PlainVitamins

Cough Syrup

by Gaia Herbs · liquid · 4 fluid ounces

  • On the market (NIH)
  • DSLD label 309558
  • Serving 5 ml (1 teaspoon)
  • 24 servings

Cough Syrup by Gaia Herbs lists 7 ingredients, 4 with an amount per serving of 5 ml, such as 5.2 g of honey, 29 mg of south african geranium root extract, 22 mg of black elderberry fruit extract and 22 mg of english ivy leaf extract; 3 sit inside a blend without their own amounts, beside 3 Nutrition Facts rows (calories, fat and the like). Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on May 23, 2024.

What is in Cough Syrup?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 5 ml. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).

Cough Syrup: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 309558, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Calories15 Calories
Total Carbohydrates4 g2%Carbohydrate in Cough Syrup against 21,979 products4 g per serving; the middle half of products list 1 g to 6 g, the median 3 g.4 g

Higher than 53% of 21,979 products listing carbohydrate (median 3 g). Per day at the most servings: 12 g.

Total Sugars4 gSugar in Cough Syrup against 11,807 products4 g per serving; the middle half of products list 1 g to 4 g, the median 2 g.4 g

Higher than 68% of 11,807 products listing sugar (median 2 g). Per day at the most servings: 12 g.

Added Sugars4 g8%
Honeyorganic5.2 gHoney in Cough Syrup against 84 products5.2 g per serving; the middle half of products list 0.181 g to 5.63 g, the median 1 g.5.2 g

Higher than 73% of 84 products listing honey (median 1 g). Per day at the most servings: 15.6 g.

South African Geranium Root Extract29 mg
Black Elderberry Fruit Extractas Sambucus nigra Fruit Extractorganic22 mgEuropean Elder in Cough Syrup against 920 products22 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 400 mg, the median 150 mg.22 mg

93% of 920 products listing european elder give more (median 150 mg). Per day at the most servings: 66 mg.

English Ivy Leaf Extractorganic22 mgEnglish Ivy in Cough Syrup against 57 products22 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 22 mg to 100 mg, the median 50 mg.22 mg

74% of 57 products listing english ivy give more (median 50 mg). Per day at the most servings: 66 mg.

Essential Oil Blend8 mg
Eucalyptus Aerial Parts Essential Oilorganicin the blend, no amount given
Scotch Pine Needle Essential Oilorganicin the blend, no amount given
Thyme Aerial Parts Essential Oilorganicin the blend, no amount given

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 309558 (entered May 23, 2024), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD or its label image (PDF). Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.

Is that a lot?

The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:

  • 93% of the 920 products that print an amount of european elder list more than its 22 mg of black elderberry fruit extract (filed by NIH under european elder) (median 150 mg).

The NIH database records 3 servings a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.

Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.

Which products have the closest formulas?

The products whose ingredient lists overlap most with Cough Syrup's, rare ingredients counting for more.

Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.

What does the label say about taking it?

Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.

Directions
Suggested use Adults take 1 teaspoon 3 times daily. Shake well before use.
Warnings
Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition, or take medications, please consult with your healthcare practitioner before use.
Store away from children.
Safety-sealed at neck of bottle.
Allergens and what it does not contain
No artificial sweeteners No added flavors
Non GMO Project Verified nongmoproject.org
Storage
Refrigerate after opening and consume within 6 months.

Source: label statements in DSLD label 309558.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: Water, Lemon Juice Concentrate.

How many labels does Cough Syrup have?

One label is on file, entered on May 23, 2024.

  1. Label 309558 (current) Entered May 23, 2024 · on the market · 4 fluid ounces

Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).

Who makes it?

The label names Gaia Herbs Inc. (distributor), Brevard, NC. All Gaia Herbs products.

Where next?