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Honey Works on Kids' Coughs

Study says it soothes throat, helps children sleep

By Colleen Barry, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 4, 2007 7:07 AM CST

(Newser) – Parents looking for an alternative to cold medicines for their young kids might consider a sweet solution—honey. A new study suggests that a commonly available dark variety soothes children's coughs and helps them sleep better, the Houston Chronicle reports. The study comes in the wake of the FDA's recommendation last month that children under 6 not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines.

"Honey is a cheap and effective treatment," said the lead researcher in the study, published in JAMA. "It's kind of amazing that something so simple could be an answer." Researchers said buckwheat honey worked best. They speculated that its sweetness causes salivation that coats the throat. The study, funded by the National Honey Board, noted that honey should not be given to children under 1.

FDA Cautions Against Cold Medicine For Young Kids (Getty Images)

Honey is a "cheap and effective" way to treat kids' coughs, researchers say. (

Honey may work as well as or better than medicine to suppress children's coughing. (Associated Press)

Concentrated Tylenol Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough, right, and Pedia Care Infant Drops Long-Acting Cough, left, is shown in a medicine cabinet of the home of Carol Uyeno in Palo Alto, Calif., Thursday,... (Associated Press)

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Honey Works on Kids' Coughs

Study says it soothes throat, helps children sleep

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

FDA • children • honey • cough syrup • cold medicine • alternative treatment • common cold

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

FDA OKs Drug for Kids Despite Justice Probe

Firm wooed docs to illegally prescribe antidepressant: feds

Medicaid Spends Millions on Drugs FDA Never Approved

FDA loophole allows potentially-lethal drugs to stay in market

Cold Meds Land 7,000 Kids a Year in the Hospital

Report tallies ODs, bad reactions

Ditch Cold Meds for Tots: FDA

Government to officially warn against dosing children under 2

Lack of Info Plagues Docs Treating Kids

Limited funding for research on meds puts children at risk

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?