I would not take any drug which had not undergone full safety testing and controlled, randomised clinical trials for efficacy. And I CERTAINLY wouldn't give an untested drug to a child!

Yes, I know that only the big drug companies can afford such testing but I don't see any alternative. There are already strict laws about what you can and cannot claim - for example you cannot claim that a cosmetic product can cure or treat a particular skin condition without full safety and efficacy testing. Similarly you will notice that your local herbal medicine emporium is careful not to make specific medical claims for any of their products (because they cannot substantiate such claims).

You cannot assume that a herbal medicine is safer and/or more effective than a generic drug manufactured by a pharmaceutical company. This is an area bedevilled by myths, bullshit, misunderstandings and the 'snake oil' mentioned above.