Raid your Pantry to Help your Cough

Well, even though I am feeling much better I can not beat this lingering cough at night.  I was taking a cough medicine but that has changed.  I decided to skip ahead on my immune systems blogs to share something in my pantry that might help the rest of you that are in the same boat.  I had know for quite some time that something as simple as Honey could be the answer. 

So I headed to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.  It is a source that gives the research of what is effective, what might not be, what might be but they can't prove it yet and any of the interactions you might expect between vitamins, herbs, food & over-the-counter and prescription drugs.  For my "natural health" friends, it is pretty accepting of many recommended "non-medical" strategies including many herbs and lists very little as ineffective but instead only lists that treatments lack sufficient evidence at this time.

So as for honey  I decided just to post the findings instead of summarizing.

"Clinical research shows that taking honey 2.5-10 mL (0.5-2 teaspoons) at bedtime can significantly reduce nighttime cough frequency and severity, and improve sleep compared to placebo in children ages 2 years and older with upper respiratory infections. Honey also appears to be at least as effective or more effective than the cough suppressant dextromethorphan in typical over-the-counter doses and the antihistamine diphenhydramine" 


Here is a reference for those of you who question that sort of thing...Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, et al. Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007;161:1140-6.
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If you are wondering how much to take,  generally it is half a teaspoon to 2 teaspoons.  The great thing about Honey is that it is pretty safe. It is not known to interact with medications, supplements, food or lab test results.  The only concern would be an allergy or possibly increases in blood sugar if you don't include the carbs in your meal plan. Also remember not to give honey to a child under the age of 2.  I would also recommend making sure that your honey is from the USA.

Of course, more research needs to be done. But, if you are coughing, give it a try! It has helped me :)