Study: Try Honey for Your Child's Cough
Posted: Wednesday, December 05, 2007
by Avis Ward
GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
Do you know what a ‘hot toddy’ is? It would be my guess you are from the south if you answered yes. Or, you have relatives, very close ones at that, who are southern by birth and you probably have had a hot toddy or two during your lifetime.
A hot toddy was made for my siblings and me when we had a terrible cold accompanied by a body shaking, chest-rattling cough. The ingredients in the hot toddy depended on who made it and was taking care of us. If our parents or maternal grandmother were caring for us, it was a mild tonic. If we were being cared for by my maternal grandfather and step-grandmother, a secret ingredient was added. As we grew older, we could have all the ingredients in a hot toddy but only if we were sick with a cold. My brothers tried getting a cold very often because they loved those full strength hot toddies.
The folk remedy did better than cough medicine or no treatment in a three-way comparison. Honey may work by coating and soothing an irritated throat, the study authors said.
I’ve explained my exasperating interest in far too many things. I have the curiosity of a child. I still believe in asking questions if you wish to know the answers. My grandparents were not medical doctors or even college educated. I have witnessed the recovery of each of their patients with a hot toddy.
As a matter-of-fact, the study’s lead author said: "Many families are going to relate to these findings and say that grandma was right." The lead author is Dr. Ian Paul of Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine.
Federal health advisers have recently warned that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines shouldn't be used in children younger than six, and manufacturers are taking some products for babies off the market.
The Objectives, Results and Conclusions
Objectives: To compare the effects of a single nocturnal dose of buckwheat honey or honey-flavored dextromethorphan (DM) with no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infections.
Results: Significant differences in symptom improvement were detected between treatment groups, with honey consistently scoring the best and no treatment scoring the worst. In paired comparisons, honey was significantly superior to no treatment for cough frequency and the combined score, but DM was not better than no treatment for any outcome. Comparison of honey with DM revealed no significant differences.
Conclusions: In a comparison of honey, DM, and no treatment, parents rated honey most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child's nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to upper respiratory tract infection. Honey may be a preferable treatment for the cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infection.
If you would like to read the study in more detail, click here. Although the study was funded by a grant from the National Honey Board, an industry-funded agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency had no influence over the study design, data or results, Paul said.
The National Honey Board could have asked me and my siblings if honey soothed or stopped coughing. Both tonics worked, one just made us sleep better.
This Article has been viewed 3,505 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)I live in the south today but I'm not from the south Avis nor is my family. However I remember my mother when she was living got a remedy for colds from one of her friends. It was honey with something else I forgot what but it worked for her.Yes David, honey can take the sting out of coughs and other ailments. Thanks for commenting.
Avis, I strongly believe that so many people these days are being over medicated and grandma was right! Too funny, my Laura's sick again and I made her a "toddy" just about 2 hours ago before I even viewed your article! My grandmother lived until she was 101 and her only remaining sister, my dear Aunt Celia, is celebrating her 99th birthday and to this day swears on the toddy. Funny thing about it is that that generation was strong and rarely got sick! Good article, thanks!Judi, I strongly agree with you about people being over medicated. I am not surprised you knew "grandma was right!" I hope Laura rested well last night. You're blessed to have longevity in your family, wow! Thanks for your comments.
Ok Avis my grandparents had the old 'hot toddy' and it had honey, suger, tea and lemon and of course that secret which I can't mention. Boy did you sweat it out. Of course you were rubeed from head to toe in some vaseline like smelly product called a V V rub. All I know is it worked. Perhaps there is a lot of wisom in those old remedies? best wishes. RTMI'm grinning big time, RTM! Do I ever remember that Vicks Vapor rub!! I do not particularly care for the smell or taste of mint because of it! It seems our 'hot toddy' had the same ingredients and you're right, did it make ya sweat!! *laughing* Oooo to be a kid again. I actually enjoyed being sick cause I had the best caretakers in the world! Of course, I do all I can to avoid it now. But if I needed a hot toddy to help me pull through, I would not hesitate. I'm with you, Bob. . . all I know is it worked! To a cold-free and flu-free season. Take great care, my friend. Thanks for your comments and sharing your memories. I have this silly grin on my face. Be well!
I sure wish I had the ingredients for an actual "hot toddy"! Please share!Thanks Jean, I'm tickled you asked. I wondered if anyone would. I am aware the actual ingredients/recipe was not given in the article. I've covered it elsewhere on the site. :)
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.