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Herbal cough syrups for children
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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If the cough develops against the background of diseases that are accompanied by an allergic component, swelling of the mucous membranes, use a collection of the root of the medicinal marshmallow, string, lingonberry fruits, horsetail. If the disease is prolonged, and the cough does not go away for a long time, you can add immortelle and elecampane to the collection.
Syrup made from chamomile, calendula, and coltsfoot has proven itself to be effective. It is recommended to take syrup for coughs that develop against the background of infectious and cold diseases.
Syrups from plant juices are also used for colds. For example, syrup from hawthorn and sea buckthorn juice will help you recover from a cold.
During the recovery period, a syrup is also used, which is based on a recovery collection, which includes rose hips, currant leaves, strawberries, raspberries and hawthorn. In the period between severe coughing attacks, a mixture of chokeberry juice, aloe, and black radish is used.
If the child has a weakened immune system, no appetite, weakness, and a depressed mood, rose hips are added to the syrup. This is a powerful vitamin remedy that provides the body with vitamins, increases immunity, and the body's endurance.
If the cough occurs due to a sore throat, or severe inflammatory diseases, with severe swelling of the throat and nasopharynx, add a mixture of dandelion and hop cones to the syrup.
Onion syrup
It is prepared quite simply at home. To prepare onion syrup, take a large onion, rub it on a fine grater or meat grinder. Then place the entire resulting mass in a liter jar, fill it to the very top with warm boiled water. Add 5 tablespoons of honey to the mixture. It is better to use flower honey. But you can also use another type of honey, however, it will be less active and less effective.
Then cover with a lid, put in a dark place for about 2-3 days. keep, then the syrup can be used. It is recommended to take orally a tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
Althea syrup
This syrup can be purchased ready-made at a pharmacy, or you can make it yourself at home. To prepare it, you will need marshmallow root, boiled water, lemon juice, and honey.
First, heat the water until warm, then add 2-3 tablespoons of marshmallow roots (chopped). Remove from heat, then immediately add a tablespoon of honey, stir until completely dissolved. Then add the juice of one lemon to the prepared mixture, stir again and let it brew for 3-4 hours. It is recommended to take a tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
The syrup is taken at the first signs of a cold, at the first cough, and even against the background of precursors of colds. It can also be used for prevention. For prevention, it is used for nasal congestion, swelling of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and nasopharynx. Quite an effective remedy for cough, weakness, loss of strength, lack of appetite, decreased performance, increased fatigue.
It is recommended to give children "Alteika" in the acute and chronic phase of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. It is also used for viral, bacterial, colds. The syrup has a positive effect at the first signs of intoxication, high temperature, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, pneumothorax. It is used for various types of cough: both dry and wet.
Marshmallow treats acute and chronic forms of the disease, eliminates congestion and residual effects. The syrup is used to recover from an infectious or cold disease, to improve immunity, and to normalize the immune system. The advantage of the drug is that it helps prevent exacerbation of chronic forms of cough and prevents relapses.
Plantain syrup
Plantain is an effective expectorant used to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. It eliminates cough well and promotes expectoration.
Plantain contains a large number of plant extracts, phytoncides, glycosides. These substances have healing properties due to the fact that they penetrate the blood. The action of plantain is targeted: biologically active components are transferred to target organs with the blood. Then these biologically active molecules are integrated into tissue metabolism.
Phytoncides from plantain have various effects: they quickly and effectively relieve inflammation, reduce temperature. Additionally, they stimulate the activity of sweat and sebaceous glands. Normalize the work of internal organs, eliminate toxins.
Plantain syrup is also used to treat coughs caused by tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is sensitive to phytoncides produced by plant leaves and roots. Many of them have such specific properties as stopping bleeding, reducing swelling, hyperemia, and hypertrophy.
Many phytoncides also have the ability to affect the alveoli, actively stimulate gas exchange, and remove phlegm. Also, the advantage of using plantain juice for medicinal purposes is that it acts not only on the receptors of the mucous membrane, causing reflex reactions that promote the removal of phlegm, but also affects the cough center, relieving cough.
Do not panic and stop treatment if the cough gets worse. This is a normal reaction, and it is a positive sign. Such a reaction means that the cough center is being stimulated, as well as the receptors of the bronchial mucosa. The sputum is liquefied, moves away from the walls and irritates them. When sputum is removed, inflammation is significantly reduced, and the infectious process is also reduced. The antitoxic effect of the components included in the plantain is also known, due to which toxins and metabolic products are removed from the body.
Ivy syrup
Ivy is an excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent that helps remove phlegm and normalize the condition of the mucous membrane. Ivy has a powerful therapeutic effect on the body. The medicinal properties of the plant are due to the high content of active substances in it. They affect not only the respiratory system, but also other organs and systems.
The amount of active components is not constant, it can change depending on various factors, such as the phase of plant development, the soil in which the plant grew. The maximum amount of biologically active components is contained in young leaves and early spring buds.
Ivy contains a large number of alkaloids. They are capable of entering into a chemical reaction with acids, in particular, with hydrochloric acid of the stomach. As a result, salts are formed, which subsequently dissolve in the aqueous medium and are transported with the help of the body's liquid media. They get into the target organs, in which the inflammatory process occurs. Thus, with a strong cough, stagnation of sputum in the bronchi, these biologically active complexes are transported directly to the lung tissue, having an anti-inflammatory effect there.
Ivy also contains a large amount of saponins, which are used as an expectorant. Additionally, they have a diuretic effect, strengthen the body, stimulate it and tone it. They dissolve well in water and exhibit high absorption capacity.
Preparing the syrup is quite simple: add a tablespoon of ivy leaves and tendrils to a glass of sugar or sugar-honey syrup, leave in a dark place for an hour, after which you can take a tablespoon three times a day.
Licorice Cough Syrup for Kids
It is an effective herbal remedy used to treat various cough symptoms. It contains licorice root extract, sugar syrup and ethyl alcohol. It looks like a brown syrup and has a distinctive smell. It belongs to the group of expectorants. The expectorant effect is due to glycyrrhizin, which is part of the licorice root. This substance is aimed at enhancing the secretory activity of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.
The drug is used for upper respiratory tract diseases accompanied by cough. The indication is the presence of poorly separated secretion, which is characterized by viscous and thick qualities.
The drug is contraindicated in case of increased individual sensitivity to the components of the drug, as well as increased intolerance to the drug. Also contraindicated are bronchial asthma, gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer.
Can be prescribed to children under 2 years old - 1-2 drops three times a day, on the tip of the tongue. From 2 to 6 years old, the dosage is gradually increased - 2-10 drops per dose, children under 12 years old are given 50 drops, previously diluted in warm water - in half a glass. Children over 12 years old are prescribed the same as adults (drink a teaspoon, previously diluted in a glass of water). Drink 2-3 times a day.
If phlegm is difficult to remove, you need to drink plenty of fluids - up to 2 liters. Side effects include allergic reactions, dyspeptic disorders, which manifest themselves in the form of diarrhea, vomiting. If the drug is taken for a long time, hypokalemia, high blood pressure, peripheral edema, and metabolic disorders may be observed.
Licorice syrup should not be taken by patients with diabetes and carbohydrate metabolism disorders, as it contains a large amount of sugar. It should also be taken with caution by children, as the drug contains ethanol.
Dr. Theiss
It is a cough syrup, which includes plantain and some auxiliary substances (stabilizers). It belongs to the group of drugs with an expectorant effect. It is produced in the form of a brown viscous syrup, which is poured into bottles of various sizes. It has a specific smell. Ethanol is used as an extractant.
The drug has an expectorant effect, and also has anti-inflammatory and mucolytic effects. It is recommended for use in inflammatory and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, which are accompanied by cough, sputum that is difficult to separate. The drug is often used as part of complex therapy. The drug is contraindicated in children under 1 year of age, as well as in case of individual intolerance to the drug and its individual components. The drug is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to individual components.
The drug is taken orally, washed down with plenty of water. The optimal dosage can be selected by a doctor: it is determined by the age and severity of the patient's disease. Thus, children from 1 to 6 years old are recommended to take the drug half a teaspoon at intervals of 3-4 hours. The drug is also prescribed to children over 6 years old - in this case, 5 ml is prescribed every 2-3 hours. The duration of treatment is 2-3 weeks, depending on the form and severity of the disease.
It is necessary to take into account that the drug significantly reduces concentration, contributes to the fact that the processes of inhibition temporarily prevail over the processes of excitation. Side effects manifest themselves in the form of an allergic reaction. Therefore, usually to eliminate side effects it is necessary to follow a hypoallergenic diet, and it is enough to stop taking the drug for the symptoms of the pathology to disappear. The advantage of this drug is that it does not affect the ability to concentrate attention, does not affect memory processes.
You should not take this medicine together with other antitussives, as well as with drugs that reduce sputum secretion. This is due to the fact that in combination with other drugs, the process of sputum discharge may be inhibited.
If you analyze the reviews, you can see that this cough syrup for children has excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties, quickly relieves cough and irritation. From a dry form, cough usually turns into a wet form, in which there is an intensive discharge of sputum. Accordingly, the removal of sputum is accelerated, infection and inflammation are eliminated, recovery occurs faster.
Gelisal
It is an effective medicine intended to eliminate cough, liquefy phlegm, and normalize the condition of the respiratory tract. The composition includes dry ivy extracts (leaves), as well as auxiliary agents such as propylene glycol, flavors, and stabilizers.
In appearance, it is a yellow-brown gustar liquid that has an aniseed smell. It may also have slight turbidity and sediment. It belongs to the pharmacological group of drugs that eliminate the symptoms of colds and coughs, expectorants.
The pharmacokinetics of these drugs have not been studied. As for pharmacodynamics, the drug can be characterized as a herbal remedy that has mucolytic properties and has an antispasmodic effect on the bronchi. This effect is achieved due to the high content of saponins (glycosides), which activate receptors in the bronchial muscles and also promote their relaxation. They also promote the production of surfactant. In case of unproductive cough, it helps to thin sputum, facilitates expectoration and discharge.
Due to the fact that the respiratory tract is cleared of phlegm, breathing becomes easier, coughing decreases, and, accordingly, the inflammatory and infectious process decreases.
The indication for the use of the syrup are various respiratory diseases, regardless of their origin. The syrup is prescribed for both dry and wet cough, as well as against the background of purulent, inflammatory, infectious, allergic processes. It is recommended to take for bronchial asthma, tracheobronchitis, bronchiectatic diseases, as well as against the background of tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis.
Taken orally. It is recommended to take after meals. For infants, dilute in a small amount of water, juice or breast milk, and for older children, give in measuring spoons. Thus, at the age of 1 to 5 years, give half a teaspoon of medicine, children aged 5 to 10 years are given half a teaspoon three times a day, people over 10 years old - a measuring spoon three times a day. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days.
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Side effects also occur. Contraindications include hypersensitivity to medications, individual intolerance, and hereditary fructose intolerance.
The drug has the ability to potentiate the action of other agents that irritate the mucous membrane. The drug should not be prescribed to patients suffering from peptic ulcer disease, and it should not be combined with centrally acting antitussive drugs, since they have the opposite effect and significantly impede the discharge of sputum. Also, the drug is not recommended for people with allergic reactions, since it contains a large amount of dyes, sugar, alcohol.
The main symptoms of overdose are nausea, vomiting, gastroenteritis, the action of which is based on saponins. To eliminate the symptoms of overdose, it is enough to cancel the drug. Symptomatic therapy is also carried out if necessary.
Bronchicum C
A herbal preparation. It consists mainly of herbal extracts, in particular, liquid extract of thyme herb. Ammonia solution, glycerol, ethanol and water act as auxiliary substances.
An effective expectorant that also has an anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator effect. It has antiseptic activity, reduces the viscosity of sputum, liquefies it and promotes accelerated removal from the body, resulting in much faster recovery. The mechanism of action is that the sputum becomes less viscous, easier to get out of the bronchi when coughing. Accordingly, the inflammatory process in the bronchi decreases, recovery occurs much faster.
It is used as part of a complex therapy or as a monotherapy. But it is still better to use it as part of a complex therapy if there are indications. The main indications are any diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which are accompanied by a cough, sputum that is difficult to separate.
The drug is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance to the drug, hypersensitivity to the drug or its individual components. Also, cases of congenital fructose intolerance, as well as heart failure in the decompensation stage are considered as contraindications. Various severe disorders of the kidneys, liver, heart are also considered as contraindications. The drug is not prescribed to children under 6 months.
The method of application is quite simple - 1-2 teaspoons are prescribed orally up to three times a day. Depending on the age, severity of the disease, and severity of symptoms. The duration of application depends on how quickly the main symptoms of the pathology can be eliminated, as well as on the age of the patient. The optimal course of treatment can only be selected with the help of a doctor, since he makes appointments based on anamnesis data, the results of basic laboratory tests.
Side effects may manifest themselves in the form of allergic reactions. Mostly, these are skin rashes and urticaria. Often, there is swelling of the face, which may develop into Quincke's edema. From the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis may be observed (more precisely, its exacerbation, and even transition to an ulcerative form). There is also a danger when taking the drug against the background of an ulcer, since bleeding may open. Intestinal motility, peristalsis, and digestive processes may be disrupted.
In case of any side effects, as well as against the background of deterioration of the condition, the dosage should be reduced. Or the treatment should be completely stopped. In any case, the doctor should be informed about this.
It is important to remember that the drug should not be taken simultaneously with antitussives, since its action is aimed at removing phlegm from the body. This means that the cough will intensify, due to which the phlegm is removed. That is, in fact, the drug contributes to an increase in cough. If it is taken simultaneously with drugs that reduce cough, an attack of suffocation or spasm of the lungs and bronchi will occur. The condition can be critical, even fatal.
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Travisil
It is produced in India. It is a syrup containing leaves and rhizomes of ginger. It is also possible to achieve a positive result due to such auxiliary components as licorice, emblica. It significantly normalizes the condition, softens the throat, eliminates irritation. Additionally, it has a strengthening, stimulating effect. Important components are such as abrus seeds, menthol, reduce inflammation and eliminate pain. The main effect is antitussive. Regarding pharmacokinetics, there is no data.
Most often, it is prescribed to children not younger than 3 years. But in many cases, it is recommended to prescribe the drug to children starting from 6 years. The duration of treatment usually fluctuates within 3 weeks. The duration of treatment is extended only if the condition requires it. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the results of laboratory tests.
Use with caution in patients on a hypoallergenic diet. Overdose cases are rare. As for drug interactions, it should be noted that the drug should not be taken together with antitussives, since it is aimed at stimulating cough and restoring the body.
Herbion
It is a syrup produced in Slovenia. Quite an effective remedy for the treatment of cough of any etiology. The syrup is a cough. The color of the syrup can vary from light brown to dark. The smell of the syrup is quite pleasant, and children drink it with pleasure. In the sun, slight opalescence may be observed. The main active ingredient is a liquid extract of plantain, as well as mallow flowers. Additionally, the drug contains ascorbic acid. There are also some auxiliary substances that stabilize and activate substances, however, they do not have the main effect.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics were studied. It was established: prevents the development of the infectious process. Refers to herbal remedies. Eliminates various inflammatory and infectious processes. Can be used independently or as part of complex therapy. Contributes to the fact that the cough turns into a wet form. Contributes to the fact that the cough becomes productive, accompanied by intensive separation of mucous contents to the outside. It is also worth noting that in this case the cough significantly intensifies, the secret is removed from the body, irritating the pathways.
It is recommended to give one tablespoon to children. This is approximately from 5 ml. to 10 ml, i.e. 2 measuring spoons, attached by the manufacturer. Up to 14 years old, you can drink 2 tablespoons. The average duration of treatment is 14-20 days, determined by the doctor. So, everything depends on what degree, what concomitant pathologies. There are also some contraindications for taking.
You cannot take the drug Gerbion if you have congenital sucrose and isomaltose deficiency. In diabetes mellitus, take one tablespoon (per day). This concentration should not be exceeded, since this amount of the drug corresponds to 0.8 XE of sucrose. It is also necessary to take into account that the drug significantly slows down the reaction, reduces concentration. The child may be overexcited, hyperactive while taking it.
There are no known cases of overdose. It is also worth saying that it is not recommended to take Herbion if there is an individual intolerance. The temperature range in which storage can be ensured is quite wide and ranges from 15 to 30 degrees. It is not recommended to store in the refrigerator. The shelf life is approximately 2 years, no prescription is required.
Chinese Cough Syrup for Kids
Used in pulmonology. One of the most effective means aimed at treating inflammatory and infectious processes with a strong cough. The advantage of the drug is that it has an effect quite quickly, and also has a pleasant taste and aroma. This makes it one of the most favorite drugs that children take with great pleasure.
The drug helps to liquefy phlegm, accelerates its removal, relieves inflammation and fever. In addition, the drug eliminates shortness of breath, normalizes the cardiovascular system. In addition to anti-inflammatory, the drug also has a general strengthening effect on the body.
It is indicated for colds, nasal congestion and shortness of breath. It is recommended to give this syrup if the child has a hoarse voice, a hoarse throat. It can be used to treat colds and prevent flu. One of the positive effects of the drug is throat protection, regulation of heart activity, and normalization of the state of blood vessels. The composition includes a large number of various plant components. The most effective of them are medlar leaves, fritillary bulbs and lemongrass.
Also, a powerful anti-inflammatory effect can be achieved by using the large-flowered bellflower, the root of the hyssop and bitter almond. A strengthening effect can be achieved by using the fulin mushroom, huajuhong and wild pumpkin. Such components as fabanxia, coltsfoot buds, licorice root and almond water, honey, sugar, sucrose have a stimulating effect on the non-specific resistance system.
A warming effect can be achieved by including ginger in the composition of the drug. Also, menthol essence is used as an additional component, which relieves irritation, "freezes" the throat, eliminates pain, burning, and soreness. During treatment, the use of spicy and bitter foods should be reduced.
Children should take it strictly under adult supervision, since the syrup is quite pleasant to taste, and therefore, cases of overdose are often observed. Children can drink quite a large amount of this syrup. In case of overdose, you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.
The syrup is contraindicated in diabetes, as well as in the background of individual intolerance to the drug, hypersensitivity to the drug as a whole, or to its individual components. It is also worth noting that people with a tendency to allergic reactions should be given the drug with caution. It contains a fairly large number of substances, while many of them can provoke an allergic reaction. However, side effects are rare, usually it is still well tolerated by the child's body. Dispensed without a prescription. It is also necessary to take into account that if improvement does not occur within 5-7 days, the drug should be discontinued. In the event that the condition only worsens, the drug should be discontinued immediately.
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Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Herbal cough syrups for children" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.