Honey Quiets a Child's Cough Better than Cough Syrup |
Sweet Honey (photo by Rick Tango)
A child's cough from a common cold is no reason to go out and buy an expensive cough medicine that carries risks. Scientists have concluded that a spoonful of honey can quiet a child’s nighttime cough and help them sleep better. According to a Reuters Health report, the researchers found that, “When compared to the cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan or no treatment, honey came out on top.”
"The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not," Dr. Ian M. Paul of Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, one of the study's authors, told Reuters Health.
The report went on to say, “There is currently no proven effective treatment for cough due to an upper respiratory infection like the common cold. While dextromethorphan is widely used, there is no evidence that it works, and it carries risks.”
Honey isn't recommended for infants younger than one year old because of a small risk of botulism, but it’s generally safe for older kids. In the study children were given doses of honey equal to recommendations for cough syrups; half a teaspoon for two- to five-year-olds, a teaspoon for six- to eleven-year-olds, and two teaspoons for children twelve and older.
To read the Reuters Health report cited above go to: Honey eases nighttime cough
Our friend Marina Marchese, the Founder of Red Bee Honey Farm in Connecticut, has written a marvelous book on the wonders of honey and it's healing properties To learn more about it go to: Honeybee: From Hive to Home, Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper
If you’d like to try some of Marina’s superb artisanal honeys or send some as a very special gift, click on any of the following:
Clover & Creamed Honey Gift Box
