Honey A Better Option For Childhood Cough Than Over The Counter Medications

[mzmolly]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203164750.htm">ScienceDaily —

A study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative than over the counter children's cough medicines.

The study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications.

Honey did a better job reducing the severity, frequency and bothersome nature of nighttime cough from upper respiratory infection than DM or no treatment. Honey also showed a positive effect on the sleep quality of both the coughing child and the child's parents. DM was not significantly better at alleviating symptoms than no treatment.

These findings are especially notable since an FDA advisory board recently recommended that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines not be given to children less than 6 years old because of their lack of effectiveness and potential for side effects.

From WIKI

Medicinal uses and health effects of honey

For at least 2700 years, honey has been used to treat a variety of ailments through topical application, but only recently have the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey been chemically explained. Wound Gels that contain antibacterial honey and have regulatory approval for wound care are now available to help conventional medicine in the battle against drug resistant strains of bacteria MRSA. As an antimicrobial agent honey may have the potential for treating a variety of ailments. One New Zealand researcher says a particular type of honey may be useful in treating MRSA.<39> Antibacterial properties of honey are the result of the low water activity causing osmosis, hydrogen peroxide effect,<40> and high acidity.<41> Honey may also be used to alleviate the effects of a sore throat. It is mixed with lemon juice and consumed. The mixture coats the throat alleviating discomfort, and the antibacterial, antiseptic properties are good for the throat as well.

*Note - Due to the natural presence of botulinum endospores in honey, children under one year of age should not be given honey. The more developed digestive systems of older children and adults generally destroy the spores. Infants, however, can contract botulism from honey.<48>

According to the http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_cough_hhg.htm">U of Michigan and other sources corn syrup can be helpful as well. But, I'm personally interested in the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey, so that gets an edge from me. ;)

Thought I'd share given the time of year.

:hi:

[thunder rising]

1. Antibacterial Honey? Bet you need a prescription right? Not available at grocers anywhere.

This sounds like an infomercial. But wait if you buy now ...

[mzmolly]

2. Honey, like garlic has antibacterial properties.

:hi: Buckwheat honey was used in the study above, but Clover honey has similar benefits from what I've read?

[Warpy]

11. Honey is one of the few foodstuffs that can be found many years

later in an edible condition, without any bacterial contamination. It will be crystallized and hard as a rock, but it will be edible.

All sugar syrups are soothing to a raw throat, which is why most cough medicines are based on sugar syrup or a demulcent like slippery elm.

The only thing that will actually quell a cough is an opiate.

Personally, I think the trick is to soothe the throat and keep the cough. You wouldn't be coughing if your lungs didn't have fluff to get rid of. Most commercial cough syrups are an ineffective dose of cough suppressant plus sugar plus an expectorant, something that never made any sense to me. Either you need to cough and spit, or you need your rest, but not both at the same time.

It's nice to have a narcotic cough medicine at night, though.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. Dextromethorphan works very well for me.

I have to have a cough suppressant when I get sick, as otherwise I will simply exhaust myself with non-productive spasmotic coughing. The DM allows me to cough when I actually have something to cough up, without coughing myself to exhaustion.

I first discovered it a year after I actually fractured a rib from coughing too hard, and I have considered it a miracle drug for me ever since.

Expectorants have never worked for me. They seem to just make everything worse.

[Warpy]

21. That stuff doesn't work on ME

I have to go to a doc and pitch a fit to get a scrip for Tussionex.

That stuff would plug up and active volcano.

It's the only way I can get a few hours' sleep. I use it only at night.

[mzmolly]

39. I'm the opposite, the expectorant helps, the DM - not so much.

;)

[WhinsChap]

3. Doesn't seem to work

Tried honey the last cold that my daughter had. Didn't last 10 minutes. Even though they say that the children's cold medicine doesn't work, it always allowed them to get to sleep. It did ease the cough.

[mzmolly]

7. It's working better for us than the cough syrup we have? I know that the quality of honey is

important as well. "Welcome" :hi:

[iamjoy]

4. Honey And Whiskey

that's what my Dad gave me when I was a kid. And no, we were not some boozer family. My Dad was a pharmacist. Then and now, he rarely drinks. A lot of those cough medicines are most alcohol anyway and in the 70's I don't think they made children's formulas.

[dweller]

5. add a shot of lemon

and you have the tonic i was given quite a few times for colds as a child.

it worked. Slept like, well, a baby.
dp

[enlightenment]

6. Yes, that's what I gave my son -

A tablespoonful of honey, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and a teaspoon of whiskey - mixed with about a tablespoon of hot water and allowed to cool to a safe temperature.

It's not as effective as the OTC meds, but it is safer.

Also used warm olive oil for ear aches - a couple of drops in the ear canal and a bit of cotton to keep the air out. It helped for the earaches that come with colds. Not effective for infection, though.

Ice lollies for sore throats - make your own with fruit juice and a bit of honey. The combination of the cold and the honey seems to help.

[mzmolly]

8. I've done everything but the whisky.

:hi: I honestly don't have it around. I wonder if Guinness might work? ;)

[enlightenment]

9. I don't know about the kid, but

I have a certain fondness for Guinness, m'self! Especially Guinness and pear cider. Tastes fantastic (also has a kick that would take down a rhino).

:)

Seriously though - all the little bit of whiskey does is help them relax just a little; a stressed, sick child hurts a lot more than a calm, sick child. Warm milky tea will help the stress, too.

My gran used to make us milk toast - a piece of buttered toast, torn into pieces and tossed in a bowl; pour warm milk over the toast. I think the milk and butter helped coat the raw throat, the bread helped that icky stomach you get when you've been swallowing the crud that comes up when you cough, and the warmth helped the stress. (note: not good if there's a lot of congestion in the nose and lungs - milk makes it worse). A hot water bottle, wrapped in a kitchen towel and laid on the chest helps ease a cough a bit, too.

Good luck. It is so hard to have a sick kid - makes you feel damned useless!

[mzmolly]

10. Thanks so much.

I too have been using many of "grandma's techniques" and I think we're all on the mend? The waterbottle does work wonders. We've been sick for three freaking weeks, sucks - for lack of a better word. ;)

[enlightenment]

13. mzmolly, sometimes I think that word was invented

by people stricken with these damned bugs. No other word so aptly sums up the feeling you have about life in general when you've been hacking up a lung for weeks.

Glad that you're starting to see the light at the end of the virus-ridden tunnel - I hope you are all mended very soon!

[mzmolly]

14. Thanks E.

:hi:

[Warpy]

36. Your dad was ahead of the people in the south I knew

who kept a demijohn of moonshine with a cup of turpentine in it under the back porch for colds and coughs.

It was such nasty stuff that I can see kids stifling their coughs with a pillow so that Mom wouldn't wake up and dose them with it.

[varkam]

12. I know, I know, party pooper, but...

there's a couple questions I have.

First, is there anything in OTC cough medicines that also serves as an active ingredient besides DM? I'm wondering that because it looks like they just gave DM (apologize if this question seems silly, but it's not really my area).

Also, it would be nice to see this study replicated at another university and with (hopefully) some sort of objective DV as opposed to parents' ratings. One I can think of off the top of my head is a polysomnogram.

Which brings me to my final point - it seems like a bad idea to give it right before bed time. Seems to me that would cause a good deal of sleep fragmentation much in the same fashion alcohol does (i.e. when alcohol is metabolised it becomes a sugar).

Also, looks like Big Honey is funding this one. ;)

ETA I decided to not be lazy and look up the answer to my first question myself. From the FDA:

Checking the “active ingredients” section of the DRUG FACTS label. This will help you understand what “active ingredients” are in the medicine and what symptoms each active ingredient is intended to treat. Cough and cold medicines often have more than one “active ingredient” (such as an antihistamine, a decongestant, a cough suppressant, an expectorant, or a pain reliever/fever reducer).

[mzmolly]

15. Honestly, I've heard that corn syrup can help quell a cough as Warpy mentioned in this thread.

More about the studies below:

In the latest study, the researchers enrolled 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 at a single university-affiliated physician practice site. On the first night of the study, children received no treatment. Parents answered five questions about their child’s cough and sleep quality as well as about their own sleep quality. On the second night, children received either honey, artificial honey-flavored DM or no treatment about a half hour prior to going to bed. Parents answered the same five questions the following morning.

The randomized study was partially double-blinded: Medical staff did not know what treatment each participating family received when distributing their sealed syringe-containing envelope. Parents of children who received honey or artificial honey-flavored DM in a measured syringe were blinded to their treatment group. Parents of children in the no treatment group received an empty syringe, and therefore were aware of their child’s treatment group.

Also, it would be nice to see this study replicated at another university and with (hopefully) some sort of objective DV as opposed to parents' ratings. One I can think of off the top of my head is a polysomnogram.

It would be nice if cough medicines in general were subjected such testing.

Which brings me to my final point - it seems like a bad idea to give it right before bed time. Seems to me that would cause a good deal of sleep fragmentation much in the same fashion alcohol does (i.e. when alcohol is metabolised it becomes a sugar).

Sugar/carbs (if eaten without fat/protein) are very calming according to researchers at MIT. They boost serotonin which has a soothing effect.

Also, looks like Big Honey is funding this one. ;)

Tit for tat. :P

[varkam]

16. Hmm...

It would be nice if cough medicines in general were subjected such testing.

Well that's changing the subject a bit, isn't it?

Sugar/carbs (if eaten without fat/protein) are very calming according to researchers at MIT. They boost serotonin which has a soothing effect.


Do you have a citation for me?

Tit for tat.

I do what I can.

:hi:

[mzmolly]

19. Nope, same subject. It seems odd we'd have a higher standard for

honey than cough syrup does it not?

As for the citation, here's one of a few studies in this regard -

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1471-4159.1989.tb09263.x

Here's a book from Amazon by one of the researchers -

http://www.amazon.com/Serotonin-Solution-Judith-Phd-Wurtman/dp/0449911314

[varkam]

22. Considering that I was speaking about *this study in particular*

I would still assert that's changing the subject. I wasn't making any comparison between the data for honey and cough medicine. I in fact did not mention cough medicine in that point, you're the one that brought it up - I was speaking of this study in particular, the outcome variables, how they were measured, and how they might be more objectively measured.

And that citation is about tryptophan which, correct me if I'm mistaken, isn't a sugar. It's an amino acid that's involved in the synthesis of 5HT.

[mzmolly]

23. I'm just wondering why standards for a common sweetner should be greater than OTC cough medicines?

Here is another, more straight forward study. I'm not sure you can read the other in it's entirety?

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/174/4013/1023

Serotonin allows more tryptophan to enter the brain.

[varkam]

24. Actually, it's the other way around...

tryptophan is a rate-limiting step for 5HT. More tryptophan, more 5HT. Again, though, tryptophan is an amino acid. It's also well-documented that if you feed someone ten pixie sticks right before bed-time, their sleep sucks. Of course Carbs may intially increase the levels of 5HT in the brain, once they're broken down into sugars and metabolized, it causes fragmentation of sleep throughout the night. Alcohol does the same thing.

And, again, I didn't bring up a comparison of standards for OTC cough medicine and honey - you did that (e.g. changing the subject).

[mzmolly]

25. You'd have to argue with the resesarchers at MIT Varkam.

The rate at which serotonin forms was shown to depend on how much of its chemical precursor, the amino acid tryptophan, gets into the brain. When you eat a protein-containing food, the protein is digested into its constituent amino acids, which then enter the blood stream. Six of these amino acids, including tryptophan, are carried into the brain by the same mechanism, Dr. Richard Wurtman explained. Though tryptophan is prominent in protein-containing foods, it is outnumbered by the other five amino acids that compete with it for entry into the brain. Thus, eating lots of protein does not raise the levels of tryptophan or serotonin in the brain.

However, when you eat carbohydrates, the body releases insulin to process them. Insulin also lowers blood levels of the five amino acids that compete with tryptophan. This allows more tryptophan to enter the brain, and consequently more serotonin to be formed. Thus, eating carbohydrates raises serotonin and diminishes your appetite for carbohydrates. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E6DE1539F93AA1575AC0A967948260&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=all">NYT

Regarding the "subject" it's in the OP. Honey was compared to OTC cough medicines ... that IS the subject. However, inserting "10 pixie sticks before bed" now, that's changing the subject. ;) Pixie sticks are loaded with artificial colors, for example.

[varkam]

26. Read your first sentence

The rate at which serotonin forms was shown to depend on how much of its chemical precursor, the amino acid tryptophan, gets into the brain.

As I said, tryptophan is a rate-limiting step for 5HT. More tryptophan, more 5HT. And again, tryptophan is not a sugar. Is it the artificial food coloring in pixie sticks that causes kids to go bonkers? Really? So I guess after you give them a cup of raw cane sugar, it's nap-time.

Regarding the "subject" it's in the OP. Honey was compared to OTC cough medicines ... that IS the subject.

It wasn't the "subject" that I was bringing up. The "subject" that I was bringing up was a very specific point, which you chose to change to a more general point rather than respond to the point that I raised concerning the DV. All I said is that I would like to see a more objective DV, to which you responded with questioning why aren't OTC cough medicines subjected to objective DVs (which, by the way, is also a tu quoque fallacy).

Also, honey was not compared with OTC cough medicines - it was compared with DM which is one active ingredient found in most, if not all, OTC cough medicines.

[mzmolly]

27. Read the entire snip, pay special attention to the portions in bold.

"However, when you eat carbohydrates, ... This allows more tryptophan to enter the brain, and consequently more serotonin to be formed..."

...

More from the article:

The treatment grew out of the finding that consumption of carbohydrate foods triggers the release of serotonin, an important chemical signal, or neurotransmitter, in the brain. The released serotonin, in turn, was shown to suppress the desire for carbohydrates. Serotonin also induces sleepiness and decreases sensitivity to pain.

All I said is that I would like to see a more objective DV, to which you responded with questioning why aren't OTC cough medicines subjected to objective DVs (which, by the way, is also a tu quoque fallacy).

No, to which I responded I'd like to see the SAME studies regarding OTC cough medicines. I don't object to more studies and I liked your idea is all. ;)

honey was not compared with OTC cough medicines - it was compared with DM which is one active ingredient found in most

DM is THE active ingredient found in most.

Also, If you prefer to be "picky" the study compared "artificial honey-flavored DM" to honey. I'm not sure what the inactive ingredients in the flavored DM were, I'm guessing they were close to that of OTC cough syrup?

[varkam]

28. ?

Here is what you wrote:

Serotonin allows more tryptophan to enter the brain.

What you just posted says that the more tryptophan enters the brain, the more 5HT is formed. Tryptophan is a chemical precursor 5HT - it is not 5HT. After all, we do not have tryptophan receptors in our brains, we have 5HT receptors.

The treatment grew out of the finding that consumption of carbohydrate foods triggers the release of serotonin, an important chemical signal, or neurotransmitter, in the brain. The released serotonin, in turn, was shown to suppress the desire for carbohydrates. Serotonin also induces sleepiness and decreases sensitivity to pain.

I guess you just turned decades of research and observational experience on it's head, then. Sugar really doesn't make you alert! It actually makes you sleepy! I think I'll just go down a few packets of sugar before bed, then, to make sure I sleep nice and tight. :rofl: I think we might be talking about two different things, here. It doesn't look like there's a whole lot of research out there on honey and sleep, but I'd be willing to bet once it's metabolised you'd see sleep fragmentation on an NPSG. After all, alcohol also releases 5HT and makes you sleepy, but then your sleep sucks following sleep onset.

No, to which I responded I'd like to see the SAME studies regarding OTC cough medicines. I don't object to more studies and I liked your idea is all.

Then why didn't you say that when I asked why you were changing the subject? 'Cause the implication was that you were attempting to shift the focus from the DV in this study to the studies that focus on OTC cough medicine.

DM is THE active ingredient found in most.

As I posted upthread, according to the FDA many OTC cough medicines contain more than one active ingredient.

Also, If you prefer to be "picky" the study compared "artificial honey-flavored DM" to honey. I'm not sure what the inactive ingredients in the flavored DM were, I'm guessing they were close to that of OTC cough syrup?

Now you're just being silly.

[mzmolly]

29. I didn't turn anything on it's head. I read a book by researchers at MIT.

As I posted upthread, according to the FDA many OTC cough medicines contain more than one active ingredient.

Well then, let me clarify given your confusion. DM is the active cough suppressant.

My goodness Varkam, when you get "testy" about a honey study, somethings amiss.

As for your blather about the research I posted, again take it up with the scientists at MIT.

While this IS changing the subject - on edit, regarding alcohol, the issue isn't "sugar" and amounts matter. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-2/101-109.pdf

In summary: Alcohol has extensive effects on sleep and daytime sleepiness. In healthy people, acute high alcohol doses disturb sleep, whereas in insomniacs, lower doses may be beneficial.

[varkam]

30. I'm not testy about the honey study.

I didn't turn anything on it's head. I read a book by researchers at MIT.

Well, since you already know all about it from reading a book by researchers at MIT, I'm not doing to try to explain it further to you.

My goodness Varkam, when you get "testy" about a honey study, somethings amiss.

Oh, it's not the honey study I'm "'testy'" about.

Well then, let me clarify given your confusion. DM is the active cough suppressant.

Yes, mzmolly. I know that. But many OTC cough medicines also contain other active ingredients for things like pain and fever.

As for your blather about the research I posted, again take it up with the scientists at MIT.

I don't have a problem with the research, but rather the conclusions that you're drawing from it.

While this IS changing the subject - on edit, regarding alcohol, the issue isn't "sugar" and amounts matter. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-2/101-109....

I realize that amounts matter, mzmolly. But yes, the issue is sugar. Like I said, once alcohol is broken down and metabolized it does so as a sugar (read: stimulant) not as a CNS depressant which then results in arousals. Oh, and by the way there's a difference between changing the subject and using something as an example to illustrate the point (which was about sugar).

[mzmolly]

31. I'm not going to get into a debate on alcohol Varkam.

As for conclusions, I conclude that honey is beneficial for cough based upon many sources and the fact that I've seen it first hand. I've also experienced the ineffectiveness of cough syrup - again, first hand.

From one of the study authors: "The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not," Dr. Ian M. Paul of Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, one of the study's authors, told Reuters Health.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSWRI37851120071203

It's a pretty harmless conclusion, regardless. Feel free to continue purchasing cough medicine if you like.

Here's a bit more info on "honey as an antimicrobial agent" if you're interested:

http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/honey_intro.shtml#Antimicrobial

[varkam]

32. .

As for conclusions, I conclude that honey is beneficial for cough based upon many sources and the fact that I've seen it first hand. I've also experienced the ineffectiveness of cough syrup - again, first hand.

Well, as I'm sure you're aware, first hand accounts don't count for a whole lot when you're talking about this kind of thing. I was merely raising some questions about the study that I think should be addressed - you know, critical thinking and all that. For instance, they weren't really comparing OTC cough medicine and honey. Rather, they were comparing one active ingredient found in cough medicine with honey. I have no reason to doubt that honey was more effective than DM alone in this study, but I would also like to see a more objective DV. Sorry if that upsets you.

eta And I wasn't trying to debate you on alcohol. I merely offered it as an example for how sugar can screw up sleep. You're free to disagree all you'd like.

[mzmolly]

33. Doesn't upset me in the least.

I just found it odd that one would have a more rigorous criteria for a honey study vs. an OTC "cough suppressant".

Cheers.

[varkam]

34. I never said anything about criteria for OTC cough medicines.

You did. Nor did I say anything about what outcome measures would be appropriate for OTC cough medicines, you just made assumptions about what I thought (and, for the record, you're wrong).

If you think you didn't make assumptions, then kindly point out where I said that there should be a more rigorous criteria for an outcome measure for honey than for OTC cough medicines. Thanks.

[mzmolly]

35. I realize you didn't say anything about OTC cough medicines. That's part of my point.

You said: Also, it would be nice to see this study replicated at another university and with (hopefully) some sort of objective DV as opposed to parents' ratings. One I can think of off the top of my head is a polysomnogram.

And, I indicated that it would also be nice to see such studies for OTC cough medicines.

[varkam]

37. Here is what you said:

I just found it odd that one would have a more rigorous criteria for a honey study vs. an OTC "cough suppressant".

No where did I indicate what my criteria would be for a study on OTC cough medicine. You just made an assumption.

[mzmolly]

38. Fair enough.

I prefer "educated guess" to assumption however. ;)

[varkam]

40. And why would I prefer a less rigorous standard...

based on your "educated guess"?

[mzmolly]

41. Because OTC cough meds have been on the market for decades,

and you mentioned the honey? I'll take your word for it however.

[varkam]

42. Uh...yeah. 'Cause, you know, that's what this thread is about. Honey.

[mzmolly]

43. Honey and what else? Read the OP title.

Honey - as compared to the effective cough suppressant in OTC medicines - is what this thread is about.

[varkam]

44. Oy.

Well I'm getting bored with this now. I'm glad that you've decided to take my word on what I think about things.

[mzmolly]

45. G'Night Ralph

:hi:

Have a nice evening.

[varkam]

46. I see. eom

[LeftishBrit]

17. 'Looks like Big Honey is funding this one..'

Big Buzzzzzzzzzzz????

I used to get lemon and honey as a kid. Now as an adult I tend to use lemon-and-ginger herbal tea when I have a cough. Doesn't cure it; but makes it feel a bit better.

[varkam]

18. That's right.

Those bees won't stop until we're all hopelessly addicted to honey. :D