The cold and flu season continues to take its toll on families, and increasing concern about H1N1 is still reported on almost daily. (Even as I write this, I'm feeling the effects of an ugly tummy virus!)
When our little ones are sick, we want to help them feel better, and yet we want to do so safely. As the daughter of an RN and a dentist (with an Masters in Public Health), I grew up in a very pro-medication home. Everything from sniffles to tummy upset were treated quickly with the medicine spoon.
However, both Kyle and I tend to be a little more hesitant with traditional medications. Kyle is fairly sensitive to the effects of medication and usually only turns to them as a last resort. We've noticed the same sensitivity in Dacey and are keeping an eye on AJ for similar reactions. Because of this (and because of my notorious natural-leaning approaches to all of life), we are relying more and more on homeopathic remedies to treat ourselves and our children.
Homeopathy is simply an approach to wellness that helps the body rebalance and heal itself. Natural substances are used in micro-doses to trigger self-healing within the intricate and delicate systems of the body. This approach can be particularly helpful for parents who share the FDA's concerns about the safety and efficacy of OTC medication for colds, coughs, and flu in children under 6.
This is why I'm excited to introduce to you today a new line of homeopathic treatments designed especially for children from Boiron - a company whom you might already know for Oscillococcinum.
(full disclosure: Boiron is one of SortaCrunchy's newest sponsors)
As anyone who has already encountered the flu this season knows, the traditional antivirals are hard to find in some areas and are very expensive. Additionally, there have been major concerns raised about dosages of antivirals (such as Tamiflu) in children. An accidental overdose of an antiviral can be toxic for a child.
Boiron recognized the need for a homeopathic approach to health and healing for children (over 2) not only for those affected by a strain of the flu, but also those who have picked up one of the many cold and cough viruses so prevalent this time of year. They now have three products on the market that I want to make you aware of:
1) Children's Oscillococcinum are sweet-tasting melt-aways that will reduce the duration and severity of the flu and flu-like symptoms. Just like Oscillo, it should be given at the first sign of achiness and fever.
2) Children's Coldcam Pellets are also in melt-away form, and unlike so many OTC cold remedies which treat only one or two symptoms, these pellets are a complete multi-symptom cold reliever for sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and minor sore throat pain.
3) Children's Chestal is an all-in-one formula to relieve all types of coughs due to minor throat and bronchial irritation that may occur with a cold.
Each of these products from Boiron work safely and naturally without causing side effects and they won’t interact with other medications. They do not contain any of the ingredients questioned by the FDA for use in young children. You can read much more about each of these products on Boiron's blog.
And I personally wanted to mention that as a consumer, it can be overwhelming and confusing to choose a safe, trustworthy product for a family in an era when all sorts of companies have products labeled "safe and all-natural!" on the shelves. Something that impresses me so much about Boiron is that as a pharmaceutical company, Boiron maintains the highest standards in manufacturing, complying with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States and drug Good Manufacturing Practices.
The great news is that these new products especially created to treat children can be found quite easily. Your local health food store probably carries them, but you could also check out CVS, Rite Aid, or Walgreens. You can use the store finder or the mail-order/online-only search to find them.
Finally, Boiron would like to invite you to click to this page to find a $1 off coupon to be used for any of these three new products for children.
