Boiron Children's Homeopathy

Children's cold meds have been in the news, and the general consensus from doctors is that we should not give over-the-counter antihistamines, cough suppressants, or decongestants to children under four and perhaps older.   They are not medically demonstrated to work and have been linked to health risks, including several deaths.

So what's a mama to do?  Running a humidifier and using those awful nasal aspirators never feels like enough when your little one is miserable.  Having sick kids has made me understand why parents sometimes demand unnecessary scripts from doctors:  we want to be able to do something other than helplessly watch our child suffer.

Boiron sent me their natural cough, cold, and flu medicines that contain none of the ingredients concerning the FDA.  Thankfully, Dylan has not had a flu since H1NI in the fall, so we have not tried their Oscillococcinum medicine for flu symptoms.  Coldcalm Pellets are for children 3 and up, so we didn't try them with the kids, but Jim used them with good result.  (Homeopathic medicine isn't based on weight, so as I understand it, they can be used similarly by children or adults.) 

Over the course of a long winter with lots of coughing, Dylan took the Chestal homeopathic cough syrup with honey quite a bit.  It suppressed her cough and soothed her throat with a pleasant taste, unlike the chemical cocktails that I remember from my youth.

The active ingredients listed were a mystery to me, but a little searching revealed that they are natural and mostly plant-derived, (although not entirely, for all you vegetarians.)  Homeopathy is different that natural remedies or herbal medicine, as homeopathic medicines are regulated by the FDA.  Boiron's website explains:

Being regulated as a drug, as opposed to a food or dietary supplement, ensures that homeopathic medicines adhere to drug labeling specifications. Like packaging for conventional over-the-counter drugs, packaging for homeopathic medicines must state specific diseases, ailments or symptoms for which the product is to be used, the concentration of active substance or substances contained therein, the recommended dosage and the mode of application. These clear specifications make choices easier for consumers and guidance easier for retailers.

I'd never heard of Boiron until I received them in the mail, but I've since noticed them stocked at the drugstore.  I'd like to try Boiron's teething medicine.  Recent concerns have been raised about giving kids Acetaminophen (Tylenol) after vaccines and otherwise, and I like the idea of using homeopathic alternatives.

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I received products from Boiron but was not otherwise compensated for this review.