Zarbee’s Naturals produces a line of non-drug cough and cold relievers that rely on natural ingredients. These products may be appealing when you want symptom relief but wish to avoid the side effects (anddangers to young children) of typical over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications.In addition, Zarbee’s Naturals has a variety of other health-supporting products.
Zarbee’s Naturals products do not contain drugs, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or dyes. Understanding their purpose and how they may work can help you make a good choice for yourself or your child.
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Varieties of Zarbee’s Cough and Cold Products
Zarbee’s Naturals has cough and cold products for adults, children, and infants. These categories as based on product dosages, ingredients, and formulations appropriate for each age group.
In addition to their cough and cold “throat relief” products, Zarbee’s Naturals also has lines of immune support products, sinus and respiratory support products, vitamins, and other supplements.
How These Products Work
Typical cough and cold medications use dextromethorphan ordiphenhydramineto relieve coughs, and guaifenesin to thin mucus and act as anexpectorant.
Zarbee’s does not use these ingredients. Instead, their products use honey to relieve cough; other ingredients in certain formulations may help thin mucus or relieve cough as well.
Honey
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults and children over 1 year of age use honey for cough relief.
While honey forms the basis Zarbee’s of cough and cold medications for adults and children, this ingredient is dangerous for infants. Bacterial spores found in honey can result in infant botulism.
Does Honey Help a Cough?
Agave
Because of the risk of honey for very young children, Zarbee’s uses agave as the cough soother in its infant products. As a thick, natural sweetener, it coats the throat as honey does.
The research into using agave as a cough reliever in infants and toddlers shows it is only as effective as a placebo. As such, researchers say that parents should consider the expense of products that contain it versus their possible benefits.
Ivy Leaf
There have been a few studies of ivy leaf that show it to be effective. However, a 2011 systematic review found that the studies were poorly designed and controlled, and, therefore, the results could not be confirmed.Ivy leaf paired with thyme might be more effective, according to this review.
Thyme
Extracts of the herbthymeare used in several Zarbee’s products. Thyme extracts contain thymol, which has some research evidence of being an anti-spasmodic, which may help with cough.
Elderberry
Several Zarbee’s products containelderberry extract. This provides flavor and color and is high in antioxidants. Zarbee’s is careful not to make health claims about elderberry, but it is a popular natural ingredient for relieving cold symptoms.
A 2019 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found it showed evidence of relieving upper respiratory symptoms.
What Is Elderberry Good For?
Melatonin
Zarbee’s Naturals has a line of sleep formulas that include melatonin, the hormone your body produces that promotes sleep. One of their cough and throat relief drinks for adults includes melatonin.
Many traditional nighttime cold formulas contain doxylamine, an antihistamine that also is used for insomnia. There are some research findings that melatonin, too, can reduce the amount of time it takes to get to sleep and increase the total sleep time.
Saline
While they can also be used to address nasal dryness and allergies, Zarbee’s saline nasal mist formulas can also be useful in easing congestion due to colds. (The CDC recommends saline nasal spray or nasal drops for relief of cold symptoms.)
Zarbee’s saline mists also containaloe(as a moisturizer) or vitamin C (as an antioxidant).
Should You Use Melatonin for Sleep Regularly?
Warnings and Precautions
Zarbee’s Naturals products are marketed as supplements, not medications. Even though honey and herbal ingredients have some minor research evidence behind them, they are not considered to be effective treatments and manufacturers cannot make health claims about them.
As supplements, Zarbee’s Naturals products are not tested in the same way as medications and cannot claim to treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. The company received a warning letter from the FDA in 2014 cautioning that its labeling and advertising tread too close to making health claims.Such materials have since been revised.
Use in Children
The CDC recommends that children younger than age 4 not be given OTC cough and cold medications as they can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.
Zarbee’s Naturals products do not contain the medications (brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, guaifenesin, phenylephrine, and pseudoephedrine) targeted in these restrictions, but it is recommended that you check with your child’s pediatrician before giving your child any remedy. That’s true even for kids over age 4, as severe reactions have been seen in older children as well.
Before you give a little one any type of medication (natural or not), make sure it isn’t labeled “for adults.” Even if labeled for children, read carefully to ensure it is appropriate for the age of the infant or child. For example, honey must not be given to babies under 1 year old.
Children under age 4 should not be given lozenges due to the risk of choking.Zarbee’s only markets lozenges for adults and children age 5 and up.
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, melatonin does expire after some time. The date of expiration will appear on the product label. It’s unlikely that using expired melatonin can be harmful, but its effects will certainly be less potent.It may be best to replace expired melatonin with a new bottle.For some people, it may be safe to usecough medicineduring pregnancy. However, medicine can affect everyone differently, so it may be wise to contact a healthcare provider before using any type of over-the-counter medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, melatonin does expire after some time. The date of expiration will appear on the product label. It’s unlikely that using expired melatonin can be harmful, but its effects will certainly be less potent.It may be best to replace expired melatonin with a new bottle.
For some people, it may be safe to usecough medicineduring pregnancy. However, medicine can affect everyone differently, so it may be wise to contact a healthcare provider before using any type of over-the-counter medication.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.Albrecht HH, Dicpinigaitis PV, Guenin EP.Role of guaifenesin in the management of chronic bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections.Multidiscip Respir Med. 2017;12:31. doi:10.1186/s40248-017-0113-4Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM.Honey for acute cough in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4(4):CD007094. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007094.pub5Abdulla CO, Ayubi A, Zulfiquer F, Santhanam G, Ahmed MA, Deeb J.Infant botulism following honey ingestion.BMJ Case Rep. 2012;bcr1120115153. doi:10.1136/bcr.11.2011.5153Paul IM, Beiler JS, Vallati JR, Duda LM, King TS.Placebo effect in the treatment of acute cough in infants and toddlers: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(12):1107-13. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1609Holzinger F, Chenot JF.Systematic review of clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of ivy leaf (hedera helix) for acute upper respiratory tract infections.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;382789. doi:10.1155/2011/382789Schönknecht K, Krauss H, Jambor J, Fal AM.Treatment of cough in respiratory tract infections - the effect of combining the natural active compounds with thymol.Wiad Lek. 2016;69(6):791-798.Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne E.Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:361–365. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.004Wei S, Smits MG, Tang X, et al.Efficacy and safety of melatonin for sleep onset insomnia in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2020;68:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.02.017Food and Drug Administration.Warning Letter, Zarbee’s Inc.Green JL, Wang GS, Reynolds KM.Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics.Pediatrics. 2017;139(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3070Sleep Foundation.Does Melatonin Expire?American Pregnancy Association.Cough and Cold During Pregnancy.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.Albrecht HH, Dicpinigaitis PV, Guenin EP.Role of guaifenesin in the management of chronic bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections.Multidiscip Respir Med. 2017;12:31. doi:10.1186/s40248-017-0113-4Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM.Honey for acute cough in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4(4):CD007094. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007094.pub5Abdulla CO, Ayubi A, Zulfiquer F, Santhanam G, Ahmed MA, Deeb J.Infant botulism following honey ingestion.BMJ Case Rep. 2012;bcr1120115153. doi:10.1136/bcr.11.2011.5153Paul IM, Beiler JS, Vallati JR, Duda LM, King TS.Placebo effect in the treatment of acute cough in infants and toddlers: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(12):1107-13. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1609Holzinger F, Chenot JF.Systematic review of clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of ivy leaf (hedera helix) for acute upper respiratory tract infections.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;382789. doi:10.1155/2011/382789Schönknecht K, Krauss H, Jambor J, Fal AM.Treatment of cough in respiratory tract infections - the effect of combining the natural active compounds with thymol.Wiad Lek. 2016;69(6):791-798.Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne E.Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:361–365. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.004Wei S, Smits MG, Tang X, et al.Efficacy and safety of melatonin for sleep onset insomnia in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2020;68:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.02.017Food and Drug Administration.Warning Letter, Zarbee’s Inc.Green JL, Wang GS, Reynolds KM.Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics.Pediatrics. 2017;139(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3070Sleep Foundation.Does Melatonin Expire?American Pregnancy Association.Cough and Cold During Pregnancy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.Albrecht HH, Dicpinigaitis PV, Guenin EP.Role of guaifenesin in the management of chronic bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections.Multidiscip Respir Med. 2017;12:31. doi:10.1186/s40248-017-0113-4Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM.Honey for acute cough in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4(4):CD007094. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007094.pub5Abdulla CO, Ayubi A, Zulfiquer F, Santhanam G, Ahmed MA, Deeb J.Infant botulism following honey ingestion.BMJ Case Rep. 2012;bcr1120115153. doi:10.1136/bcr.11.2011.5153Paul IM, Beiler JS, Vallati JR, Duda LM, King TS.Placebo effect in the treatment of acute cough in infants and toddlers: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(12):1107-13. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1609Holzinger F, Chenot JF.Systematic review of clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of ivy leaf (hedera helix) for acute upper respiratory tract infections.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;382789. doi:10.1155/2011/382789Schönknecht K, Krauss H, Jambor J, Fal AM.Treatment of cough in respiratory tract infections - the effect of combining the natural active compounds with thymol.Wiad Lek. 2016;69(6):791-798.Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne E.Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:361–365. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.004Wei S, Smits MG, Tang X, et al.Efficacy and safety of melatonin for sleep onset insomnia in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2020;68:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.02.017Food and Drug Administration.Warning Letter, Zarbee’s Inc.Green JL, Wang GS, Reynolds KM.Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics.Pediatrics. 2017;139(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3070Sleep Foundation.Does Melatonin Expire?American Pregnancy Association.Cough and Cold During Pregnancy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.
Albrecht HH, Dicpinigaitis PV, Guenin EP.Role of guaifenesin in the management of chronic bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections.Multidiscip Respir Med. 2017;12:31. doi:10.1186/s40248-017-0113-4
Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM.Honey for acute cough in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4(4):CD007094. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007094.pub5
Abdulla CO, Ayubi A, Zulfiquer F, Santhanam G, Ahmed MA, Deeb J.Infant botulism following honey ingestion.BMJ Case Rep. 2012;bcr1120115153. doi:10.1136/bcr.11.2011.5153
Paul IM, Beiler JS, Vallati JR, Duda LM, King TS.Placebo effect in the treatment of acute cough in infants and toddlers: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(12):1107-13. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1609
Holzinger F, Chenot JF.Systematic review of clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of ivy leaf (hedera helix) for acute upper respiratory tract infections.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;382789. doi:10.1155/2011/382789
Schönknecht K, Krauss H, Jambor J, Fal AM.Treatment of cough in respiratory tract infections - the effect of combining the natural active compounds with thymol.Wiad Lek. 2016;69(6):791-798.
Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne E.Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:361–365. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.004
Wei S, Smits MG, Tang X, et al.Efficacy and safety of melatonin for sleep onset insomnia in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2020;68:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.02.017
Food and Drug Administration.Warning Letter, Zarbee’s Inc.
Green JL, Wang GS, Reynolds KM.Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics.Pediatrics. 2017;139(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3070
Sleep Foundation.Does Melatonin Expire?
American Pregnancy Association.Cough and Cold During Pregnancy.
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