A cough with viscous and thick sputum is perhaps its most unpleasant type. Sputum comes out with difficulty, and sometimes does not come out at all. This cough causes chest pain, asthma attacks and vomiting. Its danger during pregnancy is obvious: during a cough “push,” the abdominal muscles tense, causing the tone of the uterus, and the blood vessels of the placenta contract, which can cause hypoxia in the baby and the development of bleeding in the woman. Althea syrup can be used to treat cough with phlegm during pregnancy. What kind of drug is this, how safe it is and whether its use will have an effect, the article will tell you.
What is this drug and how does it work?
This medication contains a natural active ingredient - liquid extract of marshmallow roots. The manufacturer also uses sucrose, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, and propyl parahydroxybenzoate to produce the drug. The last two components are preservatives-emulsifiers. They maintain the effectiveness of the medicine after opening and extend its service life.
According to the annotation, “Althea” is a syrup (relatively safe during pregnancy and in its absence) that has a mucolytic effect. The active component envelops, relieves inflammation, reduces the viscosity of bronchial secretions. The medicine also has an expectorant effect. This means that it provokes cough activity. So is it possible to use marshmallow (syrup) during pregnancy? After all, the expectant mother, on the contrary, needs to get rid of the cough that bothers her.
General information
Extracts of medicinal marshmallow root become the basis for anti-cold medications . The syrup also includes purified water, food additives and sucrose.
The beneficial properties of marshmallow root have been known since ancient times. The properties of marshmallow root are similar to flax seeds. It is able to reduce inflammation and accelerate tissue healing.
Aqueous extracts of the plant envelop the gastric mucosa, while high acidity gastric juice enhances the protective properties of the extract.
Marshmallow root is used in the form of syrups, powders and tinctures in the case of diseases of the respiratory system. The syrup is included in children's cough medicines , as its taste is quite pleasant for babies.
Marshmallow is widely used in folk medicine. It helps treat cough, asthma, tuberculosis, cystitis, gastritis and many other diseases. It is used as a soothing agent for inflammation of the mucous membranes.
What do doctors say?
Doctors report that a drug based on a plant such as marshmallow (syrup) can be used during pregnancy, but only according to indications. In this case, the expected benefit must be higher than the expected negative effect. Doctors say that during gestation, a woman’s body becomes more vulnerable and susceptible. If previously a representative of the fairer sex easily took “Marshmallow” (syrup), an allergy may occur during pregnancy. Especially often it is provoked not by the active ingredient itself, but by the preservatives included in the drug: methyl parahydroxybenzoate and propyl parahydroxybenzoate. The negative effect of the drug is manifested by skin rash, itching, and lacrimation. If the expectant mother experiences these symptoms, she should immediately stop using the natural medicine and seek help from a doctor. Remember that continued use of the drug may cause swelling or shock.
Methods of use
Marshmallow is part of the cough medications known to us , such as Mucaltin. It is most often used in the form of syrup.
You can independently prepare an infusion of marshmallow , which should be stored in a cool place and used half a glass after meals three times a day.
Extracts and mixtures based on Althea can be bought at the pharmacy. There are also such methods of using marshmallow :
- Pour a teaspoon of flowers into a glass of boiled water, leave and strain. Take a teaspoon three times a day.
- Pour two tablespoons of crushed root into two and a half glasses of water, let it brew and strain. Can be used for gargling, as well as for compresses and eye rinsing.
- In folk medicine, the use of marshmallow root powder is popular. It needs to be filled with water and brought to the consistency of liquid sour cream.
Indications for use and restrictions
It is known that marshmallow syrup can be taken during pregnancy, but only according to indications. What should they be? The medicine is used to treat cough in acute and chronic viral and bacterial infections. This could be tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis and so on. Often the medication is used in combination with other drugs and inhalation formulations.
Before taking marshmallow (syrup) during pregnancy, you must carefully read the instructions. Don't lose sight of the contraindications. If you have them, then such treatment is strictly prohibited. The herbal medicine is not used during the treatment of expectant mothers with high sensitivity to the components. The use of the medicine is ineffective for allergic, dry cough (caused by irritation in the throat), and for laryngitis. It is better to refrain from using the drug throughout the first trimester. It is unknown how emulsifiers and preservatives will affect the formation of embryonic systems and organs.
Marshmallow root - medicinal properties
The root of this plant is used to treat many diseases. It includes:
- Mucous components made from polysaccharides
- Colloidal substances, rutin , pectins , fatty oils , phytosterol , vitamins , tannins
- Minerals: calcium , copper , magnesium , zinc , iron , potassium
- Carotene , solid oils
What beneficial components are there in marshmallow?
- Thanks to this composition, marshmallow root has a healing effect ; it belongs to the mucous components. It has an enveloping effect , or more precisely, when it enters the body, the mucous membrane of the plant is placed on the irritated human mucosa, thereby preventing it from being irritated for some time. What has a beneficial effect on the healing of the human mucosa, softens the course of the pathology
- In addition to the softening effect, this panacea makes it easier to cough up wet coughs.
- It can be used for gastritis , dysentery , ulcers , and other gastrointestinal diseases
- Mucaltin based on marshmallow is used as an adjuvant treatment of bronchitis , laryngitis , tracheitis , pneumonia
- It relieves inflammation in stomatitis, sore throats, and is effective in urinary tract infections.
- The decoction is used to rub the eyes for conjunctivitis.
What are the benefits of marshmallow root?
Application diagram
How does the instructions for use recommend using marshmallow syrup? During pregnancy, the drug is prescribed in an adult dosage: 1 tablespoon 2 to 4 times a day. For better absorption of the drug, you should take it after meals. The medicine is used for 10-14 days. But already on the third day you should feel better: sputum will be separated easily, and a superficial wet cough will appear. If this does not happen, then you should definitely consult a doctor. It may be necessary to adjust the prescribed therapy.
Features of use by pregnant women
The instructions indicate that the use of syrup is possible only if the benefit to the woman is significantly higher than the risks that arise for the fetus. What does this wording mean? Only that there is no official data that would confirm or refute the complete safety of the drug for the fetus. Therefore, it is permissible to use the product only as prescribed by a specialist.
When prescribing marshmallow syrup, the doctor must take into account the individual characteristics of the patient. So, if the first trimester has not yet ended, then marshmallow syrup is not recommended for use. The first trimester is a very difficult time; during this period, it is advisable to avoid taking any medications altogether. But sometimes doctors have to deviate from this rule, since the health of the woman herself may be at risk.
If the second trimester has already begun, marshmallow syrup can be recommended for use. However, this drug is prescribed with caution. Perhaps the doctor will recommend taking the drug in a pediatric dosage or will advise you to shorten the course of treatment.
Marshmallow syrup during pregnancy: reviews
What is the opinion of expectant and experienced mothers about this drug? Many women mistakenly believe that if a medicine can be taken by children under 3 years of age, then it is also allowed during pregnancy. Marshmallow syrup is indeed sometimes prescribed for children. But this should not encourage the future parent to take the drug on her own.
Women who were prescribed the medication by a doctor are satisfied with the treatment. They say that the plant extract helped them get rid of a terrible, painful cough. Many expectant mothers are wary of the fact that the medicine has an expectorant effect. After all, in other words, it provokes a new attack. It's actually not that scary. In this case, liquefied mucus easily separates from the walls of the bronchi and comes out. The drug gently cleanses the lower respiratory tract of mucus. Women who took the medication during pregnancy say the following: the drug did not have a negative effect on the fetus, and, despite the treatment, the child was born healthy and without pathologies.
Marshmallow root for babies
Any illness in your baby is always a cause for concern. Of course, it is problematic to treat diseases such as colds for an infant. After all, not all medications are allowed to be given to infants. In particular, marshmallow root is also not advisable for use in children under one year of age. However, for severe colds, doctors can prescribe marshmallow to children up to one year old, if appropriate. The dosage is chosen by the doctor, usually 1.5 milliliters of syrup or ¼ small spoon.
Is it possible for babies to have marshmallow?
IMPORTANT : When taking the drug, monitor the baby’s condition. If a rash or allergies appear, stop giving the drug.
Summarize
From the article you learned about an effective herbal remedy for treating cough. You can take it during pregnancy, but only as prescribed by a doctor. The medicine has earned mostly positive reviews. It is important that it is inexpensive. You can purchase the drug without a prescription at a price of no more than 50 rubles per package. Remember that during pregnancy you need to take care of more than just yourself. Now the health and development of the unborn child depends on you. Do not self-medicate; if necessary, consult a doctor.
Composition and beneficial properties
The main component of the medicinal syrup is dry marshmallow root extract.
The rhizome of this plant contains a huge amount of useful substances: pentose, hexose, galacturonic acid, essential oils, tannins, vit. C, lecithin, and asparagine. The mechanism of action of the syrup is quite simple. The plant mucus contained in the preparation begins to swell when interacting with liquid, resulting in the formation of dispersed systems that envelop the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs. Thanks to this, protection against irritation is formed, inflammation is eliminated, and regeneration processes are accelerated.
Marshmallow has expectorant properties; in addition, it changes the structure of sputum and promotes easier discharge by normalizing the activity of the ciliated epithelium lining the lungs. Some components contained in the rhizome can relieve pain and have a calming effect.
The effectiveness of the herbal preparation
Althea syrup can be considered an affordable expectorant; the price of one bottle of the mixture is about 50 rubles; for a course of treatment you will need to purchase 2-3 bottles. But the low cost of a herbal remedy is in no way an indicator of its low effectiveness. Thanks to the correct dosage regimen, it is possible to significantly alleviate cough syndrome and improve the discharge of bronchial mucus.
It is worth noting that the drug has an effect on the digestive process, so during treatment with cough syrup, the problem of constipation cannot be ruled out.
Safety of mucolytic syrup
In addition to marshmallow root extract, the base of the syrup is sugar syrup. Therefore, the simple composition and the presence of herbal components make the cough medicine relatively safe. But this does not mean that pregnant women should not take this medicine. Safe medications during pregnancy include multivitamin complexes, as well as iron-containing drugs. It is impossible to accurately predict how a herbal remedy will act on the development of a child in the womb, since studies of its effect on the body of pregnant women have not been conducted.
