Frequently asked questions
Please click on the product name below to view FAQ sections:
African Ginger - Tablets
Sutherlandia - Tablets
Warburgia - Tablets
Tension Headache - Capsules
Sutherlandia - Gel
Cough and cold - Syrup
Cystemme - Capsules
Cough and cold - Herbal medicines
Q: Why can’t I recommend the use of the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold syrup to under two year olds, even though it is natural?
A: Although the syrup is natural and safe in appropriate doses, paediatricians usually prefer not to recommend the use of cough syrups in infants. Mothers may mistakenly treat bronchiolitis or asthma in infants and young children as a simple cough, when in fact they should be seeking medical advice for a persistent cough.
Q: How does the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup affect the central nervous system and cough reflex?
A: Please note that Phyto Nova’s Natural Cough & Cold Syrup is NOT an anti-tussive. That is it is not intended to act by stopping the central nervous system cough reflex, which is one of the mechanisms of action of opiate drugs like codeine, morphine etc. Phyto Nova’s Natural Cough & Cold Syrup is an expectorant, among its other activities.
The syrup has many beneficial actions which decrease the severity and duration of coughs, colds and the scratchy throats, and tight chests from coughs and colds. The listed activities include expectorant, mucolytic, bronchodilator, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities.
Part of the expectorant activity is from the increase in ciliary beat frequency from Pelargonium sidoides. Both the fennel seed and anise seed, which are ingredients in our cough syrup, have also been shown to significantly increase muco-ciliary clearance.
Q: How is the syrup preserved?
A: 1. The high sugar content.
If the sugar content of a syrup is high enough it prevents bacteria and yeast from growing, because of the high osmotic pressure. In other words the sugar sucks water out of the micro-organisms so that they cannot grow or function. This is the same way that traditional jams are made.
2. The selection, quality, and concentration of the essential oils.
In addition to their role as respiratory tract antiseptics, expectorants and bronchodilators, the two essential oils (fennel seed oil and aniseed oil) in the syrup act as natural preservatives. They have direct antimicrobial activity in their own right.
3. Antimicrobial activity of the constituent plants
There is direct antimicrobial activity in some of the plant chemicals in Pelargonium root, Licorice root and Withania root.
4. Method of manufacture
The method of manufacture is strictly controlled and regulated to ensure the highest quality.
Please remember that we advise that an opened bottle should be kept in the fridge, and that it is best to discard an open bottle after four weeks. This is just precautionary, as we have had opened bottles remain stable for up to a year at room temp.
Q: Will the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup help with sniffles, aches and pains?
A: Indeed it does. The ingredients in the formulation have been selected specifically to reduce the severity of all the symptoms associated with colds, including the feeling of weakness and malaise, aching muscles and joints, and the sniffles and post-nasal drip from a cold.
Looking at the pharmacological activities of the ingredients, the anti-inflammatory activity of Withania somnifera is used both to reduce mucosal inflammation, but also to decrease the aching of muscles and joints.
Prof. Aggarwal, the renowned scientist who discovered Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) has recently published research demonstrating that phytochemicals in anise inhibit the DNA-binding of NFkB, leading to anti- allergic and anti-inflammatory activities, and to decreasing production of TNF. It is the raised levels of TNF that give a feeling of malaise, aches and joint pains in infections from colds and flu.
The increased muco-ciliary clearance of the ingredients Pelargonium sidoides, fennel seed and anise seed reduce the “sniffles” and post-nasal drip from a cold.
Q: Please tell me more about the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup and viral throat infections?
A: It is well-known that most sore throats are in fact viral, not bacterial. The Pelargonium ingredient in the syrup has been clinically studied in acute bacterial Strep throat, and so many people ask if the syrup will also be suitable for viral throat and chest infections.
The syrup has excellent efficacy against infections from respiratory viruses because of :
- Antiviral activity of licorice and Withania
- Topical antiseptic activity of the two essential oils (fennel seed oil and aniseed oil).
- Anti-inflammatory activity of the licorice and Withania
- Immune modulatory activity of Pelargonium, licorice and Withania
- Expectorant activity from the two essential oils, as well as licorice
- Bronchodilatory activity of the two essential oils
The success of the cough and cold syrup is due to its broad spectrum of activity for viral Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract infections, and also Strep throat. There is also no contraindication to using the cough syrup in conjunction with a modern antibiotic.
Q: Is it safe to take the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold syrup if I am on antibiotics?
A: Yes, the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup may be taken at the same time as conventional antibiotics. The Natural Cough and Cold Syrup has antibacterial activity, which will enhance that of antibiotics. It will also help to ease the symptoms of infection.
Q: Can the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup be taken before a cough or cold has developed?
A: Yes. The Natural Cough and Cold Syrup may be taken with the first signs of a cold, for example when a sore throat is initially noticed. It may even help to prevent the cold or cough from developing.
Q: Can the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup be used for non-infective coughs?
A: Yes, although the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup has very good antibacterial and antiviral activity, it also has a number of other useful actions which may provide relief to other types of cough. The combination of natural ingredients provides soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, bronchodilatory, mucolytic and expectorant effects.
However, if your cough persists or recurs, please consult your healthcare professional before continuing use of the cough syrup.
Q: Can I take Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup and Warfarin at the same time?
A: There is no scientific information on this herbal combination interacting with warfarin or other anti-coagulants. However, since many common herbals do indeed interact with warfarin, it is not recommended for people taking warfarin to use the cough syrup.
Q: Can someone with Porphyria take the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup?
A: We regret there is no scientific information available to assess the safety of the herbal combination in Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup in people with porphyria. It would thus be best to avoid taking the product in suffering from porphyria.
Q: Is it safe to take the African Ginger, Warburgia and Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup all at the same time?
A: Yes, taking all three products together is absolutely fine.
Q: A paediatrician said some modern cough syrups can cause vomiting, does the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup cause vomiting?
A: No, the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup will not cause vomiting. It is well known that heavy coughing in a child can, by itself, cause vomiting. We cannot say that the cough syrup will never cause vomiting, as there may be children who do not like a licorice flavour, just as some do not like a mint flavour, or orange flavour, etc.
Q: Can asthma patients take the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold syrup as I have heard people with asthma should not take anti-inflammatory’s?
A: The cough syrup is not a pure compound anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical. It includes many bronchodilatory compounds as well; the formulation includes plants well-established as suitable for asthma. We do not have a single report of the cough syrup exacerbating or causing asthma.
Q: Can a child who has epilepsy take the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold syrup?
A: Yes, but they should probably stick to a dose of 5 ml six hourly, not a higher dose.
Q: Is there any alcohol in the product?
A: No, there is no alcohol in the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup.
Q: I noticed a white ring, inside the Natural Cough and Cold Syrup bottle, around the top of the syrup. What is this?
A: : The Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup has a very high sugar content, which acts as a natural preservative. Sometimes a small amount of the sugar crystallizes and forms a thin white ring above the syrup. This does not mean that the syrup is old, or ineffective in any way. The quality of the product is guaranteed as long as it is within the expiry date, and kept in the refrigerator once opened.
The sugar may also crystallize around the lid of the bottle once it has been opened and some of the syrup poured out. This may make the lid difficult to reopen, so do not secure the lid too tightly when closing the bottle and placing in the refrigerator.
Q: What is an anti-tussive?
A: An anti-tussive is a cough-suppressant. These products, often contain morphine-derivatives, eg codeine or dextromethorphan.
These days it is VERY rare to prescribe such products, especially for coughs following colds and ‘flu. Anti-tussives are for coughs from fibrosing alveolitis, lung cancer etc. Suppression of a productive cough causes trapping of the mucous, which can become secondary infected with bacteria. Side-effects of these products include constipation, and even respiratory depression in overdose.
Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup has no anti-tussive activity.
Q: What is an expectorant?
A: Expectorants are widely used for treating coughs, and are thought to stimulate mucous production and its clearance. Common expectorant ingredients are guaifenesin, ipecac (a natural product from South America), ammonia chloride, chloroform and iodine salts.
Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup has excellent expectorant activity.
Q: What is a mucolytic?
A: Mucolytics reduced the viscosity of the mucous, and may enhance ciliary clearance of mucous. Many pharmaceutical mucolytics are expensive, and designed for use in conditions like cystic fibrosis. Mucolytic ingredients include acetylcysteine, bromhexine, and carbocistene. In ordinary cough, even simple measures like adequate fluid intake can reduce the viscosity of mucous.
Together with adequate fluid intake, Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup has excellent mucolytic activity.
Q: What is a bronchodilator?
A: Bronchodilators assist by relaxing the smooth muscle of the airways, thus dilating them and increasing the removal of mucous. Typically the potent bronchodilators such as beta 2 stimulants, and xanthine derivatives are used to treat asthma.
Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup has good bronchodilatory activity from the smooth-muscle relaxing activity of fennel seed oil.
Q: Can the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup be taken before a cough or cold has developed?
A: Yes. The Natural Cough and Cold Syrup may be taken with the first signs of a cold, for example when a sore throat is initially noticed. It may even help to prevent the cold or cough from developing.
Q: Is there any alcohol in the product?
A: No, there is no alcohol in the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup.
Q: Can the licorice in the syrup cause hypertension?
A: The chronic ingestion of excessively high doses of licorice, including chronic daily consumption of concentrated licorice sweets, is well-known to have caused aldosteronism (which can include hypertension, water retention, sodium retention and loss of potassium). There is no evidence of a licorice-containing cough syrup causing aldosteronism. Because of the low dose of licorice in Phyto Nova’s Natural Cough and Cold Syrup, and recommended use limited to seven days duration, there is no realistic possibility of such a condition developing.
In the United States Licorice root is an accepted ingredient in dietary supplements, and enjoys GRAS status (Generally Regarded as Safe)
The German health authorities advise that a safe dose of licorice is 2-4g of licorice root, taken daily for less than four to six weeks. Thus the use of Phyto Nova’s Natural Cough & Cold Syrup presents a dose and duration of far below this safe limit.
Q: Where does the licorice taste in the syrup come from?
A: Real licorice is an extract of the root of a shrub, and the taste of a concentrated extract of this root, as used in our cough syrup, does indeed taste of licorice. (If you simply chew on a root of licorice, it is bitter-sweet without a strong licorice taste.) Both aniseed and fennel seed also have a licorice taste and fragrance. In the Phyto Nova Natural Cough and Cold Syrup all three ingredients give the overall ‘licorice’ taste and fragrance.
Incidentally many licorice sweets in South Africa are made with aniseed rather than licorice, as opposed to Dutch licorice, which generally use real licorice extracts.
Q: What is the concentration of licorice in the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup?
A: Please note that the succus block is a 3:1 concentration of licorice extract. Thus the total licorice in the syrup is the equivalent of about 100mg dry root per ml of cough syrup.
Q: Can I take the Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
A: Although we do not anticipate any problems of the use of the cough syrup in pregnancy, we take a very conservative approach to the use of all medicines in pregnancy, including natural medicines. Very few modern drugs or natural medicines have been formally evaluated for safety in pregnancy, so we do not have a solid scientific basis to support the use of our cough syrup in pregnancy.
Similarly, although we do not expect any problems in the use of the cough syrup during breastfeeding, we have no scientific basis to make this recommendation.
Q: Can fennel seed oil cause allergies in children?
A: As with most food, herbal and pharmaceutical products, there have been occasional reports of individual cases of allergy to fennel seed oil in the scientific literature.
Nonetheless, fennel seed oil is a common ingredient in many foods, sweets, natural medicines, and liqueurs.
Because of its low potential for any adverse reaction, it has official GRAS status in the United States (i.e. Generally Regarded As Safe). In Germany, the German Commission E, in 1991, granted fennel seed oil an official therapeutic monograph for use in dyspepsia and in upper respiratory tract congestion.
The allergenic potential of fennel seed is far lower than many preservatives commonly found in foods and medicines, and also far lower than that of nuts, for example.
Q: Can the fennel seed oil have an effect on someone with epilepsy?
A: A MEDLINE search for published research on this subject turned up a single paper, from 1999, relating to epilepsy in three individuals taking a combination of essential oils, including fennel seed oil. Considering the high volumes of fennel seed and fennel seed oils consumed in the world, one would expect more publications demonstrating this.
Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup also contains an extract of Withania somnifera, which has anti-convulsant and sedative activity.
In conclusion, although it is unlikely that Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup has convulsant activity, if a patient has poorly controlled or uncontrolled epilepsy, the managing doctor or registered healthcare professional should make the final decision.
Q: What is the carcinogenic potential of estragole, one of the natural phytochemicals found in fennel seed and fennel seed oil?
A: Given in exaggeratedly high doses (100 to 1000 times a human daily dose) as a pure chemical to rats, some laboratory studies have showed an increased cancer risk for this chemical. However, there is no evidence at all that estragole increases the risk of cancer when taken in the form of fennel seed tea, or fennel oil, when it is a mixture of many other natural ingredients. This is even more relevant to Phyto Nova Natural Cough & Cold Syrup, which contains major anti-oxidant and cancer-protective compounds in the seven plant ingredients it is made from.
Many experts have reviewed the evidence, and have come to the conclusion that high-dose feeding of a pure chemical to rats cannot be extrapolated to relate to humans ingesting low doses of the compound as part of a multi-ingredient natural plant oil.
It should be noted that fennel seed oil is a common safe ingredient in infant colic-remedies world-wide, including in the USA, and fennel seeds and teas are taken daily in many countries of the world.
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