Honey: A Natural Alternative To Cough Medicine
Posted on Jun 03, 2009 | Comments 0
Dextromethorphan, or DM, has been a staple in cough syrup for some time.
Recent studies have shown, however, that this cough-suppressing medication is not effective in children who are under 6.
What’s more, it can cause side effects. Fortunately, honey, staple of natural medicine, has come to the rescue.
Research has shown that honey is not only an effective way to treat a cough; it may even be more effective than DM was for children.
Honey has long been known to have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. It has a variety of traditional uses, including wound healing.
In the study, children between the ages of 2 and 18 were given either buckwheat honey, honey flavored DM, or no treatment.
Honey was better and reducing nighttime coughing than DM. Coughing was less severe and less frequent, and both the children and their parents got a better night’s sleep. [Cough remedies]
DM didn’t fare so well in testing; in fact, it wasn’t significantly better than no treatment at all.
Diphenhydramine, another popular medication in over-the-counter cold medicine, was also studied and was found not to be any better than no treatment at all when it came to reducing coughing and helping children and parents sleep.
Honey is safe for children over the age of 12. For nighttime coughing, try a spoonful of honey about 30 minutes before bedtime.
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Posted in: Child Health & Disorders
