One of my friends forwarded me an article this morning published in New Straits Times (25 Oct 2007), which I would like to share. The article quoted:
“ Too many people, I think, rush to take cough mixture at the slightest irritation of a cough. And too many parents find it the easiest way of ridding themselves of the agony of watching their child suffer cough and cold, particularly if it's a baby or toddler.
One study done in the United States showed that more than 100 children died due to the improper use of decongestants and antihistamines between 1996 and 2006.
Another report, from the Center for Disease Control, said 1,519 toddlers in the US were treated for side effects associated with the use of cough and cold medicines, including overdoses between 2004 and 2005.
Another report, from the Center for Disease Control, said 1,519 toddlers in the US were treated for side effects associated with the use of cough and cold medicines, including overdoses between 2004 and 2005.
One of the more prominent cases is that involving the Henderson sisters of Colorado, US. Five-year-old Killian and Rhapsody, 4, were given several teaspoons of cherry-flavoured cough syrup before they went to bed in February 2003. They never woke up. Their father, Robert, was later charged with negligent homicide for giving them an overdose of the generic cough mixture.
There is no evidence, an independent expert panel in the United States concluded on Oct 18, to show that cough and cold medicines are effective.
In fact, the advisory panel to the US Food and Drug Administration recommended against giving such medicine to children below 6”
To avoid the cough and cold medicine, here are some recipes for homemade cough and cold remedies
(a) Ginger Tea
- 1 inch or so fresh ginger root, sliced thin or grated
- 1/2 a fresh lemon, sliced (peel & all)
- 1 clove garlic, mashed
- ~2 cup of water
- Very generous spoonful of honey
Place water, ginger, lemon, & garlic in saucepan; bring to boil, then turn down heat and simmer gently for 20 min. Strain into mugs and add lots of honey.
There is no evidence, an independent expert panel in the United States concluded on Oct 18, to show that cough and cold medicines are effective.
In fact, the advisory panel to the US Food and Drug Administration recommended against giving such medicine to children below 6”
To avoid the cough and cold medicine, here are some recipes for homemade cough and cold remedies
(a) Ginger Tea
- 1 inch or so fresh ginger root, sliced thin or grated
- 1/2 a fresh lemon, sliced (peel & all)
- 1 clove garlic, mashed
- ~2 cup of water
- Very generous spoonful of honey
Place water, ginger, lemon, & garlic in saucepan; bring to boil, then turn down heat and simmer gently for 20 min. Strain into mugs and add lots of honey.
(b) Simple Cough Syrup
- 3 table spoon lemon juice
- 1 cup honey
- 1/4 cup warm water
Combine lemon juice and honey in a bowl. Slowly stir in the water. Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator - take 1-2 table spoon as needed for cough.
To soothe a sore throat, add 1 table spoon of mixture to a cup of comfrey root, chamomile or rosemary tea.
To prevent the people around you from getting the germs, here are the steps:
So, why wait... throw away the medicine and try the homemade recipes!!!!
