Biowell Cough & Cold Syrup

Biowell Cough & Cold Syrup is an oral herbal syrup with a honey base that combines honey, ginger extract, tulsi (holy basil), black pepper, menthol, and licorice root. It is listed on DoctorOnCall in a 90 ml bottle and comes as a thick, sweet liquid that is measured with a spoon or dosing cup. As a herbal combination product it does not contain a single pharmaceutical active ingredient, and the exact amount of each herbal component is not disclosed in the information available. Always read the label on the carton for the full ingredient list.

The honey base gives the syrup its thick texture and sweetness, and the sugars naturally present in honey matter for people who monitor their sugar intake. Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, a compound that can raise blood pressure and lower potassium levels when taken in large amounts or for a long time, so people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease need advice before using it. Menthol is a cooling compound obtained from mint oils, and black pepper contains piperine, which is known to influence how the body handles certain medicines. Ginger extract and tulsi are traditional herbal ingredients whose concentrations are not standardised in the information available.

Honey must never be given to babies under 12 months of age, and children aged 6 to 12 years should take this syrup only under adult supervision. The syrup is meant for short-term use following the label, and it should not be used for long periods without advice from a healthcare professional. Because herbal ingredients can still cause allergies and interactions, the DoctorOnCall pharmacist team is available to go through the label with you before you order. Keep the carton so that the batch number and expiry date stay readable. Check the label again whenever you buy a new bottle, since herbal formulations can change between batches.

Shake the bottle well before every use so that the ingredients are evenly mixed. Measure the correct dose with the spoon or dosing cup supplied, and avoid using a kitchen spoon because sizes vary. Take the syrup after meals, and do not dilute it unless the label allows.

Close the cap tightly after each use and wipe the bottle neck clean. Stop using the syrup and speak to a doctor or pharmacist if a rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing develops.

Adults: 15 ml (one tablespoon) two to three times a day after meals, up to a maximum of three doses in 24 hours. Children aged 6 to 12 years: 5 to 10 ml under adult supervision, following the dosing frequency on the label. This syrup is not recommended for children under 6 years unless a doctor advises it, and it must never be given to infants under 12 months because it contains honey.

If a dose is missed, simply take the next dose at the usual time; do not double up. See a doctor if symptoms last more than about a week, return often, or come with high fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or blood in the phlegm.

Use before the expiry date printed on the carton and bottle. Discard the syrup if it develops an unusual smell, mould, or gas bubbles, or if it changes colour noticeably.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed and do not refrigerate unless the label says so. Keep it out of the reach of children.

• Common: occasional mild drowsiness.
• Common: nausea, heartburn, or an upset stomach, especially if taken on an empty stomach.
• Common: a cooling or tingling feeling in the mouth and throat from the menthol.
• Serious: rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing (allergic reaction to an ingredient). This needs emergency care.
• Serious: swelling of the ankles, severe headache, muscle weakness, or an irregular heartbeat, which can occur with excessive licorice intake (high blood pressure and low potassium). Seek urgent medical advice.

• Known allergy (hypersensitivity) to honey, ginger, tulsi, black pepper, menthol, licorice, or any other ingredient in the syrup.
• Infants under 12 months of age, because honey carries a risk of infant botulism.
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure, significant heart failure, or severe kidney or liver disease, because of the licorice content.
• Low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia).

• Diuretics (water tablets), digoxin, corticosteroids, and blood pressure medicines: licorice can lower potassium and raise blood pressure, which may work against these medicines or add to their effects.
• Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines such as warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel: ginger may add to their effect on bleeding, so speak to a pharmacist if you take any of them.
• Medicines whose levels need steady monitoring, such as phenytoin, propranolol, and theophylline: piperine from black pepper may change how the body handles them.
• Other cough and cold products: check the labels to avoid doubling up on menthol, licorice, or other herbal ingredients.
• Food: the syrup contains honey sugars, so people with diabetes should count it in their sugar intake.

• Shake the bottle well before every dose, because herbal ingredients can settle at the bottom.
• Always measure with the dosing cup or spoon supplied rather than a kitchen spoon.
• Taking the syrup after a meal reduces the chance of stomach upset.
• People with diabetes should count the sugar content of the honey base in their daily intake.
• Do not use this syrup together with other herbal cough or cold products without checking the labels for overlapping ingredients.
• Keep the syrup well out of reach of children, because the sweet taste can encourage them to drink more than the dose.

Precautions: Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using Biowell Cough & Cold Syrup if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or if you take blood thinners, diuretics, or heart medicines. Never give it to infants under 12 months, and give it to children aged 6 to 12 years only under adult supervision. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding, get professional advice first. Do not exceed the dose on the label or use the syrup for long periods without advice.

When to See a Doctor or Pharmacist: Stop using the syrup and get medical help if you develop a rash, swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing. See a doctor if your symptoms last longer than about a week, come back often, or are accompanied by high fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or blood in the phlegm. Speak to a pharmacist if you take regular medicines and want to check whether this syrup can be used alongside them.