Kids’ Cough Fighter

Fusion Health Kids’ Cough Fighter has been specially formulated to taste great while soothing children’s coughs.

Features and benefits

Specially formulated for children aged 2 years and up
Kid-friendly taste – contains naturally derived blackcurrant flavour, with no added sugar
Plus extra sweetness from Chinese licorice
Easy to mix with water or juice – even for children who are fussy
No added dairy products, gluten or nuts
Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
Made in Australia

Fusion Kids’ Cough Fighter contains:

Ivy leaf, which relieves children’s coughs
Ivy leaf also has expectorant, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects on the respiratory tract, based on its traditional use in Western herbal medicine
Elecampane and thyme, traditionally used to relieve children’s bronchial mucous congestion and clear mucus from the respiratory tract in Western herbal medicine
Chinese licorice, which is traditionally used to ease kids’ coughing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

How it works

Coughing is the body’s way of clearing unwanted matter from the lungs and lower airways. It may also be triggered by inflammation in the respiratory tract (among other causes).

Coughs that cause mucus (also known as phlegm, sputum or expectoration) to be expelled or expectorated from the airways are sometimes referred to as wet, loose or productive. This type of cough may be worse at night, because when the child lies down, mucus drips from the upper respiratory tract (e.g. nose and sinuses) into the lower airways, triggering the cough reflex as the body tries to expel it1.

On the other hand, coughs that don’t trigger the expectoration of mucus are referred to as dry or non-productive. These types of coughs sometimes persist for long periods of time, and may be associated with inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes. They are also sometimes characterised by spasmodic bouts of coughing.

Coughing and bronchial mucous congestion are common symptoms in children. For example, when kids catch a mild upper respiratory tract infection like a common cold, coughing may persist for a fortnight or even longer2, and more than half experience moderate-to-severe chest congestion within the first 48 hours of the cold’s onset3.

Fusion Kids’ Cough Fighter is suitable for children aged 2 to 12 years and combines herbs traditionally used in TCM and Western herbal medicine, as detailed below.

Ivy leaf soothes children’s coughs

Ivy leaf decreases coughing in children. It’s traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to clear children’s respiratory mucus and to have expectorant, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects on their respiratory tracts.

Elecampane and thyme: traditional expectorants

In Western herbal medicine, elecampane and thyme are traditionally used as expectorant herbs that clear children’s respiratory tract mucus and bronchial mucous congestion.

Chinese licorice: traditional sweet cough relief

Chinese licorice is traditionally used to ease children’s coughing in traditional Chinese medicine.

It has a naturally sweet flavour, which in TCM is traditionally associated with soothing properties, making it a great addition to our children’s cough mix!

When should your child see a health professional for their cough?1,4-6

Most children’s coughs are mild and of short duration, however severe or persistent coughs may indicate underlying health problems that need professional investigation and/or treatment.

See your doctor or health professional if your child has a cough that is:

Associated with breathing difficulties, a high fever, changes to the colour of their skin, or a barking or ‘whooping’ noise
Persisting for more than two weeks – especially when accompanied by other symptoms including shortness of breath and wheezing
Interfering with their sleep or daily activities
Triggered by exposure to house dust, pets or pollen, or by the consumption of certain food or drinks

References:

raisingchildren.net.au. Cough. Published 2017 and accessed December 2019 from https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/cough
Lamas, A. et al. Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition), 2014;50(7):294-300.
Troullos, E. et al. J Med Internet Res, 2014;16(6):e144
HealthDirect. Cough. Published 2019 and accessed December 2019 from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/cough
Jurca, M. et al. PLoS One, 2017;12(5):e0177485.
Mayo Clinic. Childhood asthma. Published 2019 and accessed January 2020 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351507

Recommended dosage

Children 2-4 years: Take 2.5-5mL, two to three times daily, when medically advised.
Children 5-8 years: Take 5-7.5mL, two to three times daily.
Children 9-12 years: Take 7.5-10mL, two to three times daily.
Serving suggestion: Mix each dose in 50mL of water or juice and consume immediately. Best taken with food. Shake well before use.