elialfgey
07-08-2009, 02:46 AM
Instead of reaching out for that cough syrup when your child is suffering from an incessant, nagging cough that worsens at night, you might try good old honey as a home-remedy. New research has confirmed the efficacy of honey in treating coughs; in fact it is better than any over-the-counter cough medicine. In a study, a dose before bedtime easily outperformed a cough suppressant widely used in commercial treatments. Honey was better at cutting the severity, frequency and disturbance from night-time coughs of those suffering upper respiratory infection. It also helped their sleep, suggesting that parents may be wasting their money on expensive alternatives sold in chemists and supermarkets. The study compared honey to dextromethorphan (DM), the active ingredient in many cough mixtures. The researchers said that honey offered a "safe and legitimate alternative" to DM, which can occasionally cause severe side-effects in children, including muscle contractions and spasms. Honey's ability to help coughs may be due to the way it soothes on contact and stimulates saliva. However you should not give honey to children younger than 1 year of age, according to a WebMD article.