ABSTRACT
A survey of paediatric inpatients at the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit in the University Hospital, Kingston, Jamaica demonstrates that 71 percent had been treated with herbal remedies before their presentation to the medical services. The risks of the high prevalence of such medication in children are outlined, and two remedies in particular are highlighted because of their potential toxicity. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Male , Female , Herbal Medicine , Plants, Medicinal , Jamaica , Kwashiorkor/therapy , Plants, Medicinal/classificationABSTRACT
Two cases of therapy with frankincense and myrrh in children are presented. The long history of this unusual treatment is outlined, demonstrating that for several millenia such agents have been employed in a number of medical contexts, as well as in the perfume and incence industries. Myrrh has found recent pharmacological application in the reduction of cholesterol and triglycerides, as predicted by several traditional therapies. (AU)