Coughing is the body's attempt to expel mucus or irritants that lie on the surface of the respiratory tract. It is a reflex initiated by sensory nerve stimulation in the respiratory passages. It can be particularly bothersome during nighttime, because coughing makes sleep impossible. Honey has been found to be a natural and effective solution in temporarily suppressing coughs.
Types
There are two types of coughs that must be addressed differently. For chest coughs where phlegm is brought up, use an expectorant medication, which will help to loosen the phlegm and allow it to be brought up easier. It's important that the phlegm is not restricted by suppressants such as honey.
For dry coughs, which produce no phlegm, however, a suppressant can be used to coat and soothe the back of the throat. This is the type of cough which honey has been found to effectively prevent.
Function
Honey works by coating the back of the throat, which soothes the irritation somewhat and prevents the sensory nerves from being stimulated. Although it's a temporary solution, it can be beneficial at night to assist in getting normal sleep. Take one tablespoon of honey orally, or mix with hot water and lemon, as needed.
Significance
There is a wide range of over-the-counter cough suppressants to treat dry coughs, such as phocodine, dextromethorphan and codeine. According to Live Science, billions of dollars are spent each year on over-the-counter cough and cold medications. Honey functions very similarly to these medications, and in 2008, a Penn State College of Medicine research group found that honey works more effectively than over-the-counter cough suppressant medications.
Benefits
While dextromethorphan is considered to be dangerous for young children under 6 and can cause side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, fever and vomiting, honey works in the same manner but without any of the side effects. In addition, honey possesses beneficial antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and costs significantly less.
Considerations
The presence of a cough can be a sign of a serious chronic illness or infection and suppressing the body's ability to expel mucus and particles may not be beneficial. With chronic coughing or coughing accompanied by additional symptoms, a medical professional should be consulted.
Honey should not be given to children younger than 1 because of the risk of botulism.
