My two sons, Jack and Chris, were born years before I became a natural health writer. I was clueless back then—I thought that chicken nuggets were a desirable source of protein and that any beverage containing at least 10% fruit juice was loaded with nutrition.
I also thought it was terrific parenting to stock an enormous assortment of over-the-counter medicines for every possible child health crisis.
Having all those drugs handy was something my pediatrician supported. I’d call him (usually in the dead of night) whenever one of the boys had a scary cough or was too stuffy to breathe, and he’d always recommend some grape- or cherry-flavored syrup or other.
Too much of a “good” thing
But, as we now know, OTC cold meds for kids—for most purposes—are a waste of money, and, worse, can be dangerous. You can unwittingly overmedicate a child. The ingredients can cause bad reactions in some children. There’s no proof that they reduce symptoms, and they don’t cure or even shorten the duration of the common cold.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly recommends that children younger than 2 should not be given these drugs, and they’re deliberating the medications’ safety for older children. Just last year, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association announced a voluntary relabeling of children’s cough and cold drugs to warn parents and caregivers not to give them to children under 4.
So, now we all know better. Or do we?
Actually, we don’t, say the results of a new survey conducted by the University School of Medicine, in St. Louis. More than 100 community pediatricians and nearly 1,300 parents were questioned about their use of OTC cold and cough drugs for this survey. Despite the fact that 73% of parents were aware of the FDA advisory, 70% still believed the products relieved symptoms, 68% didn’t believe they were dangerous, and 74% had the medications stocked at home.
Try something effective, safe, and new (to Americans, anyway)
I’ve known for years about two top-selling European remedies for cough, cold, and sinus symptoms. I’ve seen the clinical studies and know they’ve been proven safe and effective. But I haven’t written about them—because until now, they haven’t been available here.
Last year, Bionorica, a German company that conducts research in partnership with some 450 universities and labs around the world, introduced Sinupret in the United States. Bronchipret was made available several months ago.
Sinupret syrup for kids is made from European elder, sorrel, cowslip, vervain, and gentian. Though these herbs may not be as familiar to you as, say, echinacea, they’re very familiar to doctors throughout Europe. Elder contains compounds that inhibit viruses, cowslip is a traditional bronchitis remedy, sorrel is used to reduce fever, vervain is used for colds and for soothing frazzled nerves, and gentian relieves inflammation and pain. Sinupret is indicated to help clear clogged nasal passages and decongest sinuses.
Bronchipret is a syrup made from thyme, which reduces coughing spasms, kills bacteria and viruses, and thins mucus.
For dosage directions, follow instructions on the labels. Both new meds are available for about $18 on the Bionorica USA website, or may be available at your local pharmacy.
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Comments (6)
How about honey? Latest research shows that it is far superior for cough or irritated throat than all the over-the-counter medications parents are told to avoid. Of course, you cannot give it to a child younger than one year..
Not only do they not shorten a cold but research shows that people that take cold medicines prolong their colds. You are stopping the body from doing what it does best, healing itself, when you take something to dry up the phlegm your body wants to cough out or sneeze out or drip out. I also leave my kids alone when they have what I call a “perfect fever”. That is one where their temperature is slightly above normal and they are up and moving but not feeling too bad. Letting your child have a mild fever allows the body to fight the virus and build a an immunity to it. If an herbal remedy caused anywhere close to the deaths Tylenol has the makers wouldve been put under the jail.
An old wives remedy that we use is honey, vinegar and water. We gargle with it and I let the kids spit it out but I like the flavor so I swallow it. Will this hurt three year olds? Does it really help or is it all in my head?
As long as the remedy does not lower fever, first and foremost. Lowering fever actually extends illness as temps above 102F actually prevent viral replication and accelerate the immune response. We have seen 105F fevers and it’s no big deal. Our two children have felt those before, although they rarely get ill. Just two weeks ago, I measured a 104 temp in my daughter, so I sat her in the sun for a while to let her body rest in producing heat on its own. The illness lasted less than 36 hours and this was two weeks ago when her school was ravaged with what could have been Swine Flu. No fever reducers!! They are dangerous. Use a luke warm bath and you’ll get a 3 degree drop after the bath is done, if high temps make you nervous. If temps exceeds 106, might be meningitis or something more serious. Fever reducers would mask this possibility.
I agree with the honey for coughs along with a nice warm drink, it does wonders. another suggestion about synus problems … not so long ago i found a recipe of Apple Cider vinegar , to be mixed 2 teaspoons of cider in a glass o luke warm water an the using practically 1or 2 drops in a dripper , snort up each nostril move your head from sise to side and feel it running from side to side, then blow your nose. It was fantastic. 1 Hour afterwards my synuses cleared up, I repeated this for a few days and had great results.
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Wow…scary news! It makes me concerned to think of what we’re putting in the young bodies of kids. At the same time, we don’t want to ignore their medical needs! I think there needs to be a balance of handling minor coughs and colds naturally, but when children show signs of more serious concerns (like a flu, etc) they need to be seen by professionals.
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