A quick reminder to all of you Parents and Grandparents: Lock spices away from children While spices are a staple in every kitchen, certain ones can be toxic to children--keep them stored in a high cabinet, preferably with a lock on it,. Herbs and Spices in the pediatric population Cincinnati Drug and Poison Information Center Some household herbs and spices can be dangerous to toddlers if ingested at high doses. Currently, there are not significant studies or data available on accidental ingestion of these herbs and spices. Furthermore, the FDA does not regulate many of these products so it is sometimes difficult to know the exact contents. There have been a handful of case reports on toxic effects of a variety of spices. Also, there are hypothetical toxicities of many herbs based on how they work in the body as well as known toxicities. Herbal product Toxic effects Bay leaves Damage to the gastrointestinal tract Buckthorn, senna, aloe Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in children Cassava Known as one of the “Top 10 most dangerous foods;” if it is not prepared correctly, cassava plant can produce cyanide Cascara sagrada Dangerously severe diarrhea in children Chamomile Can cause an allergic reaction in children with allergies to ragweed Cinnamon oil Dermatitis, abuse syndrome Eucalyptus Drowsiness, ataxia, seizures, nausea, vomiting, coma Garlic Nausea, emesis, anorexia, weight loss, bleeding, platelet dysfunction Gingko biloba Blood-thinning effects can be dangerous in children Hawthorn berry May cause significant blood pressure drop in children Horse chestnut seed extract Lack of research; reports of death Juniper oil Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in children Kava Hepatitis, cirrhosis Licorice root Large doses can cause headaches, fatigue, salt and water retention, potassium, high blood pressure and even cardiac arrest Spices that can cause toxicity in children include several Indian spices. A study published in the journal, Pediatrics, has shown that children who regularly ingest imported Indian spices are exposed to lead. Researchers purchased and tested several Indian spices including brown mustard seed, asafetida, turmeric, Black pepper, Cardamom, Chili powder, Coriander, Fennel powder, Fenugreek, Garam masala, Garlic power, Ginger powder, Paprika, and Sindav salt. Of the 38 samples, 24 samples had detectable amounts of lead. Another common household spice that can have toxic effects in children is nutmeg. In high doses, nutmeg can have hallucinogenic effects. In children, these effects can be more profound. Most herbs are not recommended for routine use in children. The age cutoff varies from
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:48:59 +0000
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