Wednesday 4 March 2015

The Sweetest Cough/Sore Throat Cure

It’s never a fun situation when you have a persistent cough, in fact I dare to name me a situation when it is fun to have a cough (just kidding!) 
Whether you are at work, on the train or bus, at a restaurant, in a classroom they are plain annoying! 
The worst thing about coughs is that they seem to drag on longer than other common ailments. So your cold's long gone, but have you now been left with a lingering cough that is keeping everyone awake and annoying colleagues?
New US research shows the average time for a cough to last after a virus is an exhausting 18 days - with many coughs sticking around even longer. (see here for the full article). So don't be too surprised when you have an annoying persistent cough even a week after your cold is gone. 
Whilst almost everyone must have experienced coughing sometime in their life, did you know that there are two primary types of coughs, dry and productive?
A productive cough is one in which you are coughing up phlegm or mucous-this is not a cough that should be suppressed, as your body needs to rid itself of the gunk that’s in your chest/lungs. While it shouldn’t be suppressed, some of these remedies will address a productive cough by including an expectorant, or something that loosens mucous and makes it easier for the body to get rid of.
A dry, hacking, cough is another story. This is one we do want to stop. It can be caused by allergies, dry air, a random tickle at the back of your throat that won’t go away, the aftermath of a cold, being in a dusty environment, etc. etc. For these we turn to demulcents, ingredients that soothe irritated mucous membranes and remove the irritant triggering the cough. Studies conducted in 2004 found that the main ingredients in cough syrup (dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine) have the same effectiveness in treating coughs as a placebo ingredient. Instead of turning to chemical solutions for every minor ailment, try some home remedies instead. They are not only better for you, but they taste a whole lot better than most cough syrup too!
Insert picture of honey, link to manuka honey on Amazon
Studies, such as one conducted at Penn State College of Medicine, have found that honey can work more efficiently to calm a cough than over-the-counter drugs. It is a rich demulcent, with a high viscosity and stickiness that does an incredible job of coating and soothing those irritated mucous membranes. Thanks to an enzyme added by bees when they harvest honey, it also has antibacterial properties as well, which may help shorten how long you have the cough if it is due to bacterial illness. The Mayo Clinic have also confirmed that honey is an effective cough medicine (see here for the full article)
Note: This is an excellent alternative remedy for both kids and adults, but should never be given to children under the age of 2 years due to the risk of botulism.

You will need…
-1 tablespoon of honey
As for what type of honey, whatever you have at home is fine. Because I love my honey and have tried the different types, I personally stick to raw and organic honey. It might not be your thing but I prefer the taste more. 
Directions
Take 1 tablespoon of honey 1-3 times daily as needed to control coughing. For best results take the honey slowly and let it coat your throat.
Take immediately before bed if cough is disrupting your sleep. For children, you can adjust the dosing to 1 teaspoon up to one tablespoon.

And that is all there is to it! What’s not to love about this? It’s delicious, good for you and effective! It also works just as well for sore throats too so it is versatile as well :)
This always works for me, and one of friends inadvertently discovered for himself how great it is too. He had a bottle of honey at work for himself and happened to get a terrible cough and was considering taking some time off.  He loved the taste of honey and couldn't stop eating it, and he said that after a few days of going through the bottle, his cough was completely gone! Real story. 

So there you have it: any hesitation you have had to try this tried but true method should be gone now with all the studies conducted confirming its effectiveness. Instead of packing some lozenges make sure you get a good dosage of honey before you go out the door and take it regularly and in no time it will go away :)

Is this a tip you use regularly? Or is there another remedy that you think is even better than honey for coughs?

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