Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » Would you prescribe honey to treat nocturnal cough?
|
Would you prescribe honey to treat nocturnal cough?
posted at 7/8/2012 12:40 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
*Moderator*
Posts: 1496
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 19/6/2013 |
A study in Pediatrics claims that individuals who took honey products to treat nocturnal cough and difficulty sleeping, saw an improvement compared to a placebo group. RESULTS: In all 3 honey products and the placebo group, there was a significant improvement from the night before treatment to the night of treatment. However, the improvement was greater in the honey groups for all the main outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Parents rated the honey products higher than the silan date extract for symptomatic relief of their children’s nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to URI. Honey may be a preferable treatment for cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood URI (upper respiratory infection). http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/08/01/peds.2011-3075.abstract
Physicians First Watch point out that "The study was funded, in part, by the Honey Board of Israel." Do you think this study changes anything? Do you already advise patients take honey to treat coughs and help them sleep? Or does the funding of this study make you sceptical?
|
|
Re: Would you prescribe honey to treat nocturnal cough?
posted at 7/8/2012 2:53 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 1340
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
There was a paper a few years back in the NEJM which demonstarted that, in children at least, honey was a good as (and probably better than) any over the counter cough mixture (and probably far safer too). But nocturnal cough per se should raise the possibility of underlying pathology such as asthma or gastro-oesophageal reflux (neither of which will be helped by honey!) |
|
|
Re: Would you prescribe honey to treat nocturnal cough?
posted at 7/8/2012 3:50 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 45
First: 18/5/2009 Last: 9/4/2013 |
As a child I was always treated with hot lemon and honey to cure a cough and sore throat. Following the research I would take it myself before pharmaceutical medication! |
|
|
Re: Would you prescribe honey to treat nocturnal cough?
posted at 7/8/2012 6:10 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 1216
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
This is nonsense, isn't it? Or is it....? Locally made honey often contains pollen from the locality. If the cough is due to allergic rhinitis, or atopic asthma, desensitisation therapy in the form of ingested pollen in the honey might actually work. Or it could be nonsense....?
|
|
|
Re: Would you prescribe honey to treat nocturnal cough?
posted at 7/8/2012 6:12 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 1828
First: 7/3/2009 Last: 18/6/2013 |
Honey based remedies are known for many years and there are many variations of these: the hot tea+lemon+honey,simply honey and hot milk with honey are some examples. It helps when the cough is caused by irritation of the pharyngeal area, however I am not sure about its beneficial effect when the cough is caused by lower infections involving trachea and bronchi.
|
Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » Would you prescribe honey to treat nocturnal cough?
