Many moms fear honey because of the risk of botulism if consumed by children under one year old; however, it may actually be the best cough remedy around for children over the age of one. When I was a first time mom, I avoided all things honey even in manufactured foods like Honey Nut Cheerios (although, botulism causing spores are deactivated when honey is cooked at high temperatures. Note: Does not include heating at home in oatmeal or tea). I was still nervous with the raw honey part even as my daughter turned two. Little did I know it might have been the best thing for her case of croup.
A recent study from Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine found honey worked best to soothe a night-time cough. This alternative remedy comes as a relief to many parents (me included) who in light of the recent cough and cold medicine overdose scare have stopped giving any kind of cough suppressant to sick children. I never loved *drugging* my kids before bedtime, but I would do anything to make them sleep better when sick. It's not easy to hear your little one coughing all night long. Trying to give the medicine was a nightmare. It turned into a scene from WWF as the flavored cough syrups don't taste great either. I guarantee you won't have to force feed your child a spoonful of honey and they will sleep better too. Maybe Mary Poppins had it right from the start. A spoonful of sugar not only makes the medicine go down, but it is the medicine.
Do you have any home remedies for coughs and colds? Please leave your solutions in the comments section.
Honey is still not recommended for children under the age of one. Read the full article here.
I swear by organic local honey too! Especially for allergies, my theory is putting natural pollen back in your body from locally grown bees is a natural antibiotic!
Go to your local wholefoods or organic grocer to find locally made organic honey :) It's my cure for everything, even dry skin.