According to a new study by Penn State University, a small dose of buckwheat honey provides better relief of nighttime cough- when given at bedtime- than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), which is a cough suppressant found in most over-the-counter cold medications. Dr. Ian M. Paul, one of the study’s authors, reported, “The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not.” He went on to say, “Many families are going to relate to these findings and say that Grandma was right.” The findings are especially good news now that the FDA has issued a health advisory to warn against use of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products for children. Honey is an effective and safe alternative. Infants under 12 months should never be given honey because of the risk of botulism, but for older children you can give either half a teaspoon (recommended for children 2-5) or a full teaspoon for children 6-11. Children 12 and over can be given 2 teaspoons.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS