2012 National Health Interview Survey included data from nearly 45,000 participants, including over 10,000 children aged 4 to 17. According to this survey, 11.6% of these children had used some type of complementary method in the prior year—such as yoga or certain supplements. Between 2012 and 2017, usage of yoga and meditation among kids increased notably—yoga usage more than doubled, while meditation rose almost tenfold.

Popular choices among children included fish oil, melatonin, and probiotics, as well as chiropractic treatments.

These methods were most often used for conditions such as back and neck pain, anxiety, ADHD or ADD, colds, and sleep issues.

Other studies show that usage varies by age and health condition:

• Roughly 10% of babies are given herbal teas or plant-based supplements, typically for digestion problems.
• About 40% of children aged 2–8 receive vitamin or mineral supplements, despite having generally sufficient diets.
• Teenagers often turn to products that promise improved athletic performance, extra energy, or help with weight loss.
• Kids dealing with chronic issues—like anxiety, repeated headaches, or bone and muscle disorders—tend to seek these approaches more often, usually alongside standard treatments.

Scientific Insights: Safety and Side Effects

• Dietary supplements cause around 23,000 emergency room visits each year. Many are due to younger people using weight-control or energy supplements; about 20% of cases involve children, often after taking unmonitored vitamin or mineral products. Notably, child-resistant packaging is not mandatory for supplements.
• Some supplements may be contaminated with harmful substances like drugs or metals.
• Because children's bodies are still growing and vulnerable, they are more likely than adults to experience allergic or harmful reactions.
• In some cases, natural remedies can worsen health problems. For instance, echinacea may trigger allergic reactions in those sensitive to ragweed.
• The FDA advises against relying on over-the-counter homeopathic asthma products. Unlike prescription medications, these products are not reviewed for safety or effectiveness.
• Relaxation-based therapies including biofeedback, hypnosis, mindfulness, and yoga show the most positive results for issues like stress and are typically low-risk. However, spinal adjustments can occasionally cause serious complications.

Important Considerations

• Ensure your child has a proper diagnosis from a qualified medical practitioner.
• Learn about both the advantages and potential drawbacks of complementary approaches. Consult with your child’s doctor before trying new methods.
• Make sure your teenager communicates with health professionals about any therapies they are using.
• Never replace or postpone standard medical care with an unproven approach.
• If your child’s provider recommends a natural remedy, follow dosage and timing instructions strictly; increasing them doesn’t make them more effective.
• Discuss any concerns about a therapy's effects with your health care provider immediately.
• Store all supplements and similar items out of children's reach, just as you would with medicines.
• Always let all involved health care practitioners know about any alternative methods your child uses to promote a coordinated and safe plan.

Choosing a Complementary Health Provider

If you're considering complementary care for your child, it’s crucial to research the provider as thoroughly as you would for conventional care. Ask about:

• Their experience working alongside regular medical providers.
• How familiar they are with treating children in particular.
• Details of their educational background, certifications, and licensing.

For More Information

NCCIH Clearinghouse

The NCCIH Clearinghouse provides details about complementary and integrative health practices. While it doesn’t offer medical advice or referrals, it offers access to relevant publications and databases.

Phone (U.S. only): 1-888-644-6226

TRS: 7-1-1

Email: [email protected]

Know the Science

Know the Science offers tools that help explain scientific research, terminology, and health claims, helping you to make informed medical choices. Resources include tutorials, quizzes, videos, and more.

PubMed®

PubMed is a searchable library of summaries and references from scientific journals, maintained by the National Library of Medicine.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

This collection offers analysis and summaries of research trials on treatments, compiled by a global nonprofit. Summaries are free to access.

Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)

ODS helps the public understand dietary supplements through research, fact sheets, and education.

Email: [email protected]

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA regulates food, drugs, medical devices, and supplements. They monitor safety and issue guidance for consumers.

Phone: 1-888-463-6332

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC protects consumers from false or misleading marketing, especially in how non-prescription health products are advertised.

Phone: 1-877-382-4357

NIH Clinical Research Trials and You

This resource helps people understand the purpose and process of clinical studies, and how they can get involved. It includes FAQs, tips, and participant stories.

Key References

• Bailey RL et al. Journal of Pediatrics. 2012;161(5):837–842.

• Black LI et al. NCHS Data Brief No. 324. 2018.

• Black LI et al. National Health Statistics Reports No. 78. 2015.

• Clarke TC et al. NCHS Data Brief No. 325. 2018.

• Clarke TC et al. National Health Statistics Reports No. 79. 2015.

• Geller AI et al. New England Journal of Medicine. 2015;373(16):1531–1540.

• George M, Topaz M. Nursing Clinics of North America. 2013;48(1):53–149.

• Humphreys BK. Chiropractic & Osteopathy. 2010;18:12.

• Kemper KJ et al. Pediatrics. 2008;122(6):1374–1386.

• McClafferty H. Pediatrics in Review. 2011;32(5):201–203.

• Meyer S et al. Swiss Medical Weekly. 2013;143:w13794.

• Snyder J, Brown P. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 2012;24(4):539–546.

• Todd AJ et al. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015;38(9):699–712.

• Vohra S et al. Pediatrics. 2007;119(1):e275–e283.

• Zhang Y et al. Pediatrics. 2011;127(6):1060–1066.

Additional References

• Cramer H et al. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2014;112(6):503–510.

• Krisanaprakornkit T et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(6):CD006507.

• Levi JR et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;77(6):926–931.

• Li S et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(4):CD007839.

• Lim A et al. Arch Dis Child. 2011;96(3):297–300.

• Marchisio P et al. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2011;24(2):441–449.

• Sánchez-Barceló EJ et al. Int J Pediatr. 2011.

• Saper RB et al. JAMA. 2008;300(8):915–923.

• Schetzek S et al. Neuropediatrics. 2013;44(1):25–33.

• Woolf AD, Gardiner P. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2010;87(2):155–157.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied. The content is meant to inform and should not replace medical advice—always consult a qualified professional for health care decisions.