As kids go back to school, the season for colds and cough kicks in as well. But there is good news for easing kids’ cough as a new study in The Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows that household honey may be superior to some over-the-counter medications for easing kids’ nighttime cough and for helping kids and parents get a good night’s sleep.
Honey relieves nighttime cough
.Children are more susceptible than adults to upper respiratory infections, and the average child may experience several each year. Nagging symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, and cough often accompany such infections, but experts point out that most over-the-counter cough medications have not been proven to be particularly effective for kid’s cough, which, paired with questions that have been raised in recent years about whether they are safe for small children, make alternatives welcome news.
In this study, 139 children ages 24 months to 60 months with an upper respiratory infection were randomly assigned to one of four treatments before bed: honey, dextromethorphan (a common cough suppressant), diphenhydramine (an antihistamine), or normal parental care only. Before the intervention and 24 hours after, mothers of the children filled out a questionnaire with questions about the child’s cough frequency and severity, and the sleep quality of both kids and parents. Results showed:
- Half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) of honey before bedtime was superior in relieving kids’ nighttime cough symptoms and improving sleep quality for both kids and parents compared with either of the two medication groups or supportive-care-only group.
- Dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine were also found to have relieving effects on cough and sleep and were more effective than the control group.
- The thick syrup coats and soothes the back of the throat, while the sweet taste causes salivation, which thins mucus and reduces the urge to cough. Honey’s antioxidants may even help the body fend off nasty cold bugs, thereby alleviating cold symptoms, says Ian Paul, M.D., lead study author.
Tips about honey and kid’s cough
Honey is one alternative for parents who are concerned about the safety or effectiveness of over-the-counter medications for their kids’ upper respiratory symptoms. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers some tips about using honey for kids’ cough:
- Honey should not be used in babies under one year of age but can be a useful remedy for children after age one.
- Honey may help thin secretions and loosen a cough.
- Over-the-counter cough medications are not generally recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics because of the lack of proven benefit in children and because the FDA has not approved these medications for children under 4 years old.
- Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. But honey may be an effective cough suppressant, too.
- And remember: Coughing isn’t all bad. It helps clear mucus from your airway. If you or your child is otherwise healthy, there’s usually no reason to suppress a cough.
Any child who experiences a persistent cough should be seen by a physician who can advise parents about the appropriate treatment options.
(J Alt Comp Med 2010;16:787-93)
Jane Hart, MD