We’ve told you a lot about homeopathic medicine and Boiron’s homeopathic products for children, from a history of homeopathy to homeopathy for children, from Children’s Chestal to where to buy homeopathic medicines, from parent testimonials to Children’s Coldcalm Pellets and more!

You still might have questions or want some additional information, and we have a place you can go to reach out to us.

Boiron Information Center

Simply go to our Boiron Information Center, fill out the form and submit it. You’ll hear back from us shortly. If you would like to reach us via mail or phone, this page also provides our address and our phone number (which is 1-800-BOIRON-1 – pretty easy to remember, right?).

Get News and Updates!

Finally, on this page you can submit your email address to us and we’ll send you news and updates.

So, take comfort in knowing that Boiron is readily available to assist you with any questions or comments you may have.

Are you curious about how many people have colds or the flu in your area? Have you called or thought about calling your children’s school or day care center to inquire about how many children have been ill with a cold or  flu? Do you watch and read the news to get a better idea about how much your area has been affected by illness?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Boiron has a tool for you!

With our Cold and Flu Tracker, you can track cold and flu levels in your area. Simply type in your zip code and the program assigns a rating to your area based on the level of illness present. Your local illness level will be rated normal, low, moderate, high or very high.

Symptoms and Cities

This program also identifies the symptoms in your area as well as the five cities with the highest illness levels.

For example, according to Boiron Cold and Flu Tracker at the time of writing this, Westfield, N.J.,  has a moderate cold and flu level, which means that 8% to 14% of the population is affected with respiratory illness. Top symptoms in the town are cough, nasal congestion and fever.

The current cold and flu level in Cincinnati, Ohio, meanwhile, is low, which means that 3% to 8% of the population is affected with respiratory illness. Symptoms in the city include cough, nasal congestion and fever.

It’s Easy!

Maybe you’re going on a trip or have family in another city. Whatever the reason, you can find out the level of respiratory illness in 135 of the largest U.S. cities. Type in the zip code and see the results. It’s that easy.

Spend less time worrying about cold and flu and better prepare yourself with the valuable information provided by Boiron’s Cold And Flu Tracker.

Flu season is upon us, prompting people nationwide to take steps to try to stay as healthy as possible. Keep reading to find out what you can do to keep you and your family as healthy as possible.

An Uncertain Season

Flu seasons are unpredictable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s difficult to identify exactly when the season begins, the severity and how long the flu season will last. The flu season is broadly considered to run from November through April, with most cases occurring between December and March.

Steps to Stay Healthy

What can you do to fight germs and build a strong immune system during this season?

First, wash your hands often! The importance of hand-washing can’t be emphasized enough.
Flu viruses spread through droplets from infected people when they sneeze, blow their nose, or wipe away secretions from their nose or eyes. Encourage children to keep hands out of their mouths, avoid rubbing their eyes and wash their hands thoroughly several times a day, especially before meals.

Eat healthy with a diet rich in vitamins C and E. Foods containing these vitamins are believed to help support the immune system. Vitamin C can be found in foods like orange juice, citrus fruits, broccoli and green peppers. Foods rich in vitamin E include sunflower and corn oils, sunflower seeds, and nuts such as almonds.

Drink plenty of fluids. Increasing your water intake will help you stay healthy and reduce your chances of coming down with the flu.

The Importance of Sleep and Exercise

Get a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep may weaken the immune system. Get a full night’s sleep to keep your body’s natural defenses at optimum efficiency.

Exercise regularly. Research suggests that exercise can stimulate the immune system. It also helps you sleep better.

Visit Boiron’s Web site for more flu season tips.

What If You or Your Child Gets the Flu?

Keep Boiron’s Oscillococcinum and Children’s Oscillococcinum readily available.

Oscillococcinum, one of the world’s most popular natural flu medicines, can reduce the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms when it is taken at the onset of symptoms. Oscillococcinum is regulated as a drug by the FDA^1.

Plus, unlike other flu medicines, Oscillococcinum works without causing side effects and it does not interfere with other medications. This makes it a top choice for self-treatment. It is safe for both children (older than 2 years of age) and adults, and if you’re using the medicine for your child, he or she will love its sweet taste.

What Else Can You Do?

If you or a loved one gets the flu, keep in mind that drinking extra fluids prevents dehydration caused by fever, it loosens mucus and it keeps the throat moist.

Take It Easy

If you or your child comes down with the flu, take it easy or encourage your child to rest a lot. Using excessive energy steals valuable resources from your immune system. Even attempting to perform normal activities at work or school may be too much.

For more tips on what to do if you or your child comes down with the flu, visit Oscillococcinum’s Flu Treatment page.

Although the flu season is uncertain, we can take steps to keep ourselves and our family healthy with preventive measures and an eye on safe and reliable medicines like Boiron’s Oscillococcinum.

^{1.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sec 400.400 Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed (CPG7132.15). Available at: www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.}

One of the top worries among parents is that their children will get sick, and when the winter flu and cold season hits, illnesses can pop up more frequently.

Yet over-the-counter children’s products on the market have received mixed reviews, including the negative publicity surrounding children’s cold and cough medicines when the Food and Drug Administration raised a red flag about the use of these products in children. Warnings such as this one likely cause concern and confusion among parents about what they can give to their children to treat illness safely and effectively.

Good News!

Homeopathic medicines offer parents safer option. In fact, homeopathic medicines are one of the safest choices for self-treatment. Why? These medicines

• do not contain any of the ingredients under question for use in children
• have no known side effects (not even drowsiness or jitteriness in children)
• don’t interact with other medication
• don’t mask symptoms (allowing doctors and patients to easily detect and respond to symptoms of serious illnesses should they arise)
• are not body-mass dependent (so there’s no need to give more or less medicine depending on body weight), and
• have no risk of overdose

Boiron’s New Medicines

For 65 years, families around the world have relied on Oscillococcinum to safely relieve flu-like symptoms. Now parents can find Children’s Oscillococcinum and Children’s Coldcalm for colds in the kid’s aisle along with Children’s Chestal cough syrup.

Each of these products contains active ingredients that are micro-doses of natural ingredients. They don’t contain any of the ingredients called into question by the FDA for use in children.

Parent-Friendly Products

All of Boiron’s products are regulated as drugs by the FDA¹ and are clearly labeled for specific indications, making directions easy for parents to understand. And, they are manufactured according to the highest standards.

Parents can quickly and affordably pick up these over-the-counter medicines without a prescription in the children’s aisle or in the cough, cold and flu section of health food stores and independent pharmacies nationwide.

In today’s busy world, parents have a lot of concerns on their minds. Flu and cold medicines for their children shouldn’t be on that list.

^{1.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sec 400.400 Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed (CPG7132.15). Available at: www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.}

The development of homeopathic medicine began in Germany more than 200 years ago. Today, the medicine is used in more than 80 countries.

U.S. Growth

Homeopathic medicine has been practiced in the United States since the mid 19th century.. Today, the homeopathic drug market has grown to become a multimillion-dollar industry in the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA has been regulating homeopathic medicines as drugs since 1938,¹ when the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was passed.

Use by Famous People

Homeopathic medicine has been practiced by several well-known figures, according to The Homeopathic Revolution (by Dana Ullman).

Darwin, several American presidents, sports figures David Beckham and Martina Navratilova and musicians Cher, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney are just a few examples. Also benefiting from homeopathic medicine are movie and TV celebrities Catherine Zeta-Jones,  Jennifer Aniston, Tobey Maguire and more.

A Popular Treatment

So why is homeopathic medicine so popular?

Homeopathic treatments have been used for more than 200 years, building a remarkable safety record and generating a great body of knowledge. Because homeopathic medicines are reliable and safe, they are an excellent first choice when self-medicating.

These medicines also have no known side effects, not even drowsiness or jitteriness, and they don’t interact with other medication.

Homeopathic medicines don’t mask symptoms, allowing doctors and patients to easily detect and respond to symptoms of serious illnesses if they arise.

Importance of Packaging

The packaging of these medicines includes the specific diseases, ailments or symptoms for which the product is to be used, the concentration of substances contained in the product, the recommended dosage and the mode of application.

These clear specifications make choices easier for consumers and guidance easier for retailers.

^{1.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sec 400.400 Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed (CPG7132.15). Available at: www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.}

Drug safety is always a top concern on the minds of consumers. Many medications often come with a list of side effects, some of which are bearable, some of which are not. Also, warnings about a drug’s safety can sometimes emerge long after that medicine has been on the market.

One example is the Food and Drug Administration’s public health advisory in 2007 about over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children. A panel convened by the FDA recommended that the agency not allow drugs containing antihistamines, decongestants and cough suppressants to be used for infants and children younger than 2 years old. Human error leading to overdosing was a major concern, citing confusion with directions or accidentally giving the same ingredient when administering multiple products.

As the agency continues to review the safety of these drugs in children ages 2 through 11, manufacturers voluntarily relabeled the cold and cough medications in question instruction parents not to used them in children under 4 years of age.

Warnings such as this one aren’t taken lightly and often encourage consumers to be even more vigilant about which medicines they take. This increased vigilance drives consumers to do more research about safe new medicines.

A Homeopathic Solution

As we said above, the FDA is concerned about accidental misuse of these types of medications, leading to dangerous side effects in children. Homeopathic medicines, however, don’t contain any of the ingredients under question for use in small children.

These medicines also don’t interact with other medication.

Here’s another safety benefit of homeopathic medicines: They do not mask symptoms. As a result, doctors and patients can easily detect and respond to symptoms of serious illnesses if they are present.

Finally, a crucial safety advantage is that there’s no risk of overdose with homeopathic medicines.

All of these benefits make homeopathic medicines one of the safest choices for self-treatment.

Safe, Effective Children’s Medicines

Earlier in this post we mentioned the FDA’s advisory about children’s cough and cold medicines. The concern about these drugs leaves many parents wondering how to ease their children’s cold-related ailments, especially with the winter cold season upon us.

Boiron has created Children’s Oscillococcinum for flu-like symptoms and Children’s Coldcalm Pellets for colds. Parents will be able to more easily find these safe and reliable over-the-counter medicines in the children’s aisle along with Boiron’s established Children’s Chestal for coughs.

These homeopathic flu, cold and cough medicines do not contain any of the ingredients under question for use in children. Their active ingredients are micro-doses of natural ingredients.

Making It Easy for Parents

All of Boiron’s products are regulated as drugs by the FDA¹ and are clearly labeled for specific indications, making directions easy for parents to understand.

Not only that, parents can quickly and affordably pick up these over-the-counter medicines without a prescription in the children’s aisle or in the cough, cold and flu section of health food stores and independent pharmacies nationwide.

^{1.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sec 400.400 Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed (CPG7132.15). Available at: www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.}

What is the FDA?

The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, is the U.S. government agency responsible for protecting the health of the public by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs as well as biological products, medical devices, food and more.

As part of this effort, the organization works to speed up the innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer and more affordable.

The agency also works to help the public get accurate, science-based information on these medicines and food so that people can make wise decisions about their health.

Homeopathic Medicines and the FDA

The FDA regulates the manufacturing, labeling, marketing and sales of homeopathic medicines. Homeopathic medicines have been regulated as drugs by the FDA since the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was passed in 1938.¹ Being regulated as drugs instead of as food or dietary supplements is an important distinction—more on that shortly.

So what does the FDA require for a medicine homeopathic to go to market?

To be accepted as a homeopathic medicine by the FDA, the product must contain ingredients that are identified in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) or that are accepted as homeopathic under the principles of homeopathy.

To be included in the HPUS, which has been in continuous publication since 1897, a homeopathic drug must be determined safe and effective, must be prepared according to the specifications set forth in the HPUS, and the drug’s benefits must be established in one of the following ways: through clinical verification; published documentation that the substance was in use prior to 1962; through two adequately controlled double-blind clinical studies; or though data gathered from clinical experience that encompasses the symptom picture before and after treatment.

Look for the HPUS Acronym

All of Boiron’s homeopathic medicines are manufactured according to the highest standards, complying with specifications of HPUS as well as drug Good Manufacturing Practices, which require that manufacturers take proactive steps to ensure that their products are safe, pure and effective.

Drug Labeling

As we said earlier, the FDA regulates homeopathic medicines as drugs, as opposed to food or dietary supplements. This type of regulation ensures that homeopathic medicines adhere to drug labeling specifications.

Like packaging for over-the-counter drugs, the packaging for homeopathic medicines must include the:

• specific diseases, ailments or symptoms for which the product is to be used,
• concentration of the active substance or substances contained in the product,
• recommended dosage,
• directions for use, and
• warnings

The FDA oversight of homeopathic medicine means clear specifications on product packaging, making choices easier for consumers and guidance easier for retailers.

Add to that an adherence to the highest standards, and you’ve got a line of top-quality medicines at Boiron.
^{1.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sec 400.400 Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed (CPG7132.15). Available at: www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.}

Do you want additional information about homeopathic medicine and all that it has to offer? Below is a list of resources that can help you learn more.

Professional Associations

• American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists
  This group is made up of homeopathic product manufacturers, importers and exporters who manufacture and / or sell homeopathic drugs in the U.S.

• American Institute of Homeopathy
  Established in 1844, the AIH is the oldest national professional medical organization in the U.S. The institute strives to promote the public acceptance of homeopathy while safeguarding the interests of the profession.

• Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States
  The convention is a nonprofit scientific organization that publishes the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS), which is recognized as the source of regulation of homeopathic drugs in the U.S.

• National Center for Homeopathy
  This is an open-membership organization whose mission is to promote health through homeopathy. Homeopathic practitioners can be found through this site.

• North American Society of Homeopaths
  NASH is a membership organization for professional homeopaths, students, schools and homeopathy supporters. It strives to promote and represent professional homeopaths and to enhance the role of the homeopathic profession as an integral part of health care in North America.

Companies

• Boiron
  A worldwide leader in homeopathic medicine, Boiron has a 75 year history of high quality, safety and reliability.. The Web site includes an array of homeopathic information, including a history of the practice and details about its growth today, as well as up-to-date research information and more.

Books

• The Family Guide to Homeopathy (by Alan Horvilleur)
  This book is designed to help non-physician readers become familiar with homeopathic medicines. Information is listed alphabetically and includes points on each medicine, the type of symptoms associated with the medicine, as well as the indication for its use.

• Natural Baby and Childcare, Healthy Living Books (by Lauren Feder, M.D.)
  This book guides parents to the best conventional and natural medicines for their children. It also provides an A to Z guide on treating common childhood conditions naturally.

• Healing With Homeopathy: The Complete Guide (by Wayne B. Jonas Jennifer Jacobs)
  Two doctors provide an easy-to-use reference on homeopathy and curing everything from headaches to chicken pox and insomnia.

This list is just a small part of all that’s available on homeopathic medicine, but it puts you in the right direction to learn more about an exciting treatment.

Homeopathy uses red onions to clear up watery eyes from allergies, coffee to help you calm down, and honeybees to treat hives that string. Sound interesting? It is! Keep reading!

Homeopathic medicines are used to treat acute health conditions such as allergies, coughs, colds, flu, stress, arthritis pain, muscle pain, teething, and more.

Homeopathy’s History

Homeopathy has been around for a long time! It was developed in Germany more than 200 years ago from the work of German medical student Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann was critical of the dramatic and harmful methods that were being used to cure disease at that time, including purging and bleeding. Determined to identify better treatments, he ultimately developed the two main principles that embody the study of homeopathy today.

“Like Cures Like”

The principle first is known as the Law of Similars, or “like cures like,” an idea that can be traced all the way back to Hippocrates. This principle says that the very substances that cause symptoms in a patient can actually cure the diseases that have these symptoms.

Hahnemann did more than just study to establish this law. He conducted experiments—on himself, as a matter of fact!

During one of these experiments, he ingested cinchona bark, which at the time had been used as a treatment for malaria. After eating the bark, he developed the same symptoms as those of malaria!

It was this experience that led him to the conclusion that treatments must be able to produce similar symptoms in healthy people as the symptoms of the diseases they treat. In other words, he reasoned, if a substance (like the cinchona bark in the experiment) could cause disease symptoms in a healthy person (like Hahnemann), then tiny amounts of that substance could cure a sick person with similar symptoms.

Actually, the word “homeopathy” comes from the Greek words homeo, which means similar, and pathos, which means suffering or disease.

Safe Low Dilutions

His second principle is known as Hahnemannian potentization. Sounds a bit complicated, right? It’s not. Just think dilution.
Hahnemann believed that a treatment needed to be reduced to infinitesimal levels through multiple dilutions. This belief partly evolved as he witnessed the harmful effects of the toxic substances used during that period. The scientist aimed to reduce the potentially dangerous effects of a treatment, while at the same time retaining their power to treat the disease.

What is the reasoning behind this? The homeopathic belief is that the substance leaves behind its imprint, or essence, which stimulates the body to heal itself.

And here is where we come to a key point in homeopathic medicine: Experience has shown that, despite the very high dilution of the active ingredient, the therapeutic effect remains.

From the Past to Today

Hahnemann went on to train others, who were impressed by these principles and spread homeopathy throughout Europe and the world beginning in 1810. Also contributing to the spread of homeopathy were the catastrophes of the 19th century and the struggle against epidemics like cholera.

In the U.S., homeopathy has been practiced since the early 19th century and is gradually becoming more widespread in North America. Today Retailers giants like Wal-Mart, and chain drug stores like CVS and major supermarkets have all taken note of homeopathic medicines because of their successful sales in natural product stores like Whole Foods. This growth and expansion of homeopathic medicines into the mainstream shows that people are looking for safer options.

And that’s not all: Over 100,000 doctors use homeopathy in their daily practice and it is recommended by more than 400,000 healthcare providers!

Why is growth so strong?

Because homeopathic medicines have many positive qualities! First, they are reliable and safe—making them an excellent first choice when self-medicating.

The list goes on. They have no known side effects. They don’t interact with other medication. They don’t mask symptoms.

Because of these benefits and more, homeopathic medicines are an ideal first choice for parents, children, seniors, athletes and others.

Thanks for reading! Please visit again soon—There are more good things to come!

Could there be anything worse than one of your little one getting sick? Yes, two little ones being sick! Followed by you catch something. You know everything comes to a halt when you get sick.

Unfortunately, cough, colds and flu germs spread quickly around the home and school. As kids bring home unwelcomed extras from school and then proceed to contaminate everything from the family Wii to your iPhone, you need to play defense.

Look Out for Early Symptoms

Types of coughs include those associated with a tickling in the throat, dry coughs triggered by cold air, wet coughs caused by mucus and nighttime coughs.

Signs and symptoms of the common cold may include sneezing, coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, a sore or an itchy throat and possibly a fever.

For the 2009 school year, flu symptoms are already here. Because there are various strains circulating this year, it’s possible for flu and flu-like symptoms to persist into its typically timeframe, ending sometime in March or beyond, despite it’s early appearance. Watch for these symptoms:

• fever,
• headache,
• extreme tiredness,
• dry cough,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose, and
• muscle aches.
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur. These symptoms are more common in children than adults.

Prevent Germ Transmission

Children (and parents) should take the following measures to try to prevent illness:

• Wash your hands frequently, including
  * before eating,
  * after using the toilet, and
  * after playing in public places, such as playgrounds.
• Cough and sneeze into the corner of your elbow.
• Periodically disinfect toys and common surfaces.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth.

Be Prepared to Act at First Symptom

If your child does get sick, Boiron USA offers safe and reliable homeopathic medicines for children that can help alleviate the above symptoms.

Children’s Chestal simplifies choosing a cough medicine since its an economical all-in-one formula. Good for both day and night, It helps all types of coughs—wet or dry—that come on with a cold.

Children’s Coldcalm Pellets is designed to target specific symptoms of each stage of the cold—even early symptoms like a minor sore throat. It works on sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Children’s Oscillococcinum helps reduce both the duration and severity of flu and flu-like symptoms.

All of these medicines are considered top choices for self-treatment because the active ingredients in homeopathic medicines have no reported side effects. Active ingredients are micro-doses of natural ingredients and contain none of the substances questioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children. And you’ll love that kids love the sweet taste of all three.

So as children get involved in school this season, keep this information in mind to curb the onset of severe symptoms.