Kiwiherb Children's Chest Syrup

What is Children's Chest Syrup?

Children’s Chest Syrup is a pleasant tasting oral liquid containing a mixture of natural herbal ingredients and Manuka Honey that have been traditionally used to support respiratory health and relieve cough. A cough usually indicates an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which can become inflamed, irritated and clogged with mucus as a result, and can affect a child’s breathing. Children’s Chest Syrup contains a range of natural herbal ingredients with properties that soothe irritated, inflamed airways and help loosen the thick sticky mucus or phlegm that collects in the airways. Children’s Chest Syrup is naturally sweetened with honey and is suitable for babies and children up to age 12 years.

Why use Children's Chest Syrup?

When young children are unwell, they may not be able to tell you how they feel, but a cough usually indicates an infection of the upper respiratory tract and this often goes along with catarrh, which is a build-up of sticky mucus in the airways that may be difficult to clear and can affect a child’s breathing, making them miserable. Children’s Chest Syrup is a pleasant tasting liquid tonic that can soothe the throat and help keep the chest and airways clear, which supports relaxed breathing.

What are the Key Benefits of Children’s Chest Syrup?

• Traditional medicinal plant formula 
• Easy to swallow pleasant tasting syrup suitable for children
• Provides natural relief for coughs
• Supports respiratory health
• Herbal ingredients with antibacterial properties to help fight infection, expectorant properties to help clear the airways, and antitussive properties to reduce coughing 
• All ingredients are certified organic, GE free and vegan
• Does not contain sugar or artificial sweeteners
• Does not contain added colours, flavours, preservatives, gluten, wheat or dairy

What is mucus in the airways?

Mucus is produced by the mucous membranes of the body that line the body cavities, including the intestines and passages of the airways (bronchioles and bronchi). The purpose of mucus is to lubricate these membranes and provide a protective barrier against harmful infiltrators from the environment, such as pathogens like bacteria and viruses, dust and allergens like pollen. If the mucous membranes of the airways become irritated due to an infection, an allergy or inflammation such as in asthma, they produce thick, sticky mucus known as phlegm, which blocks the airways and is difficult to cough up.

What is an expectorant?

Thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and passages of the airways (phlegm) causes irritation and is difficult to cough up. An expectorant helps thin and loosen this phlegm, which makes it easier to cough up and clear the airways.

What is an antitussive?

An antitussive is a substance that helps calm a dry cough by soothing the irritation and suppressing the coughing reflex.

What is mucilage?

A mucilage is a sticky viscous secretion produced by plants containing proteins and polysaccharides that can be used to coat and soothe irritated mucous membranes.

What are the ingredients of Children’s Chest Syrup?

Key Ingredients:

Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis):

Marshmallow is a perennial plant belonging to the Malvaceae family and is native to most European countries, western Asia and North Africa. It has been used in traditional medicine by ancient Egyptians and is used in contemporary Herbal medicine to soothe inflammation, ease sore throat and to reduce irritation and cough. Marshmallow extract works as a mucilage, and contains flavonoids, which contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties. In animal models Marshmallow root extract was found to relax bronchial muscle indicating it may be useful in treating asthma and suppressing cough^{1, 2.}

Mullein (Verbascum densiflorum):

Mullein is a flowering plant belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family and can be found in central and southern Europe, Asia around the Mediterranean. Mullein flowers and leaves have been used in traditional medicine to treat sore throat and dry cough and to clear mucus in respiratory disorders. Mullein is used in contemporary herbal medicine for its expectorant and antiseptic properties, in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases including inflammation of the airways in asthma, and cough. In vitro studies have indicated that Mullein may have antiviral and antibacterial activity^{3, 4, 5.} Mullein contains several bioactive components including flavonoids, saponins, iridoids and triterpenoids and also produces a mucilage, which helps soothe irritated and inflamed airways^6.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis):

Hyssop is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae (mint) family and native to Southern Europe and the Middle East. Traditional uses for plants of the Lamiaceae family including Hyssop include antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, analgesic and antitussive in the treatment of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, flu and diseases of the respiratory tract^7. Hyssop extract is rich in essential oils and polyphenolic compounds which contribute to their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties^8.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris):

Thyme is a flowering plant belonging to the mint family Lamiaceae and is cultivated in most European countries and grown the world over for its medicinal properties. Thyme has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times as a decongestant, for the treatment of respiratory disorders like breathing difficulty and coughing, mouth infections and intestinal problems. In contemporary herbal medicine Thyme is used for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antitussive, expectorant, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. It is a rich source of vitamins A and C, which support resistance to infection and help maintain healthy mucus membranes. The essential oils extracted from Thyme, mainly thymol, and its other bioactive components, which include monoterpenes, rosmarinic acid, and flavonoids, contribute to it many medicinal properties^{9, 10, 11.}

Manuka Honey (Leptospermum scaparium):

Honey is a complex sugar solution generated from nectar foraged from flowers, processed in the digestive system of the Honey bee (Apis) and stored in the wax cells of the honeycomb. Honey has been used for thousands of years by ancient civilizations for its nutritional and medicinal properties, particularly as a natural antiseptic and for wound healing. All types of honey have beneficial properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing, due to its many bioactive components such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. However, Manuka honey is special as it is generated only from the nectar of the Manuka tree, Leptospermum scoparium, which is indigenous to New Zealand. It is the only honey with Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), an ingredient that has unique health promoting properties attributed to the chemicals leptosperin, DHA (dihydroxyacetone) and methylglyoxal (MGO^{)12, 13.} These ingredients have powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the benefit of Manuka honey for wound healing, particularly difficult to heal wounds like ulcers and burns and powerful antibacterial effects, particularly for antibiotic resistant bacteria^{14, 15.}

What are the contraindications/interactions of Children’s Chest Syrup?

Use with caution if your child:

• has diabetes as Marshmallow may cause low blood sugar; check with your doctor before using 
• is taking prescription medicines as several ingredients in Children’s Chest Syrup contain mucilage, which may coat the stomach and affect absorption of other drugs
• You should always check the ingredients for known allergies and to ensure you do not have any allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients. Stop using if your child develops any irritation or allergy while taking Children’s Chest Syrup. Always read the label and use as directed or seek advice from your healthcare professional.

Caution:

It is advisable not to give Children’s Chest Syrup to a baby under one year of age. This is because there is a small risk with any honey that it may contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can germinate in the immature intestine of a young child and cause infant botulism, a bacterial infection of the intestines. Risk of botulism from honey is only a problem for the immature intestine. Once mature, the intestines can prevent Clostridium spreading and causing botulism.

What are the Directions for using Children’s Chest Syrup?

Dilute your Children’s Chest Syrup in 30ml of water or juice and give to your child to drink immediately. Follow with a glass of water if necessary. Give the following doses of Children’s Chest Syrup to your child 2-5 times daily.

Dosage:

• Children age 6-12 years: take 4-8mls 
• Children age 3-5 years take:1-4mls 
• Children age 1-2 years take: 10-20 drops (0.5-1ml) 
• Infants under 1 years take: 2-10 drops (0.1-0.5ml)

Product Size

200ml

References

1. Alani B, Zare M, Noureddini M. Bronchodilatory and B-adrenergic effects of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Althaea root on isolated tracheobronchial smooth rat muscle. Adv Biomed Res. 2015 Mar 25;4:78
2. Sutovska M, Capek P, Franova S, Joskova M, Sutovsky J, Marcinek J, et al. Antitussive activity of Althaea officinalis L. polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan and its changes in guinea pigs with ovalbumine-induced airways inflammation. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2011;112:670–5.
3. Turker AU, Camper ND. Biological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;82:117–125.
4. Turker AU, Gurel E. Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research. Phytother Res. 2005 Sep;19(9):733-9.
5. Klimek B, Olszewska MA, Tokar M. Simultaneous determination of flavonoids and phenylethanoids in the flowers of Verbascum densiflorum and V. phlomoides by high-performance liquid chromatography. Phytochemical analysis, 2010 21, (2), 150-156. 
6. Rodriguez-Fragoso L, Reyes-Esparza J, Burchiel SW, Herrera-Ruiz D, Torres E. Risks and benefits of commonly used Children’s medicines in Mexico. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol.2008 Feb 15;227(1):125-35. 
7. Mamadalieva NZ, Akramov DK, Ovidi E, Tiezzi A, Nahar L, Azimova SS, Sarker SD. Aromatic Medicinal Plants of the Lamiaceae Family from Uzbekistan: Ethnopharmacology, Essential Oils Composition, and Biological Activities. Medicines (Basel) 2017 Feb 10;4(1).
8. Vlase L, Benedec D, Hanganu D, Damian G, Csillag I, et al. Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and phenolic profile for Hyssopus officinalis, Ocimum basilicum and Teucrium chamaedrys. Molecules.2014 Apr 28;19(5):5490-507. 
9. Reddy P, Kandisa RV, Varsha PV, Satyam S. Review on Thymus vulgaris Traditional Uses and Pharmacological Properties. Med Aromat Plants 2014, 3:3
10. Dauqan EMA, Abdullah A. Medicinal and Functional Values of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) Herb. Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology Vol. 5 (02), pp. 017-022, March-April, 2017 
11. Hosseinzadeh S, Kukhdan AJ, Hosseini A, Armand R. The Application of Thymus vulgaris in Traditional and Modern Medicine: A Review. Global Journal of Pharmacology 9 (3): 260-266, 2015.
12. Carter DA, Blair SE, Cokcetin NN, Bouzo D, Brooks P, Schothauer R, Harry EJ. Therapeutic Manuka Honey: No Longer So Alternative. Front Microbiol. 2016 Apr 20;7:569. 
13. Alvarez-Suarez JM, Gasparrini M, Forbes-Hernández TY, Mazzoni L, Giampieri F. The Composition and Biological Activity of Honey: A Focus on Manuka Honey. Foods. 2014 Jul 21;3(3):420-432. 
14. Jenkins R, Burton N, Cooper R. Manuka honey inhibits cell division in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Antimicrob Chemother.2011 Nov;66(11):2536-42. 
15. Watson D, Bergquist S, Nicholson J, Norrie DH. Comprehensive In Situ Killing of Six Common Wound Pathogens With Manuka Honey Dressings Using a Modified AATCC-TM100. Wounds 2017 Jun 28. pii: WNDS20170628-1. [Epub ahead of print]