Health aNd Fitness Guide

Honey is more effective than cough syrups in easing the symptoms of cough and soothing throats in children, according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

The study involved 105 kids who had persistent coughs for four days. The kids who were given a dose of buckwheat honey before bedtime coughed less and slept better compared to those who were given a dose of dextromethorphan, which is a commonly used cough medicine, or no treatment at all.

“Our study adds to the growing literature questioning the use of cough medicine in children, but it also offers a legitimate and safe alternative for physicians and parents,” said Dr Ian Paul who led the study at the Penn State College of Medicine, US. Paul and his colleagues feel that honey’s advantage may be due to its antioxidants and microbe-fighting effects.

But honey is not recommended for children younger than 12 months.