For Coughs and Colds, Parents Turn to Homeopathy

Coughs and Colds May 15, 2018

Cough, Cold, Flu, and Allergy Relief Options for Children Under the Age of 4

Homeopathic products are one of the few over-the-counter (OTC) choices for parents searching to help little ones suffering from common winter ailments and seasonal allergies.

FDA: Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Product to Kids

Since 2008, OTC medications containing antihistamine and decongestant now state “do not use in children under 4 years of age.” At that time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration questioned the safety and efficacy of these products for children.

The FDA panel felt the risk of human error in using these ingredients outweighed the benefits for children, which were estimated based on using a fraction of an adult dose. However, variations in metabolism and in weight for children in this age group are significant. Furthermore, statistics show the rate of accidentally giving more than the recommended amount, giving medicine too often, giving more than one product containing the same drug, or giving children medicine made for adults.

Homeopathy is One of the Safest Choices

Ingredients: Homeopathic medicines do not contain any of the ingredients questioned by FDA for use in young children to relieve cough, cold, flu, and allergy symptoms. The active ingredients are high dilutions of plants, animals, or minerals.

Low Risk: Homeopathic medicines can be used with other medications and supplements. There is no risk of a rebound effect.

Varying Metabolism Rates and Weight: The action of homeopathic medicines is not body-weight dependent; there is no need to give more or less medicine depending on a child’s weight.

Work Differently: For example, the act of coughing is useful to clear the windpipe. Whereas a conventional OTC medication may be designed to block the cough reflex (or suppress a cough), homeopathic medicines like Children’s Chestal^® Honey work as an expectorant to make dry and irritating coughs more productive. They are not designed to mask symptoms, which may lead to an earlier diagnosis of a more serious condition.

Boiron offers several choices for children younger than 4 years depending on symptoms, age, and form to ease the challenge of getting children to take medicine. These choices have either no taste or taste sweet.

Cough & Chest Congestion

Children’s Chestal Honey, for use in children ages 2 and up, temporarily relieves dry cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation as may occur with a cold.

Cold & Cough

Children’s Chestal Cold & Cough, for ages 3 and up, relieves symptoms of the common cold such as nasal and chest congestion, fitful cough, sneezing, minor sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose.

Colds

Children’s ColdCalm^® (for ages 3 and up) temporarily relieves cold symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and minor sore throat.

ColdCalm^® Liquid Doses and ColdCalm Kids come in a sterile, single-use dose for children 6 months and up.

Flu-Like Symptoms

Oscillococcinum^® temporarily relieves flu-like symptoms such as body aches, headache, fever, chills, and fatigue and can be given to children age 2 and up.