Honey: An effective cough remedy?

Is it true that honey calms coughs better than cough medicine does?

- No name given / New York

Mayo Clinic infectious disease specialist James Steckelberg, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Drinking honey mixed with tea or warm lemon water is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. Now researchers are studying honey as a cough suppressant. In a 2007 study, children ages 2 and older with upper respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of honey at bedtime. The honey seemed to reduce nighttime coughing and improve sleep. In fact, in the study, honey appeared to be as effective as the cough suppressant dextromethorphan in typical over-the-counter doses. It's important to remember that coughing isn't all bad, however, both for children and adults. Coughing helps clear mucus from your airway. If you're otherwise healthy, there's usually no reason to suppress a cough. And honey has an important caveat. Due to the risk of infant botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning, never give honey to a child younger than age 1.