Honey more effective than some drugs for cough

Honey is a natural and effective alternative for treating your cough. — TNS

You may want to have honey on hand the next time you catch a cold.

That’s because honey has been shown to provide better cough relief than some over-the-counter drugs, Oxford University researchers in the United Kingdom said in findings published on Aug 19 (2020) in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

“Honey is more effective than usual care alternatives for improving (upper respiratory tract infection) symptoms, particularly cough frequency and severity,” according to the researchers.

They said they reviewed 14 past studies about upper respiratory tract infections, also known as the common cold.

Symptoms can include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat and coughing, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Four of the studies examined comparisons between honey and diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that can be used to relieve coughs, according to the US government.

It’s sold at pharmacies under several brand names and is combined with other ingredients in some cold medicines.

In their findings, the researchers say that honey was “significantly better than” diphenhydramine at improving coughing.

The results came from studies that included 385 participants, data show.

But honey was “not significantly better” at cough relief when compared to another class of medicines called dextromethorphan, according to a review of two studies with a combined 137 patients.

Dextromethorphan is used to suppress coughs and can also be found on pharmacy shelves, the US National Library of Medicine says.

Scientists reviewing the common cold studies also found “comparisons with placebo are more limited, and require more high quality placebo-controlled trials”.

Anyone sick with a cold should talk to a pharmacist or doctor about the best medicines for them, according to health officials.

“Over-the-counter medicines may provide temporary relief of symptoms, but they will not cure your illness,” the US CDC says on its website.

The US federal agency includes honey on its list of possible ways to suppress coughs.

Other tips for feeling better from a cold include getting enough rest, breathing in steam and using saline spray, according to the agency.

Both health officials and researchers caution against using antibiotics for cold relief.

Antibiotics don’t help patients get better and can lead to infections that are resistant to bacteria, experts say. – By Simone Jasper/The News & Observer/Tribune News Service