Natural honey may offer parents "an effective and safe alternative" to help soothe
coughs in young children, new research suggests.
A study from Penn State College of Medicine found that giving
a child a small dose of buckwheat honey before bedtime provides relief from coughing during the night and difficulty sleeping.
The findings follow a recent recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration saying that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under the age of six.
Research leader Ian Paul said: "Our study adds to the growing literature questioning the use of [cough suppressant] DM (dextromethorphan) in children, but it also offers a legitimate and safe alternative for physicians and parents.
"Additional studies should certainly be considered, but we hope that medical professionals will consider the positive potential of honey as a treatment given the lack of proven efficacy, expense, and potential for adverse effects associated with the use of DM." 