Treating Coughs Naturally

Coughing, sneezing, runny nose, colds and other lung infections are very common in the transition seasons are difficult to predict at this time. To fight it, a lot of people swallow pills and syrup, which are believed to cure nasal problems, relieve sore throat, reduce coughing and improve sleep quality.

However, further evidence indicates that drugs are not always effective. Even worse, many drugs have side effects that are not good, even dangerous, especially for young children.

That is why, many physicians now recommend old-fashioned recipe for their cough patients, namely honey.

"Honey has been used for hundreds of years as a traditional medicine in various parts of the world. We thought, it would be reasonable to test" said Ian Paul, a pediatrician at the Hospital of Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, USA.

Stubborn cough

Paul motivated to try honey, because today, treat cough in children has become a common problem. Coughing is the body's way of clearing the irritated airways and help breathing.

However, too much coughing, can cause irritation to the lungs and throat are more severe. Cleansing is also disrupt sleep, which is needed in the healing process. To alleviate the suffering of their children, parents often give in the form of cough syrup.

In 1997, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that Codeine and dextromethorphan (DM), two of the four common ingredient in cough medicine, not cure the child's illness. Codeine and DM only works to block messages from the brain to the body's cough.

Drugs that do not work, play is bad for health. Cough and cold medicines can also cause serious side effects, including drowsiness, hyperactivity, hallucinations, dizziness, vomiting, palpitations and more. Hundreds of children end up in hospital each year. Some of them even died after accidentally drinking excessive cough.

Drug Testing

Frustrated by the lack of studies on drugs, Paul decided to try it for yourself. Several years ago, Paul and his college friend designed a study involving 100 children, who have cough and other cold symptoms. All were between 2-18 years old.

The researchers divided the children into three groups. Before bed, 1 group of kids drink syrup that contains DM.

Into two groups, receiving syrup cough medicine containing ingredients commonly called diphenhydramine (DPH).

Into three groups taking placebo syrup, the syrup used without drug content. In medical experiments, counterfeit drugs are called placebo. By Comparing Patients taking the real drug and those who took a placebo, the doctor can see the effectiveness of the drug.

Both children and parents do not know everything about the syrup-syrup drink it.

Parents answered five questions about their children's symptoms, on the night before and after drinking syrup. Results showed that children who received syrup without medical drugs has increased the same conditions as those who take medical drugs.

Paul and his colleagues published these results in 2004. Late in October, the U.S. Food and Drug Americans evaluate all data, including the results of research Paul, and decided that parents should not give cough medicine to children under 6 years of age.

At the same time, pharmaceutical companies to stop the sale of such materials for the consumption of children. Paul knew that the news would make parents anxious. He also felt the same.

"It was difficult for me, as a doctor, to tell people that the drug was no better than placebo (no drug), because they have no other solution," he said.

In his quest, Paul discovered the healing effects of honey. Thousands of years ago, doctors in Egypt, for example, using honey to treat wounds, cough and sore joints. Paul also found that the World Health Organization recommend honey as a remedy lozenges, although there is no scientific evidence of its effectiveness.

"Honey do no harm, why not find out if honey can help?" Paul thought.

He designed a subsequent study the same as before. At bedtime, 105 sick children were divided into 3 groups, namely DM syrup drink, drink honey Buckwheat, and no treatment.

This time, the survey showed that children who swallow 2 teaspoons of honey Buckwheat, sleep better and experience less coughing than the other 2 groups. Their parents sleep better too.

But noteworthy, honey is not safe for children under 1 year because it can cause botulism. However, the research results to convince Paul to recommend reducing the efficacy of honey with a cough for children over 1 year.

"When parents want to give something to the children, honey seems to be the best option," says Paul.

Why honey?

People think that honey is a good substitute for sugar in tea, sweeteners on the peanut butter and banana sandwich. So what makes these sweeteners have healing effects?

"On the one hand, and the viscosity of honey helps coat the throat," says Katherine Beals, a food expert at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Katherine also served as a nutrition consultant for the National Honey Board, honey support group, which financed the study Paul last.

"Antioxidants contained in honey may well be the answer," said Beals. Antioxidants are also found in foods like blueberries (a type of strawberry), spinach and chocolate. These antioxidants can protect our cells from damage.

The results of the study showed that after drinking honey, antioxidant levels in the body increase. All honey contains antioxidants, but a particular type of honey contains antioxidants in greater numbers than others.

"There are more than 300 types of honey," says Beals.

According to the color, aroma and health benefits Depending on the type of flowers that honey bees was done. Most honey, purchased in grocery stores in the United States, made ​​by honey tree perched on clover. The darker the honey, such as buckwheat Paul type used in research, generally have higher antioxidants than the more dilute, Including the type of clover.

Honey has other health effects. At least, some kind of honey can kill the microbes that infect. One type of honey from New Zealand has been proven to be good for use on wounds, topically on the skin. According to Beals, there is no evidence that consuming honey will prevent colds.

"But if you have a cough and sore throat continuously, honey can make you feel better. Slightly sweetened certainly makes you more excited!" he explained.