A teaspoon of honey before bed seems to calm children's coughs and help them sleep better, according to a new study that relied on parents' reports of their children's symptoms. 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.

"Many families are going to relate to these findings and say that grandma was right," said lead author Dr. Ian Paul of Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. The research appears in December's Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

Federal health advisers have recently warned that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines shouldn't be used in children younger than 6, and manufacturers are taking some products for babies off the market. Three pediatricians who read the study said they would tell parents seeking alternative remedies to try honey. They noted that honey should not be given to children under age 1 because of a rare but serious risk of botulism.

For the study, researchers recruited 105 children with upper respiratory infections from a clinic in Pennsylvania. Parents were given a paper bag with a dosing device inside. Some were empty. Some contained an age-appropriate dose of honey-flavored cough medicine containing dextromethorphan. And some contained a similar dose of honey.

The parents were asked about their children's sleep and cough symptoms, once before the bedtime treatment and once after. They rated the symptoms on a seven-point scale. All of the children got better, but honey consistently scored best in parents' rating of their children's cough symptoms. "Give them a little time and they'll get better," said Pat Jackson Allen, a professor at Yale University School of Nursing.

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.


Article from http://news.yahoo.com

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I know personally I have used honey in the past in tea to help with throat irritation and it has always helped out. Nice to see that they are actually recommending this homestyle remedy. Plus put a little honey in some green tea and it makes it taste better plus the green tea has all those anti-oxidents in it that is good for ya


-D1-

another helpful hint we have found by accident for kids who suffer from excma is evening primrose oil.
it clears up the skin irritations from the inside out and does really work.
one other thing we learn't from a friend was if you have asthmatic kids,deep sea kelp tablets from any vitamin store will help ease their breathing difficulties,even though the supplies of the tablets have no idea how or why it does help.

our son used to be really bad and constantly need a ventilator until we put him on them and now he has a slight attack once in a blue moon instead of on a weekly basis.

I've started using honey instead of sugar in my coffee. I love the stuff! I buy it from a beekeeper. The stuff in the store is just not the same IMO.

Dano

I agree, Dano. I found commercial honeys to be less effective. Here in Thailand I can buy a liter of good quality runny honey from beekeepers for 5 dollars (or 3 dollars if I buy 3 liters). A liter is about a pint and two-thirds, roughly, or 2 and a quarter pounds.

Honey was used as a wound antiseptic in sword battles - before the advent of penicillin and other antibiotics.

I pay $6.00 a quart, well worth it to me! If I remember correctly honey doesn't go bad either.

Dano

i knew about the honey gauze wound dressings. its used for faster healing.
its only been in the last year or so you haven't been able to buy it at chemist's.