Herbal Syrups, Lozenges and Gummies
Herbal syrups, lozenges and gummies: what the sources say about sugar, honey and infants, children and candy-like products, and why evidence for these forms is thin.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read herb safety and interactions before you use anything on this page.
Safety first for families. Do not give honey to a child under 1 year old: NHS says honey occasionally contains bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby's intestines, leading to infant botulism, a very serious illness. [1] Many syrups and gummies are sweet and look like candy. A 2021 study of 2015 to 2017 calls to one US regional poison center found that 1.7% of its pediatric exposures involved gummy formulated medications, most often vitamins and melatonin. [2] Store them out of children's reach. If a child may have swallowed too much of any product, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or 911 in an emergency. See Poisoning: What to Do First.
What the forms are
FDA lists gummies, liquids and other forms among the shapes a dietary supplement can take. [3] FDA also says the ingredients that are not the herb itself, called "other ingredients," include sweeteners, binders and flavorings. [3] A syrup, lozenge or gummy therefore contains the herb plus other things, and the sugar can be a large part of it.Sugar and honey
- WHO says free sugars include sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates. [4]
- WHO recommends limiting free sugars to less than 10% of daily energy intake. [4]
- NHS advises avoiding food and drink with sweeteners or sugar for children aged 4 or younger, including the natural sugar in honey and syrup. [1]
- The sources we read do not state the sugar content of herbal syrups as a group. Read the Supplement Facts and Other Ingredients on the label. See Reading Supplement Labels.
What research shows
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Do honey-and-herb drinks or herbal medicines ease a cough? | NHS: there is limited evidence that hot lemon and honey and herbal medicines help ease a cough. [5] | Insufficient evidence |
| Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) products for colds | NCCIH: some preliminary research suggests elderberry may relieve symptoms of flu, colds or other upper respiratory infections. [6] The sources do not break this down by syrup, lozenge or gummy. | Promising but limited |
| Are herbal lozenges better than other forms? | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed on 2026-10-23 for "herbal lozenge randomized controlled trial" The few results were not read in full, and we found no trial we could read and verify that compares herbal lozenges with other forms. | Not established |
| Do herbal gummies work? | Proper evidence not found. A PubMed search for "herbal gummy randomized trial" returned one result, which we did not read in full and do not cite. | Not established |
| Are children who swallow gummies harmed? | Of 1,098 analyzed ingestions, 7% were symptomatic; melatonin gummies carried higher odds of symptoms than other gummies. The study did not separate herbal gummies. [2] | Observational data |
Quality
FDA says there are no laws or regulations that limit the serving size of a dietary supplement or the amount of an ingredient in a serving. [3] So amounts in gummies and syrups vary by maker. See Gummy Vitamins: Label Accuracy, Added Sugar and Child Safety.Frequently asked questions
Is honey in a cough syrup safe for babies?
No. NHS says do not give honey to a child until they are over 1 year old. [1]
Do herbal cough syrups work?
NHS says there is limited evidence that herbal medicines help ease a cough. [5]
Are herbal gummies safe for children?
Proper evidence not found for herbal gummies specifically. A poison-center study found most gummy exposures involved vitamins and melatonin, and recommended safe storage. [2]
How much sugar is in a herbal syrup?
It varies and the sources we read give no figure. Check the label. WHO counts sugars in honey and syrups as free sugars. [4]
Do cough sweets or syrups stop a cough?
NHS says cough syrup, cough medicine and cough sweets will not stop your cough, but may help you cough less. [5]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety by group
Raw elderberry parts. NCCIH says raw or unripe elderberries and other elder parts contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances. [6] We do not describe home syrup-making.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. NCCIH says little is known about elderberry safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. [6] NHS says some medicines and herbal treatments are not safe for everyone, for example if pregnant. [5]
Diabetes and other conditions. The sources we read do not give herb-specific sugar warnings. People with diabetes or on blood sugar medicines should ask a pharmacist.
Medicines. NHS lists statins, antidepressants, diabetes medicines, blood pressure medicines, warfarin and hormonal contraception as medicines that do not mix well with herbal medicines. [7] See How Interactions Work.
References
- Foods to avoid giving babies and young children, NHS (UK). Read 2026-10-23.
- Crawford EB, et al. Pediatric ingestions with gummy formulated medications: a retrospective study. Clinical Toxicology. 2021. Read 2026-10-23.
- Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements, US Food and Drug Administration. Read 2026-10-23.
- Healthy diet, World Health Organization fact sheet. Read 2026-10-23.
- Cough, NHS (UK), page read October 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Elderberry, NCCIH, US. Read 2026-10-23.
- Herbal medicines and complementary therapies, NHS (UK). Read 2026-10-23.