Buckley’s Mixture Cough Suppressant

My pharmacy is one of those small, privately owned businesses. It’s very quaint, and unlike those large supermarket pharmacies, I can find the most unique remedies there. A few years ago I discovered Buckley’s Cough Suppressant.

It said it right on the bottle, It tastes awful. And it works. They certainly don’t hide the fact that their product smells and tastes terrible. I guess it’s better to be upfront so consumers know what they are getting!

Just look at the ingredients: (Active): Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide (12.5 mg (per 5mL) (Cough Suppressant)

(Inactive): Ammonium Carbonate, Camphor, Canada Balsam, Carrageenan, Glycerine, Menthol, Pine Needle Oil, Sodium Butylparaben, Sodium Propylparaben, Sodium Saccharin, Tincture of Capsicum, Water.

About Some of the Ingredients

Camphor
Helps relieve chest congestion

Carrageenan
Seaweed extract. Used as a thickener and emulsifier

Menthol
Decreases nasal congestion

Canada Balsam
This is a natural expectorant

Pine Needle Oil
Another expectorant

Tincture of Capsicum
Soothes a sore throat

Buckley’s was invented by a pharmacist named William Knapp, who marketed the product in Canada 1920. He recognized that nature gives us products that are beneficial to our health, and combined the best of them into his mixture.

Does It Work?

YES! Have you ever had a nagging cough that you couldn’t get rid of? The kind that tickles your throat and you just can’t shake? I have allergies, and I occasionally get the post nasal drip along with that irritating cough. I have found Buckley’s to work better than any of the over the counter medicines, and even the prescription cough syrups containing codeine. When I take a dose, my cough usually settles down within 15-20 minutes. I get relief for several hours.

The company claims it is good for relief of coughs, congestion, bronchial irritations, laryngitis, croupy cough and minor irritations due to smoking, dust or air pollution. I have never had croup, but this does work pretty good on chest congestion.

The recommended dosage is 1-2 teaspoons every 2-3 hour. You should not take more than 5 doses in 24 hours. Not for children under the age of two.

This product is marketed for those with coughs and congestion. If you can get past the awful taste, and it is pretty bad, it works quite well. Mixing it half and half with honey or corn syrup also helps make it more palatable.

A friend of ours had double pneumonia, and could NOT find anything to help relieve his cough. I almost (almost) hated to give him my Buckley’s because I knew how terrible it tastes. He did try it and told me it worked better than anything his Dr. had given him. (As well as numerous cough drops and meds from the store).

What is really nice about Buckley’s is that there are no chemical ingredients. No sugar. No alcohol. It truly is a natural remedy. If you don’t mind taking a product that tastes like moldy pine needles, then you might consider this the next time you have a cough and congestion. The awful taste can be washed down with a beverage, and will only last a minute – but the benefits are worth it. Just be sure you shake the bottle well before taking that first dose.

It is expensive and I would assume is sometimes hard to find. I have not seen it any place other than this small drugstore. It’s also expensive, around $8.00 a bottle. But the main thing is it works, and isn’t that what is the most important thing? It certainly is for me.