Latest Studies Show that Honey Treats a Child's Cough Better Than Drugs

Parents should be able to trust a report published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine when it relates to the health care of their children. The report documenting that honey, a food you probably already have in your cupboard, treats a child's cough better than available drugs was published on Monday, December 3, 2007.

For this study, the parents of 105 children, between the ages of 2 and 18, were polled in a partially double-blind study by researchers like Dr Ian Paul of Penn State College of Medicine. The study confirmed that buckwheat honey, a darker variety of honey, was more effective in calming children's coughs than drug store cough medicine containing dextromethorphan, DM for short. This is the most common cough suppressant available in over-the-counter remedies.

Researchers and parents alike breathed a sigh of relief that an inexpensive and common remedy like honey can be given to a child with a cough at bedtime to provide natural relief. Precautions not to use honey at all with a child under one year of age were included in the report.

The news media grabbed this report, attached wholesome pictures of honey and beehives to it and spread the news. But what did they leave out of their report?
For one thing, few mentioned that the report was funded by the National Honey Board, part of the US Agriculture Department Agency. That's not to say that the National Honey Board influenced the results in any way, but it is always prudent to see who is funding the research on these studies.

Secondly, Patricia Jackson Allen, a nurse who is also a professor at Yale University School of Nursing, pointed out the flaws in the study. She mentioned that all of the children improved on the second night of the study, regardless of whether they received cough syrup, honey or nothing at all. Ms. Allen's opinion was that the same result might have been achieved by raising the child's head with extra pillows.

As a nurse, she cautions that a cough serves to clear the airway and should not be suppressed. It can last for several weeks after a cold and is usually worse at night because the nose drains into the back of the throat when the child is lying down.

Honey may indeed be a valid alternative treatment for night time coughs in children. As always, read and trust the news based on your own experience and judgment.

sources:
Katharine Stoel Gammon, "Honey Treats Coughs Better Than Drugs", abcnews.com
Michael Conlon , "Honey works best to calm kids' coughs, study finds", Reuters
Patricia Jackson Allen, "Honey is Nice, But Think Twice About Cough", Google News
"Amazing Honey Facts", Golden Blossom Honey, goldenblossomhoney.com