Posted on 10/13/2009 8:18:20 AM PDT by kingattax
It’s been 13 years since Maty Harrington arrived in the world, a 10-pound baby girl with a major heart defect, misplaced spleen and stomach on the wrong side of her body.
As her parents took her from one doctor to another, they vowed to do whatever it took to get their daughter healthy.
That vow has lead to the creation of Maty’s Quiet Relief Cough Syrup, a new all-natural cough syrup that is sold in some 3,000 American stores, including Market Basket and Hannaford supermarkets in Massachusetts.
“My father always said, ‘Every problem is an opportunity,’ ” said Bob Harrington, 50, who is in talks about the product with Stop & Shop, Big Y and Whole Foods Market [WFMI]. “The minute we heard the news (about Maty) we knew things would be OK.”
As a baby, Maty underwent three heart surgeries. As she took her infant in and out of hospitals, her mother Carolyn Harrington, 47, battled to strengthen her daughter’s immune system.
Along the way, Carolyn began researching home remedies and learning natural healing techniques. “It became my passion,” she said.
After she read about problems people were having with cough syrup, she made up a homemade honey-and-lemon remedy and gave it to Maty and her three other children whenever they had a cough. Later on, the Harringtons bottled the formula up and gave it to other family members and friends.
Meanwhile, over-the-counter cough medicines were coming under increased scrutiny from consumer advocates and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dextromethorphan, a main ingredient in many cough syrups, was found to produce more serious side effects than previously thought. When taken in bulk, it can trigger drug-like highs.
The FDA asked parents to restrict the amount of cough syrup they give to kids ages 6 and younger, and pharmacists have begun placing limits on how many bottles a person may buy.
“Pharmaceuticals do great things, and there is a home for them,” Harrington said, “but there’s also a room for natural products with no side effects.”
Maty’s sells for $6.99 a bottle, while other syrups range from $5.99 to $14.99. Because Maty’s is classified as a dietary supplement, it does not need an FDA review.
This past August, the couple had their first sale. Two months later, and before the start of the cold and flu season has really begun, some 20,000 bottles of the kids and adult version of Maty’s have sold.
Maty, meanwhile, “is doing unbelievable,” her father said. “She’s strong and good sized,” and a thriving eighth-grader.”
We use Thyme tea, it’s pretty effective for a cough. Here’s a recipe:
http://www.betweenclosefriends.com/2008/11/05/natural-cough-suppressant-thyme-tea/
You want a natural cough syrup? Honey and bourbon.
For me - gargle with warm (not hot) salt water. Then, a spoonful of honey and a shot of whiskey. Go to bed. (do NOT keep drinking the whiskey, you’ll feel worse in the morning!).
For the kiddos, I’m ok with the spoonful of honey. It coats the throat and kills off any bacteria just fine.
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