Originally published August 28 2008
Honey Is a Natural Alternative to Harmful Cough Medicines
by Jo Hartley
(NaturalNews) With the current call for a ban of all cough medicines for children age 6 and under by an expert panel of the FDA, it's helpful to understand why these cough medicines are being reevaluated and to explore alternative remedies.
The cough medicines are being recalled because they don't work well and the incidences of drug overdose for the children who use them are too high.
The good news is that there are effective alternatives. One of the best home remedies for a variety of issues is honey. Honey has been shown to be a safe natural remedy.
Researchers at Penn State University conducted a study on honey's effectiveness for treating coughs in children. Children with cough symptoms were divided into three groups. One group was given nothing, the second group was given a cough suppressant containing dextromethorphan DM, and the third group was given a spoonful of honey before bed. Honey was found to be significantly better for quieting coughs, compared to the DM or no treatment groups.
Honey is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-microbial compounds that are very beneficial for healing. Honey also soothes the throat by coating the area that is irritated. Honey has the added benefit of tasting good!
Dosage: Children ages 2 to 5 can have a half teaspoon; ages 6 to 12 can have a teaspoon; and ages 12 and over can have two teaspoons. It may be helpful to follow the honey with warm decaffeinated tea.
Honey also contains strong natural antiseptics that can be both eaten and used topically on wounds. Many countries recognize the healing properties of honey, including England, France, Japan, Austria and New Zealand. Their practice is to keep honey available as one of the best home remedies.
You can spread it on scraped knees and administer it whenever a sore throat is felt to be coming on. It's used to control ulcers by preventing the buildup of H-pylori in the stomach. It's used for acid reflux as an effective remedy. It's even been touted for its ability to heal leg ulcers in patients with diabetes.
New research is also revealing the unusual antibacterial activity unique to honey. This has led to a greater understanding of the capability of honey to kill certain bacteria through different mechanisms.
* Honey has even been effective against many different drug resistant bacteria, including E. coli.
* Honey has been observed attacking E. coli bacteria in ways that render the bacteria defenseless.
* Honey has been able to kill not only the E. coli bacteria, but other types of bacteria as well.
One of the strongest and most effective kinds of honey is manuka honey (made from the manuka flower). This honey has proven itself the most effective cure for acid reflux. Clover honey and other honeys are effective as well, but to a slightly lesser extent. Researchers have even discovered that manuka honey has been shown to prevent and fight some of the super bugs currently invading hospitals.
Not only does honey possess significant antibacterial qualities, it is also effective in promoting healing by directly stimulating cells necessary in immune response for disease fighting and wound healing.
Honey is the one sweetener that offers not only life-giving qualities that are unique, but also a sweetness that is absolutely natural.
About the author
Jo Hartley
Wife, Mother of 8, and Grandmother of 2
Jo is a 41 year old home educator who has always gravitated toward a natural approach to life. She enjoys learning as much as possible about just about anything!
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