Honey & Health
Research has shown that unlike most other sweeteners, honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants.
Honey, a rich source of carbohydrates, provides a quick source of energy.
Honey’s unique composition makes it an effective antimicrobial agent, useful
for treating minor burns and scrapes, and for aiding the treatment of sore throats and other bacterial infections.
Honey as a cough suppressant for children over 12 months old
Cough is the reason for nearly three percent of all outpatient visits in the United States, more than any other symptom. It is particularly bothersome at night
because it disrupts sleep. Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on OTC cough and cold medications despite little evidence that these drugs provide significant relief.
Honey has been used as a home remedy for centuries to help alleviate some of the
symptoms associated with a common cold. A new study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative. The study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many
over-the-counter cold medications.
Honey did a better job reducing the severity, frequency and bothersome nature of nighttime cough from upper respiratory infection than DM or no treatment. Honey also showed a positive effect on the sleep quality of both the coughing child and the child’s parents. DM was not significantly better at alleviating symptoms than no treatment. Potentially dangerous effects of DM in young children include dystonic reactions, severe involuntary muscle contractions and spasms. Further, DM is a
commonly used as a drug of abuse by adolescents.
Honey as an Antimicrobial
Honey has been used as a therapeutic agent since ancient times for “disorders” ranging from baldness to gastrointestinal distress. During the early part of the 20th century, researchers began to document the wound healing properties of honey. The introduction of antibiotics in the 1940’s temporarily stymied honey’s use. Nonetheless, concerns regarding antibiotic resistance and renewed interest in “natural” remedies has promoted a resurgence of interest in the antimicrobial and
wound healing properties of honey.
