Cough Drop Day 2023: Cough Drop Day is annually observed on May 13. Since roughly 1000 B.C., cough drops have been used to relieve a sore or irritated throat with small, medicated tablets. In the 19th century, clinicians in the United States began incorporating questionable ingredients into cough drop formulas. Thankfully, this was quickly eliminated. Currently, cough drops frequently resemble candies, with a sweet flavour derived from the sweetening agents included in the majority of products. One can even access a variety of recipes with ingredients ranging from pears to cinnamon and ginger via the internet.
HISTORY OF COUGH DROP DAY
Cough Drop Day’s origins are mainly unknown. A cough drop is a small, medicated tablet intended to relieve a sore or irritated throat, also known as a throat lozenge. It is typically administered when a person exhibits symptoms of the common cold or influenza. The cough pills are intended to temporarily stop coughing, as well as soothe and lubricate the throat’s tissues. Cough medications are typically sweet-tasting.
Historically, the majority of cough drops were diamond-shaped, as the word ‘lozenge’ is derived from the French word ‘losange’, which means ‘rhombus.’ During Egypt’s ’20th Dynasty’ in the year 1000 B.C., it is believed that candies were first used to relieve throat irritations. Historically, these cough drops were comprised of honey and herbs, citrus, and seasonings. In the nineteenth century, physicians discovered that morphine, formaldehyde, and heroin could suppress coughing at its source, the brain.
However, these ingredients were deemed harmful due to the possibility that they could contribute to opioid dependence. In fact, lozenge manufacturers routinely indicated that their products were opioid-free. In 1892, an advertisement for Keatings Cough Lozenges stated, “They are invaluable. They contain neither opium nor illicit drugs.” William Luden made history in 1881 when he invented the first menthol cough drops. In 1879, he began manufacturing candies in the Pennsylvania kitchen of his family, located behind his father’s jewellery store. Later, he collaborated with a chemist to create an amber-colored cough drop formula.
For many years, five-cent containers of Luden’s Menthol Cough Drops containing honey, licorice, and menthol were available for purchase. Luden is one of the numerous cough drop manufacturers that began as candymakers, confectioners, or bakers. HALLS, Mentho-Lyptus, Smith Brothers’ Cough Drops, and Ricola are a few additional examples of such brands.
COUGH DROP DAY ACTIVITIES
Purchase cough drops
Celebrate by purchasing cough drops for yourself or a friend. You never know when it may be useful!
Visit a doctor
Regardless of health, it is essential to undergo routine medical examinations. Visit a doctor and undergo all necessary exams to ensure your health is in excellent condition.
Share the news
Spread awareness of Cough Drop Day. Share this information with others or use the hashtag #coughdropday on social media.
Tulip Day 2023: Date, History, Significance and Facts
Five of the Most Effective Cough Drops, According to Pharmacists
Cepacol
The honey lemon, cherry, and tangerine flavours of Cepacol lozenges contain cetylpyridinium chloride, benzocaine, and menthol.
First manufactured in 1893,
HALLS accounts for more than fifty percent of cough drop sales worldwide.
Chloraseptic
Chloraseptic lozenges manufactured by Prestige Consume Healthcare in New York contain phenol as the active constituent.
Fisherman’s ally
Fisherman’s Friend began production in 1865 in Fleetwood, England, and annually produces more than five billion lozenges in a diversity of flavours.
Ricola
Ricola, headquartered in Laufen, Switzerland, distributes its lozenges to more than 45 countries worldwide.
WHY WE LOVE COUGH DROP DAY
Cough drops are delicious
Medicine has never tasted so sweet before. Cough drops make it simple to forget that we are attempting to be treated!
Cough medicines are therapeutic.
Don’t be fooled by its flavour. Cough drops contain medication that relieves itching and irritation in the pharynx. We enjoy cough drops because they soothe our sore airways.
Putting our health first is crucial
This holiday reminds us of the importance of prioritising our health. As the saying goes, prevention is preferable to cure. Taking care of ourselves prevents us from becoming ill in the first place.
COUGH DROP DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 13 | Saturday |
| 2024 | May 13 | Monday |
| 2025 | May 13 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | May 13 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | May 13 | Thursday |
