Why is Honey So Effective As a Cough Suppressant?

One of the most popular flavors of cough drops is honey. It is no surprise because the cough suppressing powers of honey are quite impressive. Although it is not medically necessary to suppress a cough, there may times when cough relief is desired. For instance, when your cough is preventing you from sleeping or is becoming a distraction in a social setting.

There are actually no proven effective cough treatments for cough due to a respiratory infection such as the common cold. While Dextromethorphan (you may have seen it as "DXM" or "DM") is widely used in over-the-counter cough suppressants, there is no hard evidence that it works and may produce side effects. Let's turn to good old-fashioned honey. Honey can reduce cough as well as Dextromethorphan.

Consistency The sweet, syrupy stickiness of honey soothes mucous membranes and removes the irritation that causes the cough reflex. This is honey's most power feature as a suppressant. This is likened to when over-the-counter cough treatments such as cough medicine and cough drops seem to work immediately. It is actually this soothing of the throat and not the medicine itself that is causing the instant relief.

Antibacterial Agent Historically, honey has been used to treats wounds and insect bites. Bees add an enzyme to the nectar producing hydrogen peroxide which acts as an antibacterial agent. Honey's antibacterial properties may aid in the healing of the cough.

Antioxidants Honey's high antioxidant content could also play a role in its effectiveness. Darker honey tends to be more effective than its lighter counter-part because it contains more antioxidants.

How Much Honey to Use Typically, you will want to take the same dosage amounts of honey as you would cough medicine. This makes it quite easy to remember. These amounts are: 1/2 teaspoon for 2-5 year olds; 1 teaspoon for 6 -11 year olds; 2 teaspoons for those 12 and older.

Advantages and Disadvantages Honey is significantly less expensive than store bought cough treatments. There are no side effects such as dizziness or sleepiness. The major disadvantage is that honey should not be given to children under the age of 2. The botulism spores in the honey can cause food poisoning in children this young.