Boiron Homeopathic Value Pack Review and Giveaway

This is the pack I received: Coldcalm, Chestal Honey, and oscillococcinum for flu-like symptoms 

I have had a cold since the day after Christmas! :(  Major bummer!  Now that I have had a child, it seems like I get about 1-2 colds each winter!  They are not fun, typically last at least 7-10 days, and always are annoying!!

How ironic that I was able to review this product during my first major cold of the winter season!

First on the list of things to try: Coldcalm.  It is a multi-ingredient formula to naturally treat cold symptoms at each stage of the cold, including sneezing, runny nose, sinus, minor sore throat, and nasal congestion.  The coldcalm tabs are quick-dissolving tablets for your mouth.  It is a nice size box with 60 tabs!   The suggested dose is 2 tabs every 15 min for two hours then 1 every hour until symptoms have been relieved.  It is only recommended for ages 3 years and up.  As with product that treats these types of conditions, it is recommended take them at the first sign or symptom of a cold or the flu!   

My Review: They seem like they helped to relieve symptoms!  I am one that usually will just wait things out, so it was nice having a "safe" option to take without having to take OTC meds!

Chestal helps to loosen phlegm and thin bronchial secretions to make the coughs more productive.  I haven't really had a cough with this cold, but I wanted to taste the Chestal Honey Cough Syrup.  It actually tastes REALLY good!  :)  The best cough syrup I have ever tasted!  It actually tastes way better than the Zarbee's Cough syrup that I reviewed here.  However, the ingredients are slightly different.  Chestal Honey has honey, sucrose, purified water, citric acid, and sodium benzoate.  Zarbee's has a honey proprietary blend (buckwheat, wildflower), water, natural flavors, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and zinc gluconate.  I know the wildflower honey tends to be a better honey (for immune boosting, allergies, etc) than say the clover honey (which is the standard honey you usually see in the store).  I don't know what type of honey is in the Chestal.  I would be very curious to know.   Also, the Chestal probably tastes better because it has some sucrose in it, plus it is a thinner consistency!  

The recommended dose of the cough syrup is 1-2 tsp every 2 hours (depending on age of the patient).  It isn't recommended for kids under 2 years of age, which isn't uncommon for honey-based products.  Once again, I love the safety behind honey-based cough syrups for kids, especially with the recent bad press of dextromethorphan in kids under 6 years of age.  

Last but not least, I had a chance to sample the oscillococcinum pellets for Flu-symptoms.  I (insert a big THANKFULLY) have not had the flu in years, however, I plan to try this product out if I come down with any flu symptoms!  (Crossing my fingers, toes, ankles ...)  For what it is worth, oscillococcinum is the #1 OTC flu medication in France! 


If you purchase oscillococcinum, you receive 6 small tubes per box.  Each tube contains little crystals that dissolve in your mouth or melt on your tongue.  It has a quite sweet, enjoyable taste!  The product is very easy to use.  You just pop one tube out, twist to remove the cap, dissolve the entire contents in your mouth.   This product is recommended for ages 2 years and up.  Unlike many of the OTC cough/cold preparations, oscillococcinum is not contraindicated in heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, thyroid disease, kidney disease, or asthma!  These are the most common barriers I see when trying to recommend a product for a patient at my pharmacy!!

Here are a list of pros for these products: 
- No drug interactions due to their nature (homeopathic)
- Safe for ages 2 years and up (3 years and up for the Coldcalm)
- Non-drowsy (this is always a perk in our busy lives!)
- Same cost as other OTC cough/cold products
- Enjoyable taste

Unfortunately, as with most homeopathic products, you have to take them more frequently to attain relief.  This could be a barrier to a busy mom or a full-time worker!  For me, I would rather take more "natural" products than OTC meds with food dyes and other bad ingredients!


I know I have seen these Boiron Products at many of our local pharmacies.  I know for a fact Meijer stocks all three of these products!!  


Next time you are under the weather, maybe you should skip the Sudafed (since it is a pain in the rear to get these days and a pain for your local pharmacist too) and try Boiron's Homeopathic Products!


*** Moms or Soon-to-be Moms: The only product without a pregnancy or nursing warning is the Chestal Honey Cough Syrup!  I have contacted Boiron to see if any of them have been studied in pregnancy.  I will update this review as I receive the information!


BUY IT: Various Pharmacies and Stores


WIN IT: Boiron Homeopathic Value Pack to one lucky Go Long! Go Green! Reader





This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on Thursday January 20, 2011 at midnight. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn. Please, no PO Boxes.


Disclaimer: I received this product to review free of charge. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not monetarily compensated for this review.