Home remedies: Honey for a cough

By mudlark • November 15th, 2008

Studies have shown honey to be more effective to treat a cough than OTC cough medicines. When I first saw the report last year I wondered how I’d get honey into my kids – would they really lick super-sweet honey off a spoon? Mine are too young to stir it into hot water as some people suggested.

This week I got my answer. 2 parts honey mixed with 1 part lemon juice liquifies it a bit and the acidity of the lemon juice makes a spoonfull of honey easier to swallow. I tried it this week – first on two of my kids (and it worked like a charm) and then on myself when coughing kept me awake. It’s like magic! Honey has the double impact of being high in antioxidants and also being effective at killing certain microbes.

In fact, my Moldovan mother-in-law suggests that I slather some on the kids’ backs and cover it with a raw cabbage leaf to make them feel better. If someone else wants to experiment with that I’d love to hear the results…

Please note: Do not give honey to babies under a year old.

Comments(3) Food & drink, Health, Kids

Comments

By Kimberly on November 19th, 2008 at 7:24 pm

We use honey all the time for coughs. It really does work well. BTW-My pediatrician said at my little guy’s one year well baby check to hold off on the honey until he is two. I said I thought after one was fine, but he said they are now saying two. Just thought I’d share. Maybe we’ll do the honey/cabbage/back/thing for him. Maybe not.

By Healthy Family articles - sixwise on December 10th, 2008 at 3:13 am

thanks for sharing this. I agree with Kimberly doctors are now saying it is better not to give honey to 2yrs old and below.

By NaturalDoc on July 18th, 2009 at 9:06 am

Honey is a great healer of all times it heal cough, cold improve immune system.
Dear Mudlark you have posted really effective remedy for cough. I have also compiled some of effective remedies of honey for bloodpressure, immune system, fatigue, acidity and skin problems Must read it
http://hubpages.com/hub/Honey-Remedies