Honey –
Nature’s Prescription
Many parents are concerned about the recent FDA
recommendation that over-the-counter cough and cold
medicines not be given to children under 6 years of age
because of a lack of effectiveness and potential for side
effects.
With this recent news in mind, a team of researchers from
the Penn State College of Medicine decided to put nature to
the test. They tested the effectiveness of three different
approaches for children who were having trouble sleeping due
to a cough.
The children in the study were given either no treatment at
all, a little bit of buckwheat honey or dextromethorphan
(DM), the chemical cough suppressant found in many
over-the-counter cold medicines. The children receiving the
honey or DM took it about 30 minutes before bedtime.
The research team found that honey was more effective in
reducing the severity and frequency of nighttime cough
compared with DM or no treatment at all. Honey also allowed
the children to sleep better. The findings are published in
the December, 2007, issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and
Adolescent Medicine.
According to the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Ian Paul, Penn
State’s director of pediatric clinical research: "Honey
provided the greatest relief of symptoms compared with the
other treatments. With honey, parents now have a safe and
effective alternative to use for children over age 1 that
have cough and cold symptoms”. Some of the children were
hyperactive for a short time after being given the honey,
Dr. Paul said. However, children who received honey slept
better and so did their parents, he noted.
Paul cautioned that honey should never be given to children
younger than 1, because of the rare risk of infantile
botulism. In addition, he noted, cough medicines that
mention "honey" on the label actually contain artificial
honey flavor not real honey.
Honey has been used for centuries to treat upper respiratory
infection symptoms such as cough. In addition, honey has
antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, and also soothes the
back of the throat.
Once again, science has proven that food really can be your
medicine.
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As always, we are at your service,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
