What is a cough?

A cough is the body’s way of removing foreign material or mucus from the lungs and airway passages. It is a symptom, not a disease.

What are the different types of coughs?

There are two types of coughs – nonproductive and productive. Nonproductive, or dry, coughs occur when the airway passages are irritated by the first stages of a cold or infection. As the body reacts to the illness, it produces mucus or phlegm, which will be expectorated by a productive, or wet, cough.

What is the difference between an expectorant and a suppressant?

Coughs associated with colds should be treated with an expectorant to clear out mucus. A productive cough is the body’s way of clearing out mucus. An expectorant encourages the body to get rid of the phlegm quickly and get over the coughing. Suppressants, on the other hand, suppress the body’s natural desire to healing by blocking the cough reflex so you don’t cough as much when your throat is irritated.

What are the benefits of honey?

Honey coats the throat to soothe irritation and is rich in infection-fighting antioxidants. It also spurs saliva production, which can help thin out mucus.

Is it safe for me to eat raw honey if I’m pregnant?

In rare instances, raw honey can contain spores of botulinum bacteria. Because of this rare, but serious, risk of botulism, raw honey should not be given to a child younger than 1 year of age whose digestive system hasn’t fully developed its protective mechanism. However, a pregnant woman can safely eat honey because her digestive tract will keep the botulinum bacteria from growing, and her honey consumption poses no danger to her fetus. As always, if pregnant or breastfeeding please check with your physician before using Chestal.

If homeopathic medicines aren’t based on weight or age, then why are there age ranges for the dosage of cough syrup?

Homeopathic medicines are not body-mass dependent, so there’s no need to give more or less medicine depending on body weight due to the active ingredient. Therefore, there is no risk of overdosing. However, Chestal brand cough syrups do instruct users to give different amounts to different aged children. This is because it takes less honey to coat the throat of a child as opposed to an adult. Frequency of the dose is what is important when using Chestal brand cough syrups.

When should I see a doctor?

Most coughs subside on their own within one week to 10 days. Coughs that linger longer or are associated with coughing up colored phlegm or blood, wheezing, temperatures higher than 101° degrees Fahrenheit, and drenching night sweats can be symptoms of a more serious illness like pneumonia or asthma. If experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor.

I’m suffering from cold or flu symptoms. What Boiron product will work best?

For cold symptoms, try Coldcalm. For flu-like symptoms, try Oscillococcinum. Learn about all of Boiron’s cough, cold and flu products on our website.

To learn more about homeopathy and Boiron, visit www.boironusa.com.