Herbal medicinal products in the paediatric population—status quo and perspectives

The limited extent of data available for herbal medicinal products (HMPs) in the paediatric population is related to missing documentation of their use in practice and in literature. Therefore, information for properly evaluating indications, posology, length of treatment and safety in children is often lacking. Frequently, these documentation gaps are reflected in the product information of HMPs as final result of regulatory decisions. On the other hand, there is long-term experience of HMPs as well established and traditionally used medicinal products, which also covers the use in the paediatric population, as applied by parents themselves, and the recommendations of physicians, other health practitioners and pharmacists. The methodology of pharmaco-epidemiologic studies is a valuable tool to evaluate data of the practical use of HMPs in children. The documentation gap may be closed by such methodologies, and HMPs may be applied prospectively on the basis of well-documented empirical knowledge.