Coughs resulting from respiratory infections reminiscent of colds are widespread this time of 12 months. An effective treatment for a disruptive cough may be sitting in your kitchen pantry.
Dr. Angela Mattke, a pediatrician with Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, says honey can help soothe coughs for adults and kids. But, she says, by no means give honey to a baby beneath 1.
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A spoonful of sugar would possibly help the drugs go down, however the medication is honey, on this case.
“Honey is safe for anyone ages 1 and above. And it’s been shown to be effective and safe for both children and adults,” says Dr. Mattke.
Adding honey to heat water or tea, or only a spoonful of honey itself can help with coughs.
“It has been shown to be more effective than over-the-counter cough medications,” she says.
Honey helps by soothing the throat and coating cough receptors. Here are her suggestions for kids over age 1.
“You can start with half a teaspoon to a teaspoon, some type of warm liquid. As they get older and they’re able to more easily swallow the honey, you can just give it to them directly on a teaspoon,” Dr. Mattke says.
She recommends utilizing a teaspoon each two hours. And this dosage applies equally to adults.
“And if you do choose to give honey for cough suppression, we would recommend that you use pasteurized honey,” provides Dr. Mattke.
Honey and infants
Honey is usually secure for adults and kids over the age of 1. Avoid giving honey, even in small quantities, to infants beneath the age of 1. Honey could result in a uncommon however severe gastrointestinal situation referred to as toddler botulism, triggered by publicity to Clostridium botulinum spores. The micro organism from these spores can thrive and multiply in a baby’s intestines, producing a doubtlessly dangerous toxin.
