Bromine: Cough Syrup's Not-So-Secret Ingredient
Recently, it came to our attention that a number of prescription and over-the-counter drugs contain bromide / bromine, an endocrine disruptor that was once very well known for its ability to put people in insane asylums. In the early 1900s, addictions to bromide salts were responsible for about 15% of all psychiatric hospital admissions. In the mid-1900s, bromide was removed from medicine because of its toxicity.
Fast forward a hundred years, and bromide is now being put in both prescription meds like pyridostigmine bromide, a drug commonly used to treat Myasthenia Gravis, as well as over-the-counter drugs like dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant. In these drugs, bromide is regarded as an “inactive” ingredient, but in fact, it is active. For example, bromide actually causes the symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis (as well as other health problems like Gulf War Syndrome and some cases of autism) and it worsens the trajectory of the disease over time. In dextromethorphan cough syrups, bromide hijacks the body’s normal “expectorant” abilities by inserting itself into iodine / iodide receptors throughout the body. While potassium iodide is one of the best and most effective natural expectorants that also protects the lungs from infection, bromide actually prevents the iodine / iodide in food from doing this work naturally.
When well-meaning parents give their kids dextromethorphan that contains bromide (which may be listed or unlisted on the ingredient label), the bromide actually takes up residence in the body and it won’t leave unless parents give their kids Lugol’s iodine as an antidote that kicks bromide out of the endocrine receptors that are meant for iodine. Kids (and adults, for that matter) who take a few doses of dextromethorphan that contains bromide will experience slowly declining physical and mental health that seems to have no known cause as the bromine builds up in the body. Kids might develop ADHD as a result of ingesting bromide salts over the course of time in their cough medicines. They might develop asthma. Adults may develop brain fog, fibromyalgia-like chronic pain, cancer, autoimmune disease, poor immunity, and mental health problems.
Brand names of dextromethorphan cough syrups that may contain bromide include:
- Delsym
- Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief
- Cough Syrup DM
- Vicks Dayquil Cough
- Vicks NyQuil Cold & Flu Nighttime Relief (Alcohol Free)
- Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Flu
- Triaminic Multi-Symptom Fever
- Tylenol Children’s Cold and Cough + Runny Nose
- PediaCare Cough & Runny Nose Plus Acetaminophen
- More…Any cough syrup that contains dextromethorphan may also contain bromide.
Read more about drugs that contain bromide in this article and how to avoid them.
What to Use Instead of Cough Syrups
Cough syrups are a home pharmacy staple for a lot of people and their families. What can you use instead of cough syrup to treat coughs naturally and safely at home? There in fact are a lot of herbal medicines that help suppress coughs, as well as other natural treatment options that not only suppress a cough, but actively treat its cause. Just some of these treatments include:- Greater Celandine - This is a very powerful herb with action against not only a simple cough, but also against other respiratory problems like lung cancer, whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis, and more.
- Nebulizer Treatments - There are many different types of medicines that you can use in a nebulizer, depending on why exactly you have a cough, but some of the best and most broadly effective types of nebulizer treatments involve baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or Lugol’s iodine. Nebulizing can be a great way to relieve or minimize a cough (and nasal congestion!) quickly and effectively in both children and adults.
- Mullein (Verbascum densiflorum) - This herb is relatively popular as a cough suppressant and respiratory healer. It can be taken as an infusion or tincture, though it could also be prepared in a homemade syrup (commercial options exist, but homemade is ideal).
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - Thyme is another great herb for cough relief. Like most other herbal remedies that suppress coughs, it also works from the inside out to treat the source of the cough (which, for example, may be as simple as a common cold).
- NAC / N-Acetyl Cysteine - NAC is an amino acid supplement. It has a wide array of medicinal uses, one of which is as a mucus thinner. For coughs and nasal congestion, NAC can help thin the mucus, thus making it easier to have a productive cough. It has effects similar to the popular OTC pharmaceutical, guaifenesin, and can be used in both children and adults.
Root Cause: Common Environmental Toxins and How to Protect Yourself From Them - BUY HERE!
COVID-19 and Respiratory Infection Self treatment and Prevention BUNDLE - Volumes 1, 2, and 3
Click here to subscribe to the Living Database!
