Just wondering if anyone has found that Karvol or vicks or anything with menthol, mint, peppermint in it, has made your child's reflux worse.

I have read of certain foods that are known to make reflux worse (because they all relax the valve); these include chocolate, onions, PEPPERMINT, coffee, high-sugar foods & possibly high-fat foods.

But with regards to peppermint, I am sure that I have read somewhere that it is just any kind of mint.
So I am not sure if I should use Karvol or vicks for Jacob's cold (they both have menthol in them - is this like mint?). I have used these in the past and he has woken up upset but that could just be because of his stuffy nose and not being able to breathe properly.

There's probably nothing in it (these decongestants probably are ok for reflux) but it's just one of those things I've always wondered about...

P.S. There's some great info (quite detailed) about reflux/reflux disease on www.webmd.com (but I don't blame you if you're sick of researching about it!!)

I do know that peppermint is no good for those who are intolerant to salicylates - big no-no there. If it doesn't help then I would leave it.

Try getting a Euky Bear or other steam vapouriser off trade-me. You don't need the eucalyptus, just the steam works wonders over night. I got mine for $10 off trade-me!

Yep got a steam vapouriser but used to put stuff in there to help decongest (e.g. Karvol). But I will definately try that tonight (without anything added). Do you need to top the container up in the middle of the night? Hubby says we can't leave it on overnight, which is a pity.
Viv - not sure if peppermint, menthol etc is a problem for Jacob - he might wake up more often when he's got a cold/flu because his nose gets stuffy. But yes, if in doubt leave it out I say - trouble is my husband (who thinks he knows everything!) thinks I'm just being silly, and unfortunately I haven't got any proof (like something I can print off from the internet) linking any of these menthol type decongestants to reflux (aggravating it).

I'm pretty sure most of them have an automatic shut off. I know the Kaz and the Eukybear definately do. They say they run for 10 hours, so why not just top it off with boiling water right before you go to bed? Just don't forget to turn it off at the wall first!

Witch Hazel might be an alternative to the "mints" by the way.