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Honey the Best Remedy for Children's Coughs

Honey is better than over-the-counter syrups for treating children's coughs. A US study showed how natural honey improved the symptoms of night-time coughs in children better than cough suppressants. Dextromethorphan (DM), which is a common active ingredient in cough medicines, did very little to improve symptoms compared to honey in the research study carried out at Penn Stage College of Medicine in Pennsylvania. The researchers also said that DM can cause involuntary muscle contractions and spasms. Over 105 children and teenagers were involved in the research which was conducted over a 2-nightly period. Honey should not, however, be given to children under the age of one as there is a risk of infection from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.
Source: Times Online - Dec 4th 2007)