Honey Soothes Children's Cough

Author: Karen Lennox Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

A spoon at bedtime relieves symptoms and helps ensure a more restful sleep for children.

Honey soothes sore throats in children. A tablespoon of honey at bedtime relieves cough and provides more restful sleep at night, according to a new study.

Parents also report that after regular consumption of honey, the child 's cough symptoms decrease, the research team said.

Cough is one of the most common reasons why children go to the doctor, says Dr. Ian Paul, a pediatrician at Pennsylvania State University in Hershey.

Therapies for coughs and cold symptoms are not always effective and are sometimes associated with side effects, the specialist explains. Many over-the-counter medications are not recommended for children under 4 years of age.

Consumption of honey is safe, adds Dr. Ian Paul. However, it is not desirable to give the natural product to children under one year , because of the risk of intoxication with botulinum toxin.

The new study included 300 children, aged 1 to 5, suffering from a sore throat. Half an hour before bedtime, 3/4 of the young participants take 10 g of eucalyptus or citrus honey, and the rest - syrup. Parents evaluate the symptoms of cough, including the quality of children's sleep after therapy.

It has been found that the consumption of honey gives a faster effect to reduce the frequency and severity of coughs, as well as sleep problems .

When children are calmer and feel better, and parents sleep more at night, says Dr. Herman Avner Cohen of Tel Aviv University.

According to the research team, honey is rich in antioxidants that help relieve cold symptoms and are useful in fighting infections.

Different types of honey may contain different antioxidants, including vitamin C and flavonoids. For example, dark honey contains more of the beneficial ingredients than other types, the researchers say.

The results are published in the journal Pediatrics .

Honey Soothes Children's Cough

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