Do Natural Cough Remedies Work??

By Terry Vanderheyden, ND

Q. Do Natural Cough Remedies Work??

A. In 2016, Health Canada warned parents not to give pharmaceutical cold and cough
medications like dextromethorphan (DM) to children 6 years old or younger, because the
products have not been shown to be effective and, even more troubling, have the
potential for serious harm.1

Meanwhile, a 2007 clinical trial found that DM, a common component of cough
medicines like Dimetapp, Benylin DM, Robitussin, Nyquil, etc., was no more effective
than placebo (in other words, it didnt do anything). The authors of that study concluded,
moreover, that honey was effective: honey but not DM was superior to no treatment for
nocturnal symptoms associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infection.2

The fact is that many herbs are notable for their effectiveness for relieving colds.
Probably best known among them is echinacea, which has been the subject of several
clinical trials. A 673-participant, double-blind, placebo-controlled United Kingdom trial
conducted over a period of four months, for example, found that the total number of days
with cold episodes was significantly fewer in the group taking echinacea than in the
placebo group. Those on the echinacea regimen experienced 36 colds with a combined
duration of 155 days as compared to 58 colds over 268 days in the placebo group, i.e. a
58% difference. Not only that, aspirin or ibuprofen was used significantly more often by
those taking the dummy herb, 52% more often than in the echinacea group.3

Coughs are indeed a common occurrence, affecting 40% of those with a cold, typically
arising on the 2nd day of the virus, but persisting for 6 days or more, i.e. longer than for
most other annoying cold symptoms. Trust your instincts this winter and try a natural
cough remedy!

References:

1. Health Canada reminds parents not to give cough and cold medication to children
under 6 years old. Accessed July 31, 2017 at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-
alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/57622a-eng.php.
2. Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM. Effect of
Honey, Dextromethorphan, and No Treatment on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep
Quality for Coughing Children and Their Parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
2007; 161(12): 1140-1146.
3. M Jawad et al, Safety and Efficacy Profile of Echinacea purpurea to Prevent
Common Cold Episodes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled
Trial, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012.

Bio:
Terry is a 1994 graduate of the CCNM in Toronto, a practicing Naturopathic doctor and
registered herbalist. He also works as a consultant to the natural health products industry.