Honey May Offer Sweet Relief From Coughs

By Cathy Wong, Alternative Medicine Guide, 8/18/2010

Honey may soothe coughs more effectively than over-the-counter medications, a new study shows. The study involved 139 children (ages two to five), all of whom were dealing with coughs caused by upper respiratory infections.

For the study, participants received honey, dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant), diphenhydramine (an antihistamine), or no medication. After about 24 hours, scientists tested all participants for the frequency and severity of their coughs. Study results showed that the 2.5-ml dose of honey provided greater cough relief, compared to both medications and the control treatment…