Until the last couple of summers, I have never really had a problem with allergies.  My children have always had bouts in the early spring and again, at harvest time.  The last two summers, I too have struggled with drippy sinuses, cough and the sore throat that results from it.  We have tried so many products, over the years, to give some relief.  All of them designed to relieve or mask symptoms and get us through the worst of the season.  Recently, I was introduced to Zarbee’s Cough Remedies and I feel so much better about using them for myself, and for my family.  I love how easy this product is to find.  Buy it right off the shelf at Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, RiteAid, Kroger and so many more.

It's great that Zarbee's Cough syrups are available, over the counter, at so many familiar retailers.

Nothing on the market, can CURE allergies, and most allergy medications can offer some measure of relief to allergy sufferers; but most of them employ long lists of chemicals and artificial ingredients to do it and can be incredibly costly.  As my family and I have made the slow and steady change to embracing more preventative health measures, that include healthier diets and exercise, we have also sought more natural options for providing relief when we do occasionally succumb to some ailment or another.  Since nothing can actually cure our allergies, we wanted something that could help with the most frustrating symptom — the relentless cough that comes from the continuous sinus drip at the back of the throat and the resulting sore throat.  My discovery of Zarbee’s Cough remedies for adults and children has been a real blessing.  With natural ingredients like their proprietary blend of buckwheat and other honeys, plus lemon, zinc and citric acid (Vitamin C), our coughs have been quieted, sore throats soothed and, from what I personally understand about zinc and Vitamin C, our immune systems boosted, so we can heal more quickly.  When I looked at the ingredient list, the only difference between the regular and nighttime versions, was the addition of melatonin.  I love the all-natural ingredients!  This will be helpful for more than just allergies.  We will be using Zarbee’s cough syrups during cold and flu season, too.

The children's versions of Zarbee's Cough Syrup.

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffer from allergies and after this year’s unusually mild winter, the dreaded allergy season arrived extra early, resulting in bothersome coughs and colds in allergy sufferers across the country.  Although a cough related to allergies may be relatively harmless, it can be very disruptive, causing sore throat, interrupted sleep and in some cases, trouble breathing.  How will you know if you have allergies or if you are getting sick? And what are the proper precautions when you start to experience symptoms?

Dr. Zak Zarbock, creator of Zarbee’s, the #1 all natural, safe and effective cough alternative, shares his top five tips for identifying and treating coughs due to seasonal allergies – and how to tell when it’s more than just hay fever.

• Know your symptoms.
  Allergies can have similar symptoms to the colds and coughs caused by viral or bacterial infections.  Symptoms of allergies typically include clear runny or stuffy nose, red, itchy eyes, sore throat and cough from drainage behind the nose.   Asthma may also be triggered by allergies, leading to a worsening cough, wheezing, and often breathing difficulty.  Symptoms of an infection may also include runny nose, congestion and cough, but unlike allergies, may be associated with fever, green or yellow nasal drainage, and general achiness.

• Keep an eye on the calendar.
  Coughs that begin on or around the same time every year are often caused by allergies.  Seasonal allergy sufferers commonly react to pollen counts that are high from certain trees, grasses and weeds.  However in many instances, allergies may be a year-round affair for those who react to insects, dust mites, animals or mold spores.

• A little prevention goes a long way
  Reduce exposure to allergy triggers.  Simple things like showering or washing the hair before bed will help rinse pollen from the skin and hair.  Keep car and house windows closed during peak seasons.  Consider a dust filter mask when outdoors in high pollen conditions. Vacuum carpets and wash sheets and pillow cases on a regular basis.  And remember to frequently change furnace and air conditioning filters as this may be an important line of defense.

• Treat SAFELY and effectively
  Choose all natural remedies to treat coughs related to allergies.  Keep airways moist and clear of mucus with natural saline sprays and rinses.  Use antioxidant-rich honeys, like those found in Zarbee’s Cough Syrup, as a proven remedy to calm coughs and soothe and coat sore throats.

The syrup is the color of honey and the consistency is more syrupy, so it can coat the throat. It's very soothing on sore throats and definitely helps quiet coughs.

The first time I opened a bottle of Zarbee’s Cough Syrup, the aroma that overwhelmed me was HONEY.  It even looks like honey.  The adult version I tried was honey and lemon and I tasted both – no mediciney after-taste, just honey and lemon.  The children’s versions were grape flavored, and while the honey was definitely still a strong taste the grape was predominant.  If anything, I would prefer that the children’s version just be plain honey and lemon, too.  Either way, both did a good job of subduing the coughs and cooling the irritated scratchy throats that our coughing had caused.  I felt so much better about using these products and my guess is that you will like them better for your own family, as well.  Please check out the Zarbee’s website for detailed information and be sure to follow them on Facebook (where you can grab a coupon) or on Twitter, to keep up with the latest news on these natural and effective products.

I received samples of Zarbee’s cough syrups for adults and children, in order to test them with my own family and collect information for this review.  No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required.  As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own.