Subscribe in a reader

Cough Medicines: Do they really work?

When we come down with a cough or a cold, what do we do? More often than not, mothers and fathers will reach for the medicine cabinet and pull out one of the slew of over the counter meds available at your local pharmacy. But do they really work?

Recent news state that cough medicines should not be given to children under two years of age as there are reported cases of overdose and even deaths in this bracket of the population. In the last few years, many scientists and health professionals have raised concerns over the effectiveness of most over the counter cough medications, regardless of which population group is taking these substances. Dr. Knut Schroeder, M.D., a researcher at the University of Bristol, England has analyzed results of 15 trials, concluding that “there is little evidence for or against the effectiveness of over-the-counter cough medicines.” His research study appeared many years ago in the February 9/2002 issue of the British Medical Journal. Yet, many folks continue to reach for these over-the-counter remedies.

The use of cough expectorants or suppressants does not follow the naturopathic principle of Treating the Cause! As the name suggests, these pharmacological agents suppress one’s symptoms and does not address the underlying cause of the cough or mucous – that is, the immune system’s inability to fight off the foreign microbes invading your body. The ideal method of fighting a cold is to boost your immune system rather than suppressing the symptoms.

For more information on how you can do that, please ask your Naturopathic Doctor.

No comments: