NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Homeopathic medicine maker Boiron has rolled out Chestal natural cough syrup in U.S. pharmacies nationwide.

The company said late Friday that the shipment of Chestal to retail pharmacies follows the rollout of Children’s Chestal two years ago, which came amid concerns over the safety of other active cough syrup ingredients for young children. Boiron reported that sales of Children’s Chestal surged 304% during the peak of last winter’s cough season.

Similarly, Chestal for adults makes its pharmacy debut as public and government concerns rise concerning abuse of dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in many popular over-the-counter cough remedies. Like its counterpart children’s product, Chestal is free of dextromethorphan and provides a safe, effective alternative to traditional OTC cough medicines, according to Boiron.

"Parents need to know they have other choices available to them on store shelves that don’t involve weighing the product’s benefits against its risks," stated Woodson Merrell, M.D., chairman of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan.

Merrell’s comment, Boiron said, referred to the Food and Drug Administration’s estimation that 125 cough and cold products use dextromethorphan, an antitussive (cough suppressant drug) debated for its abuse by teens. "A homeopathic cough syrup like Children’s Chestal works differently. Instead of working against the body as a suppressant, it works naturally with the body as an expectorant," he explained. "Therefore, it is able to improve the productivity of a multitude of coughs."

According to Boiron, the "natural goodness of honey" in Chestal coats and soothes the throat, and then its blend of homeopathic medicines sets to work loosening chest congestion to improve dry and productive coughs for a speedier recovery. The company said Chestal provides nondrowsy relief to help people when they’re busy during the day and when they’re trying to get a restful sleep at night.

Described as "safe for everyone in the household ages 2 to 102," Chestal and Children’s Chestal carry an average retail price of $10.99 for the 8.45 fluid ounce family-size bottle and $6.80 for the smaller 4.2 fluid ounce bottle. They are found in the pharmacy’s adult cough and cold section or children’s medicine aisle.

Boiron said both products are available nationwide at CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens drug stores as well as at Whole Foods Markets, Vitamin Shoppe, independent pharmacies and natural product stores.