Watch out for Cough Drops

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:14 am

Hi all, I'm coping with a bad cold and went searching for cough drops. In the past I would have just bought some and taken them without any thought. Now that reading labels is such a habit, I read the labels and everyone of them contained soy except Ricola. So I bought the Ricola, and still had a reaction the evening I took them. The next day I did without, and was back to normal. The Ricola ingredients are: color(caramel), extract of Ricola's herb mixture (elder, horehound, hyssop, lemon balm, linden flowers, mallow, peppermint, sage, thyme, wild thyme), peppermint oil, starch syrup, sugar. They say their drops are the same they made in 1930. Not sure why I reacted, but must be something in that mix that my body does not like. Have any of you other multi-sensitive people found anything that's safe? JoAnn

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:16 am

Tex, I meant to put this on the general board, but somehow ended up here. Can you move it for me? Thanks JoAnn

Post by **tex** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:51 am

Sure, no problem.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 11:10 am

Hi Jo Ann,

Yep, the land mines are everywhere!

Sometimes caramel color comes from barley, which of course contains gluten. And what about the "starch syrup"? The word starch always raises a red flag for me, since it is often wheat or corn-based. Maybe if you call the manufacturer they can provide more detail.

Hope your cold is better.

Love,

Polly

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 11:22 am

Thanks Polly, I'm constantly learning new terms to watch out for from your experience and others here. I learned that "vegetable broth" on labels often means contains soy so I always avoid that. Now I'll know to watch out for the starch ingredient. Thanks again, JoAnn

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:00 pm

Joann
if you are willing to embrace natural treatment - olive leaf extract (liquid) is anti viral, anti bacterial. you can gargle it and spit it out or gargle and swallow it. Post MC i can not tolerate it in my stomach, it was always my plan that should i get throat issues that i would gargle it and spit it out

to date i have not seen any cough drops that are ok for my current diet. (gf, df, sf)

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:16 pm

Gabes, my approach has always been to try natural treatments along with any of the traditional treatments I might need. Thanks for the suggestion of using olive leaf extract. I went through a grueling week of teaching and doing parent-teacher conferences after school and my voice took a beating along with trying to fend off a cold. I needed something to soothe my throat on the spot as I was losing my voice, but found I was better off using Mentos than anything medicinal. I am also using a Neti-pot to clear out my sinuses and find that works better than any medicine I've ever taken. It also seems to help my throat. I've been gargling with a mouthwash my chiropractor gave me that is supposed to be a high powered bacteria killer without alcohol. I am also using Cepacol which alway seems to help me. I'll have to give your olive leaf extract a try. Thanks, JoAnn

Post by **Rosie** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:30 pm

Why not try that old-fashioned hot lemon and honey? I just heat up a cup of water in the microwave, squeeze in the juice of about 1/4 lemon, and add honey until it is pleasantly sweet. It's very soothing and completely natural, and helps keep you hydrated.

Rosie

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 2:06 pm

Those are all good suggestions. I was mainly wondering about some sort of lozenge or cough drop that you can use in front of other people when you need to talk. As I mentioned, I was conferencing with parents and was losing my voice and needed something right then to help me get through. I did gargle in front of my students a few times during the day which they thought was quite hilarious.

JoAnn

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 3:13 pm

Joann locally here for a cough I will suck on a natural maple candy or a honey candy. There is a local shop hat has home made candies with several GF types.

--Joe

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:20 am

I used Coldeeze last week when I felt a cold coming. I had a little change in my BM, but was fine once I stopped using it. It works like a charm for me. I also upped my Vitamin D for a few days.

Gloria

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:50 pm

Thanks Gloria and Joe, I'll give both a try. I'm checking on line for the maple sugar candy. JoAnn

ant · Post by **ant** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:57 am

Dear JoAnn

Not a solution for the conference, but I have gone back to what my granny told me - gargle with salt dissolved in water if I feel a sore throat coming on. Has worked pretty well.

Best, Ant

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:13 am

Ant, I think I've been doing that by accident by using the Neti-pot. There are little packages of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate that you dissolve in the water in the pot. In the process of clearing each nostril, some always goes down my throat and I can tell it's had an effect. Salt water was a remedy used in my home growing up for many things. Thanks for the reminder, JoAnn

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:36 am

My favorite remedy for a sore throat is to eat some potato chips. I keep them in my mouth awhile before swallowing - sort of sucking on them. Plain ol' chips will work, but the best medicine for me are the salt and vinegar variety.

I thought I invented this treatment, since I figured it out years ago, but recently I heard a famous singer tell how it's the first thing she does before warming up for a concert.